Congress to Obama: Put away the credit cards

Barry wanted a "clean" Congressional vote on raising the federal debt ceiling. No gimmicks, no attached spending cuts, just a simple yes or no on upping his credit limit.

House Speaker John Boehner granted his wish earlier this evening, posting for a vote a measure to increase the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion dollars.

And Barry got a resounding NO. 318 to 97.

Hey Barry, can you hear us now? Cut up your credit cards. The debt ceiling will not be raised. Live within your means. You can do it if you try.

Posted at 20:08 by Chris Wysocki   [/obama_watch]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Number of limousines owned by the Feds nearly doubled since Obama took office

What is the difference between a Chevy Volt and a Cadillac DTS?

One is the car our government wants us to buy, and one is the car that the government buys for itself.

Can you guess which is which?

You got it America, we're supposed to suck it up and buy fuel-efficient, "green" cars.

But the Obama Administration wants limousines. Lots and lots of limousines.

A new report from a watchdog group shows that the number of limousines owned by the federal government rose by 73 percent during the first two years of President Obama's administration. The State Department was the recipient of the most new luxury vehicles.

The State Department's luxury vehicle of choice? The Cadillac DTS. With a whopping combined fuel ecomony rating of 18 mpg.

Limousine Liberals riding in style at our expense! Can you feel the Hope and Change?

UPDATE 31 May 2011 19:37:
Linked by Gator Doug who wonders if the tires on all those limos are properly inflated.

LOL. Can't you just see Ray LaHood and his trusty tire gauge skulking around the Foggy Bottom Motor Pool?

Posted at 18:04 by Chris Wysocki   [/agw]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Honoring our troops, Remembering their sacrifice

When a tumultuous line of thunderstorms rolled through early this morning our first thought was, uh oh, the parade's gonna get rained out. Not a chance! By 9 AM it was overcast, but clearing, and the line of marchers assembling along Forest Avenue stretched farther than I could see. As we made our way down Bloomfield Avenue with the other Brownies and Girl Scouts I was pleased to see so many friends and neighbors had turned out to honor America's war dead.

West Caldwell Mayor Joe Tempesta spoke eloquently at the closing ceremonies, reminding us of what it means to serve our country and pay the ultimate price.

Carol of No Sheeples Here! is once again organizing Troopathon. Please consider purchasing a Care Package for one of our brave service members. It's a great way to honor the legacy of our fallen heroes.

For as little as $24.99 you can help make the daily routine of our troops a little more bearable and thank them for their service all at the same time.

There are many items which the military does not provide for our troops but are still really, really needed and appreciated.

Gourmet organic coffee, Oreo Cookies™, deodorant, candy, Diplomacy Jelly Belly Jelly Beans™, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, wet wipes, sunblock, battery operated fans, Gatorade™, Painted Hills Beef Jerky™, Chap Stick™, Planters Trail Mix™, Ocean Spray Craisins Trail Mix™, bug repellent, "For The Troops" CDs, Diana Nagy "The Journey of Life" CDs and foot powder.

As Proof so succinctly puts it, "It's hardly an adequate way to express our gratitude for the sacrifice that they are making, but it beats sitting on your butt doing nothing."

Contribute here.

Happy Memorial Day. May God bless our troops and hear the prayers of their families.

Posted at 17:10 by Chris Wysocki   [/sophie]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Now I know why mosquitoes love me

According to some new research, mosquitoes have a keen sense of smell, attuned to foot odor.

And where there's funky feet, there's a way to send mosquitoes into olfactory overload.

"It is not the amount of odors produced, but which particular odors and ratio between them that makes a difference. Finding these odors and their respective ratio's brings us one step closer to manipulating the mosquito's behavior."

Entomologist Daniel Kline did an experiment with dirty socks. Really dirty socks, that he'd worn for 3 days in a row.

Mosquitoes were drawn to those socks like white on rice.

So don't throw out your old gym shoes. Park 'em in the corner at your next outdoor party and watch the mosquitoes leave everyone alone!

(h/t Instapundit)

Posted at 12:04 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Welcome Arianna's Army!

I got linked by the Huffington Post!

They're not really fans though, in fact you could say they think I'm a "thug."

I pondered responding over there, but the "teabagger" slur came out early and often, before I could even chime in, so I'd rather post on friendlier turf.

Here goes nothing!

A coupla things. It's not my job to police Ace Of Spades HQ's comment threads. Ace craps bigger than me; I don't want to piss him off. And I assure you, Ace runs a pretty tight ship. But I'm flattered that a bone-a-fide HuffPo Journalist thinks I can go the distance.

Oh, what's that? HuffPo's cub reporter didn't mention that his big bogeyman, a Right Wing Conspiracy to reveal Wayne Myers' employer, came in the comments section of an Open Thread over at Ace's place? And there was no followup? Hmmm.

Yeah, context is important, isn't it. Too bad you don't get that from Mr. Bonafide Journalist.

Speaking of bonafide journalism, it really is bad form to publish private e-mail. I declined Jimmy Olsen's request for an ambush interview because he said he's too important to do them via email. Then he went and used my email response!

Maybe he thinks he works for Tucker Carlson? Tucker does pay more than Arianna…

HuffPo's journalist is also a little fast and loose with the monikers. I said I wasn't a "reporter, just a blogger with a day job." Reinbach wrote "he's … not a journalist — something few journalists would dispute." Reporter, Journalist, Guy with a Day Job; yeah, The New York Times can't tell the difference either.

Ever hear of Paul Mulshine, you guys are on the same page when it comes to citizen journalism. In case you're wondering, that would be The Wrong Page.

Anyhoo, here's the rest of what I wrote, in full:

So you're cheesed because somebody looked up Wayne Myers' political donations? You do know that's public information, right? Go to http://opensecrets.org/ where they conveniently index the Congressionally mandated FEC database. The database includes the employer info, which the donor is required by law to disclose. Complaining about people finding that info online is kinda like complaining about the weather.

Not that any of you anonymous Obama donors care about campaign finance laws! But the rest of us? Yeah, we care. Apparently so does Wayne Myers. See, the comment entry reproduced the FEC listing for Mr. Myers' political donations (to a fellow named Barack Obama) wherein one of the data elements is his employers' name.

The key takeaway though? The donation's recipient. Wayne Myers made a big deal of how he was a "Republican." Amy's aunt said the whole family was GOP through and through. Maybe Mr. Myers confused Obama with McCain, it was kinda easy to do if you weren't paying attention. Still, you gotta admit, it is interesting. And relevant.

Back to the emails. One thing I won't do is publish Andrew Reinbach's emails to me. Good thing too, he needs to reacquaint himself with spellcheck. Dude didn't even spell my name right! Would you trust the accuracy of a "journalist" who's too lazy to spell your name right? (Speaking of Spellchek, great blogger, you guys should check him out. Tell him I said "hi.")

And finally, the whole high dudgeon thing about the Right Wing Hate Machine? Puh-lease. Can Andrew Reinbach be the only liberal who's never heard of Saul Alinsky? Liberals started the personal attack game! Remember Joe The Plumber?

You reap what you sow.

And BTW, thanks for the link!

Posted at 23:31 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   Comments | Perm Link |
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The coolest product page you'll click on today

Via Lauren Weinstein's Privacy Forum mailing list, here is the coolest product page you'll click on today.

It's from HEMA, a department store in The Netherlands.

Wait for it, the good stuff takes a few seconds to load.

If it doesn't work for you, Lauren posted a vidcap to YouTube.

Posted at 17:22 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Proud to be an American

If someone asked, "are you proud to be an American?", who would say no?

But, what does it really mean to be an American?

My friend the Mind Numbed Robot recently asked that question. And I want you to know that the answer is very important.

The wrong answer is the difference between Freedom, and slavery.

Either you are an asset to society or you are a burden on it.

Think about that for a minute.

There are many people in this country, far too many in my opinion, who believe the solution to every problem lies within a government program.

We've lost our self-reliance gene. Little by little, generation by generation, the ideals of our Founding Fathers have been beaten down, until it seems perfectly natural to demand what your country can do for you rather than ask what you can do for your country.

So long, of course, as someone else pays for it. "The Rich," for example. Or "corporations." They've got all the money!

What happens when the citizenry realizes they can vote to give themselves free stuff? I think we're about to find out.

The entitlement behemoth will collapse. Of that there is no doubt.

Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man. Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded- here and there, now and then- are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty. This is known as "bad luck."
— Robert A. Heinlein

It's time to take a stand. The upcoming presidential election is likely to be the defining moment for our children's future. Four more years of unchecked deficit spending will result in a country that might still be called "America" but it won't be American.

Yes, I can imagine if there were no heaven, no countries, no religion. Just "peace."

