We saw this coming

Obama and his advisers are idiots.

I have to take a shower, but I'll get back to this later.

EDIT:


I can't really do the magnitude of this new proposal justice. It just absolutely boggles the mind. The amount of blithering idiocy, nay, the raw, unvarnished calculating wolves of Fascism have reared their ugly heads in plan view of America and the world.

It is a budget expansion of biblical proportions, and only means a further economic fall from grace for the world's greatest nation. As the bastion of the world economy, when the US has a cold, the world contracts pneumonia.

In the same way the man with a millstone around his neck drowns in the icy depths of the north Atlantic, this 3 stage expansion of the Federal Government and its borrowing off the back of my generation and our offspring will continue to wreak havoc for years and years to come.

Mr. KnightWing, I do trust you are happy with an update.

In Mexico. Again

Just so ya'll know, I'm in Reynosa Mexico on yet another trip. This is for another house, I'll be back saturday night.

In the mean time, i'm liking Bobby Jindal more and more.
" "The way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians," Jindal said. The plan will "grow the government, increase our taxes down the line, and saddle future generations with debt."

"It's irresponsible," Jindal said. "
-Link

Obama's weekly address

2/21/09: Your Weekly Address from White House on Vimeo.

CO2 as a pollutant? EPA to sally forth with decree

International Herald Tribune: "If the environmental agency determines that carbon dioxide is a dangerous pollutant to be regulated under the Clean Air Act, it would set off one of the most extensive regulatory rule makings in history. Jackson knows that she would be stepping into a minefield of congressional and industry opposition and said that she was trying to devise a program that allayed these worries.

"We are poised to be specific on what we regulate and on what schedule," Jackson said. "We don't want people to spin that into a doomsday scenario.""

I'm sure the trees would disagree most vehemently. As will I.
There's an odd juxtaposition, tree huggers and the right wing of the nation joining hands.

I doubt it happens though, I think the environmental movement has sacrificed its soul upon the altar of political expediency and hyperbole for financial expediency.

Composition of the Earths Atmosphere:

• Nitrogen - 78.084%
• Oxygen - 20.95%
• Argon - 0.934%
• Carbon Dioxide - 0.036%

The concept of humans creating pollution with our very breaths is ludicrous, and yet, this is where we find ourselves. Seeing as government agency are merely political hack jobs of whomever is in office, this travesty of ecological and economic management will proceed.

Blackwater changes name to Xe

UPI - "The North Carolina security contractor Blackwater Worldwide has changed its name to Xe, a company memo says.

Company President Gary Jackson said in a memo that the company has been reorganizing for several months to "create unique brand identities for its products and services," The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Sunday.

As part of its rebranding, the company is jettisoning the name Blackwater and its red-and-black bear-claw logo."

Makes sense. A company that has earned as much ill will in its home country should probably rebrand itself. Just didn't want this to pass without ya'll noticing.
A company called Xe will start showing up on the news soon enough, and now you can impress your posse with this knowledge.

California Burning

Or at least, the budget is.

Rueters: "California, which is on the brink of running out of cash, will notify 20,000 state workers on Tuesday their jobs may be eliminated...

The layoff notices will affect about 20 percent of state workers, McLear said, adding the cuts would extend to every part of state government.

The positions would be eliminated in June in preparation for California's next fiscal year, which starts in July.

California, America's most populous state and the world's eighth biggest economy, has experienced a dramatic fall in revenues because of the housing downturn, rising unemployment and a sharp pullback in consumer spending."

Who has been running this state for the last two decades? Far left democrats.

Great work, Captain Socialism.

Serious?

"The 1,071 page, 8-inch-thick measure"

It passed the house today.

Every Democrat, sans 7 with a modicum of intelligence voted for it.

Not a single republican voted yes. Well done GOP, well done.

Washington Stock Yards

The Washington DC Stockyards are full of swine.

