Blame Naked Germans for Ban on Nude Hiking
APPENZELL, Switzerland - Voters in the heart of the Swiss Alps have banned naked hiking after dozens of mostly German nudists started rambling through their picturesque region.
Note to self: Change vacation plans. Must find new location to go chubby-chasing for naked strudel-skinned babes.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Happy Birthday to Me
Today I venture even farther into middle age.
To quote H.L. Mencken, "The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom."
I'm still young at heart.
To quote H.L. Mencken, "The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom."
I'm still young at heart.
Hedge Funds Resist Obummer's Charms
Oh, boy! Obummer is pissed because certain hedge funds, which own $6,900,000,000.00 of Chrysler LLC's debt, would not succumb to his charms. The funds refused to be bullied into accepting 29 cents on the dollar and instead chose to take their chances in bankruptcy court. I can understand why they did so.
See "In Chrysler Deal, Obama Criticizes Reluctant Hedge Funds".
First of all, hedge funds are investors. No investor, or any business, can succeed by accepting less than $1.01 for each $1.00 invested. When a business profits, it stays in business and is able to pay its employees, and the economy prospers. Obummer showed just how anti-business he truly is when he attempted to force a group of businesses to accept losses just because he said so. At the same time, Obummer was trying to give a majority share of Chrysler to the United Autoworkers union to cover retirement and health obligations for past employees. Bottom line, Obummer wanted private enterprise to take it in the shorts while handing the keys to the plant to the union. Chrysler's working capital dries up and the union gets control without any concession whatsoever.
The hedge funds are right to force Chrysler into bankruptcy. If the hedge funds are secured creditors (and they should be smart enough to be) they have their loans tied to tangible assets. Pensions are usually priority unsecured creditors in bankruptcy, in line behind secured creditors, so the UAW's position in bankruptcy court would theoretically be behind the hedge funds. Obummer tried to change the order by placing the UAW ahead of secured creditors, and they would not go for it. In bankruptcy, it is possible that the hedge funds could strengthen their position by providing financing for the debtor-in-possession (Chrysler). Who knows how this may actually work out. The hedge funds are taking a gamble and may get less than 29 cents on the dollar out of the bankruptcy proceedings, but at least they will not have bent over willingly.
The bankruptcy is a good thing, as the UAW will likely get its comeuppance for its part in bankrupting a once-great automaker. If Italian automaker Fiat remains out of the picture, I might have to change my mind about buying a Chrysler product in the future. I kinda want another Jeep.
See "In Chrysler Deal, Obama Criticizes Reluctant Hedge Funds".
First of all, hedge funds are investors. No investor, or any business, can succeed by accepting less than $1.01 for each $1.00 invested. When a business profits, it stays in business and is able to pay its employees, and the economy prospers. Obummer showed just how anti-business he truly is when he attempted to force a group of businesses to accept losses just because he said so. At the same time, Obummer was trying to give a majority share of Chrysler to the United Autoworkers union to cover retirement and health obligations for past employees. Bottom line, Obummer wanted private enterprise to take it in the shorts while handing the keys to the plant to the union. Chrysler's working capital dries up and the union gets control without any concession whatsoever.
The hedge funds are right to force Chrysler into bankruptcy. If the hedge funds are secured creditors (and they should be smart enough to be) they have their loans tied to tangible assets. Pensions are usually priority unsecured creditors in bankruptcy, in line behind secured creditors, so the UAW's position in bankruptcy court would theoretically be behind the hedge funds. Obummer tried to change the order by placing the UAW ahead of secured creditors, and they would not go for it. In bankruptcy, it is possible that the hedge funds could strengthen their position by providing financing for the debtor-in-possession (Chrysler). Who knows how this may actually work out. The hedge funds are taking a gamble and may get less than 29 cents on the dollar out of the bankruptcy proceedings, but at least they will not have bent over willingly.
The bankruptcy is a good thing, as the UAW will likely get its comeuppance for its part in bankrupting a once-great automaker. If Italian automaker Fiat remains out of the picture, I might have to change my mind about buying a Chrysler product in the future. I kinda want another Jeep.
Quote of the Day
The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Quote(s) of the Day
Then:
A fool and his money are soon elected.
Will Rogers
Now:
A fool is soon elected with your money.
Nairb
A fool and his money are soon elected.
Will Rogers
Now:
A fool is soon elected with your money.
Nairb
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Foxes in the Henhouse, Again
United Auto Workers to Own 55% of Chrysler
Chrysler should be forced to file for bankruptcy. A new deal, pun intended, to keep Chrysler afloat involves not only merger with Fiat, but majority ownership of the carmaker by the United Autoworkers (UAW).
Consider, only for a moment, what a merger with Fiat might entail. Fiat was forced to withdraw from the U.S. market in the early 1980's because it could not build cars that anyone in America wanted to buy. It has not reentered the market. Aside from massive Italian government subsidization of Fiat over the years, what has changed?
Now, consider that two of the problems U.S. carmakers have endured for decades, and which are part of the current unprofitability of U.S. carmakers, are the high costs of labor and legacy costs (such as retirement and health care benefits for former employees) that add thousands of dollars to the cost of each automobile made by U.S. carmakers. The only party that has been largely unaccountable in the purported rescue of the U.S. automakers has been the UAW, which does not seem to believe that it needs to make concessions on the cost of labor and on legacy costs, nor has the Second Carter Administration (SCA) been pressing the UAW on these issues.
