April 25, 2006
Gasoline: All Politics
Ah, it is a sad statement on what this country has become. Bush has announced his investigation into gas prices to determine if there is "unfair pricing." Unfortunately, this is 100% political with zero basis in reality and facts.
If there is "unfair pricing" it means that every single retail outlet in the country has gotten together and had a meeting. At that massive meeting, they all agreed to raise their prices and to not charge less than a certain price so they could all profit. Then, after they all got home from that meeting, all the individual station owners all have lived up to that agreement and no one has tried to sell gas for a lower price. Either that, or every single refiner of gasoline got together and had a meeting with the same results. What a damn load. If one company thinks they can sell more by lowering their price and still make a profit, they will. Gasoline sales are not declining -- if they were, prices would go down. It's a real simple economic system, even if most Americans apparently don't get it. Instead, what drives prices up is government interference. When government changes regulations and states determine what exact formulas of gasoline they will permit in their state, that makes the price rise. When a state changes it's formula for each season, or each month, that makes the cost of making the gasoline go up. If gasoline gets too expensive, stop buying it! The prices WILL drop if people don't buy it. All industry trends right now show that people are still buying the gasoline, so why in the world should they lower prices? Need help? Buy a bicycle. Telecommute to work. Carpool. Take the damn bus. Get a new job closer to home. Combine trips to Wal-Mart and soccer practice. There are many, many things people can do to reduce gasoline usage -- they're NOT doing it so prices will not fall. However, in this case, this "investigation" is not about economy or the markets. Instead, it is about politics. There is an election this fall and all 435 seats in the House are up for election. Yes, I'm aware that most people didn't know that and don't plan on voting. Yes, I'm aware that the vast majority of those seats are not actually having an election in November due to gerrymandering. However, the perception from politicians is that Republicans are going to be voted out of their seats because of high gas prices. In a way, you can hold them responsible -- NOT because of "price fixing" but because of onerous government regulations -- mostly at the state level. But, none of that matters. All that matters is that Republicans think that if the American people see them "investigating" and "doing something" about high gas prices, then the People will vote for Republicans. Morons, all of them. Oh, how I yearn for freedom.Posted by: Ogre at 01:42 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
For The Children (TM): MORE
I seriously, honestly, want to know if ANY government-run school has EVER NOT asked for more money because it was the end of the world and all children would fail or die if they weren't given more money. Johnson schools has asked for a 15% increase for the year. And of course, it's a major crisis if they don't get it:
Some of this is not even break-even, we’re just trying to keep our heads above water
It's a bare-bones budget
Government-run schools are a total and utter failure. They are incapable of functioning and cannot educate students. We should entrust the education of our children to a system that works -- the free market.
Posted by: Ogre at 11:05 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
April 24, 2006
Advertisers
Take a moment, good reader, if you will, and visit some of the folks who support this site (besides yourself, of course):
In the top left position, you'll see the renter of the week, AubreyJ. Below that you can find Jim Black Must Go. And over on the right side, you'll find Larry Kissell for Congress (and I'm still not sure if I'm violating campaign finance laws by posting any comments about him here...)Posted by: Ogre at 05:07 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Ogre's Not Here
Time for an afternoon game of baseball. Ogre likes the baseball. And no, no live blogging (maybe some time, just for fun) today -- just going to enjoy the sport.
Posted by: Ogre at 04:02 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Kender is Entitled
Let's see -- the primary argument for amnesty and no borders to the United States is because the criminal alien invaders who are coming are entitled to a better life. They're only coming because they want a better life and the US is supposed to provide it for them, right?
Take a look at where that argument can lead. It follows the same exact logic -- after all, isn't Kender entitled to a better life?Posted by: Ogre at 03:06 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
NC 95th House District
When you lie down with pigs, you're going to smell when you get up.
The NC House race Republican primary in the 95th House District is really getting ugly. Incumbent Richard Moore and Jim Black supporter Karen Ray has gone ugly -- really ugly. I have seen mailings that she's sent out to the district that have pasted her opponent's head on other people's bodies. They're full-color, glossy pictures, so she's clearly spending a lot to sling mud in this one. One of the flyers focuses on her support for communism. No, really! In the flyer she opposes freedom of speech. She implies that you should vote for her because her opponent is opposed to campaign finance reform. So logically, she supports limiting the first amendment and freedom of speech in political campaigns. I find it rather ironic that she opposes freedom of speech while exercising it herself. Oh, wait, I understand now -- she wants free speech for HER, but none for anyone else. Elected politicians should be allowed to do whatever they want, but individuals who want access to politicians or who want to use their money to support their ideas should be stopped. Primary election: May 2nd.
