Friday, October 12, 2012

From "my friend" Joe Biden....

James,

I did my best to make you proud tonight.

But I hope you remember one thing: This debate wasn't about me, or Congressman Ryan.

It was about you, and what we're fighting for together.

So if you're standing with Barack and me, like we're standing with you, please chip in $5 or more to show it:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Our-Team

Thanks,

Joe

Vice President Jerk: The return of Smirky Malarkey McSmirk

Michelle Malkin » Vice President Jerk: The return of Smirky Malarkey McSmirk
While his theatrics may mollify partisan Obama-bots looking for more aggression after the president’s Empty Podium Day in the first debate, undecided voters were turned off.
What the Left perceived as “assertive” came across to uncommitted voters as asinine.

EU wins the Nobel Peace Prize despite crisis and looming break-up

EU wins the Nobel Peace Prize despite crisis and looming break-up | UK News | Express.co.uk - Home of the Daily and Sunday Express
Meanwhile critics of the prize argued that it should have instead gone to bloggers from the Arab spring, Russian rights activists and even Julian Assange instead of the European body.
The European Union has been mired in crisis with strains on the euro and has been hit by protests throughout its 17 nation members over the past four years but the committee argued its role in the past was enough to guarantee the prize.

Detroit Police Union Official Says Resource Cuts Make Streets Unsafe, But Police and Fire Department Salaries Increased

Detroit Police Union Official Says Resource Cuts Make Streets Unsafe, But Police and Fire Department ... [Michigan Capitol Confidential]

U.S. Commerce Department plans to raise taxes on Americans buying solar panels from China

U.S. Commerce Department plans to raise taxes on Americans buying solar panels from China | AEIdeas
"Below is an edited version of a recent New York Times article, re-titled “U.S. Will Place Tariffs on Americans Buying Chinese Solar Panels.”
These revisions reflect the voice of millions of disorganized American consumers, which is a usually a mere whisper when trade policy is decided in Washington, compared to the very loud and well-organized screams of domestic producers using the political process to their advantage:"

Brilliant!

Russia Decision To Pull Out Of Arms Dismantling Deal With U.S. Shows Failure Of Obama's 'Reset'

Russia Decision To Pull Out Of Arms Dismantling Deal With U.S. Shows Failure Of Obama's 'Reset' - Investors.com: In announcing the move, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov seemed to take a contemptuous dig at both the U.S. and the president. "The agreement doesn't satisfy us," he said, "especially considering new realities."
Those "new realities" no doubt include Obama's feckless "reset" — another word for U.S. capitulation to the New Russia's neo-imperialism under its strutting dictator wannabe, Vladimir Putin

Obama's Real Unemployment Rate Is 14.7%, And A Recession's On The Way

Obama's Real Unemployment Rate Is 14.7%, And A Recession's On The Way - Forbes
The BLS explains, “These individuals were working part time because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job.”
 That applied to 582,000 of the supposed new jobs reported by the September Household Survey, and a total of 8.6 million Americans last month.

Veep debate: Angry Joe and Martha vs. that nice Ryan fellow from Accounting

Veep debate: Angry Joe and Martha vs. that nice Ryan fellow from Accounting - Conservative News
Raddatz did ask a few solid questions of Biden, although never with anything like the contentious tone she displayed toward Romney, and she didn’t cut him off nearly as much.
Biden was rather rude to her during these moments. 
He doesn’t like being challenged much more than his boss does.

Report Describes How Lance Armstrong Beat Cycling’s Drug Tests

Report Describes How Lance Armstrong Beat Cycling’s Drug Tests - NYTimes.com
How could the world’s greatest cyclist, always in the cross hairs of doping officials, never fail a drug test if he was doping, Armstrong reasoned.
An explanation emerged Wednesday, when the United States Anti-Doping Agency released its dossier on Armstrong, citing witness testimony, financial records and laboratory results.
Armstrong was centrally involved in a sprawling, sophisticated doping program, the agency said, yet he employed both cunning and farcical methods to beat the sport’s drug-testing system.
The report also introduced new scientific evidence that the agency said suggested Armstrong was doping the last two times he competed in the Tour de France.

