Sunday, May 23, 2010

Larwyn's Linx: Nouveau riche Obamas pour it on at state dinner

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget.

Nation

Nouveau riche Obamas pour it on at state dinner: Pundette
Communist indoctrination in Chicago schools: RWN
Reviving Race Science at Columbia: AT

Obama's West Point Commencement Address: AmPower
Djou wins: first Republican to win in 20 years: GWP
The sons and daughters of liberty: AT

Economy

As economic worries grow, White House puts on the glitz: York
The Bankrupting of America: WSJ
32 States Now Officially Bankrupt: Zero Hedge

Climate & Energy


A Very Disturbing, Job-Killing Trend: Hewitt
Where do we get a refund? Mann's scams continue: Depot
Sealing the Gulf Blowout: AT

Media

The News They Kept to Themselves: RWN
Why the GOP could still lose in November: PJM
Mark Levin Challenges David Gregory: GWP

Fund smacks down Maher: Teabag yourself: NewsBusters
Daley hopes for violence against Supreme Court: Gormogons
Obama's Thugocracy: Tantaros

Thoughtless on Discrmination: RWN
Over My Dead Body!: AT
The Senator from Sandy Berger: Cashill

World

Update On UCSD MSA Member Who Admitted She Wants A Second Holocaust: JoshuaPundit
Evidence mounts that Pakistani major spoke to Times Square suspect: LAT
A Republican Response To President Calderone of Mexico ("Cooter-sweats?"): Ace

Senators: Obama admin keeps Congress in dark on intel: Times
Fatah may resume ‘armed struggle': JPost
'Shakin' It Up Here, Boss': CBullitt

SciTech

Ka-boom! HP expands notebook battery recall: CNet
Google Takes on Apple TV with Web-Based TV Service: NewsFactor
Applications Disclosing Required Authority: Schneier

Cornucopia

Dora the Explorer: SondraK
Elena Kagan and America's Rude Legacy of anti-Harvard Bigotry : IowaHawk
Spreading Manure: Adrienne

Image: WeinerFacts.com.
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: MOTUS

QOTD: "If you were to waterboard Chuck Schumer and ask him who he does not want to run against in November, he would gurgle the name Gary Berntsen." -- D. Patrick Mahoney


Saturday, May 22, 2010

Chris Van Hollen: Wall Street Vote Shows Tea Party Doesn't Have America's Back or Something

Chris Van Hollen, Democrat from the great state of Maryland, says that.. ah, screw it. I'll let the commenters at The Hill respond.

Thank you Van Hollen for clarifying what the tea party thinks. You don't have a clue. We'll explain it in more detail in November.

Van Hollen is a lying weasel like the rest of the Democrats. No Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac crackdown, you bet Republicans should be against it. It was the corrupt scheme of Chris Dodd and Barney Frank and their comrades to give government-backed loans to people who could never pay them back, just for political gain, that triggered this whole mess to begin with. Why don't the Dems want to include Freddie and Fannie in this reform bill, hmmm? (Hint, look at who runs them.)

I love it how the Democrats keep spinning this bill as some sort of helping hand to main street Americans when it is just another power grab by Obama and the Democrats so they can control business. The Bill massively expands the powers of the executive branch and limits the ability of parties involved to redress their grievances cased by government moves directed at them. In short this bill is very tyrannical and scary. Tell me again how the Tea Party would support this legislation?

From what I can determine, this bill is, as others have noted, nothing but a sham. The real reform, reform that would have eliminated all of these practices that caused this horrific economic meltdown and devastated the lives of so many Americans, is not going to happen—hands off Freddie and Fannie, Wall Street, the big banks, etc... Where's all that "change" that candidate (now President) Obama and the Democratic candidates continually preached during the campaign? It was all "smoke and mirrors" to entice the American people to vote for them, when they had absolutely no desire to make meaningful changes... What I fear is an even worse financial crisis in a few more years (as various financial commentators have suggested) as these forces that caused the current situation are allowed to continue the same activities that cause the crises. For a real taste of what is likely to happen, I suggest you read Niall Fergueson's article "The Decline of America," in the Feb.-Mar. 2010 edition of Foreign Affairs. As Dr. Fergueson states (I paraphrase), "when decline comes, it will come swiftly."

