Saturday, November 14, 2009
Tonight on 60 Minutes
[That is, if it were a real investigative show.]
*** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick ***
I'm Morley Safer. They told us they needed $787 billion to fix the economy -- $2,500 for every family in America. But unemployment continues to skyrocket and many wonder: what happened to the hundreds of billions of dollars? When we investigated, we found that no one really knows. And the corruption, graft and criminality we discovered were surprising -- even for us.
I'm Steve Kroft. Barack Obama authored an amazing autobiography called Dreams from my Father. But one man has unearthed overwhelming evidence that Obama didn't actually write his own book. And the name of the real author might surprise you, he says: Bill Ayers. The domestic terrorist and one-time neighbor to the President.
And I'm Mike Wallace. The promises were grandiose. Transparency. No lobbyists in the White House. Leaving Iraq. Ending NSA wiretaps. Finding Bin Laden. Post-partisanship. But the realities have shaken even the President's most committed supporters. Now Democrats are asking: is the President a serial liar?That and Andy Rooney, tonight. On 60 Minutes.
*** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick *** Tick ***
Labels: Democrats, extremism, Obama
On Pacific Trip Obama "Commits" to Asia. Really!
Not ready to lead? Dan from New York provides the color commentary:
Singapore Prime Minister Lee greets his new Chinese assistant.
The White House denies this photo shows President Obama bowing to Japanese Emperor.
The $2.1 million salt water bath
Of the Bugatti Veyron, Wired Magazine writes:
"Comparing it to any other car is pointless, because there is nothing else in its $2.1-million class."Which also means that driving like a schmuck and, say, depositing your $2.1-million car in the drink is a gaffe so huge it's pointless to compare it to other mistakes.
Which, as it turns out, was precisely what this owner of a Texas auto dealership and restoration business did a few days ago. And it happened to be caught on videotape.
What a tool.Hat tip: Reliapundit.
Labels: Autos
Progressive Groups to Honor KSM with NYC Ticker-Tape Parade
A wide range of progressive groups, including MoveOn.org, the ACLU, Code Pink, Media Matters, the SEIU, ACORN, Families USA, Nation of Islam, the AFT and the NEA, have banded together to welcome accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad to the Big Apple. The groups intend to welcome his motorcade, conducted by federal law enforcement officials, with a ticker-tape parade, a staple of New York City celebrations.
"Nothing shows how truly magnanimous the American people are better than welcoming Mr. Mohammed to the U.S. with a ticker-tape parade," said Scott Levenson, spokesman for the community organizing group ACORN. "Not only are we giving him a fair trial, we honor our Constitution and traditions by treating him with dignity and respect."
Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the peace activist group Code Pink, believes that a ticker-tape parade and rally will build good will for the United States among the world's nations. "We'll be selling cotton candy and non-pork hot dogs to honor Mr. Mohammed's visit to the city. The respect we show him will be paid back seven-fold by other nations and help remedy the damage done to our reputation by Presidents Reagan, Bush and Bush."
Louis Farrakhan, leader of the religious group Nation of Islam, was equally excited. He likened the event to the election of Barack Obama. "It's a great day for all citizens of the world, so why not celebrate?"
The White House also announced that Air Force One will be dispatched to retrieve Mr. Mohammed from the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility. The plane will also do several "fly-bys" of Ground Zero in order to orient the detainee with the location of his trial.
Liberal Democrats are said to be ecstatic with the move. Senator Chuck Schumer, senior Senator from New York, said that welcoming Mr. Mohammed to the "city that never sleeps" will demonstrate to the world that the Bush era is truly over.
Labels: Democrats, extremism, Obama, War
Black Conservatives: the Growing Group the Media Ignores
While I'm not much of a Glenn Beck fan (anyone who believes a third party will help conservatives needs to be tased back to reality), this show is awesome and needs to be widely distributed.
"We have to expose the diabolical agenda of liberalism. I used to think it was well-intentioned, but misguided."
"But when you read that 90% of black children will receive food stamps at some point in their lives, and liberals' platform supports this, but rejects and opposes the idea of giving black kids vouchers to go to a better school... and let themselves out of that cycle... How can you not be a conservative?
"The more we expose the evil and cruelty that liberalism is, then people will start to wake up. This woman [radio show guest who thinks Obama will give her free money] is a slave."Forward this video on to everyone you know.
Hat tip: Hot Air.
Labels: Democrats, extremism, Obama, Protecting America
9/11 Families for America are begging citizens to sign their petition
9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be tried in New York City? Are you freaking kidding me? If you're even a tenth as outraged as I am, please sign the petition sponsored by 9/11 Families for America.
The signatures will be relayed to President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder."If this White House thought Tea Party activists were an 'angry mob,' wait until they see the backlash from 9/11 family members and their supporters nationwide. We’re not going to sit down and shut up about the reckless, security-undermining Obama 9/10 agenda and conflict-of-interest-ridden AG Eric Holder." -- Michelle Malkin
Labels: Democrats, extremism, Holder, Obama, War
Larwyn's Linx: The KSM Lower Manhattan Reunion Tour
Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget..Nation
KSM in NYC: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?: Hot AirTeam Obama Unveils Amnesty-Immigration: GWP
Dem Chickens Come Home to Roost: Cold Fury
Immigration 'reform' on Dem agenda for 2010: Times
The 108 Most Competitive House Races: Ace
The Obama Civil Service Purge: STACLU
The Plan: RandR
ACORN and Justice Dept. Plot Thickens: BigGov
Dem 'Cold-Cash' Jefferson Gets 13 Years: GWP
The Politics of Detection: PJM (Belmont)
Hood Attack Has Anti-Christian Backlash: Aces
Court-martial officers who ignored Major Hasan: Kelly
Economy
Not too big to fail: ATChange! Obama’s Monthly Deficit Tops Bush’s Yearly Deficit: GWP
Study: only 20 years until Dem utopia of Michigan recovers: BlogProf
Dodd -- at it again: IBD
Behold: the Swamp of Chicago Health Care: PJM
Local Man Claims Responsibility For Own Problems: Cube
Media
'Mr. Holder has honored mass murder': Hot AirCoulter takes on Palin-bashing media on CBS Early Show: NewsBusters
Blogging Rules for Radicals: Chapters Two and Three: PJM
A structural analysis of the Democratic Party today: Dinocrat
Group Sex on 'Gossip Girl': NewsBusters
World
KSM collects his first virgin: SurberWestern Liberal Elites Have Given Us the Iranian Bomb: PJM
The KSM Lower Manhattan Reunion Tour: Crank
Advance to the Rear!: Crittenden
Winning the War in Afghanistan: Patterico
Obama Supports the Military...'If Necessary': CFB
Iran and Syria Are Up; Egypt and Saudi Arabia Are Down. And this is Israel’s Fault?: Rubin
State Department uses Islamist Anti-American Propaganda to Criticize Turkish Army Kicking Out Islamists: Rubin
Sci-Tech
AT&T: Verizon Ads Are 'Blatantly False': CNetGoogle: Firms can get rid of Office in a year: ZDnet
Android in the Enterprise?: NetComputing
Cornucopia
Aussie Warrier, MIA in Afghanistan for a year, found safe: STACLUThe 'Hell yeah, Shut Gitmo and ship 'em to my neighborhood' Gift Shoppe: Cube
The Zombie Survival Guide: AmDig
Two, count' em, Two Quotes o' the Day:
"If this White House thought Tea Party activists were an 'angry mob,' wait until they see the backlash from 9/11 family members and their supporters nationwide. We’re not going to sit down and shut up about the reckless, security-undermining Obama 9/10 agenda and conflict-of-interest-ridden AG Eric Holder." -- Michelle Malkin
"The Army says individual troop morale remains constant but unit morale is down in Afghanistan, in part because there aren’t enough mental health workers like the ones scheduled to deploy from Fort Hood." -- DRJ
Labels: Linkfest
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Six Million Dollar Man -- of Auto Wrecks
Wrecked Exotics has the tale of a 73-year old with a serious driving disability. This goof has wrecked more than ten exotic cars in less than three years.
We proudly present to you: The "King of Wrecked Exotics", a 73 year old Florida businessman who has managed to destroy at least 10 exotic cars in the last 3 years... We of course would be honored to shake the hand of the man who, despite being involved in some horrible wrecks, has managed to walk away from each one AND still have the [cojones] to keep driving like an insane bat out of hell. And did we mention he's 73 friggin years old?He crashed this Ferrari 360 Spyder into a water fountain near the entrance of his mansion.
This Ferrari 360 Spyder was destroyed when he crashed it into a palm tree at 60 mph.
He was racing a Lamborghini Gallardo when he rear-ended a Ford F-350 Superduty in this Ferrari F355.
When I grow up, I want to be him.
And Wrecked Exotics has the entire album of this jamoke's egregious frackups.
Labels: Autos
They Came To Destroy America
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), the chief planner of the 9/11 attacks, was captured in Rawalpindi, Pakistan on March 1, 2003. KSM was shipped to a U.S. facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where other terrorists, enemy combatants and prisoners-of-war -- most captured on the battlefield -- were detained.
Jose Padilla, a convicted felon and former Chicago gang member, was arrested in May 2002 at O'Hare International Airport. Padilla had been under surveillance for months, since he'd arrived at the U.S. Consulate in Pakistan asking for a replacement passport.
