Friday, February 27, 2009
GayPatriot on Gay Marriage
Actually it is GayPatriot's comments on a debate between Jonathan Rauch and David Blankenhorn. As always, GayPatriot is thoughtful and thought-provoking.
Shaking England's Lapels
Popehat has a great post about Great Britain and how she is tottering on the edge of surveillance insanity. Scary and possibly a glimpse of America's future?
Free-Loader Market
Columnist Charles Hurt of the inestimable New York Post has a terrific piece up about Obama's "Exploding Debt" and how we will all be taxed into oblivon.
I love this line, "This isn't the free market. This is the freeloader market."
I love this line, "This isn't the free market. This is the freeloader market."
Obama's Speech Via Fact Checker
FactChecking.org gives Obama's Speech a run through the truth mill.
Of all the facts they checked, Obama only got two right and nine wrong.
Of all the facts they checked, Obama only got two right and nine wrong.
Don't Hold Back Larry, Tell Us What You Really Think
Larry Kudlow rips into Obama's Economic Plan like a fat man into a ham sandwich.
Rich Lowry isn't being shy either - "Obama is a talented, but a wily and dishonest, salesman."
Is calling someone "dishonest" the same as saying, "liar, liar, pants on fire"? I think it is.
Let me be very clear on the economics of President Obama’s address to Congress and budget. He is declaring war on investors, entrepreneurs, small businesses, large corporations, and private-equity and venture-capital funds. That is the meaning of his anti-growth tax-hike proposals, which make absolutely no sense at all — either for this recession or from the standpoint of expanding our economy’s long-run potential to grow. ...
Study after study over the past several decades has shown how countries that spend more produce less, while nations that tax less produce more. (italics mine) Obama is doing it wrong on both counts. ...
And as far as middle-class tax cuts are concerned, Obama’s cap-and-trade program will be a huge tax increase on all blue-collar workers, including unionized workers. ...
... a great many Obama supporters ... are becoming disillusioned with the performances of Obama and Treasury man Geithner. There is a growing sense of buyer’s remorse. Well then, do conservatives dare say: We told you so?
Rich Lowry isn't being shy either - "Obama is a talented, but a wily and dishonest, salesman."
Is calling someone "dishonest" the same as saying, "liar, liar, pants on fire"? I think it is.
Elitism in GOP Must End
I think this piece on Joe-the-Plumber hits the nail on the head. (Read it all the way through.)
I am fed up with the Conservative intellectual class panning Gov. Palin, Gov. Jindal, Joe-the-Plumber and their like because they are not William F. Buckley.
WFB was a great, great man and intellect but he had humility too. He didn't think you were an idiot if you were not as polysyllabic as he was.
Worse, Ronald Reagan is held up even higher than WFB and he was the Great Communicator not for his florid speech but for the very opposite - his folksy honesty. President Reagan's short sentence "There you go again" was more devastating than any paragraph ever spoken.
Like Reagan, Gov. Palin and Gov. Jindal's less-that-stellar eloquence is not only an attraction but, when backed by their solid conservative governance, an example to us all.
Conservatives Elites should be thrilled that smart, charismatic folks, from the VERY MIDDLE CLASS we need, are rising to the challenges of Conservative governance. Our Elites should be supporting these men and women in every way they can.
We are surrounded with politicians who like to spend their fifty cent words like drunken sailors. I would much rather have a politician who used five cent words for political coin and had the same Conservative tendencies with my tax dollars as well.
I believe that our Conservative Elites are falling victim to the "Cocktail Party Syndrome" of believing that if you can't sit at the Algonquin Table then you are not worthy of much at all. Those Elites should be careful or they will find themselves drifting Left until they are unfit for any table.
Conservative Elites must stop admiring the posturing of intellect and start appreciating the intelligent positions of our rising populist stars. Failing to do so only gives the Left talking points and sabotages our cause. Disagree with the substance, not the style.
