Category Archives: Economy

Biden, “over the pond”…

You got a license for that finger Mr. Vice President???

You got a license for that finger Mr. Vice President???

Hypocrisy in one form or another seems a permanent detriment in the modern political arena. I suppose one could cite voter apathy as a cause. In fairness, it’s not exclusive to either party, though this Administration seems to have opened significant inroads in terms of “do as I say, not as I do”. That aside, is the Vice President of the United States dumb, or do he and his staff simply have the utmost contempt for “We the People”.

Watching the President’s wife live the jet-set life in financially crippled Spain last year was bad enough, but Biden’s overseas hijinks on the tax-payer dime recently, all the while allegedly drowning in a sea of tears for sequestration, is borderline nauseating.

At the end of the day, over a million dollars spent on transportation, staffers, security and five-star hotels for two nights in London and Paris, is a bitter pill to swallow for those still struggling in an ever-shrinking American work force.

Now for all you apologists who would try and validate the VP’s ability to accomplish anything of substance over in Europe, (or anywhere else for that matter), I have some simple math for you:

Biden’s trip + the “Tiger Woods Presidential Golf Extravaganza” = 1/2 of the yearly cost of White House tours. Moreover, if the “First Family” would kick back just 1/5 of their vacation cost to taxpayers last year, we could cover a whole year of tours, and some change for popcorn too… Nah, I hear Michelle doesn’t vacuum…

Hypocrisy or elitist contempt, you make the call…

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“We ourselves must Pilgrims be”…

220px-James_Russell_Lowell_circa_1855Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, God’s new Messiah, offering each the bloom or blight,
Parts the goats upon the left hand, and the sheep upon the right,
And the choice goes by forever ‘twixt that darkness and that light.” –
James Russell Lowell

The issues of our time are daunting to be sure. It’s often hard to even get our minds around much of it. And whether it’s our narcissistic and ideologically driven President, or a media constrained and indecisive Speaker of the House, we are just not getting our money’s worth out of Washington. To watch these self-centered opportunists juggle our children’s future would be laughable for all the pandering and posturing, that is if it weren’t so down-right irresponsible. And so it falls to “We the People” to look beyond this political cartoon to the truth, for posterity sake.

There is good and bad in this, the good obviously being the God-given freedom to change our representative government by way of the vote when necessary. The bad news is that ignorance of fact and history, as well as a growing entitlement mindset, drive that vote for some. The result is often the slow but inevitable decline of a once powerful nation. Nevertheless, for some of us the battle continues as we refuse to give up on that “American Dream”, a dream framed by the Founders and nurtured by wiser generations than ours. Change may be a constant, but it is only good when defined by faith, principle and Liberty.

I began this post with some poignant words from Lowell and I will close with them. In the end, we have choices…

“We ourselves must Pilgrims be,
Launch our Mayflower, and steer boldly through the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the Future’s portal with the Past’s blood-rusted key.” – James Russell Lowell

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Sorry, we’re closed…

Sorry kids, we're closed...

Sorry kids, we’re closed…

In my notes from yesterdays article, I mentioned that if you call the White House (Media Events and Visitors Office) you will hear a recording telling you, “Due to sequestration and resulting staffing reductions, tours of the Executive Mansion have been suspended”.

Really?

This is what I mean when I write about the inexperience and flat out immaturity of the Obama Administration. They are the college debate team taking their ball and going home because they were made the fools for their distortions and misrepresentations during the sequestration battle. Regrettably, their lack of depth and understanding of our Republic and its creed, are trumped only by their elitist and irresponsible application of their responsibilities to “We the People”. For what does it say of this so-called recovery, when the President of the United States would spite a bunch of wide-eyed school children and not advocate for their futures by doing his job.

Unnecessary and unbecoming of the office to say the least Mr. President.

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The Dow and a few notes…

untitledThe Dow closed at its highest level ever today, and true to form my in-box exploded with praise for Obama and company. Well far be it from me not to dampen the little Lefty illusion with a soaking dose of reality. Ultimately, (and as usual), a quick lesson is necessary in that the stock market is not the economy and vice versa. They are very different entities with very different points of reference and influence. I’m no financial advisor however, so I won’t attempt further instruction. That said, let’s look at some numbers.

When we examine this “paper tiger” economy the President is touting as a success, we see a sputtering engine, beleaguered by inexperience and ineptitude at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and struggling for the fuel only a confident free market can provide. The last time the stock market was close to these numbers, the United States economy was in a far different place. It was 2007 and a gallon of gas was around $2.50. Americans were making about $6000.00 a year more, and there were around seven million folks unemployed compared to thirteen million today. There are twice as many people on food stamps today than in 07, our debt was nine trillion and consumer confidence was at 99 percent as opposed to 69 percent today. Additionally, much of our so-called economic growth in the last five years, has come bolstered by the Fed printing capital and restraining interest rates at dangerously low levels.

