OldSouth, following his morning walk (under orders to lose weight, grumble, grumble), tossed his sweaty clothes into the washer, failing to remove his mobile phone.
In case any of his readers are curious on the subject, mobile phones do not respond well to washing machines.
So, off to the mobile phone store he goes, to pick up a replacement, whilst removing egg from his grizzled face. He got a lunch with the saintly Mrs. OS out of the deal, so all was not lost.
A SweetYoungThing expertly got him situated, and while his new phone was being activated, OS overheard a conversation between a couple in their 70's and the next sales rep down the counter. It was good-natured, but it was easy to tell these folks were old-school-from-the-country folks. At one point, in deciding what to purchase, and how to pay, the wife blurted out jokingly 'I'll have to make sure Mr. Obama sent me my Social Security check!'. It was a giggle for everyone.
A minute or so later, she sidles up to OS and remarks, 'You know, I voted for Obama last time!' OS inquires, 'Are you happy with that decision, ma'am?'
Her answer: 'Is anyone?'
Heaven bless her, she gets it. Here's hoping the GOP gives her a candidate worth leaving the house to vote for.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes We Can (Lose our AAA Credit rating)!
How appropriate, on the day that Obama's economics home-boy Austan Goolsbee heads back to his tenured life in academia, that S & P announces they've had enough BS from this administration to last them for quite a while thank-yew-ver'uh-much.
(Reuters) - The United States lost its top-notch AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor's on Friday in an unprecedented reversal of fortune for the world's largest economy.
S&P cut the long-term U.S. credit rating by one notch to AA-plus on concerns about the government's budget deficits and rising debt burden. The move is likely to raise borrowing costs eventually for the American government, companies and consumers.
"The downgrade reflects our opinion that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration recently agreed to falls short of what, in our view, would be necessary to stabilize the government's medium-term debt dynamics," S&P said in a statement.
We are committing crimes against our grandchildren by allowing the government to live so far beyond its means. Somebody, somewhere, sometime, is gunna hafta pay alllll this money back, and it appears it will fall to our children and theirs. They will curse our memory for it.
And of course, true to form, the Obama administration chose to attack the reputation of S & P in response. It's The Chicago Way, baby!
(Reuters) - The United States lost its top-notch AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor's on Friday in an unprecedented reversal of fortune for the world's largest economy.
S&P cut the long-term U.S. credit rating by one notch to AA-plus on concerns about the government's budget deficits and rising debt burden. The move is likely to raise borrowing costs eventually for the American government, companies and consumers.
"The downgrade reflects our opinion that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration recently agreed to falls short of what, in our view, would be necessary to stabilize the government's medium-term debt dynamics," S&P said in a statement.
We are committing crimes against our grandchildren by allowing the government to live so far beyond its means. Somebody, somewhere, sometime, is gunna hafta pay alllll this money back, and it appears it will fall to our children and theirs. They will curse our memory for it.
And of course, true to form, the Obama administration chose to attack the reputation of S & P in response. It's The Chicago Way, baby!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Undoubtedly, The Slaughter In Syria Will Be Blamed On Israel...
Wait for it, it will happen.
The latest figures of the Arab army of Assad slaughtering Arab civilians in Hama now stands about 2000. Hillary decided the threshold of caring had been breached, and decided to say disapproving things about the situation.
The BBC report is here, complete with (univerified) footage.
OS would wish to gently remind his readers that, if allowed to prevail in the Middle East, all of Palestine will be run by people like Assad, and much worse.
The latest figures of the Arab army of Assad slaughtering Arab civilians in Hama now stands about 2000. Hillary decided the threshold of caring had been breached, and decided to say disapproving things about the situation.
The BBC report is here, complete with (univerified) footage.
OS would wish to gently remind his readers that, if allowed to prevail in the Middle East, all of Palestine will be run by people like Assad, and much worse.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Barack Obama's Birthday Present To The United States: Debt to GDP now 100%
It warms the heart, don't it?
