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Libertarian
Commentary on The News 24 - 30 Jan
MondayBy Nathan A. Barton © 2010 Congress in action Pelosi Claims Jobs ‘Permeated’ Congressional Actions in Year of 10 Percent Unemployment CNSNews.com House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Congress’ focus over the past year has “always” been about jobs and deficit reduction. “The jobs issue has permeated everything, [every] major initiative that we have,” Pelosi said at her weekly press briefing Thursday. I really do not understand how she keeps coming off her meds and saying things like this - doesn't she have enough keepers? Opps, I hope that is not seen as contemptuous; I am just concerned about the health and stability of one of the ruling Triumvirate of this nation (although I can't seem to find the concept in the Constitution). Mama's Note: Just keep in mind that the "jobs" they're working so hard to create are all GOVERNMENT jobs, bureaucrats and goons to keep the serfs in line and all that stuff. She isn't interested in real JOBS so us ordinary people can feed our families, of course. Silly person. It would never occur to her that leaving everyone alone to run their own lives would eventually take care of BOTH problems. New religions (global warming) Chairman of U.N. Climate Panel Head Clings to Post Despite Erroneous Glacier Claim CNSNews.com After a groundless claim about vanishing Himalayan glaciers found its way into a key United Nations climate report, the chairman of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change faces new calls to resign. But despite the growing criticism, IPCC Chairman Rajendra Pachauri says he has no intention of leaving. Maybe these people need to declare a moratorium on news stories and publicity releases for a while until they can get their stories straight - assuming that is possible. Culture war (killing babies) 56 Percent of Americans Say Abortion is ‘Morally Wrong,’ Poll Finds CNSNews.com After 37 years of legalized abortion, 56 percent of all Americans still say it is morally wrong, and 58 percent of those aged 18-29 take that position. The poll was conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion and is the latest in a series of such surveys commissioned by the Knights of Columbus. Poll: Public Funding for Abortions Still ‘Extremely Unpopular’ CNSNews.com According to the latest data from the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, 67 percent of registered voters would oppose public funding for abortion under the Obama administration’s health-care reform legislation. Assuming these polls are accurate, it shows the deep divide in these united States that I call one of the "culture wars." It also shows the growing disconnect between the Congress/Administration and the nation. Mama's Note: The underlying problem here isn't really abortion or health care... it is the idea that ANYTHING can or should be paid for with stolen goods. Once people believe that theft (always from others, of course) is acceptable, the individual items being paid for that way are relatively unimportant. Congress in action - Health care panic NEBRASKA DEAL FOR ALL STATES WOULD COST $35 BILLION OVER THREE YEARS Daily Policy Digest Net spending on health care would increase by an estimated $35 billion between 2010 and 2019 if all states received the special deal that Nebraska received, according to the Congressional Budget Office... This doesn't appear to include the corruption and waste associated with this kind of sweetheart deal, or the interest from the increased borrowing. Almost every Nebraskan I've met in the past few weeks is deeply embarrassed by Nelson and this deal -of course, I don't have a lot of liberal/Tranzi Nebraskan acquaintances. Government-ruined, theft-funded schools CHARTER SCHOOL DEMAND CONTINUES TO RISE Daily Policy Digest For every public charter school in the country, there are 239 students denied the opportunity to attend, according to the Center for Education Reform... Charter schools, I know, have their own dangers, but are still better than the usual GRTF schools, if nowhere near as good as true private schools - but this kind of information is quite useful to convince people to start on the path to educational liberty. Stupid government tricks CELL PHONES FOR THE POOR Daily Policy Digest Why do welfare recipients receive free cell phones?... According to a Fox News report, the cell phone service is currently the fastest growing welfare program in the country:
This particular program is covered by the federal Universal Service Fund. At first it received its money by essentially taxing telephone companies that provided long-distance service, with the money then being used to provide affordable rates for those living in less densely populated areas where phone service was more costly, says Heritage. On the Rez, we call these "commod phones" (short for commodities, the food distributed by treaty to most enrolled tribal members on the Rez, partial payment for the land taken between 120 years and 240 years ago. No wonder America is the land of opportunity for the rest of the world - in how many countries do the welfare-poor have cell phones? Natural
disasters - stupid government tricks