The State Department asked other agencies to investigate why a man named Padilla was hanging around in Karachi. U.S. officials investigated and found that he had met with al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan and Pakistan. There, he'd learned to wire explosive devices and disperse radiological material. Padilla's planned acts of sabotage were independently verified by Abu Zubaydah, the most senior al-Qaida figure captured by U.S. authorities.
KSM and Padilla could be held indefinitely as enemy combatants without being charged, according to John McGinnis, professor of constitutional law at Northwestern Law School. Enemy combatants, even if U.S. citizens, are no more subject to criminal law than were Wehrmacht troops on the beaches of Normandy.
The history of "enemy combatant" status lies in the tale of seven Nazi agents who came ashore in 1942. Their mission: sabotage the war effort through acts of terror. One agent, a man named Haupt, was also a U.S. citizen.
The Nazis were captured before they could launch their terrorist attacks against rail lines, waterways and factories. President Roosevelt ordered them tried by military commission, but the detainees filed a petition of habeus corpus to challenge their military detention using the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. Could the president arrest and detain such persons in the United States without involving the judiciary?
Unanimously, the Supreme Court ruled that he could. Saboteurs without uniforms were "enemy combatants" and therefore subject to military jurisdiction. Even Haupt, the U.S. citizen, could be so held. The Supreme Court stated: "Citizens who ... enter this country bent on hostile acts are enemy belligerents within the meaning of the Hague Convention ..."
Thus, as far back as 1942, the Supreme Court clearly described the legal status of enemy combatants.
No President -- not Lincoln, not Wilson, not Roosevelt, not Kennedy -- no President has ever granted POWs and enemy combatants the rights of U.S. citizens and the comforts of the federal criminal justice system.
But this President permits the radical left trial bar -- the ACLU and other avowed enemies of the Constitution -- to pervert American law and tradition. Risking an acquittal on American soil. Risking disclosure of highly classified information that helps protect the U.S. homeland.
These acts desecrate the memories of 3,000 American souls who died at the hands of the most vicious terrorists in history. I don't care if you're a Democrat, a Republican or Independent. It's sickening.Linked by: Michelle Malkin. Thanks!
Labels: Democrats, extremism, Obama, Protecting America, War
Chart: Dow Priced in Gold
Paul Kedrosky offers one of the best charts I've seen in recent days: the Dow Jones Industrial Average priced in gold.
Look, I'm no quant guy, but doesn't it look like we can anticipate either a serious drop in the Dow or a spike in the price of gold? Or... maybe both?Labels: Economy
Larwyn's Linx: Something Special in the Air
Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget..Nation
The Audacity of Extremism: AT (Lewis)Feds Seize Iranian Mosques: PJM
Oops! Obama forgets to do something, again: GWP
Gov. Perry: Obama taking U.S. toward socialism: Statesman
Obama tanks in Ohio; paging Gov. Strickland: Riehl
GOP: ACORN near bankruptcy: Politico
Who to kill first: Grandma or convicted murderers?: GrandRants
Tea Party Express in Orlando: Carolyn
Jailtime fair; constitutionality irrelevant: Pundette
Administration announces purge of GOP civil servants: GWP
Put Chris Dodd on 'Most Endangered Incumbent' List: AT
Guns or Butter: DocZero
Economy
The Income Tax and Government Spending: ATPelosiCare "Openly Hostile" to Innovation: Yahoo! Finance
Blatant Insider Trading, Chapter One Million: Denninger
The Poverty Trap: Mankiw
Lieberman: Public Option is "Camel's Nose" for Single-Payer: Verum
This Should Wake You Up: LegalIns
Media
The Road to Bali: JOMWhat Happens Next?: Dinocrat
A Sneak Peak at Palin's 'Going Rogue': Sister Toldjah
Something Special in the Air: TigerHawk
Bang, Zoom! And other questions: Anchoress
Ask a Stupid Rhetorical Question...: JOM
Climate & Energy
NHTSA: Hybrid Drivers More Likely to Have Accidents With Pedestrians, Bicyclists: DailyTechDon't tread on my television!: Examiner
UK Scientist: CO2 is not causing global warming: Telegraph
World
Afghanistan: the Failure to Plan is the Plan: AmDigTaliban: Fort Hood Killer a "Hero", Warn of Further Attacks: Jawa
Netanyahu gets the cold shoulder in DC: PJM
European arrogance in alphabetical order: AmPat
Mexico: Amlo's pretend government: Fausta
Chavez Circles the Drain: TAB
Militant extremism alert in Minnesota: Power Line
Sci-Tech
Mint makes Twitter an Investor Hub: CNetMSFT probes Windows 7 zero-day hole: ZDNet
3D Rendering of US Airways Flight 1549 Ditching in the Hudson: Ace
Cornucopia
Part 1: The Super-Hero’s American Exceptionalism: BigHollywoodPart 2: The Super-Hero’s American Exceptionalism: BigHollywood
Labels: Linkfest
Thursday, November 12, 2009
American Companies Abandon Ship
Bloomberg reports that Emerson Electric, the massive $21 billion manufacturing conglomerate, is raising the white flag and moving offshore.
Emerson Electric Co. Chief Executive Officer David Farr said the U.S. government is hurting manufacturers with regulation and taxes and his company will continue to focus on growth overseas.“Washington is doing everything in their manpower, capability, to destroy U.S. manufacturing,” Farr said today in Chicago at a Baird Industrial Outlook conference. “Cap and trade, medical reform, labor rules.”
Emerson, the maker of electrical equipment and InSinkErator garbage disposals with $20.9 billion in sales for the year ended September, will keep expanding in emerging markets, which represented 32 percent of revenue in 2009. About 36 percent of manufacturing is now in “best-cost countries” up from 21 percent in 2003, according to slides accompanying his speech.
Companies will create jobs in India and China, “places where people want the products and where the governments welcome you to actually do something,” Farr said... “We as a company today are putting our best people, our best technology and our best investment in these marketplaces to grow,” he said. “My job is to grow that top line, grow my earnings, grow my cash flow and grow my returns to the shareholders. My job is not to shrink and roll over for the U.S. government."
Farr's complaints echo a private missive I received in July from a veteran M&A specialist.
My clients are all entrepreneurs having built successful businesses with sales of $5 million to $50 million. My prospective buyers are typically companies with sales of $50 million to $200 million. Every one of these companies (buyers and sellers) today shares these common denominators:
1. Their businesses are down 10, 20% or more.2. They have either laid off staff or have reduced hours to 4-day weeks trying to keep key staff.
3. They have reduced their own salaries and in many cases have implemented “cross the board” salary reductions.
4. They (for the first time in their lives) have no ability to forecast beyond 4 weeks.
5. They see nothing good on the horizon that would benefit them re: sales, cost reduction, efficiency, etc.
...My hope is to at the very least to try to sell these 5 businesses [information redacted]... Prospects are slim. M & A deals are down (depending on the source) anywhere from 60% – 80%. I used to receive 20 – 40 inquiries from buyers every week. I now receive a handful a week....Any private business owner would be insane to sell his business now. He will be hit with excess taxes and so many unknown consequences. Do you know that part of the “Cap and Trade” bill includes a provision that if you sell your house, it must conform to new “green standards” which reportedly could cost a seller many thousands of dollars? How many unknown consequences are built into a 1,300 page bill that no one has read?
Any future seller prospects that I encounter, I will urge them to continue operating their business and take from the business everything that they can legally do for as long as they can. They are far better off. It is quite likely that I will have to revisit some of my existing clients and tell them the same thing... something that I dread.
I am so outraged as to what is happening to our country. This is no longer a political issue [because] we will all lose. We are all casualties of the new paradigm. There will be many more as we continue into a morass that will take generations to recover, if we can. Be it “Cap and Trade”; government-run health care; TARP; bailouts; “stimulus”; business takeovers, etc.; our future is being controlled by bureaucrats and politicians who never, ever, ever ran a business and knew the “gut-check” of filling out and paying their “941’s”.
How could they know how to create a job? Throwing billions at states and municipalities with payoffs to unions, lobbyists and partisan sectors? Sadly, the worst is yet to come with job losses, cost increases, inflation, etc. Just look at the job numbers released today.
Forgive my blathering. I went through the 50’s, the 60’s, the price restrictions and gas shortages of the 70’s, the 22% interest rates into the 80’s, the many frustrations of the 90’s, etc. They all pale in comparison to what we face now. Whether it’s “tea parties”, a realization by the silent majority of what is happening, or some miracle that stops this ongoing disaster, I hope and pray for an awakening. I think we can make it and I only hope that my children and grandchildren are as fortunate as we were to continue to have opportunities.
The Democrats' plans are succeeding. They want to reduce our 'carbon footprint', presumably to stop the current spate of warmal colding. They want to eradicate private industry and private employment. As for proof, consider their serial attacks on doctors, the health care industry, the coal companies, the pharmaceutical companies, the oil companies, the refiners, you name it.
Who could possibly hire in this environment? The economy is flat on its back because Obama and the Democrats put it there; and their policies continue to suck the life out of the most productive members of society. And those members will continue to abandon ship.
If you're looking for relief in the unemployment numbers, don't hold your breath.
Hat tips: InstaPundit and Mark Levin.
