Ray LaHood: C'mon guys! Play Nice... I Wanna Keep my Job

RINO Ray, Boz's Transportation Secretary, is whining about the lack of civility in Washingtoon and on the Air Waves, moping that:

"He (Obama) can't even compete with all this stuff that people are saying about him, so the idea that he did five interviews on Sunday, that's just minuscule compared to the kind of trash talk that goes on all week prior to that"

and,

"All of this background, all of this trash talk in the background, it does not contribute to civil discourse, and it does not contribute to the government or the country's ability to solve big issues,"

Ray! Pay attention. Americans are pissed off at BOTH parties right now. Your Boz is a principal target for that expression of discontent and anger because he's PRESIDENT, but he's also far from being alone as a deserving target of Americans' derision. Don't believe me? See it for yourself in this very recent Rasmussen Reports article "66% Angry at Government Policies, 60% Say Neither Party Has Answers".

Also, Ray, if you're that unhappy about it, feel free to follow Specter out the door; we won't miss you. Ohhh, BTW, if you do go, take Snowe and Collins with you please.

Obama Whitehouse Staff: Waaaaah, Waaaah ... You Made Me Go Wee Wee. Waaaahhhh!

Chris Wallace on O'Reilly explaining that the Obama White House staffers are the worst cry-babies he's dealt with in 30 years of covering Washingtoon.

Chris, did you really expect adult behavior from this crew of spoiled yuppies and serial tax cheats?

And Now, From the Folks Who Gave Us Food for Oil, a Brand New Shakedown

Per the WHO, the U.N.'s health arm, AH1N1 b/k/a Swine Flu is likely to hit Asian and poor countries hard, possibly killing millions and leaving anarchy in its wake of collapsed economies. BUT something can stop that from happening. YUP, THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS, a net transfer of wealth from the rich nations to the U.N. in the amount of $1.4464 billion in greenbacks, or 900 Million Pounds Sterling, or for any Eurozone readers 995 million Euros....
Could it be true, sure! but it sounds an awful lot like like an extortion scam to me. Especially when one considers my post of last week based on Stratfor's analysis of the lethality of Swine Flu.

From the U.K Guardian:

Swine flu 'could kill millions unless rich nations give £900m'

The swine flu pandemic could kill millions and cause anarchy in the world's poorest nations unless £900m [that's US $ 1,464,367,104 on 9/20/09] can be raised from rich countries to pay for vaccines and antiviral medicines, says a UN report leaked to the Observer.

The disclosure will provoke concerns that health officials will not be able to stem the growth of the worldwide H1N1 pandemic in developing countries. If the virus takes hold in the poorest nations, millions could die and the economies of fragile countries could be destroyed.

Health ministers around the globe were sent the warning on Thursday in a report on the costs of averting a humanitarian disaster in the next few months. It comes as officials inside the World Health Organisation, the UN's public health body, said they feared they would not be able to raise half that amount because of the global downturn.

Gregory Hartl of WHO said the report required an urgent response from rich nations. "There needs to be recognition that the whole world is affected by this pandemic and the chain is only as strong as its weakest link. We have seen how H1N1 has taken hold in richer nations and in the southern hemisphere. We have been given fair warning and must act soon," he said.

The report was drawn up by UN officials over the last two months. It was commissioned in July after Ban ki-moon, the UN's secretary general, expressed concern that the H1NI virus could have a severe impact on the world's poorest countries.

It paints a disastrous picture for the world's most vulnerable people unless there is immediate action. "There is a window in which it will be possible to help poor countries get as ready as they can for H1N1 and that window is closing rapidly," it says.

"Countries where health services are overburdened by diseases, such as HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria, will have great difficulty managing the surge of cases. And if the electricity and water sectors are not able to maintain services, this will have serious implications for the ability of the health sector to function.

"If suppliers of fuel, food, telecommunications, finance or transport services have not developed plans as to how they would continue to deliver their services, the consequences could be significantly intensified," it adds.

The 47-page report provides a detailed breakdown of the basic needs of 75 vulnerable countries with the weakest capacity to withstand an escalation of the virus. Six countries from Latin America, including Cuba and Bolivia, 21 countries from Asia and the Pacific such as North Korea and Bangladesh, and 40 countries from Africa such as Congo and Eritrea are included in the survey.

UN officials say in the report that £700m should be spent on antiviral drugs and vaccines to protect health care workers and other essential personnel as well as cover those suffering from severe illness. They have identified 85 countries that do not have the ability to access vaccines from any other source and intend to cover 5-10% of each population.

A further £147m should be put aside to organise vaccine campaigns, improve communications, monitor levels of illness and improve laboratory capacity in 61 countries, the report claims. The remainder should be used to pay for the WHO and other UN-related organisations to help in these countries as well as an emergency fund for additional antiviral medicines, it argues.

The UN's efforts were boosted last week when nine countries, including Britain and the US, pledged to give the equivalent of a 10% share of their swine flu vaccine supply to help fight the deadly virus's global spread. In Britain, Douglas Alexander, the development secretary, pledged to give £23m.

Some officials within WHO believe, however, that this will not be enough. One said that richer countries were reluctant to pay out all of the money that was needed. "The downturn means that governments countries are reluctant to give," he said.

Another said: "The money is a trickle, not a flood. It is going to be a struggle. If we are not careful, the virus could destroy a burgeoning economy or democracy."

The UN's request for the money comes as the virus begins to establish itself in some of the world's most vulnerable countries. On Wednesday, health officials told one website that the African continent had recorded 8,187 confirmed cases of swine flu and 41 deaths. [note from Libertarian Advocate: that's a rate of .005 deaths per hundred cases of Swine Flu or 1/2 of 1%]

Swine flu was declared a pandemic in June and has since been identified in 180 countries. Pandemic experts believe that the western world, including Britain, is facing a second wave of the virus.