Posted by: Ogre at 02:05 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Lying Judges
The U.S. Supreme Court appears that they simply cannot be honest. Recently they issued a stay of execution to "determine whether lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment." What a total crock.
Look, if you're opposed to the death penalty, that's fine. However, if you're claiming that lethal injection is "cruel and unusual," you're just a damn liar willing to use any means to reach your ends of banning the death penalty. There's absolutely no possible way that anyone with 1/10 of a brain can logically argue that lethal injection is either cruel or unusual -- none at all. It can't get more non-cruel -- the damn convicted sick, twisted criminal is completely unconscious and can't feel a thing! Unusual? It's certainly a LOT less common than deranged people who slaughter others. If you're against the death penalty, that's fine -- just be honest about it, dammit!Posted by: Ogre at 01:03 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Do you trust your government?
Contagion sends along this story from his local rag about news near the Ogre. It seems the government caused yet another problem. This time they caused 3,000 gallons of raw sewage to flow into someone's home. Obviously, the home is nearly destroyed.
The couple who lived there are living on a prayer -- literally. They say that the city has promised to pay for repairs and to pay for their stay in a hotel until the repairs are complete -- but they don't have a written promise from the city. The city refuses to comment or discuss whether they will pay. My advice, Mac and Meg McCormick -- hire a lawyer now. I wouldn't trust the city of Charlotte as far as I could throw it or the people running it.Posted by: Ogre at 11:09 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
April 22, 2006
Shhhhh
Be vewy, vewy quiet -- the muse is sleeping...
(And I have to go cast my ballot for mayor).Posted by: Ogre at 07:34 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Winston-Salem Journal Hates Good Economy
How else can you interpret this editorial statement:
A drawback of Catawba County's growing economy and declining unemployment is an increased demand for child-care subsidies.
Oh, that wasn't on the editorial opinion page? I guess that publication just doesn't label it's opinion pieces. They've even set up the fear factor -- interviewing a "single mom" who "doesn't want to be forced to leave her 11-year-old child at home alone" this summer. Hello, it's months before summer -- how about some planning NOW? Sorry. I didn't mean to offend the lazy by suggesting that people take responsibility for their actions. But you have to be careful. Did you know that "Last week, the state suspended day-care financing for children age 9 and older?" In other words, if you have a 10-year old, YOU have to take care of them! Oh, the horror! What is this state coming to when parents have to be responsible for their children! Don't worry, lazy and irresponsible people. I'm sure the government will be more than happy to take my labor and use it for your benefit. The legislature is sure to spend another couple hundred million so that you don't have to be responsible for your own damn children -- I will. Either that, or we'll just do what we can to reduce that pesky employment number and kill the economy so this problem will go away. But hey, since I'm paying for these damn children, why can't I get some say in how they're raised? I want the kids over to my house. At age 8, they can do some cleaning. They can be raking up grass and leaves. Heck, I'll just take a couple to fetch me a beer from the fridge when I need one -- after all, *I* am paying to raise them, why not? (Featured at The Scratching Post).
Posted by: Ogre at 12:06 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
April 21, 2006
Cat Blogging
Hmmm...For those who don't know, Fridays are often reserved for much lighter fare than the rest of the week, on this blog and on others. One trend that evolved was the much-celebrated, or much-dreaded (depending on your point of view) cat-blogging. The idea behind this was to show the blogger's lighter side by showing cats.
Some people have taken oaths to never cat-blog. Some religiously cat-blog every Friday and beyond. The Ogre takes the middle ground (no, really!) -- sometimes there's some cat blogging and sometimes there's not. I've got 3 cats, so there's plenty of picture opportunities...but I'm not sure if this actually counts as cat blogging:
Posted by: Ogre at 03:05 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Links, links, and more links
Need some links? Are you a conservative looking for news and information? Pointed out to me today was a site called for your conservative pleasure. There's at least a few hundred links on that page to all news and views conservative (and a whole pile of more links like sports, weather, etc.). So, if you need links, head on over and take a peek.
