Every time OS posts anything about Venezuela, the page views jump dramatically. He doesn't understand exactly why, except that it's like watching, from a long distance, two freight trains approaching each other on the same track. Nothing to be done except watch in morbid fascination.
What does one say about a country with the world's largest oil reserves...
...that has to ration gasoline for its own use?
Perhaps, there is a useful object lesson here: Socialism kills liberty, and leads to poverty. Everywhere and each occasion it's attempted.
And, let's remember, the Hopey-Changeys love Chavez and Castro.
Maybe, that explains it.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Quote Of The Day: Andrew Sullivan's Response To Himself's Budget In Today's Atlantic
To all those under 30 who worked so hard to get this man elected, know this: he just screwed you over. He thinks you're fools. Either the US will go into default because of Obama's cowardice, or you will be paying far far more for far far less because this president has no courage when it counts. He let you down. On the critical issue of America's fiscal crisis, he represents no hope and no change. Just the same old Washington politics he once promised to end.
This is Andrew Sullivan, a Lion of the Left, writing for the most East Coast of all the East Coast Establishment brands. Whoodathunkit?
This is the sort of tone one spouse takes to the other as she's walking out the door to visit her newly-engaged attorney. This doesn't allow for any kiss-and-make-up moment later.
It's dawning on him, and many on The Left, that Obama is a nihilist at heart. The Empty Shirt the rest of us have always known him to be.
OS was curious as to why today's 11:00 am press conference was so hastily called. Given the reaction OS has been able to garner from Himself's posse on the left, the event seems less surprising. It was damage control, pure and simple. It was all dodging and weaving and calling for 'adult conversations' and 'compromise', anything to change the subject.
Problem is, unless this subject is addressed, the other subjects don't merit discussion. It's the situation of the wife who discovers the husband's other wife and family tucked away in San Diego. No need to discuss the color scheme for the bathroom remodel just now.
This is Andrew Sullivan, a Lion of the Left, writing for the most East Coast of all the East Coast Establishment brands. Whoodathunkit?
This is the sort of tone one spouse takes to the other as she's walking out the door to visit her newly-engaged attorney. This doesn't allow for any kiss-and-make-up moment later.
It's dawning on him, and many on The Left, that Obama is a nihilist at heart. The Empty Shirt the rest of us have always known him to be.
OS was curious as to why today's 11:00 am press conference was so hastily called. Given the reaction OS has been able to garner from Himself's posse on the left, the event seems less surprising. It was damage control, pure and simple. It was all dodging and weaving and calling for 'adult conversations' and 'compromise', anything to change the subject.
Problem is, unless this subject is addressed, the other subjects don't merit discussion. It's the situation of the wife who discovers the husband's other wife and family tucked away in San Diego. No need to discuss the color scheme for the bathroom remodel just now.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sense of Events: How deep is our debt hole?
Sense of Events: How deep is our debt hole?
Donald Sensing, at Sense of Events, has a wonderful ability to get to the point, quickly.
He shares this video with us:
Obama's proposal of 'we'll just freeze spending and it'll all be alright' is simply not credible. He knows it. Congress knows it. Congress knows that he knows it. He knows that Congress knows....etc....
HellsBells, ya'll! Not even the Washington Post is willing to drink the Kool-Aid anymore. These people never met an entitlement they didn't love, and they ain't buyin' it.
They call Himself The Punter In Chief. Oprah called Him 'The One', and the Nobel Committee award him the Peace Prize. Chris Matthews felt that famous 'thrill up my leg'...reality is beginning to set in.
He is completely out of his depth, and it is just dimly dawning upon him that he has done immense damage to this culture. Now, many contend, including OS, that this was His intent all along. He just didn't realize how shitty it would feel, and that he would be blamed, and instead of appearing to be The One, or a modern-day savior, he is on the way to joining James Buchanan and Jimmy Carter on the list of WorstPresidentsEver.
