Monday, November 02, 2009

Boobs: Democrats Circle the Wagons Around 'Irish Cottage' Dodd, Accusing GOP Candidate of Risque YouTube Videos


Democrats, fending off a serious challenge to Senator Chris "Irish Cottage" Dodd, have accused contender Linda McMahon of using illegal, in-kind contributions: "sexually-provocative WWE videos" on YouTube.

Asserting that World Wrestling Entertainment has made illegal in-kind campaign contributions to the U.S. Senate campaign of its former CEO Linda McMahon, state Democratic party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission.

DiNardo says WWE staffers ordered YouTube to remove sexually-provocative WWE videos from its website after those videos became campaign fodder.

The McMahon campaign's response:

"It's absolutely stunning to witness the faux indignation of Chris Dodd's campaign machinery. These are the same people who, in March, sat by quietly as the Senator knowingly and deliberately misled the country when he vehemently insisted several times over to a CNN producer that he had absolutely nothing to do with sneaking in a bonus exemption for his contributor friends at AIG. We all know what happened with that."

Yes, we do.


New Yorkers: Help Stop ACORN by Voting NO on Prop. 2


Dan from New York writes

PLEASE FORWARD

Proposition 2. Amendment to article 3 of the Constitution -- State of New York (2/3 Approval Required)

Amendment to article 3 of the Constitution, in relation to authorizing the Legislature to allow prisoners to voluntarily perform work for nonprofit organizations.

The proposed amendment would authorize the Legislature to pass legislation to permit inmates in state and local correctional facilities to perform work for nonprofit organizations. (like ACORN and other “community organizers”)

These propositions tend to go unnoticed. Don't let NY's corruptocrats slip this one by us. It would mean ACORN and its ilk would have access to a large pool of unpaid labor. With 2/3 needed for passage, and a low turnout expected, every no vote has a lot of weight. Vote NO on Prop 2.

So it is written. So it shall be done.


Former Fed Banking Regulator: Tim Geithner "Burned Billions" of Our Money Paying Off His Crony Banksters


The man marketed by the Obama administration as 'the only person' smart enough to save the financial system apparently made a series of strategic blunders costing taxpayers billions. Change! Eh, sorry -- that was my Obama Tourette's Syndrome kicking in.

Another one of the nation's largest lenders has filed for bankruptcy. On the brink for months, CIT filed for Chapter 11 protection on Sunday... But here's the bad news: While senior debt holders will only lose 30% of their investment, we, the U.S. taxpayer, will lose the entire $2.3 billion we lent the company this summer.

William Black, professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law is dumbfounded. "We put ourselves on the hook in a completely inept way where we lose first. We lose entirely as the taxpayers."

Black, a former top federal banking regulator, blames Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner for negotiating such a bad deal on behalf of the American public...

The government was in no way obligated to lend the struggling CIT money and, in fact, initially refused to provide it bailout funds. More importantly, being the lender of last resort, the government should have guaranteed we'd be the first to get paid if CIT eventually filed Chapter 11. By failing to do so, "it's like he [Geithner] burned billions of dollars again in government money, our money, gratuitously," says Black.

Silly, yes, but not truly surprising coming from the man who couldn't operate TurboTax successfully.

And Dylan Ratigan adds another craptastic Geithner tale:

...last week, the Treasury Secretary endorsed a piece of legislation that instead of stopping a select few companies from profiting from the implicit taxpayer-guarantee of Too Big Too Fail seeks to officially condone it. If the most prized skill in our society economically is a competition to see who can lend and insure the most money without consequences, you have doomed our nation's people to lose everything in the world's largest ever betting parlor; and that is precisely the system this Treasury Secretary -- Tim Geithner -- is seeking to legalize in America today.

However, the smoking gun for Secretary Geithner comes from a recent Bloomberg FOIA disclosure regarding events from last November. It was then that New York Federal Reserve Governor Tim Geithner decided to deliver 100 cents on the dollar, in secret no less, to pay off the counter parties to the world's largest (and still un-investigated) insurance fraud -- AIG...

