Code Red

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WyBlog, the best thing about New Jersey since the invention of the 24 hour diner.

Chris Wysocki
Caldwell, NJ

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." - Ronald Reagan

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Monday, 31 December 2012

A Fiscal Cliff silver lining: now everybody will feel the pain of Big Government

It's almost midnight. There's a "deal," but it's a really crummy deal and unlike feckless crapweasel Mitch McConnell I'm not a fan of tax hikes today for the promise of spending cuts tommorrow, maybe. So we'll go over the fiscal cliff, and here's why I think that's the best possible outcome. I wrote this earlier today when tbe prospect of a deal was fading. Given the last minute machinations I still believe that scuttling a lousy deal is better than accepting whatever shit sandwich Dear Leader tries to shove down our throats.

Why? Because it's time for his minions to feel the pain too. They need to experience the effects of their perfidy. This is where we separate the men from the boys.

Hey Obamabots, how's it feel to have to pay for your Dear Leader's Big Government dreams? You aren't feeling the pain yet? Don't worry, you will. Welcome to the party, because your taxes just went up, and all I can say is, it's about damned time.

During Obama's first term, federal spending grew to more than 24 percent of GDP — the highest it has been since 1946. Yet almost no one in the country (except smokers and those who frequent indoor tanning salons) saw their taxes rise. Quite the opposite: 160 million Americans saw their payroll taxes reduced from 6.2 to 4.2 percent.

How can we expect people to care about the growth of government if it doesn't cost them anything? . . .

So let's do it. Let's all of us experience the true cost of big government in the form of a bigger tax bill.

It might well be that the biggest mistake Republicans made during Obama's first term was forcing the president to extend the Bush tax cuts. At the time, it seemed like a major victory by the newly elected GOP House. But in truth, it was a victory for Obama. Extending the tax cuts shielded the economy from the full brunt of of Obama's economic failures and allowed him to put off job-killing tax increases till his second term. It's ironic. Obama never passed up an opportunity to blame President Bush for his economic woes, yet he rode the Bush tax cuts to reelection.

Extending the tax cuts also shielded Americans from the costs of Obama's spending spree. Shopping on a credit card is fun until the bill comes due. But if the bill never arrives, what incentive do people have to stop the spending?

The bill is now due. And guess what? You guys gotta pay it. Sorry suckers. It's what you voted for.

But wait, there's more pain coming in March! That's when the debt ceiling shit storm hits the fan. And the days of unlimited borrowing are over.

See, the real debt ceiling is the one eventually imposed by global financial markets at some point on a profligate Washington. When that happens, Congress won't be able to raise the ceiling even if it wants to. The only options then to avoid a financial crisis will be draconian austerity — both massive tax hikes and brutal entitlement cuts.

Yeah, you guys voted for that too. So enjoy the fun.

Posted at 22:56 by Chris Wysocki [/economy] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: fiscal-cliff taxes Obama deficit | Tweet

Remember when Obama said Al-Qaeda was defeated? So guess who's running Mali now?

It was in all his stump speeches. "Al-Qaeda is on the path to defeat and Osama Bin Laden is dead." My liberal friends liked to rub it in too, saying Obama is a better wartime president than Bush was because with Al Qaeda on the run we're safer than ever.

So riddle me this Batman — who are these guys running the show in Mali?

Deep inside caves, in remote desert bases, in the escarpments and cliff faces of northern Mali, Islamic fighters are burrowing into the earth, erecting a formidable set of defenses to protect what has essentially become Al Qaeda's new country.

They have used the bulldozers, earth movers and Caterpillar machines left behind by fleeing construction crews to dig what residents and local officials describe as an elaborate network of tunnels, trenches, shafts and ramparts. In just one case, inside a cave large enough to drive trucks into, they have stored up to 100 drums of gasoline, guaranteeing their fuel supply in the face of a foreign intervention, according to experts.

Northern Mali is now the biggest territory held by Al Qaeda and its allies. And as the world hesitates, delaying a military intervention, the extremists who seized control of the area earlier this year are preparing for a war they boast will be worse than the decade-old struggle in Afghanistan.

"Al-Qaeda never owned Afghanistan," said former United Nations diplomat Robert Fowler, a Canadian kidnapped and held for 130 days by Al Qaeda's local chapter, whose fighters now control the main cities in the north. "They do own northern Mali."

Turbaned fighters now control all the major towns in the north, carrying out amputations in public squares like the Taliban did. Just as in Afghanistan, they are flogging women for not covering up. Since taking control of Timbuktu, they have destroyed seven of the 16 mausoleums listed as world heritage sites.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, known as AQIM, operates not just in Mali, but in a corridor along much of the northern Sahel. This 4,300-mile long ribbon of land runs across the widest part of Africa, and includes sections of Mauritania, Niger, Algeria, Libya, Burkina Faso and Chad.

"One could come up with a conceivable containment strategy for the Swat Valley," said Africa expert Peter Pham, an adviser to the U.S. military's African command center, referring to the region of Pakistan where the Pakistan Taliban have been based. "There's no containment strategy for the Sahel, which runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea."

If that's a "defeat," I'd hate to see what happens when Al-Qaeda really gets their act together.

It's too bad that nobody wanted to talk about this kind of stuff before the election. Because, you know, vaginas.

Posted at 11:08 by Chris Wysocki [/obama_watch] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Obama Al-Qaeda Mali smart-diplomacy | Tweet

Sunday, 30 December 2012

Clearly it's time for a sensible hammer-control policy

The nanny-state must step in before the hammer menace claims another bathroom door.

A 49-year-old Jersey City man locked himself in the bathroom of his apartment yesterday afternoon as his enraged 24-year-old girlfriend tried to break through the door with a hammer, reports said.

Jazmin Duran, 24, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, domestic violence, possession of weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon, resisting arrest police reports said.

The victim said that he was undressing to get in the shower while talking to his girlfriend about getting her eyebrows done, when she asked for him to pay for doing her laundry, reports said.

He responded that he didn't have money to pay for her laundry, reports said. He said she became irate and began to scream, reports said.

Then he heard breaking glass, and went to the bedroom where she smashed a mirror in his bedroom and then put several holes in the screen of the television set with a hammer, reports said.

When he pleaded with her to stop breaking his possessions, she turned and charged at him saying, "I'm going to hit you in the head with the hammer," reports said.

At that point he fled to the bathroom and called police on his cell phone, reports said. The hammer was recovered from an open kitchen cabinet, reports said.

Obviously we need a one-hammer-a-month policy, with a 10 day waiting period for new purchases. Let's get Frank Lautenberg to propose a ban on high-capacity extra-long hammer handles too. We can't be too careful. I demand action, before the proliferation of unregistered concealed hammers threatens garage and patio doors too.

Posted at 18:24 by Chris Wysocki [/news] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: gun-control liberals nanny-state | Tweet

Obama forgot his big boy pants, blames GOP for his intransigence

Dear Leader loves talking about what he might do. It's far easier than actually doing something. And it's all ~~John Boehner's~~ Bush's fault anyway.

In an exclusive interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, his first appearance since the healthcare debate in 2009, Obama seemed intent on putting the blame solely on Congressional Republicans, if lawmakers fail to reach the pivotal year-end deadline.

"I offered not only a trillion dollars in -- over a trillion dollars in spending cuts over the next 10 years, but these changes would result in even more savings in the next 10 years, and would solve our deficit problem for a decade," Obama said, in the interview. "They say that their biggest priority is making sure that we deal with the deficit in a serious way, but the way they're behaving is that their only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans are protected. That seems to be their only overriding, unifying theme."

