Monday, July 04, 2011

Charting the GOP Candidates on Conservatism

Nate Silver's column at The New York Times is usually about as exciting as listening to two safety engineers argue the merits of non-glare glass. But this chart, pointed out at Ace o' Spades, is actually quite fascinating.

If you want more big government, more cap-and-trade swill, and just a slower on-ramp to Marxism, well, then Huckabee Huntsman and Romney are your guys.

Otherwise, the only candidates worth supporting at this point are Bachmann and Cain (Perry would be a reasonable choice if he ever throws his hat in).

Here's an interesting conjecture: I would bet Sarah Palin would be closer to Perry than Bachmann. What say you?


Related: Throw Michele Bachmann a couple o' bucks if you have em' to spare.

The Case for a Balanced Budget Amendment in Three Disturbing Charts

When the federal government steals money from one individual to give to another it doesn't term it "Redistribution of Wealth" in any official capacity. No, that would be too close to the actual Marxist policies driving the modern Democrat agenda. No, instead they call this legalized form of theft "Personal Current Transfer Receipts."

Personal Current Transfer Receipts Examples

• Medicare • Medicaid • Food Stamps • Social Security • Unemployment Insurance

Personal Current Transfer Receipts:

Note that transfer receipts are nearly $2.4 trillion.

Federal Government Receipts:

Ratio of Personal Transfer Receipts to Federal Government Receipts:

Notes

• Nearly every dime of federal government receipts goes to personal transfer payments.
• Between 1960 and 1970, personal transfer payments were 30-35% of federal government receipts.
• From 1980-2000 the percentage fluctuated between 50% and 65%.
• If (when) the economy slips back into recession personal transfer payments will exceed 100% of federal government receipts.

Given personal transfer receipts take up nearly 100% of federal government receipts, in theory, there should be no room for anything else, including wars, roads and bridges, and wages of federal employees.

Which is why Congressional Republicans must reject any hike of the debt ceiling until a Balanced Budget Amendment is passed by Congress and signed into law by the President.


Report: Obama to drop Biden in '12 reelection bid, replace with cute fuzzy mascot or Andrew Cuomo

The New York Post relays a report from Beltway insiders that Joe Biden -- who "doesn't bring anything to [the] ticket" -- will be dropped from Barack Obama's troubled 2012 reelection bid.

A Prominent Republican is joining a prominent Democrat in predicting that Gov. Cuomo will become President Obama's running mate for vice president next year.

Former New York GOP boss William Powers, credited with playing a key role in electing Rudy Giuliani mayor and George Pataki governor, was effusive in his praise of Cuomo's successes in the just-ended legislative session, and in his prediction of the freshman governor's political future... "I don't think there's any doubt Obama is going to pick him as his running mate. The president is in trouble and [Vice President Joseph] Biden doesn't bring anything to his ticket.

...Cuomo, who saw a flurry of predictions last week in the wake of the gay-marriage victory that he'll run for president in 2016, has repeatedly refused to discuss the possibility of higher office.

...Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown earlier this year also predicted that Obama would pick Cuomo to replace Biden, who he claimed would be named by the president to replace Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

...Cuomo wouldn't have to resign as governor to run for vice president, although many voters would likely react negatively since he could be leaving office just two years into his four-year term.

Should the New York Governor indeed replace Biden, expect a spotlight on Cuomo's culpability in the housing meltdown as head of HUD under Bill Clinton. His role in the 2008 economic collapse earned him the well-deserved nickname "Architect of Ruin."


Hat tip: Wanda.

Larwyn's Linx: Obama and the Second American Revolution

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

Nation

Obama and the Second American Revolution: AT
Three Things You Can Do For Liberty: Reynolds
Does The New ‘White House Rural Council’ = UN’s Agenda 21?: Blaze

The Face of Tyranny: RS
Barack Obama’s disappointing 2Q?: RS
Pro-Life Group Thrown Out of Illinois July 4th Parade By Jaycees: BG

Demonic Excerpt: The Revolution: Coulter
Republican Freshmen Say ‘No’ to Obama’s Recess Appointments: RS
Bachmann's Compassion: Will Help Obama Find A Job: RWN

Economy

Revisionomics: Blumer
Obama’s Economists Admit: ‘Stimulus’ Cost $278,000 per Job: WS
Push to make Michigan a right-to-work state gets rolling: Freep

Californa's Mess Isn't Texas' Fault: HE
Replacing property as a source of wealth creation: Barone
Putnam County, Illinois and lower sales taxes: Marathon

Climate & Energy

Obama continues his war on cheap American energy: AT
Nissan Leaf sweeps past Chevy Volt: Bayonet
Time for U.S. manufacturers to declare independence -- from government: Exam

Media

Natural Gas "Bubble" Report: Market Tinkering or Shoddy Reporting?: RCP
Michele Bachmann Gains in Strength: Can She Get the Republican Nomination?: PJM
Confucius Say Never Forget Kindnesses: PCP

Confessions Of A Jew-Basher (Eric Boehlert is Almost Right): Lid
ABC's 'This Week': Founding Fathers Were 'Guys Who Didn't Give Women the Vote and Let Slavery Stand': NB
Krauthammer Challenges Shields: Where Is Democrat Budget? What's Their Plan?: NB