...This full payoff with taxpayer dollars was carried out by Geithner after AIG's bank customers, such as Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and Societe Generale, had already previously agreed to taking as little as 40 cents on the dollar. Even after the GM autoworkers, bondholders and vendors all received a government-enforced haircut on their contracts, he still had the audacity to claim the "sanctity of contracts" in the dealings with these companies like AIG...

Judging by the number of bankers, lobbyists, corporate bigwigs and billionaires named Soros who have visited the White House, Ratigan really shouldn't be surprised by the handouts. The taxpayers, on the other hand, should make their voices heard tomorrow, in 2010 and in 2012.


Genius: Stimulus spurred construction jobs... at $222,491 each


The effects of the $787 Stimulus package on the construction industry were analyzed by technology firm Construction Software Advice. Put simply, the massive spending programs -- $131 billion targeted directly at "saving or creating" construction jobs -- were colossal failures.

In other words, economic central planners Pelosi, Obama and Reid were just as successful as the Soviet Union's Politburo during the eighties.

Here is a comparison of the jobs lost in the last year (September 2008 to September 2009) with the number of jobs created or retained by the ARRA [American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, or Stimulus Program].

Recovery.gov recently released their quarterly report on stimulus bill funds and our team at Construction Software Advice has compiled the construction related data to gain a clearer picture of how the ARRA is influencing the construction industry... How many construction jobs has the stimulus bill actually created or retained?

...According to the data released on October 30th by Recovery.gov, the ARRA has created or saved 76,214 construction jobs across the nation at a total cost of $15.8 billion since the bill was signed into law.

That’s $222,491 per construction job.

What effect do those numbers have on overall employment in construction?

Here is a graph of the number of construction workers unemployed each month this year, in thousands.

Unemployment in the construction industry has more than doubled in the last two years and as you can see, the stimulus bill has so far had a negligible effect on construction unemployment. There are over 600,000 more construction workers unemployed right now than there were in 2008.

...At the current rate of approximately 8,500 construction jobs created/saved a month nationwide, it would take the stimulus bill by itself 82 months to bring construction unemployment down to 2008 levels.

So if you're an unemployed construction worker, just wait around for seven or eight years: you should be gainfully employed by, say, 2018.

Cash-for-Clunkers. Turbotax Tim Geithner. Rampant unemployment. Banksters at the White House. Construction failures.

And these are the geniuses who want to take over the entire health care industry.


Sound the Bugles: It Is Our Time to Act


Let your voice be heard.

“As President Ronald Reagan said: ‘Since the American founding, we have been a people with a government, not the other way around.’”

“Now comes the Pelosi plan for a government takeover of health care. It is a freight train of runaway spending, bloated bureaucracy, mandates and higher taxes.

“If the liberals in Washington have their way, they will forever change the relationship between the government and ‘we the people.’

“If the Pelosi plan for a government takeover of health care passes, we will each become dependent on the political class in Washington for the provision of services of the most urgent and personal nature.

“Illness, our own, or more importantly the illness of a parent, or a spouse, or a child, has the capacity to suspend our priorities.

“What was important before the crisis grows dim in the harsh light of disease affecting a loved one.

“The Pelosi health care plan targets us when we are most vulnerable.

“The Pelosi health care plan makes us dependent on the state at the most urgent moment in the life of our family.

“Their hope: that little by little, we’ll yield our freedoms and our resources to the ever-growing appetite of the federal government.

“After years of runaway federal spending, borrowing, bailouts and takeovers, it’s easy to give way to despair; but I assure you: there is a remnant that still cherishes freedom, personal responsibility and limited government all across this land.

“I have seen it in the faces of ordinary Americans who have traveled to rallies, town halls and tea parties. I have read it in my mail. I have heard it from friends and neighbors who have lost their jobs but not lost their faith in America.