The House, and Democrats of the Senate, for crafting legislation as non-kosher as an Oscar Mayer Wiener.

The Senate Republicans, for voting in a fowl manner and becoming chickens when the vote came. (I'm looking at you, Arlan Specter and the rest of your ilk.)

And for America? We're going to be chewing the cud on this bill for generations to come. Thank you Mr. Obama for your change and the consequences my generation and my kids are going to be paying for this.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Washington Times: "An Arizona man who has waged a 10-year campaign to stop a flood of illegal immigrants from crossing his property is being sued by 16 Mexican nationals who accuse him of conspiring to violate their civil rights when he stopped them at gunpoint on his ranch on the U.S.-Mexico border.
...
The lawsuit said he then called his wife and two Border Patrol agents arrived at the site. It also said Mr. Barnett acknowledged that he had turned over 12,000 illegal immigrants to the Border Patrol since 1998.
..."This is my land. I´m the victim here," Mr. Barnett said. "When someone´s home and loved ones are in jeopardy and the government seemingly can´t do anything about it, I feel justified in taking matters into my own hands. And I always watch my back.""

I hope this case looses. To bad it's in Arizona. If it had been in Texas, Mr. Barnett could have shot them all and been done with it.


Apologies for the sporadic posting (I'm in computer science lab right now), the laptop I ordered 3 weeks ago has yet to run through UPS systems. I do not recommend using CompuDirect for ordering anything. Ever.

Hyperbole and High Hopes

Reuters: ""The Obama numbers are unprecedented and speak volumes to the global fascination with the new American president, his wife and young family," Payack told Reuters. "Obama is the biggest story of the century so far."
...

That surpassed media interest generated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the global financial meltdown in 2008, the Iraq War in 2003 and the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, Payack said."

Obama's inauguration is the biggest story of this century?

Bigger then September 11? I simply cannot believe that. It certainly will not have as big an impact as the terrorists hijackings.

This kind of excitement and exuberance towards the new administration may wind up being harmful politically to the democrats. There's really no where to go but down from this high, and that kind of crash hurts. The blows will be softened as the mainstream junk journalists provide cushion.

Back-ish

Here's what is going on, and why I haven't posted in a while.

About 20 minutes after I posted the previous announcement, I dropped my laptop and the screen broke. Now, don't mock me because it fell out of my lap while i was trying to catch a remote control for the TV, because it was very important I could press unmute to watch the Dallas Mavericks.

Road trip went very well, came back home with the ladies without a hitch. I'm also back in school this semester as well as working, so my posts may (nay, will) be more sporadic as the spring rolls in.
So, when I reclaim my piece of the computer world with a new laptop, I'll let ya'll know.



In other news, the best political T-shirt I've seen in a while crossed my radar on immaculation, er, inauguration day.
'Rosa Parks Sat so King Could Walk so Obama Could Run'

Road Trip!

So, I'll be gone until Monday morning from the blogosphere. Early Wednesday morning, I'm flying out to Florida with a friend to pick up my girl friend, MaryKate. We're moving her back to Texas. Should be fun, we'll be back Sunday night.

If you remember, pray for a safe drive on the way back.

And now for the imporant stuff:
Steelers win over Baltimore, 17-10
Arizona continues defensive domination, beats Philadelphia 34-23

America...

Famous DC: "Here’s how it went down. [Congressman] Massa drove one fuel cell car while a hybrid SUV towing an additional SUV followed along. Once he got half way, he switched to new fuel cell car. The empty fuel cell was then towed back by the first SUV. As he continued on his journey, the second SUV followed. Once Massa arrived in DC, the second SUV then towed the second fuel cell car back to NY." Environmentally speaking, that makes about as much sense as setting someone's backyard ablaze with 20 gallons of gasoline.


WSFA: "the head of the Alabama NAACP, however, wants Mobile's Azalea Trail Maids to stay home on Inauguration Day, claiming the group reminds him of slavery.