Dimwitted bimbo Sarah Palin claims Abraham Lincoln Built the “Intercontinental Railroad” (No Such Thing!): RWN
McCotter's Key Votes: Malkin
What You're Missing If You Don't Read The Times: Kimball

World

Leon Panetta has been brought in to oversee significant cuts to the U.S. Defense budget: OTB
Aerial Bombing, No Longer an Act of War: NoisyRm
Iran: Mullah Regime Escalates Crackdown On Christians As Number Of Muslims Converting Rises: WZ

State Dept. Official Hails Che Guevara as Symbol of Freedom: Fontova
Egypt’s Religious Establishment Takes On the Muslim Brotherhood: PJM
Back To The Drawing Board: S&P Says Greek Rollover Debt Plan "Would Likely Amount To A Default": ZH

Video: Chavez back in Venezuela: Fausta
A Moment of Clarity from Hamas’ Supporters in America: Commentary
Muslim weightlifter submits US Olympic Committee: Creeping

SciTech

Sexual Activity Tracked By Fitbit Shows Up In Google Search Results: Crunch
Lightning Review: HP TouchPad: PopMech
Meltdown: What Really Happened at Fukushima?: Atlantic

Cornucopia

How Beautiful We Were: American Digest
Lost Seal Of The Errand Boy Sent By Grocery Clerks: PCP
Feelin’ Pretty Damned Unappreciated: MOTUS

July 4 Heartwarmer: A Marine and His Miracle Dog: PJM
Brad Paisley – Alcohol: iOTW
Independence Day 2011: Happy 235th birthday, America: Malkin

Image: Sad Obama wishes you a Happy inDependence Day
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Political Clown Parade

QOTD: "The inconvenient truth for liberal media members is Congressional Democrats haven't proposed a budget since... April 3, 2009... That's 27 straight months without a budget proposal from a Democrat in either the House or the Senate, and people like Shields have the gall to go on television and complain about proposals from Congressional Republicans.

The idea that in the midst of a serious budget crisis in this country, one political party has completely abdicated its primary responsibility should be drawing media ire on a daily basis... Instead, these shills point fingers at the only party trying to rectify the situation.

It really makes you wonder how they look themselves in the mirror when they brush their teeth." --Noel Sheppard

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Typical: Democrat official celebrates violence against Republicans

The party of tolerance, free speech and the democratic process is at it again: advocating violence against political opponents, Third Reich-style.*

And now... a special message about the importance of civility in politics, brought to you by the same people who continually claim the Tea Party is a bunch of violent extremists. Via Legal Insurrection:

This Tweet is from Graeme Zielinski, the Communications Director for the Wisconsin State Democratic Party. Would you be surprised to learn he used to be a “reporter” for The Washington Post...?

Uhm, in truth? No.

This is yet another example demonstrating how far the modern Democrat Party has fallen. Harry Truman and JFK would no longer recognize their party, hijacked by the likes of George Soros and other monied, hard-left forces of internationalism.

Their hatred of the Constitution is palpable. Violence and suppression of free speech are on their menu if it will help them retain power. Elections don't matter, laws don't matter, our history and traditions don't matter.

Which is why we must obliterate them -- politically -- in 2012, leaving them no more a force than are the Whigs. We have no choice if we are to save this Republic.


Hat tip: Instapundit. Linked by: Memeorandum. Thanks!

Combating class warfare rhetoric the easy Doug Ross way

My critics on Twitter revel in the standard class warfare rhetoric endemic to failed revolutions throughout history. The French Revolution. Russia in 1917. Peron in Argentina. The game-plan is always the same: demonize the rich, attack private industry, segregate political constituencies by race, gender, creed and religion in order to prey upon the weak-willed.

Such is the recipe of one Barack Obama, who has attacked industry after industry: coal miners, oil companies, health insurers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical professionals, and "millionaires and billionaires", among others.

The following are the kinds of messages I often receive on Twitter:

• Maybe we should just hand over country to REpub/CorpAmerica

• I found that Laws are about controlling WallSt,but we suffer too. Loopholes/oxymoron clauses have brought #us to the brink.

• UR to smart NOT to believe CorpAmerica wants to pay any Taxes

Unfortunately, we've bankrupted the Treasury with the alternative: the collectivist roadmap. And it's failed like it's failed every other time in history. Central planning by masterminds in some far-off capitol has a perfect track record. Zero-for-Eternity.

Remember that "Stimulus" program? How's that working out for ya', Sparky? Or the Department of Education? Working out swimmingly for low-income students? And that solar technology in which Jimmy Carter invested billions of taxpayer dollars? Remember how it revolutionized our energy infrastructure?

Spewing Marxist class warfare rhetoric is simply indicative of a lack of education.

To paraphrase Milton Friedman: who are these angels on Earth that can redistribute everyone's wealth?

There isn't a corporation on Earth that can force you to pay it whether you want to or not.

There isn't a corporation on the planet that can throw you in jail for failure to adhere to its millions of pages of laws, regulations and dictates.