“The time has come for those who still cherish our ideals—the ideals of our founding: life, liberty and the pursuit of the American dream—to arise.

“Wherever you are, whoever you are, let your voice be heard.

“Republicans in Congress who are standing in the gap, cannot do this alone.

“I often tell my colleagues that a minority in Congress plus the American people equals a majority.

“‘We the people’ have the power to stop out-of-control spending at the federal level.

“‘We the people’ have to power to stop the Pelosi health care plan, in its effort to take over one-sixth of the American economy.

“And ‘we the people’ have the ability to protect the finest health care system this world has ever known and demand real health care reform that will reduce the cost of health care without growing government.

“I appeal to you not as Republicans or Democrats, liberals or conservatives, but as Americans.

“You cherish freedom, you fear the crushing weight of big government and debt that Congress and this Administration are leaving to our posterity, and you still believe that the strength of this nation is in the character and courage and ingenuity of the American people, and not the politicians and the bureaucrats.

“This is your moment, now is your time, let your voice be heard.”

This is our call to political action. Our armed forces, police officers, firefighters and emergency personnel serve in harm's way every single day.

Now is our time. If you are eligible to vote in any of the special elections, do so. This is a political battle for the future of our country and the choice is clear: freedom or socialism; liberty or tyranny.

This is our mission now: to defeat the Statists who would burn the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the very fabric of our founding.

Contact Your Representatives Now. Tell them that you choose freedom.


Larwyn's Linx: Ain't No Health Care in the Constitution

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Nation

Election 2009 Forecasts: AT (Baehr)
Frank Luntz: They are mad as hell on health care: Surber
Snort-worthy spectacle of the day: Malkin

No Health Care in the Constitution: AT
One-way street: “conservatives better play nice”: RedState
NY-23 Winners and Losers: Townhall

No, I never told the third-party candidate in NJ to drop out: Hot Air
WFP/ACORN Takes The Fifth On Corruption Suit: RedState
NY-23: Political Post-Mortems: AmPow

Bye, bye RINO: AT (Geller)
NY-23: ACORN and WFP concern voters: SIGIS
USS New York Sets Her Sights on Manhattan: NBC-NY

Economy

SEIU President Stern Tops WH Visitor List: WSJ
Senator Harry Reid's Vapor Bill: BigGov
Citi-Citi-Bang-Bang!: Denninger

What’s wrong with California is also wrong with much of the US: Kesler
Commercial Real Estate Regulators: FAIL: Denninger
Golf Cart Stimulus: WSJ

Obama After Tripling Annual Deficit: No More "Maxed-Out Credits Cards": BlogProf
Obamatics = Payola Politics: Kesler
Living in Chicago ain't worth a buck: B&R

Media

Conyers criticizes Obama: BlogProf
Limbaugh: Obama is a "threat to liberty": RCP
John Feehery: not a 'GOP Consultant'... a Pathetic Joke: Red State

False Transparency: we know more about the Obama’s marriage than we do about healthcare: PJM (Simon)
White House's media attacks: a troubling trend: NewsBusters
Adirondack Doug Gets The Caribou Barbi Treatment: LegalIns

Archbishop: Bitter Spinster Maureen Dowd Sounds Like 'Know-Nothing Newspaper of the 1850s': NewsBusters
Avatar: "It's Dances With Wolves in Space": Verum Serum
Qatari firm in talks to make Prophet Mohammad film: Reuters

Valerie “One Hit” Jarrett: The Spinner’s Greatest Hit: Cold Fury
DC GOP: Card Check, Pork, Funded Abortion On Demand: Riehl
'Pinnacle of Cynicism': Pundette

Climate & Energy

Japan aims to bury greenhouse gas emissions: France24

World

Imagine if Palin had said what Hillary said last week: PJM (Hanson)
Al Qaeda Claims Lebanon Rocket Fre on Israel: Maktoob
Riots, Jews and Guns: Big Hollywood