It's the Big-Five-Oh for The Beloved Leader, and he never fails to celebrate the really big occasions, like putting the country as much in debt as it produces, with more of the same baked into the projections for years to come--and that's after The Deal, which simply slowed the speed of the runaway truck of our culture headed off the cliff. It'll be comforting to know that we're only going over the edge at 60 mph as opposed to 62 mph, dont'cha-know!
He did look in good form last night, did he not, with that winning smile and the young lady in her LittleBlackDress who breathlessly let The One just how much she admired Him. Betcha MizzMichelle loved that moment! Rather like Miss Monroe singing that memorable version of 'Happy Birthday' to JFK all those years ago...
After all, to have achieved a life goal of crashing a culture by age fifty, it's no small thing. And to hear a room full of donors cheering you for the occasion, well, that's just icing on the ole' birthday cake...
As OS hits 'publish', the Dow's down about 300, S&P down about 35, gold up about 7.
Happy birthday, Mr. President!
It's the Big-Five-Oh for The Beloved Leader, and he never fails to celebrate the really big occasions, like putting the country as much in debt as it produces, with more of the same baked into the projections for years to come--and that's after The Deal, which simply slowed the speed of the runaway truck of our culture headed off the cliff. It'll be comforting to know that we're only going over the edge at 60 mph as opposed to 62 mph, dont'cha-know!
He did look in good form last night, did he not, with that winning smile and the young lady in her LittleBlackDress who breathlessly let The One just how much she admired Him. Betcha MizzMichelle loved that moment! Rather like Miss Monroe singing that memorable version of 'Happy Birthday' to JFK all those years ago...
After all, to have achieved a life goal of crashing a culture by age fifty, it's no small thing. And to hear a room full of donors cheering you for the occasion, well, that's just icing on the ole' birthday cake...
As OS hits 'publish', the Dow's down about 300, S&P down about 35, gold up about 7.
Happy birthday, Mr. President!
Why 'Shovel-Ready' Isn't, And Why Obama Won't Ever Create Jobs
Himself admits 'shovel-ready' never happened, and blathers about creating some sort of gubbermint bank for infrastructure projects (no moral hazard there, huh?), and the unemployment rate continues to climb, food stamp dependency rises monthly (36% of Alabama now on food stamps...), and somehow in Obamaland, it's all because dose wascawy Wepubwikans won't let him spend enough money.
This is just one example of what happens anytime anyone anywhere in our fair country wants to build a road, or dam, or drill an oil well, or open a quarry, or...
INDIANAPOLIS — Environmentalists have filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping construction of the Interstate 69 extension in Southern Indiana, claiming the project violates federal environmental laws.
Landowners affected by the I-69 project, Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads and the I-69 Accountability Project filed the suit in federal court in Indianapolis on Monday, a week after federal highway officials signed off on the final environmental review for the stretch from the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center to Bloomington.
The groups contend that the highway project threatens the endangered Indiana bat and violates the federal Endangered Species Act.
A spokesman for Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads said the group believes the state highway department underestimated in its count of nearly 1,500 geologic features such as sinkholes, caves and springs in the path of the latest approved section.
“I-69 should never have been routed through this extremely environmentally sensitive area,” Thomas Tokarski said.
It isn't like the State of Indiana didn't do its homework before they turned the first spade of dirt. It takes millions of dollars and years of time just to get over the regulatory hurdles, after the design work, putting the money together, etc. That's before anybody moves one shovel full of dirt.
Even with all that done, there's always an 'environmental' group to file suit on behalf of some endangered rodent, or eyeless fish that lives in a cave. 'Cuz every square foot of land is 'extremely environmentally sensitive'.
It's the classic shakedown, Chicago-style, always staged by enthusiastic Obama supporters. Pay us off, or we shut you down.
