Monday, August 20, 2012

The Kickstarter project that set out to raise $100,000 and ended up raising $10 million instead!

Kickstarter is a three-year old crowd funding website that has truly taken off. Crowd funding's been around for a while, but until Kick Starter it was never easy to connect good ideas with potential customers and investors. Kickstarter changed all that and, so far, it's been used to raise over $323 million for more than 10,000 projects. While most projects are quite small (raising less than $10,000) a few have hit startling fundraising achievements.

A CNBC list of the top 10 Kickstarter projects has a very interesting and useful number one project: The Pebble E-Paper Watch for iPhone and Android.

Pebble is a customizable watch. Download new watchfaces, use sports and fitness apps, get notifications from your phone.

Pebble is the first watch built for the 21st century. It's infinitely customizable, with beautiful downloadable watchfaces and useful internet-connected apps. Pebble connects to iPhone and Android smartphones using Bluetooth, alerting you with a silent vibration to incoming calls, emails and messages. While designing Pebble, we strove to create a minimalist yet fashionable product that seamlessly blends into everyday life.


Apps bring Pebble to life. We're building some amazing apps for Pebble. Cyclists can use Pebble as a bike computer, accessing the GPS on your smartphone to display speed, distance and pace data. Runners get a similar set of data displayed on their wrist. Use the music control app to play, pause or skip tracks on your phone with the touch of a button. Don't worry about the rain, Pebble is water-resistant! If you're a golfer, feel free to bring Pebble onto the course. We're working with Freecaddie to create a great golf rangefinder app for Pebble that works on over 25,000 courses world-wide. Instead of using your phone, view your current distance to the green right on your wrist. These apps will be the first, with more in the works!


...Pebble can change instantly, thanks to its brilliant, outdoor-readable electronic-paper (e-paper) display. We've designed tons of watchfaces already, with more coming every day. Choose your favourite watchfaces using Pebble's iPhone or Android app. Then as the day progresses, effortlessly switch to the one that matches your mood, activity or outfit.

If you need to stay on top of things, Pebble can help with vibrating notifications, messages and alerts. Dismiss a notification with a shake of your wrist. Don't worry, it's easy to disable all notifications.

I think Pebble has a real chance to make it big. Why?

If you think about the trends that have dominated computer technology, they tend to revolve around miniaturization. From mainframes, to minicomputers, to personal computers, to smartphones and tablets: people want smaller, more functional devices that are always there to assist them.

Pebble seems to fit that template.

While its fundraising cycle is over, you can now order the watches over at Pebble's Kickstarter site.

Oh, but remember: they didn't build that.


Hat tip: BadBlue.com/Tech.

The Ultimate Visual Guide to the Obamacare Tax Cliff

From the indefatigable Heritage Foundation, a graphic timetable of Obamcare's tax hikes:


Well, along with the fiscal cliff, this should help the economy immeasurably. At least, by Cloward-Piven standards.



Larwyn's Linx: Racism by Political Party

Send us tips! Bloggers: install a Larwyn's Linx widget. Get real-time news, 24/7, at BadBlue.

Nation

Racism by Political Party: Marginal Revolution
In 2002, Barack Obama Supported Infanticide; Here's the Transcript: RS
Nebraska Gov joins AZ to stop Obama's lawless DREAM order: PW

When the Truth Goes Viral: RSM
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a Defamatory Hate Group: RS
MoveOn Goons Now Stalking Paul Ryan at Campaign Events: Nice Deb

Oops: Robert Gibbs confirms existence of Death Panels: Lid
Must be an election soon: Obama heads to church: Dossier
Prayers answered: Biden back on campaign trail: WZ

Economy

Obamacare designed to unionize 21MM health workers: DC
The amazing little story that didn't happen on Obama's big bus trip: IBD
Free pension giveaway crushes Cleveland school budgets: Breitbart

Ryan was a voice for Fannie Mae reform while Obama opposed it: WSJ
CA=socialism, TX=conservatism. Any questions?: Whittle
ECB Capping Rates on PIIGS?: ZH

Climate & Energy

State Dept Climate Change (Hoax) Program Is A Mess: RWN
Wow! Hundreds of Ohio Coal Miners Stand in Line for Mitt Romney: GWP
Can Mitt seize Ohio opportunity?: TribLive

Media

Radical Leftist "Fact Checker" Destroys Any Shred of Politfact's Credibility: MediaTrackers
How long before they go after Paul Ryan’s mom?: LI
Tourè – That Broccoli Is Racist!: Patterico

A tale of two campaigns: contrasting Romney-Ryan’s access with Obama-Biden’s.: RS
Shecky Pelosi: We totally cooperated with President Bush; congressional incivility is something new: Malkin
Republican makes stupid statement … everyone swarm: LI

