Saturday, May 30, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Obama's Supreme Court Nominee
Over the last few days since President Obama announced that he was nominating Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court, I've seen and heard a lot of stories and opinions on her nomination in news stories, both print and on TV, as well as on the radio. Although I'm getting at this a few days late, I figured I might as well chime in and give my two cents.
While I have no doubt that she will be confirmed given the current power structure in Washington, I do not believe she will be a good Supreme Court Justice.
Some on the radio are calling her a racist. I don't think that's true, but her comment that "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life" is definitely bigoted, and is not taken out of context. As Newt Gingrich commented, "Imagine a judicial nominee said 'my experience as a white man makes me better than a Latina woman' ..." Not only would that person never even be considered for the Surpreme Court, but there would be a huge public outcry for them to resign their current bench in disgrace.
In addition, one statement I heard yesterday from several places which should give you pause is that this one comment alone from Sotomayor would get her removed from any jury pool for any trial in the country. Is that really the kind of individual we as a nation want to have a lifetime appointment on the highest court in the land?
I think an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal pretty much captured my feelings on this nominee as well as anywhere I've seen.
Expanding on that, when I see a video of her saying the court is "where policy is made", then see a quote saying one is better able to interpret the law based on ethnicity, then read about her fierce support for affirmative action through her work with La Raza, and then read about her pathetic and seemingly race-based handling of the Ricci v. New Haven case (which is currently being review by the Supreme Court and may be overturned), I just can't help but think that out of all the qualified and brilliant lawyers, judges, and law professors in this country, this is the best Obama can come up with? If he's looking to play racial/gender politics with his pick, fine. I'm sure there are many Hispanic women who are very qualified to serve on the Supreme Court but don't have what seems to be a racial chip on their shoulder.
On a final note, I have to say that I find it amusing when reading this morning that Obama stated, "What I hope is that we can avoid the political posturing and ideological brinksmanship that has bogged down this process, and Congress, in the past", seeing as how he did just that during the confirmation hearing of one Samuel Alito. Oh how short the memories last...
While I have no doubt that she will be confirmed given the current power structure in Washington, I do not believe she will be a good Supreme Court Justice.
Some on the radio are calling her a racist. I don't think that's true, but her comment that "a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life" is definitely bigoted, and is not taken out of context. As Newt Gingrich commented, "Imagine a judicial nominee said 'my experience as a white man makes me better than a Latina woman' ..." Not only would that person never even be considered for the Surpreme Court, but there would be a huge public outcry for them to resign their current bench in disgrace.
In addition, one statement I heard yesterday from several places which should give you pause is that this one comment alone from Sotomayor would get her removed from any jury pool for any trial in the country. Is that really the kind of individual we as a nation want to have a lifetime appointment on the highest court in the land?
I think an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal pretty much captured my feelings on this nominee as well as anywhere I've seen.
Expanding on that, when I see a video of her saying the court is "where policy is made", then see a quote saying one is better able to interpret the law based on ethnicity, then read about her fierce support for affirmative action through her work with La Raza, and then read about her pathetic and seemingly race-based handling of the Ricci v. New Haven case (which is currently being review by the Supreme Court and may be overturned), I just can't help but think that out of all the qualified and brilliant lawyers, judges, and law professors in this country, this is the best Obama can come up with? If he's looking to play racial/gender politics with his pick, fine. I'm sure there are many Hispanic women who are very qualified to serve on the Supreme Court but don't have what seems to be a racial chip on their shoulder.
On a final note, I have to say that I find it amusing when reading this morning that Obama stated, "What I hope is that we can avoid the political posturing and ideological brinksmanship that has bogged down this process, and Congress, in the past", seeing as how he did just that during the confirmation hearing of one Samuel Alito. Oh how short the memories last...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Memorial Day Weekend
As you enjoy this Memorial Day Weekend with your friends and family, never forget the price paid for the freedom which we take for granted. I know in my heart that there's a special place in heaven for those who give their lives so that others might live and live freely. This weekend, say a prayer for those who gave everything in our defense and if you see a service member, current or past, tell them "Thank you".
