Sunday, June 19, 2011

Mayors See End to Wars as Fix for Struggling Cities

Mayors See End to Wars as Fix for Struggling Cities - NYTimes.com

So they can take all our defense money and be as successful as Detroit and other US cities?

Hospitals Performed Needless Double CT Scans, Records Show

Hospitals Performed Needless Double CT Scans, Records Show - NYTimes.com

The union-owned Democrats

The union-owned Democrats - The Washington Post
"One obvious way to increase exports is through free-trade agreements.
But unions don’t like them.
No surprise then that for two years Obama has been sitting on three free-trade agreements — with Colombia, Panama and South Korea — already negotiated by his predecessor."

Obama impersonator crosses the line at RLC

Obama impersonator crosses the line at RLC - Jonathan Martin - POLITICO.com
"As Brown was preparing to make a Michele Bachmann joke, one of the conference’s officials came out to the lectern and told the comedian to leave the stage.
It was a remarkable display and came just one day after two high-profile Republicans —- Haley Barbour and Bobby Jindal — urged activists to focus only on going after Obama on policy and not engage in personal attacks."

Some serious idiotic rot at the top of the RLC.

Rick Perry | Left Never Going To Like Us

Rick Perry Left Never Going To Like President Bush RealClearPolitics
"'It saddens me when sometimes my fellow Republicans duck and cover in the face of pressure from the left.
Our party cannot be all things to all people,' Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) said at a Republican party event in Louisiana today."

It's about time!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Gov't's Gun Scheme: ‘Loads of Weapons … for Criminals Was The Plan’

Gov't's Gun Scheme: ‘Loads of Weapons … for Criminals Was The Plan’ CNSnews.com
"John Dodson, a special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee yesterday that he was shocked when he discovered his agency was carrying out a plan specifically designed to deliver “loads of weapons” into the hands of criminals, including operatives purchasing guns for Mexican drug cartels"

What the talking heads don’t tell you about the NBC/WSJ poll internals

Datechguy's Blog » Blog Archive » What the talking heads don’t tell you about the NBC/WSJ poll internals: "One can spin it any way you want but if you look at the internals of this poll the bottom line is Barack Obama is hemorrhaging his popularity and barring some cataclysmic failure on the GOP side or incredible success on his side he is not going to win re-election."

IMF cuts U.S. growth forecast, warns of crisis

IMF cuts U.S. growth forecast, warns of crisis - Yahoo! UK & Ireland Finance
"The International Monetary Fund cut its forecast for U.S. economic growth on Friday and warned Washington and debt-ridden European countries that they are 'playing with fire' unless they take immediate steps to reduce their budget deficits"

Four suspects involved in separate Muskegon shootings, including two fatal, aggressively sought by authorities; Police urge public to help

Four suspects involved in separate Muskegon shootings, including two fatal, aggressively sought by authorities; Police urge public to help MLive.com
"The hunt for the suspects will continue to be aggressive until the men are apprehended, Olson said. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects' whereabouts to come forward."

It's the culture, stupid!

Clarifying the View of Retirement Debt

Clarifying the View of Retirement Debt
"And then there's OPEB.
Barclay's did not include the unfunded liabilities of state and local retiree health coverage obligations (OPEB or 'other post-employment benefits') which are at least double and likely triple the size of the unfunded pension obligations reported by the public funds using conventional actuarial methods.
If you add the OPEB obligations, then 'we have a problem, Houston' as the percentage of revenues required to defease retirement promises this way would then jump to 15 to 20 percent of an average employer's annual tax revenues."

The Door is About to Shut for Americans

The Door is About to Shut for Americans
"Anyone aware of the US Government's real financial situation knows that time is running out.
The Government has $15.5 trillion in admitted debts but those debts, when calculated under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), or 'honest accounting', is over $70 trillion.
$70 trillion divided by 300 million+ Americans works out to $233,000 per person in US Federal Government debt and obligations.
Or nearly $1 million per family of four.

That does not included personal debt, state debt or municipal debt."

The euro has not brought Europe closer – it has ripped it apart

The euro has not brought Europe closer – it has ripped it apart - Europe, World - The Independent
"The scale of Greece's problem is simply stated: her national debt will approach 160 per cent of GDP on current trends.
Here in the UK we are supposed to be in crisis because that ratio is heading for about 75 per cent.

Unless the Greek economy grows at an astonishing rate, the interest on that debt simply cannot be paid out of any conceivable tax take, while the spending cuts and austerity packages are conspiring to push the economy into depression"

Congressional Gym Price Tag?

Congressional Gym Price Tag? Video - ABC News
"Congressional Gym Price Tag?
Jake Tapper tracks taxpayers' dollars subsidizing exclusive gym."

Democrat: We Need 'Analysis of How Christian Militants … Might Bring Down The Country’

Democrat: We Need 'Analysis of How Christian Militants … Might Bring Down The Country’ CNSnews.com
"At a congressional hearing on Muslim radicalization in U.S. prisons, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said that investigators needed to analyze Christian militants in America because they too might try to “bring down the country.”"