US Nears Fiscal Disaster: ‘Washington Doing Nothing’

US Nears Fiscal Disaster: ‘Washington Doing Nothing’ - US Business News - CNBC
"People are never going to understand how critical this particular time in history is," said Erskine Bowles, the North Carolina businessman and co-chairman of President Barack Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.
 "We have $7.7 trillion worth of economic events that are going to hit America in the gut in December, and in Washington they're doing nothing about it."

‘Market Duress’ Ahead?

‘Market Duress’ Ahead? — US Business News - CNBC
"If we imagine a Greek euro [EUR=X 1.298 0.0054 (+0.42%) ] exit today, I think that the consequences for the rest of Europe would be very severe," Marcussen says.
"I do not think we are in a position to be able to manage that contagion."

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Jack Welch: I Was Right About That Strange Jobs Report

Jack Welch: I Was Right About That Strange Jobs Report - WSJ.com
The good news is that the current debate has resulted in people giving the whole issue of unemployment data more thought.
Moreover, it led to some of the campaign's biggest supporters admitting that the number merited a closer look—and even expressing skepticism.
The New York Times in a Sunday editorial, for instance, acknowledged the 7.8% figure is "partly due to a statistical fluke."

Muskegon Heights asked to pay for old district

Muskegon Heights asked to pay for old district | wzzm13.com
A proposal on the November ballot will ask voters in Muskegon Heights to renew an 18 mill non-homestead property tax, to help pay off the public school district's old debts.
The tax would be paid by commercial property owners and non-residents who own property, like rentals.
Even though the district no longer exists, the Muskegon Heights emergency financial manager, Donald Weatherspoon, says it still owes 300 creditors a total of $16 million.

Not Every Sheriff Ignoring Voter Fraud

Not Every Sheriff Ignoring Voter Fraud - 620 WTMJ - Milwaukee's Source for Local News and Weather
Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney says that his department’s order to deputies to ignore possible voter fraud in the county jail is part of a long-standing policy of his department.
He insists that the memo explaining the order contains no new information and that concerns over inmates with felony convictions being allowed to vote is not his responsibility.
But officials with sheriff’s departments in other parts of the state have a different take.

A Modest Proposal To Stop California's Rich At The State Line

A Modest Proposal To Stop California's Rich At The State Line - Investors.com
California was once the land of opportunity, but it is going down the tubes.
Several of California's prominent cities have declared bankruptcy, such as Vallejo, Stockton, Mammoth Lakes and San Bernardino.
Others are on the precipice, and that includes Los Angeles, California's largest city.
California's 2012 budget deficit is expected to top $28 billion, and its state debt is $618 billion.
That's more than twice the size of New York's state debt, which itself is the second-highest in the nation.

Exorbitant Michigan Pensions Hurt Children, Teachers

Exorbitant Michigan Pensions Hurt Children, Teachers
First, the taxpayer side of the equation. Using 2011 Census Bureau figures for population and average household, and state figures for unfunded liabilities, the gap between what Michigan has saved and what it will owe just for current employees’ retirement benefits is approximately $11,000 per household.

Carlos Slim, world’s richest man, gets richer supplying ‘Obamaph

Carlos Slim, world’s richest man, gets richer supplying ‘Obamaph - DC Breaking Local News Weather Sports FOX 5 WTTG
A Mexican telecom mogul who holds the title of world's richest man, and one of President Obama's top donors are both getting even richer from the U.S. government program that supplies so-called "Obamaphones" to the poor.

Mailing a letter to cost a penny more next year

My Way News - Mailing a letter to cost a penny more next year
The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service said Thursday that it will raise postage rates on Jan. 27, including a 1-cent increase in the cost of first-class mail to 46 cents.
Shocker!

Wisconsin bus driver fired for harassing pro-Romney student, telling him ‘maybe your mom should have chosen abortion for you’

Wisconsin bus driver fired for harassing pro-Romney student, telling him ‘maybe your mom should have chosen abortion for you’ - EAGnews.org :: Education Research, Reporting, Analysis and Commentary
A Wisconsin school bus driver has been fired for harassing a 12-year-old boy over a Mitt Romney sign in his family’s yard and for allegedly telling the boy,
 “Maybe your mom should have chosen abortion for you.”

Chinese billionaire to scoop up failing car battery maker that got $240M from feds

Chinese billionaire to scoop up failing car battery maker that got $240M from feds | Fox News
Since 2009, the Waltham, Mass.-based company has lost a reported $857 million, laid off workers and recalled its products.
A123's stock price has plunged from $4.44 about a year ago to 26 cents this week.

