HR 3808: Ai Caramba, Lucy! Wha' Happan'?

This turkey almost became the law of the land, snuck in under the radar by voice vote in both houses of Congress.

Word is that it will be vetoed--unless of course, Himself's price for a signature is met by the bankers. One can never afford to be too optimistic these days.

Denninger explains the details of what it would have meant, e.g. a green light for bank and mortgage fraud to continue unchecked.

This sort of stuff goes to the heart of the rule of law. It passed unread, and almost unnoticed.

So, we can't name and shame those who voted on the bill.

As for the sponsor of this bit of evil--

Rep Aderholt, Robert B. [AL-4]

and the co-sponsors:

Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1]
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE]
Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7]

...OS hears there is an election day at hand...just sayin'.

The Etheridge Incident: Whatever This Is, It's Not Journalism

A pox on both their houses.

The 'students' (from which institution, working on what course, toward which degree?) were waiting laying in wait for Etheridge. He was on his way elsewhere, thinking of something else, and the kids caught his attention, much in the way a panhandler (or mugger) approaches someone on the street. Etheridge was caught off guard, and irritated at being accosted.

Should he have cold-cocked the cameraman? Nope!

Grabbed the kid by the wrist? Nope!

Should those kids have been there, attempting to stage a mugging on his reputation?

Definitely, no.

The posing of the question was not about eliciting information--and the question posed was something that could have been discerned from the public record.

It was all about provoking an angry reaction from a guy who appears to possess a short fuse.

It was not journalism, by any legitimate definition. It was 1:10 of ugliness from both sides of the equation.

OS keeps hammering, hopefully clearly, that the questions before us are about The Culture. Every day, do the things we do (and refrain from doing) improve The Culture?
Has anyone who witnessed this dust-up had their life improved thereby? Was this moment necessary? Etheridge is a doddering, angry old politician, but that would be clear to his constituents anyway, were they paying attention. HellsBells, now he elicits a bit of sympathy!

Whatever this was, it was not journalism, and The Culture was cheapened by it.

Les Phillip In Huntsville Tonight: 6 PM at UAH

A quick note from Les Phillip to those who read these pages from Northern Alabama.

(If you're not from there, it's a fabulous part of the US, with a fascinating history.)

Tonight, Monday, April 12, with doors opening at 6pm, I will be participating in a debate with the other 2 Republican candidates for the 5th district. This is a great opportunity to come out, hear from the candidates, and show your support. There will be a straw poll at this debate, so I encourage you to bring friends and come early as seats will be limited. The debate is located at the University Center building at UAHuntsville, and is sponsored by the Consortium of Students for Justice and Liberty.


OS doesn't know Mr. Phillip, but has thrown a few shekels his way as he runs for Congress.

Just by being elected and showing up on the House floor to be sworn in next year, he'll create apoplexy amongst the old-line Politburo leftists like Charlie Rangel, Nancy Pelosi, Harold Ford, and the Congressional Black Caucus.

It's worth a few shekels just to see them squirm.

Creative revenge is always more fun...

Votes (And Souls) Up For Auction This Week...

OS mused earlier about the process of auction of Rep. John Tanner's (TN-8) vote.

His Washington office isn't answering the phone, and now maybe we know why.

From today's Human Events:

Most interesting rumor from the Hill yesterday: Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) who announced his retirement from Congress has been promised the job of NASA administrator in exchange for his vote, and Rep. John Tanner (D-Tenn.), another retiring Democrat, has been promised an appointment as U.S. Ambassador to NATO in exchange for his vote.

Why, as we say here, isn't that special!

He'll get a very nice job in a very nice part of Europe, where he can hide out until the rage blows over about selling his soul and vote to Obama.

This is positively banana-republic sort of stuff. One of Mexico's most odious presidents was a character named Echeverria, who in the 1970's arbitrarily devalued the peso against the dollar, on a weekend, after the banks had closed. Of course, he had hoovered up on dollars, and when all those businesses opened on Monday, they found they were bankrupt, 'cuz a lot of loans were written in dollars, but paid in pesos.

Isn't that special!

So, our friend Echeverria and his friends were able to move in and appropriate a great portion of the country's wealth in short order. All the dollars sitting in everyone's Mexican bank dollar accounts had been seized, 'compensated' at an exchange rate that bore no relation to reality. It was a fire sale, and Senor Presidente was buying.

After he finished his term, he was appointed ambassador to UNESCO, and cooled his heels in Paris for a while. Every time he came home to visit, the newspapers announced his visit the week after he left. He returned to resume colorful life of crime, which continues unabated to this day. No one north of the border ever paid much attention, and besides, he was pro-Allende, anti-Israel, anti-American, and ranted leftist cant on a regular basis.

You know, the sort of despot the American left loves the best.