There isn't a corporation anywhere that can make you buy a one-size-fits-all health care plan, or a certain kind of light bulb, or a low-flow toilet, or a certain kind of car, and so on and on.

There isn't a corporation anywhere that can command you -- the citizen -- to participate in multi-trillion dollar Ponzi schemes like Medicare, set to collapse in only ten short years.

No, there isn't any corporation powerful enough to do these things.

Only a giant, enormous, bloated federal government can ruin our economy in these ways. And, then, only because a certain group of power-hungry, easily corrupted politicians, lawyers and judges have ignored our highest law: the Constitution.

Our Framers created the Constitution to prevent the rise of an all-powerful, autocratic, authoritarian central government.

It wasn't the corporations that have ruined the economy: it's the politicians who violate their oath of office every day of the week. That's what the Tea Party is all about. And that is why every one concerned with the future of America should support Constitutional conservatism.


Good news: Obama's own economists admit that each job "saved or created" by the Stimulus cost only $278,000

It turns out that the Obama administration could have written a $100,000 check to each person whose employment was allegedly saved by the "Stimulus" and saved $427 billion.

When the Obama administration releases a report on the Friday before a long weekend, it’s clearly not trying to draw attention to the report’s contents. Sure enough, the “Seventh Quarterly Report” on the economic impact of the “stimulus,” released on Friday, July 1, provides further evidence that President Obama’s economic “stimulus” did very little, if anything, to stimulate the economy, and a whole lot to stimulate the debt.

The report was written by the White House’s Council of Economic Advisors, a group of three economists who were all handpicked by Obama, and it chronicles the alleged success of the “stimulus” in adding or saving jobs. The council reports that, using “mainstream estimates of economic multipliers for the effects of fiscal stimulus” (which it describes as a “natural way to estimate the effects of” the legislation), the “stimulus” has added or saved just under 2.4 million jobs — whether private or public — at a cost (to date) of $666 billion. That’s a cost to taxpayers of $278,000 per job.

In other words, the government could simply have cut a $100,000 check to everyone whose employment was allegedly made possible by the “stimulus,” and taxpayers would have come out $427 billion ahead.

Furthermore, the council reports that, as of two quarters ago, the “stimulus” had added or saved just under 2.7 million jobs — or 288,000 more than it has now. In other words, over the past six months, the economy would have added or saved more jobs without the “stimulus” than it has with it. In comparison to how things would otherwise have been, the “stimulus” has been working in reverse over the past six months, causing the economy to shed jobs.

In other words, Obama's own economic advisers have confessed that the Stimulus was a failure.

Obama and the 111th Congress burned trillions and trillions of our dollars -- more money than the annual budgets of the Defense Department or Medicare -- in the furnace of government cronyism.

Our children and grandchildren are on the hook for these so-called "Stimulus" funds, with interest payments, that utterly and completely failed. Unless you count rewarding Obama's public sector union supporters.


Hat tip: TrendingRight.com.

Cause and Effect in California -- Cause: Raise taxes on evil, rich corporations. Effect: Everyone suffers.

California's recent attempt to raise new taxes on Internet retailers like Amazon and Overstock has had the predictable consequence. It is hurting small businesses and entrepreneurs. In order to avoid the tax, Amazon killed off its affiliate programs in the state, halting a reliable revenue stream for thousands of small businesses and individuals.

Consider this Exhibit 42,303 in our library of evidence proving that liberalism is the philosophy of the stupid.

Amazon, Overstock thumb nose at California tax


San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday, July 3, 2011

So, I went online Friday looking to buy a copy of John Kenneth Galbraith's "The Affluent Society & Other Writings, 1952-1967." Thought it might be timely to revisit the Harvard economist's distinction between "private affluence" and "public squalor."

Barnes & Noble's website was selling it for $26.53. Total, which included California sales tax: $28.79. "Total Before Tax" at Amazon.com: $26.40. "Estimated Tax To Be Collected: $0.00."

At Overstock.com, I could still buy furniture and various knickknacks free of the 7.25 percent tax, even though California's law mandating out-of-state Internet retailers to start collecting the taxes was now in effect.

In other words, screw you, California, and your laws.

"They're not intending to comply, by all indications," said Betty Yee, former chairwoman and current member of the state Board of Equalization, the agency charged with implementing the law. Friday evening, the board posted a "special notice clarifying the obligations of out-of-state retailers" on its website...

"So, we'll bill them at the end of this quarter, based on estimates either they provide or we come up from other data sources. Then, if they don't come forward and pay, we'll consider other courses of action."

That most likely means litigation, or, as Amazon and Overstock might see it, a game of "catch us if you can."

I believe our educational system has to be reformed to teach two simple concepts to liberals.

• Economics is not a zero-sum game.

• Businesses do not operate to fund government; they are in business to make money. And if they can't do so, they go bankrupt or relocate.

Not overly difficult, true, but these basic tenets are rocket science to the doltish nincompoops on the Left.


On the Road to Totalitarianism With the Sixth Circuit

Last week's decision on the constitutionality of Obamacare, which was handed down by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, is troubling on many fronts.