Now, in the new tradition of posting an awesome song to kick off each weekend, let's get the party started with "Love" by Roger Creager. Have a great weekend everyone!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Obama's Speech Yesterday
I had the TV on during President Obama's national security speech yesterday while I was working, and there were more than a few things that I found appalling. Unfortunately as he decided to talk for nearly an hour I just don't have enough energy to go through the whole speech. You can find the full text here, although I must say that reading the entire speech, more so than waterboarding, should qualify as torture. But I digress. There are two things I want to touch on.
The first is that Obama said the following in his speech.
I'm not sure though, given the regard he claims to have for the Constitution, how he can so blatantly disregard the limits placed on him and the rest of the federal government by that document when it comes to domestic policy. Will someone please click the link above read the Constitution. It will do you good. They don't really teach this well in schools anymore. Hell, I don't remember ever reading it in school. Does it mention providing health care to everyone living within our borders? No. Does it give the authority to take over multiple private companies and industries? No. Does it give the President or Congress the right to attempt the stifling of free political speech? No, the exact opposite. Does it give the feds authority to dictate what local schools are required to teach? No. Read the whole Constitution (it's pretty short) and then read the Bill of Rights, specifically the 10th Amendment. Does it give the federal government the power to do half the crap it does today? NO!
I ask again, given Obama's allegiance to the Constitution, how does he reconcile what he and the Congress are attempting to currently do within our own borders?
The second issue I wanted to address about the speech was concerning Obama's leadership. As I was watching, I attempted to keep track of the number of times he blamed Bush but I honestly lost count. Obama reminds me of a cheap sleight-of-hand magician, drawing your attention with a flourish of his left hand while making the real moves with his right. Also reminds me of Richard Gere's character in Chicago. Giving the old razzle dazzle. On one hand, he says that we can't be focusing on the past but must be moving forward. On the other, he spent most of the speech throwing the Bush administration under the bus, even at one point saying that Bush left him to clean up "something that is - quite simply - a mess; a misguided experiment..."
United States Presidents don't do this. They don't publicly bash other US Presidents. This seems to fall along party lines. In my lifetime, I've seen Reagan, the Bushes, Clinton, and Obama. Given that Carter is still alive, I'm pretty familiar with him as well. I've seen Carter and Clinton attack their successors, and now have seen Obama attack his predecessor. Reagan and the Bushes? I don't recall ever hearing a peep of negative language about their select group of colleagues. This would be the difference between statesmen and politicians.
Constantly laying blame for the situations you find yourself in at other's feet is something kids and adolescents do. You're the President! Whatever happened to "The Buck Stops Here"? The fact that Obama is breaking with tradition and publicly calling out another president for the problems he is facing (sometimes legitimately although many times not) tells me that he is lacking two things: leadership and class. I feel you need both of these to be an effective President and with Obama it's just not there.
What say you?
The first is that Obama said the following in his speech.
"I took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief, and as a citizen, I know that we must never, ever, turn our back on its enduring principles for expedience sake."I invite you read the role of the President in Article II of the Constitution. Although I vehemently disagree with what Obama is doing in regards to national security, he does have the constitutional authority to pull troops out of Iraq, close Guantanamo should he choose, or ban enhanced interrogation techniques. I think closing the prison and giving constitutional protections to terrorists as well as broadcasting to those who wish us dead what we will or will not do to extract information is unwise to the highest degree. This naivety is one of the reasons I see Obama as so unfit to serve as President.
