Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Good news: Union honcho indicted for ripping off $750K from members

Consider this Exhibit 9,036 that union bosses are in it for themselves.

A federal indictment returned Wednesday alleges that the president of a Cincinnati employees union stole $757,009 since 2005.

Diana Frey, president of the Cincinnati Organized and Dedicated Employees union since its 2005 inception, is accused of directing CODE checks, ATM withdrawals, wire transfers and credit card purchase to various bank accounts... The 800-employee union alerted its 800 members to a pending investigation late yesterday in an announcement that revealed Frey “has not been available to the the members or to the board for some time.”

In a statement, Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney said the situation is unfortunate and Frey is "in the process of formally severing her employment with the city." [Ed: Gee, you think it's time?]

Of course, like many union bosses, Frey's behavior seems oh so out of character:

This would not be Frey’s first brush with the law.

In 1983, Frey was convicted of theft by deception for stealing between $300 and $5,000, according to Cincinnati police and Hamilton County court records. In that case, she received a suspended one-year prison term, being sentenced instead to five years’ probation, a $500 fine and restitution. It was unclear Tuesday whether anyone at the city or union knew of the previous convictions - some under her maiden or previous married name - before she was elected union president in 2003.

When Frey, then administrative assistant to councilman Tom Luken, applied for another city job in May 1994, she checked “no” on her application in response to a question asking: “Have you ever been convicted of a local, state or federal offense?”

Now, if this alleged theft ticks off union members, I wonder what they'll do when they find out they're never going to receive the pensions they've been promised?


Hat tip: Chopper Pilot.

Obama and Syria: 'Clueless' by design? [Dan from New York]

Dan from New York:

Wherein, leading foreign-policy analyst Max Boot echoes a number of points I made on Big Peace Monday about Obama’s mishandling of the Syrian uprising.

###

Commentary Contentions, 07.20.2011

U.S. Sitting on Sidelines About Syria


That the administration can’t make up its mind about whether to push for Assad’s removal is beyond appalling. It’s puzzling.

Max Boot

It appears I was premature last week in praising the administration for following Ambassador Robert Ford’s lead and finally turning decisively against the Bashar Assad regime in Syria. Now the Los Angeles Times reports the administration is backtracking. The newspaper notes Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “backed off on Saturday, saying the administration still hopes that Assad’s regime will stop the violence and work with protesters to carry out political reforms.” The article goes on to explain:

The change in tone reflects the continuing debate over whether Syria’s ruler is likely to survive the current turmoil, and how best to use the limited diplomatic tools available to pressure him.

For now, a State Department official said, it’s unclear whether the administration will ramp up the rhetoric and officially call for Assad’s departure.

“Whether we take it farther will depend on events on the ground,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of diplomatic sensitivities. We need to think through carefully what we say.”


The headline might as well be “Administration is Clueless.”

Its confusion is especially bizarre given that in May, President Obama gave a speech on the Arab Spring in which he said: “There must be no doubt that the United States of America welcomes change that advances self-determination and opportunity.”

There might be circumstances where it would be appropriate to risk charges of hypocrisy so as not to undermine a valued ally such as Bahrain. But c’mon, guys, this is Syria we’re talking about–Iran’s ally, Hezbollah’s sponsor. That the administration can’t make up its mind about whether to push for Assad’s removal is beyond appalling. It’s puzzling. This is about as big an opportunity as we have faced in the region in decades–and the administration is sitting on the sidelines, mulling its options.

Or perhaps this represents tacit support for Syria, Hezbollah, and -- by extension -- Iran.


Image hat tip: CBC News.

I'll Give You Three Guesses Who's Behind The Daily Caller's Migraine Hit Piece on Michele Bachmann (Or Should I Call It 'The Daily Cromney'?)

Monday's feature article on Michele Bachmann in The Daily Cromney ("Stress-related condition ‘incapacitates’ Bachmann; heavy pill use alleged") was one of the more thinly veiled Beltway hit pieces in recent memory. Reporter Jonathan Strong -- if that is his real name -- utilized a series of laughably anonymous and unattributable allegations to tar Bachmann.

The Minnesota Republican frequently suffers from stress-induced medical episodes that she has characterized as severe headaches. These episodes, say witnesses, occur once a week on average and can “incapacitate” her for days at time

...Some close to Bachmann fear she won’t be equal to the stress of the campaign, much less the presidency itself.

...“As president, when she’s in crisis management mode, is she going to have the physical ability to withstand the most difficult challenges facing America?” the former aide asks.

TheDC agreed to provide the sources anonymity because they were providing information only a select group of people could know, at great professional risk...

...Two sources independently provided detailed accounts of Bachmann’s condition. A third source confirmed that Bachmann frequently suffers from debilitating headache episodes.

Coincidentally, two sources reported to me that Jonathan Strong enjoys consorting with underaged panda bears. They brought this information at great professional risk to themselves. A third source confirmed that Strong has been seen at the zoo late at night wearing only a trench coat.

I find it fascinating that a powerful media outlet -- associated with an inside-the-Beltway regular, Tucker Carlson -- suddenly attacks Michele Bachmann using New York Times-style tactics (remember the fabricated McCain/lobbyist affair hit piece?). There's only one reason for this sort of thing: Mitt Romney is feeling the heat.

And, gee, Tucker, aren't there more important things to "investigate" if we're going to save this Republic?

Ah... Sorry to bother you President Obama, Sir

Excuse me Mr. Obama, I mean President Obama, sir. Uhm... know you are busy and important and stuff. I mean serving as president is very important and . . . ah... I hate to bother you. I will only take a minute okay, sir?

See, I have these missing pieces that are holding me up, and I was wondering sir, if you could take time out of your busy schedule and help me out. You know, no big deal, just some loose ends and things.

Hey, this White House sure is a nice place! The wife sees pictures of this place on TV all the time and says boy she wishes she had digs like this you know? Is that painting real? Really? Wow. I saw something like that in a museum once!

Oh, sorry sir. I didn't mean to get off the track. So if you could just help me out a minute and give me some details, I will get right out of your way. I want to close this case and maybe take the wife to Coney Island or something. Ever been to Coney Island? No, I didn't think so...