Two of the three judges asserted that Congress has the authority under the Commerce Clause to compel individuals' behavior by dint of their mere existence. A requirement that citizens purchase a product -- in this case, health care insurance -- whether they wish to or not, has never before occurred in all of American history.

Virtually everyone will need health care services at some point, including, in the aggregate, those without health insurance. Even dramatic attempts to protect one’s health and minimize the need for health care will not always be successful, and the health care market is characterized by unpredictable and unavoidable needs for care.

It is under this rubric that the Court shreds the United States Constitution, eviscerates the Declaration of Independence and completely ignores the stated intent of the Framers in The Federalist Papers.

Because, the Judges assert, that most people will participate in the health care market, the federal government has the right to compel -- with the force of law -- individuals to purchase health insurance contracts of the central government's design.

How is the health care industry segregated from other industries to prevent the federal government from encroaching upon every other segment of human activity? The judges spare but a few words on this critical issue, stating "...unlike nearly all other industries, the health care market is governed by federal and state laws requiring institutions to provide services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay."

In other words, the only "firewall" the judges construct to shield other industries from the Orwellian reach of the government is one made of cardboard. In essence, because the health care market is already regulated, the industry is said to be unique and therefore can be utterly controlled by the central government.

Consider:

All citizens will need shelter and many regulations already dictate the nature and construction of housing. Can the central government compel individuals to purchase certain minimum levels of housing and builders to offer certain services under a regime of price controls? Apparently so.

All citizens will need food and a battery of regulations at every level of government already dictate every aspect of food manufacture and distribution. Can the central government require individuals to buy certain foods -- perhaps under the aegis of healthy eating -- and businesses to offer a menu dictated by a central authority? Apparently so.

All citizens will require transportation and a host of regulations govern every modality of travel -- by air, bus, automobile, and even bicycle. Can the central govenrment require all individuals to buy, say, bicycles under the banner of healthy living, clean energy and personal transportation? Apparently so.

Under this decision, with this Court, the destruction of our country -- through its transformation into a totalitarian regime -- comes one step closer to reality.

2012 may be our last chance to save this Republic, if indeed any time remains at all.


Larwyn's Linx: Obama's Declaration of Dependence

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

Nation

Obama's Declaration of Dependence: Steyn
Lives, Fortune and Honor: ZH
'Whites Are Liars': Obama's 20-Year Mentor Spews Hatred: Blaze

Democrat Party Meltdown: Surber
ATF’s “Fast & Furious” guns showing up in US crimes: ProWis
Rep. Walsh to Spitzer: Obama ‘Acted Like a 10-Year-Old’: Publius

Economy

WI: Child Hating, Anti-Education Bill Saves A School District: Joshua
NEA: It’s About Union Power, Not Children: Foundry
Biden Warns Teamsters to Vote Democrat: Malkin

Deconstructing the latest White House propaganda: RWN
Top 10 Obama Attacks on Capitalism: HE
TSA: A Portrait in Islamization: AT

Why doesn't Obama admit that he wants to raise taxes?: RSM
Dems dig in: GOP trying to sabotage economy: ProWis
There's Gonna Be Fireworks: Ace

Climate & Energy

Agenda 21: Conspiracy Theory or Real Threat?: RWN
Latest research: no, the Reef isn’t being killed by warming: WUWT
The Ultimate Greenwashing Ad From Coca-Cola: CBullitt

Media

Daily Beast Writer Claims Obama Is a Victim of Washington’s ‘Pundit Class’: RSM
The Community Organizer Who Would be King: Feldman
Moonbat: Justice Ginsburg can "prevent a real shift in the balance of power on the court: Althouse

How to Celebrate the 4th of July: Pundette
A Review of ‘Bring Her Down: How the American Media Tried to Destroy Sarah Palin’: C4P
Presidential Seal on Obama’s Limo Falls Into Ditch Alongside US Economy: Powers

Obama Campaign To Go After Conservative Critics Of His Anti-Israel Policies: WZ
Tea Party Congressman To CNN's Spitzer: Press Must Stop Protecting Obama: NB
How Mortgage Giant Fannie Mae Primed the Bubble, Covered Its Assets: BlogProf

World

Iran Delivers Threatening Letter to President Obama: Kahlili
Obama Wussed Out: AT
Pakistan's largest university misunderstands Islam, holds pro-Bin Laden essay contest :JihadWatch

June Deadliest Month for U.S. Troops in Iraq in 3 Years: Michelle Obama Didn’t Know Troops Were Still in Iraq: BP
Pic o' the Day from the US-Funded West Bank: WZ
Obama Gives $20 Million to Tunisia So They Can Ban Israel: GWP

Vetting Obama – “Palling Around With Terrorists”: NoisyRm
Europeans Are Major Force Behind Second Gaza Flotilla: PJM
Obama's Final Solution: Lewis

SciTech

A new tech bubble? Not quite, say US investors: Telegraph
Secret Treasure Found in Kerala Temple Could Be Worth $10 Billion: GWP
First Microsoft, now Google: Does the government have it in for consumers?: CNet

Cornucopia

Hail Caesar (Rodney)! An American Hero: AT
Onion Moon Landing: Onion
Switch Hitter VS Switch Pitcher Pat Venditte: ShoonSports

Image: Pics from the Front
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Michele Bachmann for President

QOTD: “When school children start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the interests of school children.” --American Federation of Teachers president Al Shanker

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Counting Down to July 4th: The Sermon on Iwo Jima [MGySgt]

The Master Gunnery Sergeant:

An interesting fact that many of you may be unaware of is the historic events that surrounded a Jewish chaplain on [Iwo Jima, where of 70,000 American Marines, 1,500 were Jewish].

Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn, assigned to the Fifth Marine Division, was the first Jewish chaplain the Marine Corps ever appointed. Rabbi Gittelsohn was in the thick of the fray, ministering to Marines of all faiths in the combat zone. His tireless efforts to comfort the wounded and encourage the fearful won him three service ribbons. When the fighting was over, Rabbi Gittelsohn was asked to deliver the memorial sermon at a combined religious service dedicating the Marine Cemetery.

Unfortunately, racial and religious prejudice led to problems with the ceremony. What happened next immortalized Rabbi Gittelsohn and his sermon forever.

It was Division Chaplain Warren Cuthriell, a Protestant minister, who originally asked Rabbi Gittelsohn to deliver the memorial sermon. Cuthriel wanted all the fallen Marines (black and white, Protestant, Catholic and Jewish) honored in a single, nondenominational ceremony. However, according to Rabbi Gittelsohn's autobiography, the majority of Christian chaplains objected to having a rabbi preach over predominantly Christian graves...

To his credit, Cuthriell refused to alter his plans. Gittelsohn, on the other hand, wanted to save his friend Cuthriell further embarrassment and so decided it was best not to deliver his sermon. Instead, three separate religious services were held. At the Jewish service, to a congregation of 70 or so who attended, Rabbi Gittelsohn delivered the powerful eulogy he originally wrote for the combined service:

Here lie men who loved America because their ancestors generations ago helped in her founding. And other men who loved her with equal passion because they themselves or their own fathers escaped from oppression to her blessed shores. Here lie officers and men, Negroes and Whites, rich men and poor, together. Here are Protestants, Catholics, and Jews together. Here no man prefers another because of his faith or despises him because of his color. Here there are no quotas of how many from each group are admitted or allowed.

Among these men there is no discrimination. No prejudices. No hatred. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy! Whosoever of us lifts his hand in hate against a brother, or who thinks himself superior to those who happen to be in the minority, makes of this ceremony and the bloody sacrifice it commemorates, an empty, hollow mockery. To this then, as our solemn sacred duty, do we the living now dedicate ourselves: To the right of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews, of White men and Negroes alike, to enjoy the democracy for which all of them have here paid the price.

We here solemnly swear this shall not be in vain. Out of this and from the suffering and sorrow of those who mourn this, will come, we promise, the birth of a new freedom for the sons of men everywhere.

Among Gittelsohn's listeners were three Protestant chaplains so incensed by the prejudice voiced by their colleagues that they boycotted their own service to attend Gittelsohn's. One of them borrowed the manuscript and, unknown to Gittelsohn, circulated several thousand copies to his regiment. Some Marines enclosed the copies in letters to their families.

An avalanche of coverage resulted. Time magazine published excerpts, which wire services spread even further. The entire sermon was inserted into the Congressional Record, the Army released the eulogy for short-wave broadcast to American troops throughout the world and radio commentator Robert St. John read it on his program and on many succeeding Memorial Days.

In 1995, in his last major public appearance before his death, Gittelsohn reread a portion of the eulogy at the 50th commemoration ceremony at the Iwo Jima statue in Washington, D.C. In his autobiography, Gittelsohn reflected, "I have often wondered whether anyone would ever have heard of my Iwo Jima sermon had it not been for the bigoted attempt to ban it."

ANOTHER DAY TO SERVE THE CORPS Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus, et Fidelis!

Graphic: More fun facts about the award-winning, worst-in-the-nation, Illinois Pension System

Isn't it fun to ruminate on the fact that the same jamokes destroying Illinois are now running Washington, DC?

You can download the PDF version of this fact-sheet to distribute to your friends in Illinois.


Kewl: Top 100 Illinois Teachers' Union Retirees to Receive Nearly $1 Billion in Lifetime Benefits

While the California teachers' unions are effectively destroying one school system after another, an alert commenter pointed me to some even more shocking news from Illinois. Their pension system for educators is -- if you can believe it -- even farther off the reservation.

Using actuarial calculations from the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS), Champion News reports that the total estimated pension liability for the top 100 retirees will equal...

Make sure you're sitting down.

Seriously.

$887,925,790.00

You read this right. The top 100 retirees, by themselves, will cost Illinois taxpayers nearly one billion dollars.

I can think of only one possible, rational reaction.

Beleaguered Taxpayer #1: We must do something. He's serious this
time.

Beleaguered Taxpayers: -He's right.
-You're right. We got to do something.
-Absolutely.
-Know what we gotta do?

Beleaguered Taxpayer #2: Toga party.

Beleaguered Taxpayer #1: We're tens of billions in debt! We can't afford to have a toga party.

Beleaguered Taxpayer #2: You guys up for a toga party?