Peggy Noonan: If Biden Were Republican Meet the Press's Topic Would Be 'How Stupid Is This Person?': NB
Mitt Romney Makes a Bold Stand: Zilla
Tom Morello's Misguided Rage: DC

World

Egypt’s Military and the Arab Spring: McCarthy
Great Public Relations Quotes for the Middle East: RWN
Canada: Man arrested for walking dog near Muslims in public park: Creeping

Universal Mediocrity: Why do Britons like their sub-par health-care system so much?: Dalrymple
The Vetting: Trevor Loudon Explains Why Obama Favors All The Tyrannical Powers of the World: Nice Deb
The Empire State Building Turns Green to Mark the Last Day of Ramadan: UrbInf

Journey Through a Liberal Brain: MB
The Anarchy Alley That Birthed Barack Obama From Washington State to Kenya and On to Chicago: MagNote
Ramadan Bank Run: WaPo

Sci-Tech

Curiosity Rover Fires First Laser Beam at Martian Rock: Wired
Disney Adds A Bit Of Nonsensical Anti-Open Source FUD To Kid’s Sitcom: Crunch
Big Bang theory challenged by big chill: PhysOrg

Cornucopia

This Week in Automotivators, August 13-19: RWN
Remember My Obama Parody Markers?: iOTW
Obama: He Comes by his Feminism Naturally: MOTUS

Image: Gateway Pundit
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: America's Comeback Team

QOTD: "As we’ve illustrated here time and time again, it is delusional to assume the Egyptian military is pro-American and thus a reliable bulwark against the advance of Islamic supremacism. Cairo’s armed forces reflect the broader society, whose able-bodied men are required to serve — and, as even the Times now concedes, the Egyptian mainstream is Islamist. Plus, the Egyptian army has always had Islamists (including violent jihadists) in its ranks. Its historical tendency, moreover, has not been to lead; it has been to follow the shifting political programs of whatever dictator happened to be running the show.

Nonetheless, you’ve spent nearly two years being told not to worry: Bet the farm on these generals we’ve been training and funding. Yet, now we see that our government is not only well aware of the Egyptian army’s Islamist streak (or shall we say swath?); Egyptian officers, who often study in the U.S., actually submit sharia-driven “get out of Dar al-Islam” term papers to their American military professors...

...Meanwhile, dissenters and journalists are already being imprisoned and beaten — if not worse. (There are unconfirmed reports that crucifixion is making a comeback.) Terrorist leaders have been sprung from the prisons. The Sinai has become a jihadist haven. Women are attacked in the street if they fail to don the veil. A fatwa that prohibited eating during Ramadan was issued. Christians are fleeing in droves, their churches torched behind them. And the emirs of Hamas are warmly received as brotherly dignitaries.

No amount of whistling can obscure the graveyard. Things are bad, and they are going to get worse." --Andrew C. McCarthy

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Obama campaign concentrates on the important issues

The peerless Michael Ramirez always seems to capture in a single frame the simple truths that all of the Sunday talk shows combined can't seem to expose.



Hat tip: Protein Wisdom.

The Newsweek Cover You Never Thought You'd See

It's real. And it's spectacular.


The laughable hack Jonathan Alter hardest hit.



Photo o' the Day: Union Members March Against the Environmental Radicals and their Democrat Sycophants

Somehow I don't think you'll be seeing this particular photo on the front page of The New York Times.

Seventy-plus men walked out of the ground, overalls and hardhats covered in coal dust, and onto the risers of a stage built for a Mitt Romney speech.

To onlookers, mostly press and staffers, the image was stunning.

To the 2,600 family members gathered in the gravel parking lot or under tents, eating hot dogs and drinking pop, it was a moment of immense pride.

This is what we do, said Tim Wiles: “We make things. We provide energy for the state, food for our families, and businesses are sustained around the county because they make money from us.”

The 54-year-old miner added, after listening to Romney: “This election is his and Paul Ryan’s for the taking. They need to be bold and remind people of what we stand for, that we are the backbone of this country.”

The members of the United Mine Workers -- and just about every other private sector union in America -- are being sold down the river by Barack Obama and the Democrat Party. So beholden are Democrats to the environmental Statists that they would rather entire counties in California go without water, that America's electric grid struggle to survive without clean coal, and that all of the U.S. can go without oil from the Keystone XL pipeline.

This costs the union members a very important -- as Joe Biden might say -- three letter word: J-O-B-S. And methinks the results in November will be stunning.


Democrat Senator: Obama "led the mission that brought Osama bin Laden to justice" -- Here's the exclusive movie poster!

At a campaign event in New Hampshire yesterday, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (who?) introduced President Obama as the man who led SEAL Team Six into action to kill Osama Bin Laden:

"And let's not forget that this is the commander in chief who finally led the mission that brought Osama bin Laden to justice," said Shaheen.

