Thursday, August 18, 2011

Meltdown Replay? "It Sure Looks Like 2008"

Tony Pallotta of MacroStory:

When you think of it in the short term markets are nothing more than a group of people trying to process data and understand what others are doing all under the stress of losing personal wealth... At times like these markets are more about human psychology and less about technical and or macro data...

I believe it is time to fast forward to the fall of 2008. Once again the 2008 market is a road map of how human emotion reacts when credit events happen. When economic data deteriorates at an exponential pace. When the unthinkable becomes reality...

Once again markets are pricing in the unthinkable. In 2008 history witnessed the failure of Lehman, AIG and the GSEs. Today history is bearing witness to sovereign nations on the brink of failure. In 2008 there was the threat of bank runs. Today there is the threat of currency runs. In 2008 there were government bailouts. Today there are central bank bailouts.

Through it all market participants have not changed. They are still a group of individuals trying to process data and understand what others are doing all while real money is on the line. As history has proven once again they will get it wrong. Once again leverage will destroy balance sheets. Denial will get in the way of rational thought. History truly does repeat and the patterns are present in the charts.

Excuse me. I think I have to go to the bathroom now.


The 8 Most Terrifying Holes on Earth

Kimberley Big Hole - South Africa: Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this 1097 meter deep mine yielded over 3 tons of diamonds before being closed in 1914.

Glory Hole - Monticello Dam, California: This is the 'Glory Hole' at Monticello dam, and it's the largest in the world of this type of spillway, its size enabling it to consume 14,400 cubic feet of water every second (note: a glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the reservoir).

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah: This is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. Extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit increasing in size constantly. In its current state the hole is 0.75 miles deep and 2.5 miles wide and covering 1,900 acres.

Great Blue Hole, Belize: This incredible geographical phenomenon known as a blue hole is situated 60 miles off the mainland of Belize. There are numerous blue holes around the world, but none as stunning as this one.

Mirny Diamond Mine, Serbia: I'm pretty sure most people have seen this one. It's an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mines in the world. At 525 meters deep, with a top diameter of 1200 meters, there's even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters having been sucked in.

Diavik Mine, Canada: The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it has its own airport with a runway large enough to accommodate a Boeing 737. It looks equally cool when the surrounding water is frozen.

Sinkhole in Guatemala: These photos are of a sinkhole that occurred in Guatemala. The hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least three people.

The most terrifying hole of all: This is the famous 'Rat Hole' that you've read so much about lately. It is capable of swallowing trillions upon trillions of U.S. dollars from the real economy each and every year.


Hat tip: Dave W.

Just as successful as Cash-for-Clunkers: Obama MPG demands will add $11,000 to the price of the average car

You didn't have to be Kreskin to see this coming:

The Obama Administration’s new fuel economy standards will result in the retail price of average motor vehicles to increase over $11,000, according to a study conducted by the Center for Automotive Research.

“A fuel economy standard of 37.6 mpg is associated with a price increase of $5,244, 18.1 percent higher than the 2009 National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) average price of $28,966. A fuel economy standard of 40.8 mpg is associated with a price increase of $6,770, 23.4 percent higher than the 2009 NADA price,” says their report called, “The U.S. Automotive Market and Industry in 2025.”


“A fuel economy standard of 44.8 mpg is associated with a price increase of $8,214, 28.4 percent higher than the 2009 NADA price. The fourth fuel economy standard of 49.6 mpg is associated with an $11,290 increase in retail price. It is assumed that manufacturers and dealers will pass on the cost increase in fuel economy and safety technology to the consumer, at a retail price equivalent.”

The Obama administration’s new fuel economy standards would require automakers to produce cars and light trucks with an average fuel economy of 54.5 mpg by 2025. The Center for Automotive Research says their study is “the result of 11 months of effort and investigation by researchers at CAR in 2010-2011.”

...“The Obama administration’s latest fuel economy mandates are an aggressive step away from consumer choice and towards government control,” [Thomas Pyle, the president of the Institute for Energy Research] said in a USA Today op-ed... "Every day, Americans are seeing the negative consequences of the administration’s increasingly aggressive meddling in the economy—more government control and less consumer choice..."

Of course, the President does have one successful jobs program he can claim.

It involves hiring government bureaucrats and regulators, and we simply have to give these people something to do, right?


Hat tip: TrendingRight.

Thought Experiment: Obama's Tragical Misery Bus Tour Visits the Inner City

Of course, in real life, President Obama and his advisers would no more have the cojones to visit real inner cities than they would to visit Abbottabad, Pakistan.

But imagine, for a moment, if the Obama 2012 campaign I Feel Your Pain bus tour actually made stops in the inner cities of, say, Detroit and Philadelphia.

You can just imagine the topics of the President's speech:

36 percent of Michigan children had no parent employed full-time in 2009, which is almost certainly the insidious side-effect of ATMs on society.