Well, listen, anyways, I can't seem to get some information I need to wrap this up. These things seem to either be 'locked' or 'not available'. I'm sure it's just some oversight or glitch or something, so if you could you tell me where these things are... ... ...have them written down here somewhere... oh wait. Sorry about the smears. It was raining out. I'll just read it to you.

Could you help me please find these things, sir?

1. Occidental College records and transcripts -- Not released
2. Columbia University records and transcripts -- Not released
3. Columbia Thesis paper -- 'not available'
4. Harvard University records and transcripts -- Not released
5. Selective Service Registration -- Not released
6. Medical records -- Not released
7. Illinois State Senate schedule -- 'not available'
8. Law practice client list -- Not released
9. Written correspondence with B. Ayers, R. Khalidi, E. Said, J. Wright, etc. -- Not released
10. Embossed, signed paper Birth Certificate -- Not released
11. Harvard Law Review articles published -- None
12. University of Chicago scholarly articles -- None
13. Record of Baptism -- Not released or 'not available'
14. Illinois State Senate records -- 'not available'

Oh hey... listen! I know you are busy! Is this too much for you now? I mean tell you what. I will come back tomorrow. Give you some time to get these things together, you know? I mean, I know you are busy, so I will just let myself out. I will be back tomorrow. And the day after...

'Who wants to know these things?' asks President Obama.

The American People, answers Columbo.

But not Tucker Carlson, apparently.

You can help out Michele Bachmann's campaign here.


Related: Famous Americans with Migraines.


Linked by: Ed Driscoll. Thanks!

Larwyn's Linx: License to Fold

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

License to Fold: ProWis
Not The Message: "“This volley’s going over the net, boys": Hewitt
Gang of Six: a Plan for a Plan: AmSpec

Cut, Cap and Balance vs. the Good, the Bad and the Ugly: PJM
Spend It Like Bush!: AT
House GOP passes Cut, Cap and Balance plan: BG

Sen. DeMint Not Impressed With GOP Salesmanship Either: Ace
Bachmann gives her critics headaches: AmSpec
Tapper shreds Obama spokeshack, Media Matters hardest hit: ABC

Economy

How Obamacare Stalled the Economy (a Must Read Update!): RWN
Former Obama Adviser Summers: Pure Idiocy at its Finest: Mish
Ready for a 70% Marginal Tax Rate?: WSJ

Solving NLRB's Ambush Election in One Fell Swoop: LUR
Tomato Protest at Trader Joe's: Alinsky in Action: Zombie
Union Writing the Book on Intimidation and Violence: RWN

Gunrunner

Obama-Contra: IBD
Holder and DOJ trying to shield officials in guns scandal, ATF chief says: LAT
Family of slain ICE agent says govt won’t release murder details: Yahoo!

Climate & Energy

Meanwhile, let’s continue to punish the American Oil & Gas industry: ProWis
Why is Tim Pawlenty losing?: RSM
Wind Turbines Butcher Bats, Raise Farm Prices: RWN

Media

Yes, I realize Obama doesn’t allow prior statements to constrain new actions…: ProWis
Did Anyone Fact Check Bachmann Hit Piece? I Don't Think So: Riehl
RNC Says Obama Fundraising Video 'Apparent Crime,' Seeks DOJ Probe: Tapper

NBC's Michael Isikoff, once "interested" in Gunwalker, finds more important stuff to occupy his time.: Sipsey
John Boy Hawkins Gots 'dem Cosmic Conservative Blogosphere Blues: Riehl
Calling All Conservative Bloggers!!: iOTW

Lie like a rug – American politics in the 21st century: JPA
Eve of Destruction: Driscoll
Allen West on Obama: “He is an intransigent, liberal, progressive Socialist": Mofo

Republican Joe Walsh Taunts 'Bully' Chris Matthews: Obama 'Sends a Tingle Up Your Leg': NB
NPR shills for dishonest, CAIR-linked Muslim in effort to shut down counterterrorism training: Creeping
Obamacare Fables: the Greatest Hits Video: Malkin

World

Security “Gaps” Allow Terrorists To Enter U.S. With Visas : JudicialWatch
The U.S.-Saudi Dilemma: Iran's Reshaping of Persian Gulf Politics: Stratfor
Hacks: The Left’s Lilliputians Try to Take Murdoch Down: PJM

Sci-Tech

Report: Reddit co-founder arrested for data theft: CNet
Apple posts $28B quarter, announces Lion launch: CNet
Mobile-payments JV strikes deal with credit card companies: CNet

Cornucopia

Obama: TWF. Pitching Fits at Windmills. WTF: MOTUS
Report: ATL officers busted for writing parking tickets so they could use spaces and go to lunch: AutoBlog
Teleprompter Crew Must Provide LAUGHS: Cube

Image: iOwnTheWorld
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Senate Conservatives Fund

QOTD: "Genette, I thank you so much from bottom of heart... Thanks to hope and change, finally I can get Medicaid, I -- a Russian drug dealer -- can get Medicaid and government abortions for 12-year old sisters and cousins... Thank you so much." --Project Veritas

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Allen West metaphorically b****-slaps Debbie Wasserman-Schultz

And a well-deserved metaphorical b****-slapping it was (brought to you courtesy of the DNC public relations arm known as Politiho).

Florida GOP Congressman Allen West this afternoon dispatched a scathing personal email to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, calling her "vile, unprofessional ,and despicable," "a coward," "characterless," and "not a Lady," and demanding that she "shut the heck up."

Wasserman Schultz, in whose neighboring South Florida district West lives, provoked his tirade with remarks after he left the House floor today, in which she responded -- without naming him -- to the Tea Party freshman's support for "Cut, Cap, and Balance" legislation to raise the debt ceiling.

"The gentleman from Florida. who represents thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, as do I, is supportive of this plan that would increase costs for Medicare beneficiaries, unbelievable from a Member from South Florida," Wasserman Schultz said, saying the legislation "slashes Medicaid and critical investments essential to winning the future in favor of protecting tax breaks for Big Oil, millionaires, and companies who ship American jobs overseas."