I'm not sure though, given the regard he claims to have for the Constitution, how he can so blatantly disregard the limits placed on him and the rest of the federal government by that document when it comes to domestic policy. Will someone please click the link above read the Constitution. It will do you good. They don't really teach this well in schools anymore. Hell, I don't remember ever reading it in school. Does it mention providing health care to everyone living within our borders? No. Does it give the authority to take over multiple private companies and industries? No. Does it give the President or Congress the right to attempt the stifling of free political speech? No, the exact opposite. Does it give the feds authority to dictate what local schools are required to teach? No. Read the whole Constitution (it's pretty short) and then read the Bill of Rights, specifically the 10th Amendment. Does it give the federal government the power to do half the crap it does today? NO!
I ask again, given Obama's allegiance to the Constitution, how does he reconcile what he and the Congress are attempting to currently do within our own borders?
The second issue I wanted to address about the speech was concerning Obama's leadership. As I was watching, I attempted to keep track of the number of times he blamed Bush but I honestly lost count. Obama reminds me of a cheap sleight-of-hand magician, drawing your attention with a flourish of his left hand while making the real moves with his right. Also reminds me of Richard Gere's character in Chicago. Giving the old razzle dazzle. On one hand, he says that we can't be focusing on the past but must be moving forward. On the other, he spent most of the speech throwing the Bush administration under the bus, even at one point saying that Bush left him to clean up "something that is - quite simply - a mess; a misguided experiment..."
United States Presidents don't do this. They don't publicly bash other US Presidents. This seems to fall along party lines. In my lifetime, I've seen Reagan, the Bushes, Clinton, and Obama. Given that Carter is still alive, I'm pretty familiar with him as well. I've seen Carter and Clinton attack their successors, and now have seen Obama attack his predecessor. Reagan and the Bushes? I don't recall ever hearing a peep of negative language about their select group of colleagues. This would be the difference between statesmen and politicians.
Constantly laying blame for the situations you find yourself in at other's feet is something kids and adolescents do. You're the President! Whatever happened to "The Buck Stops Here"? The fact that Obama is breaking with tradition and publicly calling out another president for the problems he is facing (sometimes legitimately although many times not) tells me that he is lacking two things: leadership and class. I feel you need both of these to be an effective President and with Obama it's just not there.
What say you?
The Neal Boortz Commencement Speech
This is the commencement speech by Neal Boortz which no school school has ever invited him to give. After watching, you may understand why. He decided to give the speech a few days ago to raise money for charity.
A little long, but entertaining...
A little long, but entertaining...
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Happy Weekend! (One Day Early)
I'm taking off work tomorrow and the wife, baby, and I are headed down to College Station. My little sis is graduating Saturday from Texas A&M. WHOOP!!!!
I couldn't think of a better song to start the weekend with. This one's going out to you Diane, we're so proud of you!!!
We Bleed Maroon Music Video
I couldn't think of a better song to start the weekend with. This one's going out to you Diane, we're so proud of you!!!
We Bleed Maroon Music Video
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
He Just Keeps Agitating
Check out this article from the WSJ this morning. Absolutely unbelievable. Now the Obama administration is beginning discussions to see how they can set compensation practices across the entire financial services industry. This, by the way, includes those that did not take bailout money. How is an extreme political power grab by a president like this possible in America? This is the antithesis of what this country stands for. Between this and a national takeover of health care, this guy seems to think that he is some kind of king and we his know-nothing subjects. I was honestly in shock when I picked up the paper this morning and read this.
This jackass of a president just can't shake off the influences and mentors of his youth that trained him to be a community agitator. He keeps picking at the scab of the financial crisis, refusing to let it heal itself and it's really starting to piss me off. I really wish he would go on a speaking tour of Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. Nine months ought to do it. I know my 401k somehow does exceptionally better when he's out of the country.
And now I'm going to tell you what I really think.
I think this guy has absolutely no idea what he's doing. If he does, that's even worse. He actually believes that it's the job of the President of the United States to determine how much people are allowed to earn in the private sector? Like hell. He can't even manage to nominate people to his cabinet that pay their taxes, much less decide from on high how much this guy and that guy deserve to earn.