45% of Medical Professionals May Retire if Obama/Dem Care Becomes Law

From Investors Business Daily comes this cautionary story about how the majority of MD's in the United States view the Democrat health plans now emerging from Congress

Grim Prognosis From Doctors Opposed To Health Care Plan

By TERRY JONES, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY
Posted 09/16/2009 07:07 PM ET

Doctor opposition to health care overhaul proposals is broad and deep, revealing concerns not just about soaring costs, declining care, possible rationing and a lack of limits on malpractice suits, but also about government competence and motives, detailed responses to a new IBD/TIPP Poll show.

As reported Wednesday, 65% of the 1,376 practicing physicians who responded to a mailed questionnaire over the last two weeks said they opposed health care plans that have emerged from the administration and Congress. Just 33% supported them.

Perhaps the most shocking result: 45% of these professionals said they would consider closing their practices or retiring early if the reforms now under consideration were enacted.

The questionnaires were sent out Aug. 28 to 25,600 doctors nationwide. The sample was purchased from a list broker, Lake Group Media of Rye, N.Y. One hundred of those responding were retired, and their answers were not included in the final results.

Our poll also invited those taking part to tell us the reasons why they didn't like the health care reforms — or, in the minority of cases, why they did. The outpouring of written responses IBD received — about 1,300 in all — was stunning.

Doctors Speak Up

Those in Washington would do well to pay attention to the 65% who don't like reforms, whom we will quote today. (Tomorrow we will give space to the minority of doctors who support reform.)

These opposing physicians' opinions will be significant for the upcoming debate over health care, since any program that's passed will depend greatly on the support of doctors.

That includes the new plan unveiled Wednesday by Sen. Max Baucus. This plan, which Baucus estimates will cost an estimated $856 billion over 10 years, includes health care "co-ops" to compete with private insurers, and will likely require large tax hikes on many Americans — including the middle class.

Given the proliferation of plans, we wondered: What is it that bothers doctors so?

21 Objections

In combing through the responses, we identified no fewer than 21 separate issues doctors felt either weren't addressed or weren't solved by proposed reforms. The issues are many, but boil down to three big categories: costs, controls and courts.

One complaint was common: Doctors feared any government reform would turn into a kind of "socialized" medicine. Some were quite blunt: "I oppose socialism in all its forms or incarnations ... government should be shrunk drastically, not expanded."

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., leaves his health care news conference on Capitol Hill. Baucus' $856 billion plan drew criticism from liberals and Republicans. AP View Enlarged Image

"No government 'option' or government-run program should be allowed," said another doctor. "It would ultimately lead to total government takeover of health care, with high costs and low quality."

The strong convictions of some came from a direct experience with socialism. "We came from a socialist country and we know socialized systems do not work!!!" wrote one emphatic physician.

Still others were adamant that any nationalized health care scheme — and a significant number see the plans emerging from Congress and the White House as just that — is against basic American constitutional law.

"This unconstitutional plan gives sovereignty over our bodies to unelected, unaccountable, ignorant bureaucrats," went one response along these lines. "Every governmental micromanagement of our lives has failed in its objective, and caused moral and economic bankruptcy."

But constitutional concerns were eclipsed by anger over the lack of tort reform — mentioned by hundreds of respondents. Physicians say they practice too much defensive medicine, which drives up costs, just to protect themselves from lawsuits.

The costs of this are enormous, though hard to precisely quantify. Estimates range from $100 billion to $200 billion in total added costs to both doctors and patients. Doctors in some specialties, such as neurology, pay as much as $250,000 a year for malpractice insurance.

Fear Of Lawyers

A number of our respondents used identical wording for why they didn't support health care reform: "No tort reform."

"The more lawsuits against doctors, the more testing is done," said one respondent, uttering a frequent complaint. "The government never interferes with lawyers — why? They are afraid, or they're all lawyers."

A big issue for others was efficiency. They fear government control would mean massive waste and interference with their practices. "All the efficiency of the post office, all the compassion of the motor vehicle bureau," quipped one doctor.

Another looming worry: exploding costs. With expectations that the government will spend upward of $1 trillion on reform, doctors fear the inevitable controls, including rationing, that will come to rein in costs down the road.

"A government-run plan will be too expensive and will not be effective," according to one physician. "The plan will expect doctors to take a lower fee for a given service. The private plans will follow, and outpatient medical services will be forced out of business."

This is "typical government, throwing trillions of dollars in one swoop to 'fix' the system," said another. "They need to slow down, dissect the system and fix it properly."

"There will be mandated protocols, long waits, rationing of care, infringement upon a doctor's right of conscience, abortion paid for by (tax) dollars, with eventual euthanasia and infanticide," said still another, voicing the ethical concerns of many.

The federal government's notorious lack of success in running enterprises of any size, let alone one as big and complicated as a health care system — was also cited frequently.

"Health care in the VA (Veterans' Administration) shows how well government can render care," said one. "It is disgraceful."

Gov't Can't Run Diddly

Others pointed to the troubles with government-run Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, which are all verging on insolvency and now account for an estimated $51 trillion in unfunded liabilities over the next half-century.

Government-funded rail was a favorite foil — so was the Cash for Clunkers program. The House health bill "is 1,200-plus pages of miniature and legalese," joked one eye-sore physician. "Please recall 130 pages of forms for each 'cash for clunkers' transaction!"

"Government control? Give me a break," said another. "Look what they've done to Social Security, the Post Office, the bailouts, etc. Medicare and Medicaid are not paying doctors enough, and the paperwork to participate is huge."

Other irate docs agreed: "Government has proven unable to manage many other programs, including Social Security, Medicare, and the postal service. Why do they think they can (run) a health care program?"

"Government health care will wipe out the private insurance companies," said another. "Most of the doctors in private practice will give up ... because of a low reimbursement from the government. The Medicare, Medicaid program is a good example of government-run health care."

Still others railed against what they saw as the real villains: insurance companies. Anger at insurance companies, which are now the main brake on health care costs, was plentiful.

"Between the government and insurance companies, I now only collect 28% to 30% of billed charges. No other business can function at that rate," this doctor added.

As many noted, all of the plans now being discussed would require massive tax hikes — and debt.

Foreign Experience

Many of those who opposed the plan had a unique perspective: They had practiced or lived under national health care systems in other countries.

