Friday, October 23, 2009
Next Week, We Make History!
Why do I get the feeling our executive branch is playing 'chicken' with the world?
Do they think they can do this indefinitely?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
BBC NEWS | Americas | Mexican city sees record murders
BBC NEWS | Americas | Mexican city sees record murders
Nope, we don't need to beef up security on the southern border.
President Hopey-Changey has got it all under control.
Move on, nothing to see here.
Nope, we don't need to beef up security on the southern border.
President Hopey-Changey has got it all under control.
Move on, nothing to see here.
Pastor Peters Ponders Pope's Perspicacity
Forgive me. It's been a long few weeks.
Actually, a great part of the formation of culture, both here in the US and elsewhere, has been the practice of Christianity, in its many forms. It really matters, and if the churches can 'find their mojo' again, we'll all benefit.
Pastor Peters does a great job as a highly literate Lutheran minister pondering these questions. He feeds my poor brain weekly, and I recommend him to you.
You can find his latest musings, about Rome's new 'open door policy' to the Anglicans.
I must say, it is a lot more thoughtful than my rant of a few days ago.
Actually, a great part of the formation of culture, both here in the US and elsewhere, has been the practice of Christianity, in its many forms. It really matters, and if the churches can 'find their mojo' again, we'll all benefit.
Pastor Peters does a great job as a highly literate Lutheran minister pondering these questions. He feeds my poor brain weekly, and I recommend him to you.
You can find his latest musings, about Rome's new 'open door policy' to the Anglicans.
I must say, it is a lot more thoughtful than my rant of a few days ago.
Remember How Many Jobs The White House Claimed They Would Create?
Just pass The Stimulus, and the recovery will begin. Millions of jobs will be created and 'saved'.
Well, the results so far are in.
Hmm...if you like charts, this one tells the story.
It worked so well, we keep hearing rumors of another one in the pipeline.
(Breathless anticipation!)
My unborn grandchildren will be paying for this tragic, reckless, counter-productive behavior.
But they don't matter to these guys, since they can't vote.
Well, the results so far are in.
Hmm...if you like charts, this one tells the story.
It worked so well, we keep hearing rumors of another one in the pipeline.
(Breathless anticipation!)
My unborn grandchildren will be paying for this tragic, reckless, counter-productive behavior.
But they don't matter to these guys, since they can't vote.
Sen. Lamar Alexander Warns About The White House Enemies List
Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander is the antithesis of the grandstanding blowhard that so commonly shows up in the Senate. He made his mark in his first governor's race by donning a red and black plaid work shirt, and walking across Tennessee, visiting every one of the ninety-three county seats. He had to clean up a terrible corruption mess left by Democrat Ray Blanton(exposed by Fred Thompson), and worked conscientiously (if not always successfully) to improve the schools and economic health of the state. From there he moved on to head the University of Tennessee, and eventually to the Senate, while starting a business, serving in the Reagan administration, and teaching a bit at Harvard enroute.
His biggest 'gimmick' for the crowds is that he plays the piano passably well.
He is, in other words, a nerd.
This gives him a real advantage: When he stands up to say something serious, we'd better take him seriously.
Today he stood up in the well of the Senate and issued the warning to the Obama White House: If you create an enemies list, a la Nixon and company, you are on the path to self-destruction. I know, I was there when it happened.
His remarks in part here:
In 1969 and during the first half of 1970, I was a wet-behind-the-ears, 29-year-old staff aide in the West Wing of the Nixon White House. I was working for the wisest man in that White House, Bryce Harlow, who was a friend of President Johnson, as well as the favorite staff member of President Eisenhower, and President Nixon's first appointee.
Based upon that experience and my forty years since then in and out of public life, I want to make what I hope will be taken as a friendly suggestion to President Obama and his White House: don't create an enemies list.
[...]
In 1971 Chuck Colson, who was then a member of President Nixon's staff and today is admired for his decades of selfless work in prison reform, presented a list of what he called "persons known to be active in their opposition to our Administration." He said he thought the administration should "maximize our incumbency...[or] to put it more bluntly...use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies." On that list of 20 people were CBS correspondent Daniel Schorr, Washington Star columnist Mary McGrory, Leonard Woodcock, the head of the United Auto Workers, John Conyers, the Democratic Congressman from Michigan, Edwin Guthman, managing editor of the Los Angeles Times, and several prominent businessmen such as Howard Stein, of the Dreyfus Corporation and Arnold Picker, vice president of United Artists. The New York Times and the Washington Post were made out to be enemies of the Republic.
Now make no mistake, politics was not such a gentlemanly affair in those days either. After Barry Goldwater had won the Presidential nomination in 1964, Daniel Schorr had told CBS viewers that Goldwater had "travel[led] to Germany to join-up with the right wing there" and - "visit[ed] Hitler's old stomping ground." Schorr later corrected that on the air.
What was different about Colson's effort, though, was the open declaration of war upon anyone who seemed to disagree with administration policies. Colson later expanded his list to include hundreds of people, including Joe Namath, John Lennon, Carol Channing, Gregory Peck, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Congressional Black Caucus, Alabama Governor George Wallace. All this came out during the Watergate hearings. You could see an administration spiraling downwards. And, of course, we all know where that led.