Gov. Palin, Gov. Jindal, and Joe-the-Plumber are popular for a reason. Our Conservative Elites should be figuring out why and using those reasons to rebuild our movement. This populism represents the bedrock Conservative values the Conservative middle class is crying out for and not getting from our Elites.
And if they continue to trash folks like Gov. Palin, Gov. Jindal and Joe-the-Plumber, then our Conservative Elites run the risk of being left behind on the dust heaps of history themselves.
I am fed up with the Conservative intellectual class panning Gov. Palin, Gov. Jindal, Joe-the-Plumber and their like because they are not William F. Buckley.
WFB was a great, great man and intellect but he had humility too. He didn't think you were an idiot if you were not as polysyllabic as he was.
Worse, Ronald Reagan is held up even higher than WFB and he was the Great Communicator not for his florid speech but for the very opposite - his folksy honesty. President Reagan's short sentence "There you go again" was more devastating than any paragraph ever spoken.
Like Reagan, Gov. Palin and Gov. Jindal's less-that-stellar eloquence is not only an attraction but, when backed by their solid conservative governance, an example to us all.
Conservatives Elites should be thrilled that smart, charismatic folks, from the VERY MIDDLE CLASS we need, are rising to the challenges of Conservative governance. Our Elites should be supporting these men and women in every way they can.
We are surrounded with politicians who like to spend their fifty cent words like drunken sailors. I would much rather have a politician who used five cent words for political coin and had the same Conservative tendencies with my tax dollars as well.
I believe that our Conservative Elites are falling victim to the "Cocktail Party Syndrome" of believing that if you can't sit at the Algonquin Table then you are not worthy of much at all. Those Elites should be careful or they will find themselves drifting Left until they are unfit for any table.
Conservative Elites must stop admiring the posturing of intellect and start appreciating the intelligent positions of our rising populist stars. Failing to do so only gives the Left talking points and sabotages our cause. Disagree with the substance, not the style.
Gov. Palin, Gov. Jindal, and Joe-the-Plumber are popular for a reason. Our Conservative Elites should be figuring out why and using those reasons to rebuild our movement. This populism represents the bedrock Conservative values the Conservative middle class is crying out for and not getting from our Elites.
And if they continue to trash folks like Gov. Palin, Gov. Jindal and Joe-the-Plumber, then our Conservative Elites run the risk of being left behind on the dust heaps of history themselves.
Missed The Tea Party
I am, dear readers, an idiot.
I missed the DC Tea Party because I didn't read the facebook link carefully enough. I dragged a camera and a five year old to L'Enfant Plaza instead of Lafayette Plaza.
My only hope at redemption is continued support and a second chance at a second Tea Party. Here's to real hope for real change!
UPDATE: The wonderful Michelle Malkin was there and she posted some pictures on her website. So sorry I missed it!
I missed the DC Tea Party because I didn't read the facebook link carefully enough. I dragged a camera and a five year old to L'Enfant Plaza instead of Lafayette Plaza.
My only hope at redemption is continued support and a second chance at a second Tea Party. Here's to real hope for real change!
UPDATE: The wonderful Michelle Malkin was there and she posted some pictures on her website. So sorry I missed it!
A Foul Violation of Ethics!
The Obama administration is moving to rescind a federal rule that reinforced protections for medical providers who refuse to perform abortions or other procedures on moral grounds, an official said Friday.
So now if you are, say, a Catholic physician who profoundly believes that performing an abortion is committing a murder, you would be breaking the law if you refused to perform one.
But a conscientious objector can refuse military service?
This was a good rule that clarified federal law. I see it as the first step of Obama's attempt to ram the disgusting FOCA act down American's throats.
Foul! Foul! Foul!
They'll Never Stop The Simpsons
The greatest television show is now going to be the longest running prime time TV show in America.
WooHoo!
God Bless Matt Groening for creating a TV show that gives us a funny line about every aspect of modern life possible.
If you don't watch The Simpsons, then stop wasting your life and start watching now!
WooHoo!
God Bless Matt Groening for creating a TV show that gives us a funny line about every aspect of modern life possible.
If you don't watch The Simpsons, then stop wasting your life and start watching now!