Their comments about the experience were often scathing. To paraphrase progressive journalist Lincoln Steffens, they have seen the future — and it doesn't work.

"I trained and worked in Canada prior to coming to the U.S.," went one typical letter. "The same arguments were used in Canada to launch 'universal health care.' It is anything but universal and free."

Others had similar complaints.

"I did two years of training in Canada — disaster. When the government needed money, it decided patients with a stroke would not get a hospital bed. I had to have interns carry hemiplegic (a condition in which half a patient's body is paralyzed) patients to their families' cars."

"I am a former Canadian and I am a physician," added another. "I know a lot about government-run health care. If it's so good, then all members of Congress, the president and all federal employees should be the first to try it."

'Real Horror Stories'

Yet another: "I don't believe Congress has the requisite knowledge to know what to do with health care. After experiencing Britain's health care system firsthand, I cannot feel anything positive about government-run health care."

"I grew up and was trained in Romania," still another physician said. "At the time, it was a communist country with a socialist medical system. The system continued after the communist regime fell. I find this socialist health care system a complete disaster with real horror stories being heard every day with huge limitations in health care and huge bureaucracy."

Others argued passionately on behalf of the quality of the U.S. health care system — while admitting it has faults.

"I have firsthand experience with European and Canadian national health plans — they stink," said one physician. "My medical training was at the Mayo Clinic where people came from all over the world. Why did they come? Because we have the best (care) in the world."

That was echoed by many others who wondered why 18% of the U.S. economy needed to be put under direct government control to cover the 40-million-plus uninsured — and how we could care for millions more people, while supposedly cutting costs, without increasing the number of physicians.

More Taxes, Debt

As many noted, all of the plans now being discussed would require massive tax hikes — and debt — for little real benefit.

"It will take away consumer choice, drive up health care costs, and drive down health care quality," said one. "It will sharply increase the demand for health care providers and sharply decrease the supply as doctors like me will retire early and students will avoid the field."

"No need to overhaul the whole system," summed up one doctor. "Just find a solution to the 47 million that have no insurance."

"Unless the government uses magic tricks," argued another, "it is impossible to care for 47 million uninsured people and lower the cost."

The disgust with the notion of a government-run system was almost palpable in some comments:

"The U.S. government is already bankrupt. Its health care plan is too expensive," said one typical comment. "The government will end up rationing health care. Taxes will surely go up for the middle and upper class. We are in a recession."

He added: "This is not a good time to increase government expenditures and increase taxes."

Friday: A second opinion — from the doctors who support reform.

Rich Socialist Michael Moore Calls for Overthrow of Capitalism

Associated Press reports that the gargantuan waste of human tissue known as Michael Moore has called for the overthrow of capitalism at a pre-release screening of his deranged agitprop celluloid screed "Capitalism: A Love Story"

BELLAIRE, Mich. - Filmmaker Michael Moore gave residents of his adopted Michigan community an early showing of his new documentary on Saturday and urged them to help overthrow an economic system he said was beyond redemption.

First off, Moore does not make documentaries. Documentaries assume a ruthlessly unbiased documentation of events or lives or phenomena. Moore makes movies consisting of a cleverly edited mosaic of often funny vignettes guided entirely by Alinsky's Rules.

For the whole nauseating story, go here. Hopefully the link will survive a few days.

Michelle Goes Food Shopping

In the category of "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" comes this story - quite surprisingly - from the Washington Post:

Hi-Ho, the Derry-O

By Dana Milbank
Friday, September 18, 2009

Let's say you're preparing dinner and you realize with dismay that you don't have any certified organic Tuscan kale. What to do?

Here's how Michelle Obama handled this very predicament Thursday afternoon:

The Secret Service and the D.C. police brought in three dozen vehicles and shut down H Street, Vermont Avenue, two lanes of I Street and an entrance to the McPherson Square Metro station. They swept the area, in front of the Department of Veterans Affairs, with bomb-sniffing dogs and installed magnetometers in the middle of the street, put up barricades to keep pedestrians out, and took positions with binoculars atop trucks. Though the produce stand was only a block or so from the White House, the first lady hopped into her armored limousine and pulled into the market amid the wail of sirens.

Then, and only then, could Obama purchase her leafy greens. "Now it's time to buy some food," she told several hundred people who came to watch. "Let's shop!"

Cowbells were rung. Somebody put a lei of marigolds around Obama's neck. The first lady picked up a straw basket and headed for the "Farm at Sunnyside" tent, where she loaded up with organic Asian pears, cherry tomatoes, multicolored potatoes, free-range eggs and, yes, two bunches of Tuscan kale. She left the produce with an aide, who paid the cashier as Obama made her way back to the limousine.

There's nothing like the simple pleasures of a farm stand to return us to our agrarian roots.

The first lady had encouraged Freshfarm Markets, the group that runs popular farmers markets in Dupont Circle and elsewhere, to set up near the White House, and she helped get the approvals to shut down Vermont Avenue during rush hour on Thursdays. But the result was quite the opposite of a quaint farmers market. Considering all the logistics, each tomato she purchased had a carbon footprint of several tons.

The promotion of organic and locally grown food, though an admirable cause, is a risky one for the Obamas, because there's a fine line between promoting healthful eating and sounding like a snob. The president, when he was a candidate in 2007, got in trouble in Iowa when he asked a crowd, "Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula?" Iowans didn't have a Whole Foods.

For that reason, it's probably just as well that the first lady didn't stop by the Endless Summer Harvest tent yesterday. The Virginia farm had a sign offering "tender baby arugula" -- hydroponically grown, pesticide free -- and $5 for four ounces, which is $20 a pound.

Obama, in her brief speech to the vendors and patrons, handled the affordability issue by pointing out that people who pay with food stamps would get double the coupon value at the market. Even then, though, it's hard to imagine somebody using food stamps to buy what the market offered: $19 bison steak from Gunpowder Bison, organic dandelion greens for $12 per pound from Blueberry Hill Vegetables, the Piedmont Reserve cheese from Everson Dairy at $29 a pound. Rounding out the potential shopping cart: $4 for a piece of "walnut dacquoise" from the Praline Bakery, $9 for a jumbo crab cake at Chris's Marketplace, $8 for a loaf of cranberry-walnut bread and $32 for a bolt of yarn.