Her criticism of the legislation -- more or less what most Democrats are saying today -- provoked a furious response. West copied members of House Republican and Democratic leadership on the email, as well as his chief-of-staff, Jonathan Blyth.

From: Z112 West, Allen
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 04:48 PM
To: Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Cc: McCarthy, Kevin; Blyth, Jonathan; Pelosi, Nancy; Cantor, Eric
Subject: Unprofessional and Inappropriate Sophomoric Behavior from Wasserman-Schultz

Look, Debbie, I understand that after I departed the House floor you directed your floor speech comments directly towards me. Let me make myself perfectly clear, you want a personal fight, I am happy to oblige. You are the most vile, unprofessional ,and despicable member of the US House of Representatives. If you have something to say to me, stop being a coward and say it to my face, otherwise, shut the heck up. Focus on your own congressional district!

I am bringing your actions today to our Majority Leader and Majority Whip and from this time forward, understand that I shall defend myself forthright against your heinous characterless behavior……which dates back to the disgusting protest you ordered at my campaign hqs, October 2010 in Deerfield Beach.

You have proven repeatedly that you are not a Lady, therefore, shall not be afforded due respect from me!

Steadfast and Loyal

Congressman Allen B West (R-FL)

Wasserman-Schultz is -- provably -- a Marxist hack. She is unconcerned with her constituents and seniors in particular. According to its Chief Actuary, Medicare is set to collapse in just ten short years. Instead of working to save it, this ludicrous excuse for a politician instead demonizes Paul Ryan's courageous plan and the heroic Rep. Allen West.

Instead of working to save Medicare, she intones platitudes like "shared sacrifice", "winning the future" and "giving tax breaks to big oil and millionaires."

Hey, idiot: it's not "big oil and millionaires" that destroyed Medicare: it's you. You're an embarrassment, Debbie. And I can't wait until Allen West is House Speaker; I hope he puts your office in the basement with Melvin and his red stapler.


Hat tip: Ace o' Spades.

Can you guess what's different about Andrew Cuomo? [R.B.]

R.B. writes:

Andrew Cuomo took on the public employee unions -- and forced concessions from them -- in order to balance the New York State budget with spending cuts and without tax increases. Chris Christie (New Jersey), Scott Walker (Wisconsin), and John Kasich (Ohio) did pretty much the same thing in their states

But only Cuomo emerged from his battles with the unions lauded by media for his actions. Can you guess what made Cuomo different from the others?

Party Affiliation Determined Coverage of State-Union Battles


Jonathan S. Tobin 07.19.2011 - 12:59 PM

During the last several months, the governors of three states have gone toe-to-toe with powerful state unions in order to undo the harm done by their predecessors’ capitulations to state workers on wages and benefits. In Wisconsin and New Jersey, Republicans Scott Walker and Chris Christie were subjected to unprecedented abuse by the unions and their supporters. Yet in New York, Andrew Cuomo not only overcame union resistance, he managed to do so without much negative press, let alone the deluge of insults and demonization his colleagues suffered...

...Lacking the same political leverage their colleagues in Wisconsin and New Jersey possessed, the New York unions were forced to meekly bow to Cuomo’s dictates and accept drastic changes in compensation and benefits. Instead of being branded as a polarizing figure as was the case with Walker and Christie, Cuomo gets to play the state’s fiscal hero.

...as much as he deserves the praise for taking on a tough situation, the main lesson of this story is to show just how biased is the coverage of the not dissimilar confrontations elsewhere. As much as the collective bargaining issue helped generate sympathy for Wisconsin unions which refused to accept responsibility for the state’s parlous financial health, Walker’s goals were very similar to those of Cuomo. It should also be noted that like Cuomo, Christie didn’t touch the collective bargaining issue. Yet, he was branded a “Nazi” by rabble-rousing union thugs just like Walker, a slur never aimed once at the governor of New York.

The moral of the story is that unions and their cheering section in the liberal mainstream media can call a fiscally responsible Republican any name in the book and make it stick. But Democrats with the same intent get to play by different rules of engagement that can allow them to get tough with unions without being smeared...

This theme aligns perfectly with the spectacular new book Left Turn, which quantitatively measures the liberal lens through which Americans are forced to view events.


Canyon [Papa B]

Papa B:

So the wife and I are traveling around around the great states of Arizona and New Mexico and I just had to share this photograph.

The guy on the right seems to be following me around. Should I be worried?

Only if you care about the future of our country, Papa B.


Stabenow is as Stabenow does

This diatribe gets my vote for Letter o' the Day, published in one of Detroit's local rags.

I just read in the Flint Journal Sunday paper of July 10 that Sen. [Debbie] Stabenow is planning another pie-in-the-sky investment of taxpayer dollars. Yep, the good senator is going to spend $2 billion to develop a car battery that will run 500 miles on one single charge, like the Volt. Wow! Just think, this electric car will last forever.

If it takes eight hours to charge the Chevy Volt at home for 30 miles of driving time, why, it would only take a mere three weeks to charge your car for 500 miles. This 500-mile-per-charge vehicle should last between 30 and 50 years. How could such a vehicle ever wear out sitting your garage and eating electricity for three weeks a month in order to have enough energy to carry you out on the open road for 10 hours driving time?

Sen. Stabenow’s $2 billion investment equates to just over $100,000 per job creation, but this is better than the quarter of million dollars per job the president has spent just to save jobs. In fact, Sen. Stabenow should be complimented since she is spending slightly less than what a typical banana republic spends to create jobs (when Americans gives a banana republic foreign aid to spend).

You have to appreciate the generosity of Sen. Stabenow spending hundreds of thousands to create each job with our money. When the greedy, stingy automobile industry uses their own money, they only spend a few thousand for every job they create. Or for example, Apple’s introduction of the iPad created more jobs in China than President Obama created during his Summer of Recovery at less than a fraction of a fraction of a trillion dollars.