In July, the unemployment rate of African-American teens was 39.2 percent, a direct result of the tsunami in Japan.

Overall unemployment of African-Americans was 17 percent, which can be traced back to the riots and economic upheaval in Greece.

Flash mobs are swarming urban centers, destroying retail establishments and assaulting passers-by, the inevitable result of the Internet on civility.

Poor, inner-city kids are locked in horrible public school systems with no way out -- not because of the ACLU and the teachers' unions' repellent war against school choice and vouchers -- but because of the global uncertainty unleashed by the "Arab Spring" revolts.

In addition, the President will continue to blame the overall economic downturn on a string of "bad luck", as all presidents do in tough times.


Hat tips: Mark Levin and Sandy.

Larwyn's Linx: Liberals aren't funny, they're a riot!

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

Liberals aren't funny, they're a riot!: Coulter
Are Black Flash Mob Attacks Obama's Fault?: Marcus
Obamacare Far, Far Worse Than Imagined: RWN

Essential Reading on Governor Perry: Ace
Palin Calls Out Obama’s Absurd Comparison to Lincoln: C4P
Perry Doubles Down: Calls For Fed To Open Its Books: WZ

Washington: A paradise for parasites: AT
Obama: forcing people to buy insurance isn't controversial: RWN
5 lessons Palin learned from Hillary's campaign: HillBuzz

Economy

Super-committee Dems wants more Stimulus spending: WZ
Ben's Promises are Empty: Asia Times
Income is not wealth: BSF

IL Goes Down Down Down in that Burning Ring of Debt: Commune
Obama: let's address debt to pay for jobs programs now!: Malkin
Labor Department's 'Unemployment Insurance Hall of Fame': Malkin

SEC destroys 9,000 fraud files on nation's biggest banks: Mish
If You’ve Got Auto Stocks, Sell Them Quickly: HayRide
Success of Texas Public-Sector Employment Reflects Fiscal Conservatism: AmSpec

Climate & Energy

Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman and the AP on Global Warming: Power Line
500 million of your tax dollars given to India for Solar projects: Fire Andrea Mitchell
Good News! Thousands Sign Up To Be Arrested For Climate Change: RWN

Media

Levin: I’m starting to think these Repubicans would prefer Obama over a conservative Republican: ProWis
It's going to be a long, ugly campaign: Exam
Why Obama Press Secretary Jay Carney Needs To Go: Mr. Media Training

Since Obama won't release any of his transcripts, etc. ...: Colossus
Whither goest thou? "Only a living thing can go against the stream": sisu
Allen West: I’m Here As The Modern Day Harriet Tubman To Lead People Away From The Plantation: WZ

“On Day 938 of his presidency, Obama says he’ll have a jobs plan in a month or so”: ProWis
Liberal Media’s Jihad on Conservatives: ConBlkChk
Flim-Flam Man Without A Plan On The Lam: HillaryIs44

NBC Frets Over Tea Party's 'In-Your-Face Tactics' and 'The Politics of Anger': MRC
Flash mobs, grievance-stokers, and RAAAAAACISM!: Malkin
CBS Comes to Obama’s Defense on Vacation Time After They Ask for HIs Predictions on Economy: NB

World

Obama Administration Sides With Hamas – Tells Israel to Apologize to Turkey or Else: GWP
Israel will not apologize to Turkey for taking out the jihad flotilla: JihadWatch
Outrage after Palestinian camp attacked in Syria: NowLebanon

Barack Obama and Valerie Jarrett: Brought Together by Fickle Fate, or Something More?: Loudon
Founder Of The Muslim Canadian Congress Says Muslim Brotherhood Has Infiltrated White House: Nice Deb
10 hurt, 'several dead' in Israel attacks: Maktoob

British Degeneracy on Parade: CityJournal
A Child Prodigy Under the Welfare State: RWN
Bad Checks in Greece Soar 43% as Credit Dries Up; Greek Unemployment Rate Hits Record High 16.6%: Mish

Sci-Tech

Amazon releases secure cloud for government: CNet
IBM says new chip mimics the human brain: CNet
Insulting Restaurant Staff On Twitter While You're Still In The Restaurant Might Get You Kicked Out: Consumerist

Cornucopia

It's Hard to Believe...: RightTruth
Caption This...: WZ
Amazing Computer-Generated Simulation of Sullenberger's Flight and Landing in the Hudson: C&S

Image: Obama halo photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Allen West for Congress

QOTD: "Perry wrote yet another letter to the President respectfully requesting an additional 1,000 federal agents to help secure the Texas/Mexico border. Since previous letters to President Obama got no response, Perry attempted to hand deliver this one directly to the President. The two met briefly on the tarmac as the President de-planed in Austin, Texas in August of 2010. With the whole incident caught on video, Obama refused to personally accept the letter and Perry was forced to hand it to presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett. There was already no love lost between Perry and Obama, but to publically rebuff the governor of Texas (or any governor) by refusing to accept a hand delivered letter? What other President would show so little class as to do that? None, except Obama." --"Why Rick Perry should be our next President"

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Presidency hits its all-time economic nadir: Obama blames Internet and ATMs for high unemployment

Following up on his assertion that ATMs cause unemployment, the President today claimed that the Internet is behind the nation's rampant unemployment.