There is much more, and you can find his full remarks here.
When the nerd starts to crowing, it's best we pay attention.
His biggest 'gimmick' for the crowds is that he plays the piano passably well.
He is, in other words, a nerd.
This gives him a real advantage: When he stands up to say something serious, we'd better take him seriously.
Today he stood up in the well of the Senate and issued the warning to the Obama White House: If you create an enemies list, a la Nixon and company, you are on the path to self-destruction. I know, I was there when it happened.
His remarks in part here:
In 1969 and during the first half of 1970, I was a wet-behind-the-ears, 29-year-old staff aide in the West Wing of the Nixon White House. I was working for the wisest man in that White House, Bryce Harlow, who was a friend of President Johnson, as well as the favorite staff member of President Eisenhower, and President Nixon's first appointee.
Based upon that experience and my forty years since then in and out of public life, I want to make what I hope will be taken as a friendly suggestion to President Obama and his White House: don't create an enemies list.
[...]
In 1971 Chuck Colson, who was then a member of President Nixon's staff and today is admired for his decades of selfless work in prison reform, presented a list of what he called "persons known to be active in their opposition to our Administration." He said he thought the administration should "maximize our incumbency...[or] to put it more bluntly...use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies." On that list of 20 people were CBS correspondent Daniel Schorr, Washington Star columnist Mary McGrory, Leonard Woodcock, the head of the United Auto Workers, John Conyers, the Democratic Congressman from Michigan, Edwin Guthman, managing editor of the Los Angeles Times, and several prominent businessmen such as Howard Stein, of the Dreyfus Corporation and Arnold Picker, vice president of United Artists. The New York Times and the Washington Post were made out to be enemies of the Republic.
Now make no mistake, politics was not such a gentlemanly affair in those days either. After Barry Goldwater had won the Presidential nomination in 1964, Daniel Schorr had told CBS viewers that Goldwater had "travel[led] to Germany to join-up with the right wing there" and - "visit[ed] Hitler's old stomping ground." Schorr later corrected that on the air.
What was different about Colson's effort, though, was the open declaration of war upon anyone who seemed to disagree with administration policies. Colson later expanded his list to include hundreds of people, including Joe Namath, John Lennon, Carol Channing, Gregory Peck, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Congressional Black Caucus, Alabama Governor George Wallace. All this came out during the Watergate hearings. You could see an administration spiraling downwards. And, of course, we all know where that led.
There is much more, and you can find his full remarks here.
When the nerd starts to crowing, it's best we pay attention.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Whoooweee! I Smells Me A Recovery!
Well, then again, maybe not.
At what point will reality set in with the elites in DC and NYC?
HT once again to Calculated Risk.
At what point will reality set in with the elites in DC and NYC?
HT once again to Calculated Risk.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Arthur Cutten For President
This interview with Arthur Cutten, aka Jesse, is worth a careful read.
He is an ethical voice in an amoral swamp, with words of great hope to share in this dark time.
He concludes the interview by saying:
There is a wonderful thing in America, its Constitution. It sets out the basic principles of freedom in a marvelous way. It is not perfect. It does not contain all the details, which are to be found in the body of laws that surround and support it, and those who swear to preserve, protect and defend it.
It starts by simply saying ‘no’ to those who would rule us by fear and discouragement. To say no to private prejudice and greed, which cause us to turn a blind eye to injustice. Daylight is a good disinfectant. Secrecy is not the normal condition in a free society.
Periods of time can be dangerous, because there are sometimes wolves in sheep’s clothing. Hitler was put forward as a strong reformer. He was elected by a minority, and suspended the rule of law. So a nation will be wise in whom it selects to lead it. If it holds on to its principles, in the case of America, the Constitution, then it can stay on the path to reform.
OldSouth nominates Jesse.
He is an ethical voice in an amoral swamp, with words of great hope to share in this dark time.
He concludes the interview by saying:
There is a wonderful thing in America, its Constitution. It sets out the basic principles of freedom in a marvelous way. It is not perfect. It does not contain all the details, which are to be found in the body of laws that surround and support it, and those who swear to preserve, protect and defend it.
It starts by simply saying ‘no’ to those who would rule us by fear and discouragement. To say no to private prejudice and greed, which cause us to turn a blind eye to injustice. Daylight is a good disinfectant. Secrecy is not the normal condition in a free society.
Periods of time can be dangerous, because there are sometimes wolves in sheep’s clothing. Hitler was put forward as a strong reformer. He was elected by a minority, and suspended the rule of law. So a nation will be wise in whom it selects to lead it. If it holds on to its principles, in the case of America, the Constitution, then it can stay on the path to reform.
OldSouth nominates Jesse.
Cold, And From A Distance
The Pope is finally getting his payback on Henry VIII.
It took a while, but after all, the Church of Rome has a long track record, a long memory, and they can take their time!
