The only thing good about these self-absorbed jerks is that they are not disguising how disgusting they are, and the are going a long way towards making the American people utterly disgusted with public sector unions.
1
This is theater, everything's a prop. The only meaning anything has is the immediate one it may be assigned. Remember the NAACP's covering of Washington's statue? I doubt that was a malicious action, and that they were truly surprised that anyone would take it amiss.
The only use of history to a leftist is to provide "context." Context is always supportive of their position, except for the times it's used to delegitimize their opposition's one. Further, it may be discarded as soon as the current bit of theater is concluded, and a new context is generated for the next bit.
I suppose being a progressive really is like being a child. There is only the now, no future and no past.
Posted by: Steve Skubinna at February 26, 2011 02:50 PM (gpiUW)
2
I have to agree with Steve, he said it well! BUT one trashes a monument in the US at one's own risk...
Posted by: Old NFO at February 26, 2011 07:24 PM (DB2/U)
I Hope The Fight Will Be As Good As The Trash-talking
UFC 127 is rolling around tonight, and the fight I'm most interested in watching is Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera vs. Michael "The Count" Bisping.
Ranger Up (Rivera's sponsor) has been putting up videos on Youtube oneafteranother mocking Bisping. Rivera's trash-talk leading up to this fight has been epic (and no those three videos aren't the only ones), and has made this fight both very personal for Bisping, who is making a second run at the middleweight title and considers the 38-year-old Rivera an over-the-hill loud-mouth standing in his way.
And you know what? Bisping has a point. Rivera is closing in the end of his career (only a handful of fighters can compete at the elite level past the page of 40), and no one thinks his string of recent victories will result in a late career surge to the top. Bisping is the more talented striker and is very elusive, even if he lacks knockout power. He should easily outpoint Rivera for a easy decision victory.
But old age and treachery are a dangerous thing. Rivera is trying to get inside Bispings head, and is trying to get Bisping to stand toe-to-toe with him and bang. Rivera may not be the more talented striker, but he is the harder hitter of the two, and if he can negate Bisping's movement advantage via head games, well, that's all part of the fight.
The main event of UFC 127 is still going to be BJ Penn vs Jon Fitch and it should easily be the better fight, but I suspect internet wagering is going to pick-up for the Bisping-Rivera fight purely on the strength of the smack being tossed around.
That's a good thing for Dana White's promotion. Quite frankly, the other fights on the card feature fighters with much less name recognition. Without the drama drummed up by Rivera and the Ranger Up crew, this event might not even be worth watching.
Left Outraged Congressman Didn't Strangle Senior Citizen for Absurd Question/Bad Joke
Georgia Rep. Paul Broun (R) held a townhall meeting Tuesday, and gave the person who drove the longest distance to be at the event the honor of asking the first question. Unfortunately, the questioner asked "Who's going to shoot Obama?," which apparently elicited laughter (nervous, or otherwise?) from other townhall attendees.
Broun responded:
The thing is, I know there’s a lot of frustration with this president. We’re going to have an election next year. Hopefully, we’ll elect somebody that’s going to be a conservative, limited-government president that will take a smaller, who will sign a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.
The writer covering the event says Broun went on to discuss the Republican budget proposal.
The Secret Service interviewed the questioner and says the comment was a bad joke the person regrets making, and says that they consider the matter closed with no action.
Predictably, left wing blogs have attempted to turn Broun's response to such an unexpected question as a condemnation of him. Raw Story blamed Broun for not taking a more forceful approach, while the always-tedious Think Progress conjured up a reason to blame Broun for the question even being asked.
In retrospect, Broun should have reacted quickly and condemned the statement on the fly, but it is understandable that being surprised by the question, he instead chose to respond by deflecting a question even the Secret Service concluded was just a joke made in very poor taste.
1
No, I think Broun handled it perfectly. There are a lot of people out there who need to laugh to keep from crying, and not all of them are the best joke writers. They do not need to be scolded. They just need to be reminded that we have constitutional remedies - up to and including Impeachment.
d(^_^)b
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com
"Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive"
Posted by: LibertyAtStake at February 25, 2011 02:59 PM (A5zyE)
2
I have to agree that this was a very good response. This president is actively trying to destroy the US, just as any enemy that we have fought in previous years. As a result, many people are frustrated and scared. They feel that their safety, wealth and way of life are in jeopardy. It is only natural to phrase this in violent terms. Obama and his group have used similar terms in their discourse as well. I have had several patients talk to me in a similar, but less direct manner. All conservative understand that the death of the president would not solver a thing. It would only put his agenda on steroids.
Posted by: david at February 25, 2011 03:26 PM (3zeJK)
3
Apparently it was Broun and staff who contacted the Secret Service and referred the matter to them.
Making your post title exactly correct.
Posted by: Tully at February 25, 2011 04:29 PM (dhKXL)
I've dealt with many different kind of communications mediums over the years, and have been tasked at various times to engage in persuasive communications. One of the most most basic kinds of communications, it simply seeks to win the favor, approval, and/or consent of the target audience. It is practiced in nearly every level of human interaction, from a parent convincing a young child to perform a task to a salesperson or marketer attempting to convince a client that "Solution X" will provide an answer or solve a problem. It's used by public officials trying to convince voters to select them, and it is used by journalists and propagandists to shape public opinion.
An article the Rolling Stone attempts to make this behavior into a major political scandal. It sounds quite nefarious; a military psychological operations team is tasked with creating presentations to convince visiting congressional representatives.
But when you read past the hyperbole and insinuation endemic throughout the article, you come realize that there isn't any "there," there.
A military unit normally tasked with understanding, targeting and persuading the local population was pressed into service to more or less Google the records and positions of visiting dignitaries in order to tweak boilerplate presentations to match the VIPs preferences and learning style, so that military briefers could more effectively communicate with them and then achieve a favorable response. Objectively, that appears to be all there is to this story.
Subjectively, this is the story of a disgruntled employee attempting to cast his former employer in the worst possible light, pounced upon by a journalist that has previously found fame and fortune sensationalizing a similar story. Both of these men have obvious motives. What is far less clear is their case that anything remotely unethical—much less illegal—took place in what were essentially corporate marketing operations that in an of themselves were utterly ordinary in execution.
Michael Hastings make his career when he interviewed General Stanley McCrystal and ultimately ended his career. He's trying so hard here to repeats his past success. It's too bad the apparent facts refuse to back his desire for more attention and fame.
ITEM: Jake Tapper of ABC News quizzed new Obama Press Secretary Jay Carney on the debt and Mr. Obama’s apparently lack of understanding of basic economics.
“The president seems to think that borrowing money to pay the interest on the debt is not adding to the debt. I don’t understand that kind of math,” noted Tapper. Carney responded with happy talk about credit cards, families and “investing in the future.” He also observed that “interest payments are a major portion of our long-term debt.” Hopefully, Mr. Carney, on behalf of Mr. Obama, will eventually come to the realization that the Pope is Catholic.
ITEM: Here we go again (still?)! Appearing before a Senate hearing on Feb 16, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper demonstrated, if this is humanly possible, even less knowledge about the Muslim Brotherhood and the Middle East than he displayed when he called the MB a “secular” organization that has “eschewed violence.” “It’s hard at this point to point to a specific agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood as a group,” he observed, according to ynet news.com. Regarding the MB’s position on smuggling weapons to Hamas in Gaza, Clapper noted that he didn’t know the groups declared stance and that a “wait and see” attitude was necessary to determine its position on Iran. Riiiiiiight.
I’m a high school teacher, which gives me a substantial advantage over Mr. Clapper and his analysts in that I, apparently unlike them, can read. And reading the MB’s charter, I have determined, without waiting and seeing, that they want to kill all Jews, all non-Muslims, establish Sharia and a world-wide caliphate, and they are willing to do whatever is necessary to accomplish those goals, particularly if it involves rape, mutilation, buckets of blood and all manner of other barbaric violence, which they have, Mr. Clapper’s notions to the contrary, not “eschewed.” Who uses words like that anyway? I’m an English teacher and I don’t, at least not in normal conversation. I can also make an educated guess that they’re pretty much OK with giving weapons to fellow Muslim fanatics and are equally happy to deal with and support Muslim fanatic nations. Can I be the Director of National Intelligence now? I’m as qualified as Mr. Clapper or Mr. Panetta, probably more.
ITEM: Is this revolting enough for you? Reports are coming in around the nation that Chevrolet dealers are charging over $65,000 for the Chevy Volt, which is available in very limited numbers in only a handful of states. The MSRP is $41,000. GM spokesmen have professed GM’s complete lack of ability to do anything about the price gouging. Well, that’s what happens when you build a people’s car. I mean after the $7500 government tax subsidy for which we are all paying, the Volt now costs only $57,500! Could the government subsidized electric vehicle story get any better? Any more egalitarian? Power to the people, right on!
ITEM: Just when you thought Democrats couldn’t be any more self-serving and corrupt, comes news from Madison, Wisconsin of doctors (here)--apparently actual physicians--standing on street corners and writing excuses for teacher/protesters to use in defrauding the public for their illegal and immoral abandonment of their students. Be honest now, would you want your child to be taught by a teacher so bereft of moral fiber that they would illegally skip school and commit fraud to try to avoid punishment for what they know to be illegal, immoral behavior? Better yet, would you seek treatment from a physician with such politically flexible medical ethics? Wouldn’t you eschew them? Sorry. Couldn’t resist.
ITEM: Now that “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” is a thing of the past, America’s self-imagined “elite” universities are anxious to show their good will to the military and to embrace recruiters and ROTC, right? Not so much, at least not at Columbia, home of the journalism school that produces many of the denizens of the Lamestream Media. At a recent open forum at Columbia, 10th Mountain Division veteran and current Columbia student Anthony Maschek dared to challenge his fellow students to welcome the ROTC. He was called a racist--of course he said nothing remotely racist--and was jeered and laughed at. Maschek, after being shot eleven times, spent two years in military hospitals recovering. Those mocking him should be forcibly introduced to the wonders of living in certain people’s republics that share their low opinion of heroes like Maschek. But waaaaiiit a minute? It wasn’t all about the military being mean to gay people after all? Say it ain’t so!