OS knew several people who would have happily shot the man on sight, had they been able to get within range. Normal, gentle, otherwise upstanding citizens. Little did OS know, back in his misspent youth, that he was visiting his future.

Isn't that special!

Seek And Ye Shall Find

The Great Health Care Bill is entitled(no kidding!):

In the Senate of the United States,
December 24, 2009.
Resolved, That the bill from the House of Representa-
tives (H.R. 3590) entitled ‘‘An Act to amend the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the first-time homebuyers
credit in the case of members of the Armed Forces and cer-
tain other Federal employees, and for other purposes.’’, do
pass with the following
AMENDMENTS:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert: 

And after that, we are greeted with 2300-something pages of health-care legislation.

And tucked in on page 1858,  Congress's sum total of its attempt to address tort reform--read it and weep:

Subtitle I--Sense of the Senate Regarding Medical Malpractice
SEC. 6801. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING MEDICAL MALPRACTICE.
It is the sense of the Senate that-- (1) health care reform presents an opportunity to address issues related to medical malpractice and medical liability insurance;
(2) States should be encouraged to develop and test alternatives to the existing civil litigation system as a way of improving patient safety, reducing medical errors, encouraging the efficient resolution of disputes, increasing the availability of prompt and fair resolution of disputes, and improving access to liability insurance, while preserving an individual's right to seek redress in court; and
(3) Congress should consider establishing a State demonstration program to evaluate alternatives to the existing civil litigation system with respect to the resolution of medical malpractice claims.

The US Social Security System: Peter, Meet Paul

Anecdotal Economics, authored by Keith Hazelton, proudly announces that it is 'Making Astrology Look Respectable, Since 2005'.

At least he has a sense of humor, which is often hard to do when discussing the mathematical challenges that confront us after the great seventy-something-year-long experiment in Ponzi finance known as the US Social Security system. When Roosevelt signed it into law, there were a comfortable surplus of working taxpayers who could be fleeced just a little bit to pay that modest check to Grandma in the 1930's. What could possibly go wrong, they figured?  Besides, it's a fabulous way for Congress to buy votes, with, you know, other people's money.

Fast forward a few decades. The birth rate falls. Life expectancy increases.  And subsequent Congresses tumble to the fact that they can raise benefits, add some perks, not really raise the tax that pays for it,  and keep buying votes. Easy-peasy!

In the late 70's, the actuaries notice that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually a freight train headed in our direction. Social Security taxes rise dramatically, actually creating a surplus--you know, to build up reserves to fund the obligations to all those born after about 1950.  Of course, this really creates a huge drag on the economy, especially on business and job formation. A good deal of work and compensation begins to quietly move underground, and overseas.  Birth rates keep falling, and longevity increases.

In the meantime, Congress sees this big pile of cash, licks its lips, and says, 'Hey, let's spend that! We'll hand the Social Security System T-bills, and they can cash them in from about 2010 on. It's only 1980, we'll be gone by then, and besides, what could possibly go wrong?'

It became a classic Ponzi scheme, in which Peter is robbed to pay Paul. It can be maintained for a long time, but inevitably, the scheme collapses.

Peter, meet Paul.

Hazelton has the gift of clearly explaining the math while maintaining a sense of humor, as he recounts that all those T-bills are stored in ring binders in the bottom drawer of a file cabinet in West Virginia.
What could go wrong?

And you children and grandchildren of the Boomers, wondering exactly why it is your parents and grandparents have no money saved for retirement...? Before your righteous indignation sets in, please take a moment to remember, fondly, all the Beanie Babies, Pogs, Tomagachis, Furbys, Barbies, Cabbage Patch Kids, music lessons and instruments, athletic lessons and equipment, summer adventure camps, trips to Disney World, skiing at Vail, Back Street Boys concerts, mountain bikes, X-Boxes, Nintendos, Segas and video games, CDs, DVDs, computers, stereos, televisions, cell phones, boom boxes, iPods, iPhones, 4,000 sf suburban homes, automobiles, boats, jet-skis, motorcycles, expensive-but-useless college educations, cosmetic surgery and glitzy/destination weddings which your elders showered upon you throughout your enchanted upbringings.

And don't be surprised when they (we) have to move in with you someday. Back to three generations in the same household, but look on the bright side: it might save on childcare expenses, depending on Grandma and Grandpa Boomer's schedules at Wal-Mart.


Chin-straps on, boys and girls.  And keep your sense of humor.

You'll need it.

Angry White Men: The Economist

On his travels, OS spotted a copy of The Economist lying about, and scanned briefly.  Always a good read, looking at Our Fair Country from a British perspective.

Correspondent Lexington visited a suburb of Memphis earlier this year, and offers this report.