In the mid-1990s, and in the 1980's, a spending freeze+economic growth plan might have worked. But every time it was proposed, the Left and their homeboyz in the media would immediately begin the demagoguery about 'cuts', how children would starve and old people would freeze.
Well, ya'll on The Left--yah got'cher way. Economic growth has been stabbed in the liver, and expenditures and unfunded obligations are ToTheMoonAlice. The Cloward-Piven Moment approaches.
Time to let the grownups take over, and see if we can't steer this ship away from the rocks.
Donald Sensing, at Sense of Events, has a wonderful ability to get to the point, quickly.
He shares this video with us:
Obama's proposal of 'we'll just freeze spending and it'll all be alright' is simply not credible. He knows it. Congress knows it. Congress knows that he knows it. He knows that Congress knows....etc....
HellsBells, ya'll! Not even the Washington Post is willing to drink the Kool-Aid anymore. These people never met an entitlement they didn't love, and they ain't buyin' it.
They call Himself The Punter In Chief. Oprah called Him 'The One', and the Nobel Committee award him the Peace Prize. Chris Matthews felt that famous 'thrill up my leg'...reality is beginning to set in.
He is completely out of his depth, and it is just dimly dawning upon him that he has done immense damage to this culture. Now, many contend, including OS, that this was His intent all along. He just didn't realize how shitty it would feel, and that he would be blamed, and instead of appearing to be The One, or a modern-day savior, he is on the way to joining James Buchanan and Jimmy Carter on the list of WorstPresidentsEver.
In the mid-1990s, and in the 1980's, a spending freeze+economic growth plan might have worked. But every time it was proposed, the Left and their homeboyz in the media would immediately begin the demagoguery about 'cuts', how children would starve and old people would freeze.
Well, ya'll on The Left--yah got'cher way. Economic growth has been stabbed in the liver, and expenditures and unfunded obligations are ToTheMoonAlice. The Cloward-Piven Moment approaches.
Time to let the grownups take over, and see if we can't steer this ship away from the rocks.
The State Of Wisconsin v. The Public Employee Unions
The Chicago Tribune reports that Gov. Walker has the votes needed to end collective bargaining between the government and public employee unions.
The unions, especially the NEA, are not amused, and use Wisconsin as a case in point about those gweedy, wascawy Wepubwikans who are starving chilluns and depriving them of their futures.
Wisconsin, for example, faces a two-year budget deficit of $3.6 billion. Ellsworth Community School District in Wisconsin is slashing 24 of its 150 school personnel positions to save $1.1 million.
One of the educators not returning next year is Shelly Moore, a 13-year English and drama high school teacher at Ellsworth Community High School. Moore teaches grades 9-12. She also is the school’s only Advanced Placement instructor. Moore took her message to Congress last week, reminding lawmakers that investing in education is the right thing to do for students, communities and the nation.
“This is devastating,” said Moore. “How am I going to look at my students in the eye and tell them I won’t be here next year to help them? In all my years teaching, I’ve never seen so little regard for our future. We have to put students first.”
Ms. More's tale of woe is further detailed here.
OS keeps looking for NEA's proposals to stop the arterial bleeding of red ink from both state and federal budgets, and only encounters these stories of heartbroken union members.
They also spend a lot of time and energy going after any alternatives to the 'single-provider' government system.
Hmmm....
NEA and their state organizations have always been the frontline troops for the left edge of the Democrat Party. They helped push Jimmy Carter over the top in 1976, and were rewarded with the Department of Education, which has become a vast black hole of increasing expenditure and decaying returns. Any program, anywhere, anytime, that increased the cost, size and reach of government was loudly supported, and still is. Their support of Obama was breathless.
Obama kept his promise, and mainlined boatloads of borrowed cash into the states to prop up the unsustainable system, gambling (literally, putting the future wealth of the nation on the table) that this would generate enough votes to consolidate control in 2010, when he could really really really get on with the borrowing and spending to set up for 2012, when he really really really get on with the borrowing and spending from 2013 onwards.