One of the challenges in terms of rebuilding our economy is – businesses have gotten so efficient, that, uh, when was the last time somebody went to a bank teller? Instead of using an ATM. Or, used a travel agent instead of going online. A lot of jobs out that that used to require people now have become automated.

Apparently you have to be an economic illiterate to be a Democrat.

Since the dawn of recorded history, scientific and industrial advances have raised the average standard of living, not lowered it.

• In 1712, the invention of the steam engine touched off the Industrial Revolution, providing an inexpensive mechanical power source to replace manual and animal labor.

• In 1733, the invention of the flying shuttle allowed a weaver to produce a wider band of cloth. This facilitated faster production of textiles for fabric, clothing and other uses.

• In 1769, James Watt added a crank and flywheel to other steam engine improvements, providing efficient rotary motion for a wide variety of industrial uses.

• In the early nineteenth century, the invention of the power loom -- a steam-powered, mechanical cloth-making machine -- allowed women to replace men in many textile manufacturing facilities.

• In 1830, the invention of the sewing machine facilitated the "ready-made clothing" industry.

All of these advances created brand new industries and began to free mankind from routine, manual labor. The sewing machine, for example, required hundreds of parts. These parts, made of many different materials, had to be manufactured and machined, often by dozens of suppliers. New companies arose to source these parts, new industries -- like repair services -- were created, and massive economic value was achieved through the creation of end products.

Such is also the case -- multiplied by orders of magnitude -- with ATMs and the Internet.

It's truly a shame and an outrage that we have leaders in Washington who no more understand general economic principles than they do quantum physics.

Fortunately, the American people know what's going on: a new low of only 26% approve of Obama's handling of the economy.


Related: "The Progressive and the Pencil".

Image hat tips: The Corliss Engine.

How did we survive?

I am one of the baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964. I sometimes wonder how we survived our childhoods. Consider:

Our mothers smoked and/or drank while pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with brightly colored, lead-based paints.

There were no childproof lids on medicine or special locks on cabinet doors.

We we rode bikes, we wore baseball caps, not specially engineered helmets.

As infants, we rode in cars without car seats or booster seats, no seat belts and no air bags. Sometimes, as tots, we rode in small moving boxes packed with blankets and toys.

We rode in the back of pickup trucks and no one was arrested or cited.

We drank water from garden hoses, not from plastic bottles.

We shared a single bottle of Coca-Cola with three friends -- and no one died.

We ate cupcakes with food coloring, white bread, real butter and bacon. In fact, we drank Kool-Aid mixed with tablespoons of real sugar.

Yet we weren't overweight, because we were always outside playing.

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when dusk fell. And no one was able to reach us all day. And: we were okay.

We'd spend hours in the forest with Daisy rifles, or building go-carts without brakes, or sledding with wooden and steel monstrosities that could sever a limb.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-Boxes. There were no video games, no cable television, no DVD players. There were no computers, no web, no Facebook, no Twitter.

We had friends and we went outside and found them... without cell phones or text messages.

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits resulting from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns and knives for our birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, played lawn darts and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

The boomers and their parents have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, inventors and entrepreneurs ever.

The last 50 years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.

We had the good fortune to grow up as kids in America, before the government regulated so much of our lives "for our own good".

Give thanks, for such an age will never occur again.


Hat tips: How Beautiful We Were (American Digest), Contrairimairi and AdClassix.

Pass the popcorn, Nahanni: Obama campaign apparatus slams Leftist blogs and Paul Krugman; Jane Hamsher hardest hit

I love the smell of blue-on-blue conflict in the morning.

The Obama campaign's point person in New Mexico recently sent an email to supporters defending the president's position on the debt deal and bashing the Nobel Prize winning New York Times columnist Paul Krugman and the "Firebagger Lefty blogosphere."

That's right: the progressive Left -- the true Soviet wing of the Democrat Party -- doesn't think Obama is destroying the country fast enough.

The reality that President Obama is seeking re-election while the left wing of his party is profoundly disillusioned hit home last week at the Iowa State Fair when I watched DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz get heckled off stage by angry progressives. And Obama’s re-election campaign staff isn’t helping their boss much.