I was asked one time by a preacher if I wouldn't like world peace. I told him "no sir, I wouldn't like that at all." He was a bit surprised and asked me why I wouldn't care for world peace. My answer to him is something you all should think about when people speak of peace. The only way for the world to find peace is through oppression. Anywhere ideas are free to be expressed there will be disagreement, conflict and war. Peace can only be purchased by oppression and tyranny. Peace is preferred by those willing to do anything other than endure conflict. They value peace over freedom. They prefer your imprisonment over their discomfort.

That's T.L. Davis, by the way. I wish I could write like him. I wish I had his courage.

I live in a Blue town, in a Blue county, in a predominantly Blue state. My political views are, as my wife gently puts it, unpopular around here. Recently she took down my Tea Party lawn sign because she said it made the neighbors uncomfortable.

They're good people, the neighbors are. They work. They pay their taxes. They play with their children in the park. Of course they are Americans, even as they vote reflexively for candidates who are the antithesis of what T.L. or I would recognize as worthy successors to Jefferson, Adams, Madison, or Reagan.

Seventeen months. We have seventeen months to get it right, to decide if we remember what it means to be an American. T.L. kicked me in the ass:

You know what it takes to be one. SO, are you? Can you prove it? What are you willing to do to ensure it?

I'm putting my lawn sign back, that's for damn sure!

The longer that question goes unanswered, the more it will take to answer it. They are making laws against being American and have been for a long time. When you decide to be an American, it may be too late, it may be completely illegal. What will you do then? Or, are you just too proud to be an American anymore? It might be too much trouble, it might make you unpopular.

The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.

I snapped this picture in Constitution Gardens:

I can do no less.

I am an American.

Posted at 15:05 by Chris Wysocki   []   Comments | Perm Link |
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Imagine if Obama was President in 1812...

His meeting with the Queen might have gone something like this:

But only, of course, if he was assured that Manhattan would be returned to the Muslims.

Posted at 10:56 by Chris Wysocki   [/obama_watch]   Comments | Perm Link |
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DNC Chairwoman applauds Government Motors but won't buy one of their cars

She made damn sure the American taxpayer subsidized them, but as for actually driving a Government Motors Bailout-Mobile, DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz says, "not on your life."

The car in her driveway is a non-UAW Infinity FX35, made by Japan's Nissan Motor Corp.

Way to put your money where your mouth is Deb! Did you forget the words to Look For The Union Label?

Just like Barry, who tells us to buy a Chevy Volt but rides in a gas-guzzling SUV, Debbie is a Do As I Say Not As I Do kind of "leader."

Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that's an official DNC platform plank. They're better than us.

On the plus side, the FX35 has nice high ground clearance, so the odds of it getting stuck on a speed hump are fairly low. Even when Debbie's massive ego is on board.

(Via Memeorandum)

Posted at 21:45 by Chris Wysocki   [/democrats]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Chris Christie pulls NJ out of pointless RGGI Cap and Tax scheme

The Sierra Club is mad, so Chris Christie must be doing something right again.

And for sure he is! New Jersey ditches "Cap and Tax."

So, like most Globull Warming mitigation schemes, it's long on "tax" and short on actual results. But the Sierra Club says it's "vital!" Can you say, "Econut Slush Fund?" Sure, I knew you could.

Score one for "Punch The Hippies."

(h/t Ace)

Posted at 12:42 by Chris Wysocki   [/agw]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Neptune, NJ school board caves to Anti-Christian Liberty Usurpers

The Neptune, NJ high school graduation ceremony will go on. And it will still be held in the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove. But no one can enter via the front door, and the walls will be draped with bedsheets to shield attendees eyes from the grandeur of Methodist religious iconography.

That's the price extracted by the Anti-Christian Liberty Usurpers (ACLU) in response to a single complaint against a seventy year tradition of using the Methodist's Great Auditorium for the high school's graduation ceremony.

If it was a 20-foot Rainbow Flag, they'd make each kid genuflect beneath it.

Every day in school the students are exposed to homosexual imagery but any complaints are ridiculed as "homophobia" or "intolerance." (Must. Avoid. Making. Enter-thru-the-back-door. Joke. Here.)

Yet thanks to the ACLU, tolerance for Christian symbols is nowhere to be found.

That's because the Doctrine of Political Correctness elevates acceptance of homosexuality over the benign presence of God. And people wonder why this country is going to Hell in a handbasket.

Posted at 09:52 by Chris Wysocki   [/education]   Comments | Perm Link |
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The Democratic Party: Protecting tax cheats since 1944

It's no wonder so many of Obama's inner circle is lackadaisical about tax compliance. Democrats have been flaunting the IRS, and getting away with it, for decades.

Long before Tim Geithner first played with TurboTax and decades prior to Charlie Rangel's questionable purchase of a Caribbean villa a Democratic president quashed an IRS investigation into the tax fraud problems of an up-and-coming congressman from Texas.

The president? Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The up-and-coming congressman? Lyndon Baines Johnson.

The coverup? Sixty-seven years.

Paying taxes is for the little people. Apparently so are campaign finance laws. The IRS investigation into LBJ concerned donations to his failed 1941 Senate campaign by Brown & Root, a Texas building firm that had been accused of using the congressman to push for changes to federal rules related to profitable dam building projects.

The names change, but the political party and the bare-knuckles tactics remain the same. After stalling for years the Justice Department is finally launching an investigation into the violation of campaign finance laws by former presidential candidate John Edwards. The media buried the story back in 2008 and I'm guessing that without the exposure it garnered from Right Wing bloggers Eric Holder would just as soon have kept it that way.

After all, the Democrats have had a lot of practice.

UPDATE 25 May 2011 11:46:
Linked by Theo Spark. Thanks!

Posted at 09:53 by Chris Wysocki   [/democrats]   Comments | Perm Link |
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NJ School Funding: 3 unelected judges demand blood from a stone

They couldn't even garner a majority of the 7 member NJ State Supreme Court but the teachers unions won a "victory" today when a 3-2 plurality (two justices recused themselves) ruled they deserve another $500 million of our tax dollars.

Remember that number, $500 million, because it's significant.

Three unelected judges, acting in situ for the governor and state legislature, decreed that spending $23,000 per year on a poor child's education is not enough. Let that sink in. They're not calling for more money for every NJ student, just the students in the 31 sainted Abbott districts, who already receive the lion's share of state education funding.

Not that those districts make good use of the money they already receive; their test scores are consistently at the very bottom of the barrel. But we're supposed to meekly keep throwing money at a failing system? According to the three member plurality, yes.

Associate Justices Roberto Rivera-Soto and Helen Hoens in the minority opinion explicitly emphasized the illegitimacy of this ruling. Three justices cannot speak for a seven member court:

Ah, the teachers unions are far from "impartial." They're salivating at another $500 million for their coffers.

But wait, even the 3 justice plurality is tinged with unconstitutionality. Only two of them are confirmed, permanent members of the Court. Associate Justices Jaynee LaVecchia and Barry Albin were joined in their "majority" by Appellate Judge Edwin Stein, a temporary replacement assigned to the court on an interim basis to replace Associate Justice John Wallace, Jr., who was not renominated by Governor Christie.

Yeah I know, you need a scorecard to keep up, but bear with me.

Because Senate President Steve Sweeney won't hold confirmation hearings on a replacement for Wallace the swing vote on this long-standing and very controversial case came from a judge who never faced State Senate scrutiny for the role he now plays.

So you tell me. Can two legitimate justices of a seven member court speak for "the majority," let alone dictate to the governor, the legislature, and the people?

Nope! And herein we discover why that figure of $500 million dollars is just so darn convenient. See, it's the exact dollar amount the State Treasurer recently reported as a windfall from better than expected tax receipts. The governor was planning to use that money to replenish the state's property tax rebate program.

Now along comes our merry band of social justice leaguers, eager to redistribute ever larger gobs of tax money to the Abbott districts. But Governor Christie had hinted he'd defy the court if they ordered payment of the full $1.7 billion dollars the union toadies at the Education Law Center demanded in their court filing. What's a shaky plurality to do?

Snatch that $500 million out of the rebate fund and call it a day! They figure Christie's got the money so he won't defy their order (which to be honest would precipitate an even larger constitutional crisis). And since the unions didn't get every dime they wanted they're sure to be back before the court next year, when hopefully a replacement for Wallace is confirmed and/or the two justices who recused themselves from this round have a change of heart.

The wisdom of Solomon it ain't. But it sure smells like New Jersey politics as usual.

Posted at 12:48 by Chris Wysocki   [/education]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Confirmed: Wayne Myers admits there were no actual threats directed at his daughter

A lot of rumors have been flying in the lefty blogosphere and Twitterverse concerning alleged "threats" directed at Amy Myers by Tea Partyers and other nefarious "Right Wing" operators (like me).

Amy Myers is the 16 year old budding Constitutional Scholar from Cherry Hill, NJ who recently challenged Rep. Michele Bachmann to a debate. Some of us reacted with disdain, but her father soon took to the airwaves and interwebs to proclaim that Amy feared for her personal safety. Right-wingers had threatened to rape her!

