Category Archives: Politics

Read between the numbers…

Posted on 2012/02/03 by

I think it’s important for those on the Left side of the argument to understand they may not count me among those who refuse to see any good for simple hatred of the opposition.

Today’s unemployment numbers are truly something to be happy about. They reflect a trending in the right direction and come with internal statistics indicating higher rates of pay. This is all good news, and frankly long overdue. The stock market responded accordingly and it was truly refreshing for this Capitalist to see the engine that is our economy at least running.  Happy?

Now for the qualifier:

While we should embrace any good news coming out of this economy with open arms, it is important to apply the proper context. Using yesterday’s post as a benchmark, nothing has really changed. I would add that any employment uptick must first be balanced against the factors of a shrinking work force, those no longer looking for work, and the ratios of months on unemployment for workers in 2008 vs. 2012, (Obama’s “new norm”). When you figure in the CBO’s projections for the next two years, which are partly based on the separate but applicable economic factors of debt and spending, it is very clear that real recovery is not yet around the corner.

As a caveat, it is important to understand our economy and what makes it tick. As I have written many times, the Obama entitlement spending spree and stimulus did little to stimulate anything, but rather created a few government jobs that cost on average $175,000.00 per employee. What we are really seeing in this jobs report is the natural ebb and flow of an economy that will come back on its own “in spite of” any efforts on the part of Washington.

So while I’m happy to know there are folks who have finally found work and can now get back in the game, and that the American economy is as resilient as I knew it was, I remain realistic and even a bit skeptical in my appraisal of this little employment number nugget today. The road to lasting and meaningful recovery that will promote long-term hiring and an “expansion” of the work force to at least what it was pre-recession, is a long one to say the least.

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Economy, Jobs, Media, Politics, Right vs. Left, Socioeconomic | 2 Comments

This President’s “new norm”…

Posted on 2012/02/02 by

With hope of banking and debt stability in Europe, and the stock market and “some” leading economic indicators showing anemic signs of life here at home, there are those including our President who would have you believe our nation is on the mend. Insomuch as many of us would like to believe that, reality is unfortunately something very different.

The recent Congressional Budget Office report has leading economists warning of a very real scenario for the United States. Ironically, the one thing which stood out for me in the report besides the references to rising fuel costs, inflation and localized budget shortfalls, was  the Congressional watchdog agency predicts that even if the “Bush Tax Cuts” were to fade away, any budget windfall would not plug the enormous hole in our economy. Actually, it would not even come close. The CBO cites inflation in all categories, the aging population as it relates to the cost of the health care overhaul and a host of other entitlement programs to include Social Security and Medicare as the main reasons. But it also adds that the estimated $800 billion dollars in added revenue the federal government would receive by eliminating those tax cuts would not keep the national debt from soaring to $21 trillion dollars in less than 10 years, thus setting off a chain reaction of economic nightmares. The CBO is now officially calling our record deficits “unsupportable” and warning of the dire consequences of inaction on the part of our leaders in Washington.

Look folks, no one is praying for light at the end of this tunnel more than I. But the sad reality is this Administration has taken a bad situation and made it far worse, with ideological politics and unprecedented spending. Moreover, for all their talk about saving the country from another “depression”, they have actually set us up for a disaster the likes of which will make the depression of the early 20th century look mild. The cost of this little experiment in socioeconomic restructuring has failed miserably and the numbers show it. And while Americans are being told the “recovery” is on track just slower than expected, the housing market is crippled, fuel costs are rising, unemployment is expected to stay in the 8% range with a real number closer to 15%, wage earners are making less than ever before, every man women and child in America is shouldering close to $50,000.00 of the national debt, the federal reserve is printing money with nothing to back it up, and we will once again run a $1 trillion operational deficit, with servicing interest on the national debt actually eclipsing what is spent on Medicaid.