Don't get me wrong. I am not against workers earning a decent wage and having decent health and retirement benefits. However, if an ailing company is to survive, everyone involved has to make concessions to restore profitability. Previously, it was thought to be suicidal to refuse concessions and force a business into closure. Earning a bit less was thought to be better than having no job at all.
Enter Big Government Solution (BGS) to the problem. Instead of insisting that a business be run like a business and either cut costs to restore profitability or file bankruptcy, the SCA gives a little less than half of Chrysler away to foreigners and the other half to the Bolsheviks (the UAW). Reading between the lines, the government does not want Chrysler to file bankruptcy and hurt its Bolshevik Cash Cow (BCC), the UAW. So, the SCA's BGS is to aid Chrysler only if it is controlled by the BCC, the UAW. The foxes are not only in the henhouse, but have been given the deed.
I am a small business owner and from this day forward will never buy a Chrysler product of any kind.
Chrysler should be forced to file for bankruptcy. A new deal, pun intended, to keep Chrysler afloat involves not only merger with Fiat, but majority ownership of the carmaker by the United Autoworkers (UAW).
Consider, only for a moment, what a merger with Fiat might entail. Fiat was forced to withdraw from the U.S. market in the early 1980's because it could not build cars that anyone in America wanted to buy. It has not reentered the market. Aside from massive Italian government subsidization of Fiat over the years, what has changed?
Now, consider that two of the problems U.S. carmakers have endured for decades, and which are part of the current unprofitability of U.S. carmakers, are the high costs of labor and legacy costs (such as retirement and health care benefits for former employees) that add thousands of dollars to the cost of each automobile made by U.S. carmakers. The only party that has been largely unaccountable in the purported rescue of the U.S. automakers has been the UAW, which does not seem to believe that it needs to make concessions on the cost of labor and on legacy costs, nor has the Second Carter Administration (SCA) been pressing the UAW on these issues.
Don't get me wrong. I am not against workers earning a decent wage and having decent health and retirement benefits. However, if an ailing company is to survive, everyone involved has to make concessions to restore profitability. Previously, it was thought to be suicidal to refuse concessions and force a business into closure. Earning a bit less was thought to be better than having no job at all.
Enter Big Government Solution (BGS) to the problem. Instead of insisting that a business be run like a business and either cut costs to restore profitability or file bankruptcy, the SCA gives a little less than half of Chrysler away to foreigners and the other half to the Bolsheviks (the UAW). Reading between the lines, the government does not want Chrysler to file bankruptcy and hurt its Bolshevik Cash Cow (BCC), the UAW. So, the SCA's BGS is to aid Chrysler only if it is controlled by the BCC, the UAW. The foxes are not only in the henhouse, but have been given the deed.
I am a small business owner and from this day forward will never buy a Chrysler product of any kind.
Retarded Politician of the Week
The Dishonorable Arlen Specter, Senator from Pennsylvania.
The Republican party should have drop-kicked this RINO turd years ago. He is an example of everything that is wrong in the Republicans party: no loyalty, no adherence to conservative principles, big-spender, soft on Constitutional rights. And did I mention no loyalty?
Senator Specter is expected to announce today that he is switching parties to become a Democrat. My guess is that this is only a formality, since Specter has essentially been a Democrat in practice for decades. I still cannot believe that Bushwhacker 43 supported Specter against legitimate conservative Pat Toomey in 2004, especially when Specter would not help with appointment of conservative judges to the Supreme Court.
Getting rid of Specter in 2010 should be a priority for conservatives. It should have been a priority in 1998 and 2004. Specter should at least have had the decency to continue to caucus with the party that elected him in 2004, but he is too much of a turd to be loyal to those who elected him. So, another vote goes to the Democrats and their out of control socialist agenda and disrespect for 2nd Amendment rights. Now they might have the votes needed to shut out conservatives and finish their shafting of the American public.
One can only hope that those other two turds in the punchbowl, RINO Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, will have the decency to not seek reelection or formally associate themselves with Democrats. For now, Arlen Specter is Retarded Politician of the Week.
The Republican party should have drop-kicked this RINO turd years ago. He is an example of everything that is wrong in the Republicans party: no loyalty, no adherence to conservative principles, big-spender, soft on Constitutional rights. And did I mention no loyalty?
Senator Specter is expected to announce today that he is switching parties to become a Democrat. My guess is that this is only a formality, since Specter has essentially been a Democrat in practice for decades. I still cannot believe that Bushwhacker 43 supported Specter against legitimate conservative Pat Toomey in 2004, especially when Specter would not help with appointment of conservative judges to the Supreme Court.
Getting rid of Specter in 2010 should be a priority for conservatives. It should have been a priority in 1998 and 2004. Specter should at least have had the decency to continue to caucus with the party that elected him in 2004, but he is too much of a turd to be loyal to those who elected him. So, another vote goes to the Democrats and their out of control socialist agenda and disrespect for 2nd Amendment rights. Now they might have the votes needed to shut out conservatives and finish their shafting of the American public.
