POLITICAL: Golf over duty!

Monday, April 19, 2010

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/apr/18/obama-skips-polish-funeral-heads-to-golf-course/

Obama skips Polish funeral, heads to golf course
By Joseph Curl

*** begin quote ***

A massive volcanic plume covering most of Europe forced President Obama to cancel a Sunday trip to Poland to attend the funeral of the nation’s president. But the last-minute change left an opening in his schedule, so the president headed to the links for a round of golf instead.

*** end quote ***

i don’t begrudge the guy his time off.

BUT, (and there is always a BIG butt),

It looks bad. It looks like he doesn’t care. (He’s a politician. He doesn’t. It’s all illusion.)

But this White House has a “tin ear”, doesn’t care what folks think, and missed a golden opportunity.

If I was OBH44, I’d have turned to one of the many gofers and said: “Contact the Polish Ambassador here in DC and invite him to OUR memorial service. I may not be able to go to Poland, but I can bring Poland here. Call up the local clergy and find out who’s free. Keep working down the hierarchy until you get me (in alphabetical order): an Atheist, a Catholic priest, a Jewish rabbi, a Muslim imam, and Protestant minister. Me, FLOTUS, and the children will be in the front row. We’ll have some Polish kids from Chicago sing a polish song. And, we’ll express our sympathies and solidarity with the Polish people.”

That would be impressive!

Then he could go play golf!

Even if he didn’t do that, he should have done SOMETHING. A job summit? Attend a military funeral?

Playing golf sends a message.

Not one I like!

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POLITICAL: Schumer should … …

Saturday, April 17, 2010

LUDDITE: Excellent Assessment from a USA Today Reader! – Nailed it.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/letters/2010-04-16-letters16_ST3_N.htm  

If everyone’s so upset, I’d suggest:

(1) Excessive carry on is dangerous in an emergency. TSA should be enforcing limits on that. Less to screen at the gate.

(2) Airlines should be charging fees for excessive carry ons, and not for baggage.

That’s imho the only thing that the FAA should be directing.

And, Schumer should just sit down and shut up. imho!

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POLITICAL: Some folks give up; nice to have that option

Saturday, April 17, 2010

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?
storyid=201004050814dowjonesdjonline000053&title=more-am
ericans-give-up-citizenship-as-irs-gets-aggressive-overseas

More Americans Give Up Citizenship As IRS Gets Aggressive Overseas
By Martin Vaughan, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

*** begin quote ***

In order to give up U.S. citizenship, a person must obtain or have citizenship in another country. The person surrenders their passport or green card during an interview with a consular officer in their new home country. He or she must also submit a form, including a list of assets, to the IRS to complete the process.

Chris Kavanagh of the American Institute in Taiwan, which represents U.S. interests in Taiwan, said 43 people gave up their U.S. citizenship in Taiwan in 2009, the highest that figure has been since 2003. He cautioned against drawing conclusions from that data, however.

The IRS says some of the swelling of numbers of expatriations towards the end of 2009 occurred because the agency made a push to notify people that had already surrendered their passport, but had not completed the process by submitting the IRS form. Until that form is received by the IRS, these people are still subject to U.S. tax. “There is some catch-up going on,” said IRS spokesman Bruce Friedland.

*** end quote ***

Wow, things are really going bad.

Now we are exporting rich people. And, importing poor ones.

This can’t be good for the economy.

When does the tyrant close the borders? Camps next? And, the sheeple keep getting shorn!

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POLITICAL: Vote by dollars; count all the dollars that are stolen from us

Thursday, April 15, 2010

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/04/no_representation_without_taxa_1.html

*** begin quote ***

“What’s good for General Motors is good for the country.” Since we now “own” GM and other “private” entities we can easily adopt the proxy voting systems used in corporate America for federal elections (in corporate elections each shareholder gets voting power in proportion to shares owned). Each eligible voter would have a total number of votes equal to the dollar amount paid in personal federal income taxes over the previous two years. If you paid $20,000 in taxes you get 20,000 votes. If you paid $200,000 in taxes you get 200,000 votes. Again, what could be fairer?

*** end quote ***

Of course, we’d have to eliminate ALL the hidden taxes we pay. Sales tax, capital gains, etc. etc. etc. And the two biggest taxes of all — inflation and the corporate income taxes that get passed on to real people!

