POLITICAL: Reconnect or repolarize

Monday, April 26, 2010

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0410/Obama_seeks_to_reconnectyoung_people_AfricanAmerins_Latinos_and_women_for_2010.html

April 26, 2010
Obama seeks to ‘reconnect…young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women’ for 2010
Ben Smith

*** begin quote ***

Obama speaks with unusual demographic frankness about his coalition in his appeal to “young people, African-Americans, Latinos, and women who powered our victory in 2008 [to] stand together once again.”

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Argh!

Was that the demographic groups that put him over the top?

Or was it anyone who believed the “barbara streisand” that he was peddling?

Argh!

Another corrupt Chicago politician that’s feeling the heat after disappointing the voters.

AND, BTW, why had he spent more than 2M$ fighting to keep his paperwork hidden?

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POLITICAL: We can’t afford gooferment skrools!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2010/04/dangers-of-governing-with-mandate-you.html

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The dangers of governing with a mandate you haven’t earned

*** begin quote ***

To be fair, the governor had a disastrous fiscal situation to deal with. The state has been spending more than it has been taking in for years, and it has been clear since the day Jon Corzine took office in 2006 that something had to be done. To his credit, Gov. Christie is attempting to put the state on sounder fiscal footing; his approach, however, ignores public priorities and has little to do with fairness.

*** end quote ***

Unfortunately, “we” are at the time where the earth is shifting under our “collective feet”.

We, as a society, can no longer afford gooferment supplied “education”.

Sorry, but that is a “facts of life”. There’s just too many “facts”. Too much “overhead”. Too many chiefs. Too many “mandates”. Too many “union rules”. Too little innovation. Too much “entrenched fiefdoms”.

Christie is just one in a long line of politicians who are trying to adjust. Like a soon to be dead fish, flopping around on the dock. A lot of activity without much chance of success.

Dewey and Mann were socialists who brought the Prussian model of education to the USA. It was right for what they wanted to accomplish — socialism. It was, and is, wrong because it’s not what the American people want or need.

As an IT/BPR practitioner, we need to recognize the basics. Parents need to be in charge. Education is just one more aspect of the things a parent needs to provide. We need a plan to migrate from where we are to where we want to be. It took almost 100 years to get into this mess; it will take decades to get out.

Recognizing the problem is the first step!

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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

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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

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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

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“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

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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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