Labels: Crime, Democrats, Economy, Obama, Pelosi, Reid
Waffle House Wedding
The Gwinnett Daily Post reports on a "Waffle House Wedding" (via Visual Consumer):
As the famous twang of Hank Williams Jr. blasted from an SUV stereo Friday afternoon, about 30 folks socialized, sipped soda and puffed on cigarettes... No, this wasn't a Fourth of July backyard barbecue. It was the run-up to a wedding... In a Waffle House parking lot.
The lucky couple, George "Bubba" Mathis and Pamela Christian - both 23 and employees at the Dacula diner located at the Ga. Highway 316/U.S. Highway 29 interchange - wouldn't have it any other way.
Check out the whole slide show at the Daily Post. I was moved to tears by the sheer beauty of the event.
Labels: Water-cooler
Vote for your favorite FairTax ad
Yep, they're looking for contributions, too, but you can also give them feedback on their ads.
The FairTax Plan is a worthy cause indeed, especially with the country in its current, dire financial situation.Labels: Economy, Protecting America
The U.S. isn't alone in failed stimulus packages: witness China's ghost city
A transcontinental flight west will transport you to the site of another Keynesian disaster. China's $585 billion stimulus binge is intended to meet only one goal: achieving the government's mandated 8% growth in GDP. Which means building cities that no one actually lives in.
The city of Ordos was built in five years and was intended to house 1,000,000 residents. Today it stands empty -- its gleaming towers and sparkling condos a testament to a stimulus package that created only temporary jobs -- but no real economy to speak of.
Ordos is a hyper modern city, full of brand new glass walled residential and commercial buildings, yet devoid of inhabitants. In its attempt to present a "growing" economy, and to "invest" its $585 billion stimulus into anything and everything, courtesy of comparable idiocy on the other side of the Pacific, China's communist party is now ruling over ghost towns. One wonders just how many such "efficient" projects sustain China's magical 8% growth.
Keynesian spending programs like these only delay the inevitable reckoning a bit; perhaps to be supplanted with a bigger, more spectacular crash when the bills all come due.
Larwyn's Linx: The Man Who Despises America
Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget..Nation
The Eleventh Hour: Doc ZeroBlind Diversity Equals Death: Malkin
Honor veterans with a surtax on Congressional pay: MYODBP
Ft. Hood suspect contacted numerous extremists: Times
Now Dems are throwing ACORN under the bus: BigGov
Health reform advocates must look at public schools: PJM
Why Congress Ignores the People: AT
Democrat Civil War Update: Examiner
Unexpected emotions surface on Veterans Day: BMW
Socialize Legal Care Now: Kesler
GOP can we in 7 districts in NY: Jumping
Connecting the Dots: MoneyRunner
Thank you, President Bush: HillBuzz
A 2nd Amendment Victory in NJ: WyBlog
Human shields: Children bused in for higher taxes: BlogProf
Economy
Dems do the impossible: US tops Europe in Unemployment: GWPRival Union Charges SEIU With Election Fraud: WSJ
100% taxation key to Democratic majority: LegalIns
12 reasons unemployment's headed to (at least) 12%: Pethokoukis
The Fannie Mae Dice Roll Continues: WSJ
Fannie, Freddie fire their own Inspector General: PuffHo
Media
Waaah: Libs want segregated best-seller lists: MalkinA pity party for DeDe: SIGIS
AP has a 'malaise' sighting: Ace
The Wrinkled Gray Lady Explains: Power Line
Kos They Can: Wizbang
Dems Are/Aren't Afraid To Go Home: S&L
It Isn't Political Correctness, It's Shariah: AT
Wish Fulfillment Journalism: Power Line
Stay Classy, Ezra: JOM
Climate & Energy
Losing It: Psychologists urge Congress to pass climate bill to 'prevent several mental health harms': DepotAustralia, UK, US 'least at risk from climate change': ShadowLands
World
The Man Who Despises America: SpectatorTwo-Time Grammy Award winner – Barack Obama: Tampa Bay
Despite White House Objections, Those Who Serve Know Global War on Terror Continues:BMW
Houston Sheriffs Round Up Thousands of Illegals: Times
Single-Payer Hell: disabled Canadian spends two years unsuccessfully fighting healthcare bureaucracy: BlogProf
Hostage taking man shot dead in Chongqing: China Hush (Violence Warning)
Shock: Hezbollah Dismisses Obama Despite His Pledges: GWP
Is Identification Important?: JOd
Sci-Tech
Did time travelers damage the Hadron collider?: TimeMicrosoft bans 1 million Xbox Live players: CNet
RIM unveils new BlackBerry development tools: Newsfactor
Cornucopia
Hitler's reaction to Ohio State's loss to Purdue: YouTube (Language Warning)What's Wrong With This Picture?: BrutHon
Stylin': Parkway
Labels: Linkfest
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Why Women Live Longer Than Men
A man stands on a bucket supported by a ladder. Stability is assured by the other man -- also standing on a ladder -- who holds the bucket.
The odds of all these connections all being right? About the same odds that Jean-Claude Van Damme will pick up an Oscar next year.
Doesn't look like anything can go wrong here.
It's not a violation of the seatbelt laws if it's a dead body.
Yes, that's a canoe sitting unsecured in a moving flatbed truck. And the occupant isn't wearing a life preserver.
I hope this excavation was worth it. Like digging up platinum-covered diamonds for instance.
Trucks are overrated.
These must be the same guys who did the junction box.
Who needs a jack when we've got rocks?
Note the sign that says Clearance (inset). Maybe it was too high to be read.
The force of the bungee cord is strong with you, my son.
Hey, there was no warning sign on the bridge that said trucks not allowed!
Hey, there was no warning sign on the chair that said not to stick my head through it!
Here's the plan: you hold it real still while I pound it in with a sledgehammer while standing on the 'dozer.
New stackable bucket-ladder from Ronco!
And they say women are bad drivers?
Heavy Duty Chainsaws: they're not just for experienced professionals any more!Related: WWLLTM, Part II. Hat tip: Sean
Labels: Water-cooler
Barack Obama -- By The Numbers
8 - The maximum level of unemployment predicted by the Obama administration if the $787 billion stimulus package was approved.
17.5 - The current national under-employment rate (U-6), which some experts believe represents a real unemployment rate of 22%.
26 - The number of times President Obama used the word "I" in a 46-sentence speech in Copenhagen during his pursuit of the Chicago Olympic Games.27 - The average number of weeks that a job-seeker requires in order to find a new job. This is the highest number ever recorded.
33 - The number of unelected, unconfirmed 'Czars' serving in the Obama administration.
57 - The number of states that candidate Obama said that he had visited or hoped to visit.
1400 - The number of times President Obama used the word "I" in his first 41 speeches.
10,000 - The number of tragic deaths caused by a tornado in Kansas, according to Barack Obama (the actual death toll was 12).
50,000 - The number of troops requested by Gen. Stanley McChrystal in order to launch a "surge" against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. After months of dithering, President Obama has yet to make a decision.
3,500,000 - The number (3.5 million) of jobs lost since President Obama took office while he and Democrats in Congress have concentrated on nationalizing health care and enacting new energy taxes.
$18,000,000 - The amount that the White House spent redesigning the 'recovery.gov' website, ostensibly to help prevent 'wasteful' stimulus spending.
88,000,000 - The number (88 million) of Americans that would be forced out of their current private insurance plans into a government-run 'public option' plan, according to a study by the Lewin Group.
$1,400,000,000,000 - The size ($1.4 trillion) of President Obama's first budget deficit, which tripled the previous year's level. This represents $4,666 for every man, woman and child in the United States.
$1,600,000,000,000 - The amount ($1.6 trillion) of President Obama's national health care program, an underestimate according to most experts.
$18,700,000,000,000 - The total U.S. budget deficit in 2019, based upon the CBO's 'optimistic' expectations. This represents $62,333 -- that must be repaid with interest -- for every man, woman and child in the country.
$73,000,000,000,000 - The unfunded liabilities ($73 trillion) of the government-run health care programs Medicare and Medicaid. This represents roughly $125,000 for every person in the country. While the House version of ObamaCare creates 111 new agencies, offices, bureaus, directorships and other government entities, it doesn't even attempt to address this oncoming economic trainwreck.
Unknown - Because President Obama has chosen not to release his SAT, LSAT, or his GPA scores, these numbers are unknown.
Labels: Democrats, Economy, Obama
Larry Bird's Home in Naples, Florida
Not to be voyeuristic or anything, Celebrity Detectives has some neat photos of basketball legend Larry Bird's home in Naples, FL. Built in 2001, the home "has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, fireplace, movie theater, bar, swimming pool, boat dock, four-car garage, and 6,007 square feet."
You, too, could live like this... if you are 6'9", mentally and physically tough as nails, hit NBA-range three-point shots at a 40% clip, can pull down 9 or 10 caroms a game and can pass the ball as if you seven eyes.Labels: Sports
Nautical Oddities
HG spotted these at Cruisers' Forum:
I have no explanation for any of these.Labels: Autos, Water-cooler
How bad IS the economy?
Tommy sent this one in:
The economy is so bad that I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.
It's so bad, I ordered a burger at McDonalds and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"
The economy is so bad if the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they mean you or them.
The economy is so bad Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.