Stupid government tricks - stupid union tricks PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS ARE SINKING CALIFORNIA Daily Policy Digest Public employee unions drive costs up and fight to block spending cuts, says Steven Greenhut, director of the Pacific Research Institute's journalism center... Not that the state legislature and the governor and the cities aren't doing their share of making the ship go down, of course. As someone pointed out this week, public employee unions are a legacy of the Kennedy Administration. It took 40+ years to see how massive a mistake and how great the damage is. Social Issues THE KIDS WILL BE ALRIGHT WALL STREET JOURNAL The United States boasts a fertility rate 50 percent higher than that of Russia, Germany or Japan and well above that of China, Italy, Singapore, North Korea and virtually all of eastern Europe, says Joel Kotkin, an adjunct fellow at the Legatum Institute... Mama's Note: I suspect that fewer of those in the US to come will be of European ancestry, of course, since non-whites and immigrants account for most of the birth rate now. But that's certainly not all bad. The same thing has happened all over the world since the dawn of history. The strong and intelligent will survive. Congress in action - Theft by government ‘Must Put Taxes on Table’ to Cut Deficit, Former GOP Senate Budget Chief Domenici Says CNSNews.com Former Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) said new taxes must be part of any proposal to deal with the nation’s impending debt crisis. To reduce the deficit, “you’ve got to put entitlements on the table, and if you do, you’ve got to put taxes on the table” to attract Democrats' support, he said. Domenici, a former chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, announced the creation of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Debt Reduction Task Force in Washington on Monday. His comments prove that Republicans understand economics and government finance no more than Democrats do. What an incredibly stupid idea. Mama's Note: Indeed. Wonder who they think will pay more tax? Some won't have anything to pay with, and some (hopefully many) will no longer tolerate it. Islamic war - Persian front National Security Adviser Says Obama's ‘Engagement’ Policy Has Led to ‘Unprecedented’ International Consensus on Iran CNSNews.com Gen. Jim Jones, President Obama’s national security adviser, claimed Monday that the administration had seen “unprecedented” success in rallying the world against Iran through its strategy of engagement. The four-star general made the comments at a liberal think-tank, the Center for American Progress, where he discussed the Obama administration’s strategy in Afghanistan and highlighted other national security measures taken in the past year. No doubt we'll see a similar consensus on Yemen? Just what we need. Of course, as the next story hints, maybe GEN Jones is doing too much rah-rah talk for his boss and not enough professional opinion. No Sign of International Unity on Iran After Administration’s Latest Deadline Passes CNSNews.com Almost a month after the Obama administration’s most recent deadline passed for Iran to respond to international demands on its nuclear programs or face “tough” sanctions, the likelihood of multilateral action against Tehran looks as remote as ever. Despite the lack of movement, the administration continues to characterize the international community as “unified” on the issue. Well, they ARE unified, because the First Citizen certainly will not have the US do anything by ourselves. So the world will all practice non-action together! Mama's Note: The idea of controlling the nuclear program in another country is no different than "gun control" here. It is no more valid than the gun bans and idiot "laws" against self defense in places like Chicago. The exact same arguments made to justify disarming Iran (etc.) are used to disarm the rest of us. How can one be good and the other bad? New religions - global warming More Questionable Material Found in U.N. Climate Report CNSNews.com The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007 shared the Nobel peace prize with global warming advocate Al Gore. In the wake of controversies dogging climate-change panel, some critics are now calling for the award to be rescinded or returned. Like THAT is going to happen! Mama's Note: And as if it were relevant to anything. The "Nobel prize" is now roughly equal to a spam email from Nigeria. First Citizen Obama’s First Year Most Polarizing of Any President, Poll Says CNSNews.com While 88 percent of Democrats support President Barack Obama, just 23 percent of Republicans back him. That is a larger approval gap than what President Bill Clinton experienced after his first year in office (52 points after the end of 1993). Ronald Reagan had an approval gap of 45 points at the end of his first year in office. Sixty-five percent is an amazing number! Congratulations, First Citizen. Mama's Note: Hmmm... somehow the math is wrong. If we add 88% and 23% we get 111%, and that doesn't account for any independents. So, do some of these folks have doors that swing both ways? No surprise, of course, just wondering... Liberty in Germany - Nazgul Homeschooling Family Granted Political Asylum Immigration Judge Says Germany Violating Basic Human Rights HSLDA In a case with international ramifications, Immigration Judge Lawrence O. Burman granted the political asylum application of a German homeschooling family. The Romeikes are Christians from Bissinggen, Germany, who fled persecution in August 2008 to seek political asylum in the United States. The request was granted January 26 after a hearing was held in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 21.“We can’t expect every country to follow our constitution,” said Judge Burman. “The world might be a better place if it did. However, the rights being violated here are basic human rights that no country has a right to violate.” Burman added, “Homeschoolers are a particular social group that the German government is trying to suppress. This family has a well-founded fear of persecution…therefore, they are eligible for asylum…and the court will grant asylum.” This is encouraging for an American judge. I am so disappointed in Germany, which I thought was leaving its National-Socialist past behind in many ways. Of course, for Tranzis, home-schooling is just as bad as it was for Adolph's bunch. Mama's Note: Oh, great! Does this mean the US government and all of its little state subdivisions will immediately stop their persecution of homeschool parents? No? I didn't think so. They have "basic human rights" just as long as they do what they are told! Islamic war - Persian front