Home of Danish Mohammed Artist Blocked Off After Discovery of Mystery Package: ¡No Pasarán!
Trick or Treat: The Zelaya Costume: Fausta
Socialist Utopia Falters in France: Wheels Come Off Bicycle Sharing Program: BlogProf

Sci-Tech

The Idiot-Proof Way To Securely Use Public Wi-Fi: Consumerist

Cornucopia

Coolest Halloween Costume Ever: Verum Serum
Obamlet: American Digest
Roadkill: Parkway Rest Stop

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Green 'Shoots' for the FDIC


The rapid rise of green bars symbolizes the increasing number of banks seized by the FDIC.

Give thanks, citizens: President Obama says that his new data shows that the economy is recovering.

I can just feel the Stimulus working -- it's kind of like a warm thrill running down my leg.


Ship of State


Criminal. Irresponsible. Outrageous.

Even before the federal government takes over the entire, $3 trillion-a-year health care industry, its spending was completely out of control:

Jim Bianco of Bianco Research crunched the inflation adjusted numbers. The bailout has cost more than all of these big budget government expenditures – combined:

• Marshall Plan: Cost: $12.7 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $115.3 billion
• Louisiana Purchase: Cost: $15 million, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $217 billion
• Race to the Moon: Cost: $36.4 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $237 billion
• S&L Crisis: Cost: $153 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $256 billion
• Korean War: Cost: $54 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $454 billion
• The New Deal: Cost: $32 billion (Est), Inflation Adjusted Cost: $500 billion (Est)
• Invasion of Iraq: Cost: $551b, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $597 billion
• Vietnam War: Cost: $111 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $698 billion
• NASA: Cost: $416.7 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $851.2 billion

TOTAL: $3.92 trillion

That is $686 billion less than the cost of the credit crisis thus far.

I blame Bush.


To make up for shortfall of viewers by avoiding Fox News, White House adds appearances on 'non-traditional' cable channels


Despite the fact that Fox News draws more viewers than CNN, MSNBC and Headlne News combined, the White House has announced its intent to boycott Fox for the next several months.

In order to make up for the viewer shortfall, the White House will vary its appearance schedule to include "non-traditional" cable outlets. Look for cameo appearances by the President on the following shows:

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL

CARTOON NETWORK

ANIMAL PLANET

JUDGE JUDY

BARACK AND KATE PLUS EIGHT

According to White House insiders, appearances on these channels should help make up for the viewer shortfall.



Linked by: Don Surber. Thanks!

Larwyn's Linx: A GOP Lesson from the Scozzafava Campaign

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Nation

In 568 words, what's wrong with 1,990 pages: Examiner
NY23: Scozzafava Quits!: RSM
George W. Bush, Obama's Blame Czar: Steyn

11/5: Join Michelle Bachmann on the Capitol Steps: GWP
Valerie Jarrett forgets who she is: Steyn
Overcoming Fear, Rejecting ACORN 8 Alternative: MonCrief

A GOP Lesson from the Scozzafava Campaign: PJM (Clouthier)
Stay Classy, Code Pink: Grand Rants
Socialist Punches 67-Year Old at Anti-ObamaCare Rally: BMW

‘Unruly’ Conservatives Shock the GOP in NY-23: PJM (Moran)

Economy

If this is the best a stimulus can do, we're in real trouble: BizWeek
NJ: Corzine's Highest Property Taxes In US: Riehl
UAW, which owns GM, rejects Ford contract proposal: TAB

The SEIU wants your tax dollars: Carol's Closet
Homebuyer Tax Credit Fraud Explodes: BlogProf
NY: So Broke It Steals From Itself To Pay Off Unapproved Debt: Zero Hedge

Media

Palin vs. Gingrich, Visionary vs. Hack: AT
Earl Pomeroy (Disgrace-ND) Doesn't Like Taking Questions From His Employers: Say Anything
Cavuto: Imus Interview with Christie could turn tide: Lamb