"These are not just regular costumes. These are the costumes that remind someone of the plantation in Gone with the Wind," Edward Vaughn said in a phone interview."

Actually, I agree with this stance. There really is no other time period this goes back to then the Antebellum south, who's wealth was often built upon the backs of black slaves. Whoever set this up for the presidential inauguration wasn't thinking.

FOCA & Hysteria & Reality

(Hat tip to MaryKate for bringing this up)

Email forward: "For those of you who do not know, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is set to be signed if congress passes it on January 21-22 of 2009. The FOCA is the next sick chapter in the book of abortion. If made a law then all limitations on abortion will be lifted...
...
Perhaps most importantly the government will now have control in the issue of abortion. This could result in a future amendment that would force women by law to have abortions in certain situations (rape, down syndrome babies, etc) and could even regulate how many children women are allowed to have."

After reading that, I had my interest piqued. Any time there is mass hysteria amongst the Christian Right, its often times disproportionate to the issue at hand.

A bill of this caliber is simply too hot to pass both houses and be signed into law, its like shooting your own political kneecaps.

After spending nearly a quarter hour finding any useful information on FOCA, I found this article from the Wall Street Journal:
""Our No. 1 concern would be the FOCA bill," said Connie Mackey, senior vice president of Family Research Council Action, a conservative group that focuses on social issues. "We have to appeal directly to the American public."

The opponents of this legislation appear more eager for a debate over it than the proponents do, perhaps knowing it is a strong way to rally their supporters early in the administration....
Among them is the "right of conscience" regulation that is expected to be published this week. It will take effect 30 days after being issued. That means that if the Bush administration issues the regulation this week, it will become final before Mr. Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20, and his administration won't be able to undo it easily.

For decades, federal law has said that doctors and nurses can't be compelled to perform abortions. The new regulation broadens that to make clear that all health-care workers may refuse to provide information, such as a referral, to patients looking for an abortion. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates the regulation would affect 584,000 hospitals, doctor's offices, pharmacies and other entities."

So for the time being, the Pro-life forces have the upper hand, courtesy one last favor by W. I think FOCA will remain a bill tabled in congress to placate the ornery proponents of murder on the left, while being entirely to controversial to ever pass the bi-cambial legislature.

Employment news

AP: "For all of 2008, the economy lost 2.6 million jobs. That was the most since 1945, when nearly 2.8 million jobs were lost, although the number of jobs in the U.S. has more than tripled since then. ...

Even with a new government stimulus, the unemployment rate is expected to keep rising this year. Some think it could hit 9 percent or 10 percent at the end of this year."

So, the perceived downside to refusing the Economic Stimulus plan? Jobs would be lost. The potential upside to accepting the Economic Stimulus plan? Jobs would be lost. Would the masters of mediocrity please step forward. I'm talking to you, National Republican Party and George W. Bush.

Admittedly, this isn't even that bad in historical terms. In recent history it is, but its been a while since we had a bust phase in our economy. Normally these phases clear out the fetters of industry, and the surviving companies are more efficient and productive with their capital.
Not so this time. In the wisdom of Washington, we are keeping bungling companies afloat to garner votes.

Why the World Needs Jesus

UK Times (Matthew Paris)"

Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

I used to avoid this truth by applauding - as you can - the practical work of mission churches in Africa. It's a pity, I would say, that salvation is part of the package, but Christians black and white, working in Africa, do heal the sick, do teach people to read and write; and only the severest kind of secularist could see a mission hospital or school and say the world would be better without it.
...
In the city we had working for us Africans who had converted and were strong believers. The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with the world - a directness in their dealings with others - that seemed to be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall...."


This is one of the themes that is lost in the streams of the rise and fall of civilizations, the pathway of Christianity through mankind. It's a faith that simultaneously takes the individual and removes him from the equation, and yet instills freedom and a sense of direction in any circumstance.
To be like Christ, to stand tall and apart in a world that is filled with Darkness is what Christianity is about.