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POLITICAL: American School System

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

http://www.econtalk.org/archives/2010/04/ravitch_on_educ.html

Ravitch on Education
Diane Ravitch
Hosted by Russ Roberts

*** begin quote ***

Diane Ravitch of NYU talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the ideas in her new book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. Ravitch argues that the two most popular education reform movements, accountability and choice, have had unintended consequences that have done great harm to the current generation of students. She argues that the accountability and testing provisions in legislation like No Child Left Behind and similar reforms have actually corrupted the testing process, taken time away from subjects other than math and reading, and failed even to boost success in math and reading. She argues that the empirical record has provided little evidence that school choice as it has been implemented has boosted achievement. The discussion closes with a discussion of what reforms might indeed make a difference.

*** end quote ***

Perhaps we might consider returning it to the Parents?

Why, given that I had NO role in anything else about those children, do I have to pay for their education?

And, “public education” is a national disgrace!

I like Walter Williams’ quote: “… if the Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan wanted to sabotage black academic excellence, he could not devise a more effective way of doing so than the schools serving most black children.” ①

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① “What American Education Needs” The Freeman • Foundation for Economic Education • April 1999 • Volume: 49 • Issue: 4 • Walter E. Williams, the John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics at George Mason University. http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/what-american-education-needs/

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POLITICAL: OBH44 can breal the “rules”

Monday, April 12, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/ydbmvtc

Obama leaves WH without press, breaking protocol
(AP) – 17 hours ago

*** begin quote ***

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama quietly breached years of protocol on Saturday morning by leaving the White House without the press with him.

*** end quote ***

Hey, no big deal, the “dear leader” is above the “rules”, agreements, or protocols. Argh!

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>I bet Tiger Woods would like to “forget” to have the pres come along.

The Press over the years have mellowed. They didn’t report, for some really egregious examples, FDR in a wheelchair, JFK’s “catholic” sexacpades, and Clinton’s white water. (Those just jump to mind.)

The DOWGs had in their mind, and typical for their day, a nasty press: The National Enquirer! Hence it needed protection. The Press was supposed to be nasty and in your fce. That’s how you sold papers. But, over the decades, The Press’ killer instinct atrophied.

They don’t go for the jugular. They don’t report the hard unvarnished truth. They “spin”. Now they’re virtual xerox machines for politician’s talking points. That’s why they are dying.

Tiger’s hypocritical image should have been shredded.

The failure of the cops and prosecutors to arrest and indict should still be front page news.

Imagine if his name wasn’t Tiger?

So too, OBH44 gets to conceal his papers and is pimped by a docile media.

Real journalism is left to the wacko websites and us bloggers.

So sad!

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Now when the paparazzi camp outside the WH and chase the Prez a la Princess Diana, everyone can thank BHO44 for breaking “the rules”?

Argh!

The “boy king” knows so little and has so little appreciation of the long term implications of what he does. This is just a little example of his hubris.

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POLITICAL: Bart Stupak “Retire” before he is “retired” at the polls?

Sunday, April 11, 2010

http://www.lifenews.com/state4969.html

Bart Stupak May Retire From Congress After Massive Abortion-Health Care Battle
by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor
April 7, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Congressman Bart Stupak, the formerly respected pro-life Democratic leader from Michigan, is reportedly considering retiring from Congress. Stupak is said to be so exhausted, along with his family, from the bruising repercussions of the abortion and health care debate he may consider quitting.

*** end quote ***

Couldn’t be because he led his constituents down the garden path about what he believed. And, now, the voters seek to hold him accountable. Pro-lifers got screwed; now, it’s their turn.

One reason is to always stay true to your principles in hard times; you can’t regain credibility when you trade your vote for some money.

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POLITICAL: Why are charities running shopping centers?

Friday, April 9, 2010

http://www.lifenews.com/nat6213.html

Komen for the Cure Deepens Ties With Planned Parenthood Abortion Business
by Steven Ertelt LifeNews.com Editor
April 1, 2010

*** begin quote ***

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The Komen for the Cure breast cancer foundation has been under fire from pro-life advocates for years for its ties to the Planned Parenthood abortion business. In a new column, pro-life writer Jill Stanek uncovers new information showing the link between the two groups is deepening.