In recognition of the president's unparalleled valor, Hollywood will soon release a major motion picture depicting his exploits. And (who else?) cub reporter Biff Spackle was able to secure an exclusive first look at the movie poster:


It goes without saying that another movie with Obama as the subject could be titled "All the President's Leaks."


Hat tip: @MelissaTweets.

Touré logic: Obama campaign events marred by no-show racists, aka the disappearing, dispirited Democrat base

The actual level of support for the Divider-in-Chief is best reflected by his choice of speaking venues and the size of the crowds he's able to attract. As for the former, it appears the only places President Obama is welcomed with open arms are high schools and community colleges, both beneficiaries of wild amounts of stimulus spending (read: public sector union and other payoffs).

The the latter case, the claim is that sparse attendance of Obama speaking engagements is the result of "intentionally limiting crowd size".

“We have plenty of time for big rallies,” a campaign spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said between the rallies on Thursday. “Our focus right now is on exciting our supporters and winning over undecided voters and the smaller and medium-size events are the best venue to accomplish that because the president can closely engage with the crowd.

”Big rallies are expensive, especially given the logistical and security challenges for a president as opposed to a mere United States senator. And Obama campaign operatives, both at the Chicago headquarters and in swing states where Mr. Obama recently has stumped, say the campaign intentionally limits crowds by restricting tickets. The reason is to allow the president to better connect with supporters, aides say.

Typical reactions include this from Jammie Wearing Fool: "To better connect with people, by telling them they didn’t build that, or that they’re racist. Easier with a tiny crowd, we suppose. Four years ago a football stadium could hardly contain the awesome crows, Greek columns and his massive ego. Now he’s discovered frugality and intimacy."

Ace of Spades calls it the Spinal-Tapization of the Obama Campaign: "I fully expect @davidaxelrod to tweet tomorrow that Obama isn't shedding voters, the President's appeal "is simply becoming more selective." ... I will give Obama 2012 credit for one thing tho: small crowds or not, they are funnier than Saturday Night Live."

Da Tech Guy notes that even The New York Times has expressed a bit of dismay at lackluster attendance, with one reporter tweeting: "Just to clarify, tix *started* at $51. Obama campaign sez event was sold out, but room is about half full. Hmmm."

And Battleground Watch snorts, "Oh really? You could have big crowds if you want them but they cost so much you don’t want them? Right. And I could date Kate Upton but then I would have to deal with all those guys ogling her and that would get annoying."

Using Touré logic, it's probable that the president's ex-supporters -- those who have abandoned ship after suffering through the worst "recovery" in history -- are now officially racists.


Larwyn's Linx: This

Send us tips! Bloggers: install a Larwyn's Linx widget. Get real-time news, 24/7, at BadBlue.

Nation

This: Ace
Brock launches new "watchdog" group against conservatives: Breitbart
Ryan pledges Romney administration will put away the toys: RWN

Stop the Leaks: SOS
How I became George Obama's 'brother': D'Souza
An instance of liberals' preference for narrative over reality: Power Line

Paul Ryan draws a crowd at The Villages: Deep Fried Manatees
Obama camp - We are intentionally limiting crowd size at rallies: Picket
Beck Collects Obama’s Most Outrageous Statements: MB

Economy

Precious U.S. Citizenship: Diminished and Given Away by Obama: AT
Is PolitiFact now campaigning for the President?: RWN
Reid used Kennedy’s brain cancer to beg for stimulus votes?: DC

Can Paul Ryan Make the Moral Case for Capitalism?: ObjStd
Potentially Devastating News on the Obama Economy: AT
Marriage: America’s Greatest Weapon Against Child Poverty: Heritage (2010)

Scandal Central

Why Issa won't drop 'fast and furious': GovExec
Rep. Farenthold to Newsmax: Fast and Furious Documents ‘Incriminating,’ ‘Explosive’: Newsmax
And Now Facebook's Bankers Are Divvying Up The $100 Million They Made Shorting Facebook's Stock: Blodget

Climate & Energy

Keystone Blunder Increases Dependence on Saudi Oil: Mead
GAO: EPA Rules to Cause Energy Price Increases in Midwest, Compromise Electric Grid: Exam
Green Co. Cans 234 Employees After Getting $32 Million For 250 ObamaJobs: Soylent (NSFW)

Media

ABC's Tapper Calls Out Obama's Deceptive Attacks on Ryan Tax Plan: NB
Boston Globe slams Joe Biden for gaffes, and liberals for hypocrisy. (That was not a typo.): Lane
Salon Writer Describes Joe Biden as the 'Practically Perfect Vice President': NB