Posted by: Ogre at 03:04 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Bush's New Press Secretary
It's Friday, the sun is shining (mostly), and it's time to relax a little more than the rest of the week. Found via Jarhead's Firing Range, this job application for Presidential Press Secretary. I support this applicant 100% and think it would be absolutely WONDERFUL if Kim were hired today. Seriously.
Posted by: Ogre at 01:08 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
N&O = Zero Responsibility
It certainly appears the editors at the Raleigh News and Observer would be in acceptable company if they were to join the socialists at the Charlotte Observer. They clearly support the exact same socialist goals. At issue here, their solution to a "problem."
People who are paying more than 30 percent of their income for the roof over their heads also have a problem, and there may be as many as 2 million of the state's residents living in such households.
That's the opening paragraph in their editorial -- and it's right out of the socialist handbook: "Step 1: Create a life-threatening, emotional, heart-wrenching crisis." The clear and obvious intent here is to make you, the reader, feel bad, right away, about these "poor people" -- 2 million of them -- who are in trouble. What's left out, of course, is any concept of responsibility. The editors have absolutely no interest in why those people are in that situation. The fact that some might have VOLUNTARILY decided to choose that home does not matter to the editors. They try to claim that all people in that situation are there because of "pay cuts." Now that they've set the reader up to feel bad for 2 million people who, through absolutely no fault of their own (Socialist Handbook Step 2: Be sure that nothing is the victim's fault), the News and Observer provides the solution. If you know socialists, the solution is always the same, no matter what the problem is, no matter who caused problem -- even if there isn't really any problem at all -- government.
With a commitment of $50 million in state money proposed last week, North Carolina can put a dent in the problem by making more affordable housing available.
There you go. If you want a low housing payment in North Carolina, you do not have to earn it. You do not have to work. All you need is government to take from those who work and give to you. It's only fair -- at least in the eyes of the News and Observer. And if that doesn't convince you, socialist handbook step #3 follows in the next sentence:
more importantly, the state can improve prospects for the children of those families. For their sake, and everybody's, this should be a priority for state leaders.
There you go. It's just not a complete socialist sell if you don't put in "For The Children(TM)." You see, then the setup is complete -- if you oppose them, you're against the children. Folks, these people are socialist scum. Their goal is to take from people who work, plain and simple. They don't want to give the money themselves because they're selfish bastards. Instead, they want to use the force of government to steal the labor of those who are responsible. That is the clear and stated goal, and primary purpose for publishing, the Raleigh News and Observer. Oppose them. Stop them. Speak up and let them know that you know their goal -- because they're not going to admit it.
Posted by: Ogre at 11:01 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
April 20, 2006
European City?
Afternoon, so time for a little quiz. I think I took this one a long time ago, but I'm not sure...
You Belong in Dublin |
 Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town. |
Nice. I do want to visit there some time in my life. Found at And Rightly So.
Posted by: Ogre at 07:04 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Response from Senator Burr
A few weeks ago, when amnesty was the word of the day from the United States Senate, I wrote an email to both my Senators. The email was done from their contact forms on their official US Senate sites. It was rather short and to the point. I didn't save the exact words, but they were something alone these lines:
As Representative Myrick told President Bush during the ports discussion, not only No, but Hell NO to amnesty. Please do not support any amnesty for criminals.
I received a written response from him the other day (I'll be sure and let you, the good reader know if I get a response to the bricks I send, too). It's probably a form letter, and I can understand that. In it, he says that he is a co-sponsor of S.1438. I think I'll go take a peek... Gee, only 70 pages long. I wonder what's hidden inside (my comments in parenthesis): Sec 101a: A whopping 250 extra border patrol agents per year. (Well that's a good start.)
Sec 101c: Roads and barriers needed to "achieve operational control of the borders of the United States"
Sec 103: Training so border agents can recognize forged documents.
Sec 104: Requires biometric portions of ID accepted
Sec 201: Authorize funds to detain criminal aliens
Sec 203: Increase penalties for drug and people smuggling
Sec 207: More cash to deport aliens
Sec 208: More cash to hire people in immigration positions
Sec 210: Allows (but does not require) federal department to deny benefits to criminal aliens
Sec 220: Grants states the authority to enforce immigration laws (they already can if they want to).