ITEM: This is a rejected “Twilight Zone” script, right? The McDonough 35 High School in New Orleans has been infested with--bats (here). You know, the fly-around-at-night things that make people go “AAAHHHH!” and run headlong into fixed objects? Those bats? Parents and students are not amused, and school system officials are stymied. Can you guess why! Ding! Ding! Ding! That’s right! You win the prize! They’re an endangered species, so they can’t be harmed in any way! Having to carefully capture, relocate and release the little beasties is, to put it mildly, driving school officials batty (I know, I know--I couldn’t resist). Just another example of how the nanny state oversees and enriches and our lives while simultaneously enriching our hair with bat guano. You don’t suppose some Wisconsin doctors would trundle on down to the Big Easy and write some bat excuses?
ITEM: Uh-oh. According to Rasmussen Reports, Mr. Obama’s disapproval ratings are, once again, after a brief upward bump, trending downward. Disapproving of his performance are 55% of likely voters, while 44% at least somewhat approve. Historically, any president below 50% is in trouble. Hope springs eternal, but change wounds all heels. Stop me before I mix metaphors again!
ITEM: “We Are Not Amused” Department: Gold-embossed invitations to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s April 29 wedding were recently mailed. The Queen alone invited 40 heads of state, but not Barack and Michelle Obama. Could it have something to do with Mr. Obama’s crude and ugly serial insults of Great Britain? My guess is that they’re afraid of getting gifts like the iPod full of his speeches Obama gave to the Queen, or the cheap, cheesy movies that wouldn’t play in British DVD players given to the past PM, who is, by the way, and I am not making this up, also legally blind. I wouldn’t be amused either.
ITEM: Following on the raggedy tail-feathers of Wisconsin Democrat legislators who fled to The People’s Republic of Illinois, are the equally raggedy tails of Indiana legislators, also “fleebagging” to Illinois to prevent their respective legislatures from enacting laws they don’t like, which, according to them, is virtually the Word of God or something, so moral, magnificent and un-Republican is their flight to avoid responsibility. Dems across the nation, as well as their union masters, are also gearing up to express “solidarity,” Dems such as Dennis Kuchinich (D-Ohio) who recently appeared in Olympia, WA to rally the faithful. From Rob at PACN Righty (here), Kuchnich said “You cannot have a democracy if you don’t have people in a position to be able to negotiate for their wages, and to have decent benefits.” As a public service, here is a brief primer on republican democracy:
(1) The people electing representatives based on their positions and promises: Good--republican (as in a republic) democracy.
(2) The people’s representatives debating and voting on important issues: Good--republican democracy.
(3) Entire parties fleeing the state to force their will on the state without debate and voting when they know they’ll lose: Bad--despotism (and really childish, stupid behavior. Didn’t any of these people have mothers who taught them anything about working and playing well with others? Were they raised by wolves?).
(4) Entire parties of legislators fleeing the state because they think they know better than the people and are going to prevent the people from making mistakes by means of the democratic process: Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad--raised in test tubes; not mannerly enough to have been raised by wolves.
(5) Doing everything they’re doing to make sure union thugs continue to roll in money, money which will end up in Democrat coffers: Business as usual, and criminal.
Reread and disseminate as necessary.
ITEM: And in related news, Wisconsin Republicans are taking a controversial, outrageous step to entice fleebagger Democrats back to Wisconsin to engage in, you know--voting and democracy and stuff. They’re going to pass a voter ID bill that will require voters to actually provide--gasp!--photo ID when voting. Yes, photo ID! In 2011! Identification with a photo of the voter on it! Do you have any idea how hard it is to obtain such rare documents? Why, minorities, the elderly, and “non-documented visitors” to America, to say nothing of the many, many “previously living,” would be disenfranchised! Why, that’s absurd! It’s unfair! That would almost be like, just to make a completely ridiculous comparison, an entire political party fleeing the state to prevent votes they know they’d lose. Preposterous! Anarchy! The Republicans hate the elderly, the poor, minorities, non-documented visitors, the previously living, cute puppies and kittens, and adorable union members with big, weepy eyes. Sniffle. Snort.
ITEM: And in related, related news, the Wisconsin legislature just passed a measure that suspends direct deposits for legislators playing hooky. They’ll have to collect their checks on the floor of the legislature during a normal business session from now on. Heard as a faint echo from over the Illinois border: “Uh-oh. Quick! Who’s got that union credit card?”
ITEM: And in related, related, related news, via Hot Air (here) AFL-CIO Union Boss Richard Trumka recently boasted that he visits the White House or speaks with someone within at least once each and every day. Hmmm. Does anyone find this...disturbing? You don’t suppose this has anything to do with Mr. Obama being the Union Organizer in Chief, do you? What could they be talking about? Recipes? Discuss.
ITEM: The Louis Renault Award of the Week: Rahm “Dead Fish” Emanuel has been elected Mayor of Chicago with 95% of the vote, no doubt for life. OK, OK, so maybe no one was actually, shocked, shocked! not even the previously living who almost certainly turned out in record numbers as they always do.
ITEM: The REAL Louis Renault Award of the Week: Americans were shocked, shocked! to learn that D.C. Federal District Judge Gladys Kessler, appointed by Bill Clinton, has ruled ObamaCare constitutional. Via Politico (here), here’s the soul of Kessler’s argument:
“First, this Court agrees with the two other district courts which have ruled that the individuals subject to § 1501’s mandate provision are either present or future participants in the national health care market. See Liberty Univ., 2010 WL 4860299, at *15 (“Nearly everyone will require health care services at some point in their lifetimes, and it is not always possible to predict when one will be afflicted by illness or injury and require care.”); Thomas More Law Ctr., 720 F.Supp.2d at 894 (“The health care market is unlike other markets. No one can guarantee his or her health, or ensure that he or she will never participate in the health care market. . . . The plaintiffs have not opted out of the health care services market because, as living, breathing beings . . . they cannot opt out of this market.”). Thus, the vast majority of individuals, if not all individuals, will require some medical care in their lifetime.”
Let’s see if we understand this: Because I’ll probably be sick at some time in my life, I’ll require medical care, so the Federal Government can force me to buy any kind of insurance they prefer at any cost. So, essentially, because I’m human, the Federal government pretty much owns me. Not only that, merely thinking about not buying health insurance constitutes interstate commerce, so the government can force me to buy any consumer product it prefers. Of course! Why couldn’t I see that before? Perfectly reasonable.
ITEM: It’s a Louis Renault Explosion! Via Pajamas Media (here), the world was shocked, shocked! to learn that Venezuela, which recently signed an agreement to allow Iran to build joint ICBM missile bases on its soil, has been violating U.S. Sanctions signed by President Obama by selling high grade gasoline to Iran. Mr. Obama has been too busy with important business, such as ensuring that the nationally vital Union/Democrat money pipeline remains unobstructed, to comment. But when he does, I’m sure he’ll note that the U.S. will “bear witness” to any continuing and/or future violations. That oughta do it.
ITEM: Did You Know? Department: Did you know that Milwaukee teachers demanded benefits for Viagra and similarly “uplifting” drugs, claiming that if the public failed to provide them, it would be a violation of the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act. Oh yes, that’s WFEA 12.2.39(c)2.d: “All male members of public employee unions shall be provided, at public cost, sufficient drugs to maintain a constant state of erection. They shall also be promptly provided matching bathtubs in scenic, rural locations upon request to keep said erection from breaking free and ravaging the countryside. What’s that?! EEEEEE! It sees us! It’s coming this way! Run for your lives!!!!!” Well, that sounds reasonable to me. I mean, if it’s the law and all. I always wondered what the deal with the bathtubs was anyway. I still don’t get the cheese hats.
ITEM: Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, former Libyan Justice Minister, has claimed that Muammar al-Quaddafi personally ordered the destruction of Pan Am 103 at Lockerbie, Scotland. Surely knowing this, it was only today that Mr. Obama finally spoke out about the Libyan violence calling it “outrageous” and “unacceptable.” To be fair, he also said it should stop (that’s encouraging!) and he threatened decisive action: He’s going to send Hillary Clinton to a conference in Geneva on Monday to talk about the violence.
But hey! At least he has priorities. At least he knows who America’s real enemies are, enemies like the governors of Arizona and Wisconsin. Absolutely pathetic. Surely Mr. Obama could at least offer to “bear witness”--as he did during the Iranian uprising-- to military aircraft gun runs on unarmed civilians? After all, if he doesn’t “bear witness,” we’ll have a destructive witness bearing gap.
ITEM: February 24 marks the last flight of the space shuttle program. The shuttle Discovery will have the dubious honor of the final flight. America will no longer have the means to lift human beings into orbit and thanks to Mr. Obama, no plans to do so for the future. But at least NASA will be kept busy making Muslims feel good about Algebra and combatting the threat of Global Warming which really, pretty much--doesn’t exist...
ITEM: But Don’t They Owe The Taxpayers Billions? Department: Chevrolet is going to spend $40 million over the next five years. To pay back taxpayers? New car designs? Brilliant new technology? Nah. Carbon offsets. For those unaware of the scam--er, term--carbon offsets work like this: Let’s say you’re an environmentalist weenie, but you’re just barely rational enough to realize that you need a car to get to work. Still, you feel oh-so-guilty about each and every drive you’re so unfairly and brutally forced to make. What to do? You pay a private company--and this, ladies and gentlemen, is largely how Al Gore made his megabucks--to “offset” your carbon use to expiate your guilt! How do they do that? Why, by promising to plant some trees somewhere, sometime, or by promising to do some research into or encouragement of magical green technology or stuff, you know? And is there any way to be sure the people who took your money and gave you absolution actually do what they promised to do? Nope. Government oversight? Nope; like the Obama Administration would do that anyway! Hahahahaha! Don’t the taxpayers have a 61% share of GM, which, has not, in fact paid back it’s TARP bailout funds? Yup. But at least some execs at Chevy will receive green absolution. What’s more important than that?
ITEM: But He Was Moving To the Center! Department: Not so much. After giving lip service to opposing gay marriage for the last two years, Mr. Obama, in the best Emily Litella tradition, has said “never mind.” An Obama spokesman has noted that Mr. Obama now believes the Defense of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional and has directed the Justice Department to stop defending it. Wails of anguish and outrage were heard coming from Justice Department offices. OK, OK, so I made that last part up.
ITEM: Via Fox News, in Little Rock, AK, McClellan High School algebra teacher Solana Islam has resigned her position after being convicted of prostitution and operating a business without a license. Well. Prostitution is one thing, but operating a business without a license? That’s just over the line!
And on that happy note, thanks for dropping by and I’ll see you next Thursday!