All along we had the feeling that the threat assessment was overblown, especially since no one has produced a single screen shot, tweet, or crayon drawing to corroborate such serious allegations.

And now, Wayne Myers admits it was all bullshit, in a comment he posted to the Courier Post web site.

Objection!, Your Honor, Conjecture!

"It won't be long." WTF?

I haven't yet won the lottery, but since my wife keeps buying tickets... it won't be long!

Alyssa Milano hasn't retweeted me yet, but... it won't be long!

See where I'm going with this? The "threats", they exist only in Wayne Myers' fevered imagination. One could almost believe, and trust me I'm just thinking out loud here, that Wayne Myers wants there to be threats, so he can validate his own twisted progressive HuffPo worldview. They're the Good Guys, and it's us evil Tea-Bagger Rethuglicans who'll stop at nothing to thwart the dawning of the new utopia.

Except now we know the truth.

UPDATE 28 May 2011 23:35:
Welcome Arianna's Army!

Think Andrew Reinbach gave you the whole story? Think again!

You can wipe that smirk off your face now.

Posted at 10:29 by Chris Wysocki   [/feminists]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Great, my first TrendingRight.com pickup, and it's a Rule 4 zinger aimed at me!

Some libtards didn't much like my expose of Wayne Myers' exploitation of his 16 year old daughter. So they took to Twitter to call me names.

And thus I landed my first pickup at TrendingRight.com.

Um, thanks!

Hits is hits, and Rule 4 Rocks!

Now c'mon you guys, if you're gonna retweet me, next time try to make me look good, OK?

Irony meter alert — when TrendingRight.com launched I said, "it's like Memeorandum, without the progbots." What put me on TrendingRight.com today? Progbots!

The blogging gods, they mock me.

On the plus side, for most of today my Patricia Heaton post was the top search result returned by Yahoo! on her name and yowza did the hits roll in. And they keep coming! (I'm currently down to #9, but still on the coveted first page!)

I thought this old vax might melt under the strain, but she's a workhorse and so far all customers are satisfied and happy. Been getting some good comments out of it as well.

Rule 5 Rocks, too!

Posted at 21:22 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Again with the abortion funding? Doesn't the NJ Senate have anything better to do?

Ye gads, Loretta Weinberg (D-ead Babies) does not know how to take "no" for an answer. She's back, yet again, with her quest for public funding of abortion, this time railroading through an "emergency" Planned Parenthood funding bill which bypassed the traditional committee and debate process.

Yet it's a largely symbolic move, considering Chris Christie's dedication to protecting the unborn by vetoing the measure the first 3,479 times she brought it up. The Merchants of Death don't have the votes to override another veto.

Please Loretta, stop wasting everyone's time. I know you think there's a new piggy bank for the taking, what with an "extra" $500 million or so landing in the state's lap last month. But spending every last cent is how you Democrats got us into this mess in the first place. Knock it off already! The money is better off providing some badly need tax relief, not filling the coffers of Abortion, Inc.

It should interest you too Loretta to learn that the vast majority of Americans are pro-life. Public funding for Planned Parenthood flies in the face of all that is decent and morally right and we are not going to stand for it. Not now. Not ever.

Posted at 20:10 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Team Obama digging for dirt on a guy who isn't running for president

The Obama re-election campaign is worried about Chris Christie, even though he's not actually running for president. Their Smear Machine is digging for dirt on Governor Awesome on the off chance he changes his mind about wanting Barry's job.

So as a public service, let me save them a bit of time. All you guys have to do is subscribe to the Star-Ledger. They're already doing the heavy lifting in the anti-Christie department. Editor-in-Chief Tom Moran never misses an opportunity to take a swipe at the governor. And lead op-ed columnist Bob In-The-Pocket-Of-The-Public-Employee-Unions Braun gets front page real estate for every one of his Christie-hates-puppies-and-eats-babies bromides.

Really, the Ledger is so blatant about it that the FEC should just take their gross revenue figures and count them as an in-kind contribution to the DNC.

Every other week or so the paper breathlessly reports on another poll which shows Obama beating Christie in a hypothetical presidential matchup. Polls, which BTW they presumably conduct by asking for a show of hands inside their newsroom.

When you read between the lines though, some things become clear.

They wouldn't be so ready to shoot down a Christie candidacy unless they were pretty scared of him really throwing his hat into the ring.

And, for a guy who's not running for president, Chris Christie polls remarkably well. He's not exactly a household name outside the Northeast and he's still only 8 points behind The Greatest President In The History Of The World.

For all their emphasis on the margin of Barry's hypothetical lead the most interesting statistic shows he's quite vulnerable to a strong challenger:

In the poll of 1,000 likely U.S. voters, Obama received 43 percent and Christie 35 percent of the support.

Last time I looked, 43 percent of the vote was not enough to win re-election.

So yeah, they're scared.

Maybe it's time to break out this (admittedly bad) Photoshop™ again…

Posted at 13:07 by Chris Wysocki   [/election]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Followup: Father of student demanding to debate Michele Bachmann is a HuffPo stooge

I guess I'm one of those Right Wing h8trs who "threatened" poor little Amy Myers. Well, that is if by "threatened" you mean, "pointed out how ridiculously presumptuous her challenge to Congresswoman Michele Bachmann really was." Judging from the comments my post garnered at Right Wing News you'd think I was some kind of playground bully, stealing lunch money from innocent teenagers. Even though, of course, I did nothing of the sort.

Indeed, Amy Myers is now playing the victim card, claiming she fears for her "personal safety."

"A lot of them are calling me a whore," 16-year-old Amy Myers said, referring to anonymous comments reacting to online news reports about her challenge to the 55-year-old Minnesota congresswoman.

"Whore?" No. Attention Whore? Hell yeah!

Her father is now in on the act, saying "commenters" have threatened to publish their address, or commit violence or rape.

Scratcher, from Makes My Brain Itch, eloquently responds:

I call bullshit.

Where's the proof? Surely a tech-savvy, 16-year-old Constitutional Scholar, has proof of such serious allegations?

Uh, no.

The father also claims to have his mail carrier and a neighbor who works for the state police watching for "suspicious activity." But the Cherry Hill Police Department denies there is a stalker, nor has anyone from the Myers household reported any threats to them.

But here's where it gets interesting. Digging in to Wayne Myers' online activities @breitbartfan77 on Twitter discovered he is a bonafide Huffington Post nutjob with the handle of studmoose. He's a huge anti-Tea-Party agitator, garnering the "Superuser" badge from Arianna herself.

Hmmmm.

And, he's more than a little bit paranoid, too. At the last minute Mr. Myers backed out of a video interview he'd scheduled for Amy with the Courier Post:

Translation: This is dad's stunt, and little Amy would come off like a deer in the headlights if she has to speak for herself on camera.

What we have here is an unhinged liberal activist preaching to the choir. They expect Tea Partyers to be misogynistic haters because that is the stereotype they've created. But in reality I would stake my reputation on any actual threats being quickly and vehemently shouted down by folks from the Right. That's how we roll. We debate ideas, not personalities.

Like Scratcher said, it's all Bullshit. There is no proof.

@amyteamamy on twitter
"@breitbartfan77 Check Sean Hannity's website along with the Yahoo! articles. People are blinded by their disdain for me."

He did check. and found nothing, zilch, nada.

I've checked-and encourage you to double check
no death threats, no threats to publish addresses, no threats of rape.

Amy Myers, your fifteen minutes are up. You've accomplished what you obviously set out to do, get your name out there in front of the admissions officers for Bard College and The New School. Congratulations on differentiating yourself from The Hive while maintaining full solidarity with The Collective.

Arianna Huffington is just bursting with pride.

UPDATE 22 May 2011 14:39:
Note: I updated the headline to more accurately reflect that it's Amy's father who's on Arianna's (virtual) payroll.

UPDATE 23 May 2011 10:10:
According to the Libtard Twitterverse I'm "smearing" and "attacking" Amy Myers.

How?, Is pointing out that Wayne Myers is a total nutjob who's using his daughter to score points against Michele Bachmann an "attack" on anyone other than Wayne Myers? Yeah, I know libtards don't do logic. Apparently they don't do reading comprehension either.

BTW, thanks for the hits kids. Rule 4 Rocks!

For more on the One Man Idiocy Fest that is Wayne Myers check out Anatomy of a Smear.

They don't need me to make Amy Myers look foolish; her father is doing a fine job of that all by himself.

Posted at 12:47 by Chris Wysocki   [/feminists]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Conservative hottie Patricia Heaton does not feel the Hollyweird love

The ever-tolerent lefties in Hollywood don't have very much actual tolerance for TV stars with strong Christian and pro-life beliefs. Which I guess is really only a surprise if you haven't been paying attention.