Beleaguered Taxpayer #3: -Toga! Toga!

Beleaguered Taxpayer #2: -They like the idea.

Beleaguered Taxpayer #1: Please don't do this.

Beleaguered Taxpayer #3: I've got news for you, pal. The SEIU is going to screw us, no matter what we do.

Beleaguered Taxpayer #2: So we might as well have a good time.

Beleaguered Taxpayers: Toga! Toga! Toga!

(Chanting louder and louder)

(All chanting)

Chart: Browser Usage Report Shows Chrome Is Kicking Butt

This doesn't make life easier for web designers, who must now ensure compatibility with five browsers.

Prevailing trends in the rising and falling fortunes of Web browsers continued through June, with Apple's iPad carving out a sizable slice of usage.

Google's Chrome continued its ascent of usage, rising from 12.5 percent in May to 13.1 percent in June, according to Net Applications' monthly tallies. Microsoft's Internet Explorer dropped about the same amount, from 54.3 percent to 53.7 percent.

Second-place Firefox, from the non-profit Mozilla organization, continued to tread water, staying at 21.7 percent. Apple's Safari ticked up from 7.3 percent to 7.5 percent, but Opera dropped from 2 percent to 1.7 percent.

Apple is a rising force in mobile browsing. Its iPad surpassed 1 percent of browser usage worldwide...

Sooner or later, a device manufacturer like HTC or Samsung will figure out how to build an Android tablet to compete with the iPad. And when that happens, developers will have yet another browser to test against.


'Just what you need to make sure you do not get ANY work done'

Bumped: That's how Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion's William Jacobson describes the conservative news site TrendingRight.com.

The idea behind it is simple: what if you could monitor social networks for the hottest stories among center-right and conservative news sites? TR combines a "real-time" dashboard (so you can see what stories are rising and falling) along with the most popular stories for the last 24 hours, seven days and 30 days.

Check it out!


Larwyn's Linx: The Philosophies of Illegal Immigration

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

Nation

The Philosophies of Illegal Immigration: Hanson
Best places to be an illegal alien: Surber
Southern California Considers Seceding from Golden State: Noisy

TSA: Totally Screwed Up Administration: IBD
Maryland Wins -- O'Malley and the Illegals Lose, For Now: RS
On the Trail With Michele Bachmann: PJM

Economy

Union curbs rescue a Wisconsin school district: York
Imperial HUD: Virtuous
Obama Losing Support Faster Among the Poor: RWN

Obama Continues to Shovel Our Money at ACORN: RWN
Are Credit Markets Getting Unstable?: ZH
Union puts politics over honoring 9/11 firefighters: Troglo

Climate & Energy

Sunstein’s Disingenuous Regulation Claims: ChamberPost
PJM Sues DOD for Climate Conference Info: PJM
Bummer: Globull Warming May Affect California Wine Country: RWN

Media

Bachmann Hitpiece Author Received Socialist Award: Noisy
Hey Stephie, Lincoln Said It Best: the Founders Opposed Slavery: WklyStd
CBS Omits How Obama Broke Campaign Promise on Tax Hikes: NB

This Blogger Stands With Geller: Zilla
Black Pro-Life Group Releases New Video on Abortion’s Racism: LifeNews
Want to File an IRS Complaint Against Media Matters? Click Here: FoxNation

Obama: Tax 'The Rich' -- Again: PJM
FBI Official to Federal Judge: OKC Bombing Videotapes ‘Might Have Been Misfiled, Impossible to Know Where’: BG
If I Ran Fox News: Glob

World

Obama Puts Israel on ‘State Supporters of Terror’ List, Then Opens Relations With Muslim Brotherhood: RWN
Beware of Greeks Demanding Gifts: Cato
India: Muslim Sharia judge misunderstands Islam, forces minor girl into marriage: JihadWatch

Obama Forming an "I Really Love Israel" PR Squad To Try and Rescue Jewish Vote: Lid
U.S. Recognizes Muslim Brotherhood. Will Hamas Be Next?: Commentary
Swiss Political Party Ad Features Jewish Doll With an Arrow in Its Head: Blaze

SciTech

A hands-on look at Google+, using Google+: CNet
RIM responds to open letter: We're fine: CNet
You Are More Likely to Survive a Plane Crash than Click a Banner Ad: Atlantic

Cornucopia

John Lennon, Republican: IowaHawk
Colourized America 1862-1923: How to be a Retronaut
Whose $100 Million ATM Receipt Is This?: Consumerist

Image: Consumerist
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Michele Bachmann for President


Friday, July 01, 2011

Good news: Gunrunner weapons discovered on scene of Phoenix crimes

The Obama administration's, eh, unique strategy of selling weapons to Mexican drug cartels appears to have, uhm, backfired.

Weapons linked to a questionable government strategy are turning up in crimes in Valley neighborhoods... For months the ABC15 Investigators have been searching through police reports and official government documents. We’ve discovered assault weapons linked to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ controversial "Fast and Furious" case strategy have turned up at crime scenes in Glendale and Phoenix communities.

...Phoenix ATF agents recently testified during a Congressional hearing that they knowingly allowed weapons to slip into the hands of straw buyers who would then distribute the weapons to known criminals... [Agents] estimated the number could be as many as 1,800 weapons.