One can only hope that those other two turds in the punchbowl, RINO Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, will have the decency to not seek reelection or formally associate themselves with Democrats. For now, Arlen Specter is Retarded Politician of the Week.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Quote of the Day
A woman who demands further gun control legislation is like a chicken who roots for Colonel Sanders.
Larry Elder
Memo to Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein: You can stop clucking now.
Larry Elder
Memo to Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein: You can stop clucking now.
Open Carry of Firearms in Washington
I try to leave my day job at the office, but sometimes I have to do it here. Bear with me, please: I left a comment the other day on Mickey Creekmore's blog recommending that persons in open carry jurisdictions be aware of the danger of being accused of brandishing a weapon. This led to some uncertainty over whether I believe the State of Washington to be an open carry state. Washington is an open carry state, but there are some pretty broad exceptions that a person should be aware of prior to openly carrying a firearm. If you do not want to have an unpleasant conversation with a police officer or, worse, being charged with a crime you were previously unaware of, do a little research. These issues are Washington specific, as Washington is where I practice, but the issues may apply to other states and hopefully pique the curiosity of others thinking about open carry. Don't get me wrong, I fully support open carry, but I am aware of the problems it might lead to.
Washington has a statute that prohibits display of a firearm in such a manner as to threaten others or which causes public alarm. Here is the text of RCW 9.41.270(1): (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons. This has been interpreted by the Court of Appeals in State v. Spencer, 75 Wn.App. 118 (1994), review denied 125 Wn.2d 1015 (1995)) as not being overly vague and within the state's police powers, and was applied in that case to a situation where a rifle was openly carried, no threats were made or perceived, but a member of the public and, of course, the police were alarmed. This was affirmed by the Supreme Court in State v. Montana, 129 Wn.2d 583. I could not find a Washington case in the last fifteen years where the court applied this to a person openly carrying a handgun in a holster. (The Barker decision, 103 Wn.App 893, is distinguishable on several grounds). If you open carry in Washington, be prepared for police harassment and embarrassing discussions.
Washington has a statute that prohibits the carry of loaded firearms in automobiles. RCW 9.41.050(2): ((a) A person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed pistol and: (i) The pistol is on the licensee's person, (ii) the licensee is within the vehicle at all times that the pistol is there, or (iii) the licensee is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle. So, unless you like to walk or have a horse handy, how are you going to accomplish open carry without driving to all those places it is legal to open carry? Maybe you will keep your ammo in the trunk and load your weapon after you exit your vehicle. Not a bad idea, unless someone sees you and thinks that you are the next Robert Stewart and you wind up in custody under RCW 9.41.270. Unless you want to park your car in out of the way spots so that you can clandestinely load your open carry piece without causing alarm, it is far more practical to just get a CCW and carry concealed.
Washington prohibits the carrying of firearms in a number of other instances. Schools, school transportation, or any area being used by schools. RCW 9.41.280. Any place that serves alcohol (applies to area excluding minors), and other restricted areas identified by statute. RCW 9.41.300.
Keep in mind that local standards may apply. Carrying an SKS rifle on your shoulder may not alarm anyone in Kettle Falls, Washington, but doing so while walking your dog in King County will get you arrested. (See State v. Spencer, above).
I will admit that I don't know all of the twists and turns of Washington law with regard to the open carry of firearms. I apologize for the lack of links for the cases cited. These can be accessed for free at www.legalwa.org. If a person has questions, I advise consulting with an attorney in your specific jurisdiction and in any local jurisdiction in which you intend to open carry. Open carry is indeed legal in Washington, but only do so with forethought and knowledge. To proceed otherwise is to risk making a major, unintended lifestyle change.
Just my two cents, and my sincere thanks to TheOtherRyan at Total Survivalist Libertarian Rantfest for his input and suggestions.
Washington has a statute that prohibits display of a firearm in such a manner as to threaten others or which causes public alarm. Here is the text of RCW 9.41.270(1): (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons. This has been interpreted by the Court of Appeals in State v. Spencer, 75 Wn.App. 118 (1994), review denied 125 Wn.2d 1015 (1995)) as not being overly vague and within the state's police powers, and was applied in that case to a situation where a rifle was openly carried, no threats were made or perceived, but a member of the public and, of course, the police were alarmed. This was affirmed by the Supreme Court in State v. Montana, 129 Wn.2d 583. I could not find a Washington case in the last fifteen years where the court applied this to a person openly carrying a handgun in a holster. (The Barker decision, 103 Wn.App 893, is distinguishable on several grounds). If you open carry in Washington, be prepared for police harassment and embarrassing discussions.
Washington has a statute that prohibits the carry of loaded firearms in automobiles. RCW 9.41.050(2): ((a) A person shall not carry or place a loaded pistol in any vehicle unless the person has a license to carry a concealed pistol and: (i) The pistol is on the licensee's person, (ii) the licensee is within the vehicle at all times that the pistol is there, or (iii) the licensee is away from the vehicle and the pistol is locked within the vehicle and concealed from view from outside the vehicle. So, unless you like to walk or have a horse handy, how are you going to accomplish open carry without driving to all those places it is legal to open carry? Maybe you will keep your ammo in the trunk and load your weapon after you exit your vehicle. Not a bad idea, unless someone sees you and thinks that you are the next Robert Stewart and you wind up in custody under RCW 9.41.270. Unless you want to park your car in out of the way spots so that you can clandestinely load your open carry piece without causing alarm, it is far more practical to just get a CCW and carry concealed.