And Congress? They just passed a budget that has a nearly $2 TRILLION deficit. This group of goons is the most fiscally irresponsible group of people the world has ever seen, and they think they can instruct well-capitalized private businesses on how to not "threaten the company's viability"? I swear, I've never seen such an incompetent bunch of bumbling boobs. Folks, this is what's known as the blind leading the seeing.
Obama is quoted as saying that executive pay helped lead to a "reckless culture and a quarter-by-quarter mentality that in turn helped to wreak havoc in our financial system."
And they're not even done yet! They still want to take over health care. That's when they'll decide how much doctors are allowed to make as well. Don't worry, your job will come soon enough as well. There really is no limit to the power these people desire.
This whole thing literally makes me sick to my stomach to think about. The sad thing is many conservatives were warning about this sort of thing before the election, but so many Americans were (and still are) caught up in "hope and change" that they won't even realize what they're giving away until it's too late. They're giving away their liberty and freedom. Just think about it.
Obama is wanting to dictate what those who work in the financial sector can make. We all know that's just the beginning of this slippery slope given his background and ideology plus the fact that otherwise, he wouldn't be wanting to control those institutions that never took TARP funds and are fiscally sound. Next up he and his party want to take over your health care. Once they control your livelihood and your physical well being, that's it folks. They've got you by the short hairs and it's too late to ever go back.
I know this is a small blog with a very limited number of readers, but if you value your liberty, I strongly advise you to call your representative and senators and tell your family and friends to do the same. We've got to get in front of this while we as a people still can and tell the politicians that enough is enough.
This jackass of a president just can't shake off the influences and mentors of his youth that trained him to be a community agitator. He keeps picking at the scab of the financial crisis, refusing to let it heal itself and it's really starting to piss me off. I really wish he would go on a speaking tour of Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. Nine months ought to do it. I know my 401k somehow does exceptionally better when he's out of the country.
And now I'm going to tell you what I really think.
I think this guy has absolutely no idea what he's doing. If he does, that's even worse. He actually believes that it's the job of the President of the United States to determine how much people are allowed to earn in the private sector? Like hell. He can't even manage to nominate people to his cabinet that pay their taxes, much less decide from on high how much this guy and that guy deserve to earn.
And Congress? They just passed a budget that has a nearly $2 TRILLION deficit. This group of goons is the most fiscally irresponsible group of people the world has ever seen, and they think they can instruct well-capitalized private businesses on how to not "threaten the company's viability"? I swear, I've never seen such an incompetent bunch of bumbling boobs. Folks, this is what's known as the blind leading the seeing.
Obama is quoted as saying that executive pay helped lead to a "reckless culture and a quarter-by-quarter mentality that in turn helped to wreak havoc in our financial system."
- Politicians have no business criticizing any business person working quarter to quarter. Last time I checked, all these hypocrites up in Washington do the exact same damn thing election cycle to election cycle! They've either got to be pathological or complete morons.
- How can King B.O. say with a straight face that financial institutions are the ones wreaking havoc when his party is spending our country into oblivion and systematically destroying the very foundational principles on which it was founded? All of our founders and framers have to be rolling in their graves right about now.
And they're not even done yet! They still want to take over health care. That's when they'll decide how much doctors are allowed to make as well. Don't worry, your job will come soon enough as well. There really is no limit to the power these people desire.
This whole thing literally makes me sick to my stomach to think about. The sad thing is many conservatives were warning about this sort of thing before the election, but so many Americans were (and still are) caught up in "hope and change" that they won't even realize what they're giving away until it's too late. They're giving away their liberty and freedom. Just think about it.
Obama is wanting to dictate what those who work in the financial sector can make. We all know that's just the beginning of this slippery slope given his background and ideology plus the fact that otherwise, he wouldn't be wanting to control those institutions that never took TARP funds and are fiscally sound. Next up he and his party want to take over your health care. Once they control your livelihood and your physical well being, that's it folks. They've got you by the short hairs and it's too late to ever go back.