The first lady said the market would particularly appeal to federal employees in nearby buildings to "pick up some good stuff for dinner." Yet even they might think twice about spending $3 for a pint of potatoes when potatoes are on sale for 40 cents a pound at Giant. They could get nearly five dozen eggs at Giant for the $5 Obama spent for her dozen.

But whatever the socioeconomics, there can be no doubt that Obama brought some serious attention to her cause. Hundreds of people crowded the market entrance on I Street as police directed pedestrians to alternative subway entrances. Hundreds braved a light rain and gave a hearty cheer when Obama and her entourage took the stage. "I can't imagine there's been a day in the history of our country when people have been more excited about farmers markets," Mayor Adrian Fenty, Obama's warm-up act, told the crowd.

The first lady, in gray slacks and blue sweater, marveled that the people were "so pumped up" despite the rain. "I have never seen so many people so excited about fruits and vegetables!" she said. (Must be the tender baby arugula.)

She spoke of the global reach of her cause: "The first thing world leaders, prime ministers, kings, queens ask me about is the White House garden. And then they ask about Bo."

She spoke of the fuel fed to the world's most powerful man: "I've learned that when my family eats fresh food, healthy food, that it really affects how we feel, how we get through the day . . . whether there's a Cabinet meeting or whether we're just walking the dog."

And she spoke of her own culinary efforts: "There are times when putting together a healthy meal is harder than you might imagine."

Particularly when it involves a soundstage, an interpreter for the deaf, three TV satellite trucks and the closing of part of downtown Washington.

Hmmm.... Could it be that the spell is wearing off ???

Backdoor BOTUS: Obama Does Want Coverage For Illegals... by Making em all Legal

From the Washington Times comes the following story - via Drudge - that Boz does indeed want to extend medical insurance coverage to any and all in the USA legally, basically by rahming through comprehensive immigration reform that would instantly make the 12 million or so illegal aliens now here, legal, medically insured and SEIU member eligible.

Obama: Legalize illegals to get them health care

President Obama said this week that his health care plan won't cover illegal immigrants, but argued that's all the more reason to legalize them and ensure they eventually do get coverage.

He also staked out a position that anyone in the country legally should be covered - a major break with the 1996 welfare reform bill, which limited most federal public assistance programs only to citizens and longtime immigrants.

"Even though I do not believe we can extend coverage to those who are here illegally, I also don't simply believe we can simply ignore the fact that our immigration system is broken," Mr. Obama said Wednesday evening in a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. "That's why I strongly support making sure folks who are here legally have access to affordable, quality health insurance under this plan, just like everybody else.

Mr. Obama added, "If anything, this debate underscores the necessity of passing comprehensive immigration reform and resolving the issue of 12 million undocumented people living and working in this country once and for all."

Republicans said that amounts to an amnesty, calling it a backdoor effort to make sure current illegal immigrants get health care.

"It is ironic that the president told the American people that illegal immigrants should not be covered by the health care bill, but now just days later he's talking about letting them in the back door," said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee.

"If the American people do not want to provide government health care for illegal immigrants, why would they support giving them citizenship, the highest honor America can bestow?" Mr. Smith said.

Read the rest of the story here

Gordon Brown: In Over his Head

Nickie Goomba has a superb post at itdontmakesense discussing a daily telegraph story on how 25% of the U.K. annual budget is now attributable to welfare payments.

Welfare related payments are "[a]lready the largest single item in the budget, by 2013/14 spending on social security will dwarf every other item of Government expenditure."

I won't bother to re-post or paraphrase Nickie's piece. I urge you to read it yourself here.

Nevada Senate Race: Sue Lowden Ten Points over Harry Reid

With Hat-Tip to Eric Dondero at Libertarian Republican, Rasmussen Reports has released a poll showing that Nevada Republican Chair Sue Lowden is 10 Points up over that ugly curmudgeon and anti-constituent twit Harry Reid.



What with 13% un-employment hammering Las Vegas, it's not a big surprise that Harry is eyeball deep in the voter's disdain - even with all the SEIU members making up much of the labor pool of Las Vegas' ALL entertainment and service based economy.

WOE IS YOU HARRY! Start looking for a new job! No doubt you'll find a new career in lobbying. But then again, maybe not; don't lobbyists tend to be much younger and more energetic guys than you? Too bad you might just have to live on that full pension you and your colleagues gave yourselves at OUR expense. Ohhh... mustn't forget all those lucrative "opportunities" that came your way over the years either.

Citizens Against Government Waste Slams Pay-for-Play Hawaii Cong Neil Abercrombie

Citizens Against Government Waste, one of my favorite D.C. Swampocrat watchdogs has named Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) its August Porker of the Month. Based on what CAGW reports, Abercrombie very richly deserves the award, as it sure does smell like he is another roll-in-the mud payforplaycrat. Here, I'll let y'all decide for yourselves:

Rep. Neil Abercrombie is CAGW’s August Porker of the Month

Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) its August Porker of the Month. Rep. Abercrombie is a multiple threat to taxpayers. He ranked first in earmarks in the House in fiscal year (FY) 2009 with 44 projects worth $256.8 million and fifth in the House in FY 2008 with 29 projects worth $153.6 million.

Rep. Abercrombie’s latest outrage is to slip a provision (Sec. 2833) into the House version of the 2010 Defense Authorization Act that would double the construction costs of relocating 11,600 U.S. troops from Japan to Guam. The original cost estimate was $15 billion, $10 billion of which is associated with construction of living quarters for military personnel and their families. However, Sec. 2833 requires that the wages paid to construction workers match the “prevailing” wages in Hawaii, which are 250 percent higher than those on Guam. The Congressional Budget Office estimates this “would increase the need for discretionary appropriations by about $10 billion over the 2010-2014 period.”

OpenSecrets.org lists the Hunt Building Company, which is headquartered in Texas and would be one of the prime builders of the facilities on Guam, as among Abercrombie’s top five campaign contributors in the 2007-2008 election cycle. The Hawaii Free Press reported on August 4 that Hunt has contributed at least $32,500 to Abercrombie’s re-election since 2002.