Bottom line is, don’t break out the champagne just yet. The stock market will correct, and the effects of this administrations failed college application will continue to contract an already weakened and hollow economy. Regrettably, the worst is still ahead of us…

Late Note: The Socialist South American dictator, arguably responsible for the deaths of many in the Venezuelan opposition, as well as the theft of billions in civilian property, is dead. I’m sure Joe Kennedy and Sean Penn are grieving this very minute.

Note 2: According to the answering service, White House tours have been cancelled due to “sequestration”. The President of the United States is throwing a tantrum. Childish, unnecessary, and inexcusable.

Note 3: In acknowledgement of the recent movement by college students/campuses around the country to divest in fossil fuel companies, will all students please turn in all electronic equipment manufactured and operated by way of fossil fuels immediately. Better yet, you may send all Apple notebooks, iPads and iPhone 5’s to my business address. Thank you.

Wake up kids, before it’s too late!!!

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Lessons for Lefties…

Bob Woodward

Bob Woodward

This dust-up between poor “Watergate Bob Woodward” and the White House over sequestration tells the story of what happens when you fall out of grace with the Left Wing Machine. Astonishingly, it appears the lap-dog Obama media have also thrown (one of their own) over the side.

I have said many times that this President and his college sycophants play fast and loose with a Constitution they don’t respect. From the very beginning, President Obama made no secret of the fact he intended to get his way regardless of any “Congressional oversight”. But when I heard Lou Dobbs speaking with Megyn Kelly recently on “Happening Now”, it really kinda hit home. Dobbs was incensed at the lack of outrage over the Administration’s side stepping of Congress and the “work” for benefits clause in the Clinton Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. He pointed out the President has no authority to pick and choose what laws he will abide by. Dobbs commented further on how “patient” Congress has been in similar situations, when the POTUS basically imposed his will at the expense of separation of powers and/or the appearance of any co-equal function of government in Washington.

I think when you look at the last five years in totality, and then listen to the well documented comments made by Mr. Obama and his over-educated but inexperienced side-kicks, you will find they have little regard for a process which empowers “We the People” first. Moreover, it appears they mean to bully and intimidate anyone in their way, including past collaborators.

 

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Rush and Bill…

Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh

I think there’s an interesting debate to be had over Rush’s latest comments regarding how he sees our nation. That said, I always preface my comments about Rush by reminding everyone he’s a radio personality, albeit an extraordinarily popular one.

Look, when we have a man running the country who I frankly wouldn’t give a second job interview to, doing a pretty damn good job convincing American’s that shaving 1 penny off each dollar spent in Washington will bring about end times, it does say something about whether or not folks are doing their homework. I argue every day with people who are simply unable to move past their ideological prejudice to the facts. I literally find myself managing my time away from folks who are just too far-gone to partake of a legitimate debate. I can’t even imagine being on Limbaugh’s level, (though I wouldn’t mind that paycheck).

 

Bill O'Reilly

Bill O’Reilly

Nevertheless, I think Bill O’Reilly’s analysis is a bit closer to the actual reality than Rush’s, or at least I hope so. He thinks more and more people are just plain selfish. For my part, I’m concerned the proverbial clock is ticking while this battle for the soul of our country, which I predicted some years ago, rages on. Moreover, I remain convinced the President of the United States is a narcissistic ideologue first, who means to leave this nation humbled in the wake of his time in office. To that, I believe Americans would do well to wake up and smell the political coffee.

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“Sequestration 2013″…

CONGRESS-articleLargeAs I look at “sequestration” and the intense political drama playing out in advance of the issue, it appears President Obama may just get his wish after all. In essence, the whole idea of sequester was put forth in order to create a sense of urgency over our critical debt, as well as the spending on both sides of the aisle which created it. In reality though, why the heck would anyone need to be motivated to act on something so potentially catastrophic as nearly $17 trillion in bad debt.

Now Libs in Washington have done a great job of dressing up this monster pig as something less than the death knell it and “Obamacare” will be for our economy, but the truth is coming to the surface like so much “you know what” in a clogged bowl. However, if nearly $1 trillion in interest a year by 2020 isn’t enough to get Nancy Pelosi to admit we’re spending entirely too much of our grandchildren’s money, than I don’t know what is.

At the end of the day, I am of the mind this sequester, (as the President has proposed), should go forward in order to force the debate over how Washington is spending taxpayer money. Moreover, if our elected officials do not have the intestinal fortitude to advocate on behalf of our posterity, and in spite of their own selfish and ideological shortcomings, than all may indeed be lost.

 

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“Skin in the game”…

Dr. Benjamin Carson is the kind of man we should be sending to Washington. If not for the fact he is a doctor (a pediatric brain surgeon no less), and we are in such short supply of doctors because of Obamacare, I would start a petition today to draft him for a political run. Why do I say this, you ask?