So when some politician points to the paper tiger that is the stock market today, bear in mind this is a bunch of speculative paper, backed up by less tangible assets than at any time in its history. Thankfully, I hear folks becoming more and more attune to the truth about where we really stand and what it means to our children.

I thought this would add an interesting twist to this post. I heard an exchange between an internet caller and the POTUS the other day where a women asked the President why her husband couldn’t get a job in the engineering field when the President has spoken so much about how many of these jobs are out there. Now as I have said time and again, I feel President Obama is in way over his head. However, I will leave it up to you to listen to the exchange and tell me if he doesn’t sound like a man who has very little real world experience, and even less in the actual job market. Keep in mind then, how can we ask that he or his administration “feel our pain”?

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj3HOmL0OJs’]

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Campaign 2012, Congress, Economy, Fred Comella, International, Politics, Right vs. Left, Socioeconomic | Tagged , , | Comments Off on This President’s “new norm”…

“Congressman” Allen West vs. Big Bad Bob Beckel…

Posted on 2012/01/31 by

Wanting to jump through the flat screen and school Bob Beckel in reality is something I live with every day. So when I hear Congressman and retired Army Lt. Colonel Allen West square away the portly pundit, my heart swells. Beckel is the poster child for the clueless Liberals out there who literally make it up as they go along. Ideology replaces common sense regularly and facts are cast off as obstacles to the Progressive agenda when he speaks. All things bad are the products of 43’s time in office, and Barack Obama was dispatched from the hallowed halls of academia to save us from ourselves. All this is often served up with heaping loads of condescension and disdain for all who disagree.

I actually watched the episode of “The Five” in question and truthfully I wasn’t taken back by Beckel’s “commentary” on a speech West made stating how he felt the message of the Progressives belongs in Europe and not the U.S. What really got me was how Beckel became incensed during the discussion and even refused to refer to West as Congressman or Lt. Colonel. God help us if the tables were turned and West was a Democrat. The cries of racism and disrespect would have been blood curdling.

In the end, Congressman West is asking for but will not receive an apology from Beckel. Not because of Beckel’s politics, but for the blatant and angry way he stated he would not even call him by his hard-earned military rank. It is always ironic but expected when we see the Left’s true colors regarding the military. Appropriately, Lt. Colonel West fell in with his soldiers as he has many times before, and reminded the “FOX & FRIENDS” cast this morning that he had spent 22 years of his life defending Beckel’s right to say the things he does and live in freedom.

In the end Congressman West said it best in a phone interview with FOX: “The days of the Liberal Left using Republicans as punching bags are over”.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-18B13yEUUg&feature=related’]

 

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“A picture is worth a thousand words”…

Posted on 2012/01/28 by

 

Now Mr. President, did you actually buy my book or did you thumb through it at the bookstore???

It seems quirky politicians are in abundance these days and Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona could certainly be counted among them. While I’m sympathetic to her passion for enhanced border security, her application at times is a bit shall we say, off the cuff…

That said, there has also been  a bit of talk over the last three years about the President’s thin skin. The truth is we political junkies have been watching this for some time. For all of his rhetorical themes of coöperation and bipartisanship, it’s been President Barack Obama who has led the obstructionist charge right along. His Chicago brand of politics and elitist underpinnings are there to see for anyone not blinded by ideology. The events on the tarmac with Governor Brewer the other day fit a pattern of quasi bullying by the POTUS if he feels he has been mischaracterized or “insulted”.

I read the Governor’s book and while none of us were at the meeting between her and the President, we only have to read Mr. Obama’s litany of responses when asked about our Southern border to make a fairly accurate assumption concerning Brewers version of events. And while I agree that one must show respect for the high office, the President of the United States should know better than to “diss” an elected Governor on her home turf right in front of the cameras and her constituents. I thought it was not only rude, but sexist and arrogant the way he simply thrust her note into his pocket, and with a few course words immediately moved on to shake some hands in the crowd.