New Mexico OFA state director Ray Sandoval sent out an e-mail to Democrats, attempting to address their “frustrations” with the debt deal and including the text of a post from liberal blogger Spandan Chakrabarti:

Paul Krugman is a political rookie... Joining the ideologue spheres' pure, fanatic, indomitable hysteria, Krugman declares the deal a disaster - both political and economic - of course providing no evidence for the latter... He rides the coattails of the simplistic argument that spending cuts - any spending cuts - are bad for a fragile economy, ignoring wholeheartedly his own previous cheerleading for cutting, say, defense spending. But that was back in the day - all the way back in April of this year...

...The more than half-a-trillion in defense and security spending cut "trigger" for the Republicans will hardly earn a mention on the Firebagger Lefty blogosphere... No, the loudest screeching noise you hear coming from Krugman and the ideologue Left is, of course, Medicare. Oh, no, the President is agreeing to a Medicare trigger!!! Oh noes!!!


HuffPo’s Amanda Terkel explains that “Firebagger Lefty blogosphere” is probably a reference to Jane Hamsher’s Firedoglake.

To have the Obama re-election team trashing Krugman and Firedoglake ought to give you an idea of what a sense of hopeless doom the Democrats are facing as they look forward to 2012. FDL wouldn’t be trashing Obama if Obama wasn’t looking weak, and Obama’s staff wouldn’t be worried about a columnist or a blogger if the White House was generally winning the message war.

Just as nothing succeeds like success, nothing fails like failure. Ever since Obama got his ass kicked in the 2010 mid-terms, he has been covered in failure, and the negative mojo appears to be snowballing.

No butter, please, Nahanni.

I'm getting my cholesterol checked in the morning.


Hat tip: Memeorandum.

The Truth About Rick Perry: Cliff Notes Version

"...if Barack Obama remains in office another four years there is a very good chance that he will have the opportunity to name between three and four Supreme Court justices either through natural death or retirement."


For those interested in an overview of PeskyTruth's two masterful articles describing the pros and cons of Rick Perry ("Want to know more about Rick Perry?" and "Seventeen (17) things that critics are saying about Rick Perry"), please consider the following "Cliff's Notes" version.

Want to know more about Rick Perry?


• Fifth-generation Texan; married high school sweetheart Anita in 1982
• After graduating, joined Air Force in 1972 as C-130 pilot. Left in 1977 with the rank of Captain.
• For the next seven years, Perry farmed cotton and tended the family ranch
• Entered politics in 1984, served in Texas House of Representatives, as Agriculture Commissioner and Lt. Governor
• Succeeded G. W. Bush in 2000 after latter resigned to run for the presidency; reelected three times since

• Supports repeal of Obamacare, which he says "puts many states on a collision course with bankruptcy"
• Strong supporter of Second Amendment, received "A+" from NRA
• Staunch supporter of Israel; visited in 2007; received "Defender of Jerusalem" designation in 2009
• In 2009 and 2011, endorsed a resolution supporting state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment of the Constitution

• Opposes regulation of greenhouse gases; believes in "all of the above" energy strategy
• Moved Texas "aggressively" into a large portfolio of energy sources including renewable, natural gas, coal and nuclear
• Texas has become a national leader in reducing emissions and known pollutants
• Texas has the world's largest wind farm, producing three times as much power as second-place Iowa

• Faced with a budget deficit in 2010-11, Perry became the first Texas governor since WWII to cut general fund spending
• Also balanced budget in 2003 by cutting spending in a challenging economic environment
• Rebated or cut taxes to business in 2007, 2008 and 2009
• Signed both Cut, Cap & Balance pledge and Americans for Tax Reform pledge not to increase taxes
• By several independent measures, Texas has the second lowest tax burden in the country for individuals and businesses

• Has twice formally requested that the Obama administration and DHS provide more support for border security
• Passed a "Voter ID bill" in 2011 after six years of "fierce partisan battling"
• Applicants for TX driver's licenses must be verified federal immigration databases to ensure they are in the country legally
• In 2008 stated his clear opposition to Amnesty; has advocated for secure borders and "sensible immigration policies"

• In the last five years, Texas has created more net jobs than the other 49 states combined
• In 2005, signed a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman
• Over the past ten years, teachers' salaries have increased 30%
• State budgets have consistently cut general spending while spending more, year-over-year, on education

• Appointed an African-American as chief justice of Texas’s Supreme Court; appointed the state’s first Latina justice
• Since 2003 tort reforms, more than 21,000 doctors have begun practice in Texas
• This year, Perry signed a "Loser Pays" bill into law, which should cut down on frivolous lawsuits
• Perry is said to have appointed only "unabashedly conservative" judges and would "carry this philosophy into the White House"

Seventeen (17) things that critics are saying about Rick Perry


Gardisil is a vaccination designed to prevent cervical cancer caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV); the FDA approved the drug in 2006 and recommends vaccination in girls by age 12, before they become sexually active. Perry signed an Executive Order mandating vaccinations; this was overruled by a veto-proof majority in the Texas legislature. 18 other states, including New York and Michigan, had considered similar mandates, but none were actually implemented. Perry has since admitted his EO was a mistake, claiming he was motivated by his hatred of cancer (both of his parents are cancer survivors).