Finally, Rep. Abercrombie has supported the unwanted and unnecessary alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which was first identified by CAGW as an earmark in the 2004 Congressional Pig Book and has been a target for elimination by the Pentagon and both Presidents Bush and Obama. In FY 2009, the alternate engine program got two earmarks for a total of $465 million. So far this year, the House-passed FY 2010 Defense Authorization Act has $603 million and the FY 2010 Defense Appropriations Act has $560 million for the alternate engine. President Obama has threatened to veto any bill that contains funding for the engine.

For abusing an already-stretched Pentagon budget to reward favored contractors and continue funding a wasteful and unnecessary alternate engine, CAGW names Rep. Neil Abercrombie August Porker of the Month.

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation’s largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Porker of the Month is a dubious honor given to lawmakers, government officials, and political candidates who have shown a blatant disregard for the interests of taxpayers.

Rasmussen: Voters Turn Negative On All Political Labels Except Reagan

In light of Obama's poll numbers - which have climbed slightly - but remain in negative territory with an approval index today of -3, and the massive turn-out in Washington D.C. over the weekend with estimates ranging from 1.2 million to as many as 2 million protesters against big government, it shouldn't come as a giant surprise that most voters polled have a very negative outlook on political labels of all kinds - EXCEPT Reaganism.

From Rasmussen Reports comes this story

"Progressive” is becoming more of a dirty word, but all political labels – except “being like Ronald Reagan” - are falling into disfavor with many U.S. voters, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

“Liberal” is still the worst and remains the only political description that is viewed more negatively than positively. Being like Reagan is still the most positive thing you can say about a candidate.

Just 15% of voters say they view the description of a candidate as politically liberal as positive, down four points from last November. Forty-one percent (41%) see it as a negative description, up five points form the earlier survey, while 42% say it’s somewhere in between.

Aware of their low ideological ratings, political liberals have shifted in recent times to calling themselves progressives, but that name, too, has begun to lose its luster. Thirty-two percent (32%) now consider it a positive to describe a candidate as politically progressive, but that’s down from 40% just after the last election. Twenty-seven percent (27%) see it as negative label, up from 16%, and 36% put it somewhere in between the two. Click here for the rest of the story.

Stratfor is reporting that A(H1NI) is "Just Another Flu"

Gotta tread lightly here due to copyright restrictions, but the sum and substance of Stratfor's report today is that all current statistical evidence indicates that A(H1NI) b/k/a "Swine Flu" is little more than an overblown MSM driven (read advertising dollars) hype:

If you take only one fact away from this analysis, take this: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believes that hospitalization rates and mortality rates for A(H1N1) are similar to or lower than they are for more traditional influenza strains. And if you take two facts away, consider this as well: Influenza data are incomplete at best and rarely cross-comparable, so any assertions of the likelihood of mass deaths are little more than scaremongering bereft of any real analysis or, more important, any actual evidence.

Obviously, this doesn't diminish the personally tragic impact on the families of those who have died from Swine Flu (54 in New York City through September 4 2009, 593 nationally). And we should all do what we can to diminish our exposure to the virus and those infected, but it seems that Swine Flu is ultimately no more lethal than any other Flu variant that, on average, kill 36,000 people a year in the U.S. alone.

Lesson: If you're sick, stay home. If you have to go out, cover your mouth when coughing, wash your hands frequently to avoid passing on the virus to others, clean any surfaces you may shed virus to with a disinfectant spray, etc. Follow your MD's advice on fluids consumption. If you're not sick, avoid people who are until they recover, wash your hands frequently to avoid picking up the virus, avoid touching your mouth and face until you've washed your hands. This is the same protocol you should follow on a regular basis during Flu season generally; basically, just common sense.

U.S.A. on Road to Argentina Style Economic Collapse?

From the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph comes the following story on the possible eventual Argentinian style decline of the U.S. under Boz's feckless stewardship. My question: is Boz playing the role of Juan or Evita?

Barack Obama accused of making 'Depression' mistakes

Barack Obama is committing the same mistakes made by policymakers during the Great Depression, according to a new study endorsed by Nobel laureate James Buchanan.

His policies even have the potential to consign the US to a similar fate as Argentina, which suffered a painful and humiliating slide from first to Third World status last century, the paper says.

There are "troubling similarities" between the US President's actions since taking office and those which in the 1930s sent the US and much of the world spiralling into the worst economic collapse in recorded history, says the new pamphlet, published by the Institute of Economic Affairs.

In particular, the authors, economists Charles Rowley of George Mason University and Nathanael Smith of the Locke Institute, claim that the White House's plans to pour hundreds of billions of dollars of cash into the economy will undermine it in the long run. They say that by employing deficit spending and increased state intervention President Obama will ultimately hamper the long-term growth potential of the US economy and may risk delaying full economic recovery by several years.

The study represents a challenge to the widely held view that Keynesian fiscal policies helped the US recover from the Depression which started in the early 1930s. The authors say: "[Franklin D Roosevelt's] interventionist policies and draconian tax increases delayed full economic recovery by several years by exacerbating a climate of pessimistic expectations that drove down private capital formation and household consumption to unprecedented lows."

Although the authors support the Federal Reserve's moves to slash interest rates to just above zero and embark on quantitative easing, pumping cash directly into the system, they warn that greater intervention could set the US back further. Rowley says: "It is also not impossible that the US will experience the kind of economic collapse from first to Third World status experienced by Argentina under the national-socialist governance of Juan Peron."

The paper, which recommends that the US return to a more laissez-faire economic system rather than intervening further in activity, has been endorsed by Nobel laureate James Buchanan, who said: "We have learned some things from comparable experiences of the 1930s' Great Depression, perhaps enough to reduce the severity of the current contraction. But we have made no progress toward putting limits on political leaders, who act out their natural proclivities without any basic understanding of what makes capitalism work."