Congress Breaks Constitution
It is clearly written that Washington DC be a federal city with no state status and therefore can not vote in Congress.
Until now when Congress has voted to give DC a vote. This is the first of what will be many tears in our US Constitution.
Don't be suprised to find our founding document in shreds by the end of this administration.
The DC activists who wanted Washington DC to have a vote in our Federal Congress used the slogan "No Taxation Without Representation". And they are right.
But rather than give them a vote that VIOLATES the Constitution, DC residents should not be forced to pay Federal Taxes - only city ones.
I promise you half the city's woes would have been solved by that tactic only. Now the predominately democrat city will be used to add yet another leftwing vote in our Federal government and this tiny city will help dictate the direction of our entire country.
Hopefully, some right-thinking soul will do a legal challenge in order to prevent this travesty of democracy.
Until now when Congress has voted to give DC a vote. This is the first of what will be many tears in our US Constitution.
Don't be suprised to find our founding document in shreds by the end of this administration.
The DC activists who wanted Washington DC to have a vote in our Federal Congress used the slogan "No Taxation Without Representation". And they are right.
But rather than give them a vote that VIOLATES the Constitution, DC residents should not be forced to pay Federal Taxes - only city ones.
I promise you half the city's woes would have been solved by that tactic only. Now the predominately democrat city will be used to add yet another leftwing vote in our Federal government and this tiny city will help dictate the direction of our entire country.
Hopefully, some right-thinking soul will do a legal challenge in order to prevent this travesty of democracy.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Obama Lifts 18 Year Old Ban
On one hand, I support freedom of speech. On the other hand, I support the right to privacy in the face of a personal tragedy or loss.
That said, lifting the 18-year ban on allowing press photos of the war dead without permission from the families of the dead soldier is wrong.
Who would want a picture of their son or daughter, husband or wife, father or mother's coffin in the news without their express consent?
I know how I would feel if in the middle of heartbreaking grief, people in politics and the media used a picture of my child's coffin to further an agenda I do not agree with. I know exactly how I'd feel about that.
Privacy should be respected for families who want it and a separate ceremony area be created for those who wish to allow the media to film their dead's homecoming.
That said, lifting the 18-year ban on allowing press photos of the war dead without permission from the families of the dead soldier is wrong.
Who would want a picture of their son or daughter, husband or wife, father or mother's coffin in the news without their express consent?
I know how I would feel if in the middle of heartbreaking grief, people in politics and the media used a picture of my child's coffin to further an agenda I do not agree with. I know exactly how I'd feel about that.
Privacy should be respected for families who want it and a separate ceremony area be created for those who wish to allow the media to film their dead's homecoming.
The False Promise of Green Jobs
My husband has an article he wrote for the DC Examiner up on the CEI website explain just how and why "Green Jobs" are a big fat lie.
No Oil For YOU
According to the Institute for Energy Research, Obama's Interior Department is withdrawing it's proposal to study the Shale Oil reserves in three states.
And let's restrict access to that oil in the middle of a recession.
Drill, Baby, Drill.
Unfortunately, the Interior Department’s decision today may help ensure that potential never becomes reality – in the process, locking-away an American energy resource larger than the total reserves of the entire Middle East.Nice, move Obama. Let's restrict Americans from domestic oil reserves that are larger than the entire Middle East.
And let's restrict access to that oil in the middle of a recession.
Drill, Baby, Drill.
At CPAC
My husband will be at CPAC 2009 this Saturday from 11am signing his book, "Really Inconvenient Truths" and giving a speech at the 11:30am session titled Threats to Our National Sovereignty.
Townhall.com is providing live-streaming of the event if you want to watch.
Townhall.com is providing live-streaming of the event if you want to watch.
Re: The Hidden Climate Tax
This post was written by my husband for NRO - The Corner.
According to the budget preview document, the revenues from the hidden climate tax will be split between $15bn for alternative energy pork and about $52 billion per year to help pay for the Making Work Pay tax cut/welfare check of $800 for "95 percent of all American workers."