Washington prohibits the carrying of firearms in a number of other instances. Schools, school transportation, or any area being used by schools. RCW 9.41.280. Any place that serves alcohol (applies to area excluding minors), and other restricted areas identified by statute. RCW 9.41.300.
Keep in mind that local standards may apply. Carrying an SKS rifle on your shoulder may not alarm anyone in Kettle Falls, Washington, but doing so while walking your dog in King County will get you arrested. (See State v. Spencer, above).
I will admit that I don't know all of the twists and turns of Washington law with regard to the open carry of firearms. I apologize for the lack of links for the cases cited. These can be accessed for free at www.legalwa.org. If a person has questions, I advise consulting with an attorney in your specific jurisdiction and in any local jurisdiction in which you intend to open carry. Open carry is indeed legal in Washington, but only do so with forethought and knowledge. To proceed otherwise is to risk making a major, unintended lifestyle change.
Just my two cents, and my sincere thanks to TheOtherRyan at Total Survivalist Libertarian Rantfest for his input and suggestions.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Swine Flu--Be Prepared
So we have an unusual strain of influenza that combines genetic elements of swine flue and avian flu, the World Health Organization (WHO) says it has pandemic potential, the Centers for Disease Control says that further spread cannot be contained, and in the past twenty-four hours cases are popping up in Texas, California, Kansas, and New York City. Add to this the unusual number of deaths in Mexico, where the strain appears to have originated, among young people who are not usually among the fatalities from influenza, and that in Mexico City the government has banned public events for ten days due to the outbreak.
Consider that we live in a highly mobile society in which an infected person could spread a contagion to thousands of people across the country within hours. Stephen King was probably not the first, but his novel The Stand gives a plausible illustration of how it could happen. One infected traveller in Los Angeles boarding a flight for New York with stopovers in any Midwestern city has the potential to spread this new influenza threat far and wide before many would even suspect they have been exposed.
If this is like the usual yearly flu outbreaks, we may have nothing more than a few days downtime from exposure. However, the number of deaths in Mexico at this time of the year, and the news coverage given to this outbreak have me worried. Some things that I am doing to try and be prepared for this are:
--Keeping updated on news sources for new outbreaks and the level of fatalities.
--Putting additional emphasis on keeping clean, washing hands, and disinfecting surfaces which get touched frequently.
--Having a supply of N95 face masks handy in case things get dicey along with a supply of latex gloves, extra disinfectants, and extra chlorine bleach.
If it appears that this influenza strain has a high mortality factor we are already prepared to stay indoors for several weeks. However, in the meantime we still have to go to work to keep the bills paid. I want to have protection in case this influenza has the potential to make one gravely ill. I'm not convinced that a pandemic is here, but I am concerned and getting prepared.
Consider that we live in a highly mobile society in which an infected person could spread a contagion to thousands of people across the country within hours. Stephen King was probably not the first, but his novel The Stand gives a plausible illustration of how it could happen. One infected traveller in Los Angeles boarding a flight for New York with stopovers in any Midwestern city has the potential to spread this new influenza threat far and wide before many would even suspect they have been exposed.
If this is like the usual yearly flu outbreaks, we may have nothing more than a few days downtime from exposure. However, the number of deaths in Mexico at this time of the year, and the news coverage given to this outbreak have me worried. Some things that I am doing to try and be prepared for this are:
--Keeping updated on news sources for new outbreaks and the level of fatalities.
--Putting additional emphasis on keeping clean, washing hands, and disinfecting surfaces which get touched frequently.
--Having a supply of N95 face masks handy in case things get dicey along with a supply of latex gloves, extra disinfectants, and extra chlorine bleach.
If it appears that this influenza strain has a high mortality factor we are already prepared to stay indoors for several weeks. However, in the meantime we still have to go to work to keep the bills paid. I want to have protection in case this influenza has the potential to make one gravely ill. I'm not convinced that a pandemic is here, but I am concerned and getting prepared.
Quote of the Day
The right to be let alone is indeed the beginning of all freedoms.
William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1939-1975)
William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1939-1975)
Friday, April 24, 2009
Quote of the Day
The Framers [of the Constitution] knew that free speech is the friend of change and revolution. But they also knew that it is always the deadliest enemy of tyranny.
Hugo Black, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1937-1971)
Hugo Black, U.S. Supreme Court Justice (1937-1971)
Thursday, April 23, 2009
EyeWitless News
Village May Use Potholes to Slow Down Speeders
LONDON--Officials in the small English village of Navestock, some 25 miles northeast of London, are considering leaving many of the town's potholes unfilled as a way to bedevil the speeders who zip through town at a breakneck pace.
There's another advantage as well: Leaving the potholes alone is a lot cheaper than fixing them.
Nothing new here. My Eastern Washington hometown has had this policy for decades.
LONDON--Officials in the small English village of Navestock, some 25 miles northeast of London, are considering leaving many of the town's potholes unfilled as a way to bedevil the speeders who zip through town at a breakneck pace.
There's another advantage as well: Leaving the potholes alone is a lot cheaper than fixing them.
Nothing new here. My Eastern Washington hometown has had this policy for decades.