Call the waambulance!

Obama said GOP negotiators have "had trouble saying 'yes' to a number of repeated offers."

Seriously? The House has sent him at least two bona fide bills to avert the fiscal cliff. Harry Reid refuses to even look at them. Boehner then suggested Nancy Pelosi's tax plan, and Pelosi laughed in his face.

Speaking of Dingy Harry Reid, he's toeing the Obamabot party line.

If Democratic Leader Sen. Harry Reid and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell cannot reach a deal, Reid purportedly will present President Obama's bare-boned plan of tax increases for families making more than $250,000 annually and extending unemployment insurance.

Because that's a spending cut! That is a spending cut, right? Obama said he's including spending cuts. He wouldn't lie to NBC News, would he?

Of course he would. Dear Leader hasn't changed his position one iota. He's pushing Marxist class warfare, because he isn't trying to solve a problem, he's trying to punish success. And the sheeple who never were very good at math are only too happy to play his game.

UPDATE 31 Dec 2012 09:29:
Linked by Doug Ross. Thanks!

Posted at 13:01 by Chris Wysocki [/obama_watch] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Obama fiscal-cliff taxes GOP | Tweet

Friday, 28 December 2012

Obama is holding out for his tax hike so he can give working stiffs like Joe Biden a raise

When Obama says he needs to raise your taxes to help "the middle class", he means average, middle-class working stiffs like Joe Biden.

President Barack Obama issued an executive order to end the pay freeze on federal employees, in effect giving some federal workers a raise. One federal worker now to receive a pay increase is Vice President Joe Biden.

According to disclosure forms, Biden made a cool $225,521 last year. After the pay increase, he'll now make $231,900 per year.

Knowing this makes me even prouder to be paying my fair share. Really. Now I can't wait to go over the fiscal cliff! Because Joe Biden clearly needs that money more than I do.

Posted at 16:46 by Chris Wysocki [/economy] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: economy Obama federal-pay Joe-Biden fiscal-cliff debt-ceiling | Tweet

Congress clears itself of ethics charges related to the Countrywide VIP loan program

You'll be relieved to learn that soliciting a "Friends of Angelo" below-market-rate mortgage from Countrywide Financial is not against Congressional ethics rules. The House Ethics Committee said so yesterday, and it must be true because we all know how utterly above reproach they truly are.

The House Ethics Committee said Thursday it found no violations among House members whose mortgage loans went through the VIP section of the former Countrywide Financial Corp., the company whose subprime loans helped cause the foreclosure crisis.

The committee said nearly all the allegations of favored treatment involved loans that were granted so long ago that they fell outside the panel's jurisdiction. The committee added, however, that participation in the VIP program did not necessarily mean borrowers received the best loan deal available — and most lawmakers were not even aware they were placed in a VIP unit.

But even if the statute of limitations had not run out, the committee said, inclusion in the VIP program was not by itself a violation of House rules or laws. The panel said it found that Countrywide's "discounts" applied to standard loan rates that were commercially available elsewhere.

Ah, the old Statute Of Limitations play. I'm sure the investigation took so long because they wanted to be thorough, and the stonewalling effect is merely a pleasant bonus. The important thing to remember though is that our congressmen are ethical. Completely. You can take that to the bank.

Posted at 14:03 by Chris Wysocki [/news] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Congress Countrywide mortgage friends-of-Angelo ethics | Tweet

Thursday, 27 December 2012

Lisa Jackson resigns as EPA Administrator, will bring her job-killing acumen home to NJ governor's race

Her work at the EPA is done. Jeff Dunetz chronicles Lisa Jackson's "achievements".

In her almost 4-year tenure we can thank Jackson's work for the prevention of the Keystone Pipeline, the loss of thousands of Jobs in the coal industry, Punishing Oil Refineries for not using an ingredient that doesn't exist, preventing the use of our own energy resources and don't forget her biggest "victory," declaring human exhalation a pollutant (farting also).

Word is she's heading home to run for governor of New Jersey. Because we need a real job-killer back in Trenton, and if anyone knows about killing jobs it's ~~Richard Windsor~~ Lisa Jackson!

Posted at 13:10 by Chris Wysocki [/democrats] Comments | Perm Link |
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Tolerance: Homosexual agitators sue when Christian preschool chooses God over them

Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness, unless you're trying to ram homosexuality down the throats of Christian teachers.

A homosexual couple has sued a Christian preschool in New Mexico after the school had accepted the three-year-old boy the two men are raising as their son, only to reject the child later. In their complaint the two men, Joseph Romero and John Keelin, allege that officials at Hope Christian School in Albuquerque first accepted their three-year-old son, then sent them a denial letter when the school realized the boy's parents were homosexual.

In the lawsuit, the two men claim that they "were even told that a new student packet has been prepared for him and that the school was expecting to get acceptance letters out the following week." But shortly after that notification , the two "received a denial letter on April 16, 2010," the complaint continues. "Upon further inquiry, the school sent a letter dated June 13, 2012 to plaintiffs' attorney. The letter indicated that the school denied admission to plaintiffs' son because plaintiffs were a same gender couple and that, as a result, their home was inconsistent with the school's beliefs."

The letter from the school informed the homosexual men that "same gender couples are inconsistent with scriptural lifestyle and biblical teachings," citing Romans 1:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9. The letter pointed out that their home life "doesn't reflect the school's belief of what a Biblical family lifestyle is." The letter also explained that because the two parties were not in agreement on the issue of homosexuality, the educational relationship would be next to impossible, and cited the scripture Amos 3:3, "How can two walk together unless they be agreed?"

On its website, Hope Christian School explains that admission "is open to students of any race, color, or ethnic origin who are looking for a Christian environment with an emphasis on teaching Biblical principles and truths along with strong academics."

They're out to destroy Christianity. Because it threatens their carnal desires. And so they find a school, use a three-year-old child as a pawn, and concoct an elaborate ruse in order to muster their forces of tolerance in opposition to discrimination. Nevermind that the lessons taught by Hope Christian School contradict their very existence. Oh no, that's the next fight. After they force their way into the school it'll be only minutes before the teachings presented in the classroom come under fire too.

Thou Shalt Worship At The Altar Of Eros, and bow down before the power of the state — God be forsaken! — lest a pair of deviants be required to adapt their chosen lifestyle to 6,000 years of Judeo-Christian orthodoxy. Better to destroy the churches! Homosexuality is the future! It's fun for the whole family!

One cannot square this circle. You can't practice both homosexuality and Christianity. They are incompatible. And thus it is the homosexual's demand that Christianity must change. Their warped sense of "equality" requires it. Otherwise they might feel bad, and we all know how important it is to respect the feelings of every aggrieved minority.

That slippery slope? It's more like an avalanche. Up next, Adam and Steve sue Saint Patrick's for the "right" to sashay down the aisle. And a shit-for-brains liberal judge will say "do it", or else. Because we must tolerate them, but they'll never tolerate us.

Posted at 11:15 by Chris Wysocki [/religion] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: homosexual religion same-sex-marriage | Tweet

Wednesday, 26 December 2012

Obama is the Grinch who stole retailers' Christmas

Not everyone can put up 54 Christmas trees and then ditch them to jet off on a $4 million dollar Hawaiian vacation. In fact, most people couldn't afford to do very much Christmas shopping at all this year.

U.S. holiday retail sales this year were the weakest since 2008, when the nation was in a deep recession. In 2012, the shopping season was disrupted by bad weather and consumers' rising uncertainty about the economy.