Sorry to disagree with you, but what I see is Free Enterprise in Action. GM is only selling the Volt "in the initial launch markets of California, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington" so far. Those people who just can't wait till GM gets to their area MAY be willing to pay a "premium" to a "reseller" (all the reports I've seen are NOT the dealers who got their cars directly from Chevy) so that they can be the first kid on their block to have one.
Looks like Supply and Demand to me.
Posted by: Wildman7316 at February 24, 2011 02:12 PM (al1zx)
2
Like the Miata before it, when the production capacity does not meet the demant, the dealers jack the prices so that only the most greedy people get them. Last I heard, GM only produced 300+ of the Volts last year, which is enough for each dealership to have less than one. So basically, they are a novelty, not a real car offering. Charging novelty prices only makes sense. 4-5 years from now, they will be giving them away on steep discounts, subsidized by their truck and SUV sales.
Posted by: Professor Hale at February 24, 2011 02:37 PM (PDTch)
Home Invasion by William W. Johnstone with J.A. Johnstone. Pinnacle Books, paperback, $6.99.
“People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like.”
Book review by Abraham Lincoln
William W. Johnstone, the author of more than 200 books, has previously written series of books relating to the mountain man experience and about the West. Recently, Johnstone has turned to what might be called an “invasion” series focusing on the threats posed by our wide open southern border and feckless politicians. Home Invasion is the most recent of that series.
Set in the fictional west Texas community of Home, the plot revolves around the female chief of Home’s four-officer police force. Johnstone has a feel for the ebb and flow of small town life and his Home characters will feel, well, at home for anyone who has ever lived in a small town. Other characters include a CIA team betrayed by the government, a socialist, egomaniacal President of the United States who hates America (no, that couldn’t sound familiar, could it?), a rogue general appointed to head an internal paramilitary police force, a sort of Praetorian Guard loyal to the POTUS, a secret weapons lab, a slimy defense attorney, Mexican drug gangs, corruption, double crosses, mass disarmament of American citizens, plucky, decent teenagers rising to the occasion, sacrifice and plenty of plot twists.
1
I more or less grew up reading William W. Johnstone starting with the Out of the Ashes series. I love all of his books. He's a lot like Edgar Rice Burroughs but I love him too. Nothing like bad guys getting it in the end.
Just so you know Mr Johnstone died in, I believe, 2006. His nephew J.A. continues to write followups to several of the series started by his uncle.
I'm obsessively buying Lee Child and John Ringo titles right now but I never pass up a Johnstone novel that I haven't read.
Posted by: Pinandpuller at February 24, 2011 01:01 AM (aRm4V)
A Left wing blogger managed to name-drop his way into a conversation with Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin. It's amusing to watch other left wing blogs prattle on about what it meant, when what the call really revealed undermines their preferred narrative.
The call between the fake billionaire and the governor revealed:
Gov. Walker's staff is not familiar with the Koch name
Gov. Walker does not know Koch's phone number, nor the sound of his voice
Gov. Walker's positions are the same in public and in private
All the Left has proved is that Walker is an honest, above board player in a dirty game. So Walker pleads guilty to that, and they've won WHAT exactly?
Posted by: Bill Smith at February 23, 2011 04:10 PM (i0lQc)
2
Someone should prank call a school acting like a teacher calling in sick for the week.
Posted by: Pinandpuller at February 24, 2011 01:03 AM (aRm4V)
Abdication of Leadership Demands Resignation of Office
"May you live in interesting times" is a curse ascribed to the Chinese, though it's exact origins have never been revealed. Regardless of where the phrase originated, we do live in "interesting times."
In the last few weeks alone we've seen regimes threatened or overthrown across North Africa and parts of the Middle East. We've seen Americans callously murdered by pirates off the coast of Somalia. We see unrest among nominal allies, and the strengthening of the resolve of our enemies.
Iranian warships have transited the Suez Canal for the first time in decades, and there is every reason to suspect they carry long-range missiles and other weaponry to offload in Syria and turn over to Hezbollah for use against U.S. interests and allies.
Domestically, the Department of Justice and White House seem to be orchestrating a cover-up into a Congressional investigation of why agents apparently allowed gun-runners to traffic weapons over the border in order to provide substance to debunked Administration talking point, in order to build a case for gun control efforts. One of these weapons was used to kill a U.S. Border Patrol Agent, and there is every reason to suspect other weapons the Administration allowed to be smuggled over the border have been used against Mexican law enforcement and civilians. There is no telling how many people stand to be killed and wounded by the guns Eric Holder's Department of Justice knowingly let fall into criminal hands. The Department and the Attorney will not answer questions, perhaps fearing indictment.
This same Justice Department apparently refuses to uphold the law, and instead intends to view all prosecutions through a tainted prism of "social justice."
Obama himself has nominated a politically-motivated anti-gun ideologue to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, that insiders claim simply isn't qualified to be an agency head, after running his own field office with suspect and marginal results.
Homeland Security, the Department of Interior, the Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies are now fronted by directors with a clear interest in collecting and consolidating the power of the federal government and abrogating rights reserved by the states. We have objectively lost freedom.
We've witnessed elected Democratic officials in Wisconsin and Indiana flee their duties in order to subvert democracy and stall legislation needed in order to prevent layoffs of state workers, in order to appease the interests of powerful unions. We've found that the White House and the President's own campaign organization instrumental in attempting to stir up civic unrest in a dozen states, attempting to undermine sitting governors in order to prop-up his base of support.
In each and every one of this instances, Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, has either failed to articulate a position, has issued forth orders directly against the interests of the safety and security of the Republic and the member states of our Union, or has chosen deferential treatment towards this nation's enemies and has weakened our relationships with this nation's allies.
We face a crisis in leadership. We are crippled by an actor who played a magnificent role to attain office, only to find that he lacks the fortitude or temperament for the position. He is a community organizer. He is lost and alone in an Oval Office too big for the small soul of the man that tentatively occupies it.
Barack Obama has shown himself incapable of leadership. Barack Obama has shown himself to be inflexible. He has shown himself to be non-responsive, out-of-touch, aloof, condescending, and ineffective.
Midway through his Presidency, he has proven incapable of being the man we need him to be. He simply is not up to the age, or the task. If he truly loves this nation, his greatest contribution to this nation should be to resign the Office of the Presidency of the United States.
1
Barack Hussein Obama (mmm, mmm, mmm) will never leave office voluntarily, unless he decides to run for President of the World.
Posted by: SicSemperTyrannus at February 23, 2011 12:40 PM (BuYeH)
2
President of the World? Obama believes that he already *is*.
Posted by: arb at February 23, 2011 01:41 PM (1gGFZ)
3
Obama wants to be president for life. He will not leave office of his own accord. He will have to be shown the door. If anyone thinks that it will be a cake walk to get him out, think again. There are millions who suck the gov't tit. Many black people look upon Obama as their messiah. There could very well be blood shed before this is over with. I hope not but I am not optimistic.
Posted by: harp1034 at February 23, 2011 04:36 PM (1W9IK)
4
CY - you have hit the proverbial nail on the head of the SINGLE most important issue in the world today - Barack Obama. I will appologize now, ahead of asking the question that has been really bugging me for a while, because I may be only stating the obvious: Is it just me, or has the WORLD become significantly MORE dangerous in the last two years - more than it has since the mid to late 1930's????????
Posted by: mixitup at February 23, 2011 08:41 PM (Z21cb)
"I'm proud to be here with people who understand that it's more than just sending an email to get you going. Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary," Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Ma.) told a crowd in Boston on Tuesday rallying in solidarity for Wisconsin union members.
I'm pretty sure he isn't calling for a Red Cross blood drive. Instead, he's more overtly calling for the kind of brutality that unions are known for, since their attempts to subvert democracy in Wisconsin seem to be failing.
1
He seems to be calling for his members to go out and get beaten up. Perhaps they intend to beat themselves. They certainly can't depend on the TEA party guys to attack them.
Posted by: Professor Hale at February 23, 2011 11:36 AM (m7EhJ)
2
I believe a censure is in order here. If not from the House, then at least from that phony baloney civility center Bush 41 and Slick Willie just founded.
d(^_^)b
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com
"Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive"
Posted by: LibertyAtStake at February 23, 2011 11:38 AM (A5zyE)
3
Careful what you ask for, slick. America is quickly running out of patience for out of control adolescents.
At some point, a spanking is in order.
Posted by: George at February 23, 2011 06:54 PM (y0VOX)
Jon Stewart's show decided that what the pro-union protesters in Madison, Wisconsin really needed was a camel (see, so that they could claim their protest was just like that of the Egyptians in Cairo).
The stress of forcing a desert creature to deal with Wisconsin's arctic weather was apparently worth it to Stewart (warning: language, animal cruelty).
1
Deserts get really, really cold. (Old description of Death Valley was that a glass of water would boil at noon and freeze solid by midnight.) For several years there were camels in Nevada.
The ice would probably be new for a rental animal, though, and if it's not use to cars and people it would be a stresser.
Sharp edges would be the main problem.
Posted by: Foxfier at February 22, 2011 12:32 PM (1gxak)
2
I think you are over-reacting here. Camel is not being tortured. He got caught up in a totally inadequate pen and his handlers were trying to set things right.
I spent many winters in New York. THAT was torture.
A few years ago, I had to rely in dialup internet for a year. THAT was torture.
Posted by: Professor Hale at February 22, 2011 02:50 PM (m7EhJ)
3
This video makes me wonder, "What does camel taste like?"
Posted by: Kevin at February 22, 2011 04:26 PM (1Rjug)
4
Torture or not; it is wrong.
No compassion here. Not entertaining.
Posted by: Odins Acolyte at February 22, 2011 04:30 PM (7qwzH)
5
That Dept. of Ed. report comes at a really bad time for the Wisc. Teachers' Union. Talk about an "inconvenient truth".
Posted by: MikeM_inMd at February 22, 2011 06:19 PM (6hI0A)
Time for Naval, Air Strikes Against Pirates in Somalia
Four Americans on a private yacht captured by Somali pirates have been killed by their captors. News is understandably sketchy at this point, but it appears that at least some of the pirates may have been engaged by U.S. naval forces that were shadowing the vessel after the murders.
The international community has allowed pirates to operate off Somalia for far too long, and has done nothing to eradicate the threat.
While pirates operate off the coast, the simple fact of the matter is that they cannot exist without a support structure onshore. These pirate havens are well known to the governments of the world, and poorly defended. Bombardment from the air or sea could easily reduce the pirate strongholds to rubble, sink the "motherships" that pirates use to extend their range offshore, and of course, eliminate the pirates themselves.