The economy is so bad McDonalds is selling the 1/4 ounce burger.
The economy is so bad parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their kids' names.
The economy is so bad several truckloads full of Americans were caught sneaking into Mexico.
The economy is so bad Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.
The economy is so bad the Mafia is laying off judges.
The economy is so bad the trial lawyers laid off 25 Congressmen.
And finally...
Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madoff scandal further.
Perfect! The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear!
Update: Juandos adds a handful:
The economy is so bad, a picture is now only worth 200 words.
It's so bad, Snoop Dogg had to start eating regular brownies.
The economy is so bad, I saw the CEO of Wal-Mart shopping at Wal-Mart.
The economy is so bad, I went to my bank the other day and the teller handed me a note saying, "This is a robbery!"
The economy is so bad, Bill Gates had to switch to dial up.
The economy is so bad, Barack Obama changed his slogan to "Maybe We Can!"
The economy is so bad, my ATM gave me an IOU!
The economy is so bad that the highest-paying job in town is jury duty.
The economy is so bad I saw a man in Costco buying one roll of toilet paper.
The economy is so bad that I saw a van full of legal immigrants illegally crossing the border to Mexico...
Labels: Economy, Water-cooler
Larwyn's Linx: The New Career Path: Day Labor Work
Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget..Nation
Bi-state Democratic dynasties bolstered by ACORN/SEIU: CDOBSACORN Tape: Jerry Brown Will Whitewash Investigation: BigGov
Atavism and xenophobia get a bad rap: RSM
Sacrificing Americans: Hanson
Who?: Commentary (Rubin)
Fort Hood: Separation of Mosque and State?: BMW
The Other Officer Who Took Down Nidal Malik Hasan: Nice Deb
Obama: Hasan May Have 'Cracked' From 'Stress': GWP
Hope & Change Watch: Holder Upholds PATRIOT Act: Moe
Connecting the Dots: NRO
Buh Bye John Allen Muhammad: Jawa
Graph of the Day: AT (Hoven)
Economy
The New Career Path: Day Labor Work, Competing With Immigrants: MishYou Suck at Central Planning: Zero Hedge
UPS vs. FedEx: InstaPundit
ObamaCare Subterfuge Explained: Nice Deb
Is China headed toward collapse?: Politico
CEI on Economy, Grassroots and GOP Direction: InstaPundit
Media
AP Rejoices: 'Obama pressed into role as national healer': JWFOur Remote Control President: Snapped Shot
Hero JR Salzman Slams State-Run Media On Bogus PTSD Claims: GWP
An Unsustainable Narrative: Grand Rants
Today's Hardball to the Head Award: SondraK
NYT beclowns itself -- Chapter 10,329: Gormogons
The 25 most valuable blogs in America: 24/7 Wall Street
CNN Distorts Soldier’s Words to Protect Radical Islamic Killer: GWP
MSNBC's Shuster Invents Ties From Fred Phelps To Republicans, Conservatives: Riehl
Climate & Energy
Climate bills give Obama emergency strongman powers: ExaminerPeer-reviewed study: CO2 balance has stayed constant since 1850: BrisUK
World
Single Payer Hell: Canadian Escapes System for U.S.: BlogProfInfidel Babe of the Week: IBA
All For Ego: Obama's Afghan Surge: Blatt
Rahm: We Really Like Israel. Honest.: Commentary (Rubin)
Clinton endorses Turkey's Islamist regime: RubRep
Big of Them: Qatar to let Israel attend World Cup; Attendees May Consume Alcohol. In 2022.: Maktoob
Mr. Netanyahu, Tear Down That Wall For Our Suicide Bombers: LegalIns
FBI: Hassan's Al Qaeda Emails Were Probably Just Some Research and Social Chatter and Stuff: Ace
Netherlands: American Somali arrested on terrorism charges: IIE
The Two Koreas Battle at Sea: Surber
Weaker U.S. leads to insecurity in Taiwan: PJM
Obama's Fort Hood Memorial: No Mention of Terrorism or Jihad: AmPower
Sci-Tech
35 Cool Landscape Photos From Mars: BostonMafia Wars CEO Brags About Scamming Users From Day One: Consumerist
New Apple Mouse Really is Magic: Times
Cornucopia
Sign o' the Year Nominee: DennyAs long as the scanner is still warm...: SondraK
Shatner does Levi Johnston: Riehl
Labels: Linkfest
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Of Naiveté and Doom
Dan from New York:
From President Barack Obama's Oval Office interview with Reuters on Monday.
"With respect to Iran, we have unprecedented agreement with Russia and the other P5-plus-1 countries putting an offer on the table to Iran that every international observer suggests is a fair offer, giving them a pathway for legitimate civilian nuclear energy use, but that makes clear they are not -- that builds confidence in a process that will lead to an Iran without nuclear weapons. And although so far we have not seen the kind of response -- positive response that we want from Iran, we are as well positioned as we've ever been to align the international community behind that agenda.
"So I would strongly argue that we have made more progress on this issue over the last several months than we've seen in the last several years. But it is going to take time. And part of the challenge that we face is, is that neither North Korea nor Iran seem to be settled enough politically to make quick decisions on these issues."
###
While this man twiddles his thumbs and psychobabbles on like a social worker about Iran's inability to "make quick decisions," he is simultaneously leading our country and the democratic world into a dangerous blind alley. Should Iran acquire nuclear weapons, it will become Obama's disastrous legacy, and a life-changing event for all of us in horrible ways we can't foresee now. What is to be done? Let's start by clipping his wings in November 2010.
Labels: Democrats, extremism, Obama, War
A Real Estate Crash in China -- Literally
Mish, writing at his phenomenally successful Global Economic Analysis site, has the true tale of a real estate crash in China. A real crash, that is.
Here are some images Bill Hopen, my sculptor friend sent me regarding a real estate crash in China... Yes, It's a 12 story building lying flat on the ground.(1) An underground garage was being dug on the south side, to a depth of 4.6 meters.
(2) The excavated dirt was being piled up on the north side, to a height of 10 meters.
(3) The building experienced uneven lateral pressure from south and north.
(4) This resulted in a lateral pressure of 3,000 tons, which was greater than what the pilings could tolerate. Thus the building toppled over in the southerly direction.
If the buildings were closer together there would also have been a domino effect.Note the hollow concrete piers.
Synopsis of Event
Bill Hopen writes:
Mish, this photographic image is so metaphorical, it could only have been more symbolic if a domino effect had occurred. I think of the financial collapse of the families that own these condos and the impact to the bank underpinning the construction loans, then I think of the whole city collapsing without the buildings physically falling over.
All my young in-laws are rushing in to buy condos putting life savings down as well as laying down additional borrowed family cash down and then paying way more to buy each month than it would cost them to rent. It's as if the boom crash in the west never happened and they believe themselves immune.
For more from Bill Hopen please see Inside China: A Sculptor's View
Hat tip: ILB.
Labels: Engineering, World
The new bumper stickers are here!
Tommy sent these in -- I think he's trying to outdo Papa B for political incorrectitude.
Labels: Water-cooler
When Plunder Becomes a Way of Life
When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it. --Frederic Bastiat
Last week the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its national "under-employment" (or U-6) rate for October: it was 17.5%, a big jump from 17% in September and a major leap from the 10.6% figure of September 2008.
Unemployment keeps climbing, even though President and Congress spent more than $787 billion dollars in taxpayer funds for a stimulus package.
Since that time, neither the President nor Congress have spent an iota of effort analyzing the impact of the stimulus program.
And they've not taken a moment to consider alternatives that might help alleviate the economic pain felt by so many Americans.
The President and Congress continue to ignore the economy while they pursue their ideological agenda of truly massive government.
Anyone who has lost a job, can't find a job, is nervous about losing their job, or simply lives in an area decimated by job loss should be livid over a President and Congress that spend all of their time plotting a takeover of health care.
Even though the economy is the top concern for almost every American, the oligarchy in Washington is fixated on nationalizing health care and exacting carbon taxes on every sector of the economy.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) broke committee rules and slammed an energy-rationing bill through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week without a single Republican present.
The bill would curtail America's ability to exploit its own natural resources to harvest energy and boost economic activity. Thus, despite the economic crisis, the government is turning its back on $1.7 trillion in tax revenue and tens of thousands of real jobs (i.e., non-government payroll).
Democrats are only concerned with their big-government agenda -- nationalizing the health care industry, carbon taxes and amnesty for illegal aliens -- and not worried a bit about American jobs. Each of their programs raises taxes and fees on job creators, which further harms the economy.
Both the health care and cap-and-trade bills translate to huge tax hikes for most Americans.
Frighteningly, even the 17.5% under-employment figure understates things. During the Clinton administration, the BLS began removing those 'too discouraged' to look for a job for more than a year. John Williams of Shadow Government Stats thinks the true unemployment rate would be 22.1 percent if everyone were included.
Meanwhile, Congress fiddles while the economy burns. As I said more than six months ago, this willful abandonment of Americans in economic distress is intentional.
As Rahm Emanuel told the New York Times after the 2008 election, "Rule 1 -- never allow a crisis to go to waste."
The President and Congress simply ignore high unemployment while plotting their next moves to bankrupt the country. They are violating the Constitution. They meet and maneuver and vote -- not in the tradition of this nation -- but of totalitarian regimes.