Its not really a surprise then, that even those who wrongly believe in the absence of a deity would recognize the benefits of Christianity. At its roots, it truly is a 'Religion of Peace', propagated not by the sword or the spear, but by the love and communication of Christians.

What is the main difference between the Western school of political thought, and the rest of the world? Men have rights endowed by God for Life & Liberty, and are not owned by the state.
That is the natural outgrowth of Christianity, where the power to choose life and death rests in the hearts of each and every man.
At it's core, freedom is the ability to choose. This choice is the ultimate expression of freedom, and that gives men reason to stand tall in the face of a fallen world.

Franken's last laugh

Wall Street Journal: "Mr. Franken started the recount 215 votes behind Senator Coleman, but he now claims a 225-vote lead and suddenly the man who was insisting on "counting every vote" wants to shut the process down. He's getting help from Mr. Ritchie and his four fellow Canvassing Board members, who have delivered inconsistent rulings and are ignoring glaring problems with the tallies.
...
Minnesotans like to think that their state isn't like New Jersey or Louisiana, and typically it isn't. But we can't recall a similar recount involving optical scanning machines that has changed so many votes, and in which nearly every crucial decision worked to the advantage of the same candidate. The Coleman campaign clearly misjudged the politics here, and the apparent willingness of a partisan like Mr. Ritchie to help his preferred candidate, Mr. Franken. If the Canvassing Board certifies Mr. Franken as the winner based on the current count, it will be anointing a tainted and undeserving Senator."

I thought this was wrapped up a couple of weeks ago... figures though, that in a game of dirty politics the Dems will win.

I blame the squirrels

El Paso Times:
"A U.S. Army War College report warns an economic crisis in the United States could lead to massive civil unrest and the need to call on the military to restore order.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Nathan Freir wrote the report "Known Unknowns: Unconventional Strategic Shocks in Defense Strategy Development," which the Army think tank in Carlisle, Pa., recently released.

"Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities ... to defend basic domestic order and human security," the report said, in case of "unforeseen economic collapse," "pervasive public health emergencies," and "catastrophic natural and human disasters," among other possible crises."

This in conjunction with 20,000 US Troops stationed in the USA on active duty?
Frightening prospect indeed. I'm not one given to hyperbole of fear, but this is likely to have negative consequences.
It was not the barbarians that destroyed Rome, rather the actions by those within. I still thing America's best days are ahead of us, but in no way can a socialist nation with lackluster foreign policy, punishing economic environments and a populace coerced by the military lead the world.

The Blagman Strikes Back

" His choice of Burris, Illinois' first African-American elected statewide, presents senators with the dilemma of saying no to a replacement for Obama, who was the nation's only black senator.

That point was driven home at the news conference by Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush of Chicago, who said it's a matter of national importance that an African-American replace Obama in the Senate.

"Let me just remind you that there presently is no African-American in the Senate...this is just not a state of Illinois matter," Rush said.

...Burris said he spoke with Blagojevich Sunday night about the appointment.

"I was asked if he would appoint me would I accept and the answer is yes," said Burris, who offered no comment on the governor's legal situation.

Blagojevich praised Burris for his "unquestioned integrity" and "extensive experience," calling him a senior statesman.

"To not fill the vacancy would be to deprive the people of Illinois of their appropriate voice" in the U.S. Senate, Blagojevich said."

And yet, the most telling component to this:
"Burris has given more than $20,000 to Blagojevich's campaign fund on his own and through his consulting and law firms, state campaign finance records show. Burris' consulting company received about $290,000 in state contracts with the Illinois Department of Transportation a few years ago, according to state comptroller records."

Best as I can tell, this is a legit appointment. I hope for no other reason then sheer joy of political folly and historical oddities that it goes through. Really though, I think we'll have a difficult time finding a more liberal senator then Obama to replace Obama in the senate. Might as well the token black man in the house of arrogant politicians bent on socialism.

Say it ain't so...