As of June 22, 2011, approximately 35 million doses of Gardasil® have been distributed in the U.S... the CDC says: “Based on all of the information we have today, CDC recommends HPV vaccination for the prevention of most types of cervical cancer."

• The Trans-Texas Corridor was plan introduced by Perry in 2001 that would have created a $175 billion program to build high-speed auto lanes; truck lanes; commuter and freight rail; water, natural gas and oil transport; telecommunications and other services. After eminent domain and "NAFTA Superhighway" concerns were raised, the corridor was killed off.

Once a Democrat, he served as Al Gore's campaign manager in Texas. Perry had been raised a Democrat and Gore in 1988 "opposed the federal funding of abortion, supported a moment of silence in schools for prayer, approved funding of the Nicaraguan contras and was against the ban on interstate handgun sales." The experience with Gore's campaign helped convert him to the Republican Party, which he joined in 1989.

He advocated secession. Actually, his real statement -- after a speech was interrupted with chants of "Secede!" -- was, "We’ve got a great union. There is absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what may come of that. Texas is a very unique place, and we’re a pretty independent lot to boot."

Jobs created in Texas are low-wage. But, according to CBS MoneyWatch (4/11), Texas is ranked third among “Best States to make a living.” Texas has also seen its wages climb faster than the country overall. The "low-wage" canard was thoroughly debunked by Political Math.

Texas ranks poorly in educational spending and high school graduations, both of which are true statements. However, differing racial makeups make states difficult to assess head-to-head. But according to The Nation's Report Card, standardized testing shows white students, black students and Hispanic students in Texas outperformed those in Wisconsin in math, reading and science for both 4th and 8th grades.

Perry turned down $555 million in federal stimulus, but later asked for federal disaster aid for wildfires. Both assertions are true. But the Stimulus funds were a one-time payoff that had strings attached requiring Texas to continue paying the $555 million even after the federal funds had disappeared. Perry did accept other stimulus funds that had no such strings attached.

Perry says he hasn't raised taxes, but he actually has in certain cases. Perry's actual statement was “we don’t raise taxes." But certain taxes have increased including tobacco, fireworks, diesel equipment, franchise, and unemployment. But, overall, Perry's record is stellar. The state ranks 45th in per-capita taxes with a 7.9% combined state/local tax burden versus, say, New York’s burden of 12.1%. Texas has no personal income or capital gains taxes; and Perry vetoed a proposed Internet state sales tax.

"Perry has presided over the highest number of executions in the nation". This statement implies Perry was actively involved in the court cases, appeals and sentences when, in fact, he simply followed Texas law. Perry has commuted 31 death sentences, most for crimes committed as juveniles.

Perry refused to commute the execution of a Mexican national though the White House and Mexico itself had requested it. True enough. And the Mexican national -- who is not immune from prosecution under U.S. laws -- was a despicable animal who kidnapped, raped, tortured, sexually mutilated and then murdered a 16-year old girl. He confessed to the crime to both the police and his brother. After 45 separate hearings and appeals, Perry (thankfully) allowed the execution to proceed.

Did Perry preside over the execution of an innocent? Days before the execution of a man convicted of setting a fire that killed his three children, new evidence was presented by his defense attorney. Although Texas allows the governor to issue a 30-day stay of an execution, only the state's Pardons and Paroles board can issue clemency or commutation orders. This board reviewed the evidence and refused to recommend that Perry act.

Perry supports giving in-state tuition to illegals. This is true. In 2005, Perry signed a law that allowed any student who lived in Texas for at least three years and graduated from a state high school to receive in-state tuition.

"Rick Perry is gay" and "Rick Perry is homophobic". Politico and other magazines have inferred that there are questions about Perry's sexual preferences, These accusations remain unsubstantiated and there appears to be no evidence that Perry is either gay or homophobic. There is no question, however, that he supports the tenet that a marriage binds one man to one woman.

Perry is a "weak" governor. This argument is used by critics to minimize Perry's role in an obviously booming state. However, an independent assessment indicates that "thirty other state’s governors were ranked as having more power than Texas’ chief executive, seventeen are ranked about equal, and three had even less power."

Perry is "squishy" on immigration. He certainly has a mixed record; he has opposed an Arizona-style immigration law. But he recently added a bill that prohibited "Sanctuary Cities" (which didn't garner enough support to pass the legislature). Texas has earmarked more than $400 million for border security since 2005 with $152 million in the last legislative session alone.

"Perry is a member of the Bilderberg cabal and therefore believes in a New World Order (NWO)". Although Perry attended a Bildeberbug meeting in 2007, so have Presidents Clinton and Ford, Timothy Geithner, George Stephanopoulos, Thomas Friedman, Senators Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Diane Feinstein and Tom Daschle. Perry attended the meeting for three days in 2007 and apparently received his instructions on how to implement an NWO during that time.