They vote late Saturday night, when the public isn't watching. Meeting behind closed doors -- one party and one party only. Changing the locks on the committee room doors to exclude the opposition party and prevent debate. Everything is done in secret until they drop a massive, 2,000-page bill on an unsuspecting public.
And that doesn't even include the regulations to implement the bill, which will be ten times longer! And it affects your life, your livelihood, your family. And you -- don't -- have -- access to it, or them.
Only the oligarchs, who laugh off high unemployment, get a say in how you will live. And they don't give a damn about anything but accruing more power and growing the size of government.Inspired by: Nolan Finley (Detroit News), Mark Levin, John Crudele (New York Post).
Labels: Crime, Democrats, Economy, Healthcare, Obama, Pelosi, Reid
Larwyn's Linx: ObamaCare -- Dithering While the Economy Burns
Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget..Health Care Bill
Coburn: You Actually Have to Pay for These Bills: BigGovObamaCare: Dithering While the Economy Burns: Patterico
It's About Sacrifice: DaleyGator
How a Life Ends: Fausta
Dems look to ditch Stupak Amendment: GOPleader
Tears, tempers fly in Nancy Pelosi's campaign: Politico
Nation
The President of Resentment: AT (Lewis)Police Report: Gladney Beating by SEIU Thugs: BigGov
Pfizer abandons infamous Kelo site: Examiner
Feds dropped investigation of Hasan because...: Ace
Ignoring Infiltration: AT
Perfect: Holder to speak at CAIR event: Riehl
Peters on Fatal Political Correctness: Aces
An Execution in Virginia: Grand Rants
Economy
The Market High: ATWho cares about consistency?: Gormogons
Media
Will 'Strap-On Keith' Apologize for Smearing Fox's Peter Johnson, Jr?: Strap-On WatchCNN Struggles More But the Damned Facts Keep Coming Out: Ace
Leftists complain: Conservatives selling too many books: Surber
CNN Tries to Talk to Peaceful Moderate Muslims, Interviews AQ-Linked Leader of Muslim Jihad Camp Instead: TAB
Searching for the wrong Muslim backlash: CFB
Melanie Phillips: 'This is Marxist doctrine': RBO
Fond Remembrances of the Good Old Stasi: Anchoress
Climate & Energy
How to make young drivers better in MI? Why push global warming junk science in drivers ed of course!: BlogProfWorld
Scotland Yard, FBI stop attack on NYC subway: ATIranian Rockets Captured by Israel Identical to Rockets Fired At U.S. Bases in Iraq: PJM (Owens)
Figures: Obama Skips Anniversary of Wall, Sends Video, Talks About Himself: GWP
Paul Rahe: Obama's Gestures, Part IV: Power Line
Obama's Middle East Policy Falls Apart: AT
Indiana base hosts training exercise simulating nuclear attack on U.S. city: WISH-TV
Obama on Fall of Berlin Wall: No One Could Have Forseen on That Day That German Ally America Would Be Led By Man Like Me: Ace
'Dissent is the highest form of patriotism': PJM (Belmont)
DHS Warning: Muslim Americans At Risk: Atlas
Sci-Tech
What beautiful HTML looks like: CSS TricksCornucopia
Ultimate fighting championship of catfights: Viral FootageHeadline Wrapup: IowaHawk
Labels: Linkfest
Monday, November 09, 2009
A Wall, A Narcissist, and a Case of Badly Mistaken Priorities
'Barack Obama’s shameful absence from Berlin'
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey flew to Copenhagen in an ill-fated attempt to secure the Olympics for Chicago.
He and his wife will fly there again to accept his Nobel Peace Prize.
But when German Chancellor Angela Merkel invited the President to Berlin for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, he couldn't be bothered. 'It's Pathetic -- and Telling'
Compared to Barack Obama's extraordinarily narcissistic speech in Berlin during the campaign ("This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal"), for which he also found time, Ronald Reagan's 'four little words' in Berlin actually meant something.
Idea: Richard.
Labels: Democrats, extremism, Obama, War
With Preconditions Met, Obama Hosts Netanyahu
Dan from New York:
WSJ, November 9, 2009Seeking Conditions First, Obama Hosts Netanyahu
Showing New Discomfort, White House Wanted Quid Pro Quo to Meet
The White House waited several days to confirm that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could meet with President Barack Obama Monday, and sought conditions first -- underscoring the new depths of difficulty that Middle East peace efforts have reached in the last week.
U.S. officials said the delay, which stretched until late Sunday, stemmed from last-minute discussions aimed at gaining a more robust and public commitment to the peace track from Mr. Netanyahu. One official said the U.S. wanted Mr. Netanyahu to express stronger support for negotiations on an independent Palestinian state at his speech Monday before the Jewish Federations of North America in Washington. "We're in the part of the process where you can't expect something for nothing," the official said.
It wasn't immediately clear what Mr. Netanyahu would say on the issue. But ultimately the U.S. agreed to schedule the meeting.
The prime minister's visit comes as fears grow inside the Obama administration that its aggressive plans for promoting Mideast peace could be unraveling. Mr. Netanyahu hasn't agreed to a complete freeze of settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem as a precursor to talks, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced last week that he wouldn't seek re-election in protest over the U.S. failure to deliver such a commitment.
Now, President Obama has been clear for years that he is willing to meet Iran's president 'without preconditions'.
Diplomacy: Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Iran directly to change their troubling behavior.
Put simply:
Iran: the world's biggest state sponsor of terrorism, can meet with President Obama without preconditions.
Israel: America's decades-long ally in the Middle East -- and liberty's 'canary in the coal mine' -- must satisfy certain preconditions in order to meet with President Obama.
Something is very, very wrong here. And somewhere, Jeremiah Wright is cheering.
Labels: Democrats, extremism, Obama, War
Is a New Strain of Flu Scorching the Ukraine?
Project Mayhem at ZeroHedge offers a somewhat disturbing look at Ukrainian flu trends.
Last week TWIM reported that a possible new strain of influenza had broken out (or was released) in Ukraine. This turns out to be accurate, surprising even our most vocal detractors.The Ukrainian government now claims that over 960,000 people are now infected, over 48,000 hospitalized, and over 150 dead (likely a vast understatement). Our best estimate using our sources in epidemiology, infectious diseases, and weapons research is this:
A) There are one or more new flu strains circulating in Ukraine, of unknown origin.B) These new strains are very infectious, and approximately one order of magnitude more virulent (dangerous) than the existing swine flu.
C) There are likely changes (single nucleotide polymorphisms) to one or more genes, including but not limited to HA, NA, NS1, PA, and PB2. This is probably a full-constellation of changes, whether spontaneous or man-made. Aka. The virus has been upgraded.
D) The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of the new strains are estimated to be between 0.2% to 0.5%. Higher is possible but unlikely. In other words, The new strain may be >10x as lethal as swine flu and 2x-5x as lethal as seasonal flu. Aka. You do not want to catch this.
GENE SEQUENCES ARE NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THE NATURE OF THIS OUTBREAK.
However, the idiots at the World Health Organization (WHO) are keeping the RNA sequences a secret. They have said there are not "major changes" to the H1N1 virus in Ukraine -- but we all know it doesn't take much when it comes to viral genetics. Are these people lunkheads or are they criminals? I really have to wonder... Regardless, we clearly have a new flu strain which may be several times as lethal as seasonal flu, and has a high attack rate. The new strain also has a penchant for inducing viral pneumonia, where one's lungs fill with fluid. This is analogous to what happened in 1918, but obviously not yet on a large scale. Why is the WHO not releasing the gene sequences? Where is the lapdog corporate media? What in the hell is the CDC doing about this? And where is that backrub that Lauren promised me??Indeed there are many questions here that require answers, and these answers are not forthcoming. Here is a news sample from Dr. Henry Niman, a very smart man who holds multiple patents on viral genetics but can't seem to comprehend the world, including governments, are corrupt.
Anyway, Here are some of Henry's latest articles:Fail. This news looks bad -- but it's a little academic, Henry! Let's spice this up with some exclusive TWIM Ukrainian translations of what you are not hearing in the press about this new flu in Eastern Europe:
According to Kommersant-Ukraine chief physician aid city Myron Borisevich, in five fatalities have been recorded. "In all the patients came to hospital, observed the same symptoms of disease: very high fever, a cough that does not breathe normally. This disease progresses very quickly. Now all tests sent for examination in Kyiv" - explained Borisevich
Another difficult situation prevailing in the area Drohobych region, where five people also died. As the head of the Department of Health Drohobych municipality Andrew Shekenych, unlike the city, the residents of the area flowed disease differently: "The child entered the hospital and died eight hours. One adult - a day [until death], second - for two days [until death], and two patients died on the fourth day.
As the chief doctor of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast Infectious Hospital Roman Ostyak in patients with fatal observed similar symptoms: it started with a small increase in temperature - up to 37,2-37,3 0 C - and a small pokashlyuvannya [cough?]. In the second and third days appeared little cold, and the third-fifth day - cutting short of breath, after which patients became difficult to breathe. "When you transfer to respirator them virtually impossible to proventylyuvaty light" - the Ostyak, noting that the death of advancing as a result of pulmonary edema.