BOZ HITS NEW LOW: -14 Approval Index

From Rasmussen Reports comes news of Barack Obama's continuing slide:

Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 27% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-one percent (41%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -14. These figures mark the lowest Approval Index rating yet recorded for this President. The previous low of -12 was reached on July 30 (see trends)

Harry Reid's Nightmare: 13.1% Las Vegas Unemployment

HARRY REID is already on the ropes for his 2010 re-election campaign. Per local Nevadan polls as of August 11th Reid was 6 points behind undeclared Nevada Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden.

Aug. 11, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Poll: Reid would lose if Lowden were to run

By BENJAMIN SPILLMAN
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Republican Sue Lowden would defeat incumbent Democratic Sen. Harry Reid by 6 percentage points in a head-to-head matchup, according to a poll of likely Nevada voters.

Unfortunately for Reid-bashers, Lowden isn't running -- at least not yet.

On Monday, Lowden supporters, including political strategist Robert Uithoven, disclosed the results of a poll commissioned as part of an effort to persuade the Nevada Republican Party chairwoman to run, especially if Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., decides not to challenge Reid.

The poll by Denver-based Vitale & Associates was conducted July 29-30 and showed that 48 percent of respondents favored Lowden to 42 percent for Reid. Ten percent were undecided. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Of the 510 poll respondents, 44 percent identified themselves as Democrats, 38 percent as Republicans, 15 percent as independent or non-partisan, and 3 percent declined to state an affiliation.

The findings reaffirm the notion that Reid is in trouble in his home state, despite expectations that he will raise as much as $25 million to maintain his grip on the seat, said those behind the poll.

"Sue would have plenty of money to win this race," Uithoven said. "She doesn't have $25 million, but she wouldn't need it."

Pollster Todd Vitale said the most telling numbers might be the ones related to Reid.

More recently released unemployment figures show Nevada with an overall unemployment rate of 12%. Las Vegas itself has been hammered, taking a staggering official joblessness hit of 13.1%. No doubt Harry's good friend Barack contributed in part to the jobs collapse when, back in the spring, BOTUS demonized corporations for holding shindigs in Las Vegas. If there is no substantial improvement in Nevada employment numbers by the Fall of 2010, I think Harry's gonna have to find a new job.

Kali-FORN-ia to tax Tatts?

Nickie Goomba at Goomba News Network has a great piece on how the California State legislature is looking at taxing tattoos at a rate of $1.00 to $1.50/annum. If this idea weren't so scary it would be hilarious.

What will these INSANE Democrats think up next? Cutting "entitlements" and useless programs? Nah!

FBI Trains Blogger(s) as Agent(s) Provocateur

Andrew Breitbart has an A.P. story up about a New Jersey man named Hal Turner who's lawyers claim he was trained by the F.B.I in how to provoke "right wing" activists into breaking the law.

Hal Turner worked for the FBI from 2002 to 2007 as an "agent provocateur" and was taught by the agency "what he could say that wouldn't be crossing the line," defense attorney Michael Orozco said.

"His job was basically to publish information which would cause other parties to act in a manner which would lead to their arrest," Orozco said.

Prosecutors have acknowledged that Turner was an informant who spied on radical right-wing organizations, but the defense has said Turner was not working for the FBI when he allegedly made threats against Connecticut legislators and wrote that three federal judges in Illinois deserved to die.

Where are all the whiny civil-liberties hand-wringers of the left on this one? I'm guessing that they'll stay mum on this since Turner was targeting "Right Wingers" rather than radical leftists or islamists. Still, its intensely disturbing - but not at all surprising in light of the post 9/11 paranoia that engendered the Patriot Act (a law that Obama voted to re-authorize in the summer of 2008)- that federal law enforcement agencies should be in the business of stoking passions so high that someone goes out and does something stupid and criminal.

CAGW's Porker of da Month: Russ Carnahan

One of my favorite Washingtoon watchdogs, Citizens Against Government Waste, awarded Cong Russ Carnahan (D. MO) its not at all coveted award "Porker of the Month" for July. Russ, you richly deserve the recognition.

Here's the story:

Rep. Russ Carnahan is CAGW’s July Porker of the Month

Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) its July Porker of the Month. Rep. Carnahan, who was caught on videotape by a vigilant citizen blogger at a town hall meeting held at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, who posted the remarks on his website and on YouTube, grossly misrepresented the costs associated with the controversial healthcare reforms bills currently under consideration in Congress. His statements were so patently false that when members of the audience reacted with disbelief and loud guffaws, he instantly became the public face of those in Washington, D.C. who are willing to blurt out anything they think will mask the reality of this heinous reform plan to try to slip it by taxpayers.

Rep. Carnahan first stated that “The overall cost of the package has been estimated at about $1 trillion over ten years. About half of that comes from savings and efficiencies in the system,” a statement which drew derisive chuckles from a skeptical audience. He then compounded his verbal misery by asserting that “The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) most recently came out and analyzed the current plan and said that it was not only debt neutral, which has been one of the important factors of the President and congressional leaders, but also that over 10 years it would create a $6 billion surplus,” a statement which was both demonstrably false and elicited loud guffaws. In fact, on June 15, a month before these remarks, CBO estimated that the Kennedy-Dodd bill would increase the deficit by $1 trillion over 10 years. On July 16, four days before Rep. Carnahan’s comments, CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf told the Senate Budget Committee that every healthcare reform bill would increase costs, not reduce them.

Rep. Carnahan’s behavior seems to be part of a pattern. Democrats in the House seem to be willing to say anything to misdirect taxpayers. For example, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the legislation’s head cheerleader, said during the week of July 10 that “all of the cost of the healthcare reform bill can come from squeezing more savings out of the system;” soon thereafter she came out in favor of a $544 billion tax increase to finance healthcare reform. The President has said that he would only support a bill that is deficit neutral, and that reforms should mirror “what members of Congress are getting through the federal employee plan.” Yet he seems to be pushing for a bill that would not meet any of those criteria.

For his memorable walk-on cameo appearance in this political Comedy of Errors and his significant contribution to the unbridled bloviation emanating from Washington, most of which has been long on spin and short on facts, Rep. Russ Carnahan is CAGW’s July Porker of the Month.