Now I know this may seem a bit trivial to some, but in recognition of recent news events highlighting Rep. Gabby Giffords and her decision to leave Washington to focus on her extraordinary and inspirational recovery, and the soaring speech the POTUS made in that very state following the tragedy, we are left wondering if this President fully understands the finer nuances of governing, particularly as “leader of the free world”. Undoubtedly, leadership by example should be high on that list.

 

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Find your own iceberg Mr. Polar Bear, this one’s mine…

Posted on 2012/01/26 by

No questions please!

So frightened are the Progressive Environmentalists and their friends in the “main stream” media, about the questionable data implicating civilization in all of our planetary woes by way of “fossil fuel” consumption, that they are now pressuring states to include in their respective public school curriculums, a kind of “climate change denial” course. Huh? I guess this must be meant to convince our young ones not to be swayed by the “naysayers” and to fully embrace what is being “taught” them by way of the complicit academics.

Putting aside for a moment the mounting evidence that much of the rhetorical “global warming” pabulum being spoon fed to our children has been at the very least exaggerated, and some cases even down right manipulated to suit a particular political agenda, one has to ask: Can we send our children to school any longer without fear of them being indoctrinated as opposed to educated?

Listen up parents! It’s time you do your homework and make sure that your children are getting the facts. There are literally thousands of legitimate and noted scientists offering qualifying information about the effects of carbon emissions on our planet and its atmosphere. Dozens of agenesis have put forth challenges to the science of “global warming” but have been rebuffed by the “main stream” media when attempting to make their case. Only when one of the environmentalist hacks gets caught red-handed “cooking” the books are they forced to tell the story. Only when entire data collection firms are outed for manipulating results at the behest of agenda driven lobbies and their political enablers, do we learn the truth about the real numbers and the reality that goes with them.

Truth be told, I catch a lot of flak for some of my stances past and present concerning the “human footprint”. I think there is in fact much we can do to ensure a cleaner planet for our posterity. Having said that, the intentional mischaracterization of mans impact on this planet, combined with a clearly agenda driven approach to the problem and to the degree which it may or may not exist, does nothing but threaten our economy and ultimately our very way of life. Notably, the recent “push back” by Americans, as described by those who walk in the “evolutionary science circles”, is simply a reflection of doubt, not necessarily about the information, but about how and by whom it is being compiled and subsequently passed on to our children.

Additional note: It befuddles me the way in which Progressives continually portray themselves as purveyors of the debate, and then do everything in their power to silence the opposition?

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Congress, Economy, Environment, Fred Comella, Green Energy, Media, Politics, Right vs. Left, Socioeconomic | Tagged , | 2 Comments

More of the same…

Posted on 2012/01/26 by

The State of the Union address was a campaign speech. I knew it would be so I was not compelled to respond with an immediate salvo of criticism. The President struck an uncharacteristic and populous tone with much of the usual lofty rhetoric short on facts and substance. He was content to frame his argument in the form of questions most would answer “of course” too, but as usual left out key components of the debate which make that answer wholly inadequate. For instance, his rhetoric on taxes was particularly amusing considering the facts. But it sure sounded good in the context of his overall approach to the speech. Obviously, class warfare and the politics of division will be the Presidents weapons of choice this campaign cycle, and he made it very clear Tuesday evening he would not hesitate to use those weapons at every possible juncture.

Not unlike the Liberal playbook of old, Mr. Obama will put all of his marbles on the notion that most folks won’t fact check his assertions and that emotion will drive the vote. That may in fact work against him this time. There seems to be an equal amount of emotion with folks looking very carefully at his record. And running on a record is very different from running on simply “hope and change”.

In the end I found the speech to be no different from other SOTU’s from Presidents on both sides of the aisle. Lofty rhetoric with little substance and boat loads of political satire, are usually the jumping off points for politicians running for re-election.