Sen. Stabenow stated that our $2 billion investment will save us from foreign dependency on lithium. I’d rather the fair Senator start small and get rid of our dependency on foreign light bulbs. The senator’s vote killed thousands of jobs in the incandescent light bulb factories and now Americans pay as much for a light bulb as we pay for a gallon of gas to foreign countries. In the worst case scenario, if China reduces our light bulb allocation, all of Sen. Stabenow’s billion dollar battery factories would become inoperable, in the dark.

Richard Peasel Jr., Grand Blanc

"In the dark" is an excellent metaphor for the hard left Democrat Party, which has long since forsaken American history, traditions and the Constitution.

As as aside, that Debbie Stabenow's a looker, ain't she?


Gang of Six Reactions From Around the Web: It "Raises Taxes by $3 Trillion" and "It's based on dishonest Washington budget math"

The "Gang of Six" bipartisan plan to "reduce our nation's deficits" has touched off a wide range of reactions. My personal highlights:

• The Washington Examiner's Conn Carroll: "Gang of six plan raises taxes by $3 trillion - they are using a CBO baseline that assumes the AMT continues as written today and that the current Bush rates expire. Last August, the CBO said those policies would amount to a $4.8 trillion tax hike. Which means the the Gang of Six plan probably raises taxes by about $3+ trillion over current rates."

• Daniel J. Mitchell: "The entire package is based on dishonest Washington budget math. Spending increases under the plan, but the politicians claim to be cutting spending because the budget didn’t grow even faster."

• The Foundry: "The Gang of Six promises — an unenforceable promise — that some time in the next six months Congress will enact a second law with all kinds of Christmas presents for everybody - The Gang of Six circulated a plan that has Congress enact a law now whose principal elements (1) make unspecified spending cuts and unspecified tax increases to yield a $500 billion reduction in the federal deficit, and (2) impose spending caps on discretionary spending, but not on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and welfare programs that are the main cause of out-of-control spending."

• At Americans for Tax Reform, John Fund: "Gang of Six Tax Hikers - The problem is a majority of Republicans ... have signed an anti-tax pledge... but if you’re going to get rid of tax credits or tax deductions, you have to balance it with tax cuts on something else so you don’t have a net tax increase. And of course in a weak economy as we have now, I think a net tax increase would be a real mistake; and it would be a clear violation of the pledge for any Republican that signed it."

• The American Spectator's Joseph Lawler: "Perhaps the reason the Gang of Six plan is politically viable is that is mostly a promise to make cuts in the future, rather than a measure to cut spending now." Not good.

Politiho: "President Obama praises 'Gang of Six' debt ceiling plan - President Barack Obama hailed a proposal offered Tuesday by Republican and Democratic senators as “a very significant step” that represents “the potential for bipartisan consensus” on resolving the impasse over cutting the deficit and lifting the debt ceiling." Double not good.

Mitchell concludes with some serious questions:

1. How fast will discretionary spending rise or fall under the caps? Will this be like the caps following the 1990 tax-hike deal, which were akin to 60-mph speed limits in a school zone? Or will the caps actually reduce spending, erasing the massive increase in discretionary spending of the Bush-Obama years?

2. What does it mean to promise Social Security reform “if and only if the comprehensive deficit reduction bill has already received 60 votes.” Who defines reform? And why does the reform have to focus on “75-year” solvency, apparently to the exclusion of giving younger workers access to a better and more stable system?

3. Will federal spending under the plan shrink back down to the historical average of 20 percent of GDP? And why aren’t those numbers in the summary? The document contains information of deficits and debt, but those figures are just the symptoms of excessive spending. Why aren’t we being shown the data that really matters?

This plan is outrageous. This is another hack job by Beltway insiders bent on preserving the status quo, massive deficits and, eventually, complete economic collapse.

It does nothing to solve the real problem. Government is just too damn big.

We need Cut, Cap, Balance. And that is all we need. As Michelle Malkin says, "Make your voices heard: Congressional switchboard number – 202-224-3121."


Update: Hugh Hewitt has precisely the right idea.

Linked by: Protein Wisdom and The Tatler. Thanks!

Gang of Six Details in Plain Text

Uncle Ben relays the full plan in plain-text:

A BIPARTISAN PLAN TO REDUCE OUR NATION’S DEFICITS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This bipartisan, comprehensive, and balanced plan consistent with the recommendations of the Bowles-Simpson fiscal commission that will:
• Slash our nation’s deficits by $3.7 trillion/$3.6 trillion over ten years under CBO’s March 2011 baseline, or $4.65 trillion/$4.5 trillion under the original fiscal commission baseline (which used the President’s 2011 budget request as the starting point for discretionary spending).
• Stabilize our publicly-held debt by 2014.
• Reduce our publicly-held debt to roughly 70% of our economy by 2021.
• Impose unprecedented budget enforcement.

A COMPREHENSIVE AND BALANCED PROPOSAL
The plan uses a two-step legislative process: (1) an initial bill that makes immediate cuts; and (2) a process for a second bill to enact comprehensive reform and put our nation on a stable fiscal path. The plan would:

Immediately implement aggressive deficit reduction down payment

• Cut deficits by $500 billion.

Dramatically cut discretionary spending

• Cut nonsecurity and security discretionary spending over 10 years.
• Maintain investments that encourage economic growth, strengthen the safety net for those who truly need it, and preserve a strong national defense.

Carefully strengthen the solvency of our most important entitlement programs

• Spend health care dollars more efficiently in order to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, while maintaining the basic structure of these critical programs.
• Fully pays for SGR (the “doc fix”) over 10 years.

Fundamentally reform our tax code

• Reduce marginal income tax rates and abolish the $1.7 trillion Alternative Minimum Tax.
• Encourage greater economic growth.
• Enhance the competitiveness of American businesses and workers against global
competition.
• Reform spending through the tax code to eliminate investment distortions and tax gaming.
• Change the debate about taxes in America from rate levels and carve outs to
competitiveness, fairness and growth.
• If CBO scored this plan, it would find net tax relief of approximately $1.5 trillion.