A report that tracks spending on popular holiday goods, the MasterCard Advisors SpendingPulse, said Tuesday that sales in the two months before Christmas increased 0.7 percent, compared with last year. Many analysts had expected holiday sales to grow 3 to 4 percent.

In 2008, sales declined by between 2 percent and 4 percent as the financial crisis that crested that fall dragged the economy into recession. Last year, by contrast, retail sales in November and December rose between 4 percent and 5 percent, according to ShopperTrak, a separate market research firm. A 4 percent increase is considered a healthy season.

I'm sure this is somehow George Bush's fault.

The numbers also show how Washington's current budget impasse is trickling down to Main Street and unsettling consumers. If Americans remain reluctant to spend, analysts say, economic growth could falter next year.

Holiday sales are a crucial indicator of the economy's strength. November and December account for up to 40 percent of annual sales for many retailers. If those sales don't materialize, stores are forced to offer steeper discounts. That's a boon for shoppers, but it cuts into stores' profits.

Hey, Obamunism says profits are bad! And so we have Trickle Up Misery!

Clearly the solution to this problem is to raise taxes. For the children.

Posted at 10:34 by Chris Wysocki [/economy] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Obama Christmas retail-sales economy recession | Tweet

Monday, 24 December 2012

Cory Booker's common sense on guns

You know, for a Democrat, this Booker fellow is one smart dude.

During an appearance this morning on ABC's news program "This Week," Cory Booker lambasted what he called "a false debate" over gun control that has intensified in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting.

"I'm not afraid of law-abiding citizens who buy a gun," he said. "Buy the guns you want. What the problem is in America right now is that a terrorist person who is on the no-fly list could go into the secondary market today and buy a weapon."

"Criminals are killing people," the mayor added. "Not law-abiding gun owners."

"Listen to me, the people dying in Chicago, the people dying in Newark are not being done with law-abiding gun owners," Booker continued. "We do not need to go after the guns. A law-abiding mentally stable American, that's not America's problem."

Do you think we can get Booker into the Senate now? Why should he have to wait until next year to replace Frank knee-jerk-banner-of-scary-looking-stuff Lautenberg? Everything Frank thinks he knows about guns he learned from Michael Moore. Which pretty much tells you all you need to know about Frank Lautenberg's grip on reality.

"We do not need to go after the guns." Ayup. Guns don't kill people. Criminals kill people.

Thanks Mayor Booker. Thanks for talking some sense. Now if only your fellow Democrats will listen to you. That would be a true Christmas Miracle!

Posted at 10:29 by Chris Wysocki [/democrats] Comments | Perm Link |
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Friday, 21 December 2012

Tell me again why we worked so hard to keep a GOP House majority with Speaker Boehner?

Because I'm not seeing the upside to cryin' John Boehner's "leadership" skills. Maybe Karl Rove could drop me a note explaining the Grand Plan. The GOP does have a Grand Plan, right? Hello? Is anyone home?

No. No one is home at House GOP Central. They all left town after Boehner's Plan B got aborted by his own rank-and-file.

That's what he gets for putting out a hit list on House Conservatives. Way to think that one through there Johnny. You really expected our guys to eat your shit sandwich after you fucked us in the ass?

So thanks for handing all the cards to Obama. You're a real credit to the Republican party. I wish President Reagan were still alive so he could take you out behind the woodshed and pound some sense into your thick head.

Or, and I doubt you'll listen, but William Jacobson has a Plan C.

Pass a 90 day extension of current tax rates and whatever else is needed to postpone the "cliff," and go home for Christmas to give time for a Grand Bargain which puts Democratic sacred cows on the table.

Let Harry Reid refuse to bring it to a vote, and Obama refuse to sign it. Their inaction will be the reason for taxes rising for everyone.

Right now you're the scapegoat Johnny. Which translates into having the GOP take all the blame when everybody's taxes go through the roof in 11 days. You know that's what Obama wants by the way. It's what he's wanted all along. He's determined to drive us off the cliff. And now it's your fault.

Sheesh. Stacy McCain doesn't call you guys The Stupid Party for nothing.

Posted at 09:45 by Chris Wysocki [/gop] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: fiscal-cliff John-Boehner GOP Republican Congress budget taxes | Tweet

Thursday, 20 December 2012

I'll give up my guns when Michael Moore and all the other liberals give up theirs

Do as they say, not as they do. That's the libtard motto.

Barack Obama, protected by a phalanx of automatic weaponry, whose kids are guarded 24x7x365 by gun-toting Secret Service agents, is determined to prevent you and me from protecting our own families.

Mike Bloomberg, who takes armed NYPD officers with him when he goes to the bathroom (and everywhere else), seeks to ban private gun ownership.

Chris Christie, surrounded by troopers from the paramilitary NJ State Police, is "proud" of his support for New Jersey's ridiculously draconian gun laws.

And how many Hollyweird celebutards travel with armed bodyguards? All of them? Probably.

Take Michael Moore (Please!)

Filmmaker Michael Moore's bodyguard was arrested for carrying an unlicensed weapon in New York's JFK airport Wednesday night.

Police took Patrick Burke, who says Moore employs him, into custody after he declared he was carrying a firearm at a ticket counter. Burke is licensed to carry a firearm in Florida and California, but not in New York.

Nice Deb relishes the schadenfreude. As do I.

See, Moore believes in 2nd Amendment rights for his well-heeled self, but in typical totalitarian-embracing left-wing fashion, he just doesn't believe in 2nd Amendment rights for the less well off or less politically connected.

Let's see him explain this one while he's busy telling us to give up our guns.

Here's my message to all the anti-gun zealots. You first.

Unilateral disarmament. Hey, it's Barack Obama's official policy when it comes to our nation's nuclear weapons stockpile. Why not apply it to his own family's safety? Reopen the White House doors! (Did you know that until the mid 20th century anyone could just walk in? And "open houses" were regularly scheduled presidential events until the 1970s?) Let Malia and Sasha walk to public school like most of the schlubs in Washington, DC have to do. I'm sure it'll be an eye-opening experience.

And you too Mayor Mike. Stroll the streets of New York unescorted by NYPD. Interact with your fellow New Yorkers. You might learn something.

As for Michael Moore, super-sized hypocrite extraordinaire? No, I don't expect him to see the irony in his sophistry. Nor do I expect his sycophantic fans to demand he practice what he preaches. Hollywood is very good at disseminating propaganda. But much like our political elites, they believe they're better than us and the rules don't apply to them.

Why do we allow them to get away with thinking that?

Posted at 10:23 by Chris Wysocki [/rants] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: gun-control guns Michael-Moore Chris-Christie Obama Mike-Bloomberg | Tweet

Tuesday, 18 December 2012

Rex Ryan benches Mark Sanchez. Again. A week late. Same Old Jets.

Oh sure, now that it doesn't matter, Rex Ryan pulls the plug on Fumbles Interceptez.

Greg McElroy is now the Jets' starting QB. For two meaningless weeks.

Tim Tebow? He's out in the cold, wondering where his career went.

It's time to bench Rex Ryan. And GM Mike Tannenbaum. Signing Fumbles to that outlandish contract extension ($8.25 million guaranteed next season) was undoubtedly the dumbest move ever made by a team that invented the dumb move.

Is Greg McElroy our guy? Who the hell knows! But he's Not Mark Sanchez, and that's what the Jets need right now. Actually it's what the Jets needed on Monday night, when he just might have done what a quarterback is supposed to do — throw the ball to his own guys, and hang on to those snaps from center.