Sec 222: Requires state to inform DHS about aliens apprehended
Sec 225: Requires the feds to take control of aliens transferred to them by states
Sec 227: Requires the feds to pay for state costs associated with criminal prosecution of aliens
Sec 301: Hire 3,000 federal
Sec 302: Increases fines for those who knowingly hire aliens
Sec 311: Improves social security cards (tamper resistant)
Sec 501: Creates guest worker program
Sec 218A: Details guest worker program -- requires a fee from worker, requires job offer, application, medical form. Maximum duration of guest worker: 6 years -- unless they're a migrant worker (<6 mos per year). Families of guest workers could only visit for 30 days. If unemployed for 30 days, must depart.
Sec 218B: Allows anyone already in the US to stay -- if they admit, in writing, that they're illegal; give up all their forged documents; and agrees to leave within 5 years unless they become legal during that time. If they agree to leave and do not, they're fined.
Sec 801: Give piles of money -- $120 million -- to organizations who help illegals.
Sec 901: Give these "temporary workers" their own social security accounts called "temporary worker investment accounts" -- including taking anything they might have put into social security already. And lots of other technical changes. Well, it's not too bad, but it sure isn't good. I don't see a wall there, do you? I don't see anything about getting the illegals already here out, do you? I'm not impressed. My Senator's letter also says
I support a comprehensive approach
Ah, crap. That's the Republican code word for amnesty. Well, at least one of my senators responded.
Posted by: Ogre at 06:44 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
The Malkin Storm
Wow. If you've been following politics and the blogosphere, you might have noticed the discussion about Michelle Malkin. Maybe you haven't, but as of the writing of this post, Technorati shows 1,575 posts with Malkin and Phone Number. That's a lot. In case you're not familiar with the sequence of events, I'll get you up to speed:
1. Communist, Anti-American ADULTS violently threatened and even attacked military recruiters at UC Santa Cruz. You may see them referred to as "kids" and "students," but they're over 18, legally adults. They threw rocks, slashed tires, and physically blocked people from moving through public areas. Due to fear of a riot and kindness on the part of the military, only one adult was arrested. 2. The group that supported this action, SAW, consisting of more adults, published a press release. The press release celebrated the group's ability to physically block access to movement of people in public areas. That press release included contact information (as most do) including emails and phone numbers of people to contact for more information about the event or the group. 3. Michelle Malkin linked to the press release and provided her comments about it. This is, or so I thought, the purpose of press releases -- to get people information about an event. 4. The anti-American thugs who rely on intimidation to crush freedom of speech (that's the SAW members) apparently got some phone calls from their press release -- people actually contacted the people listed in the public press release. It's not clear whether the people who called got the numbers from the initial press release, Michelle Malkin's copy, or any of the other millions of places on the internet to which things released into the internet go. 5. The aforementioned intimidating thugs decided to "get back" at Michelle Malkin. Using their usual tactics, they decided to try and intimidate her by publishing her home phone number and satellite maps of her house. Those who support the anti-Americans on the left claim they're just dishing out what she's giving. Of course, that's completely untrue, as the press release is what included the phone numbers. A press release is DESIGNED to be read and spread far and wide. Those who are posing her information had to dig to find it. But, it is what this is. Who knows where it will be going. While the "poor kids" are supposedly scared by the reaction of America to their hatred, Michelle is not. It's causing wide ripples in the blogosphere. Rick Moran is de-linking anyone who decides to participate in such skulduggery. Don Surber is annoyed at Michelle. And, as I mentioned, there's thousands of posts about this topic. Me? I just wonder if that's what passes for political discourse today. Have the people of this country become so divided that the only way to get your message across is to rely on physical or violent intimidation? It sure seems that way -- and it's a logical progression, if you ask me. You see, the left has had one primary way to get their message through: crisis. Seriously. Every single "issue" that the left brings up is wrapped in a crisis. This has worked well for them for a long time, but people are getting weary of it. People just aren't believing there IS a crisis. So the next logical step needed to convince people of their side is threats and intimidation. That's how the environmentalists have been getting their point across for years. Now look at the criminal invaders -- their actions are nothing BUT intimidation -- and there's NO repercussions for the lawbreaking or the intimidation, so why not continue it? Apparently there's no room for peaceful protest nor logical discussions in this country. You have two options today for political discussion: 1. Violent intimidation, as successfully used by criminal aliens (aka illegal immigrants) and the taxpayer-funded students at UC Santa Cruz.2. Nothing. Sit back and ignore it all and hope it goes away. Take little Johnny to soccer practice and ignore the news networks. Pay your taxes and hope that nothing bad happens to you. What other options are left? Serious discussion and discourse is simply not an option in today's environment.