Strictly tighten the government’s budget processes

• Impose spending caps and security/nonsecurity firewalls.
• Sequester accounts at the end of the year to recoup any excessive spending by Congress.
• Restrict the use of emergency designations that circumvent the spending caps.
• Prevent Congress from exceeding the caps by requiring a stand-alone resolution subject to a 67-vote threshold, in order to isolate that vote to increase the deficit from any other policy items.

Reform Social Security for future generations

• Ensure 75-year solvency of Social Security and provide for a decennial review of the program to ensure it remains solvent.
• Reform Social Security on a separate track, isolated from deficit reduction – any savings from the program must go towards solvency.

AN AGGRESSIVE PLAN THAT INVOLVES THE WHOLE CONGRESS
The plan would be implemented through an open, aggressive two-step legislative process led by committees of jurisdiction and involving the American people by:
Enacting a $500 billion down payment that would secure immediate deficit savings, while establishing a fast track process for the committees in Congress to specify further savings
• Impose statutory discretionary spending caps through 2015.
• Implement numerous budget process reforms.
• Shift to the chained-CPI (a more accurate measure of inflation) government-wide starting in 2012, along with the following specifications for Social Security: (1) exempt SSI from the shift for five years, and then phase in the shift over the next five years; and (2) provide a minimum benefit equal to 125% of the poverty line for five years. (According to CBO, the shift to chained-CPI would result in the annual adjustment growing, on average, about 0.25 percentage points per year slower than the current CPI.)
• Repeal the CLASS Act.
• Enact concrete policy changes that lock-in additional savings, including freezing
Congressional pay and selling unused federal property.
• Require GAO and the Department of Labor to report to Congress on establishing a more effective unemployment insurance trigger.

Enacting a comprehensive deficit reduction plan that includes discretionary and
entitlement savings as well as fundamental tax reform


• Require committees to report legislation within six months that would deliver real deficit savings in entitlement programs over 10 years as follows:
• Finance would permanently reform or replace the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate
formula ($298 billion) and fully offset the cost with health savings, would find an
additional $202 billion/$85 billion in health savings, and would maintain the essential health care services that the poor and elderly rely upon.
• Armed Services would find $80 billion.
• Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions would find $70 billion.
• Homeland Security and Government Affairs would find $65 billion.
• Agriculture would find $11 billion while protecting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• Commerce would find $11 billion.
• Energy would find $6 billion and may propose additional policies to generate savings that would be applied to the infrastructure deficit or to reduce the deficit.
• Judiciary would find an unspecified amount through medical malpractice reform.
• Require the Finance Committee to report tax reform within six months that would deliver real deficit savings by broadening the tax base, lowering tax rates, and generating economic growth as follows:

• Simplify the tax code by reducing the number of tax expenditures and reducing individual tax rates, by establishing three tax brackets with rates of 8–12 percent, 14–22 percent, and 23–29 percent.
• Permanently repeal the $1.7 trillion Alternative Minimum Tax.
• Tax reform must be projected to stimulate economic growth, leading to increased revenue.
• Tax reform must be estimated to provide $1 trillion in additional revenue to meet plan targets and generate an additional $133 billion by 2021, without raising the federal gas tax, to ensure improved solvency for the Highway Trust Fund.
• If CBO scored this plan, it would find net tax relief of approximately $1.5 trillion.
• To the extent future Congresses find that the dynamic effects of tax reform result in additional revenue beyond these targets, this revenue must go to additional rate reductions and deficit reduction, not to new spending.
• Reform, not eliminate, tax expenditures for health, charitable giving, homeownership, and retirement, and retain support for low-income workers and families.
• Retain the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, or provide at least the same level of support for qualified beneficiaries.
• Maintain or improve the progressivity of the tax code.
• Establish a single corporate tax rate between 23 percent and 29 percent, raise as much revenue as the current corporate tax system, and move to a competitive territorial tax system.
• Require the Budget Committee to report legislation within six months that would:
• Extend discretionary caps and enforcement mechanisms through 2021.
• Ensure Congressional action to reduce the deficit if the debt-to-GDP ratio after 2015 has not stabilized.
• Review total federal health care spending starting in 2020 with a target of holding growth to GDP plus one percent per beneficiary and require action by Congress and the President if exceeded.
• Achieve program integrity savings of $26 billion in entitlement programs to curb fraud, abuse, and other wasteful spending government-wide.
• Create a working group to provide updated budget concepts for CBO and OMB.
• Provide expedited floor consideration for a consolidated bill meeting these instructions:
• If any committee fails to report entitlement program savings, impose across the board cuts to programs in that committee’s jurisdiction as necessary to achieve the required savings. To protect programs that benefit low income families, exempt from across the board cuts those most in need.
• Allow a group of at least five senators from each party to introduce a resolution in lieu of the non-reporting committee.
• If a resolution receives 60 votes on the floor, those recommendations will be added to the comprehensive bill.
• If the Senate does not agree to those recommendations, the comprehensive bill cannot come to the floor under the special procedures established in the first (down payment) bill.
• Bar substitute floor amendments that upset the revenue/spending balance or any amendments that make the deficit worse, but place no other limits on debate or the substance of amendments.
• Allow the Majority Leader and Minority Leader to limit debate and the number of amendments, or impose other substantive restrictions by agreement, so that the Leaders can manage the bill with a process that satisfies 60 Senators and the process cannot be held up by a small group on either side. If the Leaders cannot agree, the bill is considered under the regular order.
• Hold any such comprehensive bill that receives 60 votes at the desk pending consideration of the Social Security bill.

Enacting Social Security reform if the comprehensive deficit reduction plan has passed

• Consider Social Security reform, if and only if the comprehensive deficit reduction bill has already received 60 votes.
• Reform must ensure 75-year solvency of the program and provide for a decennial review to ensure it remains solvent. Any savings from the program must go towards solvency, not deficit reduction.
• If Finance fails to report Social Security reform meeting the instructions, allow a group of at least five senators from each party to introduce a resolution with recommendations that meet the committee’s instructions.
• Bar substitute amendments that worsen the solvency of Social Security.
• Combine any qualifying Social Security reform bill that receives 60 votes on final passage to the comprehensive bill at the desk before being sent to the House as a single bill.
• Vitiate the vote on the deficit-reduction bill if the Social Security reform bill does not receive 60 votes.