...“I believe that these firearms will continue to turn up at crime scenes on both sides of the border for years to come,” testified Phoenix Special Agent Peter Forcelli... Weapons linked to the strategy have been turning up at dangerous and deadly crime scenes near both sides of the border, including the murder scene of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, who was killed last December.

The ABC15 Investigators uncovered documents showing guns connected to at least two Glendale criminal cases and at least two Phoenix criminal cases also appear in the ATF’s Suspect Gun Database, a sort-of watch list for suspicious gun sales.

This is impeachment-level criminality. Perhaps legacy media could look into this when they finish their investigations of Michele Bachmann.


Today's "Reich Wing"

A favorite pejorative used by the progressive left is 'Reich Wing', designed to tar conservatives as Nazi-like extremists. Notwithstanding its nature as a premature violation of Godwin's Law, the term implies a certain set of characteristics presumably endemic to conservatives.

But let's examine those attributes to see if they have merit.

On the Constitution

While conservatives advocate for fidelity and loyalty to the nation's highest law -- the United States Constitution -- the progressive left tries to evade it. The term they use is "living and breathing", which simply means that the left can morph the law into whatever shape it wishes.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan outlined the progressive's perspective in a 1993 tribute to Justice Thurgood Marshall. She quoted from a 1987 speech Marshall in which he said the Constitution as originally conceived and drafted was "defective" and that the mission of the Supreme Courtwas to “show a special solicitude for the despised and the disadvantaged.”

In other words, the Constitution could be "adjusted" to benefit certain parties at the expense of others -- certainly a far cry from the image of justice as a blindfolded seer weighing the merits of two arguments.

In 1933 Adolf Hitler subverted Germany's Weimar Constitution using subterfuge and pretext to eradicate civil rights.

Less than a month after Adolf Hitler’s appointment as chancellor in 1933, the Reichstag Fire Decree invoked Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution, suspending several constitutional protections on civil rights. The articles affected were 114 (habeas corpus), 115 (inviolability of residence), 117 (correspondence privacy), 118 (freedom of expression /censorship), 123 (assembly), 124 (associations), and 153 (expropriation).

On Free Speech

Conservatives believe in free political speech, in each and every situation. But that is not the case with today's leftists.

Put together the left's advocacy of "the Fairness Doctrine", its insistence on "Community Standards" for media, its hatred of the "Citizens United" decision, its efforts to "sabotage" certain news outlets, and one can come to no other conclusion but that it appears terrified of free speech.

No less an eminence grise than then-SCOTUS nominee Elena Kagan asserted that the United States government can ban political books and movies if necessary.

Elena Kagan argued on behalf of Citizens United essentially stating it would not be a violation of the First Amendment to have movies or even books banned. Of course, she only meant certain movies/books for specific times, but even so, I believe the point remains... all tyrants find a pretext for their tyranny. That tyranny may even begin with a humble, caring act, but one day we awake to find we have lost all freedom.

In Nazi Germany, officials banned at least 4,100 different publications. Censorship of media was a regular occurrence and all political messaging emanated from government bureaucrats.

On Intimidation by Uniformed Civilian Forces

Tea Party protests by conservative activists were uniformly civil and represented a true "rainbow coalition" of people with every background, race, religion, and culture.


In Wisconsin and other states, the Left used uniformed civilian enforcers -- including purple-clad SEIU thugs -- to threaten, intimidate and coerce lawmakers and taxpayers.

In Nazi Germany, the term Sturmabteilung (also known as 'Brown-shirts') was used to describe a para-military force deployed by Hitler prior to 1934. They were employed as street thugs and enforcers to attack the Nazis' political rivals in order to secure more power for Hitler's ring of leaders.

Leader Cult

From chants of 'Yes We Can' to a curious iconography that lives on even today, the rise of Barack Obama during the 2008 campaign was orchestrated using a marketing approach that could be considered the construction of a "cult of personality."

Obama was deified in the mainstream press, highlighted in scores of photos using a "halo effect", and lobbed softball questions during television appearances that seemed more like infomercials than serious journalistic affairs.

Such was the case with the rise of the Third Reich. Hitler's power "transcended his official title, reaching into the depths of Germans and German society [and] Hitler became a seemingly flawless revolutionary figure for the German people [and he took] specific measures [designed] to promote the view of himself as larger than life."

Who Is The Real 'Reich Wing'?

Who abuses the Constitution for crass partisan purposes? Who despises free speech and attempts to censor legitimate public opinion? Who rallies around a figure portrayed as some sort of messianic savior? Who uses uniformed thugs to intimidate lawmakers and taxpayers?

We all know who the "Reich Wing" is: it is today's far left Democrats that are now so radicalized even Communists are surprised.


Larwyn's Linx: Obama's New ACORN Grant; Did He Violate Federal Law?