175974_5_I caught just a bit of his remarks at the recent National Prayer Breakfast where he lectured and President on healthcare and then schooled him on tax reform. This man has two things which are clearly in short supply in Congress these days, character and common sense. His basic premise on taxes (as described in his book, “America the Beautiful”),  is a “flat tax” for all, very much like a “religious tithe”, would dramatically simplify the tax code and solve most of Washington’s spending vs. revenue issues. It would also go a long way to rooting out the political evil which now presides over our finances. Simply put, an across the board percentage of one single and mutually agreed upon “denomination” would be applied to every working American (and collecting one). Obviously, if you have some “skin in the game”, you are naturally more inclined to be concerned with how “your” money gets spent. Moreover, the incentive to better ones fiscal position, is reinforced by the notion that you are treated no differently than any other tax payer. The flip side of that coin of course, is that you should expect no different accommodation.

The videos and web page below are about as sensible an approach as I have heard in some time. There is no dark political objective, and no prevalent ideology with the exception of that which is our cultural, and undeniable national origin. I must agree, a “flat tax” would be the single best solution to our financial troubles to come along in over eighty years, and would return our nation to its Constitutional foundations. Politicians take note, “We the People” are gonna get this message eventually. Unfortunately, the rest of what Dr. Carson has to say is only for those who love and appreciate their country.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/economy-a-budget/282211-dr-ben-carsons-tithing-wisdom

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2161630388001/does-the-bible-endorse-a-flat-tax

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4fkBb3_E_g

 

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Rubio Response…

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)

In the face of sequestration which will devastate our military while our enemies strengthen theirs, and as our debt laden economy teeters, a mere shadow of its former vibrancy, propped up by reckless spending and foolish ideological rhetoric, the President of The United States will speak to Congress and the nation tonight and tell us we are on the mend. The truth is this country is obviously demoralized. It has been successfully re-defined by a small but highly effective minority. This “new norm” is a carefully cultivated mediocrity, devoid of effort and ripe with folks content with the status-quo. Fading fast are the days of risk and reward, hard work and success. Our country now seems held together by false “safety nets” and excuses, generational theft and selfishness.

No nation on planet earth is perfect to be sure, but we are special, unique, our creed and founding rooted in the God-given freedom to succeed of our own effort, each according to his or her own talent and drive. In turn and unfettered, those successes breed a collective spirit and national success unmatched in human history. That spirit and desire to be better and to live better, are what have defined the U.S. for generations, and held us together through many a hellish challenge.

Mr. President, this is not a time to divide a nation already “taxed” and pummeled by misinformation and demagoguery. We need a leader who believes in the real America, not someone who will remake the culture and traditions which built America. Consequently, I look forward to hearing the Republican response, articulated by a man who understands that “We the People” will only succeed as “one nation under God” if we are truly “one nation under God”.

For Conservatives who know the POTUS will come out passive aggressive and predictably partisan tonight, seizing on every opportunity to run the class warfare playbook against his political opponents, Senator Marco Rubio represents an almost JFK moment. He’s a breath of fresh air, and a “real” son of immigrants. A true American success story, Rubio is poised to enter the history books as a pivotal player in our nation’s future, and I will be watching and listening to him closely…

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On “Nemo” and Pelosi…

On the recent snow storm in the North East, it’s a bit disconcerting how some were not prepared for “Nimo”. The aftermath of the late winter storm was challenging to say the least, but I think folks have become pre-conditioned to panic and pre-disposed to whining. Buck up my fellow New Englanders, the elderly and those with disabilities need us to be there for them when these things happen. Take responsibility for your well-being and that of your family. Accept that things may get rough, but context and empathy should help. A bit of forethought and planning wouldn’t hurt either. Okay, moving along…

pelosi_oh_no_apIs Nancy Pelosi brain-dead or just an idiot? I always catch flak for framing my stuff like this, but sometimes the frustration level goes off the charts when I hear what comes out of the mouths of some in Washington. Who in their right mind supports a person like this for elected office. For a Congressperson sent to Washington to do the business of “We the People”, to even suggest the U.S. government doesn’t have a spending problem indicates either a lack of regard for the intelligence of the electorate, or demonstrates a total black-out when it comes to the fundamental principles of mathematics we all learn as children. Now I have followed Representative Pelosi’s “career” for some time and have never found her to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. That said, I have to believe its the former which applies here. This women thinks we’re stupid

Listen up people, this is beyond foolishness now. “If” you value your children’s future, you must accept the United States is broke, heavily in debt, and racing toward financial Armageddon. There is simply no longer any place in Congress for lying political dinosaurs like Nancy Pelosi. Hello California District 12. Is anybody home???

 

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