As for Fumbles' guaranteed millions? They should cut him from the team and have Woody Johnson pay him out of his own pocket. To earn his keep put Sanchez to work parking cars. Of course, he'd probably screw that up too.

Posted at 22:18 by Chris Wysocki [/jets] Comments | Perm Link |
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So you wanna have a "conversation" about the Second Amendment? Here's how

It's all over the news. It's all over Facebook and Twitter too. Gun Control. Everybody has an opinion. Being that I live in Blue Jersey, most of those opinions are knee-jerk liberal shibboleths about "evil assault weapons." I swear that the New York Times must print up little index cards for their progbot readership to carry around so everybody can spout the same tired old talking points at a moment's notice.

They call it "having a conversation" about gun control. I call it "agitprop."

So as a Public Service, and to help speed things along for those of you who intend to confront me at the first available opportunity (after all, I am the Designated Right Wing Extremist in the neighborhood), here's how one goes about modifying the Second Amendment.

Step 1. Read Article V of the U.S. Constitution.

Step 2. Decide on how you'd phrase your New and Improved Second Amendment. Be very specific. You wouldn't want to confuse future Supreme Courts! We can't be having any more Emanations Of Penumbras when it comes to the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Especially since you're determined to infringe that particular enumerated Constitutional Right.

Step 3. Convince 2/3 of the Congressman in the House of Representatives to vote for your proposed revision. Then convice 2/3 of our U.S. Senators to vote for it too.

Alternate Step 3. Convince 2/3 of the State Legislatures to convene a Constitutional Convention for the purpose of revising the Second Amendment. But beware, a Constitutional Convention can take up any issue it feels is warranted, even issues you might not want it to consider. Like abortion. And marriage. And taxes.

Step 4. Submit the proposed New and Improved Second Amendment (plus whatever else might have come out of Alternate Step 3) to each of the 50 State Legislatures. Then convince 3/4 of those State Legislatures to ratify it. That's 38 states for those of you who failed remedial math.

Alternate Step 4. Convene individual Constitutional Conventions in each of the 50 states. Convince 3/4 of those conventions to ratify your New and Improved Second Amendment.

Really. That's how you do it. That's how you have a "conversation" about gun control. Anything else is just so much hot air. I mean seriously, what part of "shall not be infringed" is unclear? You guys certainly know how to elasticize "Congress shall make no law" regarding "establishment" of religion. Tie it in knots, you do. So give the Second Amendment the same broad-brush applicability that you presume for the First. It's only fair.

A Facebook friend asked: well then, what restrictions would you accept?

And I said, nuclear weapons. Probably. Certainly anything above one megaton or so. After all, there's no such thing as being too prepared. And I really, really, really want my own F-16.

Posted at 15:28 by Chris Wysocki [/news] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: gun-control second-amendment guns assault-weapon constitution | Tweet

Monday, 17 December 2012

Tales from the Obama economy, Christmas trees already discounted because no one is buying them

We buy our Christmas tree from the same nursery every year. Guy's been in business forever, he knows his market. In years past a 9+ ft frasier fir has set me back anywhere from $120 to $150. And they sell out fast.

It's been a hectic month and we missed what we thought was our "window" to buy a big tree. Because a week before Christmas always means all the nice big ones are long gone. So imagine my surprise when I drove by this morning and saw he had a whole bunch of big trees still for sale.

They were marked at $90 and $100.

I pointed at the biggest one and he immediately said, without prompting, I'll let you have it for $80.

Wow. It's 8 days before Christmas. He's discounting? I was expecting to pay that much for a 6 or 7 footer.

So I asked, what's going on?

Nobody's buying, he said. The big ones aren't moving this year.

Up the road a ways there's one of those pop-up Christmas tree lots, every tree $24.95! He's stripped clean, with only a few scraggly ones left in the corner.

I'm also noticing fewer houses with elaborate outdoor decorations. Electricity rates have necessarily skyrocketed dontcha know. But Dear Leader has 54 Christmas trees in the White House. So there's at least one family who's not having a bleak Christmas. As for the rest of us, well it can't be good when Santa starts tightening his belt, can it?

Posted at 10:40 by Chris Wysocki [/economy] Comments | Perm Link |
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Sunday, 16 December 2012

The NFL should yank their TV rights from NBC

It was like watching the Heidi Bowl again. NBC cut from Sunday Night Football to Dear Leader. Because whatever he had to say couldn't be broadcast on one of their 47 other cable channels. Sheesh, that's MSDNC's raison d'etre for gosh sakes, put Rachel Madcow on it and leave us football fans alone.

But instead of watching the Niners score and force a New England turnover we were treated to more bloviation from that dipshit some of you decided should still be our president. Thanks for that, by the way, voting for him really put you at the top of my Christmas list for sure.

I thought the NFL had rules about this sort of thing, to make sure we get to see all of the game. So how about they find a channel to air their games that doesn't swap sports for politics. Perhaps one where nobody's ever heard of Bob Costas.

Maybe they could call it the NFL Network.

UPDATE 17 Dec 2012 09:17:
Linked by Israel Matzav and Doug Ross. Thanks!

UPDATE 17 Dec 2012 11:59:
Also linked last night by Bill Quick! How'd I miss that? Thanks Bill!

Posted at 22:24 by Chris Wysocki [/obama_watch] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: NFL SNF NBC Obama Newtown-CT | Tweet

Friday, 14 December 2012

Riding the bus? Speak up and smile, you're on Obama's Candid Camera

The Obama Administration needs to know what you're doing and saying on the bus.

Transit authorities in cities across the country are quietly installing microphone-enabled surveillance systems on public buses that would give them the ability to record and store private conversations, according to documents obtained by a news outlet.

The systems are being installed in San Francisco, Baltimore, and other cities with funding from the Department of Homeland Security in some cases, according to the Daily, which obtained copies of contracts, procurement requests, specs and other documents.

The use of the equipment raises serious questions about eavesdropping without a warrant, particularly since recordings of passengers could be obtained and used by law enforcement agencies.

It also raises questions about security, since the IP audio-video systems can be accessed remotely via a built-in web server (.pdf), and can be combined with GPS data to track the movement of buses and passengers throughout the city.

Remember when the civil libertarians went berserk because George Bush tried to peek at a few library records? Yet Dear Leader clearly wants to follow our every move, and there's nary a peep.

No doubt he'll be adding the bus surveillance tapes to our permanent record. Oh, you didn't know that Eric Holder has a dossier on every man, woman, and child in the United States?

Because the Fourth Amendment only matters when a Republican says he's trying to catch terrorists! (Democrats give F-16s to the terrorists, but I digress...)

So what's next in Gulag America? Mandatory RFID chips, implanted at birth?

Yeah, I know, don't give 'em any ideas. But remember, they're already putting them into our cars.

Posted at 11:51 by Chris Wysocki [/tech] Comments | Perm Link |
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Thursday, 13 December 2012

Remember when Obamacare was gonna save us thousands on our health insurance? Me neither

Over the past 10 years health insurance costs have risen nearly 5 times faster than income.

The Commonwealth Fund, a privately funded, New York-based health research clearinghouse, looked at premiums across the conutry and found the average cost of a family health insurance plan is just above $15,000 — up 62 percent since 2003.

Median family income rose only 11 percent during the same time period, the report said.

In New Jersey, average premiums for a single payer have risen to $5,673 — up from $3,814 in 2003. For a family, the price has gone up to $15,589 — up from $10,168. All while incomes in the Garden State have basically stagnated in the last decade.

And it's not just premiums that increase. Because employers must pay more for healthcare, there is less money to be doled out in raises to employees.