US redefines antiterrorism strategy for Yemen MSNBC “The terrorism incubator in Yemen, birthplace of the Christmas Day airliner attack, is forcing the United States and allies to pour millions of dollars into a shaky government that officials suspect won’t spend the money wisely and isn’t fully committed to the battle against al-Qaida. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other world leaders meet in London on Wednesday to hash out a plan.” (01/26/10) Clearly, no one is bothering to consider the alternatives of helping the people of Yemen defend themselves against the fanatics of Al Qaida directly, as is being done in Haiti; or of just cordoning off Yemen until they get their act together, instead of creating more grief for the future by supporting these tyrannical and corrupt sheiks and other "leaders" the way we did tinpot dictators during the Cold War. You would think we could have learned from Pakistan, Karzai in Afghanistan, and all those in Mesopotamia. African collapse - Hoploclasts Mozambique: Christian Project Collects 700,000 Guns Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo) Maputo — Under its project "Transforming Guns into Hoes" (TAE), the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM), the umbrella body for the mainstream protestant churches in the country, has, since 1995, collected and destroyed 700,000 guns held illegally, according to the CCM general secretary, Marcos Macamo, interviewed in Tuesday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais". Mama's Note: Check out the sidebars for several stories of the thousands of people killed there... no doubt the helpless who don't own any guns. "Illegal" is, of course, whatever they say it is. Nathan's comments: It is so incredibly sad when those who claim to follow the Prince of Peace believe that they have the authority (moral or otherwise) to dictate to people that they cannot follow the Christ's own teachings about self-defense, and even worse when these clergy, claiming to speak for God, work to disarm those who are misguided enough to follow them instead of the Bible. Wednesday Mainstream Media stupidity [Some] Women's groups to CBS: Scrap Super Bowl ad Arizona Republic "A national coalition of women's groups called on CBS on Monday to scrap its plan to broadcast an ad during the Super Bowl featuring college football star Tim Tebow and his mother, which critics say is likely to convey an anti-abortion message. The New York-based Women's Media Center is coordinating the protest with backing from the National Organization for Women, the Feminist Majority and other groups. CBS said it has approved the script for the 30-second ad and has not said whether the protest will have an impact. The ad, paid for by the Christian group Focus on the Family, is expected to recount the story of Pam Tebow's pregnancy in 1987. After getting sick during a mission trip to the Philippines, she ignored a recommendation by doctors to abort her fifth child and gave birth to a future Heisman Trophy winner." (01/26/10) With these "feminist" women's groups, it isn't about freedom, it is about THEM controlling. Like the future leaders of Haiti when they were slaves, it was more about the fact that THEY weren't the masters than that slavery existed. Government-ruined, theft-funded schools Menifee school officials remove dictionary over term 'oral sex' Press-Enterprise "After a parent complained about an elementary school student stumbling across "oral sex" in a classroom dictionary, Menifee Union School District officials decided to pull Merriam Webster's 10th edition from all school shelves earlier this week." Mama's Comments: I knew it had to be in California. These are the same folks who think it is perfectly appropriate to teach high school age kids to put condoms on bananas... Nathan's Thoughts: If she'd looked up a few more words, she might have really become incensed and burned down the school. LOTS of nasty words in the dictionary. And, from a follow up article: Menifee school panel will review banned dictionary Press-Enterprise 'California Department of Education spokeswoman Tina Jung said parents need to get involved and talk to their children about what they consider appropriate and inappropriate. "It's quite possible that no one could have foreseen that kids would look up words that pique their curiosity," Jung said.' Mama's Note: HUH???? "Kids" are curious and will always investigate things that pique their curiosity... At least I sincerely hope so! Ah, but then they might learn to read, write, even THINK - and we can't have our little domestic drones doing any of that stuff!! Anybody need MORE reason to take their children out of government indoctrination centers? Congress in action - Theft by government Hoyer: It's Good for People to Make Money Because Then They Can Pay Taxes CNSNews.com House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Tuesday noted that projected federal revenues have stopped declining and have stabilized. He said it's evidence that people must be making money in America. So nice of him to give us permission. And if we don't WANT to pay taxes...? Mama's Note: They really don't have a clue, do they? The scary part is that so many people STILL think they need morons like this to do ANYTHING. Theft by government - First Citizen Obama’s First Two Years Marked by Biggest Deficits Since World War II, Says CBO CNSNews.com President Barack Obama’s first two years in office will boast the two biggest annual federal budget deficits since World War II, when measured as a share of GDP, says the Congressional Budget Office. Ah, but on Wednesday night the First Citizen explained that it is (as expected) all Bush's fault - together with that nasty business with Adam and Eve in the Garden and the eruptions of Vesuvius