Reality has finally set in, just a bit, and the painful cuts (long overdue) are now just being proposed. The worst is ahead.
Now, Himself is finally giving a news conference, talking about having 'an adult conversation', a 'full open debate with the American people', etc. etc. Is this the same guy who in 2009 was holding public speeches about letting the Republicans join in, as long as they 'rode in the back of the bus'?
It's time, long past time, to send the NEA on its way, for the counties and townships and states to take back their school systems from the Federal government and the unions. And, if the unions remain imbedded at the state level, it's time for the localities to take their schools back.
The current system has failed. It began failing in earnest in the 1970's, with the rise of the NEA. It is time to change course.
Now.
Or, alternatively, we could just print up a whole-lotta moh' hot money, and helicopter it down to the states. That's what The Left tells is the answer. That's what they've always told us.
The unions, especially the NEA, are not amused, and use Wisconsin as a case in point about those gweedy, wascawy Wepubwikans who are starving chilluns and depriving them of their futures.
Wisconsin, for example, faces a two-year budget deficit of $3.6 billion. Ellsworth Community School District in Wisconsin is slashing 24 of its 150 school personnel positions to save $1.1 million.
One of the educators not returning next year is Shelly Moore, a 13-year English and drama high school teacher at Ellsworth Community High School. Moore teaches grades 9-12. She also is the school’s only Advanced Placement instructor. Moore took her message to Congress last week, reminding lawmakers that investing in education is the right thing to do for students, communities and the nation.
“This is devastating,” said Moore. “How am I going to look at my students in the eye and tell them I won’t be here next year to help them? In all my years teaching, I’ve never seen so little regard for our future. We have to put students first.”
Ms. More's tale of woe is further detailed here.
OS keeps looking for NEA's proposals to stop the arterial bleeding of red ink from both state and federal budgets, and only encounters these stories of heartbroken union members.
They also spend a lot of time and energy going after any alternatives to the 'single-provider' government system.
Hmmm....
NEA and their state organizations have always been the frontline troops for the left edge of the Democrat Party. They helped push Jimmy Carter over the top in 1976, and were rewarded with the Department of Education, which has become a vast black hole of increasing expenditure and decaying returns. Any program, anywhere, anytime, that increased the cost, size and reach of government was loudly supported, and still is. Their support of Obama was breathless.
Obama kept his promise, and mainlined boatloads of borrowed cash into the states to prop up the unsustainable system, gambling (literally, putting the future wealth of the nation on the table) that this would generate enough votes to consolidate control in 2010, when he could really really really get on with the borrowing and spending to set up for 2012, when he really really really get on with the borrowing and spending from 2013 onwards.
Reality has finally set in, just a bit, and the painful cuts (long overdue) are now just being proposed. The worst is ahead.
Now, Himself is finally giving a news conference, talking about having 'an adult conversation', a 'full open debate with the American people', etc. etc. Is this the same guy who in 2009 was holding public speeches about letting the Republicans join in, as long as they 'rode in the back of the bus'?
It's time, long past time, to send the NEA on its way, for the counties and townships and states to take back their school systems from the Federal government and the unions. And, if the unions remain imbedded at the state level, it's time for the localities to take their schools back.
The current system has failed. It began failing in earnest in the 1970's, with the rise of the NEA. It is time to change course.
Now.
Or, alternatively, we could just print up a whole-lotta moh' hot money, and helicopter it down to the states. That's what The Left tells is the answer. That's what they've always told us.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Venezuela: The Cracks In The Economy Are Beginning To Show
We must remember that the HopeyChangey folks love Chavez, and Castro, just as the New York Times loved Stalin in the 1930's. (That worked out well, did it not?)
The two most recent posts from The Devil's Excrement are illustrative.
First, the food shortages are showing up on grocery store shelves, as are shortages of other basic necessities of life. Like diapers and cleaning products.