A lesser star might hide her politics. But where's the fun in that? The lovely and talented Patricia Heaton is no shrinking violet, that's for damn sure.

Saying her Hollyweird colleagues equate her with conservative "lunatics" Ms. Heaton acknowledges that her political views hamper her acting career.

"We know for a fact there are some people who have said they wouldn't want to work with us because of our politics," she said, with her husband David Hunt adding, "We get lumped in with lunatics."

Well, it's not like she's a communist…

"Mr. Welch? It's Senator McCarthy on line 2."

Yeah I know, the Irony Meter doesn't swing left.

It must be tough though, enduring the brickbats and whispered innuendos. Come out gay and you're some kind of hero. Come out conservative and you're a freak.

At least she's got a sense of humor about it. If the pantywaist poobahs of Mulholland Drive won't hire her, she'll make her own damn movies!

Patricia has teamed up with her director-husband to produce and distribute their own show, 'Versailles,' a new 8-part comedy web series airing on My Damn Channel. Patricia plays a deceased B-movie actress whose presence looms large over her two children (one played by David) as they produce a public access talk show.

"I don't think I could have afforded her if we weren't married," David jokes. "I was a bigger star then she was when I met her. She owes me. I took a decade off my career to raise the kids. Plus, a big bonus is she gets to sleep with the director."

And the director gets to sleep with Patricia Heaton!

Some guys have all the luck.

(Hat tip, Wombat-sacho)

Posted at 00:42 by Chris Wysocki   [/rule5]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Remember when AARP told us how wonderful Obamacare was gonna be?

Yeah, me neither.

November 6, 2009:
In a surprise visit to the Press Secretary's daily briefing with the press, President Obama fired back at conservatives gathering on the other side of Washington D.C. yesterday. He broke in to share with reporters the information that the AARP (American Associate of Retired Persons) and the AMA (American Medical Association) had endorsed the healthcare legislation that will be voted on in the next few days. He called these major endorsements and told Americans that they could stop listening to fear mongers and storytellers now that these organizations were on board.

So, riddle me this Batman. If Obamacare is indeed so fucking wonderful, why did the AARP ask for, and just receive, a waiver from it?

The Daily Caller has learned that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rate review rules, which it finalized on Thursday, exempt "Medigap" policy providers, like the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), from oversight when such providers increase payment rates for their supplemental insurance plans.

Come to think of it, being exempted from Obamacare would be pretty wonderful, wouldn't it? Maybe that's what they meant!

Rumors that AARP would be moving their national headquarters to Nancy Pelosi's Congressional District could not be confirmed at this time.

Posted at 14:38 by Chris Wysocki   [/obamacare]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Obama to Israel: FOAD

If there was any doubt left that Barack Hussein Obama is in fact a Muslim, and perhaps even the reincarnation of Yasser Arafat, then there isn't any more.

Yesterday, the president of the United States threw Israel under a bus. The ostensible leader of the Free World acceded to terrorism. Barack Hussein Obama, who says he's a Christian, advocated the destruction of every remaining Jewish and Christian holy site in the Middle East.

That's what will happen if the State of Israel is forced to pull back to the 1967 borders. Because it's what is already happening to the holy sites under Muslim control.

Obama's plan calls for the Tomb of Jesus to fall into the hands of Hamas. And then, Palestinian animals will finish turning the Church of the Holy Sepulchre into a latrine, all for the glory of their pedophile prophet. Islamic terrorists would like nothing more than to literally shit on the site of Christ's resurrection.

Because that is the price of "peace?"

No. Wherever Palestinians go, death and destruction follow surely as night follows day. They are the darkness, extinguishing the Light of the World.

Each Passover they attempt yet again to burn Joseph's Tomb to the ground. They've laid claim to Rachel's Tomb too, saying it is the site of their very first Victory Mosque, even though "peace" treaties with Jordan explicitly identify the tomb as a purely Jewish holy site.

But what do monsters care about peace? Or treaties?

Likewise, the destruction of the 3000 year old Temple Mount will be ruthlessly completed. Many antiquities, including The Cedars of Lebanon are already gone, Waqf wackos are certain to obliterate any remaining Jewish artifacts buried there. The puss-oozing sore which is their dome of the rock mosque will then reign supreme over the Holy Land for thousands of years, mocking us with its vileness.

The message of our child-president could not have been more clear: Dear Israel, Fuck Off And Die. Under his "plan" the murderers of countless innocent Jews are rewarded for their depravity. It's not "land for peace." It's land as a reward for terrorism.

Only a fool believes that prostrating herself before Hamas will bring Israel peace. The Palestinians do not want peace. The Palestinians want dead Jews.

Remember they've already had the 1967 borders. In 1967. Did they live in peace? Or did they attack Israel? Why in the name of God should we allow them to repeat history?

Posted at 10:07 by Chris Wysocki   [/terrorism]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Barack Milhous Obama?

It's Get Off My Plane, the sequel:

White House freezes out Boston Herald over editorial?

Yup!

Listen up guys, publish something Barry really doesn't like and next time he'll lock you in a closet.

The Obama White House Enemies List gets bigger every day!

Still, getting into a pissing match with a tabloid is usually a mistake.

If the Herald keeps up the mockery, will Barry sic the IRS on them too?

It's said that presidents really do talk to the portraits in the West Wing, and sometimes the portraits talk back. Methinks Obama is spending too much time talking to Richard Nixon.

Yeah, I know it's a lousy Photoshop™. I snarfed it from Keith Olbermann's new employer. Heh.

Posted at 10:22 by Chris Wysocki   [/obama_watch]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Future NJEA union shills graduate college without any class

As Instapundit says of college graduates today, they're "credentialed, not educated." We can now add "classless" to that, too.

Two days ago graduates of Seton Hall University in South Orange booed Governor Chris Christie as he gave their commencement speech. Many of the protesters received Teaching Certificates, and seeing as how their job prospects are dim in these tough economic times, the NJEA playbook demands that they heckle the governor. There's nothing like getting a head start on that union activism, right?

Today it was Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno's turn, and she experienced William Paterson University's version of a warm graduation welcome. Amid boos and catcalls she attempted to address the graduates.

"Come on," Guadagno said at one point, as the boos grew louder. "We've got all day."

And obviously they've got no manners. Check out this classy guy:

I hope this young man (his name is Stanley Joseph btw) has a job already lined up. Because, is that, or is that not, a picture that just screams, "Hire me!"

I'm thinking it's a "no" on Stanley's job front though. He's upset because he has to start paying back his student loans. Apparently he was led to believe his college education should have been free.

If this is how William Paterson University taught him to behave, then I agree with at least one part of his lament. Dude, you overpaid for that diploma.

UPDATE 19 May 2011 09:09:
Linked by Theo Spark and Doug Ross, two fine gentlemen with most excellent taste.

Thanks!

UPDATE 20 May 2011 10:48:
Also linked at The Blog Prof where he notes the shenanigans of Michigan's unions rival those here.

Posted at 16:43 by Chris Wysocki   [/education]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Anti-Christian Liberty Usurpers threaten Ocean Grove over HS graduation ceremony

Ever notice that the same liberals who cackle with glee when "democracy" results in Congress enacting another utopian social program are also first on the scene to champion the "rights" of a lone dissenter when it comes to feigned outrage over the separation of Church and State?

Yeah, I'm talking about those freedom-hating fanatics at the ACLU. Last year their activism on behalf of same-sex "marriage" forced the Methodists of the Ocean Grove, NJ Camp Meeting Association to go out of the wedding business.

Now they're back, this time with threats of a lawsuit to prevent the Methodist's Great Auditorium from being used for a public high school graduation ceremony.

One killjoy and 70 years of tradition goes down the drain. Democracy that ain't!

But the Anti-Christian Liberty Usurpers aren't satisfied. The cross, and all religious emblems, have to get shit-canned too to satisfy their precious sensibilities.

Listen, if the sight of a wooden cross gives you the vapors then you've got bigger problems than the venue for your graduation ceremony. Hiding the cross won't make those problems go away.

Remember when the liberals laughed at John Ashcroft for (allegedly) covering up some anatomically correct statues? That's ridiculous, right? But hiding a cross isn't likewise ridiculous?

The Camp Meeting Association, and the school board, are standing firm.

The ACLU has traditions of their own Mr. Mooij; mostly a long tradition of over-reacting to any reminder that our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Alas, no matter what they might say, "freedom of religion" does not equate to "freedom from religion." Really, it doesn't.

I imagine this whiny kid is going to collect some cash from friends and relatives after receiving his diploma. If he's really so offended by religious imagery he'll refuse those gifts. After all, every piece of U.S. currency is emblazoned with the terrifying words "In God We Trust." God, right there in his pocket. That's gotta be worse than the mere glimpse of a cross!

Something tells me he'll be quite willing to overlook that particular "problem."