Quote of the Day
She had a rare combination of being completely moral and completely nonjudgmental at the same time -- the exact opposite of liberals who have absolutely no morals and yet are ferociously judgmental.
Ann Coulter (reflecting on the loss of her mother)
My condolences to Ann on the loss of her mother.
Ann Coulter (reflecting on the loss of her mother)
My condolences to Ann on the loss of her mother.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Retarded Politician of the Week
Janet Napolitano
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, is the recipient of the dubious honor of being Nairb's Retarded Politician of the Week.
Ms. Napolitano presides over the Department of Homeland Security, that federal agency charged with keeping us safe. "Safe from whom?" you might rightly ask. Well, apparently from those among us who are anti-abortion, pro-gun, anti-illegal immigration, dissatisfied with the corpus ingens that is our federal government, or are otherwise believers in limited government. This is evident from the DHS report (thanks, FreedomAlliance.org) labelling those of us who have such views as "extremists" to be watched. Ms. Napolitano has refused to apologize for this slander of a large percentage of American citizens or to withdraw the report.
Meanwhile, Ms. Napolitano and her cabal of extremist hunters have neglected the following threats to Americans:
ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. This group has been involved in: organizing harassment of AIG executives in Connecticut, disrupting Federal Reserve hearings, invading closed city council hearing in Chicago, storming another Chicago city council meeting, sending busloads of protesters to intimidate the mayor of Baltimore and his family. This is just the tip of the iceberg, the result of less than sixty seconds of Google searching.
Illegal immigration. Whether just migrants looking for work, drug traffickers, or islamic terrorists, DHS apparently is turning a blind eye to threats at the border. To DHS, a redneck with a shotgun is more of a threat than an islamic whack-job who wants to kill us all in the name of the Moon God and crosses freely over the border with Mexico. Not real enough? How about the quantifiable violence in American border states due to Mexican drug cartels? Again, Napolitano is more interested in the shotgun-toting redneck. Heck, Ms. Napolitano just told us that illegally entering the U.S. is not a crime. Read it here.
Domestic Jihadists. Islamic extremist groups have set up training camps across the U.S. These camps, in which hatred for the U.S. is preached alongside Islamic ideology, exist in fifteen states. Many of these are highly armed compounds. The Christian Action Network has released a DVD Homegrown Jihad on the subject, available here. What is Ms. Napolitano doing about this threat to America? Focusing on "right-wing extremists".
Street Gangs. Crips, Bloods, Mara Salvatrucha, Vice Lords, Gangster Disciples, Latin Kings, Nortenos, etc. Need I say more? Every state has an infestation of street gangs which correlates with gang violence. Street gangs have also infiltrated the military to learn tactics for offensive use against law enforcement. Street gangs are probably the biggest threat to domestic security, yet Ms. Napolitano again focuses on "right-wing extremists".
I submit that Ms. Napolitano, who coincidentally bears a resemblance to another Janet famous for attacking "right-wing extremists", former Clintonista Attorney General Janet Reno, has a political motive for her obsession with "right-wing extremists". "Right-wing extremists" will likely never be accused of voting Democratic, while members of ACORN, illegal immigrants, homegrown Islamic whackos, and minorities involved in street gangs can reliably be counted on to support anything that the Second Carter Administration of Braaaack Obummer wants. It is a safe political move to attack those of us who do not agree with the Obummer Socialist Steamroller.
Congratulations, Secretary Napolitano. You are the Retarded Politician of the Week.
Quote of the Day
Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything.
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Quote of the Day
Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
I'M A DOMESTIC TERRORIST
According to what I have been reading about the latest Department of Homeland Security report about domestic terrorism concerns, I have come to the conclusion that I am a domestic terrorist. According to DHS, I fit the profile because I:
*Am anti-government (at least the current incarnation of the Carter administration);
*Am, as previously stated, antagonistic to the current administration, especially over its policies on firearms ownership, immigration, and expansion of social programs;
*Believe in the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, which favors state authority over federal authority;
*Have several "single issues" that I am dedicated to, such as pro-gun, pro-life, and anti-illegal immigration; and
*Am focused on the economy: loss of jobs, home foreclosures, and massive bank bailouts that we cannot afford.
If believing in the Constitution and wanting to restore the republic to its former glory makes me a domestic terrorist, I will gladly wear that label as my own red badge of courage.
*Am anti-government (at least the current incarnation of the Carter administration);
*Am, as previously stated, antagonistic to the current administration, especially over its policies on firearms ownership, immigration, and expansion of social programs;
*Believe in the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, which favors state authority over federal authority;
*Have several "single issues" that I am dedicated to, such as pro-gun, pro-life, and anti-illegal immigration; and
*Am focused on the economy: loss of jobs, home foreclosures, and massive bank bailouts that we cannot afford.
If believing in the Constitution and wanting to restore the republic to its former glory makes me a domestic terrorist, I will gladly wear that label as my own red badge of courage.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Rotten Rat Bastards...
Mailed off my payment to Uncle Sugar today. Funny, I don't feel more patriotic. Feel more like a mugging victim. Especially knowing that my money goes to a government that does not represent my interests. If I were a welfare queen with ten illegitimate children living off the gub'mint, or if I were some fatcat banker knowing that I was only giving back a miniscule fraction of what I had stolen, I might feel different. Oh well, at least I have another year before I have to account to the rotten rat bastards again.