and Krakatoa, as well as Haiti, Katrina, and the dismal record of Manchester United this year. First Citizen's ministers Obama’s Department Heads Discuss Their Accomplishments and Priorities, Including Swine Flu, Aviation Security CNSNews.com Before President Obama delivers his State of the Union speech Wednesday night, each of his Cabinet heads are delivering their own videotaped summaries of the year past and their priorities for 2010. While Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius glosses over the swine flu scramble, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano lists aviation security and information-sharing among her priorities for 2010. They sound like Second Lieutenants in the Old Man's office after the IG... or a bunch of kindergartners banished from the playground during recess. First Citizen's ministers - Islamic war Incompetence, Power Struggles Hinder Gov't. From Preventing Terrorist Attacks in U.S., Bipartisan Report Says CNSNews.com Former Sens. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) and Jim Talent (R-Mo.) said at a news conference on Tuesday that the Obama administration is ill-prepared to protect the United States from a biological terrorist attack. They added that incompetence and a reluctance to share information and power led to the failed Christmas Day terrorist attack. Ah, but since incompetence and power struggles are normal "socialized" behavior for government, then this means that once more we have seen proven that government is incompetent even at its only possible justification for existence. Too bad Graham and Talent can't see the inescapable conclusion and logic of their position. First Citizen's ministers - Islamic war Zogby Poll: 57 Percent of Independent Voters Give Napolitano a ‘D’ or ‘F’ for Keeping America Safe CNSNews.com A new Zogby Poll finds that nearly half (46 percent) of American voters surveyed – and 57 percent of Independents -- give Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano a below-average or failing grade on keeping America secure. Also, when it comes to air travel, more Americans said they felt safer under President Bush than under President Obama. I suppose having people setting fire to their underwear can cause you to think this way. Certainly it cannot be the calming portraits of Janet Reno - excuse me, Janet Napolitano - that grace all the TSA offices that are causing people to give her such a low grade. Nor the antics of TSA in Philadelphia International Airport and the ICE goons in Greeley to cause this! Surely not! Congress in action Abortion Language, Special Deals Made Senate Health Care Bill a 'Foul Piece of Work,’ Republican Says CNSNews.com Language in the Senate health-care bill allowing tax dollars to go to insurance plans that cover abortion played a large role in the legislation’s apparent demise, according to Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa). So did “carve outs” -- or special agreements Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made with certain senators to give their states extra Medicaid funding in exchange for voting in favor of the bill. Another reason for its failure, or an attempt to rally against its revival? I don't suppose polls or millions of calls and messages had anything at all to do with this? First Citizen - Honest Obama Criticizes ‘Special Interest’ Money in Politics Despite Big-Money 2008 Campaign CNSNews.com President Barack Obama was highly critical last week of the Supreme Court’s ruling in a First Amendment case that rolled back government restrictions on political speech, despite his own record-breaking fundraising for his successful 2008 campaign race for the White House, and despite his reversal in 2008 to stick with public financing for his campaign. Despite the court’s ruling, Obama said he would work with Congress to impose new limits. Another Lincoln moment: the pot calling the kettle black. There is a word for this: hypocrite. Islamic "Justice" Bangladesh Court Orders Protection for Teenage Muslim Girl Who Was Punished for Being Raped CNSNews.com Bangladesh’s High Court has ordered authorities in an eastern district to protect and produce in court a 16-year-old girl who was lashed 101 times earlier this month after becoming pregnant as the result of a rape. The girl was punished on orders of village elders who issued a “fatwa,” or Islamic ruling, declaring that she be flogged for immoral behavior. The elders pardoned the 20 year-old rapist. “Village justice” is a widespread problem in Bangladesh, despite court directives. Another example of what a "religion of peace" Islam is, and what ways "justice" can be perverted into if you are following a false prophet. Commentary - Theft by government THE FORFEITURE RACKET Reason Over the past three decades, it has become routine in the United States for state, local and federal governments to seize the property of people who were never even charged with, much less convicted of, a crime, says Radley Balko, a senior editor at Reason magazine... That is the exciting thing about government - all these
rackets! Something for EVERYONE! Mama's Note: UH, with the notable exception of those having
their