Texas has an abysmal rating compared to other states in ___. Whether its "uninsured children", "uninsured adults" or "percentage of people living below the poverty line", the rankings are selected by critics to smear Texas and Perry. Look for the following characteristics of these claims: no citations, no credible sources, no dates and no original context. Put simply, any rankings comparing Texas to other states must account for a large Hispanic population, many of whom entered the country illegally.

I would encourage you to read both of PeskyTruth's articles on Perry in full:

• "Want to know more about Rick Perry?"

• "Seventeen (17) things that critics are saying about Rick Perry"

This is an outstanding set of articles that really helps the reader gain a better understanding of the Texas Governor and would-be GOP candidate.


Hat tip: Ace o' Spades.

Larwyn's Linx: When a Civilization Goes Mad

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

When a Civilization Goes Mad: Solway
Rick Perry's Crony Capitalism Problem Is Extremely Troubling: Riehl
The "Allen West For Senate" Boomlet: Hayward

Fleebaggers hold on in WI, but GOP keeps Senate majority: Malkin
Palin And Bachmann, Not Steinem, ARE Feminism: RWN
Rick Perry’s bad, Obama-style medicine: Malkin

Reasonable Obama reasons that he's reasonable: VikingPundit
Philly's flash mobs: mayor aims at black community: CSM
If Bush said this...: TigerHawk

Economy

Rick Perry and the Texas Job Numbers: Political Math
Getting Rich the Old-Fashioned Way: Through Government: AmSpec
Obama's "Department of Jobs": FreedomWorks

Every Single One: Holder's Politicized Education Section: PJM
Obamunism + Car Industry = Impending Crash: RWN
Non-Union Boss Shot By Likely Union Member: Ace

Another Favored Obama Green Business Goes Bankrupt: RWN
Union Message for VZ Strikers: 'Open Season...Torture Them': JWF
Rep. Issa: NLRB Has Turned 'Rogue': Max

Gunrunner

Firearms from ATF sting linked to 11 more violent crimes: LAT
As Congressman Darrell Issa Chases Fast and Furious, the New York Times Deploys Smoke Screen: BigJourn
John Cornyn demands to know why Fast and Furious supervisors got promotions: Chron

Media

MSNBC Selectively Edits Perry Remark to Smear Him as a Racist: BigJourn
The Darrell Issa Hit Piece: Most Inaccurate NYT Article … Ever?: PJM
Citizen Journalism Stops a Liberal Meme In Its Tracks: RS

The Threat Of Liberal Judicial Activism Reaches New Heights : AT
Can Our Gun Rights Survive Boehner and Reid’s New ‘Super Congress’?: BG
Your Government -- Hard At Work: BlogProf

Whiner-in-Chief: Obama Blames “Little Blogs” And Fox News For Political Vitriol: WZ
Another Example of How the NYTimes Warps Truth: RWN
Barack Obama's 'battle bus' through the US: Telegraph

Kos’s Sexism And Homophobia: RWN
Bitter Cold Hits Hell After Nation Editor Credits Private Sector in States That Are 'Doing Quite Well': NB
Oh-bummer for ObamaCare: Norris

World

Obama Re-Writes History on Bush and Jerusalem: Commentary
State Department Funds Anti-American Propaganda: Commentary
Allen West Responds To CAIR Demand With One-Word Letter: “NUTS!”: WZ

Obama’s Ramadan Guest List Omits Controversial Attendees: Creeping
Special Accommodation for Sharia in Tennessee: Islamic Head Coverings Exempt from Sheriff Policies: Atlas
Germany, France Slide Toward Recession: Mish

Sci-Tech

Ever faked a cell phone call? You're not alone: CNet
Spectacular Hercules statue found in Jezreel Valley: Ynet
How to customize Google+ privacy: CNet

Cornucopia

Finally, the Beatles Remix of Obama’s Magical Misery Tour: Nice Deb
Obama Street Art: The Gimme, Gimme, Gimme Edition : Urban Infidel
WATCH: Giant Dog Welcomes Soldier Home After Nine Months Apart: Mediaite

What happened to my telephone?: JPA
Do Rich Liberals Understand How Insulting It Is To Average Americans When They Demand Tax Increases?: Glob
The Visceral Terror of a Tea Party Presidency: 10 Thoughts on the Coming Political Warfare of 2012: Tatler

Image: Right Wing News
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Allen West for Congress

QOTD: "The gradual but unrelenting insinuation of socialist and neo-Marxist doctrine into the liberal West, after it has been reliably shown to falter or collapse wherever it has been implemented, is still another index of severe mental disconnect and maladjustment to reality. Command economies are proven to be inefficient, and the welfare state, predicated on the punitive taxation of a shrinking and increasingly insolvent productive base to subsidize ever-inflating entitlement programs, has been properly described as a gigantic Ponzi scheme. Redistributionist and womb-to-tomb security states, as Margaret Thatcher famously said, will eventually run out of other people’s money. Nevertheless, this ideological will-o’-the-wisp continues to be diligently pursued." --David Solway

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Oh, My: Obama's Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Says Giving Away Food-stamps Is a Stimulus Program Which Puts People Back to Work

One in seven Americans (another Obama record!) is now on food stamps. Asked how the federal government might alleviate those high numbers, Obama Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack proclaimed that food stamps are "putting people to work".