Because I delayed getting my taxes figured until last night, I did not post a Quote of the Day yesterday, so I put two up today.
Because I delayed getting my taxes figured until last night, I did not post a Quote of the Day yesterday, so I put two up today.
Quote of the Day
If Thomas Jefferson thought taxation without representation was bad, he should see how it is with representation.
Rush Limbaugh
I wouldn't mind paying taxes… if I knew they were going to a friendly country.
Dick Gregory
Rush Limbaugh
I wouldn't mind paying taxes… if I knew they were going to a friendly country.
Dick Gregory
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Thanks, Gary Olen!
Had some time to spare today so I made a trip to the nearby Wally World to see if they had any ammo in stock. Same news as last week, no 9mm, no .38, no .357, no .45, and no bricks of .22. There was some .223, but the 100 and 200 packs had not come in yet.
I got home and looked around on the internet to see who had any. Bad news there, too. Almost nothing to be had, anywhere.
There was one semi-bright spot. Gary Olen's Sportsman's Guide did not have a lot in stock, but is allowing backorders and you can see when the item is estimated to arrive. The nice things about Sportsman's Guide are that their prices are reasonable, they don't charge your credit card until the item ships, their shipping prices are reasonable, and they don't double charge on shipping if items ship at different dates. Plus, they send a ten dollar discount coupon for your next order. I use the coupons religiously. I have backordered before and Sportsman's Guide has always honored the price from my order, even if the price went up substantially in the meantime.
Thanks, Gary Olen!
I got home and looked around on the internet to see who had any. Bad news there, too. Almost nothing to be had, anywhere.
There was one semi-bright spot. Gary Olen's Sportsman's Guide did not have a lot in stock, but is allowing backorders and you can see when the item is estimated to arrive. The nice things about Sportsman's Guide are that their prices are reasonable, they don't charge your credit card until the item ships, their shipping prices are reasonable, and they don't double charge on shipping if items ship at different dates. Plus, they send a ten dollar discount coupon for your next order. I use the coupons religiously. I have backordered before and Sportsman's Guide has always honored the price from my order, even if the price went up substantially in the meantime.
Thanks, Gary Olen!
EyeWitless News
Not Wrong... Just Waaaaaaaaaaay Ahead of the Curve
Another Ice Age?
Time Magazine, June 26, 1974
As they review the bizarre and unpredictable weather pattern of the past several years, a growing number of scientists are beginning to suspect that many seemingly contradictory meteorological fluctuations are actually part of a global climatic upheaval... The trend shows no indication of reversing. Climatological Cassandras are becoming increasingly apprehensive, for the weather aberrations they are studying may be the harbinger of another ice age.
Click on the link to read more from this blast from the past.
Another Ice Age?
Time Magazine, June 26, 1974
As they review the bizarre and unpredictable weather pattern of the past several years, a growing number of scientists are beginning to suspect that many seemingly contradictory meteorological fluctuations are actually part of a global climatic upheaval... The trend shows no indication of reversing. Climatological Cassandras are becoming increasingly apprehensive, for the weather aberrations they are studying may be the harbinger of another ice age.
Click on the link to read more from this blast from the past.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Quote of the Day
I have little interest in streamlining government or in making it more efficient, for I mean to reduce its size. I do not undertake to promote welfare, for I propose to extend freedom. My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them. It is not to inaugurate new programs, but to cancel old ones that do violence to the Constitution or that have failed their purpose, or that impose on the people an unwarranted financial burden. I will not attempt to discover whether legislation is ``needed'' before I have first determined whether it is constitutionally permissible. And if I should later be attacked for neglecting my constituents "interests,'' I shall reply that I was informed that their main interest is liberty and that in that cause I am doing the very best I can.
Barry Goldwater
Barry Goldwater
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Quote of the Day
A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.
Thomas Jefferson
Except that in November 2008 the Kool-Aid drinkers numbered 52%.
Nairb
Thomas Jefferson
Except that in November 2008 the Kool-Aid drinkers numbered 52%.
Nairb
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
EyeWitless News
Obama May Block Sun's Rays to End Global Warming
WASHINGTON — The president's new science adviser said Wednesday that global warming is so dire, the Obama administration is discussing radical technologies to cool Earth's air.
John Holdren told The Associated Press in his first interview since being confirmed last month that the idea of geoengineering the climate is being discussed.
One such extreme option includes shooting pollution particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun's rays.
The last time I checked, global warming was a theory not embraced by all of the scientific community. We are rapidly going from accepting dubious scientific theories to all-out lunacy. Consider for a moment that pollution in the atmosphere is supposedly one of the causes of global warming. Now we want to consider adding more pollution to the atmosphere as a cure?
WASHINGTON — The president's new science adviser said Wednesday that global warming is so dire, the Obama administration is discussing radical technologies to cool Earth's air.
John Holdren told The Associated Press in his first interview since being confirmed last month that the idea of geoengineering the climate is being discussed.
One such extreme option includes shooting pollution particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun's rays.