The author reports:
I don’t know if I have been distracted lately or if I was just not paying attention. I have been hearing for weeks about the problems with shortages of diapers and sanitary napkins (an almost daily topic of discussion by the women in my office), but to tell you the truth, I was stunned when I went to the supermarket on Tuesday and saw all the empty or semi-empty shelves. Thinking that it was just coincidental, maybe the shelves had not been replenished from the weekend, I thought by today things would go back to normal.
No such luck, the shelves looked even worse. On the left you can see the paper products shelf, looking truly empty, only one brand of diapers available.
OS looked through the comments section on this post, and saw a most poignant comment left by one CarlosElio. Well worth the time invested to read.
The second post is an eye-wateringly detailed account of the Venezuelan bond market, and how it is now used by businesses as an end-run around currency controls imposed by Chavez.
Remember, ya'll. The Left loves Chavez and Castro. This is what they have in mind for us here, if we allow it. A friend just returned from a visit to Cuba. He loves the friends he has made there, but the poverty and lack of freedom are just stunning.
OS hopes one and all take time to read these posts, and pass them along.
The two most recent posts from The Devil's Excrement are illustrative.
First, the food shortages are showing up on grocery store shelves, as are shortages of other basic necessities of life. Like diapers and cleaning products.
The author reports:
I don’t know if I have been distracted lately or if I was just not paying attention. I have been hearing for weeks about the problems with shortages of diapers and sanitary napkins (an almost daily topic of discussion by the women in my office), but to tell you the truth, I was stunned when I went to the supermarket on Tuesday and saw all the empty or semi-empty shelves. Thinking that it was just coincidental, maybe the shelves had not been replenished from the weekend, I thought by today things would go back to normal.
No such luck, the shelves looked even worse. On the left you can see the paper products shelf, looking truly empty, only one brand of diapers available.
OS looked through the comments section on this post, and saw a most poignant comment left by one CarlosElio. Well worth the time invested to read.
The second post is an eye-wateringly detailed account of the Venezuelan bond market, and how it is now used by businesses as an end-run around currency controls imposed by Chavez.
Remember, ya'll. The Left loves Chavez and Castro. This is what they have in mind for us here, if we allow it. A friend just returned from a visit to Cuba. He loves the friends he has made there, but the poverty and lack of freedom are just stunning.
OS hopes one and all take time to read these posts, and pass them along.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
From Sense of Events: Letter Home: We're doing just fine
Sense of Events: Letter Home: We're doing just fine
One of the contributors, Daniel Jackson, writes home from Israel in light of recent events.
It is very interesting reading, and drives home some cogent points in a friendly and literate tone.
It's the second nice day in a row in weeks, and the golf course beckons.
One of the contributors, Daniel Jackson, writes home from Israel in light of recent events.
It is very interesting reading, and drives home some cogent points in a friendly and literate tone.
It's the second nice day in a row in weeks, and the golf course beckons.
A Glimmer Of Hope In Cairo: The Cleanup
This set of pics from the BBC details the cleanup of the square in Cairo, by the citizens who occupied during the protests.
Encouraging to see both the sense of civil ownership and evidence of cooperation.
It will be needed in days ahead.
Congrats to them in the meantime.
Encouraging to see both the sense of civil ownership and evidence of cooperation.
It will be needed in days ahead.
Congrats to them in the meantime.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
A Grin For The Weekend, From Johnny Carson
Enjoy. Humbling to think that we now have a generation of young adults that don't remember him.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Just Because It's Friday: Ephesians 3, King James Version
It's Friday, and for this weekend, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, the glorious words of St. Paul to the Ephesians:
Ephesians Chapter 3, verse 14 and following:
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
And, for a musical moment that almost matches St. Paul's prose:
Ephesians Chapter 3, verse 14 and following:
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
And, for a musical moment that almost matches St. Paul's prose:
Hosni Custer Mubarak Heads For The Beach: The Mubarak Effect
Reports coming in that Homeboy Hosni Custer Mubarak has taken the helicopter to the southern resort city of of Sharm el-Sheik.