While the doctors do not have a single thought that is causing the disease. Chief Medical Officer of the Ternopil region Dnistryan Stephen believes that the cause of deaths is unknown viruses. Explained deputy chief health officer of the region Ninel Tsyapa all dead treated by the doctors at the fifth-sixth day after the beginning of the disease when it was already to late. "This strain of influenza is characterized by lesions of the lungs."
[translated from: http://www.daily.lviv.ua/?module=write_about_lviv&view=50]
Oh, and this one, here's your latest update as of 4:54AM EST Monday Nov 9th 2009On the last day the doctors asked 2028 people, and last night was 3200 patients. We are not talking about the decline and Stabilization", - said Zoya Tsihon. Deputy Head of Regional Department of Health added that now in the intensive care unit is 76 people, including 67 adults, 5 pregnant women and 11 children.
[translated from: http://zik.com.ua/]
Obviously this is serious business. Where is the coverage? I was on this story LAST WEEK. But what is even more serious is that the corporate media is so vile and rotten, I had to break this story on an anti-corruption financial blog! Wtf! Maybe these latest developments will crash the stock markets, and I can finally experience some long awaited Schadenfreude...
Labels: Healthcare, World
'I Love This Doctor'
Papa B sends us this critical medical update.
Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually. Speed up heart not make live longer; that like say you can extend life of car by driving faster. Want live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. What are these? Vegetables. So, steak nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop give 100% recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine. That means they take water out of fruity bit; get even more goodness that way. Beer also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: If you have body and you have fat, ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Cannot think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No Pain... GOOD!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTEN!!! Foods fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetables bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only do sit-ups if want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy? HELLO... Cocoa bean! Vegetable!!! Cocoa bean best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whale.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
and...
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies:
1. The Japanese eat very little fat
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats
And suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.Executive Summary
Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.
Labels: Water-cooler
Let's try tallying the bodycount before worrying about the 'backlash'
Hopefully Ace doesn't dispatch his black-clad ninja assassin zombie-killers -- who carry 1911's and shurikens dipped in Raid! and drink battery acid for fun -- to terminate me for repro'ing his whole post. And highlighting the Line o' the Day™.
Everyone's First Thought After Hearing About "Possible Muslim Backlash" in the Media? "My God, How Many Have They Killed This Time?"
We're not even done tallying up the latest bodycount before we again have to be instructed about the dangers of "backlash."In this case, the "backlash" feared is a feminist writer at Pajamas Media stating the inarguable: We have to begin "connecting the dots" and stop the deadly doublethink that is getting people killed.
But that is part of the "backlash" CNN now worries about: Connecting the dots to avoid future terrorism.
Incidentally, if we did connect the dots and stopped the Islamically Correct bull*** and arrested Hassan earlier (for any number of violations of the military code) we would not even have to fear any "backlash," because no heinous mass-slaughter would have occurred.
Oh, and 15 people would still be alive today. If that matters any more. Apparently it doesn't, because I keep being told by the media that only Muslim lives matter. Only future harassments and inconveniences to Muslims matter; thousands of non-Muslim lives may be sacrificed on the altar of jihadist freedom in order to spare a single innocent Muslim a moment's worth of stink-eye.
If this much-feared speculative hypothetical alt-future "backlash" does occur, by the way, here will be the reason for it: Because citizens have learned they cannot trust their government, or the so-called "watchdog" media, to protect their lives when threatened by an Islamist.
I call it blood sacrifice on the altar of political correctness.
At this juncture, it's always worth re-reading "No Substitute for Victory", the finest epistle on the topic ever written. IMO, of course.
Via: Larwyn.
Labels: Democrats, extremism, Obama, War
Eureka! Health care is now free!
Richard offers a stunning insight into the sheer economic illiteracy of the current Democrat Party. Exhibit A: Jan Schakowsky (Marxist-IL):
In the debate on the health care bill in the house, Democrat Jan Schakowsky made a revealing comment. Asked about the abortion restrictions placed in the bill (the Stupak amendment), she responded that the bill was overall good for women.
Now there would be free breast cancer screenings for women.
Did you hear that? Free. Nobody pays. Do the doctors get paid? By whom?
Will this new "free service" add to insurance premiums? This is not the Congresswoman's concern. If the price of anything is free, there will be more of the service delivered of course. But remember, whatever the volume, Shakowsky thinks it is free, because the consumer does not pay at the point of service.
That, of course, is one of the reasons why American healthcare costs so much. Almost everyone thinks that the service is free at the point of service. When people pay out of pocket for things -- flat screen TVs, cellular phone service, etc. -- they are good consumers.
When they think something is free at the point of service, they are terrible consumers, using more of whatever is "free".Someone else pays of course: government, their employer, insurance companies, your children and grandchildren... all future taxpayers. Barack Obama made a similar comment about colonoscopies in his last prime time news conference on health care reform.
Everyone should have a colonoscopy and it should be free (no deductibles, or co-pays). These, for the record, are not inexpensive procedures, and involve the use of anesthesia, which is always a risk factor for any procedure.
But if insurers are now mandated to provide free colonoscopies, there will be many more of them performed. It will be the gastroenterologists' full employment act. Many who are not at risk (family history, over age 50) will have the procedure done
Costs will go much higher. But, hey, it is free. And isn't that a good thing? In microcosm, this is the bill the Democrats have passed: lots of goodies, and the piper will be paid later. Kick the can down the road.
Fiscal responsibility? Why worry? Do you think this bill will actually cost only $1.2 trillion over ten years? If volume is higher than estimated by the CBO, then the premiums for insurance will rise whether in a private insurance or public plan, and so will the subsidies paid under this bill.Those subsidies do not just cover the poor. Families with incomes up to $88,000 get subsides to buy insurance in the House bill. Are these poor folks, needing a handout? I think not. The purpose of this bill is to create a new middle class entitlement. Make these people think they owe their "free" health care to the government and the party of big government.
The reality is that less care often means higher quality than more care. The New York Times has an article in the Sunday magazine on the Intermountain system in Utah. This is the system run by those horrible Mormons, who voted against gay marriage.
Intermountain happens to have the best health care system in America. Books have been written about this system. They don't prescribe treatment protocols from up high, but actually look to see what works at their hospitals.
Hospitals from around the country are coming to Utah to learn what they do. While Mayo and Cleveland Clinic have models of collaborative care among MDs who are salaried (and hence do not directly benefit from fee for service over utilization), Intermountain achieves its results with measurement.
There are models of low cost quality care in America. But Obamacare or PelosiCare have a one-size-fits-all model that will lead to even higher levels of over-utilization than already exists. When the country starts going broke, we will see rationing from up high, not the Intermountain model or the Mayo model.
The Obama team trusts bureaucrats and politicians, not doctors.
Labels: Crime, Democrats, Economy, Obama, Pelosi, Reid
Larwyn's Linx: Is this the high-water mark for ObamaCare?
Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget..Health Care Bill
Is this the high-water mark for ObamaCare?: Hot AirIrony: Planned Parenthood: "Yesterday was BRUTAL": BlogProf
Healing the Healer: Patterico
The 'true' cost of health care reform; $2.6 trillion: AT (Moran)
Health Care Reform: Reich Overboard!: Kaus
Does Harry Reid have the votes?: AmPow
What the PelosiCare Bill Really Says: WSJ
The Vote: Maggie's Farm
What we know about the health care bill: Rubin
Feminists are funny: Protein Wisdom
Courageous!: Crittenden
Dems sold the party's reproductive soul: LegalIns
Nation
Louisiana AG to ACORN: Show Me the Money: BigGovFatal Correctness: AT
Major Jihadist hit the strip joints first: Surber
Who is Steve Max? Ward Churchill plus Rahm Emanuel: BigGov
Obama denigrates millions of American who disagree with his policies: STACLU
Bush or Obama: the Quiz: AT (Hoven)
Presidential Priorities: Ace
Degrees of Separation: Steyn
Dodd won’t face party politics in re-election bid: Norwich
Economy
Up against a wall of debt: NewsweakDaily Outrage: Enough already: Examiner
France: Companies confronted by religious demands: IIE
Emotional Quotient: R&R
Our Commander in Chief Doesn't "Get" the Military: TigerHawk
But what about the children?: Mass Backwards
Media
Time: 'Secondary Trauma' may have driven Hasan to slaughter soldiers (while shouting 'Allah Akhbar'): GWPThe New York Times helped build the wall: AT (Cashill)
Paralysis by analysis: RSM
World
Most Smartest Foreign Affairs Columnist Evah Finally Realizes What Conservatives Have Said For Years: AceObama: No military death shall go unexploited: Riehl
Venezuela prepares for war with Colombia: Prairie
'Get well soon, Major Nidal. We love you.': JWF
Jihad Denial Syndrome: Prairie
To our friends in Europe: we apologize for our president: BigGov
"Americans, you are hated here!": NoPasaran
"Russia has laid bare its real intentions with respect to Poland" : NoPasaran
Guess who sat our the Berlin Wall anniversary?: Jawa
Sci-Tech
Start-Up Nation: Maggie's FarmComplete video of USS New York Commissioning Ceremony: Riehl
Cornucopia
Only by fire is Fascism finished: American DigestAmerica Take Can Pride In This Historic, Inspirational Disaster: IowaHawk (2008)
Labels: Linkfest
Sunday, November 08, 2009
PelosiCare: Reaction Roundup featuring Sarah Palin, Thomas Sowell, The Anchoress, Dr. Helen, Tom Jacobson, John Locke and Doctor Zero
The anger of the American public is only just beginning
Dr. Helen's message is inspiring:You are never doomed until you are dead. There is always something that can be done. The anger of the American public is only just beginning. It is an energy that will be needed in the coming days, weeks and months to protest, stand up, debate, argue and get in the face of every government official, public figure and others who support a bill that leads us down The Road to Serfdom.