The Left-Wing World is Upside Down: Erickson
Mark Halperin: 'The Media Is Very Susceptible to Doing What the Obama Campaign Wants': WS
Decoding Republican Dog Whistles: A Tutorial: Cube

Hardly News: Democrat Corzine, Others at MF Global on Track to Avoid Criminal Charges: Blumer
PBS’s Gwen “Bain-is-like-Solyndra” Ifill ‘livid’ at not being debate moderator.: Lane
Perception: JPA

World

Hezbollah marches through London again: Atlas
Absolutely Must See! How the KGB Orchestrated the “Collapse of Communism”: Loudon
Suicide Bomber Kills 7 Russian Policemen at Funeral:

Iran’s dictator Ahmadinejad: Israel’s existence is an “insult to all humanity”: Wintery Knight
Israel – Barbarians at the Gate: NoisyRm
Japan, China islands disputes deepen with landings, protests: Reuters

Sci-Tech

Why Twitter Wanting to Kill All Third Party Twitter Apps Is Ridiculous: Gizmodo
Apocalypse Not: Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Worry About End Times: Wired
Disappearing test cases or did another part of MySQL just become closed source?: MariaDB

Cornucopia

Obama Alienates Yet Another Support Base: Cube
New Badass Ads for Mitt: Morlock
Valerie B. Jarrett Serves as Senior Admirer to President Barack Obama: Granny Jan

Image: Russian Orthodox Priests Forgive Punk Rockers Pussy Riot
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Senate Conservatives Fund

QOTD: "How did Countrywide end up as one of the worst villains in the housing-bubble collapse, which cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars and nearly crushed the financial sector? Simple: they bought political connections by offering sweetheart deals to people like Chris Dodd, who headed the Senate Banking Committee, and Towns, whose committee was supposed to keep corruption out of federal regulation of the market. When the entire mess collapsed, people like Dodd and Towns were in position to manipulate the investigations in order to avoid detection. Dodd was less successful at that effort than Towns, who got away with it as long as Democrats remained in charge of Congress — and the White House, which has been mighty incurious on the whole issue since running on populist outrage over the housing-bubble collapse.

Towns announced his retirement in April. He should be expelled, and his pension benefits stripped for this coverup." --Ed Morrissey

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Proposal: Mitt Romney to release one tax return for each item on this list

So the Axelrod Jarrett Obama administration wants 10 more years of Mitt Romney's tax returns? I propose a simple trade: Mitt Romney will release one tax return in exchange for the release of the following documents by Barack Obama (in order):

1. His college transcripts.

2. His Illinois state senate schedule and meeting records.

3. The video of his speech praising PLO operative Rashid Khalidi at a banquest in 2003, which The Los Angeles Times possesses, but still refuses to release.

4. His complete medical records.

5. His client list while serving as an attorney for the firm of Davis, Miner, Barnhill and Gallard.

6. His personal records from the Illinois state senate.

7. His Illinois state bar records and the status of his bar license.

8. His own and his mother's original passport application.

9. The death photos of Osama bin Laden.

Whenever the issue of tax returns is raised, the Romney-Ryan team ought to continually remind the media of how unvetted Obama actually is.


Nothing says "Arab Spring" like a crucifixion or two, eh, Hillary?

The ludicrous RINO hack Bill Kristol -- who joined Democrats and vintage media in celebrating 'democracy' in the Middle East -- hardest hit.

The Arab Spring takeover of Egypt by the Muslim Brotherhood has run amok, with reports from several different media agencies that the radical Muslims have begun crucifying opponents of newly installed President Mohammed Morsi.

Middle East media confirm that during a recent rampage, Muslim Brotherhood operatives, “crucified those opposing Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi naked on trees in front of the presidential palace while abusing others.”

Raymond Ibrahim, a fellow with the Middle East Forum and the Investigative Project on Terrorism, said the crucifixions are the product of who the Middle Eastern media call “partisans.” ...Ibrahim also says the victims can be anyone, including Egyptians and Christians.

...Ibrahim said extra brutality is reserved for Christians, but the crucifixions are because of Islamic doctrine, and are required by the Quran. The time and other details about the crucifixions were not readily available.

Center for Security Policy Senior Fellow Clare Lopez cited chapter and verse from the Quran to explain that crucifixions are not simply normal for Islam; they’re demanded.

“Crucifixion is a hadd punishment, stipulated in the Quran, Sura 5:33, and therefore an obligatory part of Shariah,” Lopez said. “It’s been a traditional punishment within Islam since the beginning, even though it’s not exclusively Islamic. The Romans used it too.

...Lopez includes a warning for Egypt’s Christians and compares the coming treatment of the Christians to the Jews in Germany... “The Copts must get out of Egypt as soon as possible – for the many millions who will not be able to get out, I expect things will continue to deteriorate – just as they did for Germany’s and Europe’s Jews from the 1930s onward,” Lopez said.