Remember the Paulson Effect in 2008? Every time Henry Paulson appeared on TV to assure ever'body that ever'thing wuz jes' fahn', the stock market would tank several hundred points.
Remember the Gore Effect? Everywhere Al Gore goes, a blizzard follows. He must be back in Nashville this week. We got hammered, and it's 10 degrees outside this morning.
We now have the Mubarak Effect: Every time the senile old man gives one of his speeches, another 100,000 really pissed-off Egyptians hit the streets. It's so crowded now, there's no room to send in the goons-on-camels squad. The army is smiling and waving, just on hand to keep the crowd from burning the palace and TV studios down. They're handing out bottles of water and rations to the crowd at the palace...
The AlJazeera live feed is here.
There's a great old Russian joke:
Stalin dies, and Nikita Kruschev eventually is named to take over. His first day on the job, the office manager sez: Joe left you four envelopes and a note he sez you should read. So, Nikita opens the desk drawer, and, sure enough, there they are. The note sez--Comrade, you will face four major crises. As each one occurs, open the envelopes in order, numbered 1,2,3,4. Good luck, comrade!
The first crisis arrives--the economy tanks. Dark days, so Nikita opens envelope number 1. The message is: Blame me! So Kruschev begins the de-Stalinization campaign, and he's a hero.
Second crisis: The grain crop fails. Envelope 2: Blame the Chinese! Works like a charm--everybody hates the Chinese.
Third crisis: Eastern Europe's going off the rails. Envelope 3: Blame the Americans
Off to the UN, bangs the podium with his shoe, acts like a horse's ass, the folks back home love it.
Fourth crisis: The economy tanks, again. It's really bad this time.
Fourth envelope: Comrade! Prepare four envelopes!
Maybe Hosni was preparing his set of envelopes...and giving the staff time to shred the records, transfer the funds to Panama, pack up the bullion and antiquities.
He best not delay too long...that Custer guy, he decided to push on one more mile and not wait for reinforcements.
That worked out well.
Remember the Paulson Effect in 2008? Every time Henry Paulson appeared on TV to assure ever'body that ever'thing wuz jes' fahn', the stock market would tank several hundred points.
Remember the Gore Effect? Everywhere Al Gore goes, a blizzard follows. He must be back in Nashville this week. We got hammered, and it's 10 degrees outside this morning.
We now have the Mubarak Effect: Every time the senile old man gives one of his speeches, another 100,000 really pissed-off Egyptians hit the streets. It's so crowded now, there's no room to send in the goons-on-camels squad. The army is smiling and waving, just on hand to keep the crowd from burning the palace and TV studios down. They're handing out bottles of water and rations to the crowd at the palace...
The AlJazeera live feed is here.
There's a great old Russian joke:
Stalin dies, and Nikita Kruschev eventually is named to take over. His first day on the job, the office manager sez: Joe left you four envelopes and a note he sez you should read. So, Nikita opens the desk drawer, and, sure enough, there they are. The note sez--Comrade, you will face four major crises. As each one occurs, open the envelopes in order, numbered 1,2,3,4. Good luck, comrade!
The first crisis arrives--the economy tanks. Dark days, so Nikita opens envelope number 1. The message is: Blame me! So Kruschev begins the de-Stalinization campaign, and he's a hero.
Second crisis: The grain crop fails. Envelope 2: Blame the Chinese! Works like a charm--everybody hates the Chinese.
Third crisis: Eastern Europe's going off the rails. Envelope 3: Blame the Americans
Off to the UN, bangs the podium with his shoe, acts like a horse's ass, the folks back home love it.
Fourth crisis: The economy tanks, again. It's really bad this time.
Fourth envelope: Comrade! Prepare four envelopes!
Maybe Hosni was preparing his set of envelopes...and giving the staff time to shred the records, transfer the funds to Panama, pack up the bullion and antiquities.
He best not delay too long...that Custer guy, he decided to push on one more mile and not wait for reinforcements.
That worked out well.
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