How much will cap and trade cost households in increased energy costs? Well, we know from a CBO study last year that a 15 percent reduction in emissions from 1998 levels would cost each household at least $660. That target is about 25 percent more stringent than the budget target, which is simply a return to 1990 emission levels by 2020 (far less than environmentalists demand). So we can apply simple arithmetic to estimate that the current budget cap and trade program will cost each income quintile $510, $660, $870, $1125 and $1635 (in 2006 dollars, slightly more in nominal values) respectively.
So the tax cut for 95 percent of working Amercians is going to be significantly offset by hiking energy prices in order to pay for it in the first place. Sheesh. Talk about a shell game.
Biden Gets It Wrong Again
Was this Joe "loose lips" Biden's attempt to undermine Gov. Jindal by claiming in a big fat lie that Louisana was losing jobs?
Why lie, Joe? Why? Are you deliberately trying to appear both more arrogant and idiotic?
Why lie, Joe? Why? Are you deliberately trying to appear both more arrogant and idiotic?
Top Ten Ig Nobel Awards
Sometimes science just ain't right.
Like this #6 Levitating Frog scientific "research" or toad torture?
From the Popular Mechanics website, they state...
Like this #6 Levitating Frog scientific "research" or toad torture?
From the Popular Mechanics website, they state...
A large portion of scientific research remains forever off the public radar. A select few studies deliver results that reverberate in the scientific community and make their way to textbooks. Then there are those research efforts that, as one group puts it, represent "achievements that cannot or should not be reproduced." Every year the Annals of Improbable Research highlights this last group with the Ig Nobel, an award for the top engineering solutions, science products and peer-reviewed papers that, according to the editors, "make you laugh, then make you think." We looked back at 18 years of the prizes to bring you our 10 favorite Ig Nobels of all time.
What is She Holding On To?
I think the best you can say about this float is that it is an interesting example of how GroupThink can fail spectacularly.
Re: CPAC 09
Below is my husband's post on NRO-The Corner about his speech to CPAC.
There's another panel that might qualify, Mark, and I'm speaking on it. It's "Threats to our National Sovereignty" at 11:30am, also on Saturday. I'll be speaking alongside my good friend and colleague Chris Horner, of Planet Gore fame, the incredibly clever Jeremy Rabkin of George Mason University and David Rivkin of Baker & Hostetler, another NRO contributor. I'll be looking at the threats posed by various environmental treaties and will doubtless mention how the UK got sucked into a supranational government without ever voting to do so. Hope to see you and others there!
"New Black Overclass"
Make of this what you will but I received an email from EbonyJet/CNBC about an hour-long program airing this evening, Feb. 26th about our "new black overclass".
Well, setting aside the worrying similarity to the word "overlord" and the idea of a new and higher level of elites, is this really what Rahm Emmanual meant as a conversaton?
This is the text of the email I received:
But this TV program is nothing but an hour-long plug for Lee Hawkins book, "Newbos: The rise of America's New Black Overclass". Since when does that count as news? And why hasn't CNBC given my husband an hour's worth of airtime for his book, "Really Inconvienent Truths: Seven Environmental Catastrophe's Liberals Don't Want You To Know About Because They Helped Caused Them."
Oh wait, I think I answered my own question.
I'm not sure what Lee Hawkins hopes to achieved with this book title other than being provokative. I do believe describing one group of people by their ethnicity and claiming "overclass" status for them could be taken as racist. But maybe that's just me (and Webster's Ninth New Collegiate).
Well, setting aside the worrying similarity to the word "overlord" and the idea of a new and higher level of elites, is this really what Rahm Emmanual meant as a conversaton?
This is the text of the email I received:
In its next CNBC Original, CNBC takes viewers inside the growing class of young, self-made black multimillionaires - mostly under 40 - who have built wealth and influence in the sports, entertainment, and media industries. The journey to the black overclass, black America's new financial elite, is often filled with vast opportunity, but even greater pressure to help family and community. In one-on-one interviews with the celebrities, called "NEWBOs," Lee Hawkins takes us inside the experience of high-profile athletes and entertainers, discussing the implications of their sudden wealth and fame and their transition from the underclass or working class to wealthy class in a matter of a few years.Now I am the first in line to cheer success, especially the rise of those who started with so many strikes against them. Success via overcoming challenges is a cherished American value and classic story.