The people who gave us Fannie Mae now want to run health care
Sarah Palin is on fire:We’ve got to hold on to hope, and we’ve got to fight hard because Congressional action tonight just put America on a path toward an unrecognizable country.
The same government leaders that got us into the mortgage business and the car business are now getting us into the health care business...
...Speaker Pelosi has broken her own promises of transparency to ram a health “care” bill through the House of Representatives just before midnight. Why did she push the 2,000 page bill this weekend? Was she perhaps afraid to give her peers and the constituents for whom she works the chance to actually read this monstrous bill carefully, if at all? Was she concerned that Americans might really digest the details of a bill that the Wall Street Journal has called “the worst piece of post-New Deal legislation ever introduced”?
This out-of-control bureaucratic mess will be disastrous for our economy, our small businesses, and our personal liberty. It will slam businesses at a time when we are at double-digit unemployment rates – the highest we’ve seen in a quarter of a century. This massive new bureaucracy will cost us and our children money we don’t have. It will rob Americans of more of our freedom and further hamper the free market.
Make no mistake: we’re on course to have government commandeer one-sixth of our economy. The people who gave us Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now want to run our health care.
The Day the Blue Dogs Died
The John Locke Foundation calls it "The Day the Blue Dogs Died":...more than half (28 out of 52) of the supposedly fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats voted FOR HR 3962 — the nearly 2,000-page bureaucratic monstrosity that, if implemented, will stifle the economic prospects of this generation, and many generations to come. I cringe when I think about what is to come for my stepdaughter’s small children, who will enter the work force in the next 15 to 20 years...
...To illustrate the clean break between what the Blue Dogs profess, and what the majority of them voted for last night, be sure to visit the coalition’s home page, which carries a national debt tally.
The shadow of the jackboot...
The Anchoress is realistic:We’d best prepare ourselves for an America we could not have imagined even 9 years ago, and a world besieged by an ideology that seems to be heading to a victorious ascendancy.
Will government-run health care be better or worse?
Thomas Sowell's questions are piercing:What is so wrong with the current medical system in the United States that we are being urged to rush headlong into a new government system that we are not even supposed to understand, because this legislation is to be rushed through Congress before even the Senators and Representatives have a chance to read it?
...Will a government-run medical system make these things better or worse? This very basic question seldom seems to get asked, much less answered.
Maybe this time...
Doctor Zero hits another grand-slam.The Heritage Foundation’s estimate of $2.4 to $2.6 trillion over 10 years, beginning when the House bill transitions from front-loaded tax hikes to full Daffy Duck freak-out spending in 2014, is the most logical projection of its true costs I’ve seen.
Even this will likely prove to be an underestimation of the true long-term costs. No other Big Government program has ever stayed within an order of magnitude of the promises made when it was signed into law. Medicare originally cost about $3 billion, when it began in 1965, and was projected to cost about $12 billion by 1990, adjusted for inflation. The actual cost in 1990 was nearly ten times that figure, $107 billion. It was up to $440 billion by 2007. The architects of the program would have been run out of town on a rail, if these future costs had been known to the voters of 1965.
The difference between promised benefits and expected revenues for Social Security and Medicare amounts to about $107 trillion dollars, which Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute points out is double the annual Gross Domestic Product of the entire world. The most strident opponent of the New Deal would never have dreamed of predicting this level of cost overrun. Name any government program that has been around for more than five years, and the odds are good it costs at least triple what its opponents originally said it would cost.
In The End: No Public Option, No Abortions, No Pelosi, No Reid
William A. Jacobson has a hopeful analysis of a possible endgame.Keep in mind, Nancy Pelosi cut a deal to get her health care bill through the House (by a mere 5 votes) by allowing a floor vote on the Stupak Amendment, which reiterates existing federal law banning federal funding for abortions, and takes that law several steps further by requiring any health plan which participates in the newly established exchanges to offer competing plans, one which covers abortion and one which does not. The Stupak Amendment makes clear that any plan offering abortion coverage must be self-funding, with no federal funds used directly or indirectly. As many left-wing bloggers are screaming, the Stupak Amendment guts Roe v. Wade in reality (but not in law) by creating a subclass of health insurance coverage which will cost more and be less available than alternatives without abortion coverage.
So Harry Reid needs to drop the public option to get a bill through the Senate. Nancy Pelosi needs to drop abortion coverage even for most private plans, to get a bill through the House.
The end result: If a bill is to pass both houses of Congress, it will have no public option and no abortion coverage.
The left-wing will take care of dropping Pelosi and Reid from their leadership positions. And if Obama were to sign such a bill, who knows whether he would be dropped in 2012.
From his lips to God's ears.
Labels: Crime, Democrats, Healthcare, Obama, Pelosi, Reid
Eyewitness account of Fort Hood shooting (unconfirmed)
Papa B sends this in from one of his contacts.
Subject: What HappenedSince I don't know when I'll sleep (it's 4 am now) I'll write what happened (the abbreviated version.....the long one is already part of the investigation with more to come). I'll not write about any part of the investigation that I've learned about since (as a witness I know more than I should since inevitably my JAG brothers and sisters are deeply involved in the investigation). Don't assume that most of the current media accounts are very accurate. They're not. They'll improve with time. Only those of us who were there really know what went down. But as they collate our statements they'll get it right.
I did my SRP last week (Soldier Readiness Processing) but you're supposed to come back a week later to have them look at the smallpox vaccination site (it's this big itchy growth on your shoulder). I am probably alive because I pulled a ---------- and entered the wrong building first (the main SRP building). The Medical SRP building is off to the side. Realizing my mistake I left the main building and walked down the sidewalk to the medical SRP building. As I'm walking up to it the gunshots start. Slow and methodical. But continuous. Two ambulatory wounded came out.
Then two soldiers dragging a third who was covered in blood. Hearing the shots but not seeing the shooter, along with a couple other soldiers I stood in the street and yelled at everyone who came running that it was clear but to "RUN!". I kept motioning people fast. about 6-10 minutes later (the shooting continuous), two cops ran up. one male, one female. we pointed in the direction of the shots. they headed that way (the medical SRP building was about 50 meters away). then a lot more gunfire. a couple minutes later a balding man in ACU's came around the building carrying a pistol and holding it tactically. He started shooting at us and we all dived back to the cars behind us. I don't think he hit the couple other guys who were there. I did see the bullet holes later in the cars. First I went behind a tire and then looked under the body of the car.
I've been trained how to respond to gunfire...but with my own weapon. To have no weapon I don't know how to explain what that felt like. I hadn't run away and stayed because I had thought about the consequences or anything like that. I wasn't thinking anything through. Please understand, there was no intention. I was just staying there because I didn't think about running. It never occurred to me that he might shoot me.Until he started shooting in my direction and I realized I was unarmed. Then the female cop comes around the corner. He shoots her. (according to the news accounts she got a round into him. I believe it, I just didn't see it. he didn't go down.) She goes down. He starts reloading. He's fiddling with his mags. Weirdly he hasn't dropped the one that was in his weapon. He's holding the fresh one and the old one (you do that on the range when time is not of the essence but in combat you would just let the old mag go).
I see the male cop around the left corner of the building. (I'm about 15-20 meters from the shooter.) I yell at the cop, "He's reloading, he's reloading. Shoot him! Shoot him!) You have to understand, everything was quiet at this point. The cop appears to hear me and comes around the corner and shoots the shooter. He goes down. The cop kicks his weapon further away. I sprint up to the downed female cop. Another captain (I think he was with me behind the cars) comes up as well.
She's bleeding profusely out of her thigh. We take our belts off and tourniquet her just like we've been trained (I hope we did it right...we didn't have any CLS (combat lifesaver) bags with their awesome tourniquets on us, so we worked with what we had). Meanwhile, in the most bizarre moment of the day, a photographer was standing over us taking pictures. I suppose I'll be seeing those tomorrow. Then a
soldier came up and identified himself as a medic. I then realized her weapon was lying there unsecured (and on "fire"). I stood over it and when I saw a cop yelled for him to come over and secure her weapon (I would have done so but I was worried someone would mistake me for a bad guy). I then went over to the shooter. He was unconscious.