Locally, here in Tennessee, State Route 840 was stopped dead in its tracks by 'Native American' groups after the environmental scam stopped working. They claimed that aboriginal graves lay along the route, and would be disturbed. Turns out they couldn't show any line of relation between those graves, dating from centuries ago by aborigines who left nothing except bones and arrowheads behind, and any current 'Native Americans'. But there was a deal struck anyway, and a settlement, etc.
This is the verbiage that opens the TN-840 website:
In 1986, State Route 840 was initiated as part of the state’s Better Roads Program to provide economic growth by improving access to communities in Middle Tennessee. On the 78-mile route, 66 miles are open to traffic, with approximately 12 miles remaining in some phase of construction in Williamson County. The entire route is scheduled to be open to traffic by December 2012.
That's not a typo, ya'll! They've been trying to build this road since 1986! The congestion builds in Nashville, and opportunities are lost for real businesses, creating real employment, to set up shop in Middle Tennessee. It won't finish til December 2012, 'cuz they've just begun site prep on that final short stretch where all those 'Native American' graves are supposed to exist! Twenty-six years to build seventy-eight miles of road through the countryside.
There are dams that need building, wells that need drilling, quarries that need to operate, plants that need to open.
And we have a Federal government and its allies determined to crush all of the above, all the while yammering about 'Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs'.
Both these highways open up isolated regions of their states, and create opportunities for the starved small towns nearby to come back to life.
If Obama really wants to create jobs, instead of more millions dependent upon his largesse, he would be strong-arming every one of these bogus environmental groups, and tell them to sit down and shut up.
But he won't. 'Cuz he's more interested in shutting down the economy than in ever allowing it to prosper.
This is just one example of what happens anytime anyone anywhere in our fair country wants to build a road, or dam, or drill an oil well, or open a quarry, or...
INDIANAPOLIS — Environmentalists have filed a lawsuit aimed at stopping construction of the Interstate 69 extension in Southern Indiana, claiming the project violates federal environmental laws.
Landowners affected by the I-69 project, Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads and the I-69 Accountability Project filed the suit in federal court in Indianapolis on Monday, a week after federal highway officials signed off on the final environmental review for the stretch from the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center to Bloomington.
The groups contend that the highway project threatens the endangered Indiana bat and violates the federal Endangered Species Act.
A spokesman for Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads said the group believes the state highway department underestimated in its count of nearly 1,500 geologic features such as sinkholes, caves and springs in the path of the latest approved section.
“I-69 should never have been routed through this extremely environmentally sensitive area,” Thomas Tokarski said.
It isn't like the State of Indiana didn't do its homework before they turned the first spade of dirt. It takes millions of dollars and years of time just to get over the regulatory hurdles, after the design work, putting the money together, etc. That's before anybody moves one shovel full of dirt.
Even with all that done, there's always an 'environmental' group to file suit on behalf of some endangered rodent, or eyeless fish that lives in a cave. 'Cuz every square foot of land is 'extremely environmentally sensitive'.
It's the classic shakedown, Chicago-style, always staged by enthusiastic Obama supporters. Pay us off, or we shut you down.
Locally, here in Tennessee, State Route 840 was stopped dead in its tracks by 'Native American' groups after the environmental scam stopped working. They claimed that aboriginal graves lay along the route, and would be disturbed. Turns out they couldn't show any line of relation between those graves, dating from centuries ago by aborigines who left nothing except bones and arrowheads behind, and any current 'Native Americans'. But there was a deal struck anyway, and a settlement, etc.
This is the verbiage that opens the TN-840 website:
In 1986, State Route 840 was initiated as part of the state’s Better Roads Program to provide economic growth by improving access to communities in Middle Tennessee. On the 78-mile route, 66 miles are open to traffic, with approximately 12 miles remaining in some phase of construction in Williamson County. The entire route is scheduled to be open to traffic by December 2012.
That's not a typo, ya'll! They've been trying to build this road since 1986! The congestion builds in Nashville, and opportunities are lost for real businesses, creating real employment, to set up shop in Middle Tennessee. It won't finish til December 2012, 'cuz they've just begun site prep on that final short stretch where all those 'Native American' graves are supposed to exist! Twenty-six years to build seventy-eight miles of road through the countryside.