Among this nation's first foreign policy decisions were two small wars (the Barbary Wars) against African pirates. Piracy that had existed for centuries in the region came to a halt only when overwhelming force was brought to bear. Two hundred years later, the same motivations encourage the pirates of Somalia, and only the same forceful response can end the modern age of African piracy.
Such a campaign can easily be won with minimal or even non-existent U.S. casualties. It merely remains to be seen if the Obama Administration will decide to stand for American interests, or instead remain ever deferential to any thuggish entity that claims Islam for its inspiration.
1
It is time we resumed the old penalties for piracy. It speaks well of the professionalism of our military that ANY of the pirates survived the raid on the vessel after boarding and finding the hostages dead.
Blockade the Somali pirate ports and sink ANY vessel attempting to enter or leave them. To keep the blockading naval crews amused, let them destroy at whim any unoccupied vessels on shore. Lather, rinse, and repeat until there are no vessels.
For pirate vessels and motherships caught at sea, confiscate and sink same. No need to take the crews into custody, just release them on the spot. Do not provide them with additional transportation or flotation devices. In the alternative, provide them with air transport back to their home ports and release them there ... at altitude.
Posted by: Tully at February 22, 2011 11:38 AM (dhKXL)
2
"From the Halls of Montezuma
To the shores of Tripoli
We fight our country's battles
In the air, on land, and sea...."
Let 'em fight!
Posted by: arb at February 22, 2011 11:41 AM (Iut73)
3
I was going to ask if the Quest was flagged American, but then I remembered Piracy is a crime against civilization and all civilized nations have an obligation to destroy it where-ever it shows itself.
Where are the other "Civilized" nations?
Posted by: Gus Bailey at February 22, 2011 01:21 PM (/t1ba)
Posted by: SouthernRoots at February 22, 2011 01:29 PM (zcHlu)
5
Employ the equivalent of the Q-ships of WWI & WWII -- decoy ships with substantial, but hidden, armament. Blow the scum out of the water when they make their play, and take no prisoners.
Posted by: Charlie at February 22, 2011 01:30 PM (Ffa7z)
6
No one in any of the present or former administrations has any desire nor the balls to undertake such a just cause, nor probably not in any future admins. either, for we have lost our moral compass.
Posted by: tjbbpgobIII at February 22, 2011 02:23 PM (8kQ8M)
Posted by: Professor Hale at February 22, 2011 03:23 PM (m7EhJ)
8
If pirated vessels were declared as salvage and any private organization could recover those ships and their contents as salvage with no risk for criminal trials regardless of how many were killed in the retaking...this might do the job as well.
Posted by: iconoclast at February 22, 2011 03:49 PM (MZd0C)
Posted by: Andrew X at February 22, 2011 04:29 PM (E46Ts)
11
The problem is that there isn't a 'home port' for the pirate fleet. It is a bunch of scattered fishing villages who have simply found that taking hostages is worth more than pull fish from the ocean, especially since they have religious justification for it.
The Q-ship thing has merits, but RPGs take out tanks, they will sink anything that is going to look like a civilian pleasure ship.
This administration will never want to risk the negative press of having a group of pirates hung by the neck off of the fantail. OTOH, look for a redeployment of RPVs off of Africa sometime soon. A Hellfire missile will sink a boat pretty well, and the ocean covers up all traces.
Posted by: MunDane at February 23, 2011 10:20 AM (dlS06)
12
The problem is that international law no longer supports appropriate penalties for piracy. In fact, you can get in a heap of trouble trying to give pirates a job stretching rope.
No, sadly, the best solution after you catch a bunch of pirates is to do what the Russians did -- release them. In a small boat. In the middle of the ocean. And to keep going after you do so, reminding yourself that their pleas for help when their boat overturns due to your wake is probably just a trick to give them another chance to hijack your ship.
Posted by: Mark L at February 23, 2011 10:25 AM (bxc5w)
13
They need to put out baitships like they do with stolen cars. A ship which carries a special forces "SEAL" team. When pirates make their move then the Americans annailiate them. They would think twice about taking an American vessel.
Posted by: Evan Bradow at February 23, 2011 04:00 PM (vkQBc)
14
I've quoted you and linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms2.blogspot.com/2011/02/re-time-for-naval-air-strikes-against.html
Posted by: Consul-At-Arms at February 24, 2011 11:47 PM (VNXh1)
15
Charlie, I was thinking the same thing! I imagined some wealthy former navy guy who outfits a tramp cargo ship with hidden 25mm chain guns and gives these jerks what fer.
If we were at war with a maritime power harassing shipping, we would no doubt destroy the source of the problem and launch airstrikes against the onshore pirate bases. But what do I know?
Posted by: stuntborg at February 28, 2011 05:06 PM (fiUhx)
It wasn't until I got home from being on the road that I realized how much I missed it. Yet I love walking in somewhere to the sound of laughter and dogs barking and little kids shouting Brigid's here! But on a daily basis I need just a little bit of that time, just to myself, no cell phones, no TV, no schedule. Just the secret, strong murmur of silence.
Posted by: Tim at February 21, 2011 09:22 AM (s0R0P)
2
Brigid, Congrats on your selection of a life style that fits u. I'd like 2 add u have much more to ear from big business than the govt. There r surley mineral deposits all around u and when the miners come they will destroy your land and the life u have chosen. Why do so many people ignore the disstructive nature of big business? Coal, timber,minerals and the profits r all they are interestd in and have high paid lawyers to fight the case. Unsafe mines, oil platforms, sludge containment, air polution, tainted water,respitory problems please don't ignore these well documented problems. Enjoy your beautiful home and surroundings i'm envious!!
Posted by: neil at February 21, 2011 09:39 AM (ouFrC)
I live in the woods, have for ten years, and the quiet is wonderful. The only real problem I've found is that when I'm forced to go back into town for some work or any other reason the noise has become nearly unbearable. I think that whatever noise filter we develop when we live in an urban or semi-urban environment just disappears over time.
I'm often surprised how very little noise I want around me anymore. I'm sitting here typing in a house with nothing making any noise at all, just the gentle hum of the computer fan. This isn't due to a conscious decision. It just seems as though over the years I've become so internally quiet living this way that the externals have just followed.
I understand the attraction of monastic life, never talking, always praying, a completely contemplative life. Quiet seemingly begets quiet.
Posted by: Tom Usher at February 21, 2011 09:48 AM (enQdD)
4
Wow! I am glad I decided to look at some other blogs this morning. You express my feelings so eloquently!
Posted by: Bob in Tampa at February 21, 2011 09:55 AM (KLyqe)
5
"It will be a life of still, dense sound; the sound of freedom. A life of remote quiet, the world outside spinning slowly into green smoke. It will be life on my terms as best as is possible, walking the uncertain spaces that open before me in the deepening fields,"...
Yes. But it will forever be incomplete and sayd without the sound of children. Believe me I know. and I don't want you to have to find out the truth of what I say.
Papa Ray
Posted by: Papa Ray at February 21, 2011 11:27 PM (z4h0f)
Regular readers who have accessed the “About the Authors/Contact” tab know that my day job, so to speak, is teaching high school English. Accordingly, I’ve been watching the situation in Wisconsin not only with an eye toward keeping our readers informed, but with grave concern for my chosen profession.
I say “my chosen profession” because it is indeed a profession I chose after a police career, returning to college in early middle age to complete my undergraduate teaching degree. I was always a teacher during my years in law enforcement, but returned to teaching because it’s important and meaningful. It’s an opportunity, each and every day, to truly make a difference, to inspire real improvement and growth in students and to awaken their interest in the wonders of learning. I go to school smiling and happy every day, thankful for the opportunity entrusted to me by my community.
When I seek Wisconsin teachers abandoning their kids, lying about their absence, misusing their influence to trick their uncomprehending students into anti-democratic protests with them, and now, obtaining fraudulent excuses from doctors (here), I find myself very concerned for public education and very angry at those useful idiots in classrooms allowing themselves to be so skillfully, yet crudely played by their unions.
I’ll admit to being surprised when I learned that the average Milwaukee, Wisconsin teacher makes $100,000 per year (here). That’s $56,505 in direct salary and $43,505 in benefits. Let’s just say that I have about 15 years of experience and I’m making more than $10,000 a year less in salary alone--much more. I shudder to think how much less I’m making in benefits. But that doesn’t matter.
2
And the doctors handing out those sick notes need to know that they have the privilege, not the right to practice medicine. And that privilege does not include using their license for partisan political purposes (apologies for alliteration). The Wisconsin Board of Medical Examiners should be on them like a pit-bull on a t-bone!
Posted by: Marty at February 20, 2011 11:12 PM (EW+9H)
3
Urg, imagine what these teachers will do to the students, how they will teach, say, Social Studies &tc, and Civics (if they still bother with that directly), or even snide remarks in classes on other subjects.
I think the School Districts should grab a broom and sweep clean. But, then, most Superintendents and School Boards in Wis have long ago been captured (and then the teacher's unions negotiate with...)
The only way to solve this is through lustration.
Posted by: Porphy at February 21, 2011 12:31 AM (Hg44g)
4
WoW!
I ran a public employees union for three years.
Intially I thought that i was working for my fellow workers day-to-day rights.
however,I learned, to my dismay, the union dues were used for lobbying for "government schools, government healthcare, abortion rights, peace through weakness". feminist agenda, afffirmative action, higher taxes,environment agenda ( no drilling, no nuclear, no coal)...the list goes on. No dissent was allowed.
The unions are an adjunct of the Demoncrats
Posted by: -1fred edwards at February 21, 2011 12:39 AM (27gw0)
5
While the unionized teachers in Wisconsin cannot even spell simple words on their posters, you come out and write an eloquent argument against them. I can certainly tell which school system I'd rather have a kid in!
But there's something more interesting here. You are actually not doing that bad in Texas, which is probably why you are not angry.
Look at your situation: You make, say, around $45k + benefits. The teachers of Madison make about $55k plus benefits. So really, in current terms the union folks are only about 10% better off than you, and right now management is essentially proposing to not only take all of that away, but reduce their net income to somewhat less than yours!
Worse yet, it takes about 10% more to live in Wisconsin than Texas (I chose Houston versus Milwaukee - Madison was not available - from a popular cost of living calculator). So before these adjustments, Madison teachers were making about as much as you after adjusting for cost of living. Now they will make less - they will actually be worse off than you. And then they have to pay union dues on top of that.
That's pretty darn pathetic and I wonder if that's a real reason for all this rage. What if teachers' union members realized their union actually did very little for them, except for requiring unsustainable benefits and pensions that they will probably never see?