The study's author's believe that the Affordable Care Act makes small steps toward reduce the rate with which costs increase, but predicts they will still rise far faster than median income.

Obamacare: You get less than half the value at more than twice the price!

I think Democrats call that "fairness".

Meanwhile in California, rates are going up twenty percent next year.

Blue Shield of California is calling for a 20% rate hike on some individual policyholders. The company expects higher costs from an influx of new customers under the federal healthcare law in 2014.

Remember when Obama said we'd save $2,500 per year on our health insurance?

Me neither.

Then there's all the crippling taxes buried in Obamacare's fine print. They had to pass the bill to find out what's in it dontcha know. And when they found out, they weren't happy.

Sixteen Democratic senators who voted for the Affordable Care Act are asking that one of its fundraising mechanisms, a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices scheduled to take effect January 1, be delayed. Echoing arguments made by Republicans against Obamacare, the Democratic senators say the levy will cost jobs — in a statement Monday, Sen. Al Franken called it a "job-killing tax" — and also impair American competitiveness in the medical device field.

Wait, raising taxes kills jobs? Why wasn't I informed!

Oh, I see, raising taxes on people who vote for Al Franken kills jobs. Raising taxes on Republicans? That's patriotic!

Chalk up the "Affordable" Care Act as yet another one of those government oxymorons like "military intelligence" or "bureaucratic efficiency". They're from the government and they're here to help you go broke.

UPDATE 14 Dec 2012 09:49:
Linked by Doug Ross and Conservative Hideout. Thanks!

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Funny Mayan calendar cartoons, from Sophie

I'm doing a report on the Mayans and the Aztecs.

I told my Dad he should put these on his blog.

Have a super sparkly day!

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Wednesday, 12 December 2012

Finally, a David Letterman Top 10 list that's actually funny

Sophie sent this to me tonight. She thought it was funny.

Is she the Best Kid Ever, or what?

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DHS protected an illegal alien sex offender employed by Bob Menendez until after election day

Are you ready for another scandal involving NJ Senator Bob Menendez (D-La Raza)? Because this one's a doozy.

Menendez employed an illegal alien in his Senate office.

The illegal alien is a convicted sex offender.

The Obama Department of Homeland Security knew about him, but instructed federal agents not to arrest him until after Election Day.

Surprised? Because I'm not. Laws don't apply to powerful Democrats. Especially laws which Dear Leader and said powerful Democrat don't want enforced anyway. So, on the off chance that the people of New Jersey would actually hold this little indiscretion against a stand-up guy like Bob Menendez, Dear Leader gets DHS to sweep it under the rug until after the election.

It's good to have friends!

ICE agents finally arrested the guy this week. Presumably so they can get him cleaned up for the parade Menendez and La Raza plan to throw in his honor.

What? You thought they were gonna deport him? Nah, that'd be racist or something.

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Fifth grade math follies, the confusingly funny word problem edition

Sophie asked me for help with her math homework last night.

Sven is on a trip to Hong Kong. He arrives at the airport and exchanges $125 US Dollars for Hong Kong Dollars. If he gets 7.79 Hong Kong Dollars for each US Dollar, how many Hong Kong Dollars does Marcus get?

Who the hell is Marcus?

Maybe he's the guy who mugged Sven.

And what moron goes to Hong Kong with only a buck twenty five in his pocket anyway? Sven deserved to get mugged! He was probably waving his money around like a fool yelling "I'm rich, I'm rich!"

At this point we were laughing so hard we had to take a 5 minute break.

We decided it was a typo. And then she got the right answer.

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Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Johnny can't read, and NJ educrats don't know, or care why

Boys are falling behind in reading. Way behind.

Young boys across the country have trailed their female classmates in language arts proficiency for at least four decades, but over the last four years, the gender gap in New Jersey's public schools has widened, test results released last week show.

Between 2009 and 2012, the percentage of fourth-grade girls who passed the reading section of the annual NJ ASK test held at about 65 percent, while the share of boys who passed declined by 8.1 percentage points.

This year, nearly half of the state's fourth-grade boys failed the test.

Male students' declining reading proficiency is evident to some degree in every grade and in every demographic subgroup, according to superintendents, who said they don't understand why this is happening or how to solve the problem.

Even as the language arts gap has grown, the disparity in math scores has almost disappeared. For decades, male students outscored their female counterparts, but girls have now caught up.

"The stereotypes don't hold true anymore," said North Brunswick Superintendent Brian Zychowski. "Our girls are scoring just as high as boys in math, but the boys are struggling with reading. I don't know why. I can't explain it."

Not only can't they explain it, they're not too interested in finding out why either.

Though state Department of Education officials are aware of the gap between male and female student proficiency in reading, they have no plans to address male student achievement specifically, said Barbara Morgan, a department spokeswoman.

"We want all of our students to retain proficient scores in math and language arts at all grade levels," Morgan said.

Aaron Pallas, a professor of sociology and education at Columbia University's Teachers College, said the shift in fourth-grade males' reading performance in recent years may not be cause for concern, but certainly indicates a need for further analysis.

Of course if it was girls doing worse than boys you can guarantee the educrats would be concerned. Because there'd be feminuts rampaging in the streets. And if minority kids' reading scores were dropping like a rock, well the good old Education Law Center would be throwing a fit in front of our State Supreme Court so fast it'd make your head spin.

But boys? Nothing to see here, there's no cause for concern, it's just The Way Things Are. Boys aren't a Designated Minority Victim Group. There's no Title IX for boys. Let 'em fall behind! Probably serves 'em right anyway. You know, for all those years they were ahead of the girls.

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Monday, 10 December 2012

Businesses must pay a new $63 per employee fee so Obamacare can cover pre-existing conditions

Well, now we know how Obamacare plans to pay for covering pre-existing conditions.

Your medical plan is facing an unexpected expense, so you probably are, too. It's a new, $63-per-head fee to cushion the cost of covering people with pre-existing conditions under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

The charge, buried in a recent regulation, works out to tens of millions of dollars for the largest companies, employers say. Most of that is likely to be passed on to workers.

Employee benefits lawyer Chantel Sheaks calls it a "sleeper issue" with significant financial consequences, particularly for large employers.

"Especially at a time when we are facing economic uncertainty, (companies will) be hit with a multi-million dollar assessment without getting anything back for it," said Sheaks, a principal at Buck Consultants, a Xerox subsidiary.

Based on figures provided in the regulation, employer and individual health plans covering an estimated 190 million Americans could owe the per-person fee.

Most of the money will go into a fund administered by the Health and Human Services Department. It will be used to cushion health insurance companies from the initial hard-to-predict costs of covering uninsured people with medical problems. Under the law, insurers will be forbidden from turning away the sick as of Jan. 1, 2014.

People with pre-existing conditions don't want insurance. They want someone to pay their medical bills. And thanks to Obamacare, that someone is you and me.

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Our anti-American president loves that anti-American Psy-chotic Korean rapper

Barack Obama is an embarrassment to America. He shook the hand of a man who openly calls for the murder of American soldiers and their families.

John Hawkins is livid:

Barack Obama doesn't love this country. Never has, never will. Anyone who paid attention already knew he wasn't patriotic. Before he was elected, Obama didn't hold his hand up for the pledge of Allegiance. He made a big deal out of not wearing a flag pin. He sat in Jeremiah Wright's anti-white, anti-Semetic, anti-American church for 20 years which is something no one who loved their country would ever do. He spent his first term apologizing for America and bowing to dictators.

Don't hold back John, tell us how you really feel.