Uncle Ben adds, "It seems like a reasonable approach to me, and the fact that the market went up 80 points after word got out about the proposal suggests that Congress just needs to get something done."

I'll reserve judgment until I have a chance to digest it. If Democrats are for it, my first tendency is to oppose it.


Update, digested: Gang of Six Reactions From Around the Web: It "Raises Taxes by $3 Trillion" and "It's based on dishonest Washington budget math"

Larwyn's Linx: Awww... Presidenting interfering with fundraising

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

Awww: Presidenting interfering with fundraising: Hot Air
Constitutional Genius Obama Can't Veto an Amendment: TRS
America's Ruling Class -- And the Perils of Revolution: AmSpec

Rampant Medicaid Fraud Exposed: Veritas
Bumbling idiot ratchets up the debt ceiling fear: Malkin
Obama at 150% burn rate!: IHP

Economy

Tim Geithner's Chilling Interview: P&F
Why Blue Can’t Save The Inner Cities Part I: Mead
Shared Sacrifice: Except for Obama's Office: Malkin

S & P: America Could Default Even if Debt Ceiling is Raised: BigPic
No, Americans Don't Want Higher Taxes: IBD
Moody's: Abolish the debt limit: Politico

Wanted: Sacrifices for Obama’s Reelection Campaign: PJM
SEIU Tells Workers to ‘Disobey Laws’ to Crush Employers: Foundry
I've found those cuts Obama talks about: Virtuous

Gunrunner

Gunwalker: Family of Slain Federal Agent Demands Answers: Owens
Was ICE Agent Zapata Killed With a Gun Walker Weapon?: Hayward
Gunwalker: ATF Targets Were Actually FBI Informants: Owens

Climate & Energy

Q: "Why Hasn’t The Earth Warmed In Nearly 15 Years?" A: Because AGW Is A Hoax!: BlogProf
If Only You’d Forgo Meat And Cheese Once A Week, We’d Save Gaia: RWN
By the numbers: The top eco car: CNet

Media

CBS: People despise the GOP on the debt-ceiling issue (according to Democrats we polled): Instapundit
CBS poll with D+11 sample oddly disfavors GOP: Hot Air
CBS is still see BS: Surber

Left Turn: When hell broke loose: Power Line
Fox Detroit Apologizes for Exposing Big Labor: BigJournalism
MorOn.org's Mental Thought Processes: Short-Circuited Again: LFAYA

Oh My: Vegas CEO Goes On Epic Anti-Obama Rant. Update: Audio Added: Driscoll
End of Blogging?: AmPower
Palin Again: RS

GOP Shifts To The Hard Right On Debt Talks (?): RWN
AP’s Jay Root Has Big News: Rick Perry Used to Be a Democrat: Tatler
Detroit Free Press: The federal government is mother, the federal government is father: BlogProf

World

Israel's Only Two Options: Glick
Ohio Imam Defrauds Taxpayers of $2 Million: Creeping
Gold Rallies to Record in Best Run Since 1980: Bloomberg

Why Angela Merkel Wouldn’t Follow Obama Over the Edge: RWN
Tracking Isn’t Just for Our Feds Any More: NoisyRoom
Russian-backed Propaganda Networks Claim Obama is a CIA Agent: NoisyRoom

Sci-Tech

DHS: Imported Devices Infected with Malware: InfosecIsland
How to start an online social network from scratch: CreditWritedowns
The Best And Most Secure Windows OS Ever: InfosecIsland

Cornucopia

Infographic: Are You A Criminal?: RWN
Time to Reboot America: O'Neill
Building a Religion 2012 Edition: RobtKraft

Comment o' the Day: Denny
It Begins: UrbanInfidel
Get over it, we've already defaulted: RCM

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

QOTD: "Of the one hundred or so news outlets that I examine, only a handful lean right. These include: the Washington Times, the Daily Oklahoman, the (Tucson) Arizona Daily Star, and Fox News’ Special Report... But even the latter, supposedly conservative news outlets, are not far-right. For instance, Special Report is more centrist than any of the three network evening news shows. That is, its conservative bias is less than the liberal bias of ABC, CBS, or NBC.

The effects of media bias are real and significant. My results suggest that media bias aids Democratic candidates by about 8-10 percentage points in a typical election. I find, for instance, that if media bias didn’t exist, then John McCain would have defeated Barack Obama 56-42, instead of losing 53-46." --Dr. Timothy Groseclose

Monday, July 18, 2011

The real reason Democrats have refused to release a budget for 800 days: they know that S&P will downgrade the U.S. if it passes

In an act unparalleled in modern American history, Democrats have refused to release a budget for more than 800 days.

The most profligate and irresponsible spenders in world history know that rating agencies like Standard & Poor's will downgrade the United States -- irrespective of the debt ceiling issue -- if massive spending cuts are not enacted. And real spending cuts are anathema to the Soros-controlled, hard left Marxist Democrats.

A downgrade is likely no matter what comes out of current negotiations. Specifically, Standard and Poor's has indicated a $4 trillion deficit reduction package is necessary by Aug. 2 to avoid a downgrade...

...That simply is not possible given the president's aversion to genuine spending cuts -- evidenced by his failure to table concrete spending cut proposals -- and the insistence on no new taxes by many members of the Republican House caucus.

The modern Democrat Party -- authors of a traitor's greatest hits like "This war is lost" and "General Betray-Us" -- is so far removed from the party of Truman and JFK that it must be politically obliterated in 2012 for this Republic to survive.

And 2012 is coming.


Allen West: Could Someone in the Obama Administration Please Explain Why In Hell We're Selling Tanks to the Muslim Brotherhood?

Of course, I'm paraphrasing. But when it comes to national security issues, there really is no better straight talker in Congress than Rep. Allen West (R-FL).