A Lt Colonel was there and had secured his primary weapon for the time being. He also had a revolver. I couldn't believe he was one of ours. I didn't want to believe it. Then I saw his name and rank and realized this wasn't just some specialist with mental issues. At this point there was a guy there from CID and I asked him if he knew he was the shooter and had him secured. He said he did. I then went over the slaughter house. the medical SRP building. No human should ever have to see what that looked like. and I won't tell you. Just believe me. Please. there was nothing to be done there.Someone then said there was someone critically wounded around the corner. I ran around (while seeing this floor to ceiling window that someone had jumped through movie style) and saw a large African-American soldier lying on his back with two or three soldiers attending. I ran up and identified two entrance wounds on the right side of his stomach, one exit wound on the left side and one head wound. He was not bleeding externally from the stomach wounds (though almost certainly internally) but was bleeding from the head wound. A soldier was using a shirt to try and stop the head bleeding. He was conscious so I began talking to him to keep him so. He was 42, from North Carolina, he was named something Jr., his son was named something III and he had a daughter as well. His children lived with him. He was divorced. I told him the blubber on his stomach saved his life. He smiled.
a young soldier in civvies showed up and identified himself as a combat medic. We debated whether to put him on the back of a pickup truck. A doctor (well, an audiologist) showed up and said you can't move him, he has a head wound. we finally sat tight. I went back to the slaughterhouse. they weren't letting anyone in there. not even medics. finally, after about 45 minutes had elapsed some cops showed up in tactical vests.
someone said the TBI building was unsecured. They headed into there. All of a sudden a couple more shots were fired. People shouted there was a second shooter. a half hour later the SWAT showed up. there was no second shooter. that had been an impetuous cop apparently. but that confused things for a while. meanwhile I went back to the shooter. the female cop had been taken away. a medic was pumping plasma into the shooter. I'm not proud of this but I went up to her and said "this is the shooter, is there anyone else who needs attention...do them first".
she indicated everyone else living was attended to. I still hadn't seen any EMTs or ambulances. I had so much blood on me that people kept asking me if I was ok. but that was all other people's blood. eventually (an hour and a half to two hours after the shootings) they started landing choppers. they took out the big African American guy and the shooter. I guess the ambulatory wounded were all at the SRP
building. Everyone else in my area was dead.I suppose the emergency responders were told there were multiple shooters. I heard that was the delay with the choppers (they were all civilian helicopters). they needed a secure LZ. but other than the initial cops who did everything right, I didnt' see a lot of them for a while. I did see many a soldier rush out to help their fellows/sisters. there was one female soldier, I dont' know her name or rank but I would recognize her anywhere who was everywhere helping people. a couple people, mainly civilians, were hysterical, but only a couple. one civilian freaked out when I tried to comfort her when she saw my uniform. I guess she had seen the shooter up close. a lot of soldiers were rushing out to help even when we thought there was another gunman out there. this Army is not broken no matter what the pundits say. not the Army I saw.
and then they kept me for a long time to come. oh, and perhaps the most surreal thing, at 1500 (the end of the workday on Thursdays) when the bugle sounded we all came to attention and saluted the flag. in the middle of it all.
this is what I saw. it can't have been real. but this is my small corner of what happened.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those touched by this madness.
Labels: extremism, Protecting America
The Health Care Bill in Ninety Seconds
The key 'features' of of H.R. 3962:
Cost
The CBO now estimates health bill spending at $3 trillion over 10 years. Since the CBO historically underestimates expenses, assume massive new deficits for a country that can ill afford them.Personal Requirements
You'll be required to buy a 'qualified' health plan. A family earning $102K a year will pay $1,700 a month in premium and out-of-pocket expenses. 'Willful' failure to buy a plan will result in a fine of up to $250,000 and 'imprisonment of up to five years'. Illegal immigrants are exempt from fines and imprisonment.Business Requirements
Every business in America must provide a 'qualified plan' for employees and pay 72.5% of the cost. Failure to do so results in an 8% payroll tax.Impact to Seniors
Medicare reimbursements will be slashed by $500 billion. Medicare Advantage plans will be slashed by 20%. In many cases, seniors will be forced to see nurse practitioners rather than doctors.Payments for Community Organizers, Translators and Racial/Ethnic 'Balance'
The bill provides grants to community "entities" with no required qualifications. The bill also provides translators for patients who do not speak English and offers grants to schools serving students with "disadvantaged backgrounds including racial and ethnic minorities."Illegal Immigrants Covered, Abortion Funding Still Possible
Proof of citizenship requirements were gutted, so illegal aliens will be subsidized. The legislation also "doesn't close the door to using taxpayer funds" for abortions.This bill truly is, as Michele Bachmann describes it, the "crown jewel of socialism". Its implementation will result in an economic catastrophe of the first order as certainly as the sun rises in the morning.
Hat tip: Frogg at ChronWatch. Linked by: Linkiest, Memeorandum, Curmudgeonly & Skeptical, Protein Wisdom and Family Security Matters. Thanks!
Labels: Crime, Democrats, Economy, Healthcare, Obama, Pelosi
PelosiCare's price controls will bankrupt health insurers in one year
Buried deep inside the 2,200 pages of H.R. 3962 ("The Affordable Health Care for America Act", A.K.A. "PelosiCare") is a section that mandates the profit margins of health insurers.‘SEC. 2714. ENSURING VALUE AND LOWER PREMIUMS.‘(a) In General- Each health insurance issuer that offers health insurance coverage in the small or large group market shall provide that for any plan year in which the coverage has a medical loss ratio below a level specified by the Secretary (but not less than 85 percent), the issuer shall provide in a manner specified by the Secretary for rebates to enrollees of the amount by which the issuer’s medical loss ratio is less than the level so specified.
No company has ever survived with a loss ratio approaching 85%.
What exactly is a 'loss ratio'?
Put simply, it is the ratio of the claims paid by an insurance company to the premiums collected. Usually the ratio is calculated on a yearly basis. And, in the context of legislation, loss ratios are price controls.
A 2008 document by the Council for Affordable Health Insurance describes state experiences with mandated loss ratios.
While many states have implemented loss-ratio requirements, few have ever tried loss ratios at or above 70 percent... states hope[d] that by squeezing down the [insurers'] administrative costs... insurance [would] become more affordable and more accessible. However, the experience of other states... provides little hope for success.
An 85% loss ratio, as mandated by PelosiCare, would bankrupt insurers within a year. No mandated loss ratio has ever come close to 85%.
Why would a loss ratio that permits only a 15% administrative margin for insurers cause companies to fail? Consider that the administrative expenses include collecting premiums; processing and paying claims; monitoring patient care; staffing customer service functions; paying costs to state and federal regulators; paying sales agents; and general overhead (rent, power, heat, light); etc.I repeat: No company has ever survived with a loss ratio approaching 85%.
A loss ratio of 85% will bankrupt health insurers in less than a year
If you work for a health insurer, if your business is a supplier to a health insurer, or if you are customer or simply a shareholder, say goodbye to the private health insurance industry.
So, no, you won't get to keep your private insurance plan. That's guaranteed under H.R. 3962.
Update: An employee of a health insurer clarifies, "Congress voted to fire me last night." (hat tip: Larwyn).
Update II: Liberty died last night... to thunderous applause.
Labels: Crime, Democrats, Economy, Healthcare, Obama, Pelosi, Reid
Larwyn's Linx: Dems Declare War on American People, Constitution
Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget..Health Care Bill
Politburo passes health plan, 220-215: SurberNY-23: Owens pulls a fast one on his constituents: TCOT
First Take on House Passage: LegalIns
2010 Outlook for Democrat 'No' Votes: NRO
The Coming Pharmaceutical Train Wreck: JWF
Souder's One Minute of Pain for Pelosi: GWP
It's on: Palin versus Pelosi: Hot Air
What Pelosi's Bribes Were: Morris
“This is NOT About Health Care Policy: This Is About Ideology”: GWP
Republicans offer health care Americans want: Boehner
NY-23: It takes Owens 1 hour to break 4 campaign promises: GWP
Nation
Fort Hood Suspect Has Ties to 9/11 Mosque : Patterico'We cannot fully know what leads a man to do such a thing': Cold Fury
Fort Hood Investigation: Hasan's Handgun: AmPow
Obama’s Brown Shirts: SEIU and Political Intimidation in STL: BigGov
Comment of the Day: Black and Right
Who is answering the call?: WBK
Good Morning, Rep. Barney Frank: Lane
At least someone is acting presidential: Grand Rants
Economy
CBO cost estimate of Pelosi Plan $3 trillion: MorrisseyWhat’s A Foreseeable Rate of Taxation?: Glittering Eye
GM Management 'Reminds One of Socialism': Spiegel
Media
Obama's Frightening Insensitivity Following Shooting: NBC ChicagoMemo to ABC: There's a Reason He's Not Called Smith: AT
Glenn Greenwald's mastery of ellipses: Patterico
They Still Don't Get It: Grand Rants
Climate & Energy
Auto Execs Urge Fuel Taxes of $8/Gallon to Increase Fuel Efficiency: DailyTechWorld
The Hole at the Heart of our Strategy: SteynReality Raises Its Head as Media Wakes Up About Administration’s Middle East Failures: Rubin
The New Iran Man at the State Department's Iran Desk: AT (Lasky)
Sci-Tech
Islam’s Darwin problem: Boston GlobeCornucopia
Supermodels: Then and Now: NBC ConnecticutHere We Go Again: Rostenkowski, Health Care and the Original Town-Hall Protest: BigGov
My Father's War Stories: BMW
From Afghanistan to Iran, Honduras, the UN, and of course Israel, President Obama has compiled an impressive record of failure in a remarkably short period of time. Most presidents have taken years to accomplish what Obama has in a few months. And one gets the feeling the best is yet to come. Former Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams has the Middle East wrap-up. -- Dan from New York
Labels: Linkfest