Posted at 14:22 by Chris Wysocki   [/rants]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Mister we could use a man like Grover Cleveland again

Once upon a time there were Democrats who extolled the virtues of limited government and the merits of free enterprise. President Grover Cleveland (born right here in Caldwell, NJ!) was such a Democrat.

As for "redistribution of wealth?" Let's just say Old Grover wasn't a fan:

When we proclaim that the necessity for revenue to support the Government furnishes the only justification for taxing the people, we announce a truth so plain that its denial would seem to indicate the extent to which judgment may be influenced by familiarity with perversions of the taxing power. And when we seek to reinstate the self-confidence and business enterprise of our citizens by discrediting an abject dependence upon governmental favor, we strive to stimulate those of American character which support the hope of American achievement.

Wow. Can you imagine Barack Obama even comprehending the wisdom of Grover Cleveland? Ensuring the citizenry's "abject dependence upon governmental favor" by "perversions of the taxing power" is the raison d'etre of the Obamunists!

The oath I now take to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States not only impressively defines the great responsibility I assume, but suggests obedience to constitutional commands as the rule by which my official conduct must be guided. I shall to the best of my ability and within my sphere of duty preserve the Constitution by loyally protecting every grant of Federal power it contains, by defending all its restraints when attacked by impatience and restlessness, and by enforcing its limitations and reservations in favor of the States and the people.

Now that my friends is a man who understood Federalism. I wonder if he drank tea?

Posted at 14:40 by Chris Wysocki   [/election]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Four More Years! (Of WyBlog) It's my blogaversary!

On the occasion of of my fourth blogaversary I thought I'd defer to a guest blogger, someone whom I encountered on my recent trip to Washington, DC, and whose off-the-beaten-path memorial far removed from the National Mall is not generally the highlight of anyone's conventional tour.

Yet his eloquence moved me, and as best as I can recall he is said to have once murmured something like this:

The inscription at the base of his statue said simply, Wolverines!, and I knew straightaway that I was on hallowed ground. Either that, or those last lunch truck burritos really packed a wallop.

So, Happy Blogaversary To Me!

Yes, I plan to keep on doing this, for Four More Years, and then some. There are still liberals to annoy, and more sacred cows to skewer. There are miles to go before we sleep. And leaving nothing to chance, together we will once again restore the glory of our Founding Fathers' vision of America as that shining city on the hill.

Thank you, and may God bless America.

UPDATE 18 May 2011 10:20:
I'd like to thank all of you for the kind words, kudos, and blogaversary linkage.

It's really appreciated. And I hope I can keep living up to the hype…

King Shamus asked, "where's the cake?" and by golly he's right, there ought to be cake!

Posted at 00:10 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Guess what federal workers? Obama just stole your retirement money!

So, what's a bunch of spendthrifts gonna do when their credit cards are maxed out and the bank account's gone empty? Raid the retirement fund!

Ruh roh. This won't end well.

And, nevermind that if a private company tried doing this the entire management team would go to jail.

The measure won't have an impact on retirees because the Treasury is legally required to reimburse the program.

ROFL. Listen up guys, if you believe that one, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn you can have, cheap.

New Jersey pulled this stunt a few decades ago. And when the politicians discovered just how much fun it was they dove in with real gusto. They piled loan upon loan. Now our public pension plan is gutted, bordering on insolvency. And I assure you, the state may also be "legally required" to make it whole, but since the well has run dry all the legal requirements in the world don't mean a hill of beans.

Tim Geithner and Barack Obama surely know how this game ends. They're just counting on all you federal workers not being smart enough to see through their guile.

You know what's funny? ("funny" ironic, not "funny" ha-ha) If it was a Republican raiding their cookie jar the public employee unions would be marching on Washington with pitchforks and boiling oil. But with all they've invested in putting Captain Hopenchange in charge they're naively banking on a magic unicorn around the corner who'll solve all their problems.

Good luck with that.

UPDATE 17 May 2011 08:08:
Linked by Theo Spark and Larwyn. Thanks!

Posted at 16:12 by Chris Wysocki   [/obama_watch]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Who stole the lockbox?

Social Security Deficits Now "Permanent"

Social Security will run a permanent yearly deficit when looking at the program's tax revenues compared to what it must pay out in benefits, the program's trustees said Friday…

Wait, what about that Lockbox? Where's the cash?

Gone!

But, what's in the box?

Worthless pieces of paper. "Special Issue Bonds" aka "Intragovernmental debt." But not "debt" in the classic sense where it's listed as a liability on America's balance sheet like what what we owe to China. In fact these Special Issue Bonds aren't carried on the books anywhere and they're definitely not included in the National Debt.

Social Security has to live off what it takes in. And it's no longer taking in enough money to pay out all the benefits which have been promised.

I think the technical term for that situation is, "We're Fucked."

Posted at 10:26 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Econut NIMBYs nix NJ solar farm

New Jersey certainly has its quota of Ted Kennedy environmentalists. Like Ted they prattle on about how "green power" is the answer to all our problems right up until the wind farm solar array might spoil their view.

The Birkenstock Set in Upper Pittsgrove Township has their panties in a wad because a proposed 177 acre solar array would be a blight on their "scenic vistas."

All those Chevy Volts we're supposed to be buying need electricity, right? And when it comes to generating electricity, what's more "green" than solar power?

Grass. That's what.

So a coalition of environmental groups sucessfully sued to block construction of the solar power array in order to preserve "open space." The trouble is, grass is really, really, really bad at generating electricity. Plus, we've already got plenty of grass and not nearly enough juice.

These guys don't want us to bring the power in from out of town either. Another bunch of econuts is suing to halt the upgrade of a major electrical transmission line which runs from Pennsylvania to Northern NJ. Without this line we'll likely experience brownouts or rolling blackouts in the very near future.

Presumably they're planning to rely on the Magic Unicorn Theory of power distribution — flip a lightswitch and electricity simply appears out of thin air. However I'm told that the physics behind their scheme is shaky at best.

Meanwhile clean, safe, economical nuclear power languishes under a mountain of FUD. FUD, I might add, that is directly attributable to the very same anti-solar-panel and anti-power-line ecowarriors. It's almost like they aren't serious about finding alternatives to fossil fuels. Unless the alternative they have in mind is for us to freeze in the dark.

Posted at 21:48 by Chris Wysocki   [/agw]   Comments | Perm Link |
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NJ high school student challenges Rep. Michele Bachmann to a duel

Amy Myers is a tenth grader in Cherry Hill, NJ. She labels herself as "a typical high school student." (More on that later.)

Michele Bachmann is the distinguished Congresswoman from the 6^th district of Minnesota. She is a founding member of the House Tea Party Caucus and is being strongly urged to consider a run for the presidency.

Amy Myers doesn't much like Michele Bachmann. In fact one could say that her "typical" high school has infused her with an arrogance tinged by delusions of grandeur. For Amy Myers has publically challenged Rep. Bachmann to a duel. A duel of words to be sure, but a duel all the same.

The progbot blogs are giddy. They're positively salivating over the prospect of Rep. Bachmann responding to Myers' "challenge", which she posted on the internet as an open letter.

Let's have a look-see, shall we?

How many "typical high school students" know the name of their own Congressman, let alone devote their attention to studying the speeches of representatives from other states? Methinks Amy Myers is a plant, or a brainwashed teen regurgitating the progressive pablum fed to her by feminist radicals masquerading as tenured educators.

No? See for yourself:

Though I am not in your home district, or even your home state, you are a United States Representative of some prominence who is subject to national media coverage. News outlets and websites across this country profile your causes and viewpoints on a regular basis. As one of a handful of women in Congress, you hold a distinct privilege and responsibility to better represent your gender nationally. The statements you make help to serve an injustice to not only the position of Congresswoman, but women everywhere. Though politically expedient, incorrect comments cast a shadow on your person and by unfortunate proxy, both your supporters and detractors alike often generalize this shadow to women as a whole.

Amy Myers, future Womyn's Studies major! What a load of claptrap. Michele Bachmann does not have the "responsibility to better represent [her] gender nationally." She has the responsibility to effectively represent the voters of her district. All of the voters, not just the feminut ones. Yes, that means the men, too.

But who knew Michele Bachmann was so powerful that her statements "serve an injustice to … women everywhere" because they are generalized to "women as a whole?" I thought only Sarah Palin had the ability to drive the batty old harridans to fits of apoplexy; now Michele Bachmann has Super Powers too? Yes, it's BDS, The Sequel — Bachmann Derangement Syndrome!

Rep. Bachmann, the frequent inability you have shown to accurately and factually present even the most basic information about the United States led me to submit the follow challenge, pitting my public education against your advanced legal education:

She's winding up, and here's the pitch! As Oscar Wilde said, "In America the young are always ready to give to those who are older than themselves the full benefits of their inexperience."