When it comes to American history, the pathetic Chris Van Hollen is a footnote to a footnote to a bibliography reference. Optimistically speaking, that is.


There's not an app for that: Apple gets into the political censorship business

Ari David, a candidate for the U.S. House in Henry Waxman's district, created an application for the Apple iPhone to help build support for his campaign. Apple rejected it.

A Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives is accusing Apple of unreasonably rejecting an iPhone attack app that accused his Democratic rival of voting to raise taxes and cut spending on Medicare. [Ed: Which he did, of course.]

...Apple claimed that his free iPhone app was "defamatory." The app targeted incumbent Henry Waxman's voting record using pointed phrases like "Soviet-style regulation."

...Translation: Apple may believe that Democrats would be offended by a political app that says Waxman "supported cap & trade legislation that would have brought us $7 a gallon gas." [Ed: Which he did, of course.]

This is hardly the first time, of course, that Apple has been the target of complaints alleging arbitrary App Store exclusion... Cartoonist Mark Fiore had to win a Pulitzer before his app was approved; it had been denied on the grounds that it "ridicules public figures," which Fiore intended to be the point of the exercise.

So: Apple is the great arbiter of speech. Smarter than all of us.

Its business, apparently, includes determining who receives free speech rights on its platform.

Ultra-refined apps -- imbued with class like iFart -- receive carte blanche on the iPhone.

But not Republicans, it would seem.

All the more reason for developers to stick with the Android platform, which -- by the way -- is kicking butt.


Democrat Utopia of California Sinks Deeper Into the Abyss as Liberals Invent New Ways to Raise Taxes and Kill, Once and For All, the Private Sector

California's jobless rate stalls at 12.6 percent

'Based on its population, California should have created at least 30,000 jobs last month. Instead it was lapped by states like Texas, Virginia and Ohio, each of which created more jobs... "The states that had the biggest bubbles … are doing poorly," [California Chief Economist Howard Roth] said. California's 12.6 percent unemployment – the worst since modern record-keeping began in 1976 – trailed only Michigan (14 percent) and Nevada (13.7 percent). Nevada is experiencing many of the same aftershocks from the housing debacle... some big obstacles remain, including the state's $19.1 billion budget deficit.'

Cerritos City Council outraged by State's raid

'The State of California required the Cerritos Redevelopment Agency to make a payment of $11,812,007 to the Los Angeles County Auditor on May 10. The payment is a result of the State s decision to raid $2.05 billion in local redevelopment funds... The State of California continues to live beyond its means and California s cities are paying the consequences, said Cerritos Mayor Joseph Cho, Ph.D... To make the payment, the Cerritos Redevelopment Agency borrowed the funds from its Low- and Moderate-Income Housing Fund... [it must repay the fund] by June 30, 2015.'

Democrats Offer Clever Solution to Close Budget Gap: More Taxes

'Disagreeing with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's nonpartisan legislative analyst Tuesday recommended imposing targeted tax increases rather than killing the state's welfare program and child care subsidies... Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, looking at the governor's new budget proposal, said that eliminating such key elements of the state's safety net in bridging a projected $19.1 billion budget gap would harm the neediest families... Taylor suggested options such as raising alcohol taxes, increasing community college fees, allowing oil drilling on the offshore Tranquillon Ridge, suspending corporate tax breaks, imposing a fee on structures in wildland areas where the state provides fire protection and extending an increase in the vehicle license fee that is set to expire in June 2011...

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, in a written statement, said that Taylor's report confirms Democrats' contention that the governor's budget proposal is unrealistic and would harm the economy.'

CA taxpayers must pay 40% of 2010 taxes in June to help state cut deficit

'In 2009, state Controller John Chiang issued $2 billion of IOUs to lower-priority creditors to preserve cash for creditors with higher legal standing, such as bondholders. The IOUs were ultimately redeemed... One of the state’s recent budget actions — a frontloading of tax withholding requirements — will impact the state’s balance sheet in as-yet-untested ways, the report said... “California taxpayers are now scheduled to make 40% of their estimated annual payments in the month of June,” the LAO reported.'