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

Nation

Obama's New ACORN Grant; Did He Violate Federal Law?: AmSpec
Obama: "I Got Five-And-A-Half Years More To Go": RCP
Illegal Aliens Step Out Boldly at DREAM Hearing: HE

Time For Congress to Lead on the Debt Ceiling: Foundry
How to Destroy a Culture in 5 Easy Steps : FirstThings
Obama the Imaginary Leader: Commentary

Liberalspeak: 'living and breathing' equals 'cadaver': Troglopundit
Beck assaulted by open-minded, tolerant, Leftist thugs: Cold Fury
Obama's Appalling Press Conference Unplugged: MB

Economy

Stimulus: It's Never Enough For The Democrats: IBD
Medicaid annual spending: $1B in 1965; $450B in 2011: Mish
NLRB fight is land mine in reelection: Hill

Obamacare Death Star will strike soon: DeMint
Obama's Right: We Need More Tax Revenues: PJM
Fed's Massive Stimulus Had Little Impact: Greenspan: CNBC

Rand Paul: I’m here today Mr. President. Where are you?: TRS
Report: Geithner on Way Out?: Malkin
3 Simple Rules for the GOP on Orwellian Word Games: ATR

Media

CNN’s new White House correspondent mocks Obama, implies he’s a liar: IHTM
Media's Blind Eye: IBD
Mark Halperin apologizes for Obama gaffe: Politico

Harvard Study: 4th of July Parades Favor Republicans: Powers
Yesterday Iowa with Palin, today Pennsylvania with Romney: Hot Air
Ya think? Obama may be losing the faith of Jewish Democrats: Politico

Obama Flake: MB
Mika: Palin and Paris Hilton have a lot in common: Hot Air
Roger Ailes’ Secret Nixon-Era Blueprint for Fox News: Gawker

World

TheDC Exclusive: Rep. Kucinich praises Syrian dictator on Syrian television: TheDC
U.S. Recognizes Muslim Brotherhood. Will Hamas Be Next?: Commentary
Cummings’ Gunwalker Report Neglects To Mention … Gunwalker: Owens

Hamas is Behind the Jihad Warship "Flotilla": Atlas
Postcard from London: Wisconsin on the Thames: Malkin
NY: Misunderstanderers of Islam get 25 years in synagogue bomb plot: Creeping

Caliphate Convention Set to Take the Netherlands by Storm: NoisyRoom
Holder: DOJ to Drop 'Torture' Investigations of CIA Officials: NJ
Obama’s Joke of a Counterterrorism Strategery: Ledeen

SciTech

Anonymous RIM Employee Condemns "Soviet-Era Government" Atmosphere and Other Horrors: Gizmodo
Chrome OS has security flaws, claims researcher: CNet
FBI Raids Home of Ohio Man Linked to Hacker Group: WSJ

Cornucopia

Diet Soda: not all it's cracked up to be: Instapundit
The Gaffe-Masters: BlogProf
Marines Get New Infantry Automatic Rifle, Ditch M249 SAW In Favor Of M27: WZ

Image: Curmudgeonly & Skeptical
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Cut Cap Balance Pledge

QOTD: "The most newsworthy bit of President Obama’s press conference certainly had nothing to do with economics or America’s precarious fiscal position. Recall: The president’s most recent budget plan would add $9.5 trillion in cumulative new debt over the next decade. Eliminating a tax break for the purchase of corporate jets – it’s called “accelerated depreciation” and Obama has endorsed the deduction twice before to boost growth and create jobs – would save $3 billion, or 0.03 percent of that total...

Who knows, maybe the president just has something against jet airplanes, akin to his apparent dislike of those job-killing ATMs. But this seems certain: Obamanomics took flight in 2009 as a purist Keynesian experiment in economic management from high above. The ultimate Dreamliner for Democrats. Now, two-and-a-half-year later, it’s begun its sputtering descent." --James Pethokoukis

Thursday, June 30, 2011

The genius of Democrat governance: 'Massive error' in new California tax code causes triple taxation on small businesses

When you've lost the San Francisco Chronicle...

California and Governor Jerry Brown made a massive error in the formation of a California Online Tax, that amounts to triple taxation in the state for online S-corporations. Amazon and Overstock aren't the only ones hurt by the new tax, and it should be challenged in court...

Unfortunately, Governor Brown has signed into law the bill that we emailed you about earlier today. As a result of this, contracts with all California residents participating in the Amazon Associates Program are terminated effective today, June 29, 2011...

...Frankly, while the law itself has many affiliates hoping mad, it was bound to happen. But the law's got a nasty bug in it that must be cleared up. I'll use my online sports game company as an example.

The State Of California has already taxed my Internet company for income earned. All of our sales are online. Plus, they get me for a personal income tax!

Under the new law, an online company like mine could be taxed three times: for total income tax, corporate, tax and then for sales tax. That's too much.

There's nothing in the law preventing such a scenario from happening, because there's to language to restrict the State Of California from such an action. If you're an online legal California Corporation, you're going to get taxed three times. It's that simple.

...It sets up a massive incentive for thousands of California Corporations to just quit the state and find other homes... One day next year, Governor Brown's going to wake up to the reality of no new taxes collected, and a massive exodus of Internet vendors. By then, any retro action would be too little, too late.

That's okay.

Send the businesses our way. We need smart, talented entrepreneurs who want to live in a free state. I mean, a Red State.