I, Amy Myers, do hereby challenge Representative Michele Bachmann to a Public Forum Debate and/or Fact Test on The Constitution of the United States, United States History and United States Civics.

Got turned down by the producers of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, eh Amy?

"Enlightening?" Why yes, I imagine it will be. For you Amy.

You see, everything you've been taught about the Constitution is wrong.

How do I know this? Because I too was subjected to the New Jersey public school system. Sure that was back when Fred Flinstone was president, but I don't imagine the curriculum has gotten any less "progressive," now has it?

In the 1970s Social Studies classes at Cedar Grove High School we were taught "civics" through the time-honored methodology of reading New York Times op-eds and editorials. When, of course, we weren't being tutored in the nuances of how the Soviet Union's latest Five Year Plan was destined to show that Nixon fellow who the Real Superpower was in the world.

Sounds like Amy's teachers are operating from the same playbook. MoDo herself couldn't have penned a more garish screed, especially after a glass or two of Beaujolais Nouveau.

As I recall, a few years after I escaped graduated high school the fellow who fed us that nonsense up and married one of his students. Because that's what all the avant garde hipster teacher dudes did back then. All the girls had a crush on him; that whole "Truth to Power" thing is just so darn sexy.

Fortunately by then I'd come across a copy of The Federalist Papers. Publius, along with Alexis de Tocqueville and William F. Buckley, opened my eyes to the grandeur of the Founders' vision. Liberty makes all men (and women) equal. Not government. Freedom requires that we take charge of our own destinies; waiting for someone else to sanctify our rights will of necessity place that person above us, where Almighty God should rightfully be.

Everything Amy needs to know about the true meaning of our Constitution can be summed up in this quotation from John Derbyshire:

"Wherever there is a jackboot stomping on a human face there will be a well-heeled Western liberal to explain that the face does, after all, enjoy free health care and 100 percent literacy."

Freedom is not free. The freedom to try requires the freedom to fail, while granting each of us the opportunity to succeed. Our Constitution defines limits on the government; yet she has undoubtedly been taught that it is our government which "interprets" the Constitution as a means to arrogating its power. Alas, Publius would not know what to make of "emanations of penumbras" and the other New Age sophistry used to justify the modern welfare state.

I assure you young Amy, Michele Bachmann understands these lessons. You would do well to listen to her with an open mind rather than engage in pedantic mockery for Extra Credit and the amusement of lefty bloggers.

(Cross-posted to Right Wing News)

UPDATE 14 May 2011 15:58:
Linked at Adrienne's Corner, thanks!

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Porno Akbar!

Osama bin Laden's massive porn stash, confirmed!

Three wives, and porn? Osama, you dog!

It's not surprising though. More than half of my "Rule 5" hits come via Google from sites in Muslim countries like Pakistan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Yes, even Mecca. Especially Mecca. Those Mutaween dudes need to blow off some, uh, steam after a long, hard day beating the living shit out of immodestly-dressed young girls. And apparently pictures of large-breasted American women are just the ticket.

Hits is hits, so here ya go fellas:

It's the least I could do to help President Obama with his renewed Muslim outreach, right? C'mon guys, reach out. And touch yourself. You know you want to. Porno Akbar!

Posted at 15:52 by Chris Wysocki   [/islam]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Sanctimonious Progressive Fratricide, it's fun to watch!

Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury comic strip hasn't been funny since the Eisenhower Administration. I can't believe anyone still reads it! Yet, he had at least one recent fan in lobbyist Lanny Davis, but now the party's over.

Last Friday's strip skewered Davis for taking a $300,000 contract from Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo, presumably to burnish the dictator's well-deserved tarnished image. Davis took umbrage at the swipe, and shot back with an email barrage that he cc'd to the progbots at POLITICO, who then revealed the spat in this morning's email blast to their subscribers.

Yeah, I subscribe. I like getting the progressive spin directly from the horse's mouth. When it comes to Obama cheerleading, only Pinch Sulzberger does it better, but since he's locked Pravda behind a paywall I'm stuck with the freebies.

Anyway, Davis said he's working hand in glove with the State Department to ease Gbagbo out, and demanded Trudeau print a retraction. Three hundred grand certainly could provide a lot of easing, right? But Trudeau's not buying it:

I'm guessing he closed with, "now go away or I shall taunt you a second time!"

Really, if Trudeau's horse was any higher he'd need a helicopter to mount it.

Davis didn't take the brush-off lying down. He fired back an 870 word bromide slamming Trudeau's "attacks."

Cat fight!

Who's bringing the popcorn?

Watching these two go at it I'm reminded of Henry Kissinger's famous observation vis-a-vis the Iran / Iraq war, "It's a pity they both can't lose."

But if they keep it up I know who wins — we do! It's pure comedy gold.

Posted at 10:47 by Chris Wysocki   [/democrats]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Would you believe Bob Belvedere's blog is three years old?

Three years, and more boobs than have ever inhabited the halls of Congress later, Bob Belvedere is celebrating his blogoversary. In style. With a whole week dedicated to cheesecake, natch!

I've only got one thing to say about that Bob.

Keep up the good work!

UPDATE 16 May 2011 17:50:
Dear Mr. Grammer Police: Yes, I realize it's spelled "you're." I snarfed this image from the interwebs and it came like that. Signed, Your Photoshop™-impaired host.

Posted at 09:50 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   Comments | Perm Link |
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The ultimate mosquito zapper

It kills bugs faster than DDT, with more power than Tim The Toolman Taylor could even dream about, meet the Laser Mosquito Zapper!

Oh yeah, with summer coming I definitely want one.

Posted at 15:08 by Chris Wysocki   [/odds_n_ends]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Coming soon to Club Gitmo - Barack Obama's Jihadi Dating Service

Are you a Muslim warrior who's lost his way? Has the stress of non-stop jihad got you down? Still pining away for your 72 virgins while the military tribunal ponders your fate? Or, maybe you're just feeling lost without Osama bin Laden around to cheer you on?

Well I've got some good news for you! For that much needed R&R check out the new and improved Club Gitmo, now with conjugal visits!

The Obama Administration is considering allowing some prisoners at Guantanamo Bay to receive in-person visits from family members, the Washington Post reported Wednesday night.

Yes, Barry O, your own personal Love Counselor, will helpfully arrange for the 1001 Arabian Nights of your dreams, courtesy of the American taxpayer! Act fast to book the Ali Baba Suite; it's our most popular, with all the comforts of Mecca. I assure you, the Army Corps of Engineers spared no expense, you won't be disappointed!

But please fellas, only one wife at a time. We wouldn't want you to wear yourselves out.

Posted at 09:07 by Chris Wysocki   [/terrorism]   Comments | Perm Link |
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She turned the president into a Newt?

I feel like I'm in a Monty Python sketch. How else to explain why anyone would even consider the prospect of Newt Gingrich for president?

Talk about Yesterday's Man!

Sure, he's marginally better than Jon Huntsman (who?) but only because Newtie hasn't gushed obtusively about What A Great Guy Barry Obama is. Yet. And of course he's no match for a syphilitic camel, but c'mon guys Newt Gingrich? For president? Because Bob Dole wasn't available?

Ann Althouse asks, "Who does Newt Gingrich think he is?" Good question. Certainly not Charles de Gaulle.

... Gingrich is a devotee of the historian Arnold J. Toynbee, who meditated on the concept of "departure and return" — the idea that great leaders have to leave (or be banished from) their kingdoms before they can better themselves and return as conquering heroes. One of Newt's heroes, the French general and statesman Charles de Gaulle, embodies just this kind of romantic narrative, having spent 12 years out of power before returning to lead his country.

More like Richard Nixon:

Mr. Nixon was humiliated and all but exiled after publicly self-destructing in 1962. He then retreated to the sidelines and watched as his party disintegrated, leaving a vacuum of leadership and gravitas on the right that enabled Mr. Nixon to make one of the great comebacks in political history.

Does anybody here remember how well "one of the great comebacks in political history" worked out for us? Anyone? Bueller? Anyone? We've already got Jimmy Carter V2.0, there's no need to resurrect Tricky Dick, The Sequel too.

(Yes, there's a Memeorandum thread.)

UPDATE 12 May 2011 17:00:
Linked by Gator Doug, who isn't much of a Newtie fan either.

Posted at 10:36 by Chris Wysocki   [/election]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Our ObamaCare Future: Take two aspirin and go home to die

A preview of our ObamaCare future, courtesy of Britain's National Health:

Dr. Donald Berwick, the guy President Obama picked to lead our nation's implementation of ObamaCare, is on record praising the NHS as a "model" of what our health care system should become. He's the architect of Britain's NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence), their version of the new Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), established under ObamaCare to control our nation's health care costs.

NICE wields complete power over the health care options of all residents of Great Britain. They decide what treatments are available and who is eligible to receive those treatments. When NICE says "no," it's almost always due to cost considerations.