I did take exception with one thing he mentioned regarding to the “Situation Room”. I think this POTUS has to some degree “declassified” the office of President. There are just things better left off the table as a matter of respect for the high office. Americans want there to be a kind of hands off notion about the President when he acts on our behalf militarily. We don’t necessarily need to know the gory details. Just the fact he is doing his Constitutional duty to protect the nation will do. With the precisely timed release of the first S/R photos taken as “Operation Neptune Spear” unfolded, it was clear this Administration meant to capitalize in every way they could when President Obama carried out President Bush’s standing executive order to neutralize Osama bin-Laden. I think the fact he flew that flag again Tuesday night was regrettable. It wasn’t he or Bush who killed the terrorist leader but rather Seal Team Six, and I feel their role is diminished when the Commander-in-Chief attempts to emphasize his part by way of dramatizing what goes on behind the closed doors of a clandestine military operation. It just seems to trivialize a truly heroic and significant moment in our nation’s history.

With that said, I will not expand beyond these few observations, as it will ultimately be the collective Electorate who will decide if the POTUS was grandstanding, campaigning or if he was truly sincere beyond the politics of the moment.

 

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Campaign 2012, Congress, Fred Comella, Media, Military, Politics, Right vs. Left | Tagged , | 2 Comments

My fellow Americans…

Posted on 2012/01/24 by

The President of the United States is sure to tell Congress tonight that the “state of the union” is improving. He’s done this several times already. But here’s what he will really be saying:

Now here's what I really mean....

My fellow Americans, I believe that our nation must be one with other nations and that we have enjoyed far more success than we are rightfully entitled to. Our exceptionalism has come not as a result of hard work, sacrifice and entrepreneurial initiatives born of God-given freedom and liberty, but rather at the expense of the rest of the world, and it is high time we pay the price. My intention is to transform our nation using the European model of big government and featuring entitlement as the primary mind-set of the people. I will continue to push for “reforms” which create a larger and more vocal entitlement class who know only protest and class warfare as answers for their lot in life, and who have little or no interest in success based on diligence and effort. I will tell Americans that $48,000.00 in debt to each and every child born this day, and a “real numbers” national debt of $202 trillion is a small price to pay for our place in the world, and I will demonize Capitalism as the root of all evil and the free market enterprise as merely a tool of the rich. I will re-write history to convince the impressionable youth of our nation that we are the problem and must suffer for all of our transgressions. I will reach into the classrooms of the youngest of them and use manipulated, inconclusive and false data to make them cry about that which in many cases we are powerless to control. I will tell them there is no God and that if they believe there is, they must keep it to themselves for fear of offending. I will explain inaccurately that Columbus was a murderer and that he brought only disease to the continent, and I will teach them that Communism is just another form of government and not responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of innocent people.

And finally my fellow Americans, I will do all of this under the banner of “hope and change”. I will ostracize and vilify all who oppose me as bigots, racists, homophobes, and out of touch. I will deny the very intent of the Framers and finally wash away all remaining memories of a government “of the people, by the people, for the people…

NOTE: This is merely an attempt to invite the broader debate. But it is also a reminder that to continue down our current  path with the proverbial/ideological blinders of either side of the argument firmly affixed, is tantamount to slamming the door in our children’s faces. We need to return to searching for the things which bind us…

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Congress, Economy, Education, First Amendment, Fred Comella, Green Energy, Health Care, Jobs, Political Correctness, Politics, Religion, Right vs. Left | Tagged | 4 Comments

They make it easy…

Posted on 2012/01/23 by

I dislike this YouTube video with some confliction as I agree with much of what this young man has to say. The problem is he assumes all “Republicans” sport “religion” or “Christianity” as a pillar of their political belief system, when in fact many on the right simply fear the dissolution of a fundamental truth about our nation. And that is “one nation under God”, while religious in its overtones, was simply an acknowledgment of faith and the understanding that inevitably we are not as human kind, the “be all and end all”. I submit to you, that simple and humble expression is what has separated us from the very people this young man speaks of in his video. In the end, his effort to de-politicize the argument over religion actually politicizes it right out of the gate, when he generalizes and then labels “Republicans” as the exclusive purveyors of religion. It’s a valiant effort but falls short and right into the category of ideology. Maybe if we try harder to find the commonality that should bind us as a country, as opposed to highlighting that which may separate us culturally, the issue of religion and politics would be much less divisive. Sorry Jeff, nice albeit youthful try though…