In effect, His Holiness is saying(translated to my dialect, of course):
Have ya'll had enuff of these pantywaist Anglican types, ordainin' homosexuals, saying it's ok for Sharia law to establish in England and elsewhere, followin' the latest left-edge political party line, and beatin' yoh' ass to a pulp if you dare object? Then come on over heah', brother! You can keep yoh' traditional Anglican sensibilities, and we won't insult either yoh' intelligence or yoh' morals. Henry was a bad deal for us all, but no hard feelings. Let bygones be bygones. Say goodbye, they be gone!
Were I Anglican, I'd be saying 'Whooo-Weee, where dooo I sign up?'
Actually, I was an Anglican in part of my mis-spent youth, and love the liturgy of Cranmer. It never has been bettered. But I couldn't stay, with the bishops instructing the priests to read endorsements of Walter Mondale from the pulpit, the active embrace of homosexuality(no double-entendre intended), and worst of all, the systematic disowning of the Christian faith while maintaining the ritual thereof.
The intellectual and spiritual dissonance became too loud to ignore, and with much chagrin, I headed out the door, eventually finding a home with Calvin and company, in a Presbyterian parish. I love it dearly, and am grateful to be there. But, it was a long and painful trip, one I personally would have preferred not to have made.
I'm not Catholic, don't think I can ever be one.
But I do, in this instance, really and truly wish the Pope well.
There is an old proverb(Sicilian, I think): Revenge is a dish best served cold, and from a distance.
It took a while, but after all, the Church of Rome has a long track record, a long memory, and they can take their time!
In effect, His Holiness is saying(translated to my dialect, of course):
Have ya'll had enuff of these pantywaist Anglican types, ordainin' homosexuals, saying it's ok for Sharia law to establish in England and elsewhere, followin' the latest left-edge political party line, and beatin' yoh' ass to a pulp if you dare object? Then come on over heah', brother! You can keep yoh' traditional Anglican sensibilities, and we won't insult either yoh' intelligence or yoh' morals. Henry was a bad deal for us all, but no hard feelings. Let bygones be bygones. Say goodbye, they be gone!
Were I Anglican, I'd be saying 'Whooo-Weee, where dooo I sign up?'
Actually, I was an Anglican in part of my mis-spent youth, and love the liturgy of Cranmer. It never has been bettered. But I couldn't stay, with the bishops instructing the priests to read endorsements of Walter Mondale from the pulpit, the active embrace of homosexuality(no double-entendre intended), and worst of all, the systematic disowning of the Christian faith while maintaining the ritual thereof.
The intellectual and spiritual dissonance became too loud to ignore, and with much chagrin, I headed out the door, eventually finding a home with Calvin and company, in a Presbyterian parish. I love it dearly, and am grateful to be there. But, it was a long and painful trip, one I personally would have preferred not to have made.
I'm not Catholic, don't think I can ever be one.
But I do, in this instance, really and truly wish the Pope well.
There is an old proverb(Sicilian, I think): Revenge is a dish best served cold, and from a distance.
As Halloween Approaches, The Attack of the Zombies!
Like, it's not really news, but...
According to Bose George, analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, the two government sponsored entities that buy mortgages from banks have zero value to common shareholders.
Zero. Zippo. Nada. These firms used to be the backbone of retirement accounts, 'cuz they were so safe and stable, remember?
Brain-dead and on life support. Bailed out to the tune of $100 billion, and probably going to need the other $300 billion before all is said and done.
Remember when Henry Paulson asked for authority to bail these clowns out, assuring everyone he probably wouldn't need to use it? Just in case, you know.
And, they'll be with us for decades, we can't get rid of them. Or, at least, no one yet has developed the courage to drive the stake in their hearts.
At least Mr. George did:
It should come as no surprise that we cannot advise holding these shares, and at this point we think these shares are little more than a tool for speculators.
Actually, the better movie title would be 'Night of the Living Dead'.
This would be funny, except my unborn grandchildren will be paying for it, cursing our memory as they do it. For their sake, if not for ours, we must find a way to peacefully and effectively end this nonsense.
Have we thought about what happens to a culture if we teach that the most outrageously irresponsible among us earn access to the public purse?
According to Bose George, analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, the two government sponsored entities that buy mortgages from banks have zero value to common shareholders.
Zero. Zippo. Nada. These firms used to be the backbone of retirement accounts, 'cuz they were so safe and stable, remember?
Brain-dead and on life support. Bailed out to the tune of $100 billion, and probably going to need the other $300 billion before all is said and done.
Remember when Henry Paulson asked for authority to bail these clowns out, assuring everyone he probably wouldn't need to use it? Just in case, you know.
And, they'll be with us for decades, we can't get rid of them. Or, at least, no one yet has developed the courage to drive the stake in their hearts.
At least Mr. George did:
It should come as no surprise that we cannot advise holding these shares, and at this point we think these shares are little more than a tool for speculators.
Actually, the better movie title would be 'Night of the Living Dead'.
This would be funny, except my unborn grandchildren will be paying for it, cursing our memory as they do it. For their sake, if not for ours, we must find a way to peacefully and effectively end this nonsense.
Have we thought about what happens to a culture if we teach that the most outrageously irresponsible among us earn access to the public purse?
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