No s***. He really said that.

Well, obviously, it's putting people to work. Which is why we're going to have some interesting things in the course of the forum this morning. Later this morning, we're going have a press conference with Secretary Mavis and Secretary Chu to announce something that's never happened in this country -- something that we think is exciting in terms of job growth...

...I should point out, when you talk about the SNAP program or the food stamp program, you have to recognize that it's also an economic stimulus. Every dollar of SNAP benefits generates $1.84 in the economy in terms of economic activity. If people are able to buy a little more in the grocery store, someone has to stock it, package it, shelve it, process it, ship it. All of those are jobs. It's the most direct stimulus you can get in the economy during these tough times.

Bask in the sheer genius of Tom Vilsack, peons: the government taking money from you hard-working Americans -- and giving it to others, without regard for their ability to work -- stimulates the economy!

Why didn't we think of this before?

In fact, let's put everyone in America on food-stamps! That'll be the ultimate Stimulus!

Ultimate, I say!

As an aside, my fellow Tea Party terrorists, Vilsack's wife is running against Rep. Steve King of Iowa, a true fiscal conservative.

Do we need another economic illiterate in Congress? I think not. Therefore I urge you to give $5, $10, whatever you can spare to Steve King's campaign.

We need exactly zero Vilsacks in office in 2012.


Related Fun: So the Democrats Finally Want Fiscal Responsibility? Great. Let's End Their Disastrous "War on Poverty"


Hat tip:
Real Clear Politics.

Ruh Roh: Senator Joe Lieberman Unsure Whether He Will Support Barack Obama in 2012

Senator Joe Lieberman, ostensibly a political independent but who caucuses with the Democrats, is wavering on the President.

Senator Joe Lieberman ... told host John McCaslin on America's Morning News radio show on Tuesday morning that he had not decided if he would endorse President Obama in 2012:

MCCASLIN: Will you be supporting Barack Obama in 2012 or are you going to be putting your money on a Republican candidate?
LIEBERMAN: Well I haven't decided and I'm just waiting to see who the Republican candidate is and what President Obama's positions are at that point, so I got a little time as an independent not to feel rushed, because this is an important position. And I'm only one person but for every one of us who we support next year is going to say a lot about how our kids and grandkids are going to grow up in America, so I'm watching.


Senator Lieberman appears to be losing confidence that President Obama could actually win in 2012. The Connecticut Senator also told WLS 890 am radio's Don Wade on Tuesday, whether President Obama will be re-elected is, “an open question.”

And who can blame him?

Furthermore, Lieberman is defending the GOP presidential candidates over their strong religious convictions.

Senator Joe Lieberman ... defended Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minn), Texas Governor Rick Perry, and former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney against attacks they have received for speaking about their religious beliefs. Senator Lieberman says, " To me there's no good reason for it. If a person's faith matters, first its their right to say whatever they want. This is the history of our country. This country was founded on religious belief..."

[He was then asked], "Do you have a problem with Congresswoman Bachman, Governor Perry or former Governor Romney for their religious statements?" Senator Lieberman: "Oh God no, of course not. That's their faith. I give them all the credit. These kind of media attacks may backfire. Many Americans are turned off by that kind of sniping attacks."

Gee, but the Declaration of Independence only mentions God about six times, so I'm sure America's founders were intending to separate church and state.


Hat tip: Drudge Report.

Flashback: George Carlin Obliterates the Enviro-Statists

The late, great George Carlin had zero tolerance for the no-growth, flat-earth, Marxist environmentalists.

You got people like this around you? Country is full of them now! People walking around all day long, every minute of the day — worried about EVERYTHING! Worried about the air, worried about the water, worried about the soil. Worried about insecticides, pesticides, food additives, carcinogens; worried about radon gas; worried about asbestos. Worried about saving endangered species.

Let me tell you about endangered species, all right? Saving endangered species is just one more arrogant attempt by humans to control Nature! It's arrogant meddling! It's what got us into trouble in the first place! Doesn't anybody understand that? Interfering with Nature! Over 90 percent.. over... way over 90 percent of all the species that have ever lived — EVER LIVED — on this planet are gone. Whissshht! They are extinct!

We didn't kill them all.