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation’s largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Porker of the Month is a dubious honor given to lawmakers, government officials, and political candidates who have shown a blatant disregard for the interests of taxpayers.

Arlen Specter's Political Graveyard Spiral: Toomey 48%, Specter 36%

Per Rasmussen Reports, it appears that Arlen Specter's re-election prospects are dim and that his numbers are in what pilots call a "graveyard spiral".

Election 2010: Pennsylvania Senate Election

Pennsylvania Senate: Toomey 48%, Specter 36%

Uncomfortable town hall meetings are just the tip of the iceberg for Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter. He now trails Republican Pat Toomey by double digits in his bid for reelection next year and is viewed unfavorably by a majority of the state’s voters.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Pennsylvania voters shows 48% would vote for Toomey if the election were held today. Just 36% would vote for Specter while four percent (4%) prefer a third option, and 12% are not sure.

Click the linked headline above for the balance of the report

Becky C. - Gone for good, or at least until she resurrects....

One of my favorite blogs Just a Girl in Short Shorts Talking about Whatever is no longer available at all on Blogger. Becky C. who wrote Just a Girl, has a razor sharp wit, she's both smart and a smart-ass and she was always willing to call out anyone on their BS, and very frequently did, including the boyz at Google.

About three weeks ago, after nearly three and a half years of blogging, Becky said Au-Revoir to us all. It appears that Becky had been "flagged" for putting up the image of a bare-breasted woman sitting at the edge of a pool [Egads!]. For a time, Blogger put up a mature audience page which Becky's readers would have to click through to get to her blog. The same had already happened in back in May, but Becky's readers were apparently able to raise enough of a rukus to "encourage" Blogger to pull the interstitial block. Not so the second time.

Becky had repeatedly admonished her readers that she is a reluctant blogger, so she may in fact have happily not fought Blogger's second censure as vigorously as she might have.

This morning I stopped in to see if Becky had perhaps had a change of heart and came face up against this new interstitial page stating that Becky was in violation of Blogger's TOS.




For years Becky (a libertarian lesbian lawyer) freely called the Bush Administration on its flagrant violations of the constitution. It appears she had a very strong following in the liberal/progressive GLTB community that cheered on her criticisms of Bush et al. But once BOZ was sworn in and Becky turned her attentions to him and his merry crew of Chicago bandit scum, Becky lost a lot of readership and began getting flagged for technical violations of Blogger's TOS. In her farewell post, Becky pointed out that in the previous three years of blogging she had NEVER been flagged by anyone for objectionable material. She concluded - I believe correctly - that a mindless Obama drone(s) had purposely flag attacked her blog to stifle criticism of the One.

Anyway, now Blogger/Google has administered the coup de grace to Just a Girl and none of us can reach her thoughtful work. Shame on you Blogger.

Becky, if you read this, please know that I miss you and really do look forward to your imminent return to the fray.

Demoncrats recruit for MengeleCare on Craigslist

Also from Sammy at YidWithLid this piece on Obamastroturfers recruiting for MengeleCare on Craigslist:

Democrats Advertising For Pro Obama Protesters on Craigs List

The leadership of the Democratic party, along with their President and the Mainstream Media they control, have been making accusations about the people attending the town hall meetings. According to the Democrats, the people protesting the Obamacare are nothing but actors organized by the crazy right wing and the insurance industry. There is no proof for this charge because it isn't true.

The Democrats, on the other hand are advertising for paid actors to work for the passage of Obamacare, Newsbusters reports:

Take for example the following advertisement placed at the online website Craiglist Monday (h/t Patrick Ruffini):
**TALENTED LEADERS needed to work for health care reform $11-16/hour**

Or how about some of these identified by Dr. Melissa Clouthier Sunday (h/t Walt Gilbert)

Aug 7 – Make social change – Help Pass Obama’s Health Care Reform!!! – (Sacramento) img < href="http://www.fundforthepublicinterest.org/">The Fund for the Public Interest:

Fund For The Public Interest is a national nonprofit organization working to increase the visibility, membership and political power of the nation’s leading environmental and progressive groups.

The Fund was launched in 1982 to develop campaigns and technologies to engage Americans in public interest advocacy efforts. Through our fundraising and non-fundraising canvasses, we've gathered over 20 million petition signatures over the past 25 years and raised over $20 million for our partner organizations in the last year alone.

Current Fund partners like Sierra Club and Human Rights Campaign are expanding their donor base and passing tougher legislation against air pollution, forest clear-cutting, hate crimes, and special interest money in politics. We owe our success to the fusion of our staff’s grassroots organizing experience, cost-conscious attitude and work ethic with our partner groups’ issue expertise, initiative and vision.

Now, they're recruiting for folks to help pass ObamaCare.

There is nothing illegal with their recruiting efforts, but the hypocrisy of the pro-Obamacare forces is just another example of the President's Chicago politics, place a false label on your opponents by accusing them of doing what you are doing.

Just another example of how the Democratic party does not really care what their constituents think. They just want to ostracize them.

YID With LID: Pelosi and Hoyer Op-Ed Calls Anti-Obamacare Protesters UN-AMERICAN

Sammy Benoit at YidWithLid has a great piece on the "un-American" Op-Ed penned by David Axelrod OOOps I meant Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, click the link below to read Sammy's thoughts:

YID With LID: Pelosi and Hoyer Op-Ed Calls Anti-Obamacare Protesters UN-AMERICAN

ERIC HOLDER; What the F**K You Thinking Man ?????

Seems Holder's DOJ is now targeting Hollyweird for violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Eric, you do understand that Hollywood is your BOZ's good friend, RIGHT? Hahahaha.... Good luck with keeping it that way!

From the Financial Times, comes this story:

Fraud spotlight on Hollywood

By Matthew Garrahan in Los Angeles and Brooke Masters in New York

Published: August 9 2009 18:59 | Last updated: August 9 2009 18:59

Hollywood studios and film producers are set to face increasing scrutiny from anti-fraud officials, as a result of a trial involving incidents in Bangkok that could have repercussions across the entertainment sector.