Former Muslim Brotherhood member Walid Shoebat has additional details from Egypt.

Suffice it to say that this -- along with a nuclear Iran -- is the price of President Obama's infamous "leading from behind" doctrine.


Hat tips: Reaganite Republican and BadBlue.

My Top 10 Mark Levin Transcripts

Each one of these posts -- if I may say so -- is a must-read.

Why Liberalism is the Philosophy of the Stupid
Mark Levin describes the liberals' dichotomy: do as I say, not as I do.

The Time Is Now
A classic rant, transcribed for your reading pleasure, that offers the quintessential description of the free market.

Neurosurgeon Briefed by HHS Reveals Obamacare's Death Panels
A neurosurgeon who returned from a briefing in DC describes precisely how Obamacare's new rules for treatment will work (or not work) for seniors.

A Society Has To Be Insane...
What does government do well? And why should government be entrusted with powers outside that explicitly enumerated in the Constitution?

Former Marine Strike Planner on Obama's Azerbaijan Leak: "Start viewing this administration as an existential threat to Israel"
This administration is not going to do anything to stop the Iranian terror state from acquiring nuclear weapons. In fact, they are actively working against America's closest allies to prevent a strike against Iran. They are, under Obama's orders, leaking highly classified information to America's enemies through the media.

The Reason I Detest the Left
An epic rant by the Great One on the immorality of the Left's claims over your labor and your life.

Your health care bill is a fraud, Mr. President, and you, sir, are a liar
After the disgusting machinations that saw Obamacare passed into law, Levin eviscerated the lies and cronyism required to force it down the American people's throats. This is the transcript.

I've Finally Found the Statist's Utopia
Where on Earth can the Statist's endgame be found? Levin provides a definitive answer.

What kind of political party is it that employs a strategy built upon such truly sick lies?
The outrageous statements by Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi -- as Levin describes -- are the products of a philosophical sickness.

Caller Describes How Nancy Pelosi and her Husband Abuse Their Power to Stiff Small Business
An administrator for a plumbing company describes how Nancy Pelosi and her husband -- who are worth tens or hundreds of millions of dollars -- use their power in Washington to avoid paying bills.

Bonus: Mark Levin's Top 50 Nicknames for Democrats and Vintage Media Types
A must-read.


Larwyn's Linx: Liberals Criticize Ryan Like They Did Reagan

Send us tips! Bloggers: install a Larwyn's Linx widget. Get real-time news, 24/7, at BadBlue.

Nation

Liberals Criticize Ryan Like They Did Reagan: CFIF
Youth Vote Slipping from Obama: Breitbart
Barack Obama Flees From..Chris Matthews??: RWN

Ryan Reaction: Gap between America and the Beltway: Rasmussen
America Is A Nation Divided Under Barack Obama: IBD
Breaking: Bumbling Gaffe-Machine to Return to Campaign Trail: Ace

Obama Attacks Navy SEALs: PatriotUpdate
Wasserman Schultz, Party Girl: PJM
Wasserman Schultz Goes on the Attack Against Karen Harrington: Shark

Economy

Yes, Obama Certainly Did Cut Medicare, Says Medicare Trustee: Ace
California Doesn't Exist—It's Now Two States: Hanson
Change: Unemployment Up in 44 States: Mish

Obama's Biggest Lie: 'I'm Fighting For The Middle Class': IBD
The FDA wants to regulate your cells: AEI
What About 'Shared Prosperity' From You, Mr. President?: CFP

Scandal Central

Oops: "Star witness" against voter ID got herself an ID card: Events
Dem chair of House Oversight covered up ties to Countrywide for himself, colleagues, and staff: Hot Air
AFL-CIO Canvasser Booked On 23 Felony Counts Related To Voter Fraud: WZ

Climate & Energy

NOAA: Thieving Bastards: Ace
White House says tapping oil reserve is 'on the table,' as gas prices rise: Fox
Apocalypse Not: I love the smell of skepticism in the morning: Watts

Media

Like MSNBC, CNN Ignored Poll Showing 74 Percent of Americans Support Showing Photo ID to Vote: NB
Obama Ducking National Press, Because, See, They're Too Hard on Him: Ace
Jay Cost: Hey, You Know, Biden Didn't Just Accidentally Tell Blacks "They Gon' Put Y'All Back In Chains": Ace

Obama Edits Official State Department Documents to Tout Himself: Foundry
State Dept. Responds to Foreign Country Fact Sheet Changes That Include Obama’s Achievements: Blaze
Special Operations Speaks to Bob Beckel: “Say it to my face”: Nice Deb