There are dams that need building, wells that need drilling, quarries that need to operate, plants that need to open.
And we have a Federal government and its allies determined to crush all of the above, all the while yammering about 'Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs'.
Both these highways open up isolated regions of their states, and create opportunities for the starved small towns nearby to come back to life.
If Obama really wants to create jobs, instead of more millions dependent upon his largesse, he would be strong-arming every one of these bogus environmental groups, and tell them to sit down and shut up.
But he won't. 'Cuz he's more interested in shutting down the economy than in ever allowing it to prosper.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Sense of Events: Crush them in red tape
Sense of Events: Crush them in red tape
This contribution from Donald Sensing highlights efforts by the Feds to force anyone who drives a farm tractor to possess a commercial drivers license.
Really? Do any of those clowns ever venture out of their commute-from-apartment/commute-to-work/commute-to-apartment life to see what it's like to actually operate a farm?
These people have to go. 2012 cannot come soon enough, and we need to elect both a President and large majorities in both houses with enough common sense to send clowns like this packing.
This contribution from Donald Sensing highlights efforts by the Feds to force anyone who drives a farm tractor to possess a commercial drivers license.
Really? Do any of those clowns ever venture out of their commute-from-apartment/commute-to-work/commute-to-apartment life to see what it's like to actually operate a farm?
These people have to go. 2012 cannot come soon enough, and we need to elect both a President and large majorities in both houses with enough common sense to send clowns like this packing.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Joe Biden Wins The Unspeakable Horse's Patooty Award
What does one say about a Vice-President of the United States who enjoys 24/7/365 protection of the US Secret Service and charges the Service 2,200 rent for the space to house the agents who protect him 24/7/365?
Really, can't make this stuff up!
Actually, speaking for the taxpayer--WE pay rent there, or at least 60% of it. The other 40% is borrowed, and our grandchildren will pay that part.
Of course, as of today, anyone who may object to this sort of thing are have been labelled 'terrorists' by...er....Joe Biden.
Really, can't make this stuff up!
The U.S. Secret Service does more than protect Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. — the agency also pays him rent.
Since April, Mr. Biden has collected more than $13,000 from the agency charged with protecting him and his family for use of a rental cottage adjacent to the waterfront home he owns in a Wilmington, Del., suburb.
Mr. Biden, listed not as vice president in federal purchasing documents but as a “vendor,” is eligible for up to $66,000 by the time the government contract expires in the fall of 2013, the records show.
Officials say the arrangement came about when a previous tenant moved out of the cottage and the Secret Service moved in.
Edwin M. Donovan, special agent in charge at the Secret Service's Office of Government and Public Affairs in Washington, said the agency pays $2,200 in rent per-month, the same amount a previous tenant had paid before moving out.
He said the close location provides a level of security for the Biden family the agency might not have had otherwise. Asked if the Secret Service typically pays rent to the people it protects, he said, “It’s a rental property so we pay rent there.”
Actually, speaking for the taxpayer--WE pay rent there, or at least 60% of it. The other 40% is borrowed, and our grandchildren will pay that part.
Of course, as of today, anyone who may object to this sort of thing are have been labelled 'terrorists' by...er....Joe Biden.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Sunday 31 July: Virginia and DC Area Travels, And The Deal
Hard to know where to begin, so let's begin with The Deal--you know The Deal that has dominated headlines now for a month.
OS thinks of this more and more in terms of a failed marriage, where both husband and wife know they have failed, but are so angry about it that they can't get past blaming the other spouse for all the problems of the world. And, Mister and Missuz also know they have to keep things glued together For The Sake of The Kids, 'cuz however bad things are now, they only get worse if a divorce occurs. So they're stuck, like participants in a gaucho knife fight, each with a knife and a burning hatred, but tied together at the wrist. Not a pretty sight, is it?