Gerald Green, an American film producer, and his wife, Patricia, are alleged to have ­violated the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by paying bribes to a Thai tourism official. It is claimed that the alleged bribes were offered to obtain contracts to run an international film festival in Bangkok.

The Green’s trial in Los Angeles, which is entering its second week, is the first FCPA case to involve the entertainment industry. The case suggests that Hollywood has joined the pharmaceuticals and energy industries as a target of anti-fraud enforcers at the US department of justice.

Mr Green produced Rescue Dawn, a Vietnam war drama starring Christian Bale, and ­Salvador, starring James Woods. Mr Green and his wife have pleaded not guilty to bribery charges.

The DoJ declined to comment on the case. But its new interest in Hollywood could become a severe headache for studios and producers that shoot films in international locations.

Cash inducements to local officials are common in overseas shoots and such payments have hitherto been subject to only patchy scrutiny in Hollywood’s notoriously opaque accounting system.

“The reality is the entertainment industry has always been a little loose in its approach to best practice,” said Jonathan Drimmer, a former DoJ lawyer who is now a partner in the anti-corruption group at the Steptoe & Johnson law firm.

The Green’s trial is likely to be followed by more FCPA investigations in Hollywood, he said. “The justice department identifies a practice [in a particular industry] and then suddenly they go across that industry in a lateral manner. They did it with the medical device industry and they did it with oil and gas companies.”

The bulk of the FCPA cases brought in recent years have focused on the energy and mining sectors.

However, the US government has recently expanded its focus to other industries, including healthcare and retail.

In the past six years it has stepped up its anti-corruption work, launching 17 enforcement actions in 2008 compared with three in 2003.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

Courageos Nancy Pelosi Gets Photo Spanked

Here's a superb photo spread by El Marco at "lookingattheleft.com" of an anti ObamaCare rally in Denver opposed by Boz & Nancy Pelosi's Astroturf Praetorian Guard (a/k/a Organizing for America, f/k/a Obama for America)

Boz Unleashes His Basiji - SEIU Thugs Beat Town Hall Event Vendor in St. Louis

Barack Obama (hereinafter "Boz") having called upon his minions to "punch back twice as hard," has had his private "Basij" commander Andy Stern unleash violence on citizens expressing their inalienable right of free speech against ObamaCare.

In St. Louis, a black man named Kenneth Gladney - who was on scene to sell buttons and Gadsden (yellow flag with coiled rattler bearing the legend "Don't Tread on Me") was attacked by SEIU attack "Basijis", 2 of whom were subsequently arrested and one who fled the scene on foot.

Here's some video:

And here is the text of Gladney's lawyer's letter concerning the event:

August 7, 2009

Dear Mr. Hennessy:

I am Kenneth Gladney’s attorney. Kenneth was attacked on the evening of August 6, 2009 at Rep. Russ Carnahan’s town hall meeting in South St. Louis County. I was at the town hall meeting as well and witnessed the events leading up to the attack of Kenneth. Kenneth was approached by an SEIU representative as Kenneth was handing out “Don’t Tread on Me” flags to other conservatives. The SEIU representative demanded to know why a black man was handing out these flags. The SEIU member used a racial slur against Kenneth, then punched him in the face. Kenneth fell to the ground. Another SEIU member yelled racial epithets at Kenneth as he kicked him in the head and back. Kenneth was also brutally attacked by one other male SEIU member and an unidentified woman. The three men were clearly SEIU members, as they were wearing T-shirts with the SEIU logo.

Kenneth was beaten badly. One assailant fled on foot; three others were arrested. Kenneth was admitted to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center emergency room, where he was treated for his numerous injuries. Kenneth was merely expressing his freedom of speech by handing out the flags. In fact, he merely asked people as they exited the town hall meeting whether they would like a flag. He in no way provoked any argument or altercation, as evidenced by the fact that three assailants were arrested.

We hope that Kenneth fully recovers from his injuries; however, he is in great pain at this time. We will be pursuing legal action at our discretion. This was a truly senseless hate crime carried out by racist union thugs. Regretfully, Representative Carnahan’s statements blaming Kenneth for being a disruptive force are wholly untrue and slanderous. We would like to think that an elected official in Representative Carnahan’s position would gather accurate information before carelessly rushing to judgment.

Kenneth supports conservative ideals, although he subscribes to no particular political party. We are calling on the SEIU, Representative Carnahan, and President Obama to condemn the racist actions of these union thugs. In the days to come, we will be investigating whether these thugs are working at the behest of Representative Carnahan and how strong their alliances to various organizations–such as ACORN–may be.

We hope the St. Louis Tea Party and tea party organizations around the country will protest Representative Carnahan’s offices and also protest SEIU offices in every major city across the U.S. These Democratic strong-arm tactics must end now.

Regards,

Attorney David B. Brown

Chris Dodd Cleared by Senate Ethics Committee - Did Anyone Really Expect a Different Result???

From Michelle Malkin's site:

The Senate Ethics Committee on Friday dismissed complaints against Democratic Sens. Chris Dodd (Conn.) and Kent Conrad (N.D.) over their participation in Countrywide Financial Corp.’s VIP lending program.

But the panel cautioned the senators that they should have “exercised more vigilance” in their dealings with the mortgage giant to avoid an appearance of preferential treatment.

Well Chris, just because your Senate colleagues cleared you, doesn't mean the VOTERS will come November. Enjoy that Irish "Cottage" buddy.

"Cash for Votes" Bill Stumbles but Trucks On.... $2 Billion More

Harry Reid, Nevada's very weird Senator and (to my continuing astonishment) majority leader of that once august chamber he leads, advises that the Senate will indeed extend BOTUS' Cash for Clunkers program (a transparent vote buying effort) with an infusion of an additional $2 BILLION, all to the apparent delight of Honda, Toyota and Hyundai. Yes, based on early numbers, it seems that American auto manufacturers may NOT be the principal beneficiaries of "Cash for Votes."

Oddly enough (or perhaps not, given the party in control) the Senate seems intent on pressing forward with the program against the apparent wishes of most American voters who oppose "Cash for Votes" 54% to 33%.