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY’]

Posted in "Patriot64", Campaign 2012, First Amendment, Political Correctness, Politics, Religion, Right vs. Left | Tagged | Comments Off on They make it easy…

Here we go…

Posted on 2012/01/20 by

Choose wisely...

If it’s not clear to most voters, it should be. This year’s Presidential Election cycle is sure to be one of the most vitriolic and hateful in American history. Let’s face it, there is much at stake. The election of Barack Obama as President was extraordinary in that the Progressives made inroads like never before. Socioeconomic revisionism rode in under the banner of “hope and change”, eloquently expressed by an articulate albeit teleprompter coached candidate who also happened to be half black. The Independent vote had found their candidate, the die was cast and there was no looking back. Cut to 2012 and the Progressive Left is empowered like never before. Moreover, they have found an additional voice in a whole new and angry entitlement class firmly affixed to the government nipple and loving every minute of it. Aggravated by the young and misguided who are most always fools for the moment, and with the country in economic upheaval, the battle for our foundational beliefs, American exceptionalism and the “one nation under God” entrusted to us by our Forefathers is in full swing.

The decision you make this year will affect the lives of millions, born and unborn for generations. We owe it to them to hold tightly to the things that made us unique and special in the world. Hard work, entrepreneurism, self-reliance and above all the God-given freedom to pursue, “life liberty and happiness” are all in play. Choose wisely my fellow Americans for we may not get a “re-do” this time around. Let us as one nation, one culture and one people, turn away from what history has shown us time and again, and that is there is no substitute for liberty which can be provided by government, and that government must always be “of the people, by the people, for the people”.

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Campaign 2012, Economy, Education, Fred Comella, Political Correctness, Politics, Right vs. Left, Socioeconomic | Tagged | Comments Off on Here we go…

Free Ryan Jerome…

Posted on 2012/01/18 by

Maybe this guy should be applying for Ray Kelly's job...

It’s simply amazing to me that we continue to have these annoying conversations about NYC’s draconian and unconstitutional gun laws. Not only is Ray Kelly endorsing researching a device which covertly scans folks for firearms while they’re walking down the avenue, but it turns out the NYPD are also arresting Marines for checking their home state legal firearms so they may be in compliance with some of the most ridiculous guns regulations on the books anywhere in the lower 48. Look, I have the utmost respect for the NYPD rank and file and their efforts in what is a tough city to say the least. However, this Kelly character and the sickening way he is almost joined at the hip with one of America’s most disingenuous and unaccountable elected officials is really starting to annoy me.

Message to Bloomberg and company: Please quit hassling America’s heroes and playing politics instead of fighting crime in the “Big Apple”. It’s an absolute disgrace that this should even have been an issue. Moreover, it’s appalling that the mayor and his puppet sidekick police commissioner aren’t down at the Manhattan DA’s office strategizing on how to apologize to this Marine Legacy for what should have been treated as nothing more than a simple misunderstanding.

Please go to “Facebook” and support this defender of the very freedoms those political clowns in New York City enjoy every day at “Free Ryan Jerome”.

Man, it is just so hard sometimes to have legitimate dialog about the critical issues of our time when we can’t even get this stuff right…Shameful… Hang in there Marine, we got your back!

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/16/marine-arrested-for-carrying-legal-gun-in-new-york-made-honest-mistake-attorney/

 

Posted in "Patriot64", America, Fred Comella, Military, Political Correctness, Politics, Right vs. Left, Second Amendment | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Free Ryan Jerome…