Holy Grail Found: Paul Ryan Shirtless Pic!: Alexa
In backlash over SEALs ‘don’t have guts’ tweet, Eric Boehlert cries ‘fabrication’: Twitchy
Announcement, Brief Hiatus And Goodbye Carnivorous Conservative: Riehl

World

The Huma Abedin-House of Saud Connection Exposed: FPM
The Pakistani spy who went undetected in D.C. for 20 years: Poole
Imperial Affront: Ecuador Will Face US Wrath for Asylum Decision: Floyd

State Dept. Trained 450 Imams on the ‘Compatibility of Women’s Rights and Islam’: CNS
Iraq officials: More than 90 dead in attacks: ArmyTimes
Pussy Riot jailed for two years - live updates: Guardian

Sci-Tech

$200 for a Fake Security System: Schneier
Analyst’s Groupon target price of $3 per share is 36.84% below today’s close: NextWeb
RastaCam Is Probably Offensive But I Can’t Stop Using It: Gizmodo

Cornucopia

Battle of the Abs – White House Releases Biden Abs Pic: Sooper
"George–O, George-O, No peace I find…": MOTUS
World Record Kick to the Groin: Sports Science

Image: Breaking: Bumbling Gaffe-Machine Will Head Back On The Campaign Trail
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: Rep. Allen West Needs Your Help!

QOTD: "All those massive fundraising numbers you've read about? None of that can be spent by the Romney campaign until after the Convention, after he has been formally nominated. So he's had to run on the fumes of his primary warchest, and rely on the SuperPACs to pick up the slack.
From September onward, though? It's going to be the world's biggest hurricane of pro-Romney advertising, created and directed explicitly by his campaign to set the tone. All that money is going to explode into a blitz of TV, radio, internet advertising, and (most importantly) ON-THE-GROUND ORGANIZING.

I can't emphasize this last enough. That was the major advantage Obama had in 2008. He got his people to the polls. Folks, I have seen, up close with my very eyes, the swing-state turnout operation that Mitt Romney is assembling (openly) in Virginia and (quietly, on the down-low) in Pennsylvania. They will blow you away when they start cranking into action. S**t's gonna run like the metal exoskeleton of the Terminator: a thousand moving parts, all in sync, well-oiled." --Ace Commenter JeffB

Friday, August 17, 2012

"Please Joe, Keep On Running"

Is there anything funnier than a Joe Biden speech? I mean, besides Michael Moore doing a Tae Bo video?


I would pay cash money to see Joe give a speech after three quick Jagermaisters.



Say, do you remember when we didn't need Keystone XL because we were awash in crude oil?

Keystone XL? What's that?

News out this afternoon is that Obama is looking into opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a means to relieve pressure at the gas pump.  Someone at the White House woke up and realized that the welcome springtime fall in gasoline prices has reversed course and retraced its steps, as shown [below].  I can tell you that out here on the Left Coast, the price of premium gasoline has reached $4.99 a gallon at my nearest station, but then California deserves it.  (The recent refinery fire at Richmond, which will reduce capacity for a few weeks, clearly doesn’t help.)


But this isn’t the only chart that should be giving night sweats to Team Obama right now.  We and others have pointed repeatedly to the infamous “Stimulus” chart, to which we add today’s news...


...that the unemployment rate rose in 44 of the 50 states last month.

Why is the United States the only country on Earth that restricts access to its own vast reserves of energy?

I'll give you a hint: it starts with the letter D and ends with the letters e-m-o-c-r-a-t-s. Which is why these kooks need to be voted out in November. At every level of government, including -- but not limited to -- dog-catcher.


Headline hat tip: Power Line commenter Mike Tanis.

City Watch Los Angeles: California is on the way to becoming an enormous version of Detroit

I love California -- and the Palo Alto area in particular -- but the state is destined for a fall that will be hard, sudden, and very painful.

California has a $16 billion deficit that no one seems to notice. Brown’s budget “assumes” that California voters will pass massive tax increases on themselves. If they do not, the 2013 deficit becomes a mind-numbing $20 billion. The budget, mandated to balance by the Calfornia Constitution, has been billions in the red for 10 straight years. How could Californians re-elect the same politicians year after year that produce budgets with multi-billion dollar deficits?

To protect the endangered Delta Smelt, a fish known better as bait, water has been diverted from the Central Valley to the Pacific Ocean. Orchards in the Central Valley have been allowed to wither and die, resulting in unemployment in the Central Valley as high as 40 percent. Imagine Californians living in what was the breadbasket of American now living on food stamps. California voters rejected Republican Carly Fiorina for US Senator in 2010. She ran Hewlett Packard. Instead, they re-elected Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, who vowed to protect the Delta Smelt at the expense of the Central Valley.


California has 519 state agencies, like the state Blueberry Commission, that pay each of their commissioners more than $100,000 per year. State politicians, when asked to make cuts, fire teachers and fire fighters to inflict maximum pain on its citizens, while leaving these patronage commissions intact.