I know this is a small blog with a very limited number of readers, but if you value your liberty, I strongly advise you to call your representative and senators and tell your family and friends to do the same. We've got to get in front of this while we as a people still can and tell the politicians that enough is enough.
Really?
Okay, if this is all the pencil pushers at the FDA have to do, it's time for some bureaucrats to be let go. Hey, lay off the Cheerios! If you mess with Cheerios, you're messin' with me!
Our tax money at work.
Our tax money at work.
Credit Card Legislation
In their continuing effort to in some way control private businesses, the Obama administration is demanding that Congree get him a bill to sign that restricts rate hikes and so forth that credit card companies may charge customers. My thoughts on this are pretty simple. When you use a credit card, you are taking a loan from the credit card company and are agreeing to their terms and conditions. Don't like the conditions? Don't use the card. Don't like their fees? Close your account. It's not that difficult.
Here are a few more observations about the whole situation:
Here are a few more observations about the whole situation:
- The federal government can't do seem to do things right that it is supposed to do like secure the border or strengthen and stabilize the dollar, yet they feel they can now run credit card companies.
- Obama said, "And the abuses in our credit card industry have only multiplied in the midst of this recession, when Americans can least afford to bear an extra burden." Basically, you can't charge people higher rates because they won't be able to pay. Inability to pay makes a customer very risky to a credit card company. Higher interest rates are the credit card company's way of factoring in that risk while still making credit available to higher-risk clients. If you don't let them charge higher rates, they will have to tighten their underwriting standards and eliminate the higher-risk clients from obtaining credit at all. Perfectly fine with me (Extending credit to those who can't afford to pay is what got us in this whole mess to begin i.e. subprime loans, etc.), but somehow I don't think that's what Obama was gunning for. The politicians are once again playing checkers instead of chess. Let's think a little deeper guys.
- Obama also said you should not "...need a magnifying glass and a reference book to read a credit card application" as well as "...we need credit card forms and statements that have plain language in plain sight...". Do you think he's passed on that gem of genious to the IRS in reference to the ridiculousness of our 60,000+ page tax code? Didn't think so. Well I say this to Obama. The last credit card application I filled out came with 2 pages of terms and conditions. When you manage to whittle the atrocity known as the US Tax Code down to 2 pages or less, you can whine to the credit card companies about how they present their statements, forms, and terms to the customer. Until then, stay the hell out of it and quit saying things that show your economic illiteracy and make you look like an idiot. On another note, how sad is it that the leaders of a country founded on the idea of liberty with limited government have managed to fill up over 60,000 pages with ways to confiscate your property?
Friday, May 8, 2009
Happy Weekend!
Sorry, no politics this past week. Not that there wasn't anything going on, but between work and family, I really didn't have much time to post. Not to worry, it's not like this administration won't do something idiotic next week that deserves disdain form the populace.
In the meantime, slip into the weekend with a little Robert Earl Keen. Given my line of work, this is one of my favorite songs of his. Enjoy!
In the meantime, slip into the weekend with a little Robert Earl Keen. Given my line of work, this is one of my favorite songs of his. Enjoy!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Health Care
I'll post more on this when I have more time, but wanted to give a glimpse into the mind of the left when it comes to health care. All this talk of a public system and private system coexisting is backroom smoke and mirrors crap.
Ever notice how when universal health care gets brought up, the left never talks about the quality or availability of care? When they do mention availability, it's usually because someone slips and says what they really think: that there is currently too much availability and people are receiving unneeded care. No, it just keeps tugging at the heartstrings about the poor masses who are dying in the streets because they don't have access to doctors, yet never points to how the system will truly be better than what we currently enjoy in this country. They never talk of the Brits with their rotting teeth or the Canadians that have to flee south to the States to get the care they need.