That's where we are, in OS's humble opinion, and it won't get better for a long time. 2012 gives us an opportunity to remove the truly bad actors like Obama and Pelosi, but the animosity will burn on for a generation.
With all the cry of 'Our debt will be downgraded by the ratings agencies', one thing seems pretty certain: Whether or not Moody's or S&P downgrade US Treasury debt this month, the event is inevitable. It is inevitable because, in reality we do not deserve a AAA rating. We borrow .40 of every 1.00 in operating costs, and spend with no budget in place, and no sense of shame. The US government acts like the coke or meth-addicted cousin that so many families endure. No matter how many entreaties are made, sooner or later he's gonna steal and pawn the family jewels, and 'borrow' the family's pickup truck, which will end up wrapped around a tree on some sharp curve on a country road. If you get mad at him for these things, you'll be accused of heartlessness and blamed for making him this way during his childhood. But he'll promise never to do it again, until next time.
The Deal will be signed, but it will not hold up. It's just being done For The Sake Of The Kids.
OS's travels took him to the DC area. For those who haven't been there, think of it as one giant parking lot, about 60 miles by 60 miles, jammed with vehicles all attempting to exit through one gate.
On the upside, OS enjoyed walking a course constructed in 1969, when persimmon clubs and steel shafts ruled the day. OS's persimmon and steel set did just fine, thank you. It's a joy to hit a good drive and not have to reach for the 3-wood to lay up on a par 4.
It will be interesting to see what happens to this part of the country, which for so long has floated on a sea of money emanating from Washington, much in direct payroll from Treasury, thus floating on a sea of borrowed money which is about to dry up. It will be interesting times. For now, the restaurants and retail are thriving, thank you, and the streets are filled with late-model vehicles. For now, at least.
OS thinks of this more and more in terms of a failed marriage, where both husband and wife know they have failed, but are so angry about it that they can't get past blaming the other spouse for all the problems of the world. And, Mister and Missuz also know they have to keep things glued together For The Sake of The Kids, 'cuz however bad things are now, they only get worse if a divorce occurs. So they're stuck, like participants in a gaucho knife fight, each with a knife and a burning hatred, but tied together at the wrist. Not a pretty sight, is it?
That's where we are, in OS's humble opinion, and it won't get better for a long time. 2012 gives us an opportunity to remove the truly bad actors like Obama and Pelosi, but the animosity will burn on for a generation.
With all the cry of 'Our debt will be downgraded by the ratings agencies', one thing seems pretty certain: Whether or not Moody's or S&P downgrade US Treasury debt this month, the event is inevitable. It is inevitable because, in reality we do not deserve a AAA rating. We borrow .40 of every 1.00 in operating costs, and spend with no budget in place, and no sense of shame. The US government acts like the coke or meth-addicted cousin that so many families endure. No matter how many entreaties are made, sooner or later he's gonna steal and pawn the family jewels, and 'borrow' the family's pickup truck, which will end up wrapped around a tree on some sharp curve on a country road. If you get mad at him for these things, you'll be accused of heartlessness and blamed for making him this way during his childhood. But he'll promise never to do it again, until next time.
The Deal will be signed, but it will not hold up. It's just being done For The Sake Of The Kids.
OS's travels took him to the DC area. For those who haven't been there, think of it as one giant parking lot, about 60 miles by 60 miles, jammed with vehicles all attempting to exit through one gate.
On the upside, OS enjoyed walking a course constructed in 1969, when persimmon clubs and steel shafts ruled the day. OS's persimmon and steel set did just fine, thank you. It's a joy to hit a good drive and not have to reach for the 3-wood to lay up on a par 4.
It will be interesting to see what happens to this part of the country, which for so long has floated on a sea of money emanating from Washington, much in direct payroll from Treasury, thus floating on a sea of borrowed money which is about to dry up. It will be interesting times. For now, the restaurants and retail are thriving, thank you, and the streets are filled with late-model vehicles. For now, at least.
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