State politicians have elevator operators in the state capital to push the buttons for them. Their solution for the overcrowding of the state’s prisons is to release inmates or transfer them to local facilities in already bankrupt cities. Yet, they are re-elected by California voters in numbers consistently higher than the old Soviet Politburo.

California’s public education system, once the envy of the world, now ranks 49th in the nation. Its business climate, according to 650 CEOs measured by Chief Executive Magazine, ranked dead last.

Apple will take 3,600 new jobs to Austin, Tex. at its $280,000,000 new facility. Texas ranked first in the same survey.

California unemployment is consistently higher than 10 percent of its workforce, but it’s under-employed, according to a Gallup poll, is 20 percent. There are few jobs for college students who graduate with as much as $100,000 in student loans. Despite the overwhelming evidence that bad public policy is chasing away jobs, the same state politicians are sent back to Sacramento every two years.

In the last two months, three California cities have declared bankruptcy. Compton is next. More will follow. Some cities will simply cease to exist due to $500 million in unfunded pension obligations they simply cannot meet.

The reason Democrat politicians and their supporters are completely insane is this: we can see the results of their policies in failed states like California.

Collective bargaining for public sector employees... unchecked environmental radicalism... crony capitalism... incredibly dense layers of regulation... demonization of business and industry... all the primary planks of the Democrat Party at the federal level.

The alarm claxons are going off not only in Cali, but also in Washington.

November is coming.


Ponzi Government QOTD: "Transfer one more conspiracy theory into the conspiracy fact bin"

The indefatigable Tyler Durden notes a curious admission that I can guaran-damn-tee you won't be reading about in the weekend funny papers:

While one may wonder about the implications of the just announced "accelerated wind-down" of the GSEs, predicated in no small part by the surge in animosity between Tim Geithner and the FHFA's Ed DeMarco, there is one aspect of the announcement that is completely and utterly unambigious: as part of its justification to demand faster liquidation of Fannie and Freddie's "investment portfolio" Tim Geithner gave the following argument:

This will help achieve several important objectives, including... Ending the circular practice of the Treasury advancing funds to the GSEs simply to pay dividends back to Treasury

In other words not some fringe blog, not some "partisan" media outlet, not some morally conflicted whistleblowing former employee seeking immunity, but the US Trasury itself just admitted it had been engaged in circular check kiting scheme, which essentially has all the components of a Ponzi scheme in it, ever since the nationalization (about which there is no now doubt and which means the GSE's $6 trillion in debt is now fully on the Treasury's balance sheet) of Fannie and Freddie in 2008.

Transfer one more conspiracy theory into the conspiracy fact bin.

The ludicrous hacks Jim Johnson, Jamie Gorelick and Franklin Raines -- all Democrats, all Clinton sycophants, and all of whom raped Fannie Mae like a Doberman let loose in a Toy Poodle pet shop -- should be serving time in federal lockup. Between them and a couple of other execs, they were somehow able to pull $200 million in compensation out of FNM just before the entire system imploded.

The history books, if they are written with a modicum of the truth, will remember these Democrat henchmen as the linchpins of the housing meltdown.



Political Banner o' the Day

This sign is a two-fer. Not only does this sign pertain to one of Joe Biden's predictably idiotic statements, but it also alludes to an op-ed in yesterday's Wall Street Journal by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH):


The Regulatory Cliff Is Nearly as Steep as the Fiscal One

The president has postponed damaging rules until after the November election.


After three years of bureaucratic excess, the Obama administration has been quietly postponing several multibillion-dollar regulations until after the November election. Those delayed rules, together with more than 130 unfinished mandates under the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial law, could significantly increase the regulatory drag on our economy in 2013.

The Labor Department, for example, is working on a regulation that would increase the cost of retirement planning for middle-class workers, to "protect" them from investment help... A study last year by the Oliver Wyman Group found that the Fiduciary Rule could result in higher retirement account minimums and cause 7.2 million individual retirement account (IRA) holders to lose access to investment advice...

...Then there is the mega-rule on the shelf at the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) that could block business expansion in many areas of the country. Proposed in 2010, the Ozone Rule would impose a limit on ozone (which creates haze from emissions from cars, power plants and factories) so strict that up to 85% of U.S. counties monitored by the EPA would be in violation.

Portman notes a 2011 Gallup survey in which small business owners listed overregulation as the "most important problem" facing them.

There's only one way to flush the left-wing regulatory state out of the cesspool that is Washington. Vote the straight Republican ticket. It's the only way to be sure.



Larwyn's Linx: Media Matters' Eric Boehlert slams SpecOps: "former Navy SEALs don't have guts"

Send us tips! Bloggers: install a Larwyn's Linx widget. Get real-time news, 24/7, at BadBlue.