D
Posted by: David H Dennis at February 21, 2011 01:51 AM (tqs/x)
6
I never had any sympathy with them to begin with.
My healthcare insurance costs are up 22% vs. 2010. I've had to quit contributing to my 401 for the past few months, and any retirement I have now is what I've saved.
Welcome to the real world, WI teachers. Everyone is hurting right now, and the states are no exception. Now grow up. You're not extra-special because you're a teacher. A teacher is no more the "guardian" of my child's education than a drive through server is responsible for my child's nutrition. You are both paid to perform a service for people. (Well, not me, I opt out. There is no way my children will ever attend a government school.) A child's education is the parent's responsibility alone. I hope we see a mass exodus of WI school children over this, with the corresponding drop in funding (and teacher salaries). That won't happen, because most Americans believe the lie that .gov and its teachers are responsible for their childrens' education. How sad.
I can't wait to see what the dependent class of this nation does when mamma.gov cuts entitlements and handouts in a serious fashion. There will literally be blood on the streets. Greece was nothing.
America sees fights and riots over Black Friday sales and Tickle-Me-Elmos. The Left gets violent when they don't get their goodies.
Wait until real cuts begin.
Buckle up.
Resist.
AP
Posted by: Arctic Patriot at February 21, 2011 03:08 AM (i3LOP)
7
Question: Why do they call teaching a profession? I know teachers are important. But I thought that a profession was something that was academically and intellectually so difficult that a lay person couldn't do it without risk to themselves. For example, lawyers, accountants and medical doctors.
However, to me, teaching seems less like a profession, and more like a vocation. You need a four year degree and a teachers cerfificate from the state to teach, but why? I don't have a degree, but I'm sure I could teach almost any subject in high school. I'm not trying to sound all superior here, but I've seen the assignments my younger relatives bring home from school. I've seen their tests and text books. None of it seemed very difficult and I was able to answer numerous questions about the varioius subjects.
Sure, the handling of a class is where the real "rubber meets the road", but isn't most of that just experience? Could I teach as good as a teacher whose been doing it for 20 years? No, but I bet in 20 years I could, and I'm pretty darn sure I could do just as well as a freshly graduated 23 year old with a new teaching certificate.
So why call it a profession? Carpenters are considered trades men, and carpentry is a vocation. Why not the same with teaching?
I mean heck, parents do home schooling, and they don't need teaching credentials like a teacher. So how could this legitimately be called a profession?
My mother was a teacher. My mother-in-law was a teacher. One aunt is currently a teacher and another used to be. So I'm not trying to just smear teachers. But I've talked with them about this before and nothing they do seems like it rises to the level of a "profession."
Posted by: ed at February 21, 2011 03:45 AM (Y2WVW)
8
I've been a special ed teacher for five years. Refused to join the union; I'm pretty much on my own in my building. I've doubted that move in the past but now I feel so good about it.
It is my observation that, for whatever reason -- genuine ideological commitment, lust of adult bullies to climb the tiny union power ladder, or simply a union-generated fear of their common enemy, "the administration" -- union members invariably succumb to a purely leftist hive-mind groupthink mindset.
Words can't adequately describe it; you really have to see it in action, as you've seen in Europe and now only begin to see in Madison. No union member is long immune to it and, as a non-Borg outsider among them, let me tell you it can be damned scary to hear what they actually believe and to see them succumb to it.
If their behavior still baffles you and thinking of them as merely frightened, greedy losers -- which is too often true -- doesn't quite explain it, try this:
Think of all union members (not just teachers) as a hornet's nest: generally docile and not bothering anyone when not threatened; i.e., getting what they want on precisely their terms.
Now throw a rock at the hive. Result: Madison, Wisconsin.
My point is that as more financial "rocks" are inevitably thrown at union hives around the nation, bet on this: you'll see exactly what you see in Madison EVERYWHERE, including places you never would have suspected you'd ever see it. People you thought...hoped...were reasonable will be revealed to be emotionally retarded children in adult bodies who'd rather burn this country to the ground than give up the gains of their greed.
These people are truly Borg and, in their mind, our resistance IS futile. Financial realities are irrelevant; they simply cannot see them. They believe they MUST win because some component of their psyche has malfunctioned, leaving them incapable of learning from their own mistakes or the mistakes of others. They simply cannot be wrong. Ever. No matter what they do to "defend" themselves. That what makes them so dangerous.
Worse yet, communists, anarchists, political whores and professional malcontents will help them stoke the fires and keep them in the public eye, which is manna to them as they have zero capacity for embarrassment.
ALL THIS, I promise you, will at some point lead to bloodshed BY TEACHERS WHO PRIDE THEMSELVES ON THEIR INTELLECTUAL ENLIGHTENMENT, COMMITMENT TO REASON AND MORAL SUPERIORITY. I know them; I know the hive-mind is capable of the most subtle self-delusion. Someone is going to be seriously hurt or killed by one of them, in defense of the collective. Matter of time.
Posted by: gronk at February 21, 2011 07:25 AM (B60j2)
Even though I got my Master's to do this job, I do not consider it a profession. I'm a combination paperwork clerk/babysitter. No joke; that's as best as I can sum it up. Did I know that going in? Nope. Do I wish it were otherwise? Sure. But here I am...too deep in debt to get out but will accept with calm and grace when the financial hammer falls on me and my district, as it must.
Posted by: gronk at February 21, 2011 07:31 AM (B60j2)
10
Actually, CY, it's worse than that: they know where to find Gov Walker's kid during the week in a guaranteed gun-free zone where he's defenseless. Not that I would allow WI teachers weapons; they've already shown they associate with violent felons.
Posted by: SDN at February 21, 2011 07:31 AM (UN7r3)
11
I'd like to comment on the disappointment registered about the role of the physician in all of this.One thing to keep in mind is that doctors are not special.They are AVERAGE people who have put in extra time and effort to get a special piece of paper that they then use to convince others that they are as special as their piece of paper.They spend this extra time and effort precisely because they are desirous of participating in the mystique that physicians enjoy, not for the altruistic reasons that they give on their applications to med school.There is actually no more self-interested group of people on the planet, and the longer they enjoy the mystique the more they think they are actually deserving of it.Think "cardiologist".There are some docs that spend their whole lives under a cloud of self-doubt about their status among their peers and their public standing. Perhaps they didn't achieve a pre-eminent residency, or chose poorly, or aren't happy in their personal lives. These individuals seek out the satisfaction they lack in power-seeking of one form or another. This is readily available in participation in organized medicine--county or state medical society, various hospital committees, etc. where they can get a modicum of ego-satisfaction in messing with the lives of their colleagues and those of the public at large.Anyone reading this now is aware of the "type" of person I'm talking about. Whenever you see a doctor doing something other than just trying to get the government off his back, this is the type of person you are looking at.The trick is to see through their BS.And their MD.
Posted by: teapartydoc at February 21, 2011 08:43 AM (KWkMA)
12
When I was in high school, oh so many years ago in the eighties, I had a Pre-Calc teacher who served as the president of the teachers' union and was in the process of renegotiating their contract. Without fail, after every BOE meeting or negotiation session, she would spend the first ten minutes of class telling us all about how it went and who was obstructing the negotiations. At the time, I remember thinking, "Wow. This woman spends way too much time around whiney teenagers. She sounds just like us." And I would zone out. Now, I realize how unprofessional she was to complain and name names, expecting us to go home and report to our parents, as I'm sure some of the more diligent students did. It was a class filled with Cornell professors' kids after all.
Posted by: Robin at February 21, 2011 09:26 AM (ABHKB)
13
"Question: Why do they call teaching a profession?"
Got me. As far as I can tell (and I taught for a while) teaching is a trade.
I have a simple rule for determining whether a job is a trade or a profession. If an engaged amateur can outperform a disengaged professional 90% of the time then the job is a trade. If a disengaged professional can outperform an engaged amateur 90% of the time it is a profession.
By that standard medicine is a profession. So is engineering and law. On the other hand stuff like child care, news reporting, and teaching are trades. The difference between them is that you *need* years of training to succeed in a profession, but you can pick up the basics of a trade in six months.
And yes, you can pick up the fundamentals of teaching in just six months. The military can train an instructor in that length of time. Mind that is independent of the time required to learn the material you are going to teach, but I am sorry -- the basics of how to transmit information effectively doesn't take long to learn.
That is one reason why teaching has been a low-paying profession over the centuries. Low barriers to entry guarantees an oversupply of teachers. The solution (from the standpoint of teachers) is to limit the supply through the creation of artificial standards. So throw up a bunch of "requirements" to teach and call it a profession.
Don't take this as a knock on trades, either. A skilled tradesperson who is engaged is an invaluable asset - whether that person is a plumber, auto mechanic, reporter, or teacher. The problem is tbat we undervalue trades with respect to professions.
Posted by: Mark L at February 21, 2011 10:10 AM (lP8dE)
14
You realize the paragraph below nullifies the Democratic Party's agenda for the last 100 years...
"The American economy isn’t a zero-sum game, at least not yet. A dollar, or $10,000+, made by a teacher in Wisconsin is not a dollar or $10,000+ that I cannot make. When others make more than me, when others are actually, truly rich, I say good for them, for the mere fact of their good fortune means that similar good fortune is possible for me and for everyone else. Like my fellow teachers, I choose to sacrifice and continue teaching. Besides, envy and coveting the goods and lives of others reveals poor upbringing, bad manners, weak faith, and is always self defeating. If making a great deal more money than I currently make is really that important, I need to get busy and make the necessary changes, not whine about the fact that others make more than do I."
Posted by: Scott at February 21, 2011 12:08 PM (oBuMg)
15
Perhaps more people are realizing that "unions" are not the same as "workers." The former are corporate and bureaucratic entities that use money taken, in many cases extorted from the latter, to pursue their own interests.
You are a union member but don't support Democrat politicians? Wrong - yes you do. And you don't have a damn thing to say about it.
Posted by: Steve Skubinna at February 21, 2011 01:25 PM (s1PPQ)
16
teapartydoc,
Good summation. My experience has been that those doctors who have time to be on boards and politically active are really not practicing medicine. I never had time to go to a meeting or help formulate policy when I was in practice. In fact, I never eat a meal in one sitting or saw the beginning or end of a movie. So when you see "doctors" at a political event and they are not old, then they really don't know what a patient is.
Posted by: david at February 21, 2011 03:37 PM (YFxJO)
17
“Scott, your son is in my class. I teach him, I protect him, I inspire him.”