property confiscated, of course. Thursday McDonnell calls for curbing federal government's reach Washington Post RICHMOND -- Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell called for a smaller, less intrusive federal government and an end to Democratic health-care reform in the Republican response to the State of the Union. Well, this is great - a serving GOP governor calling for LESS government; a breath of fresh air after the Bush and McCain debacles. Wonder if he really means it, especially since it would result in massive unemployment in Northern Virginia as activities inside the Beltway would be reduced. Mama's Note: The unemployment would be very temporary, I think. All those government workers would have to find something productive to do - or starve - so in time everyone would benefit, one way or another. Even the funeral industry. But it's not going to happen that way... even talking about it seriously is a political death wish. Those government employees also vote, and they have more money than most of the rest of us these days. Nazgul - First Citizen Alito's State of the Union moment Washington Post Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. responded to President Obama's criticism Wednesday night of a Supreme Court decision last week by appearing to mouth the words "not true." Too bad he didn't do it out loud - yeah, that would be rude, but SOMEONE besides a lone congressman needs to tell the First Citizen that HE IS NOT WEARING ANY CLOTHING! Government-ruined, theft-funded schools Push to revise No Child Left Behind includes proposed boost in spending Washington Post The Obama administration launched an effort Wednesday to rewrite the No Child Left Behind law, with a proposed increase in federal spending, a pledge to make the Bush-era school reform program more flexible and an appeal to Republicans for bipartisan cooperation. Part of the sickness of the conservatives that try to stay in and support the GOP was made evident when they let Bush pass this piece of garbage legislation - and now the First Citizen wants them to do more. First Citizen - Crash of 2009 Obama's sole mission: The economy Washington Post President Obama delivered an urgent plea for unity on Wednesday night during his first State of the Union address, seeking to recapture the energy that propelled him into office and to reverse his party's trajectory after a series of recent setbacks. To look at it in a different way, he has already messed up foreign affairs so badly in his first year in office that he is just giving up. Of course, he should do the same with domestic affairs (the economy) but the Tranzi position can't stomach that. Mama's Note: And, to look at it a third way, no "president" has any legitimate control over the economy to start with. Even if he knew exactly what should be done and was willing to do it (get government totally out of it), he doesn't have the power or the authority to do so on his own now. He's a puppet on a string. Stupid politician tricks GOP's Steele opposes candidate litmus test Washington Post HONOLULU -- Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele said Wednesday that he opposes a controversial "purity" resolution that would keep party money from candidates deemed to be too moderate, all but ensuring the defeat of a proposal that divided GOP leaders as they opened their... Steele has become the poster child for what has been wrong with the GOP for the past half-century (not keeping in mind the evils of their First Century as the American arm of the World Socialist Revolution of 1848): the idea that moderation is a virtue in this context, that extremism is an evil in this context, and the belief that if the GOP just becomes more like the Democrats, they'll defeat the Dems. First Citizen - Islamic war Foreign Policy Gets Little Attention in Obama’s State of the Union CNSNews.com President Obama dedicated considerably less of his State of the Union address to foreign policy issues than did five previous presidents in their speeches of similar or shorter length. About 850 words of Obama’s 7,080-word address – around 12 percent of the total – dealt with foreign affairs. He made one reference to “freedom,” and “liberty” did not make an appearance… We've always known that these little ideas aren't very high up in the First Citizen's agenda, and I guess since we aren't legally "at war" then there must not be anything worth mentioning - not even all those dead soldiers that keep coming back from Afghanistan and elsewhere. But as a Westerner might say, it is easy to understand how he is being distracted from such FedGov constitutional responsibilities as foreign affairs, immigration, and defense, since he's made his brags about health care and the economy and all that, he feels bound to concentrate on them. Defense - New religions (global warming) Obama Urged to Set Up Commission to Probe National Security-Climate Link CNSNews.com A retired military officer is urging President Obama to set up an independent commission to examine the link between climate change and national security, saying the issue is too important "to be driven by unsubstantiated claims." Adm. James Lyons, Jr., former commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, suggested that climate change policies could have a detrimental effect on the military. This is an interesting backhanded approach - people used to worry that a majority of people would become Quakers (pacifists) and thus make it impossible for us (the united States) to defend ourselves, and the same argument could be made about this religion of manmade global warming. So that is a strong argument to carefully investigate all the claims; and it is becoming increasingly obvious to the public, not just engineers and real (not political) scientists, that the claims are overblown if not just plain bogus. Congress in action - First Citizen GOP Skeptical of Obama’s Commitment to Fiscal Prudence CNSNews.com While calling for a modest spending freeze and the creation of a bipartisan task force to examine government spending, President Obama also announced a number of new spending proposals in his first State of the Union address. Republicans questioned the president’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and moving to the center after his first year in office. Sadly, no matter how much they "question" him, the odds are overwhelming that they will go along with his spending plans while working with the Dems to add more of their own. This is worse than a group of drunks who go from the mourners' bench after the sermon on sobriety and their crying repentance of their drinking - straight to the bar across