But what did you expect? Obama embraced Code Pink. You know, those fun-loving gals who support our troops, when they shoot their officers.

Obama left those 4 men to die in Benghazi because deep down he likes dead Americans. Are you guys aware that more than 2/3 of US troop deaths in Afghanistan have occured on Obama's watch? No? Wanna know why? Highly restrictive Rules Of Engagement (ROE). Basically our boys are armed with little more than unicorn farts and rainbow grenades. Obama is more concerned with the enemy's feelings than with the lives of our troops.

And so when some Psy-chotic foreigner sings "kill those fucking Yankees", Obama smiles and says "Rock on dude".

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Saturday, 08 December 2012

Obamabot arbitrator forces Chrysler to reinstate drunken unionistas

Your tax dollars at work. Paying for drunken unionistas to build Jeep Cherokees.

Chrysler workers who were fired or suspended two years ago after a MyFoxDetroit investigation found them drinking and goofing off during lunch break are back on the job.

MyFoxDetroit first aired the footage of the Chrysler workers in September 2010. Video showed them in a park during the work day, drinking alcohol from bottles covered in brown paper bags and smoking what appeared to be marijuana.

With the auto giant having recently received a federal taxpayer bailout, and President Obama having visited the plant where the employees worked just months earlier, Chrysler appeared to take a zero-tolerance attitude. The company fired 13 workers, and suspended two.

But MyFoxDetroit reports that following a union-backed arbitration process, the employees were reinstated. This week, they came back to work.

The employees work at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant, which builds Jeep Cherokees.

Unions, protecting their members' right to drink and build the cars you drive.

Chrysler said in a statement that it does not support the decision to bring back the workers but would like to move on.

What choice does Government Motors have? The unionistas rule the roost. But you? You have a choice. And if you're dumb enough to buy a Jeep Cherokee, don't be surprised when the wheels fall off.

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Obama proposes $60.4 Billion for Sandy relief, whatever happened to cutting spending?

Chris Christie and other Northeast governors went hat-in-hand to Washington this week seeking federal funds to rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. And President Big Spender readily agreed, proposing $60.4 Billion in immediate aid.

President Barack Obama formally asked Congress Friday for $60.4 billion to help states such as New Jersey and New York rebuild in the aftermath of devastating Superstorm Sandy.

"Our Nation has an obligation to assist those who suffered losses and who lack adequate resources to rebuild their lives," acting Office of Management and Budget Director Jeffrey Zients said in a letter to Republican House Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Meanwhile, everyone is talking about cutting federal spending. Well, almost everyone. Dear Leader just wants to raise taxes. He's gonna need a lotta new taxes to cover $60.4 Billion.

As for that "our nation has an obligation" thing, here's what Democrat Grover Cleveland (born right here in Caldwell, NJ) had to say about that:

I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution and I do not believe that the power and duty of the general government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit. A prevalent tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty should I think be steadfastly resisted to the end that the lesson should be constantly enforced that though the people support the government the government should not support the people.

Amen Brother.

If you want to encourage redevelopment then invite private investment and incentivize them with tax breaks. Chris Christie keeps saying the Jersey Shore is so "vital", well then entrepreneurs ought to be chomping at the bit to invest in its future. Banks can underwrite loans, leave the taxpayers out of it. And if you didn't have insurance or can't afford to rebuild? Sorry, but you chose poorly and that's not my problem.

Besides, Bruce Springsteen and his celebutard friends are working overtime to solicit donations for you. Americans are a very generous lot, just be patient.

Any Congressman who votes for this boondoggle isn't serious about cutting the deficit or reducing the size of government. It's time to stop paying lip service to austerity and to start making the hard decisions. Otherwise, why bother complaining about anything the government spends money on?

UPDATE 08 Dec 2012 13:59:
Cross-posted to Right Wing News.

UPDATE 09 Dec 2012 10:55:
Linked at IOwnTheWorld.com. Thanks!

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Friday, 07 December 2012

The Moocher Class reaches 57 percent. Or, the eggnog is really, really potent this year

A stunning 57 percent of Americans believe Barack Obama is doing a good job.

A month after the bitterly fought election, President Barack Obama has his highest approval ratings since the killing of Osama bin Laden, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll, and more Americans say the nation is heading in the right direction now than at any time since the start of his first term.

Obama's approval rating stands at 57 percent, the highest since May 2011, when U.S. Navy SEALs killed the terror leader, and up 5 percentage points from before the election. And 42 percent say the country is on the right track, up from 35 percent in January 2009.

Words fail me.

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Thursday, 06 December 2012

Chris Christie vetoes NJ Obamacare exchange

Sorry Obamabots. The feds created the mess, the feds can administer the mess. New Jersey won't be helping Obamacare trample our freedom.

Governor Christie has vetoed legislation that would have set up a state-run health exchange needed to implement the federal Affordable Care Act in New Jersey.

Though the Democratic-controlled Legislature passed a bill to have the state run its own exchange, New Jersey under Christie, a Republican, had been one of several states delaying a final decision.

Christie said in a statement released Thursday afternoon that the federal government hadn't provided "all the necessary information" he needed to make decision.

"Any other action than this would be fiscally irresponsible," Christie said in a statement.

"Thus far, we lack such critical information from the federal government," he said. "I will not ask New Jerseyans to commit today to a state-based exchange when the federal government cannot tell us what it will cost, how that cost compares to other options, and how much control they will give the states over this option that comes at the cost of our state's taxpayers."

Alas, it looks like the feds don't exactly have their act together. They never imagined states would want to opt-out of Obamacare. You know, because it's so swell and all.

Will the feds be ready to provide an insurance exchange in all of the states that don't have one on October 1, 2013?

I have no idea. And neither does anyone else I talk to inside the Beltway. We only hear vague reports that parts of the new federal exchange information systems are in testing.

The former CIA director couldn't get away with an affair in this town but the Obama administration has a complete lid on just where they are on health insurance exchanges and haven't shown any willingness to want to talk about their progress toward launching on time — except to tell us all not to worry.

We are all worried. I would not want to be responsible for the work that remains and only have ten months to do it…

And Christie wasn't kidding about that cost uncertainty either. The lobbyists are chomping at the bit to lard these exchanges up with all sorts of mandatory, necessary coverages. Like accupuncture.

This is happening as states develop the requirements for insurance under Obamacare. Chiropractors and acupuncturists are lobbying to make sure that their services are included among the "essential" services that the new insurance must provide.

Also, infertility treatments. Which kinda goes against that whole free birth control shibboleth, but hey, nobody ever said liberals had to obey logic.

Good for Governor Christie. The less we have to do with this trainwreck the better off we'll be.

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New Jersey residents will be Ground Zero at the bottom of the Fiscal Cliff

According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, if President Obama drives us over the Fiscal Cliff, it'll be New Jersey residents who'll bear the brunt of the pain.

New Jersey residents would be the hardest hit in the nation, with the average family of four paying an extra $6,933. That same family in Connecticut would ante up an extra $6,653 and in New York, $4,103, according to the nonpartisan research group Tax Foundation.

And that's on top of the $2,200 bucks each of us loses if the payroll tax cut expires too.

I can't wait to see the look on my liberal friends' faces when reality bites them in the ass. "I don't mind paying a little more!" is a familiar retort to my anti-tax protestations. Well then, I hope their definition of "a little more" is north of 11 grand. Otherwise, oops.

As a wise man once said, be careful what you wish for, you might get it.