Or, if you prefer the common Union "negotiating" vernacular of the past:
"Cute kid you got there, shame if anything should happen to him".
Tell me how this is to be taken significantly differently when you're getting this angry over a discussion;t hen start pointing out how you have this daily interaction with my kid.
Not all threats have to do with what shape your kneecaps will be in when I'm done with you; some are just common insurance considerations "man this place looks like a firetrap" or "You know, I spend all day with your kid 5 days a week"...
Posted by: ertdfg at February 21, 2011 04:45 PM (X0NX1)
18
I am completely in agreement with this post. I am a recently-retired teacher with 35 years in the classroom. Most teachers I know are decent and hard-working folks who would NEVER consider doing what those people in Wisconsin have done. Perhaps it's just my Southern upbringing and education, but I find their actions unbelievable and repugnant. This goes double for the "medical professionals" offering fraudulent "excuses". I believe what we're seeing here is that the entire leftist "mindset" or worldview is rotten to the core, in every instance. I have become convinced that "progressivism" attracts a certain type of person that I now don't hesitate to label as "bad" or "evil", and that this stems from leftism's inherent reliance upon a "relative" version of morality. I can only hope that in time to come, "progressivism" and its enablers in the Democrat Party are repudiated as totally as Nazism has been.
Posted by: SouthernTeacher at February 21, 2011 04:53 PM (bYQJX)
19
Second career is teaching. Which was scarier, being a cop or a teacher? :
Posted by: MikeAT at February 21, 2011 07:14 PM (eTWmw)
20
Bravo. Well Said. This Tennessee Teacher agrees.
Posted by: Mrs. Bluebird at February 21, 2011 10:28 PM (gYIR6)
The careers are mostly the same: Everybody lies to you. But in reality, the main difference is I no longer tend to shoot upright in bed in the middle of nightmares, dripping with sweat.
Posted by: mikemc at February 22, 2011 12:44 AM (zo+rW)
22
This is a wonderful piece. I've read it through twice so far, thinking I'd pick one or two specific lines to celebrate, but I'm finding it difficult to narrow down the possibilities.
Well, OK, maybe this one, as you point out something terrifically basic that many Americans, and certainly the Wisconsin teachers' union members, don't seem to know:
There is no such thing as a “right” to form a union or to engage in anything unions do. It’s a privilege extended, and rescinded, by the voters of any state.
Posted by: cathy at February 22, 2011 12:02 PM (H4CCn)
23
You know, it is great to see such comments as this post has drawn -- articulate, reasoned remarks, jam-packed with civil discourse.
I was struck by a line by gronk ( February 21, 2011 07:25 AM) regarding the mind-set, or perhaps mental health, of the members of what he calls the union "hornet's nest":
They believe they MUST win because some component of their psyche has malfunctioned, leaving them incapable of learning from their own mistakes or the mistakes of others. They simply cannot be wrong. Ever. No matter what they do to "defend" themselves. That what makes them so dangerous.
This is serious, kids. Somebody's going to get hurt.
Posted by: cathy at February 22, 2011 12:42 PM (H4CCn)
This is not a matter of greedy, venal politicians trying to steal money from teachers to build something entirely stupid, unnecessary and unwanted like high-speed rail.
Posted by: cathy at February 22, 2011 01:30 PM (H4CCn)
25
"So I write in the hope of informing and persuading."
Excellent post. Successful on both counts.
Posted by: nicholas at February 22, 2011 03:21 PM (HKSa1)
26
I have to correct one error. The average pay for Wisconsin teachers is not $100,000. That applies to Milwaukee teachers and includes $50,000 base salary plus $40,000 in benefits. My granddaughter is a beginning kindergarten teacher in a nearby small town with a salary of $30,000. There is enough misinformation out there already. Let's not add to it.
Posted by: -1luann at February 22, 2011 07:32 PM (Vw3Db)
You're right. According to my source, the average salary figure is for Milwaukee teachers. I inadvertently typed "Wisconsin" instead. I've made the correction in the article. My apologies, and thanks for the catch!
Posted by: mikemc at February 22, 2011 08:25 PM (zo+rW)
28
Thank you! With one exception, all the public school teachers I had or am friends or family with are like you. I've hated watching Wisconsin tarnish the reputation of all of you this week.
Posted by: JDW at February 23, 2011 07:30 PM (b5a3A)
Obama's Allies Calling for Unionists to "Bloody" Tea Party Protesters?
It's a screen shot of a Craigslist listing and could have been posted by anyone for a number of reasons, so I'd advise taking it with a huge degree of skepticism for now.
That allowed, there is a considerable degree of consistency between the rhetoric in this ad and the rhetoric and actions we've seen issued from the Obama Administration. Organizing for America, Obama's campaign organization, is said to be deeply involved in organizing and bussing in union protestors to cause unrest in roughly a dozen states that seek to crack down on the power of public sector unions in attempts to balance state budgets. The nation's most powerful unions, the SEIU and AFL-CIO, are also very active in attempting to block reforms and co-ordinating with the Democratic Party and OFA.
Obama himself triumphantly declared that "elections have consequences" after he was elected. Now that the 2010 midterms saw many of his tax-and-spend leftist allies unceremoniously tossed out of office at the federal, state, and local level, Obama seems intent on using a combination of blatant fraud, old-fashioned union strong-arm tactics and his political muscle to thwart democratic reforms.
Leftists seem intent on turning the protests in Madison into a physical brawl, with the President himself and high-ranking Democrats escalating the rhetoric to the point violence seems not just possible, but sanctioned by the President himself and the Democratic Party.
Barack Obama seems perilously close to violating the trust of the American people. Let us hope he has the good sense to deescalate the tensions he is now heightening, before citizens are hurt as a result of his dangerous rhetoric.
Posted by: TimothyJ at February 20, 2011 02:08 PM (G5+tV)
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Obama close to losing the trust of Americans? I think he has fairly well accomplished that task, in fact he likely did so within the first year of his administration. Now the question is why aren't we pulling the scum in front of a court?
Posted by: david at February 20, 2011 05:43 PM (YFxJO)
Did you know that the Wisconsin Constitution requires a balanced budget? Did you know that the alternative to public sector unions giving concessions is firing more than 5000 of them? Did you know that it was the refusal of the unions even to discuss potential concessions that lead to the current impasse? The recent hi-spirited hi-jinks in Wisconsin have revealed that there is more to Wisconsin than lunatic liberalism, dairy products, cheese hats and football. A number of interesting lessons are already evident and more are becoming ever more clear. Consider:
DEMOCRACY: Used to tyrannical, one party rule, Wisconsin Democrats suddenly find themselves in the minority. It was Barack Obama who observed that “elections have consequences.” Swept out of the majority in November, local Dems find themselves unable to cope with genuine democracy where their whims no longer rule, where they might actually--gasp!--lose. So they flee to the People’s Republic of Illinois to bask in the glow of a Scottish Hooter’s to avoid votes they know they will lose. No doubt they believe that their cause is so important that it cannot be submitted to the people’s representatives for a vote because they would vote the wrong way! The Dems know better than the people--the bastards--who recently ran them out, and they’re not going to let a little thing like the complete repudiation of their persons and policies get in the way of doing what they know is best for the people--the bastards. Democrats obviously believe in democracy only when they can dictate terms and force their inferiors to do their will. Discussion question: Should legislators who refuse to do their sworn duties be immediately impeached?
Posted by: arb at February 19, 2011 11:28 AM (mb+uN)
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Three things:
1: Declare the Democrats' seats abandoned and empty and hold immediate special-elections to fill them. Clearly the folks who HAD been elected are no longer interested and/or able to fill those seats. The people of Wisconsin need representation, so hold elections to provide it.
2: Fire the Union folks. Everyone who is not at work and does not have a doctor's note is a 'no-call/no-show' and sorry, you're fired! Bye! And hire new ones - who will NOT be allowed to join the obviously criminal Union.
3: Treat the Union as a criminal organization under RICO and prosecute accordingly.
Drink water, drive on!
Orion
Posted by: Orion at February 19, 2011 12:23 PM (r12Li)
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It seems to me that the rules should be changed so that if a legislator refuses to attend, the number of legislators would be reduced by 1 for the purposes of calculating the number needed for a quorum.
Simple.
Posted by: John at February 19, 2011 02:38 PM (Gh7Hc)
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Did you know that the Wisconsin Constitution requires a balanced budget? Did you know that the alternative to public sector unions giving concessions is firing more than 5000 of them?
Or you could raise taxes on the rich, who have seen their effective tax rates tumble over the last couple of decades, to pay for teachers, civil construction etc.
Hmmm - why didn't you think of taht?
Posted by: Phoenician in a time of Romans at February 19, 2011 11:25 PM (1H/Yp)
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Oh, gee, PIATOR pulled his head from his nethers in order to grace us with his "wisdom".
Why should the public be robbed in order to provide civil servants with better salaries and benefits than the public enjoys? Why should taxpayers be forced to make union bosses rich?
"Because they can afford it" is not sufficient. The Wisconsin civil servants can afford to contribute a bit towards their own retirements and health care, just like the rest of us do.
Posted by: Rob Crawford at February 20, 2011 12:42 AM (1A9l9)
Increasing taxes on "the rich" is a particularly foolish policy for a variety of reasons. The top few percent of taxpayers currently pay most of the taxes in America, while about 50% pay no taxes at all. Increasing taxes in general does not create a corresponding increase in revenues because higher taxes suppress job creation and the economy. Increasing taxes on those who already pay most of them is particularly self-defeating. Mr. Obama believes the rich to include millions of Americans who are anything but truly rich, yet who provide most American jobs. Tax them and more and more jobs are lost and less and less tax revenue is created.
And the most compelling reason that trying to soak "the rich" is foolish, particularly on the state level, is that few are more capable of simply moving to a state that is not determined to destroy its economy as the rich. This kind of thinking is truly killing the geese who lay the golden eggs.
Posted by: mikemc at February 20, 2011 01:40 AM (zo+rW)
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BTW, rumors are flying that POTUS will show up in Madistan on Monday.
Posted by: dad29 at February 20, 2011 11:41 AM (uwLTU)
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Arrest the trespassers - fine them the cost of cleaning up the Building = 50% for contingencies.
Make being disobedient costly - no more spanky - spanky
Let's stard doing it right
Posted by: Mitch Rapp at February 20, 2011 09:34 PM (p/VzK)
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I wouldn't be too eager to mix it up with union thugs - those guys are formidable.