the street. First Citizen's ministers Obama Touts His Administration’s Anti-Lobbying Pledge, Even Though He’s Violated It CNSNews.com In his State of the Union address Wednesday night, President Barack Obama returned to his campaign themes of ethics and transparency, touting his administration as an example of one that is setting new standards. However, the Obama administration has come under scrutiny for violating his pledge to exclude lobbyists from policy-making jobs. What a joke, just like yesterday's attack on special interest money! Transparency like 2300-page bills rammed through Congress to meet bogus deadlines - never mind the campaign promises about posting on the internet for 72 hours: what the Administration has been doing, promoting, and abetting is worse than 1920s style smoke-filled rooms and backdoor deals in the Gilded Age. If the First Citizen's ministers are setting new standards, they are incredibly low and worthless standards. Almost as worthless as the dollar. Congress in action Spending Cuts, Not Revenues, Key to Solving Budget Shortfall, GOP Leaders Say CNSNews.com Speaking at different Capitol Hill press conferences Wednesday, House Republicans Eric Cantor (Va.) and Paul Ryan (Wis.) said the federal government must enact major spending cuts to avoid adding trillions of dollars to the national debt over the next decade. “We feel very strongly that it is incumbent upon us to put a plan out there that balances the budget,” Cantor said. “Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem – we have a spending problem here.” No, you WILL have a revenue problem, as more and more people get sick and tired (or get fired) and don't send money into the IRS "voluntarily." Still, spending IS a problem and I'm laughing myself sick over the next few stories about what senators think about this. Congress in action ‘We Can Handle’ Current Level of Debt But Long-Term Economic Trajectory ‘Unsustainable,’ Sen. Conrad Says CNSNews.com Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) indicated that although the current level of U.S. debt is close to unprecedented, it is manageable. So is chronic searing pain - with enough painkillers. Never mind that your life is that of a zombie or with slightly less ability to do things than a hibernating bear. Mama's Note: Only if that pain is poorly managed, actually. The analogy that works a lot better is the image of a man trying to swim up a waterfall with a brick in both hands. Debt, over time, is always difficult to manage. The level of US debt is like Niagara Falls, and swimming up it is simply not an option. Congress in action McCain Says He Supports Cutting Federal Spending Enough to Counter $6 Trillions in New Debt Over Next Decade CNSNews.com Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday he would support cutting federal spending enough to counter-balance the $6 trillion in new debt that the Congressional Budget Office report indicated would be added to the federal ledgers over the next ten years if current laws governing taxing and spending are maintained. McCain’s comment came in response to a question from CNSNews.com at a news conference where he and Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) called for a “fiscal freeze” on congressional spending. How nice of you to say that, Senator McCain. We definitely need a REDUCTION in the GOVERNMENT budget, not a reduction in the GROWTH of government: let's say, 10 percent - no! 15% a year for, oh, 7 years ought to be about right. Although if you want to cut that much for 8 years (thus returning that much more to the people), that's fine. Congress in action Sen. Gregg: Eliminating Some Federal Agencies to Reduce Spending Is ‘Great Idea’ CNSNews.com Sen. Judd Gregg, the Budget Committee’s ranking Republican, told CNSNews.com that eliminating some federal agencies to reduce spending – with the goal of balancing the budget -- is a “great idea.” The rate of government growth is going to have to be reduced, he said, adding that controlling spending is the “bottom line.” What a DELIGHTFUL idea, Sen. Gregg! Your idea about eliminating agencies, I mean, NOT the "rate of growth ... reduced," of course. That little slip of the tongue should make the people of New Hampshire realize what a fraud and cad you are. But if we talking about eliminating federal agencies, that is great! Let's start with some close to home. New Hampshire is a TINY state: it has 1.3 million people but only 9350 square miles. We've got counties out west, shucks, we've got RANCHES out west bigger than that. That is not even 100 x 100 miles. So why on earth do you need FOUR offices in that tiny little state, plus one in DC? (Gosh, you could almost COMMUTE to DC every day, by private plane and it would cost less than running four offices). So lets eliminate 2 or even 3 of your offices with all their staff, and set the example for the Executive Branch. So, speaking of them, how about some major eliminations: I'd like you to start with the EPA, as worthless an organization as ever drew a line on the budget - let the states do it and work together to adopt standards that way. And what about that oft-repeated GOP promise to do away with the bloated and even more unworthy DOEs - both of them: Department of Education and Department of Energy. Can't find ANY of those in the Constitution, Senator. Then we can move on to a whole host of others. Oh, and join Senator McCain in cutting costs. Mama's Note: I have two agencies to suggest for closure. Neither one has any justification whatsoever, even if you read the Constitution word for word. The BATFE and the TSA are on the top of my "to go" list. Congress in action Sen. Casey Won’t Commit to Cutting the $6 Trillion Needed to Balance the Budget; Blames Bush CNSNews.com Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) would not say, when asked, if he would support a federal spending cut of $6 trillion over the next decade, the