An autopsy showed that Mrs. Owen died of complications from an enlarged heart. Treating that is probably expensive, two codeine pills and a shot of Demerol undoubtedly saved the hospital a ton of money.

For their part, Stawell Hospital has "reviewed their policies" and "minor changes had been made."

Yeah, I'll bet they've made "changes." Next time NHS sends someone home to die they'll save even more money by skipping the codeine and Demerol and go straight to some nice inexpensive placebos.

You gotta love that hospital name — pronounced as "Stay Well" — it's good advice!

Show up sick and chances are quite good that You're Gonna Die. Welcome to ObamaCare.

UPDATE 11 May 2011 08:59:
Now a Recommended Read at Pundit & Pundette!

Also linked by Theo Spark. Thanks!

Posted at 10:33 by Chris Wysocki   [/obamacare]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Can we create a Do Not Legislate List? Can we put Chuck Schumer on it?

NY Senator Chuck Schumer wants to create a new enemies list. Call it The Enemies of Amtrak List.

See, according to documents seized from Osama bin Laden's not-so-secret Pakistani hide-out al-Qaeda may have been planning to attack trains. So Chuck wants to bring the TSA to Amtrak. Why just Amtrak though? Aren't the subways trains too? Or NJ Transit? LIRR? You gonna start strip-searching commuters Chuck?

Yeah, I know, don't give him any ideas.

How about we put Chuck into one of Pete King's Congressional Bubbles instead? Preferably one that's equipped with The Cone Of Silence.

Posted at 10:35 by Chris Wysocki   [/terrorism]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Rutgers student pleads guilty to ThoughtCrime

So now our state is prosecuting ThoughtCrime. Under penalty of incarceration Rutgers student Molly Wei will enter a re-education camp for indoctrination into "alternate lifestyles." The State will wash away all of her improper thoughts. No doubt she will emerge a good little automaton eager to do the bidding of her INGSOC masters.

And boy oh boy do they have plans for her. Ms. Wei will ensure that another Rutgers student, Dharun Ravi, is locked up for all eternity. The verdict has already been pre-determined, because his "victim" is Tyler Joe Clementi McAllister, yet another Rutgers student, and a closeted homosexual who committed suicide by jumping off the Tallahatchee George Washington Bridge.

Will she tell the truth? Or merely recite whatever The State tells her to say?

Who cares! Truth is what The State decides is Truth! And when it comes to homosexuality, Truth is subservient to Ideology. And, Ideology says anyone who is appalled by homosexual behavior is guilty of ThoughtCrime.

The facts are this. Wei and Ravi hooked up a webcam to watch Clementi and an unidentified man "make out" (Ravi was Clementi's roommate). That's it. They spied on two dudes playing tonsil hockey. They may, or may not, have told a few friends about what they saw. And they allegedly planned to spy on Clementi and Mystery Man again at some indeterminate time in the future.

Several days later Clementi, who incidentally never openly admitted that he had homosexual tendencies, left a cryptic suicide note and jumped to his death.

In the ensuing brouhaha Wei and Ravi were identified as Public Enemy #1, mostly because they refused to express unwavering approval for Clementi's homosexual dalliance. Mr. Ravi was indicted on fifteen counts of bias intimidation because he purportedly harbored anti-gay sentiments while spying on his roommate. Like I said, ThoughtCrime.

Prosecutors pounced on Wei and Ravi. They have now successfully browbeaten the diminutive Ms. Wei into submission. In exchange for her agreement to enter pre-trial intervention and "complete counseling for understanding alternate life styles" they will drop all charges against her. Oh, and she has to testify against Mr. Ravi.

I'm sure the "counseling" Ms. Wei undergoes won't in any way prepare her for the witness stand. Snicker.

Well, certainly not overtly anyhow.

The whole thing stinks. Clementi was 19 at the time of his death. An adult. Does he not bear some responsibility for his actions? Recall the suicide of Missouri teen Megan Meier at the age of 13. A classmates' mother created a fake MySpace profile to torment the young girl. She hung herself after reading a posting from the fake profile which said the world would be better off without her. The author of the fake profile was 49 year old Lori Drew, who used it to send a whole host of other vindictive and cruel missives to the teen before her death.

Lori Drew was never convicted of a crime.

Of course, Megan Meier wasn't a lesbian either.

One could arguably say that the "cyberbullying" against Megan Meier directly contributed to her death. She didn't wait 3 days. She didn't wait 3 hours. Megan Meier was dead 20 minutes after Lori Drew's (alleged, to avoid legal trouble I have to say "alleged") final MySpace posting.

Prosecutors admit they do not know what motivated Tyler Clementi to kill himself. But homosexual rights dogma leaves them no choice but to find someone on whom to affix blame. All that matters is that Clementi was gay, and there was someone, somewhere who might have harbored anti-gay thoughts.

Dharun Ravi fits the bill. It doesn't help that he's a Grade A jerk. But I always thought that being a jerk wasn't a crime in this country. Which would almost certainly still be true if Tyler Clementi had been caught on Candid Camera making out with a hot cheerleader instead of an unnamed gay lover.

UPDATE 10 May 2011 08:44:
I cross-posted this to Right Wing News and the comments over there are quite "interesting," in that pedantic sophistry way which enamores so many liberals.

Special note to "Vega, NY's smart sexy liberal". If you have to tell us how smart you are there's a good chance the evidence supporting that claim has failed to materialize.

Posted at 20:23 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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War on photography update: NJ Assembly wants to ban taking pictures of children in public

Your vacation pictures could be illegal. The NJ Assembly is considering a bill which would make it a crime to photograph children without first obtaining written permission from their parents.

The bill would ban photographs or recordings of children when "a reasonable parent or guardian would not expect his child to be the subject of such reproduction."

Ah yes, the "reasonable person" standard. Because sure as shootin' what we have in the country is an overabundance of reasonable people.

The rush to action was, of course, precipitated by a creepy guy caught taking video of a middle school swim meet.

Last summer, a 63-year-old man was seen taping children at a local swim meet. Police say when confronted he told them he found girls 8 to 10 sexy.

For the record, ewww. But we don't need to make everyone a potential felon just because of one weirdo. This dude was arrested on trespassing and disorderly persons charges, which somehow were later dropped.

Then along comes an over-excitable (yet, presumably reasonable) mom and, there oughta be a law!

"Our town is in an uproar," said Amy Conklin, who was on vacation when the incident occurred. Otherwise, she said, her own children would have been there. "He is free to do as he wishes because these innocent 8-year-old girls were not naked when he videotaped them."

See what I mean about that "reasonable" thing? Her kids weren't even there and she's still having a cow.

Careful grandma, that graduation photo you just snapped could land you in the slammer. Apparently even if the Conklin family happens to be a thousand miles away at the time.

Let's introduce a little sanity into this discussion, shall we? University of Tennessee law professor Glenn Reynolds:

Trying to block photography in public places is not only heavy-handed and wrong but, thanks to technology, basically useless. With the proliferation of cameras in just about every device we carry, digital photography has become too ubiquitous to stop.

For every creep you see holding a camera there's probably two more you don't see. Plus, contrary to what Excitable Mom might think, most of us out there taking pictures are focused on our own kid and we don't really care if your little brat is in the shot or not.

Then there's that pesky Constitution which, you know, gives us the right to take pictures in public.

Legally, it's pretty much always okay to take photos in a public place as long as you're not physically interfering with traffic or police operations. As Bert Krages, an attorney who specializes in photography-related legal problems and wrote Legal Handbook for Photographers, says, "The general rule is that if something is in a public place, you're entitled to photograph it."

Let's keep it that way, OK?

UPDATE 06 May 2011 14:21:
Linked at The Rhetorican. Thanks!

UPDATE 07 May 2011 11:41:
Also linked by Theo Spark, because he's Da Man!

Posted at 10:10 by Chris Wysocki   [/tech]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Who knew a drunken automaton could be such a hit with the Tea Party set?

Let's hear it for the Mind Numbed Robot! He made #7 on NewsReal Blog's Top 10 Tea Party Bloggers You Need To Read.

A good blog combines the insightful analysis you would expect from a legacy publication with the irreverent fun of new media. Both are present in the work of an anonymous pundit with an odd handle.

Not too shabby for a bucket o' bolts, eh? My man the 'Bot (tag line: "Verbose meanderings of a drunken automaton") is wittier than IBM's Watson and a whole lot more fun too. Give 'im a read, you won't be disappointed.

Congrats MNR! Make sure you keep yourself well oiled…

Posted at 15:38 by Chris Wysocki   [/misc]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Put a bureaucrat in your tank

Big Brother wants to watch every mile you drive. The Obama Administration is floating a plan to install tracking devices in every car, truck, bus, and motor vehicle in America. Why? To tax us by the mile of course!

Also driving this bus to Orwell-ville is the fact that electric cars don't use gas and therefore their drivers don't pay gas taxes. Now that alternative fuel vehicles are going mainstream the government needs to find another way to reach into our wallets.