1) The rank and file of traditional unions (teamsters, construction trades, etc.) are used to physical labor, so they are strong and not easy to move if they decide to resist.
2) The ones that refuse to go quietly probably have a certain amount of experience and aptitude for brawling, and may have prepared for the contest to come with various improvised weapons, which will make evicting them an expensive proposition, requiring determination, competence, and judgment.
3) Unions are basically extortion rings (if they can't work for you, they see to it that nobody else will, either), so they do not have any moral qualms about leaning on people to get what they want. If they can't win in public, they may move the contest to a more private arena. Bodyguards, anyone?
4) The link between organized crime and unions is old enough and common enough to be a cliche, and taking off the gloves changes the rules of engagement for everyone. The thugs have the upper hand at almost all levels of escalation, unless the national guard is brought in with strict orders to use military force to impose order.
5) Legislators do not have the protection of a contract, so that is where sanctions will have the most impact. Extraditing them, or arresting them and having them brought into the session in cuffs, on camera, in their pajamas, would so strip them of dignity that they would never win another election. The mere threat of that could break their ranks. I suspect that the state constitution allows the legislators to do one thing in the absence of a quorum: command the sergeant-at-arms to compel the legislators to attend.
Posted by: oran at February 21, 2011 11:49 PM (RBHWs)
In Wisconsin, the schoolteachers and other "public employee" beauties are going to the homes of Republican lawmakers, screaming, denouncing, etc. The situation has gotten very bad. We know where you live. Yesterday, I had a talk with Sen. Randy Hopper, recorded here. Republican lawmakers have received threats, and credible ones: threats to their physical well-being. They are not disclosing their movements, whether they are sleeping in their own homes. They are working with law enforcement on how best to protect themselves and their families.
If we allow acts of intimidation and threats of violence to influence public policy, we cease to be a Republic of laws, and are far closer to civil unrest than I would have had any reason to believe.
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I knew this "civility" thing as ordered by Dear Reader applied only to the Right.
Posted by: Tim at February 18, 2011 01:11 PM (xVH9e)
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Actually, Madison was pretty universally known as Berkeley-Midwest when I as a student there. It didn't matter whether you thought that was a good thing or not. Having just returned from Vietnam, I didn't.
Posted by: Tregonsee at February 18, 2011 05:03 PM (l9gy1)
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Imagine the teacher of your children going to a persons home in order to intimidate the children.
Posted by: david7134 at February 18, 2011 11:37 PM (YFxJO)
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Simply amazing. And our vile clown freak of president is condoning and encouraging this type of behavior. We live in a thugocracy. God help us until we can vote these despicable subhumans out of office in 2012.
Posted by: RickS at February 19, 2011 01:28 AM (Kogrf)
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you gotta be either mighty dumb or mighty brave to go to someone's house and threaten them...
given the general trend of test scores for schools these days, i'm guessing "dumb".
Posted by: redc1c4 at February 19, 2011 04:32 AM (d1FhN)
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"Imagine the teacher of your children going to a persons home in order to intimidate the children."
Unfortunately I don't need to imagine it, I can watch it in real time. These parasites need a time out.
Posted by: Jeremy at February 19, 2011 10:09 AM (eMy3J)
President Obama has once again acted stupidly, escalating the rhetoric and the stakes of the duel between Wisconsin's Governor Scott Walker and spoiled public sector unions in that state.
Walker and the Republican-controlled state senate are looking to end collective bargaining rights for public sectors unions and increase the amount that public sector employees must contribute to their health care and pensions (which would still be below equivalent private sector contributions). Wisconsin teachers Average more than $52,000 in salary and more than $40,000 in benefits every year, a compensation package approaching $100K/year.
Yesterday outnumbered Senate Democrats fled the state rather than do their duty, and were found hiding out at the Clock Tower Resort in Illinois.
Meanwhile, Wisconsin teachers abandoned their students to march on Madison (a dereliction of duty continuing today) and engage in bomb-throwing that has thus far only been rhetorical.
I made a prediction on Twitter yesterday that the continuing escalation of rhetoric, combined with tactics of vandalism, intimidation, and violence encouraged by the Obama Administration will lead to a leftist (or leftists) committing political-motivated murder of a Republican or Tea Party figure by August 1. It is a prediction that I hope doesn't come true, but one that I suspect will prove to be sadly correct.
Obama and his thuggish union allies have bet everything on the escalating growth of government and the power of union labor. The Justice Department will look the other way, Obama himself will offer up words of encouragement for the unions (as he did yesterday) showing his support, and the thugs will continue their dirty work.
It's going to be a tumultuous spring and a bloody hot summer. The Democrats will not surrender without a fight, and there is every reason to believe they are willing to make that fight literal.
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There are times like this that I really think Obama wants to go down in history as the second American president to have to deal with a civil war. . . I really wonder what he thinks some times. He really really dislikes us.
Posted by: JD at February 18, 2011 11:51 AM (81u+U)
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Wait 30 days .. declare them Illinois residents .. defrock them of the offices.
Posted by: Neo at February 18, 2011 12:06 PM (tvs2p)
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"Democrats fled the state rather than do their duty"
The same thing happened shortly after the Civil War (I think Tenessee) and the remainig legislators hired Pinkerton to arrest and bring back the refugees, who were locked in a closet but counted as "present" so as to constitute a quorum and allow voting to proceed.
Posted by: John A at February 18, 2011 01:08 PM (RHmyy)
1. Recant the positions to make the govt employees pay any part of their retirement or medical insurance.
2. Restore their rights to collectivist bargaining and unrestricted pay raises.
3. Pay for it by raising taxes on members of government employees unions (progressively of course) dollar-for-dollar.
Seems like tht should work. Everybody happy now?
Posted by: Professor Hale at February 18, 2011 03:47 PM (PDTch)
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"I made a prediction on Twitter yesterday that the continuing escalation of rhetoric, combined with tactics of vandalism, intimidation, and violence encouraged by the Obama Administration will lead to a leftist (or leftists) committing political-motivated murder of a Republican or Tea Party figure by August 1."
I would sure like to book that bet. Maybe we can work something out.
Posted by: Mutaman at February 19, 2011 12:39 AM (kqy4t)
ITEM: “Favorite Bedtime Stories From the Religion of Peace” department: The High Court of Bangladesh recently ordered district officials (here) to explain why they allowed a 14 year old rape victim to be whipped to death. Hena was raped by Mahbub, her 40-year-old relative. A day later, at a village arbitration, a fatwa (religious decree) for 100 lashes was issued. She lapsed into unconsciousness at 80 lashes and was rushed to a hospital where she died. Lord, grant Hena the mercy and peace she never found here and visit your justice on those who killed her.
ITEM: Peace In Our Time! During a meeting of the House Intelligence Committee on February 10, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said that the Muslim Brotherhood is “...a very heterogeneous group, largely secular, which has eschewed violence...” For those not up to date on the players of the Global Jihad, the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt are the intellectual and spiritual heirs of Sayyid Qutb, arguably the father of the modern Islamist movement. Suggesting that the MB is largely secular and non-violent is akin to suggesting that Fidel Castro is one of the foremost proponents of democracy and free market capitalism in the world. Have I mentioned that Mr. Clapper is Mr. Obama’s primary source of intelligence?
UPDATE! A few hours after his dog and pony show, Mr. Clapper’s underlings more or less, sort of attempted to walk back his comments, a little, saying that he is “well aware that the Muslim Brotherhood is not a secular organization.” Have I mentioned that Mr. Clapper is the Director of National Intelligence of the United States of America? Our country? Feeling safer?
ITEM: CIA director Leon Panetta announced that he obtained the information on Egypt he provided at the February 10 House Intelligence Committee hearing from media accounts. Media accounts? Like the NYT? CNN? The Daily Kos? Yup. Have I mentioned that Mr. Panetta is the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency? Of the United States of America? Our country? Only the best and brightest are in charge.
ITEM: From Claudia Rosett writing at Pajamas Media (here). United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice was, at the same time things were exploding in Egypt, touring the West Coast to deliver a February 11th speech to the World Affairs Council (the what?!) in Portland. OR on “Why America Needs the United Nations.” Uh, isn’t Ms. Rice supposed to be representing America at the UN rather than representing the UN to America? And shouldn’t she be at the UN, doing, you know, like, diplomacy or something when the entire Middle East is in danger of more or less blowing up in our faces? Have I mentioned that Ms. Rice is the American Ambassador to the United Nations? The Ambassador of the United States of America? Our country? Ever feel like running into the nearest woods screaming “AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”?
NOTE: To see how an American Ambassador to the UN who actually represents, you know, America, behaves, go here.
ITEM: During his State of The State Address, Texas Governor Rick Perry advocated that Texas Universities establish a $10,000, texts included, four-year college degree program (here). Cruelly taunting educrats, Perry said “It’s time for a bold, Texas-style solution to their challenge that I’m sure the brightest minds in their universities can devise.” Perry suggested that it might be done by means of online courses and “innovative teaching techniques.” That Perry! Academics offering an affordable, useful college education! What a jokester!
ITEM: Many years ago there was a commercial that urged people to lock their cars with a tag line something like “don’t help a good boy to go bad.” The public demanded that it be pulled, and it was. Why? Old fashioned as they were, the public back in the 1400’s realized that the issue was personal responsibility, the personal responsibility to resist temptation. Stealing cars wasn’t the fault of the car owner, but of the criminal who, you know, stole the car. Comes now Brenda Speaks, a Washington DC Ward 4 “Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner” (just what the heck is that?!), who opposes the construction of four WalMart stores in the area. Why does she oppose them? She feels that young people will be unable to resist shoplifting and will get criminal records that they otherwise would be able to avoid--due to the evil, impossible-to-resist tempting influence of WalMart, which will provide jobs, low cost goods and food, job training and insurance. Should anyone in DC be allowed to wear clothing? After all, young people might steal it and get criminal records! And we wonder why so many Democrat-controlled urban areas are third world snake pits. Actually, we really don’t, but if you’re reading this site, you know what I mean.