Is Barack Obama Anti-American?: AT
Chris Kelly, HuffPo Farmhand, has a potty mouth: Lamb
Gibbs: Well, at least it isn’t 580,000 jobs lost a month: Surber

64 pages to create Social Security, why 2,000 to reform health care?: CNN (Cafferty)
Buffy and the Peeps: Patterico
“There Is An Animal Farm Taste To This Administration”: Driscoll

Climate & Energy

What happened to Obama's 'green economy'?: Wizbang
Cancel Another Climate Catastrophe: NOFP

World

No class, bad memory: Power Line
The Flying Imams Win: WklyStd
Campus Critics on Trial: AT

Hillary admits to Pakistan: "We tax everything that moves": GWP
Obama Again Delays Afghanistan Troop Decision: Patterico

Sci-Tech

Vroom for Everyone: Local Motors unveiling crowdsourced Rally Fighter at SEMA: AutoBlog
3D Stereoscopic Views of Old Japan: IZI

Cornucopia

Russian Billionaire Blows $52,000 on Lunch: TMZ
Trick-or-Treat at the White House: Crowder

CNN Slogan Winners:

#39 Erik Larsen: “CNN, the number one name in . . . . oh look – balloon boy!!!” To be fair, this could apply to just about every television news operation. Still, I’m here to be amused.

For pure cleverness, a statuette to: #70 Sioux Lady: “Hear no news. Speak no news. Cee No News – CNN.” I tried to get something like that to work but couldn’t do it. Sioux’s effortless solution left me bitter and envious. I’m filling a bucket with pig’s blood and waiting for the prom!

And for combining wit with precision and accuracy, the Blitzy to: #29 Rick Zalon, “CNN: We beat the Sham-Wow guy with the coveted 18-54 demo in the 3 am timeslot!” Yes, I’ll just bet they did.



Saturday, October 31, 2009

Find Fury... Or Die!


Grantbridge Street has my favorite comic story of all time, illustrated by John Severin and written by the immortal Stan Lee.





















See Grantbridge Street for the rest.


Mission Accomplished! Fannie Mae Loan Delinquency Rate Skyrockets 300% Over 2008


Tyler Durden paints an ugly picture for the U.S. taxpayer, courtesy Barney Frank (D-MA) and Chris Dodd (D-CT).

The [Fannie Mae] "seriously delinquent" rate has gone parabolic, increasing by roughly 5% sequentially and just under 300% YoY [year-over-year]. As mere text will simply not do this metric justice, please enjoy this chart of the dataset from Blytic. It tells you all you need to know about the Fed's containment of the housing problem.

The August seriously delinquent single-family number comprised of a 2.87% non-credit enhanced delinquencies and a very bothersome 11.52%, consisting of credit enhanced loans... The deterioration of FNM's book however did not stop it from increasing the size of its book [loans]. In September Fannie's total book of business hit $3.242 trillion, up from $3.229 trillion in August and $3.079 trillion in the prior year...

...This trend should bother you, dear taxpayer, because it is your money on the hook here, which is not only massively mismanaged by Bernanke & Co., LLC, but which sees another $80 billion of free funding every month courtesy of the dollar printing press to onboard even more toxic garbage onto your balance sheet.

Thank goodness the Stimulus kicked in and, according to the pinpoint-accurate White House, "created or saved 640,329 jobs."

Business Week's Peter Coy observes, "If this is the best a stimulus can do, we're in real trouble."

Remember the end of the movie Animal House, when ROTC frat-boy Kevin Bacon tries to calm the crowd by screaming, "Remain Calm! All is well! All is well..."?

That's the message the P.R. flacks at Goldman Squids are marketing.

So just pile into the stock market, rubes! All is well!



Linked by: InstaPundit. Thanks!

Top Ten Halloween Photos












Culled from: IZI.