It has come to my attention that the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on July 1, 2011 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt for 125 M1A1 Abrams tank kits for co-production and associated weapons, equipment, parts, training and logistical support. One of the greatest threats to Egyptian stability, as well as to regional stability, is the growing prospect of a new Egyptian Government under the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood. If given control of the country, the Muslim Brotherhood would nominate its own candidates and turn Egypt into a radical Islamic state.

America must continue to stand with the Egyptian people and encourage them to build their own democracy with new political parties and freedoms. However, we must exercise caution with regards to military sales and support to the Egyptian Government until a government is formed absent of the radical elements of the Muslim Brotherhood that will maintain active peace with Israel.

As a Member of the United States House of Representatives, as well as a member of the Armed Services Committee, I strongly oppose any military sales of any kind to the Government of Egypt as long as the Muslim Brotherhood remains active in the political process. Doing so would seriously jeopardize the safety and security of the State of Israel. The last thing I want to see is Egyptian M1A1 tanks rolling through the Sinai towards Jerusalem.

Of course, that may not be the last thing the Obama administration wants to see.

The administration's plans to sell tanks to Egypt represent the product of either ignorance or malevolence. And, based upon its track record, I can't help but suspect the latter.


Well, THESE look like good investments for the Social Security Trust Fund™, or Lockbox, or whatever the Democrats call their Ponzi scheme now

It would appear that the shell game known as the European Union is nearing an end. Please consider: "Greek Two-Year Note Yield Surges 213 Bps to Record 35.19%, More Italy Stock Suspensions".

It's getting very scary out there. First there has been an unsubstantiated rumor that Spanish PM has resigned based on an El Pais editorial, and then we have the fact that Greek 2 year bonds have just collapsed by another 2% to an all time record 35.19%. The cherry on top are reports that Intesa Sanpaolo and some other volatile bank shares are suspended after continuing their last week plunge. One day soon the entire European stock market will just shut down and not reopen (which will naturally simply be an excuse for the US HFT lobby, which now feels unfairly attacked for being a malicious parasite, to levitate the Russell 2000 to unseen levels).

As usual, this is worth a thousand words:


In short, the market believes that Greece's promises to pay its immense debts are worth roughly the value of the Zimbabwean trillion-dollar note.

Kind of like Social Security's promises to pay. Which reminds me:

How is it that Bernie Madoff is in prison for life, but the enablers of a Ponzi scheme three orders of magnitude larger -- Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer among them -- are not only free as birds, but still grasping onto the reins of power with white-knuckled death grips?


Paging all materials scientists: Bernie has a question

Bernie:

Nagasaki 1945, after the atomic bomb:


Nagasaki 2011, following the devastating earthquake and tsunami:


What the f*** is that arch made of?



Change You Can Grieve In: US Misery Index Hits 28 Year High

The President's perfect record remains intact: another day, another record for economic malaise shattered.

This must be another one of those things that accompany the American economy one year into the recovery (Tim Geithner ©):


But, Melvin, he's so historic!


Larwyn's Linx: A Fling With the Welfare State

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

A Fling With the Welfare State: Emerie
We Are The Undefeated: Why Sarah Palin should run: Hayward
Opposition to McConnell plan grows among GOP senators: Hill

House Freshmen not on-board for any deals?: RS
Partisan Justice Under Eric Holder: Federale
Ex-Rezko Partner Told Feds Of Payments To Obama: AdvIn

Sheriff Joe Arpaio Punks ICE HSI: Federale
Perry: I'm feeling a call: Hot Air
Every Dem voted against lifting debt ceiling in '06: GWP

Economy

Can’t Buy Love? Try Obama’s Corporate Dating Website: Dewey
California's Pay Day Loan: BG
Scott praises Cantor’s walkout from debt negotiations: Hill

GOP Govs Prove Conservative Economic Principles Work: GWP
Unemployment uh-oh: 9.2% may be the low-water mark: IHTM
True origins of financial crisis: Power Line

Climate & Energy

Globaloney: The Statist Push Continues: Blumer
The War on Copper: Exam
Why Nothing Is “Shovel Ready” Anymore: Mead

Media

Review: Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind: Power Line
Marco Rubio schools CBS' Bob Schieffer: GWP
'Murdoch Hacking Scandal' vs. NY Times National Security Leaks: TAB

The Slow, Painful Coming Death Of The Independent, Conservative Blogosphere: RWN
How Network News Helped Bring About the Crash: Klavan
Hollywood Hasn’t Lost ‘Hope’: Malkin

Big Demand For The Undefeated Drives Broader Release: Riehl
Gray Lady Gets Yet Another Case of Depression Lust: Driscoll
Keith Olbermann: The Lost Months: MB

World

Al-Qaeda Is Down but Not Out: Foundry
Cain: Voters Should Have Right To Prevent Mosque Construction If Community Opposes It: WZ
Obama Accused Of Crimes Against Humanity Over Bin Laden Killing At International Criminal Court: WZ

Islamic Teacher: Bring Back Slave Girls!: Big Peace
Trichet Repeats Nuclear Threat to Reject Greek Bonds as Collateral; Verbal Discipline or Big Bluff?: Mish
Indonesia: Veiled teen girls send mock bomb to police officer: JihadWatch

Sci-Tech

Make It So: Hands-On With Official Star Trek iPad App: Wired
Orphiro's electric motorcycle: like a Harley, just not obnoxiously loud: Engadget
A beginner's guide to telecom jargon: CNet

Cornucopia

Celebutards from 50 of our 57 states: MOTUS
Casey Anthony: Spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood: RWN
Sunken 19th Century Schooner Found Intact In Lake Ontario: Irish Weather

Image: The Looking Spoon
Sponsored by: URGENT: Tell your Congressman to vote YES on the 'Cut Cap Balance' Act

QOTD: "When Roosevelt signed Social Security into law, it was meant to start coverage at age 65 at a time when 58 was the average life span of male Americans. (Roosevelt himself died at 63 ten years later.) When President Johnson signed Medicare, life spans were still well below today’s standards, and most major medical breakthroughs were still in the future. (Johnson also would die in his 60s.) Neither imagined a world in which people routinely lived into their 80s and 90s, with knee replacements and heart transplants and home dialysis machines. Roosevelt opposed public employee unions, whose pension demands and early retirements are now driving some of our states and cities into bankruptcy. It’s easier to think of goods as rights when the costs are low, and they therefore take little from others. It’s when the costs rise—as in medical treatments—that the political trade-offs rise, too." --Noemie Emery