The opening paragraph is pretty salty, but the essay is fair-minded and accurate, in the main. Since his conversations took place in OS's congressional district (TN-8), it seems good to pass it along, to give a 'snapshot' view of where we are here.

Anyone who wishes to paint this part of the world with a tar brush is simply mistaken. The dissatisfaction with the Current Occupant of The White House is not about the color of his skin, but rather about the content of his character, to paraphrase Dr. King.

Bigotry cannot explain, however, why Mr Obama’s approval rating among white Americans has fallen since he took office, from roughly 60% to 40%. As the president pointed out in September: “I was actually black before the election.” White voters have changed their view of Mr Obama not because of his skin colour, but because of what he has done—and what he has failed to do—since he took office. And although he is not on the ballot this year, this matters. The less people admire the president, the less likely they are to vote for his party in the mid-terms.

An Open Letter to the Honorable John Tanner, Tennessee 8th District

He won't read it. He doesn't seem to read his mail, and his staff are utterly clueless. OS has called with questions a few times over the years, and no one knows what in Heaven is happening.

(Besides, he's retiring as of next January, so November is the last thing on his mind.)

The local papers are not likely to print it.

So, OS mounts his private pulpit. If you know somebody who lives in West Tennessee, OS would appreciate it being forwarded.


Dear Representative Tanner:

I respectfully urge you to oppose the current attempt to force health care 'reform' through Congress.

1. It is evident that a great portion of the country has deep, serious misgivings about any sweeping program that will seek to control this large and vital part of our economy and culture. Please, prudence demands restraint.

2.  The Federal Government has taken us to the brink of bankruptcy by enacting one entitlement program after another since the 1930's.  Each one, the country was told, was a modest effort, and would not ever cost too much. Each one ballooned into an out-of-control black hole of spending or outright fraud. Fannie and Freddie immediately come to mind, as does Medicare. Social Security has become an actuarial impossibility. You are in the insurance business, so you must understand this better than most. Please, this has to stop, and this is our best opportunity to begin to turn the corner.

3. There are other, much less invasive ways to accomplish some good reforms within our outstanding system of medical care that Obama and company will NOT consider.  A physician of any integrity will not advocate surgery when a medical solution shows great promise of working effectively. He will not even advocate a 'medical solution', e.g. writing a prescription, when what is needed is a change of diet or lifestyle. Why won't the Congress and Executive branch exercise that same prudence?  The government plays roulette with our lives, and seems deaf to our voices.

4. The Federal Government has proven itself, again and again, to be a completely untrustworthy steward of our resources. It must not be entrusted with control of our health care. It has not earned that trust. Why should we entrust health-care to the same people who have treated us to both the creation of, and subsequent misguided attempts to cure, our massive financial difficulties?  If it can't clean up GMAC, why should we hand over the medical system to Washington? Sheer prudence demands restraint.

I read of various procedural 'dodges' being cooked up, whereby members of Congress might spared actually having to VOTE, up-or-down, on the record, on this bill. Please be assured that this behavior is being watched. These attempts are unconstitutional on their face, blatantly so. You know it , we know it, and you know that we know that you know it. Nowhere to hide on this one, Mr. Tanner.

Please don't shred the Constitution on our way out the door.

Please. Prudence demands restraint.

Respectfully,

The Eric Massa Interview With Glenn Beck

It's hard to know what to think. It was a confusing, incoherent hour.

OS thinks they talked past one another, for the most part. Massa wanted to talk about his overwhelming frustration with his entire experience, and Beck was mining for diamonds, smoking guns, something to run with.

Massa is not an intellectual giant, but most members of Congress aren't. He's not terribly articulate. His brain does not seem to work in a straight line as he talks in public about his experience. His emotional turmoil overshadows anything else just now.  Listening to him was visceral, and enlightening in its own disjointed way. Beck didn't seem to pick up on that, and Beck himself is not a skilled interviewer, with the craft in place to pick up a thought and help the subject clarify and distill it. He was on his own quest for a smoking gun, or a silver bullet to fire at Obama. The veritable stake to drive through the heart. (Enough analogies already!)

Massa probably functioned well in the Navy, but that is its own world, far different from Congress.

What was he thinking, running for Congress?  He was asking himself the same thing, it appears.

(What possessed the Democrat powers-that-be to support this guy in his run for Congress?  Did no one notice there might be a problem?)

Massa is about to go through a dark tunnel personally, no avoiding it. There is that possible cancer diagnosis hanging over him as well.

Given the perspective that time and living through this next year will afford, Mr. Massa will probably have something much more coherent and specific to say, if he so chooses, sometime in 2011 or 2012.

In the meantime, let's hope the Obama White House and the Democrat machine don't hound him like the Clintons hounded those who spoke up about them in the 1990's.

OS wishes him well, as should we all.

Still, it's hard to make sense of the whole episode...

Another open seat, up for grabs!