LEE RODGERSOBAMA: ROLLING THE DICE
WITH
RICE …
A BUDGET DEAL IS SUCKER-BAIT …
COLLEGE COST CHICANERY
A BUDGET DEAL IS SUCKER-BAIT …
COLLEGE COST CHICANERY
Reality check: Susan Rice, prospective nominee to replace Hillary (she of no accomplishments) as Secretary of State, has placed herself in one of only two categories with her repeated falsehoods about the murders in Benghazi being a spontaneous outburst spawned by a (non-existent) demonstration.
The woman is either a blatant liar or a stupid dupe parroting lies that originated in the White House. There are no other options. But Barack Obama, having conned a gullible public in so many ways, is clearly convinced he can sell her nomination by playing the “poor little black girl being abused by evil white men” fable.
Actually, she'd be a perfect fit in his subversive, fraudulent administration … right alongside such appointees as racist/liar/gun-runner Eric Holder at the Justice Department, his tax-dodging Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, his power-mad EPA boss, etc.
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Regular readers of this daily source of enlightenment will recall my oft-stated positions that (A) conservative commentators often mistake wishful thinking for analysis and (B) that the larger segment of the body politic knows little and cares less about overseas events, even including the murder of a U.S. ambassador in Libya. Thus it was foolish naivete to believe even such a heinous crime would sway a presidential election.
Those who presume to have influence on behalf of the Republican Party need to reacquaint themselves with the timeless wisdom of H. L. Mencken, who observed that “nobody ever went broke (by) underestimating the American public.
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Automotive news ...
Government Motors announces it's bringing out an electric mini-car. Uh, guys ... bulletin: We already have them. They're called "golf carts."
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Again we're hearing talk about a deal to avoid the “fiscal cliff” … a deal involving Republicans allowing some form of tax increase, perhaps by way of removing some deductions, while Democrats would offer budget cuts.
As reader Katherine, among others, recalls … the Democrats made the same promise at least as far back as the Reagan presidency. Never have the promised cuts in government spending actually materialized, so don't count on it this time.
Besides, as pointed out here previously, the “cuts” are almost invariably a sham deal in which a government department or agency asks for a 20% increase in their budget, settles for 10%, then boasts of their thrift or laments the pain caused by the phony reductions.
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One of government's larger ongoing frauds is perpetrated in the holy name of “affordable education.” Generous government subsidies and cut-rate student loans are simply a siphoning hose running from the education establishment – i.e., college administrators and tenured faculty – into the pocket of the taxpayer.
The correlation is obvious. The cost of college increases much faster than the cost of other products and services because the “educators” know very well that, instead of being asked to control their costs, every price increase results in a corresponding increase in government funds made available to meet those higher prices.
It's a circuitous sucker-game in which the taxpayers are the suckers.
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Photos of yet another cadre of naked protestors, this time displaying themselves at Cong. John Boehner's office, remind us again that the worst thing about such exhibitions is that so many participants look a helluva lot better with clothes on – and the more garments, the better.
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The critical difference about our immigration policy as compared to those of most other nations in this world is this: While we focus upon the needs of the immigrant, even illegals, who are statistically likely to become dependent on government (i.e., taxpayer-supported) services, other countries place their own national needs and priorities in the forefront.
You might find it useful to check (via the internet) on the immigration policies of such oft-mentioned destinations as Australia, New Zealand, Spain, et al. You will quickly learn that (A) if they don't need your skills or investment money, you're unlikely to be permitted to immigrate and get a job ... and (B) you certainly won't be allowed to freeload on government programs. If planning retirement, you must bring assets to prove self-support.
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“Thinking about buying a house? Or a municipal bond? Be careful where you put your capital. Don’t put it in a state at high risk of a fiscal tailspin.
“Eleven states make our list of danger spots for investors. They can look forward to a rising tax burden, deteriorating state finances and an exodus of employers. The list includes California, New York, Illinois and Ohio, along with some smaller states like New Mexico and Hawaii.
“If you have money in municipal bonds, clean up the portfolio. Sell holdings from the sick states and reinvest where you’re less likely to get clipped. Nebraska and Virginia are unlikely to give their bondholders a Greek haircut. California and New York are comparatively risky.
“Two factors determine whether a state makes this elite list of fiscal hellholes. The first is whether it has more takers than makers. A taker is someone who draws money from the government, as an employee, pensioner or welfare recipient. A maker is someone gainfully employed in the private sector. Let’s say you are a software entrepreneur with 100 on your payroll. If you stay in San Francisco, your crew will support 139 takers. In Texas, they would support only 82. Austin looks very attractive.
“It’s easy to see how California got on our list. It has pampered a large army of civil servants while using every imaginable trick to chase private-sector jobs away.” – William Baldwin, Forbes Magazine
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Angus Jones who plays “Jake,” the youngest of the three male stars of “Two-and-a-Half Men” says he'd like to be fired from the show because of its trashy content. Presumably, quitting would violate his contract and subject him to possible legal action.
Upon reflection, he's decided to “walk back” (in the political vernacular) his statement.
Nevertheless, his abhorrence of what he describes as the “filth” on the show reminds me of the country song, “I'm ashamed of what we're doing, but not ashamed enough to stop.”
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“Kiss of death” department: When the liberal Washington Post's political column “The Fix” named New Jersey's Governor/Obama buttkisser Chris Christie “The most popular Republican in America,” his hopes for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 just died. The editor of the NY Times would be an equivalent candidate.
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Jay Nordlinger (National Review) offers this observation about race and politics …
“Republicans nominate black men and women to run for office, and those men and women are beaten by white liberal Democrats, fair and square. Then the Democrats taunt the Republican party, saying, 'Ha-ha: You have no black officeholders. Racists.'
“I remember the year 2006: Lynn Swann was the GOP gubernatorial nominee in Pennsylvania; Michael Steele was the GOP Senate nominee in Maryland; Ken Blackwell was the GOP gubernatorial nominee in Ohio. They were all beaten by garden-variety white liberals. Fine. But then the Democrats got to say, “Ha-ha:' You have no black officeholders. Racists.'
“This year, Republicans adored Mia Love, who ran for Congress in Utah. She lost. And they adore Allen West, who lost after one term.”
And again the Democrats shout, “Racists! You have no black officeholders!"
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For those seriously concerned about yesterday's insignificant and incorrect filler item contributed by a reader ... the one regarding how often five Saturdays and Sundays occur in the month of December ... be assured that I will track down the perpetrator, beat him savagely and leave his battered carcass to the coyotes and wolves in the desert.
Now ... is everybody happy? If such trivia is a major concern in your life, I DO envy you!
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For Californians, Eric of Santa Rosa offers a haiku about the latest political insanity in the former Golden State …
Cap and trade is here.
Businesses wither and die...
Happy now, Al Gore?
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The Sky-guy offers this vignette about three ladies discussing the distressing aspects of growing older...
One said, "Sometimes I catch myself with a jar of mayonnaise in my hand, while standing in front of the refrigerator, and I can't remember whether I need to put it away, or had started to make a sandwich."
The second lady chimed in with, "Yes, sometimes I find myself on the landing of the stairs and can't remember whether I was on my way up or on my way down."
The third responded, "I'm glad I don't have that problem, knock on wood," as she rapped her knuckles on the table. Then said, "that must be the door, I'll get it!"
"...and now, if you'll excuse me..."