Nation

Media Matters' Eric Boehlert: "SEALs don't have guts": Jawa
Obama to Have Lunch with Biden Today: Dossier
Barack Obama Is A Liar: Erickson

The Democrats’ Growing Medicare Dilemma: NRO
Author Pays Obama’s Brother’s Medical Bills: WZ
The Death of an American Mule: Knish

Brewer enforcing laws Barack Obama tries to break: Hawkins
Fact Checked: Latest Democrat Attacks on Ryan Are Trash: RWN
Are Democrats Starting to Lose It Already?: Power Line

Economy

Is GM headed for bankruptcy again?: Hayward
Obama the great disabler: Steyn
Preparations Being Made For Financial Collapse?: MunKnee

Scandal Central

Corzine Will Not Be Prosecuted: P&F
Biden donor receives $20M federal loan: DC
Auto Bailout Legacy: GM's European Nightmare: NLPC

Climate & Energy

EPA actions at mine could hurt $220 billion in investments: DC
How Bad Data Contribute to Global Warming Hysteria: Power Line
Report: State Department Climate Hoax Program is a Mess: Cove

Media

What If The Teleprompter Wouldn't Lie?: Ricochet
Election 2012: Florida President: Rasmussen
Show us your budget, Joe, we want to see what you value. : Morlock Revolt

NBC And CBS Aiding and Abetting Anti-Conservative Hatred: MRC
Hilarious: Lawyer Letter To Mitt Romney Over Inappropriate Song Use May Have Been Plagiarized: Hope
Fresh Off Tough ‘People’ Interview, Fearless Obama Sits Down With ‘Entertainment Tonight’: JWF

Obama Team’s Deceptive Video Edit Plays Strawman Fallacy: Sooper
Other than all that, what has Paul Ryan ever done for us?: Bookworm
Kira Davis’ Open Letter To Toure’ : AllAm

World

Islamic Lawfare Comes to Disney World: GoV
Will the West Bank Become the Next Islamic Emirate?: Gatestone
The X-51A WaveRider: Will this Air Force jet revolutionize civilian air travel? : The Week

Social Security Admin Buys 174,000 Hollow Point Bullets: Border Patrol Armed With Bean Bags: MagNote
Facebook orders removal of Hezbollah pages: Hayom
Ahmadinejad: Zionist regime an insult to all humanity: JPost

Sci-Tech

A GPS in your DNA: MedicalXpress
Why Your Company Should Hire a Dedicated SEO Specialist: CIO
Far more could be done to stop the deadly bacteria C. diff: USA Today

Cornucopia

Secret Service bought cupcakes to thank baker for turning down Biden: Exam
Ohio town ready to welcome Jesus statue with open arms: USA Today
Maynard’s Small Tip for Battling Telemarketers on your Land-Line: Bruce

Image: Muffin Top Eric Boehlert Calls Americas Navy SEALs Gutless
Today's Larwyn's Linx sponsored by: America's Comeback Team

QOTD: "...Forbes tells us GM is probably heading for bankruptcy again. Its stock price would have to more than double, to $53.00 per share, for taxpayers to recover their “investment.” Instead, stock values have declined by 39 percent in absolute terms, and 49 percent relative to the Dow average, since GM went public in 2010. Louis Woodhill of Forbes thinks political considerations would prompt Obama to “ride the stock down to zero” instead of cashing out at a massive loss to the public.

GM’s market share is also falling, as competitors beat its pants off in key vehicle classes. Disappointing new models will likely yield excess inventory that must be sold off at a loss in years to come. GM CEO Dan Akerson, who has mused on the record that it would be awfully nice if Obama made gas more expensive with higher taxes so GM’s electric cars would sell better, is “rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic” in Woodhill’s view, while more innovative and knowledgeable managers at competing companies run rings around him." --John Hayward

Thursday, August 16, 2012

The Big Lie: Jay Carney attacks Ryan Budget for "not balancing the budget fast enough"

Words. Escape. Me.

Steven Dennis of the magazine Roll Call -- which is not what you would call a hotbed of conservative thought -- was incredulous after White House spokes-hack Jay Carney offered that Paul Ryan's budget didn't attack deficit reduction quickly enough.


How much hubris is required to make this kind of assertion? As James Pethokoukis reminds us:

The Obama budget leaves us on a path to fiscal collapse. Once again, here is a stunning long-term budget chart — produced by the White House (PDF) — from Obama’s 2013 budget:


And here is a comparison of the two paths, the Ryan path and the Obama path:


This is yet another example of the Obama administration's craven use of "The Big Lie".

His primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.

As for the above paragraph: it is left as an exercise for the reader to determine its origin and subject.