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Wednesday, 05 December 2012

Merry Christmas from President Obama! Citigroup cuts 11,000 more jobs

Out with the Hope And Change, in with the unemployment lines. Hey, it's what happens when you re-elect the most anti-business president in the history of the universe.

Citigroup to lay off 11,000, close 6 branches in New Jersey

Citigroup said yesterday it will cut 11,000 jobs, in a bold, early move by new CEO Michael Corbat.

Six of Citigroup' 31 branches in New Jersey will be among the casualties, according to spokeswoman Catherine Pulley.

The branches — in Bayonne, Brick, East Hanover, Nutley, Roseland and Springfield — will close by Dec. 14.

Prior to yesterday's announcement, Citi had been consolidating operations in New Jersey. It was in the process of closing a Weehawken-based technology office and moving the office's 88 jobs to other locations, Citi spokeswoman Janis Tarter said in October.

The 11,000 cuts nationwide amount to about 4 percent of Citi's workforce. The bulk of them, about 6,200 jobs, will come from Citi's consumer banking unit, which handles everyday functions like branches and checking accounts.

Citi said it will sell or scale back some of its overseas operations and focus on 150 cities around the world "that have the highest growth potential in consumer banking."

The bank, the third-largest in the country by assets, said about 1,900 job cuts will come from the institutional clients group, which includes the investment bank. The company will also cut jobs in technology and operations by using more automation and moving jobs to "lower-cost locations."

Yeah, "lower cost locations" is "places without Obamacare" and/or "places Obama can't tax". Yet.

And why is Citi losing money? Remember Fauxcahontas and her Consumer Financial Protection Board? Now with Marxist Richard Cordray driving the regulatory bus? And the clusterfuck that is Dodd-Frank? Well, when you cut off a bank's revenue stream, the bank needs to cut back. Sorry employees, sucks to be you.

This is what you turkeys voted for when you voted for Obama. Get used to it. Because the layoffs? Just started, they have.

Seen on a friend's Facebook timeline:

Know what's funnier than an Obama voter getting laid off after the election.............ha ha ha me neither....ROFLMAO

Schadenfreude is 11,000 more Obama voters having The Best Christmas Evah!

UPDATE 06 Dec 2012 14:24:
Linked at IOwnTheWorld.com. Thanks!

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Surely I would be Number 61, right John?

Or 62?

C'mon man, throw a guy a bone!

Oh, you guys don't know what I'm talking about, do you. I get that a lot.

Well, see, it's that time of the year again, when the A List Bloggers garner accolades from their peers. John Hawkins of Right Wing News compiled his list of The 60 Best Conservative Blogs For 2012.

Alas, because I write for Right Wing News, I'm ineligible. John calls that "fairness".

It didn't seem proper to include any of the bloggers who semiregularly blog for RWN which meant a number of phenomenal blogs like Ali Akbar, Conservative Compendium, D, S & P Magazine, Doug Ross, Wintery knight, Ed Driscoll, Blue Crab Boulevard, The Shark Tank, Wyblog, House of Eratothenes, Intellectual Conservative, Likelihood of Confusion, Sunshine State Sarah, The Right Mixx, Texas Sparkle, Pubilus Forum or Pirate's Cove.

Wait? I'm phenomenal? That's gotta be better than "best". Please, tell me that it's better than "best". It's kinda like the Hall Of Fame, right?

Heh. Joking, I am. It's an honor just to be linked. Which he does. Thanks!

As for his list of the 60 best bloggers? Yeah, it's a darn good list. Full of excellent blogs. You really should check 'em out. Ask 'em about that "phenomenal" vs "best" thing too.

Posted at 11:55 by Chris Wysocki [/misc] Comments | Perm Link |
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Now we know why the Port Authority has to keep raising the tolls into NYC

They just raised the bridge and tunnel toll into Manhattan to $13. They said it's for "maintenance."

Yeah, police salary maintenance.

A day after the authority hiked cash tolls at its bridges and tunnels to a staggering $13, a watchdog group revealed Monday that the most senior Port Authority cops are paid an average of $83.99 an hour — dwarfing the $58.86 earned by their counterparts at the NYPD.

Port Authority pay also beats the $63.68 hourly earnings of comparable New York State troopers and the $53.36 hourly pay of New Jersey troopers.

It's more than cops in Jersey City and Newark earn — and beats the salaries of federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents in the region.

And that's just their average salary. Padding overtime is a time-honored tradition at the Port Authority PD. So much so that the officers actually flaunt their enormous paychecks, daring the powers-that-be to try and curb the abuses. But of course their union won't ever let that happen.

The Port Authority PD, they Protect And Serve … themselves.

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Tuesday, 04 December 2012

The GOP "Doomsday" plan for the fiscal cliff spells doom for the GOP

Dear Leader rejected the GOP's offer to revisit Simpson-Bowles. Then Erskine Bowles repudiated his own plan. Because the Democrats never intended to use a "balanced" approach to the fiscal cliff. Their goal all along was to punish success via class warfare. And they're still plucking that chicken.

So now John Boehner has a "Doomsday Plan".

Republicans are seriously considering a Doomsday Plan if fiscal cliff talks collapse entirely. It's quite simple: House Republicans would allow a vote on extending the Bush middle class tax cuts (the bill passed in August by the Senate) and offer the President nothing more: no extension of the debt ceiling, nothing on unemployment, nothing on closing loopholes. Congress would recess for the holidays and the president would face a big battle early in the year over the debt ceiling.

Two senior Republican elected officials tell me this doomsday plan is becoming the most likely scenario. A top GOP House leadership aide confirms the plan is under consideration, but says Speaker Boehner has made no decision on whether to pursue it.

Under one variation of this Doomsday Plan, House Republicans would allow a vote on extending only the middle class tax cuts and Republicans, to express disapproval at the failure to extend all tax cuts, would vote "present" on the bill, allowing it to pass.

Leadership? Yeah, the GOP ain't got that. Their "Doomsday Plan" is tailor-made to ensure doom for Republicans. It gives Obama what he's demanding now (raise taxes) and punts on any chance at spending cuts. How can they possibly negotiate concessions next year if they've already proven they're incapable of holding the line on taxation? Give in now and the Democrats will beat them like a rented mule for years to come.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., an influential conservative House Republican, is already on record supporting extending the middle class tax cuts — with or without the upper income tax cuts. On Sunday, he said Republicans should embrace the extension of the middle class tax cuts and take credit for it.

"That's a victory, not a loss," Cole said on This Week with George Stephanopoulos. "And then we're still free to try and fight over higher rates, offering revenue, which the Speaker has put on the table."

Some "victory" Tom. How about you grow a pair, OK? Because all you're doing is enabling more of the same.

So we get to keep people who basically pay no federal income taxes now from paying federal income taxes in the future so as to enable them to demand services and benefits for which they do not pay in a fiscal death spiral in which there just aren't enough "wealthy" people from whom to confiscate more money?

You can't tax your way to solvency. But if the GOP really wants to do "Doomsday", then by golly let's do Doomsday.

I'm okay with extending all Bush tax rates together with a Blue State punishing limit on deductions for state income and property taxes, closing Hollywood and tax-exempt loopholes, and maybe some other "loopholes," provided we address spending. We cannot tax our way to solvency.

News flash. The debt ceiling is not a fall back position. When the media howls about that, we will fold like a cheap suit.

I say package deal or no deal. A "Grand Bargain" is the term, I believe. Entitlements and the nanny state on the table, or there is no table.

If a deal can't be reached by year end, the House should pass a 90 day extension of current rates to give time for the Grand Bargain to play out, send it to Harry Reid, then leave for Christmas.