Assistant AG: ‘I Do Not Know’ Who Authorized Plan to Let Drug Cartels Get Guns

Assistant AG: ‘I Do Not Know’ Who Authorized Plan to Let Drug Cartels Get Guns CNSnews.com: "Ronald Weich, the assistant attorney general for legislative affairs at the Justice Department, told the House Oversight and Government Reform Commitee on Wednesday that he does not know who authorized the Justice Department’s “Operation Fast and Furious” which deliberately let operatives of Mexican drug cartels purchase guns at licensed U.S. firearms dealers and did nothing to intercept the gun purchaser or retrieve the guns even when they were under active surveillance by federal law enforcement officials"

Michigan State Spartans Cheerleaders | AthlonSports

Michigan State Spartans Cheerleaders AthlonSports
"Having shot college football games for over thirty years, we thought it would be a good idea to cull our archives for some of the cheerleaders we've shot over the years. Here are some of our favorites from the 80s, 90s and 2000s."

Bin collections: If only politicians were on the side of ordinary people

Bin collections: If only politicians were on the side of ordinary people Mail Online
"About a year ago, Oxford City Council kindly gave me a slop bucket.
It has sat unused outside our back door.
The idea of scraping old potato peelings and fish bones into this small receptacle, inevitably creating an almighty mess and stink, was a bridge too far.
Now, however, we shall all be forced to use them.
The Tory Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has decreed that every household in England must press a slop bucket into action."

Friday, June 17, 2011

How Miserable? Index Says the Worst in 28 Years

How Miserable? Index Says the Worst in 28 Years - CNBC
"“Frankly, we have been stunned by the disconnect that we see between these optimistic calls over the past six to nine months and the reality of what is occurring in the global economy,” wrote Boston-based Hans P. Black in the Interinvest Review & Outlook."

Changing Tides: Research Center Under Fire for 'Adjusted' Sea-Level Data

Changing Tides: Research Center Under Fire for 'Adjusted' Sea-Level Data - FoxNews.com
"'Gatekeepers of our sea level data are manufacturing a fictitious sea level rise that is not occurring,' said James M. Taylor, a lawyer who focuses on environmental issues for the Heartland Institute."

Travel Insurance Won't Help Greece-Bound Tourists

Travel Insurance Won't Help Greece-Bound Tourists - Pay Dirt - SmartMoney
"Tourists who were planning to head to Greece this summer have little recourse for refunds if the violent protests in Athens have made them reconsider their trip — even if they have purchased travel insurance."

Sunspot Drop Won’t Cause Global Cooling

Sunspot Drop Won’t Cause Global Cooling Wired Science Wired.com
"Most Little Ice Age cooling appears to have been the result of coincidentally high volcanic activity that cloaked Earth in sunlight-blocking soot.
As for the sun, a study published in 2001 in Science found that reduced solar activity produced a cooling effect of about 0.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
In other estimates, the cooling is even more insignificant."

Mich. governor, billionaire clash over new bridge

Mich. governor, billionaire clash over new bridge - FoxNews.com
"Nearly 30 percent of the goods sold between the U.S. and Canada are trucked across the Detroit River."

More regulations: EPA's fantasy solution to unemployment

More regulations: EPA's fantasy solution to unemployment Examiner Editorial Opinion Washington Examiner
"American Electric Power Chairman Michael Morris announced last week that his company would be forced to close five coal-fired power plants, spend an additional $8 billion refitting other plants, and lose 6,000 megawatts of its coal-generated capacity if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency follows through with its latest proposed regulation of coal power plants"

Thursday, June 16, 2011

U.S. Manufacturing in 2009 = Germany, Italy, France, Russia, U.K., Brazil and Canada COMBINED

CARPE DIEM: U.S. Manufacturing in 2009 = Germany, Italy, France, Russia, U.K., Brazil and Canada COMBINED
"The U.S. ranked #1 in the world for manufacturing, and produced 14% more output than second-ranked China ($2.04 trillion) and twice as much output as third-ranked Japan ($1.15 trillion)."

Do 'Stealthy' Michigan Senators Want to Spend $100 Million on Film Subsidies?

Do 'Stealthy' Michigan Senators Want to Spend $100 Million on Film Subsidies? [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"Do 'Stealthy' Michigan Senators Want to Spend $100 Million on Film Subsidies?
Facebook post insists: Michigan senator 'wishes to keep this process quiet and very stealth!'"

The Extinction of Retirement

The Extinction of Retirement
"According to the Social Security Administration, in 2008, Social Security provided 50% of all income for 64% of recipients and 90% of all income for 34% of all beneficiaries.
With these numbers, it's not hard to see how even small cuts will spark big protests.
Now try cutting the $20 trillion prescription drug program and the $79 trillion Medicare entitlements and watch the political sparks fly! However, given the realities, it's hard to see how the program can escape deep cuts."

Half of Taxes Pay for Retiree Benefits

GoLocalProv News Providence - Half of Taxes Pay for Retiree Benefits
"Just over half of all taxes collected in Providence in 2010 were owed to pensions and benefits for all city retirees—sucking money away from basic services and adding to the property tax burden"

Obama's unauthorized war on Libya costs $9,421,000 a day: Are you getting your money's worth?

Obama's unauthorized war on Libya costs $9,421,000 a day: Are you getting your money's worth? - latimes.com

How Public Employees get to run government

How Public Employees get to run government « Burypensions Blog
"Say you have a business in the private sector.
Would you let your employees name their salary and benefit levels and oblige you to pass on the cost to your customers?
Absent a captive market your customers will likely be gone and so would your business."

George Soros and the Plot to Take Judicial Selections Away from Voters

George Soros and the Plot to Take Judicial Selections Away from Voters [Michigan Capitol Confidential]: "Billionaire political financier George Soros is behind a $45 million campaign to strip American citizens of their right to select state court judges and thereby put the legal system in the hands of Left-wing jurists"