ITEM: President Obama submitted his 2013 budget on Monday, saying that it contains “tough choices and sacrifices.” Among its features are a claimed $1.1 trillion dollar savings over ten years. Unfortunately, over the same period, it would add at least $9 trillion to the debt while adding $1.65 trillion in the current fiscal year. It would also spend at least $3.73 trillion in the 2012 budget year. I would observe that spending far more than you save isn’t really saving at all, but when you’re in the land of fiscal unicorns and fairy dust, reality is--flexible. But wait! as they say on late night TV; there’s more! The bill also “saves” money and “cuts spending” by massively raising taxes! And more good news: absolutely vital programs such as high speed rail are fully funded! Act now and you’ll get not only a stratospherically higher deficit but obscenely higher taxes! Call 1-800-screwu! Bankruptcies limited to one per customer per day! Even some normally shameless Democrats are beginning to look a little red in the face over this one.
ITEM: Despite still owing the American people megabucks, General Motors is planning to pay some $189 million in profit-sharing to 48,000 hourly workers. This amounts to about $4000 each, which is far more than the then-record 1999 payout of $1,775 each at the height of the pickup and SUV boom, and this was paid out of GM’s profits, not the taxpayer’s pockets. Add some $200 million for salaried workers, most of which make more than $100,000 per year, for a total of nearly $400 million dollars--of taxpayer money. We still own 61% of GM, folks. So the new American mantra should be, work very little, drive your company into the ground, suck up to Marxist politicians, and you’ll be able to screw the public and benefit. It’s the new American way! Hope ! Change! Winning the future through screwing the present! Buy a Chevy Volt! We’ll even give you $7500 to do it! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
ITEM: IN NYC, a 23 year old man--he would like his name to be mentioned here--was arrested in a subway after a rampage during which he allegedly murdered four people and wounded several others--with a knife. The accused killer is said to have been enraged by his stepfather’s refusal to allow him to drive a Lexus. His response was to stab his stepfather to death, which apparently began the rampage. I’m confused. No gun? No “large capacity magazine?” No “assault weapon?” How was this possible? Was it an “assault knife?”
ITEM: A multitude of talking heads and politicians have expressed confusion over Mr. Obama’s foreign affairs behavior, most recently his utterly feckless and contradictory statements regarding Egypt, pronouncements that have not only been universally wrong, but damaging in every possible way. “But he’s the smartest man in any room! How can this be?” If he really is the smartest man in any room, if he really is the most magnificent POTUS in history, it can’t. If however, he is a small time, grossly overrated, thuggish, race-hustling, class-warfare provoking, narcissistic, socialist, wealth-redistributing, America-loathing community organizer then all manner of things make perfect sense. Discuss.
ITEM: As the story goes, on the eve of WWII a German General, conversing with a Swiss General, asked the Swiss what his 500,000 man militia would do if invaded by a 1,000,000 man German army. The Swiss General is reported to have calmly replied: “Shoot twice.” History records that Germany wisely chose to respect Swiss neutrality. No doubt Swiss terrain also played a role, but the Swiss General wasn’t kidding. Now comes the result of an emotional national debate over gun control in Switzerland, where fully automatic military weapons and ammunition are kept in most homes, and entire families frequently trot off for local weekend marksmanship competitions. Exit polls indicate the measure, which would have removed military weapons from homes, was rejected by at least 57% of the populace. And what about America? Shoot once? Discuss.
ITEM: According to Debra J. Saunders (here), on February 8th, the “Peace and Justice Commission” of Berkeley, CA recommended a resolution to the Berkeley City Council to invite “one or two cleared” Guantanamo Bay detainees to resettle in Berkeley. P & J Commissioner Rita Maran expressed the Commission’s intention was to invite “the kind of people you’d like to have living next door to you or dating your cousin.” Indeed. Particularly if you’d like the people next door beheaded or your cousin blown up. They don’t call it “Berzerkeley” for nothing, folks. Can you imagine a “Peace and Justice Commission” in your community, perhaps instead of a department of wastewater treatment or a street department? Discuss.
UPDATE: With four of its members voting an Obamian “present,” the Berzerkley Council declined to approve the resolution. Apparently the fact that federal law expressly prohibits any Gitmo inmates from ever entering the US was something of a sobering factor...
ITEM: From the Wall Street Journal, Via Doug Powers (here), who is reportedly not nearly as delightful, lovely or charming as Michelle Malkin, on whose site he posts, Al Gore’s recent pronouncements blaming recent fierce winter storms on global warming amount to so many moose droppings in the wilderness. The Twentieth Century Reanalysis Project, which is apparently staffed by competent, honest scientists, has been reexamining climate data from 1871 to the present to find out if more extreme weather patterns are--as climate alarmists and their computer models have repeatedly warned--increasing. Results thus far? No evidence of more-extreme weather patterns, in direct contradiction of alarmist computer models. Reportedly, some of the scientists involved are surprised by the results. Reportedly, the public is primarily surprised that a climate scientist would honestly report any result not approved for public consumption by the Goracle.
ITEM: Louis Renault Award! CBO Director Doug Elmendorf, during a hearing of the House Budget Committee, admitted to Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) that ObamaCare will wipe out 800,000 jobs by 2021. The CBO is also now admitting that ObamaCare will not only not reduce the deficit, but worsen it. I’m shocked, shocked! to learn this. Mr. Obama promised that ObamaCare would not only dramatically reduce the deficit and create or save a multitude of (green) jobs, but would cure cancer, remove pimples, serve as a one-pill-per-lifetime form of Viagra, produce warp drive, time travel, a Star Trek transporter, and establish world peace. What gives?
ITEM: At the 2004 Democrat National Convention. Barack Obama delivered the speech that, in the language of Chicago, “made his (political) bones.” But, via Real Clear Politics (here), even then, Mr. Obama was a serious, sober, international statesman, focusing like a laser on matters of the greatest gravity. From Mr. Obama: “The most challenging problem was what tie to wear. And this went up to the very last minute. I mean, 10 minutes before we were about to go onstage, we were still having an argument about ties. I had brought five, six ties, and Michelle didn’t like any of them...And then somebody..turned and said, ‘you know what? What about Gibbs’ tie? That might look good.’ And frankly, Robert didn’t want to give it up because he thought he looked really good in the ties. But eventually he was willing to take one for the Gipper, and so he took off his tie, and I put it on, and that’s the tie I wore at the national convention.”
In fairness, this was apparently intended to be humorous, but let me just say, “Mr. Obama, I knew the Gipper. The Gipper was a friend of America. You’re no Gipper. And you’re still an empty suit no matter which tie you wear.”
ITEM: According to Gallup, unemployment now stands at 10.3%. “Official” government numbers put it at 9.7%. The recession seems to be pretty spry, particularly considering that its corner has been rounded, it had its back broken and it spent the entire summer of 2010 being “recovered.”
ITEM: Via The Telegraph (here)--and this is not a parody--the British police are warning citizens in an area stricken by burglaries of tool and garden sheds not to reinforce shed windows with wire mesh lest burglars hurt themselves and get compensation against homeowners from the British courts. In fact, this sort of thing has been happening in England for many years. No doubt, some politicians any of us could name would find this state of affairs to be desirable here. Britain was once one of the bright lights of civilization. Mr. Obama finds much to emulate in Britain, even as the British are finally realizing and admitting what a mess they’ve made of things.
iTEM: Subsidizing the Chevy Volt to the tune of $7,500 each, the Obama Administration is now going to subsidize the installation of charging stations (about $3000 each) in nine cities, including Austin, TX. Remember, please dear readers, that taxpayers own 61% of GM, so not only are we paying for other people’s cars, we’re going to pay for the hardware necessary to charge them! For my take on the Volt in particular and electric vehicles in general, go here and here. Patrick Michaels of the Cato Institute noted “If they [the auto and power industries] could easily make money from it [electric vehicles] without a federal subsidy, they would be there. Obviously they don’t think there’s a big demand.” Considering electric vehicles cost much more than conventional vehicles, have a ridiculously short range and take as many as 12 hours to recharge, I simply can’t imagine why the demand isn’t stratospheric, but Obama knows best!
ITEM: Who says the Dems aren’t paying strict attention to the budget deficit? Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) are delivering substantial pressure to a pivotal figure to manifest an earth-shaking public good. That’s right, they’re pressuring Bud Selig, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, to ban smokeless tobacco in the game. No doubt this will not only create green jobs, but save the environment, reduce the deficit, and increase overall neatness and tidiness. I’m still not quite sure how high-speed rail fits in, but I’m Senator Durbin will get around to that eventually. Maybe the trains can burn chew?
ITEM: It occurred to me the other day, while reading about the Obama budget, that my mother taught me everything I ever needed to know about economics. Her wisdom, final and terrible in its application, is encapsulated in four words: “We can’t afford it.” Could it be as simple as merely applying these words to our economic issues? High-speed rail? We can’t afford it. ObamaCare? We can’t afford it; next item on the agenda? No oil drilling permits? We can’t afford it; start issuing them immediately. See? It works, just as it always did when Mom said it. Discuss.
ITEM: Thank God None Of Them Are Really Criminal Masterminds! Department: According to Metro.co.uk, a 16 year old burglar in Arlington Heights, Chicago killed all of the goldfish in the home of his victims because he didn’t want to leave any witnesses. Prosecutor: “Do you see the man who burglarized your home in the courtroom today?” Goldfish: “Glurg.” Prosecutor: “May the record reflect that the witness has identified the defendant, your honor?” Judge: “So ordered.” Defendant, leaping to his feet: “You dirty squealer! You’re gonna sleep with the fishes!” Judge: “You’re out of order!” Prosecutor: “Your Honor, he’s threatening the witness!” Defense Attorney: “Your honor, may the record reflect that the witness already sleeps with the fishes?” Goldfish: “Glurg.”
And on that encouraging note on the intellectual capacity of criminals, thanks for stopping by and I’ll see you next Thursday!
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A brewing scandal at the Department of Justice involving an illegal scheme to pad statistics on U.S. guns in Mexico threatens to erupt as U.S. Senator Charles Grassley of the Senate Judiciary Committee begins an investigation. ATF agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives--a DOJ agency--allegedly smuggled U.S. guns into Mexico in order to bolster the Department's disputed contention that Mexican drug cartels are armed primarily with U.S. guns. Whistleblowers within the ATF contend that one of the these guns was used to kill Border Patrol agent Brian A. Terry in December of 2010.
Posted by: Neo at February 17, 2011 12:56 PM (tvs2p)
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Yeah, but a 22 sounds puny, doesn't kick, and generally makes your gun feel impotent.
Now plinkin with a 22 - built as a 22 - that's fun. Plinkin with a $1500 22 - that's silly. Thinking that shooting 22 longs will simulate shooting the 5.56 cartridge? priceless.
Posted by: Brian Tucker at February 17, 2011 10:59 PM (S9Rfu)
Quiet.