Oakland County commissioner sees bid to 'confuse voters' in petition fraud case

Oakland County commissioner sees bid to 'confuse voters' in petition fraud case | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
John Charles Scott, 22, of West Bloomfield Township, an independent candidate for Oakland County Commission in District 5, was arraigned Thursday on a charge of nominating petition fraud.
According to a warrant, he signed a nominating or initiative petition as the circulator when he was not the circulator.
He could not be reached for comment Thursday.
John A. Scott, 64, who has served in the district for 10 years, said he was disturbed by the incident.
"This was an obvious attempt by somebody to confuse the voters and cost me votes," said Scott, who first learned of the petitions from friends in the district who initially thought they were for his re-election bid.

DEMOCRAT CROOK!

Detroit parents embrace school choice, poll says

Detroit parents embrace school choice, poll says | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
More than half choose options other than DPS; have high hopes for kids' futures

Kilpatrick's family, mistress all got money from ex-mayor's charity, jurors told

Kilpatrick's family, mistress all got money from ex-mayor's charity, jurors told | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com
Testimony showed mistress Christine Beatty was paid more than $100,000 from the Kilpatrick Civic Fund after resigning in 2008 amid the text-message scandal.

Michigan's U.S. Senate race continuing without formal debates between Stabenow, Hoekstra

Michigan's U.S. Senate race continuing without formal debates between Stabenow, Hoekstra | MLive.com
It appears Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Republican challenger Pete Hoekstra will campaign for Michigan's U.S. Senate seat without meeting for formal debates.

Lance Armstrong stands unmasked as the worst kind of cheat and liar

Lance Armstrong stands unmasked as the worst kind of cheat and liar - NY Daily News
He is a fraud to the jazzed-up marrow of his bones.
He is a bald-faced liar to the public and under oath to investigators.
And he is a thug who attempted to conceal his systemic cheating with threats and intimidation.

Fire authority liabilities doubled to a half-billion dollars in 7 years

Fire authority liabilities doubled to a half-billion dollars in 7 years - OC Watchdog : The Orange County Register
.....the Orange County Fire Authority is calling them all out in a way that’s a bit unusual, and can leave one short of breath.
On top of pensions, OCFA has piled what it owes workers for medical benefits once they retire, workers’ compensation, and for vacation, sick and other leave time earned but not taken, as well as those pricey helicopter leases.
Here, then, is the picture that emerges:
Over the last seven years, OCFA’s total long-term obligations have more than doubled, to $558 million.
That happens to be twice as much as its general fund budget this year ($282 million).

MEDC Removes Video of Failed Battery Maker

MEDC Removes Video of Failed Battery Maker [Michigan Capitol Confidential
At the time, the company was promoted heavily by President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow.
Since then, A123 has shed money, laid off half its workforce, recalled products and seen its stock price plummet to about 26 cents this week from a previous high of $26.
Now, just two years after the initial roll-out, A123 is being acquired by a Chinese company.
Shortly after this deal was rumored a few weeks ago, the MEDC made all of its promotional videos “private.”
This is not the first time questions have been raised about the MEDC’s lack of transparency.

Muskegon County unemployment drops below 10 percent as economy improves

Muskegon County unemployment drops below 10 percent as economy improves | MLive.com
Muskegon County’s unemployment rate dropped to 9.1 percent in August, down from 10.1 percent in July and 10.0 percent a year ago.
At the same time, 1,290 people left the labor force and 945 fewer people were listed as employed.

Greece's Biggest Company Quits Country

Greece's Biggest Company Quits Country — European Business News - CNBC
Greece's biggest company is leaving the country, drinks bottler Coca Cola Hellenic (CCH) said on Thursday in announcing it will move to Switzerland and list its shares in London, dealing a blow to the debt-crippled Greek economy.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Spain Downgraded to One Level Above Junk by S&P

Spain Downgraded to One Level Above Junk by S&P - Businessweek
“The negative outlook on the long-term rating reflects our view of the significant risks to Spain’s economic growth and budgetary performance, and the lack of a clear direction in euro-zone policy,” S&P said.
“The deepening economic recession is limiting the Spanish government’s policy options.”