Democrats: No cuts to welfare, slash prison system instead

'Roughly two-thirds of Schwarzenegger’s proposed spending plan -- $12.4 billion – are reductions in state spending, $1.1 billion or eliminating the state’s welfare program – a move Democrats have already announced they reject... On the other side, Republicans will be reluctant to back $890 million of proposed savings in the state prison system, supported by Democrats. “There are things in the governor’s package that are a hard sell for both parties,” said Jean Ross, executive director of the California Budget Project."

* * * * * * * * *

The first job of government is public safety. The Constitution doesn't mention wealth redistribution. Certainly, the most needy among us, the innocent and the truly infirm, the aged and neglected, deserve our support. But far too many on welfare abuse the system, using it to subsidize negligent, and often criminal, behavior.

California's anti-American policies -- massive unions that conspire with Democrats against taxpayers; support for illegal immigration through the establishment of 'sanctuary cities'; unchecked welfare and public assistance; a culture of eco-statism that destroys entrepreneurship; and catastrophic levels of taxation -- have all contributed to an economic disaster.

Aren't Democrat Utopias swell?

And just think: the same species of incompetent Statists are running the entire country -- only with a lot less practical experience. It's November or never.


Prison Tat Image: Last Gringo.

Proof that Anthony Weiner is a Stalinist Bully (and Better Suited for Ruling Zimbabwe Than Serving in Congress)

I want you to know that Rep. Anthony Weiner is a detestable hack. I want you to know that Anthony Weiner is a menace to the civil society. I want you to know that Anthony Weiner is a would-be dictator whose attempts to silence political speech are dangerous and, I believe, border on criminal behavior.

I say this because Weiner does not believe in the First Amendment, or any part of the Constitution, so far as I can tell. He is blatantly violating his oath of office.

Under the pretense of "consumer protection", Anthony Weiner is attacking perfectly legitimate private businesses like GoldLine in order to silence conservative viewpoints. Using the specious claim that GoldLine "grossly overcharges" its customers (PDF), Weiner is specifically targeting sponsors of conservative thought-leaders like Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin and Fred Thompson.

This is nothing less than a direct attack on free speech by a thug and a bully masquerading as a Congressperson. Why? Because Goldline is no more overcharging customers than Wendy's does when comparing its hamburger to one from McDonald's.

A one-ounce 2010 American Eagle gold bullion coin is the single best benchmark for most gold collectors. Using a Google search, I took the first nine websites I found (that would allow me to shop online) and ran through an ordering process for a 2010 1-oz. Eagle on each.

And this is what I found:

Raw Price + ShippingTotal PriceShopping CartWebsite
$1,239.05 + $24.95 shipping$1,264.001 oz. 2010 Gold American EagleAPMEX
$1,256.22 + $17.95 shipping$1,273.171 oz. 2010 Gold American EagleGainesville Coins
$1,255.48 + $27.00 shipping$1,282.481 oz. 2010 Gold American EagleBlanchard Online
$1,240.01 + 24.95 shipping$1.284.961 oz. 2010 Gold American EagleGolden Eagle Coin
$1,295.00 + free shipping$1,295.001 oz. 2010 Gold American EagleGoldLine
$1,278.74 + $20.95 shipping$1,299.691 oz. 2010 Gold American EagleBrandon's Coins
$1,247.92 + $49.51 shipping$1.297.431 oz. 2010 Gold American EagleBullionDirect
$1,299.00 + $19.95 shipping$1,318.951 oz. 2009 Gold American EagleAustin Gold Information Network
$1,399.00 + $7.45 shipping$1.406.451 oz. 2009 Gold American EagleSteve's Collectibles
$1,435.00 + free shipping$1,435.001 oz. 2010 Gold American EagleGovMint

In fact, Goldline was fifth out of ten on total price for the one-ounce benchmark gold bullion coin, separated by 2% from the first slot. Does that sound like overcharging to you?

Is Anthony Weiner investigating #10?

Or #9?

Or #8, #7 or #6?

No. Because they don't sponsor conservative authors and speakers. If Weiner were really concerned with overcharging, he could have found far better targets than Goldline in a matter of a few minutes, just like I did.