They just... disappeared! That's what Nature does! They disappear these days at the rate of 25 a day, and I mean regardless of our behavior. Irrespective of how we act on this planet, 25 species that were here today, will be gone tomorrow! Let them go... gracefully! Leave Nature alone! Haven't we done enough?

We're so self-important. So self-important! Everybody's going to save something now. "Save the trees; save the bees; save the whales; save those snails." And the greatest arrogance of all, "Save the planet." WHAT? Are these f***ing people kidding me? Save the planet? We don't even know how to take care of ourselves yet. We haven't learned how to care for one another, we're gonna save the f***ing planet?

I'm getting tired of that s***. Tired of that s***. Tired! I'm tired of f***ing Earth Day! I'm tired of these self-righteous environmentalists; these white, bourgeois liberals who think the only thing wrong with this country is there aren't enough bicycle paths. People trying to make the world safe for their Volvos.

Besides, environmentalists don't give a s*** about the planet. They don't care about the planet. Not in the abstract they don't. Not in the abstract they don't. You know what they're interested in? A clean place to live. Their own habitat. They're worried that some day in the future, they might be personally inconvenienced. Narrow, unenlightened self-interest doesn't impress me.

Besides, there is nothing wrong with the planet. Nothing wrong with the planet. The planet is fine. The PEOPLE are f***ed. Difference. Difference! The planet is fine. Compared to the people, the planet is doing great. Been here four and a half billion years. Did you ever think about the arithmetic? The planet has been here four and a half billion years. We've been here, what? A hundred thousand? Maybe two hundred thousand? And we've only been engaged in heavy industry for a little over two hundred years. Two hundred years versus four and a half billion. And we have the CONCEIT to think that somehow we're a threat? That somehow we're gonna put in jeopardy this beautiful little blue-green ball that's just a-floatin' around the sun?

The planet has been through a lot worse than us. Been through all kinds of things worse than us. Been through earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, continental drift, solar flares, sun spots, magnetic storms, the magnetic reversal of the poles; hundreds of thousands of years of bombardment by comets and asteroids and meteors; worlwide floods, tidal waves, worldwide fires, erosion, cosmic rays, recurring ice ages... And we think some plastic bags, and some aluminum cans are going to make a difference? The planet... the planet... the planet isn't going anywhere. WE ARE!

We're going away. Pack your s***, folks. We're going away. And we won't leave much of a trace, either. Thank God for that. Maybe a little styrofoam. Maybe. A little styrofoam. The planet will be here and we'll be long gone. Just another failed mutation. Just another closed-end biological mistake. An evolutionary cul-de-sac. The planet will shake us off like a bad case of fleas. A surface nuisance.

You wanna know how the planet is doing? Ask those people at Pompeii, who are frozen into position from volcanic ash, "How the planet's doing?" You wanna know if the planet's all right, ask those people in Mexico City or Armenia or a hundred other places buried under thousands of tons of earthquake rubble, if they feel like a threat to the planet this week. Or how about those people in Kilowaia, Hawaii, who built their homes right next to an active volcano, and then wonder why they have lava in the living room.

The planet will be here for a long, long — LONG — time after we're gone, and it will heal itself; it will cleanse itself, because that's what it does. It's a self-correcting system. The air and the water will recover; the earth will be renewed; and, if it's true that plastic is not degradable, well, the planet will simply incorporate plastic into a new paradigm: the Earth plus plastic! The Earth doesn't share our prejudice towards plastic. Plastic came out of the Earth. The Earth probably sees plastic as just another one of its children. Could be the only reason the Earth allowed us to be spawned from it in the first place. It wanted plastic for itself. Didn't know how to make it. Needed us. Could be the answer to our age-old philosophical question, "Why are we here?" "Plastic! A**holes."

So! So, the plastic is here, our job is done, we can be phased out now. And I think that it has already started already, don't you? I think, to be fair, the planet probably sees us as a mild threat. Something to be dealt with. And I am sure the planet will defend itself in the manner of a large organism, like a beehive or an ant colony, and muster a defense. I am sure the planet will think of something. What would you do if you were the planet trying to defend against this pesky, troublesome species?

"Let's see... What might... Hmm.. Viruses! Viruses might be good. They seem vulnerable to viruses. And, uh...viruses are tricky, always mutating and forming new strains whenever a vaccine is developed. Perhaps, this first virus could be one that compromises the immune system of these creatures. Perhaps a human immunodeficiency virus, making them vulnerable to all sorts of other diseases and infections that might come along. And maybe it could be spread sexually, making them a little reluctant to engage in the act of reproduction."

Well, that's a poetic note. And it's a start. And I can dream, can't I? See I don't worry about the little things: bees, trees, whales, snails. I think we're part of a greater wisdom than we will ever understand. A higher order. Call it what you want. Know what I call it? The Big Electron." The Big Electron...whoooa. Whoooa. Whoooa. It doesn't punish; it doesn't reward; it doesn't judge at all. It just is. And so are we. For a little while.