Posted by: Ogre at 03:43 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
NC Highway Money
Those who live in North Carolina know what a problem the roads have become. 15 years ago, the state was consistently rated top in the country for roads. It was even briefly known as the "good roads state." In the past 15 years, however, all that has changed. The Ogre has driven up and down the east coast and as far west as the Mississippi -- and seriously, North Carolina has the worst roads.
Why? Because the Democrat-led legislature continues to tax the highest gas taxes in the southeast and use them for other things. Seriously. The state collects billions of dollars in gas taxes, but that money is NOT being used for roads. Each year the Democrats in the legislature introduce a bill to take money from the highway trust fund and plop that money in the general fund. This has been happening for the past 16 years, so the roads are literally billions of dollars short money. This has resulted in massive congestion and delays in completing road projects. It has resulted in roads that are so full of potholes that it is difficult to drive on them in a car (as opposed to a 4WD). People are finally speaking up about the roads. However, the legislature will not admit they did anything wrong. Now, a group with a MASSIVE vested interest (they would get enormous piles of cash) has come up with a solution. No, the solution isn't to stop taking money from the trust fund -- that will continue as long as there is a Democrat majority in the legislature. Their solution is to BORROW A BILLION DOLLARS! Yes, that's right. Since the legislature already spent well over a billion dollars that was supposed to be used for roads, we should just borrow the money. After all, it's government, and they don't have to actually pay back that money, right? And, well, if they do, it's at a good rate, right? That's okay, the vested-interest group has a way to pay for the loan -- by using more of the money that's already being taken from the highway trust fund! Instead of actually supporting using gas taxes for roads, they suggest diverting it to pay off the loan instead of putting it in the general fund. Great. Then the legislature will take EVEN MORE from the highway "trust" fund. And if that's not enough money, this group also suggests continuing to raise even more money by raising taxes on gasoline and on car sales and on auto title transfers. The group, NC GO! is nothing more than yet another interest group that seeks to gain gigantic piles of cash from the working people of North Carolina. Don't listen to them, they have ONE interest in mind -- taking YOUR money and YOUR labor by using the force of government. These kind of people used to be considered criminals. Now they're "coalitions." Maybe I can form a "coalition" and "raise" money from the bank where I don't have an account. If I call myself government, it would be legal.Posted by: Ogre at 01:09 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
Politicians, NOT Statesmen
One parting quote from a departing 12-year North Carolina legislator that quickly illustrates what's wrong with politics in North Carolina:
In her final session with the N.C. Legislature, Sherrill says she will work on getting more money to Buncombe County
It's not about doing what's right or what's good, it's ONLY about getting money. That sucks.
Posted by: Ogre at 11:07 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
April 19, 2006
mmMMMm...Beer
I think Contagion is going to be jealous. He took the If I Were A Beer test and only scored as Bass Ale (good stuff, certainly). However, the Ogre scored:
| Guinness (66% dark & bitter, 66% working class, 100% genuine) |
 Okay, we all know Guinness is the best possible score on any "What Kind Of Beer Are You" test, so you can just go on and pat yourself on the back now. Like the world's most famous brew, you're genuine, you've got good taste, and you're sophisticated. What else can I say, except congratulations? If your friends didn't score the same way, get ready for them to say: Guinness is too heavy; it's an acquired taste; it's too serious--and they probably think those things about you at times. But just brush 'em off. Everybody knows Guinness is the best. Cheers. |
My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The If You Were A Beer Test written by gwendolynbooks on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test |
(New readers, never fear -- we just have to have some lighter topics around here now and then -- too much of anything, especially politics -- is bad for ya!)
Posted by: Ogre at 07:09 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)
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