I just don't get the mindset on this. Everyone agrees that government is totally incompetent at virtually everything they do. Why would anyone want to entrust these politicians like the brainless twit above with the power to control their physical well-being and make decisions about whether they live or die?
Ever notice how when universal health care gets brought up, the left never talks about the quality or availability of care? When they do mention availability, it's usually because someone slips and says what they really think: that there is currently too much availability and people are receiving unneeded care. No, it just keeps tugging at the heartstrings about the poor masses who are dying in the streets because they don't have access to doctors, yet never points to how the system will truly be better than what we currently enjoy in this country. They never talk of the Brits with their rotting teeth or the Canadians that have to flee south to the States to get the care they need.
I just don't get the mindset on this. Everyone agrees that government is totally incompetent at virtually everything they do. Why would anyone want to entrust these politicians like the brainless twit above with the power to control their physical well-being and make decisions about whether they live or die?
Chrysler
Chrysler has filed for bankruptcy and will emerge with the UAW owning 55% of it. I have a feeling in my gut that this may not be the best way to ensure long-term market viability for this company.
I'll ask again, why couldn't they simply be allowed to enter normal Chapter 11 like every other business unable to sustain itself? Why are the US and Canadian governments going to own 10% when all's said and done?
Obama took the occasion to blast hedge funds that had invested money in Chrysler. I'm utterly sick and tired of this president trying to intimidate private business. These are Chicago thug tactics and are completely unacceptable in this country. I really don't know who the hell this guy thinks he is, but I've had enough of this heavy-handed Mafia-wannabe crap.
I encourage you to read the article above and the hedge funds' response statement for more details, but here's a quick overview.
These hedge funds represent many of the country's teacher union retirement plans and school endowments, which invested in secure loans to Chrysler through the funds. The way that repayment is supposed to work during a liquidation or bankruptcy is that senior secured creditors, such as the funds, are repaid in full before junior creditors, common stock holders, and so forth can try to recoup their investments. These funds, which have a fiduciary duty to their clients to look out for the best interests of the clients, offered to accept $.60 on the dollar. They were instead offered $.33 on the dollar, even though other groups lower on the legal priority chain (ahem, UAW?) were being given recoveries of up to 50%.
It was their proper duty as representatives for the clients listed above to turn this down and fight for more in court. Bottom line, these companies walked away from a piece of crap deal and for Obama to pull these mob tactics by trying to bully private businesses in front of the cameras and incite a public backlash is a disgrace to him and the office he holds.
I'll ask again, why couldn't they simply be allowed to enter normal Chapter 11 like every other business unable to sustain itself? Why are the US and Canadian governments going to own 10% when all's said and done?
Obama took the occasion to blast hedge funds that had invested money in Chrysler. I'm utterly sick and tired of this president trying to intimidate private business. These are Chicago thug tactics and are completely unacceptable in this country. I really don't know who the hell this guy thinks he is, but I've had enough of this heavy-handed Mafia-wannabe crap.
I encourage you to read the article above and the hedge funds' response statement for more details, but here's a quick overview.
These hedge funds represent many of the country's teacher union retirement plans and school endowments, which invested in secure loans to Chrysler through the funds. The way that repayment is supposed to work during a liquidation or bankruptcy is that senior secured creditors, such as the funds, are repaid in full before junior creditors, common stock holders, and so forth can try to recoup their investments. These funds, which have a fiduciary duty to their clients to look out for the best interests of the clients, offered to accept $.60 on the dollar. They were instead offered $.33 on the dollar, even though other groups lower on the legal priority chain (ahem, UAW?) were being given recoveries of up to 50%.
It was their proper duty as representatives for the clients listed above to turn this down and fight for more in court. Bottom line, these companies walked away from a piece of crap deal and for Obama to pull these mob tactics by trying to bully private businesses in front of the cameras and incite a public backlash is a disgrace to him and the office he holds.
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