So they're gonna put a bureucrat in our tank. With a (metaphorical) clipboard, to track our every move.

Welcome my son,
Welcome to the machine.
Where have you been?
It's alright, we know where you've been!

Can automatic speeding tickets be far behind? A little GPS, a database of speed limits, a stopwatch, and presto! they know you were doing 48 in a 35. Here's your ticket! And a bill for road tax. Please pay the cashier.

While they're collecting data they might as well collect stats on seat belt use, right? Your car knows if you didn't buckle up, hey the feds need to know too! Yes folks there is no aspect of our lives which the federal bureaucracy does not wish to invade. And control.

Welcome my son,
Welcome to the machine.
What did you dream?
It's alright we told you what to dream.

It's for our own good, and of course, the good of our fellow citizens.

Write that down, otherwise you might forget.

(Via Memeorandum)

Posted at 10:27 by Chris Wysocki   [/obama_watch]   Comments | Perm Link |
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You can't handle the photos!

The Obama White House does it's best Blazing Saddles interpretation.

"Photos? We don't got no photos. We don't have to show you any stinkin' photos!"

Why? Because releasing photos of Islam's Holey Warrior might make Muslims mad. CBS reports:

"It is important to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool," said the president.

You can bet your bottom dollar they'll come out sooner or later though. Theo Spark may have found one already!

Heh.

The real ones should probably hit the streets sometime next year. The cynic in me says it'll be in a "Re-Elect Obama" TV ad. Because really, what else has Barry got to run on? The economy?

Posted at 16:03 by Chris Wysocki   [/obama_watch]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Loretta Weinberg's $1 million dollar gauntlet

Like the mythical Hydra of Ancient Greece the ugly specter of Abortion, Inc.'s quest for public funding just won't die no matter how many times we whack off one of its heads. NJ State Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) has declared "an all-out war" on Governor Chris Christie's new budget if he doesn't include money for Planned Parenthood.

"We are laying down the gauntlet that this budget is not going through without the inclusion of money for family-planning centers," Weinberg said.

Oooh, I'll bet Christie is quaking in his boots.

When it comes to public funding for infanticide, what part of "no" was unclear to you, Loretta?

Last year, for the first time in history, New Jersey taxpayers did not send one thin dime into the coffers of Abortion, Inc. And it wasn't for lack of trying on Ms. Weinberg's part. Three times she threw down her gauntlet, and three times Chris Christie kicked it (and her) to the curb.

New Jersey is not alone. Indiana and Texas are following our lead, both states will almost certainly defund Planned Parenthood this year. North Carolina and Kansas aren't far behind. That'll make 5 states (10% of the country) where unborn babies are safe from the Kermit Gosnell division of the American Medical Association.

Give it up Loretta. The days of hiding the evil of abortion behind the fig leaf of "women's health" are over. Planned Parenthood may not wish to go quietly into the night, but I assure you of this, go it most certainly will.

Posted at 10:37 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   Comments | Perm Link |
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To "shut up and sing", and "shut up and act", we can now add, "shut up and play football"

Why is it that celebrities (and wannabe celebrities) feel the need to opine on matters which they know absolutely nothing about? Don't they realize that they'll inevitably find themselves embarassing their employers, and themselves?

Apparently not.

To Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn, Mel Gibson, Bruce Springsteen, and countless others we can now add Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall.

Maybe it's a concussion. Maybe he just doesn't read the papers. Maybe he wants to hang out with Rosie O'Donnell and Joy Behar. Who knows why, but yesterday on Twitter Mendenhall sympathized with Osama bin Laden.

"What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side..."

Dude. Pick up a newspaper. If you never heard bin Laden speak, it's because you haven't been paying attention.

But, nooooo. Mendenhall had to double down on his stupidity.

"We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."

We now have our first nominee for the NFL's newest accolade — The Rosie O'Donnell Excellence In Engineering Education Avoidance Award. I realize that for a future pro football player college isn't exactly rigorous. But c'mon, he had to attend at least one class, right?

I'm sure that producers from The View are already scrambling to land him for an interview.

UPDATE 04 May 2011 11:53:
Fishersville Mike is going with the concussion theory. He's got video proof.

Posted at 16:47 by Chris Wysocki   [/news]   Comments | Perm Link |
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So I guess Steve Sweeney really is the governor of New Jersey now

I always thought our State Constitution gave the governor the sole ability to nominate Justices to the State Supreme Court. Chris Christie did that, a year ago he nominated Anne Patterson to replace John Wallace whose initial 7 year term had expired.

Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said "no." Sweeney refused to hold confirmation hearings for Ms. Patterson. He wanted Wallace to be re-appointed, because Wallace is a reliable liberal vote. And he vowed to block Patterson's nomination until Wallace's mandatory retirement date of March 2012.

At the time Chris Christie said he wouldn't kowtow to bullying:

Yesterday, Chris Christie gave away the constitutional authority.

The State Supreme Court embodies all that is wrong with New Jersey politics. They rule from on high, issuing decrees in direct contravention of the will of the people's elected representatives. The Court has imposed an income tax, ordered specific school funding levels, chosen locations on a map where so-called "affordable housing" must be constructed, rewritten election law to favor Democratic Party candidates (cough, The Torricelli Switcheroo, cough), and mandated that the taxpayers incur debt in order to finance utopian social justice schemes. These are all rightfully the constitutional purview of our state legislature. But that hasn't stopped activist judges from usurping that authority.

Now the State Senate President has successfully staged a coup d'etat and annointed himself as appointer of judicial nominees.

And people wonder why New Jersey government is so dysfunctional. Chris Christie was supposed to fix that. He's failed.

Posted at 09:42 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   Comments | Perm Link |
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Ding Dong, The Wicked Witch is Dead!

No thanks to our "friends" in Pock-ee-stahn, SEAL Team Six got their man. Osama bin Laden is fish food. I hope they wrapped his body in bacon before "burial at sea." Sharks love bacon.

When the news broke, America turned out to celebrate. Around Ground Zero the champagne flowed, and children waved American flags.

Were they passing out candy and sweets on your street too? My wife got a danish!

From a commenter at Ace of Spades HQ: "Wish I had an AK to fire into the air."

Yup!

The State Department issued travel advisories for much of Southwest Asia to include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Dearbornistan, Jersey City, and Paterson, NJ.

The Obama 2012 campaign released the following statement, attributed to El Jefe himself:

You know, when Donald Douglas posted that one I thought it was a joke. But no, the libtards really are saying that, as if Barry is suddenly a serious war-time president.

Fortunately there's Pamela Geller to reintroduce them to reality.

UPDATE 02 May 2011 12:40:
Linked at Theo Spark's place. Thanks!

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NJ voters overwhelmingly rejected municipal budget cap waivers

This past Wednesday NJ voters went to the polls in the first test of Gov. Chris Christie's new 2% property tax cap. Towns wishing to exceed the cap have to put their spending plan up for a vote. Fourteen towns rolled the dice, and 12 cap waivers went down in flames.

The people have spoken — live within your means.

Yet, some people still aren't getting the message. They're pretending the voters are rubes.

"The vote yesterday is a hypothetical scenario versus the real feeling of being overburdened with taxes, " said Ben Dworkin, a political science professor at Rider University. "Once the idea of severe cuts in services comes to fruition, voters may well have a different opinion."

Dontcha just love an ivory tower academic who thinks he knows more than the average Joe struggling to pay his bills?

You wanna know what impacts us personally, Bill? You and your profligate buddies' bloated budgets. The answer to every problem is not another government program. Cities and towns are going to have to learn how to do more with less. It's a lesson any one of us who's been through a few rounds of corporate downsizing knows all too well. The days of 9 to 5, two hour lunches, unlimited time off, and the "it's not my job" mentality are over.

All government employees, and yes that includes cops, firemen, and teachers too, need to stop thinking like clock-punchers and start emphasizing teamwork, shared responsibility, and shared sacrifice.

The "rude awakening" is going to come to the guys who don't get laid off. They'll have to work harder and longer, and this is key here, they'll be doing it without any increase in compensation or whining about fairness. With the prospect of unemployment hovering over their heads hopefully they'll finally figure out that they're lucky just to have a job.

And, if somebody doesn't like the new paradigm? We won't let the door hit him in the ass on the way out. No one is irreplaceable, and for every disgruntled "essential" municipal employee I'm sure we can find 10 people who'll jump at the chance to fill his job. Or not. A second (third, fourth) wave of downsizing really serves to focus the attention of the folks who made the cut.

Bill Dressel is like a broken record. I've listened to his mantra for years: more, more, more; every town needs "more." The voters have spoken Bill. Their response is "No More." You'd be wise to pay attention.

Posted at 10:35 by Chris Wysocki   [/nj_politics]   Comments | Perm Link |
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