Komen’s ties to Planned Parenthood are well documented and figures from STOPP International show Komen chapters giving $711,485 from April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006 to Planned Parenthood affiliates.

And in numbers provided to the Associated Press, Susan G. Komen for the Cure spokeswoman Rebecca Gibson confirmed 19 of the 122 Komen affiliates made grants totaling $374,253 to Planned Parenthood during the 2005-2006 fiscal year.

Figures show Komen affiliates have given Planned Parenthood $3 million between 2003 and 2008 and $805,000 in the 2008 fiscal year.

Those donations and links have continued as Komen affiliates in California, Idaho, Colorado, Iowa, Texas, and other states have either made donations or worked with Planned Parenthood abortion centers.

*** and ***

Stanek says the response leaves open more questions about the Planned Parenthood-Komen relationship.

“Why didn’t PPGNW cash in its inheritance? Why didn’t Eric buy? If the share was willed, it was worth something. The real-estate market was thriving in 2006. It appears both partners are OK with this now four-year-old business partnership,” she responded.

Brinker also attempted to defend the donations to Planned Parenthood in his contact with Stanek, saying “only “20 of Komen’s 122 U.S. Affiliates fund breast-health services through local Planned Parenthood clinics” and adding the total money given represents “less than one percent of the total granted by affiliates.”

*** end quote ***

Related web sites:

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation – http://www.komen.org

National Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer – http://www.abortionbreastcancer.com

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Interesting question is why are charities running shopping centers?

Could it be because they are tax-deductible?

Argh!

More stuff that makes no sense.

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POLITICAL: Is this in the future of Obamacare?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7560059/Christian-nurse-who-refused-to-remove-crucifix-loses-tribunal.html

A Christian nurse who was moved to a desk job after refusing to remove her crucifix has lost a claim for discrimination.
Published: 3:17PM BST 06 Apr 2010

*** begin quote ***

Shirley Chaplin, 54, took the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust Hospital to an employment tribunal, claiming that taking off a necklace bearing a crucifix would ”violate her faith”.

The trust said the move was not specifically about the crucifix, but about health and safety concerns about patients grabbing necklaces.

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but this doesn’t wash.

Are all necklaces banned for all staff?

And, how do they explain that she been wearing it for 30 years?

How do they treat Orthodox Jews with their garments. Sikhs with their daggers.

You see the “King” aka the gooferment is a natural rival for the loyalty of the people with the “Church”. Been that way since forever when the serfs would seek the protection of the church. And the gooferment, a green eyed monster, can stand no competition.

So look for Obamacare to seek to cripple its rival here. Just like there.

Argh!

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POLITICAL: Social Security; a Ponzi scheme benefiting politicians and bureaucrats

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

http://www.ssa.gov/history/hfaq.html

*** begin quote ***

Q4: Is it true that Social Security was originally just a retirement program?

A: Yes. Under the 1935 law, what we now think of as Social Security only paid retirement benefits to the primary worker. A 1939 change in the law added survivors benefits and benefits for the retiree’s spouse and children. In 1956 disability benefits were added.

Keep in mind, however, that the Social Security Act itself was much broader than just the program which today we commonly describe as “Social Security.” The original 1935 law contained the first national unemployment compensation program, aid to the states for various health and welfare programs, and the Aid to Dependent Children program.

*** end quote ***

https://i0.wp.com/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/SocialSecurityposter2.gif

(Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SocialSecurityposter2.gif)

What were the voters of that age thinking? I understand the Great Depression was a terrible terrible time. And, I realize that they didn’t know about the FED. And, I realize that they didn’t understand that the Smoot Hawley tariffs caused it.

But, boy, what a classic blunder!

Now the gooferment seeks to try to convince us “it wasn’t intended to be our only retirement resource”! With IRAs, 401Ks, and a lot of prayer.

*** begin quote ***

President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, at approximately 3:30 pm EST on August 14, 1935.[9] Standing with Roosevelt are Rep. Robert Doughton (D-NC); unknown person in shadow; Sen. Robert Wagner (D-NY); Rep. John Dingell (D-MI); unknown man in bowtie; the Secretary of Labor, Frances Perkins; Sen. Pat Harrison (D-MS); and Rep. David Lewis (D-MD).

*** end quote ***

Can we dig up those folks and put them on trial? Like the old Soviet show trials. Argh!

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