Anthony Weiner is a would-be Stalinist and is directly targeting free speech. His views are out of the mainstream. His tactics are anti-American. And he deserves to be shown the door in November.

And I hope that Landmark Legal Foundation or another real civil liberties outfit sues the crap out of this pathetic little twerp.


Related: WeinerFacts.


Hat tip: Another Black Conservative. Thanks!

Are you ready to fire the malevolent, incompetent boob named Chuck Schumer? Now there's a way: Support Gary Berntsen for Senator from New York

Are you sick of seeing this Socialist bully smirk at you as he dismantles the American Constitution?

Are you tired of his cavorting with the likes of Bernard Madoff and John Paulson, taking millions from Wall Street, while the average American gets financially raped by his serial failures?

Have you had enough of the scamtabulous global warming crap foisted upon us by Schumer and his ilk?

If so, I'd urge you to support Gary Berntsen in New York.


Berntsen is a true patriot, having served 23 years in the CIA's clandestine services.

"If you were to waterboard Chuck Schumer and ask him who he does not want to run against in November, he would gurgle the name Gary Berntsen," wrote D. Patrick Mahoney, the president of Iraq Veterans For Congress PAC... Mr. Mahoney called Mr. Berntsen--who wrote a book Jawbreaker, about the search for Osama Bin Laden after 9/11--as a "real deal terror warrior and his strengths perfectly highlight Schumer's weaknesses."

If you have the ability, please support Gary Berntsen and send the disgusting Chuck Schumer into retirement.


Larwyn's Linx: Sessions is right -- John Morton, head of ICE, you're fired

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget.

Nation

Sessions is Right - ICE Chief John Morton: You’re Fired: RWN
Awesome: Brewer's TV Ads Rip Administration Officials: GWP
Chicago Mayor Daley Threatens to Shoot Reporter: NewsBusters

The Shady ShoreBank Bailout: Malkin
Where the hell is Cass Sunstein?: FrumForum
The Covert Influence of the Communist Party USA : NewZeal

Economy

Has the first public sector union domino fallen?: LegalIns
The real reason public pensions are imploding: Insider
Block Grants Forever: Malanga

$10 billion for a $100 million investment: GWP
SEIU thugs descend on banker's home, terrifying boy: Hot Air
The CLASS Act is a ticking debt time bomb: Trautwein

32 States Borrow $37.8B for Unemployment Payments: Mish
Who Will Bail Us Out?: RWN
Central Falls, RI is Bankrupt: Mish

Climate & Energy

Princeton Scientist Tells Congress: Increased CO2 Good for Mankind: Depot
Say, About That Sea Level Rise Meme...: RWN
Videos from the Fourth International Conference on Climate Change: Heartland

Media

Obama: He’s Better than Teflon — He’s a Democrat: PJM
On the Falsehood of ‘The Vital Center’: RSM
Crist: Pass Amnesty for Illegals to 'Save' Social Security: BlogProf

The Quintessential Tom Friedman: Maryland Conservatarian
WSB-TV Atlanta: Large numbers of Muslim terrorists coming over the southern border: TAB
Obama administration: Picking and choosing the laws it enforces: Marathon

Our Anti-Religious, Anti-American, Arrogant Schools: RWN
Blumenthal and the Liars' Party: AT
The 'Chicago Way' Goes Nationwide: CDOBS

World

How bad is Obama's foreign policy? Let us count the ways: PJM
Nuclear Proliferation Gone Wild: Peters
Obama Allows Russia To Sell Deadly Weaponry To Iran: LogMon

Obama's Lazy Tribue to Daniel Pearl: Steyn
Mexican President Attacks Second Amendment: RWN
Cuba backs Dems against Arizona: Moonbattery

SciTech

AT&T's new early-termination fee for the iPhone: $325: CNet
Android 2.2's Froyo goodness hitting the Nexus One already?: Engadget
Chupacabra!: Sun

Cornucopia

Inappropriate Golden Books – Movies R’ Fun: iOwnTheWorld
I'm doing fine, mum! Unborn baby's 'thumbs up' from the womb: Daily Mail
The Council Has Spoken: Watcher of Weasels

Image: GearFuse via iOwnTheWorld.
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: GM's Place.