Then get the message out that Harry Reid and Obama are the ones holding the "middle class tax cuts" hostage.

Now we're talking! Throw in Glenn Reynolds' idea for a 50% surtax on "excess" post-government earnings by federal officials and really watch the Democrats squirm.

This is no time for the Republicans to go wobbly. Stand firm. Obama's not driving this bus. Really. All he can do is sign or veto whatever legislation reaches his ~~golf course~~ desk. The Constitution stipulates that money bills must originate in the House, ergo even the Democratic Senate will have to accept, reject or amend whatever the House sends.

So make 'em an offer they can't refuse. Enact Simpson-Bowles and cobble together an extension of all the Bush tax cuts, along with those revenue enhancements I listed above. Get Harry Reid on record defending Hollywood fat cats and revolving door lobbyists! Democrats want to tax "the rich", except for Dear Leader's friends. So tax his friends. Hypocrisy is defending a tax cut for Eva Longoria and George Clooney while advocating a 55% death tax on family farmers. Point that out. Loudly.

If Obama doesn't sign it, then the fiscal cliff falls squarely on his shoulders.

And if he does? Wow. We just might get headed back down the road to fiscal sanity. Wouldn't that be great?

UPDATE 05 Dec 2012 09:17:
Linked by Doug Ross, as the headline for today's Larwyn's Linx! Thanks!

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Monday, 03 December 2012

NOAA storm-spotting satellites are about to fail, replacements uncertain due to cost overruns

The two main satellites used to predict hurricanes and storm tracks are expected to fail in 2016. NASA has, of course, know this for years.

Their replacements might launch in 2017. Maybe. If red tape, department infighting, and budget issues don't delay them further.

These satellites are quickly moving toward the end of their lifespan and their replacements, part of the forthcoming Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), won't be launched until 2017, at the earliest.

In the last year, two federal government assessments, along with a third conducted by a team of outside experts, questioned the program's $12.9 billion price tag and offered a scathing review of the project's management, describing it as a bureaucratic logjam that drove up costs and pushed back launch dates.

Well, to be fair, NASA is pre-occupied with Muslim Outreach. Those guys, they need all the help they can get with building rockets. And Obama is determined to give it to them too. It's Smart Diplomacy, and trust him, you don't really need to understand it.

Maybe when the Muslims perfect their rockets we can send them on a manned mission to the sun. Don't worry, they'll land at night!

As for the sad state of our weather forecasting satellites, well, whatcha gonna do? Our Dear Leader can't ride herd on every dysfunctional bureaucratic behemoth, can he? He's got vacationing to do! And free contraceptives to pass out! Meanwhile, Steve Chu, who's supposed to pay attention to this stuff, is merrily playing Santa Claus to the green energy dreamer brigades. They've got money to burn!

Talking about the weather, that's Public Policy, even when the talkers blatantly make shit up. Launching satellites to gather actual data? Nah, where's the fun in that?

Posted at 09:53 by Chris Wysocki [/tech] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: NOAA NASA Obama weather | Tweet

Sunday, 02 December 2012

Liberal logic: "Why do YOU want to pay Mitt Romney"s taxes?"

When you live in New Jersey you acquire a lot of liberal friends. Most of them are run-of-the-mill New York Times readers, uninformed but harmless, except when you let them near a voting booth. But then there's the occasional Michael Moore acolyte — utterly clueless but convinced to the bone that he's smarter than everyone.

As if.

Anyway, on Saturday night I made a passing comment about the upcoming Fiscal Cliff, you know, something along the lines of "we don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem."

Mr. Full Of Marxism chimes in — Why do you want to pay Mitt Romney's taxes? Wow, that must be the latest Rachel Madcow talking point. Because only a liberal intellectual could envision such a ridiculous statement as being part of an actual argument.

No, I'm not worried about what Mitt Romney pays, Why does it bother you? And why should anyone pay more?

He only pays 13 percent! was the followup, as I fixed him with my most patronizing stare.

Listen up Numbnuts, Mitt Romney paid Two Million Dollars in taxes last year. You? You haven't paid $2 million dollars to Uncle Sam over your entire 63 years on God's green earth. Plus Gov. Romney gave updwards of $7 million to charity as well. You? You can't spell charity. You're on the Joe Biden charity plan — the government's got that covered. And it pisses you off that a bureacrat didn't get to put his stamp of approval on how Romney distributed that $7 million. Really, it does.

Then I hear you cry, Mitt Romney makes more than me! He can afford it!

Yeah, Communism 101. From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs. You didn't do what it takes to get rich, so now it's time to soak the guys who worked harder than you did. Why oh sagacious class warrior, why is it "greed" for me to want to keep what I make, but "altruism" for you to confiscate my wealth so you can give it to someone else?

Here's a thought. Rather than begrudging Mitt Romney his millions, how about you try emulating his success? Get. Off. Your. Ass.

Oh, wait. That's hard. Better vote for that Obama dude instead! Then you can sit on your ass while guys like me and Romney work to pay for your free stuff.

As for those class warfare tax hikes your MSDNC brainwashers keep peddling? The Lonely Conservative has a very illuminating pie chart.

Wow, that whole tax the rich thing, it doesn't look very lucrative to me. You might want to check your math. Balanced, it ain't.

See, I heard it's gonna take something like 400 years for the Obama tax hikes on "the rich" to pay down one year of his budget deficits. Add it all up and the net result of disrupting so many livelihoods is chickenfeed. It's obvious that you and Dear Leader aren't even trying to cut the deficit or fix the economy. You're out to punish success. It's wrong in your universe for people to make money.

Well, maybe not all people. George Soros, he can make money. Warren Buffett too. And all those Hollyweird hotshots. But Regular Americans? Those of us who create jobs and pay the lion's share of taxes? We're Public Enemy Number One. Because we might use some of our earnings to form a right-wing PAC. Buy some TV ads. Tell the truth about Dear Leader's plans. Wreck the progressive gravy train.

If our ideas catch on, well the next thing you know, the masses might start thinking for themselves. And then what? Self reliance? Initiative? Liberty? Yeah, that's crazy talk, right?

Far better to turn us all into beggars. They're easier to please.

Posted at 23:25 by Chris Wysocki [/democrats] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: taxes liberals progressive #p2 | Tweet

How to Survive in Washington, D.C. on $3,835,616 Dollars a Day

A billion dollars ain't what it used to be. As Dear Leader jets off for his $4 million Hawaiian vacation let's pause to compare his household budget to ours. Because while he claims to be a champion of the proverbial middle class, he lives like the 0.001%, all on the taxpayer's dime.

Barack Obama and his family cost the taxpayer $1.4 billion per year, according to a recently published book.

By contrast, the British Royal Family costs less than $60 million each year.

That's slightly more than $3,835,616 dollars a day. And more than 20 times what Great Britain spends on their Royal Family.

But surely the Obamas are worth it!

Much of the money spent on Mr Obama's family goes to perks such as entertainment and household expenses.

For example, the White House contains a movie theatre which is manned by projectionists 24 hours a day in case one of the family feels like a trip to the cinema.

And even the Obamas' dog Bo costs the taxpayer thousands of dollars - his handler is reportedly paid over $100,000 a year.

Every "middle class" family has $100K to piss away on a personal dog walker, right? I guess his lazy ass kids are too important to walk their own dog. And they're apparently incapable of operating a VCR too.

It's good to be king.

Posted at 11:09 by Chris Wysocki [/obama_watch] Comments | Perm Link |
Technorati Tags: Obama middle-class | Tweet


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