Sunday, July 17, 2011

A Brief History of the Obama National Debt

Courtesy of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI):

January 20, 2009 - President Obama sworn into office
Debt Held By Public = $6.31 trillion

February 17, 2009 - President Signs into Law the Spending Stimulus
Debt Held by Public = $6.48 trillion

February 26, 2009 - President Issues FY2010 Budget
* Debt Held by Public = $6.58 trillion

March 11, 2009 - President Signs FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act
Debt Held by Public = $6.66 trillion

April 29, 2009 - Congressional Democrats Pass FY2010 Budget
Debt Held by Public = $6.85 trillion

February 2, 2010 - President Issues FY2011 Budget
Debt Held by Public = $7.85 trillion

March 23, 2010 - President Signs Health-Care Overhaul Into Law
Debt Held by Public = $8.18 trillion

April 15, 2010 - Congressional Democrats Decide Not to Do a Budget for FY2011
Debt Held by Public = $8.39 trillion

July 21, 2010 - President Signs Financial Regulatory Overhaul Into Law
Debt Held by Public = $8.69 trillion

February 14, 2011 - President Issues FY2012 Budget
Debt Held by Public = $9.45 trillion

April 13, 2011 - President Delivers Speech on Deficit Reduction
Debt Held by Public = $9.65 trillion

April 15, 2011 - House Passes FY2012 Budget Resolution
Debt Held by Public = $9.68 trillion

April 18, 2011 - S&P Issues Credit Warning on U.S. Debt
Debt Held by Public = $9.68 trillion

May 13, 2011 - Medicare and Social Security Trustees Issue Warning of Looming Insolvency
Debt Held by Public = $9.67 trillion

May 25, 2011 - Senate Unanimously Rejects President’s FY2012 Budget; Vote is 97-0
Debt Held by Public = $9.72 trillion

June 23, 2011 - CBO Director Further Discredits President’s Fiscal Record
Debt Held by Public = $9.74 trillion

July 8, 2011 - Unemployment Hits 9.2%; Day 800 Since Senate Democrats Last Passed A Budget
Debt Held by Public = $9.75 trillion

July 11, 2011 - Senator Conrad Gives Budget Speech on Senate Floor
Debt held by Public = $9.75 trillion

July 15, 2011 - President Holds Press Conference: “We’re Running Out of Time” to Deal with Debt
Debt Held by Public = $9.75 trillion

Speeches. Not budgets. Not tangible plans to improve American society. Speeches. And golf.


Why conservatives are thoroughly terrified by @SpeakerBoehner -- he couldn't even pass a bill to repeal the idiotic light-bulb ban

This kind of screw-up can only be chalked up to willful negligence or outright stupidity:

A measure to repeal a 2007 federal law that would push many traditional incandescent light bulbs off the market failed to win two-thirds support needed to pass in a House vote Tuesday.

A 233-193 majority of the House backed the measure proposed by Rep. Joe Barton (R. Texas), would have repealed a federal mandate that light bulbs meet certain efficiency standards by next year. But the bill was brought up under a procedure requiring that it receive two-thirds vote for passage.

Because he bypassed the House Rules Committee to bring the bill directly to a floor vote, Boehner couldn't muster the two-thirds majority. If the Speaker had simply presented the bill through the Rules Committee, a simple majority would have sufficed.

It's performances like this one -- along with the unforgettable Continuing Resolution debacle -- that cast serious doubt on Boehner's leadership.

Let me put it bluntly: if the Speaker caves on the debt ceiling fight without serious concessions (like passing the Cut, Cap, Balance proposal tied to any debt ceiling hike), then he needs to be replaced. It's just that simple.


Update: Rose points out that the light-bulb repeal was passed a few days later by voice vote.

Fast and Spurious: ATF facilitated sales of guns to cartel members, who they didn't know were actually FBI informants using taxpayer money

As Mark Steyn describes it: "United States taxpayers were picking up the tab for Mexican drug lords’ weaponry in order that the ATF could identify high-up gun-traffickers. But, as it turns out, these high-up gun-traffickers were already known to other agencies — FBI, DEA, and other big-spending acronyms in the great fetid ooze of federal alphabet soup in which this republic is drowning. And, indeed, some of those high-ups are said to have been paid informants for those various federal agencies. So, in case you’re wondering why Obama’s second annual Recovery Summer is a wee bit sluggish at your end, relax: Stimulus dollars went to fund one federal agency to buy guns for the paid informants of another federal agency to funnel to foreign criminals in order that the first federal agency might identify the paid informants of the second federal agency."

The Los Angeles Times reports today that at least six gun smugglers working for the Mexican drug cartels were also paid FBI informants:

The investigators have asked the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration for details about the alleged informants, as well as why agents at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which ran the Fast and Furious operation, were not told about them.

The development raises further doubts about the now-shuttered program, which was created in November 2009 in an effort to track guns across the border and unravel the cartels' gun smuggling networks. The gun tracing largely failed, however, and hundreds of weapons purchased in U.S. shops later were found at crime scenes in Mexico.

The scandal has angered Mexican officials and some members of Congress. Investigators say nearly 2,500 guns were allowed to flow illegally into Mexico under the ATF program, fueling the drug violence ravaging that country and leading to the shooting death of a U.S. border agent.

...The official said at least half a dozen cartel figures were being paid by one U.S. law enforcement agency while they were being targeted by another.

...two AK-47s purchased during the operation were found at the scene last December where U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry was shot to death near Tucson, allegedly by a Sinaloa cartel member.

A second U.S. immigration agent, Jaime Zapata, was slain in a cartel ambush in February in Mexico, and investigators now are trying to determine whether Fast and Furious weapons were used to kill him as well.

The sheer idiocy of this plan resembles the plot of a Three Stooges movie.

We need a special prosecutor.