amount needed to bring the budget into balance, according to a new Congressional Budget Office report. He said the problem stems from President Bush and "his Republican friends." Now, Senator, I realize that it is hard to get started, but once you do - whether it is writing a report or a novel or a bill, or getting more exercise, or cutting federal spending, you will find it easier than you think. So let me help you get started, just like I suggested for Senator Gregg. Now, Pennsy is bigger than NH: 280 by 160 miles. But SIX offices? Start by cutting out at least two: go electronic and encourage people to let their fingers do the walking. That still means that everyone in the state would be within about 80 miles of one of your offices - compare that to South Dakota, which is about 50% larger than PA, but has only 3 offices. And couldn't you just commute from Scranton to DC? In a car? Maybe a nice Suzuki? One other thing you could do that would REALLY help the spending is to get your neighboring Senator, Robert Byrd of WV, to retire or whatever. Actually, if you get him convicted and his pension yanked, that would be an incredible reduction in government spending for the rest of his life! But I mean, since PA borders WV, a nice threat to have the PA NG go looking for buildings named after Byrd to demolish them might be a good threat, and then the Pork King would stop bringing the bacon home to WV! (Oh, and can you do the same with one of your state's delegation, that guy named Murtha? Talk about living high on the hog!) Next, let us look at what all you could slice in the Executive Branch. Don't you think that the states can handle "Health and Human Services" all by themselves, like PA used to do a long time ago? Do we really need that agency? And how about helping Sen. Gregg with the EPA - with all those bills you cosponsored to "temporarily remove" duties for importing all those chemicals which companies in PA (and even NJ) can't afford to make any more due to EPA regulations, you'd be perfect for that. And how about a real challenge - get rid of DHS. Now, some of what DHS does is really important, and that 1% or so should be transferred to another agency like DoD - after all, "defense" and "security" are supposed to be done together, right? The rest, well, give them a merciful death, please. I know you must really hate TSA; it seems like every other time they are in the news for something stupid, the dateline is Philadelphia International Airport. I remember when Philly used to be a great place to fly into and out of - friendly (private) security guards that were efficient and polite, and not a bunch of union layabouts. Stupid Union Tricks SEIU President Calls Senators ‘Terrorists’ for Opposing the Card Check Bill CNSNews.com Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, took a swipe at Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) Tuesday, calling them “terrorists” for their opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act. Karen Packer, executive director of the Workforce Fairness Institute, which opposes the card-check legislation, said Stern's comments left her "speechless." How typical of the unions - especially the SEIU. I have to wonder, is it that the SEIU elects such childish people to lead it, or it something about being in charge of a featherbedding outfit like this one that caused them to regress into a second childhood. Such name calling, regardless of who does it (and however much it might be justified) is indicative that they've run out of real arguments. Friday First Citizen Obama’s Call to Abolish ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Seen As Politically Risky CNSNews.com President Barack Obama’s call to scrap the “Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell” rule barring homosexuals from military service will be difficult, both politically and legally, a military advocacy group said on Wednesday. Perhaps the First Citizen was saving this for a rainy day - to placate his radical leftist-extremist type folks. And the time has clearly come, as the administration bubbles and melts down. Of course, it further irritates and facilitates his opposition, and frankly cannot do anything really good for the military. Besides, this story is wrong: the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy does not bar ANYONE from service, it simply says that if you can't control yourself, you don't belong in uniform. This is a policy that applies to all sexual orientations: no military service should tolerate or expect to effectively carry out its mission if it ignores blatant sexual activity by anyone. Home front - Islamic war Counterterrorism Chief: Some on Terror Watch List Allowed Into U.S. Because ‘We Want Them Here in the Country for Some Reason or Another’ CNSNews.com Michael Leiter, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told the Senate Homeland Security Committee in a hearing last week that the United States sometimes chooses to allow people into the country who are on the federal government’s terrorist watch list. Oh, how "spy-on-spy" this sounds! Why? We want to read them their Miranda rights and house them at the taxpayers' expense for a few years while we make more lawyers rich with the bickering back and forth? Or do we just want them to kill more Americans so that we have a reason to keep on slicing away liberty and expanding world occupation and peacekeeping? Congress in action Democrat Congressman on No-Show Cabinet Official: ‘Where the Hell is Secretary Napolitano?’ CNSNews.com Top Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee publicly reprimanded Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Wednesday for failing to show up at a hearing on the attempted Christmas Day bombing of Northwest Flight 253. One Democrat asked “where the hell” Napolitano was. Napolitano sent Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute to testify in her place. Oh, my, oh my. "Thou shalt not speak evil of a fellow democrat" had been an unspoken rule under such great Congressional leaders as Sam Rayburn and even Tip O'Neill (okay, I'm stretching it a bit to call him "great" - prominent, I guess). With the recent Brown election, the Democrats seem to be drinking that same sauce that causes the GOP to fail when they are in the majority: internal dissension and malice towards all. Good! The more roadblocks in Congress the better. Natural disasters - stupid government tricks Haiti government gets one cent of US aid dollar MSNBC "Less than a penny of each dollar the U.S. is spending on earthquake relief in Haiti is going in the form of cash to the Haitian government, according to an Associated Press review of relief efforts. Two weeks after President Obama announced an initial $100 million for Haiti earthquake relief, U.S. government spending on the disaster has nearly quadrupled to $379 million, the U.S. Agency for International Development announced Wednesday." (01/27/10) This, of course, is bad news - the Haitian government should not get EVEN one red cent from the US government. On the other hand, it could be worse. Still, every American, whether they want to or not, has now been forced to donate $1.20 (including about 1 cent to the Haitian thug government) in addition to the hundreds of millions freely given out of the kindness of their hearts and love for others. Space and liberty Will space cannon fuel next moon landing? Fox News "It was at a cocktail party that Dr. John Hopkins, a fast-talking 54-year-old physicist who once worked at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, had a crazy idea. As sometimes happens over a third martini, a colleague suggested that gas-powered guns are much more powerful than conventional guns: When ignited, a gas gun can shoot a projectile at insane speeds of over 11 kilometers per second -- or roughly 25,000 miles per hour. And that got Hopkins to thinking: What if he could build a massive, 1-kilometer-long cannon powered by hydrogen that could be housed below the surface of the ocean? ... And what if it turned out not to be a such crazy idea, after all? Such a cannon could solve a nagging problem at NASA: how to send manned missions to the moon and Mars at a lower fuel price." [editor's note: Now all they need are some astronauts with a secret desire to become true "cannon fodder!" - SAT] (01/28/10) The comment above is rather fatuous - a basic understanding of firearms will allow you to see that any humans trying to use this method of going into orbit will arrive as a particularly dense form of strawberry jam; this has very high gees associated with it. And the idea is not new - the earliest person to write about it that I know of was the French author Jules Verne, only about 200 years ago. Still, the cost appears to be reasonable, compared to the shuttle and compared to the alternative, which according to the next story is NOTHING if the First Citizen gets his way. Mama's Note: Hmmm, I'm not a physicist... but while the human body could probably tolerate traveling at that speed with the proper environment and technology, being shot from a cannon does not qualify. That first kick in the ass would be every bit as brutal as Nathan points out. I don't think anyone is that stupid. Well, maybe except Obama... SAY! He could volunteer to test it!!! Space - Stupid government tricks Obama to end NASA Constellation program Fox News "When President Obama releases his budget on Monday, there will be a big hole where funding for NASA's Constellation program used to be. Constellation is the umbrella program that includes the Ares rocket -- the replacement for the aging space shuttles. A White House official confirmed Thursday that when next week's budget is proposed, NASA will get an additional $5.9 billion over five years. Some of that money will be used to extend the life of the International Space Station to 2020. The official said it also will be used to entice companies to build private spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the space station after the space shuttle retires." (01/28/10) Those who know me understand my mixed emotions about this. As a Heinlein libertarian, I know what a poxy agency NASA is, what a blight on the entire solar system this stupid, evil, and even murderous government agency has been, and how it has so retarded the colonization of the solar system. As a military officer, I understand how critical to the defense of this nation (not the current world occupation/peacekeeping, but the true defense of this nation) men in space are, and what a mess this makes of it: are we to keep buying Soyuz from the Russians? Ares was a bad idea but we also know that the FedGov isn't going to let Dick Rutan build anything significantly useful, whatever the official says. And of course, we know that free-market space in 2010 is a nearly-impossible pipedream - in 2020, maybe, but not this year. So our choices are few. Which makes me sick.  Your comments and feedback are welcome! Now PoL has its own forum at The Mental Militia! Check it out
Nathan Barton is writing from either the Four Corners or the Black Hills - two places where there is still a hope of liberty and freedom for the 21st Century and beyond. He is a libertarian (a lover of liberty) because he is a Christian; a follower of Christ Jesus, Who came to make all men free in all ways. He was born, by God's grace, a Westerner, an American; he is a Christian, and therefore a libertarian, again by God's grace and his own free will and choice. Nathan's writings and words and life seek to live up to the potential of all these things, knowing that he can never achieve perfection on this earth in any of those things, but never giving up trying. Be sure to visit my blog, Liberty's Outpost. Special Feature! Add your signature to the NEW
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