Friday, May 21, 2010

Thousands plan to fire Facebook on 5/31

Look, I don't care whether Facebook exposes our identities to advertisers or not. Just tell your users what you're up to -- and let them make the call!

Facebook and MySpace sent advertisers code that identified which specific users were clicking on ads, the Wall Street Journal reported today, citing a report at AT&T Labs and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

In some cases, Facebook advertisers were able to view these users' names, ages, hometowns and occupations.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is getting some really bad P.R. over this and other recent privacy blunders.

Facebook has attracted criticism in recent weeks for the perceived complexity of its privacy settings, and the fact that users have to opt-out of sharing some of their information with third parties, rather than give explicit consent by opting in. Although Facebook is expected to look again at its privacy policy in the coming weeks, it may not be enough to halt an online campaign for a mass Facebook "suicide" on May 31, with thousands of users encouraged to delete their accounts.

If you're ready to quit Facebook, you're not alone. Approximately 60% of users are ready to fire Facebook, according to a recent poll by security vendor Sophos. More than 12,000 have signed up to do so on QuitFaceBook.com.

Elinor Mills gives you the skinny on terminating your account.


If you weren't already shorting BP, I'd suggest you start *

Check this out:

What rocket scientist came up with this outstanding plan: "Say, let hire the Mistress of Disaster"?

I truly fear for the future of British Petroleum.


Linked by: Ace of Spades. Thanks!

* I am not a financial advisor, nor do I play one on TV.

Imagine

Imagine that FDR's New Deal had ended the Great Depression prior to World War II.

Imagine that the trillions of dollars contributed by Americans to FDR's Social Security system hadn't been stolen by Congress, leaving the system underfunded by tens of trillions of dollars.

Imagine that LBJ's "Great Society" program -- consisting of endless housing projects and massive wealth transfers -- had propelled poor inner-city residents to prosperity.

Imagine that the Democrats' efforts to legalize 'Chain Migration' had not dramatically increased illegal immigration and resulted in the the Balkanization of large swaths of the United States.

Imagine that LBJ's Medicare program had been designed for efficiency and cost-effectiveness; had not resulted in fraud approaching $100 billion a year; and its trust fund had not been stolen by Congress and spent in the general fund with no regard for future needs.

Imagine that the Democrats' multi-decade push for welfare benefits hadn't resulted in a culture of dependency; hadn't encouraged more single-parent families; and hadn't resulted in more inner-city violence, crime and imprisonment.

Imagine that the United States Post Office is a paragon of efficiency, generating profits for taxpayers year after year.

Imagine that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac hadn't gone bankrupt, resulting in one of the most catastrophic financial crises in American history; that it hadn't been a "job shop for out of work Democrats"; that it hadn't been protected from audits by Barney Frank, Maxine Waters, and other Democrat politicians; and that it hadn't been mercilessly abused by Clinton administration cronies including Franklin Raines, Jamie Gorelick and Jim Johnson.

Imagine that the SEC and other financial regulators had discovered Bernard Madoff's fraud before it imploded; that it hadn't somehow ignored the impending derivatives meltdown; and that it had adequately policed AIG, Goldman Sachs and other "too-big-to-fail" companies that were backstopped by the taxpayers.

* * * * * * * * *

Can you imagine a United States of America where all of these big government, social engineering programs were successful?

I can't. In fact, none of them have been successful. That's a .000 batting average.

Nor can they ever be successful. Central planning fails every time when you compare it to free markets, private property, individual liberty and the magnificent system of government our country's founders created.

We know central planning fails. Every effort by the Soviet Union, by Cuba, by Venezuela, by North Korea, by Zimbabwe, and by Democrats in this country have failed, utterly and completely.

So how could anyone support the trillion-dollar "Stimulus" program, Cap-and-Trade, socialized medicine, a 2000-page "financial overhaul", and "comprehensive immigration reform" when Democrats rely upon big government to make things right?

We know with absolute certainty how all of these ill-fated programs will end up. They will be bankrupt, maddeningly inefficient and reminiscent of the DMV at the end of the month.

It's November or never to unwind them. Our children and grandchildren are depending upon us.