The last time I checked, global warming was a theory not embraced by all of the scientific community. We are rapidly going from accepting dubious scientific theories to all-out lunacy. Consider for a moment that pollution in the atmosphere is supposedly one of the causes of global warming. Now we want to consider adding more pollution to the atmosphere as a cure?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Quote of the Day
Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Monday, April 6, 2009
Retarded Politician of the Week
It's early in the week, but some nut-jobs get to the head of the pack early on. Case in point, Senator John "Citizen Kohn" Kerry, D-People's Republic of Massachusetts, who can't open his mouth without crap coming out.
Citizen Kohn can't seem to bring himself to protect American citizens from Mexican drug violence spilling into the U.S. He says that calling out the National Guard to protect the U.S. side of the border is "premature and possibly counterproductive". Translation: The National Guard might prevent new Democratic voters from entering the U.S.
While leaving U.S. citizens to the tender mercies of Mexican drug gangs, Citizen Kohn nonetheless is ready to attack what he sees as the problem. What does Citizen Kohn propose? He wants to ban guns. But not in Mexico, where the problem actually has taken root. Citizen Kohn wants to ban guns in the United States. He again wants to ban what he has again misnamed "assault rifles."
Nevermind that "assault rifles" are full-auto or selective fire and are illegal in the U.S. except for specially licensed firearms owned or manufactured prior to the aptly misnamed Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986. Nevermind the fact that very few firearms confiscated in Mexico are from the U.S. Nevermind the fact that any true "assault rifles" which actually made their way from the U.S. to Mexico were most likely provided by the U.S. government to the Mexican government and later stolen. Nevermind the fact that Mexico is a sovereign state with its own military and law enforcement which should be handling its own internal problems. Nevermind the fact that Mexico has one of the most stringent gun-control schemes in the Western Hemisphere, yet gun violence goes on unabated. Nevermind the fact that the U.S. government refuses to honor its own laws to control border crossings and provide effective enforcement of immigration laws. Nevermind the fact that law-abiding gun owners are not the problem but would be abandoned and left defenseless by the likes of Citizen Kohn and his gun-grabbing cohorts.
Here's the story that pushed Citizen Kohn to the top.
It is early, but Senator John "Citizen Kohn" Kerry, D-People's Republic of Massachusetts, has clinched the dubious honor of Retarded Politician of the Week.
Citizen Kohn can't seem to bring himself to protect American citizens from Mexican drug violence spilling into the U.S. He says that calling out the National Guard to protect the U.S. side of the border is "premature and possibly counterproductive". Translation: The National Guard might prevent new Democratic voters from entering the U.S.
While leaving U.S. citizens to the tender mercies of Mexican drug gangs, Citizen Kohn nonetheless is ready to attack what he sees as the problem. What does Citizen Kohn propose? He wants to ban guns. But not in Mexico, where the problem actually has taken root. Citizen Kohn wants to ban guns in the United States. He again wants to ban what he has again misnamed "assault rifles."
Nevermind that "assault rifles" are full-auto or selective fire and are illegal in the U.S. except for specially licensed firearms owned or manufactured prior to the aptly misnamed Firearms Owners Protection Act of 1986. Nevermind the fact that very few firearms confiscated in Mexico are from the U.S. Nevermind the fact that any true "assault rifles" which actually made their way from the U.S. to Mexico were most likely provided by the U.S. government to the Mexican government and later stolen. Nevermind the fact that Mexico is a sovereign state with its own military and law enforcement which should be handling its own internal problems. Nevermind the fact that Mexico has one of the most stringent gun-control schemes in the Western Hemisphere, yet gun violence goes on unabated. Nevermind the fact that the U.S. government refuses to honor its own laws to control border crossings and provide effective enforcement of immigration laws. Nevermind the fact that law-abiding gun owners are not the problem but would be abandoned and left defenseless by the likes of Citizen Kohn and his gun-grabbing cohorts.
Here's the story that pushed Citizen Kohn to the top.
It is early, but Senator John "Citizen Kohn" Kerry, D-People's Republic of Massachusetts, has clinched the dubious honor of Retarded Politician of the Week.
Quote of the Day
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.
Teddy Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The Foxes Are in the Henhouse
So now we have Secretary of the Treasury Timothy "Turbo TaxCheat" Geithner telling the banks that additional bailouts will come with strings that may include the government dictating bank management.
Geithner to Banks: Get Federal Help, Government Decides Your Executive Line-Up
I certainly don't feel sorry for the banks, but I fear what this portends for private enterprise in general.
This could be the end of the story for some banks, but it is not the beginning. Seems that the repeal of the Glass-Steagal Act and enactment of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act in 2000, signed by the First Black President, was the beginning of the financial meltdown we are having today. Glass-Steagall was a Great Depression era law which prevented merging of banks, insurance companies, and financial brokerages. The Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 prevented the U.S. regulatory agency, the Commodity Futures Trading Corporation, from having oversite of derivatives such as Credit Default Swaps, such as those involved in the AIG insurance disaster.
Why is this important? The then-Secretary of the Treasury pushing passage of the legislation with the First Black President was Larry Summers, now director of the White House's National Economic Council for President Obummer. His assistant? Drumroll please......
Timothy "Turbo TaxCheat" Geithner. Read Geithner's 'Dirty Little Secret'.
He's from the government, and he's here to help.
Geithner to Banks: Get Federal Help, Government Decides Your Executive Line-Up
I certainly don't feel sorry for the banks, but I fear what this portends for private enterprise in general.