But this TV program is nothing but an hour-long plug for Lee Hawkins book, "Newbos: The rise of America's New Black Overclass". Since when does that count as news? And why hasn't CNBC given my husband an hour's worth of airtime for his book, "Really Inconvienent Truths: Seven Environmental Catastrophe's Liberals Don't Want You To Know About Because They Helped Caused Them."
Oh wait, I think I answered my own question.
I'm not sure what Lee Hawkins hopes to achieved with this book title other than being provokative. I do believe describing one group of people by their ethnicity and claiming "overclass" status for them could be taken as racist. But maybe that's just me (and Webster's Ninth New Collegiate).
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Obama Demands Secrecy Pact With Pentagon
So much for transparency or hope or change. Obama has required that all Pentagon officials sign a secrecy pact that does not allow them to share budget information to non-federal government employees.
The Obama administration has directed defense officials to sign a pledge stating they will not share 2010 budget data with individuals outside the federal government.
In an undated non-disclosure agreement obtained by Defense News, the administration tells defense officials that “strict confidentiality” must be practiced to ensure a “successful” and “proper” 2010 defense budget process.
Pants on Fire - Obama's State of Union 09 Speech
My Way News has done a pretty reasonable fact check on Obama's speech last night.
Not a good showing in the truth/transparency department but probably not hugely worse than any other damn politician these days.
And over at Politico's they have Sam Wurzelbacher laughing at Obama's speech. Good Stuff.
Not a good showing in the truth/transparency department but probably not hugely worse than any other damn politician these days.
And over at Politico's they have Sam Wurzelbacher laughing at Obama's speech. Good Stuff.
Obama Spanked by Byrd
Sen. Byrd spanked Obama over his attempt at grabbing more and more power despite being in the same party as Obama.
Who'd have thought you'd be glad for Sen. Byrd?
Who'd have thought you'd be glad for Sen. Byrd?
Breaking News: Ice Melts In Summer
This article is absurd and stupid.
It reports on a study that says Antarctic glaciers are melting faster than expected.
First, it is summer down there right now. Could that be why the ice is melting?
We don't know, this report doesn't once mention what time period the study covers.
Second, the article says it is only glaciers in the western region of the Antarctic that are "melting". Just how big is the region? Are we talking a western region the size of Rhode Island or the size of California?
Then as if to undermine its own argument, the article mentioned (near the end of course) that
The article is based on a report from the International Polar Year 2007 - 2009 which is funded by the NSF. This IPY report seems rather alarmist especially when you look at the quote from Steig-UWA report. I mean the average temperature of the Antarctic is 50 degrees BELOW ZERO?
Seriously 50 degrees below zero is 82 degrees below water's freezing point? How much ice can melt in an area that cold?
It reports on a study that says Antarctic glaciers are melting faster than expected.
First, it is summer down there right now. Could that be why the ice is melting?
We don't know, this report doesn't once mention what time period the study covers.
Second, the article says it is only glaciers in the western region of the Antarctic that are "melting". Just how big is the region? Are we talking a western region the size of Rhode Island or the size of California?
Then as if to undermine its own argument, the article mentioned (near the end of course) that
Antarctica's average annual temperature has increased by about 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.56 degrees Celsius) since 1957, but is still 50 degrees Fahrenheit (45.6 degrees Celsius) below zero, according to a recent study by Eric Steig of the University of Washington.
The article is based on a report from the International Polar Year 2007 - 2009 which is funded by the NSF. This IPY report seems rather alarmist especially when you look at the quote from Steig-UWA report. I mean the average temperature of the Antarctic is 50 degrees BELOW ZERO?
Seriously 50 degrees below zero is 82 degrees below water's freezing point? How much ice can melt in an area that cold?
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