This could be the end of the story for some banks, but it is not the beginning. Seems that the repeal of the Glass-Steagal Act and enactment of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act in 2000, signed by the First Black President, was the beginning of the financial meltdown we are having today. Glass-Steagall was a Great Depression era law which prevented merging of banks, insurance companies, and financial brokerages. The Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 prevented the U.S. regulatory agency, the Commodity Futures Trading Corporation, from having oversite of derivatives such as Credit Default Swaps, such as those involved in the AIG insurance disaster.
Why is this important? The then-Secretary of the Treasury pushing passage of the legislation with the First Black President was Larry Summers, now director of the White House's National Economic Council for President Obummer. His assistant? Drumroll please......
Timothy "Turbo TaxCheat" Geithner. Read Geithner's 'Dirty Little Secret'.
He's from the government, and he's here to help.
EyeWitless News Update: No Rumble for Jack Rumble...
I have seen some excitement in the blogs over the arrest of Jack Rumble in Ogdenstown, New York, near Watertown. Before checking into the story, I read several accounts in the blogs which seem to claim Mr. Rumble was targeted because he had a bunker, three months or more of food, and that he made AK-47s (apparently he did have an FFL, but not sure if the reference is to semi-auto or Class III).
We should all slow down, think, and do a little research before we jump on the "See, government is out to get us!" bandwagon. Jumping aboard is a waste of energy, makes us look like paranoid crackpots, and creates dangerous hysteria that someone may act on.
I did a little checking on the arrest of Mr. Rumble, and found the following:
--some of Mr. Rumble's neighbors were afraid of him
--there are allegations that Mr. Rumble was involved in drug activity
--there are allegations that Mr. Rumble possessed a gun with eradicated serial number
--the police and feds had a search warrant
--the investigation of Mr. Rumble was related to a larger investigation into drug activity and illegal possession of weapons
Don't get me wrong here. I am not saying that Mr. Rumble is guilty of any of the allegations made against him, nor am I saying that he does deserves to be shunned because of the allegations. No one should make such a rush to judgment. By the same token, no one should rush to judge that the government is somehow persecuting Mr. Rumble because he is alleged to be a survivalist with lots of guns, food, and an anti-government mentality.
Mr. Rumble is innocent until proven guilty. What we should scrupulously examine is whether he obtains a fair trial by a jury of his peers. If we believe in our Constitution, we must be vigilant about due process of law for Mr. Rumble.
My sources are:
Feds raid house in Ogdensburg, take one in for questioning
Mountain of weapons seized in raid
Ogdensburg man who had 175 guns must stay in jail
Weapons raid yields county's largest seizure; man arraigned
Ogdensburg man due in federal court after raid on his home
Ogdensburg man held in guns for drugs swap
and the incomplete story that gets cited the most:
Update: Rumble Had Bunker with Enough Food to Barricade Himself for 3 Months
We should all slow down, think, and do a little research before we jump on the "See, government is out to get us!" bandwagon. Jumping aboard is a waste of energy, makes us look like paranoid crackpots, and creates dangerous hysteria that someone may act on.
I did a little checking on the arrest of Mr. Rumble, and found the following:
--some of Mr. Rumble's neighbors were afraid of him
--there are allegations that Mr. Rumble was involved in drug activity
--there are allegations that Mr. Rumble possessed a gun with eradicated serial number
--the police and feds had a search warrant
--the investigation of Mr. Rumble was related to a larger investigation into drug activity and illegal possession of weapons
Don't get me wrong here. I am not saying that Mr. Rumble is guilty of any of the allegations made against him, nor am I saying that he does deserves to be shunned because of the allegations. No one should make such a rush to judgment. By the same token, no one should rush to judge that the government is somehow persecuting Mr. Rumble because he is alleged to be a survivalist with lots of guns, food, and an anti-government mentality.
Mr. Rumble is innocent until proven guilty. What we should scrupulously examine is whether he obtains a fair trial by a jury of his peers. If we believe in our Constitution, we must be vigilant about due process of law for Mr. Rumble.
My sources are:
Feds raid house in Ogdensburg, take one in for questioning
Mountain of weapons seized in raid
Ogdensburg man who had 175 guns must stay in jail
Weapons raid yields county's largest seizure; man arraigned
Ogdensburg man due in federal court after raid on his home
Ogdensburg man held in guns for drugs swap
and the incomplete story that gets cited the most:
Update: Rumble Had Bunker with Enough Food to Barricade Himself for 3 Months
Quote of the Day
I weep for the liberty of my country when I see at this early day of its successful experiment that corruption has been imputed to many members of the House of Representatives, and the rights of the people have been bartered for promises of office.
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Saturday, April 4, 2009
David Olafson Needs Your Support
For about a year now I have been contributing support for David Olafson through Gun Owners of America. Olafson was wrongfully convicted of possession an unregistered machine gun after his semi-automatic rifle malfunctioned and fired a three round burst while in the possession of a friend at a rifle range.
Do your part to stand up to government tyranny, contribute to the Olafson Relief Fund.
Do your part to stand up to government tyranny, contribute to the Olafson Relief Fund.
Singing Kumbaya Doesn't Work
In the news today:
President Barack Obama's vision of a world without nuclear arms is an achievable goal and the president will pursue it with an eye on the lessons learned from four decades of difficult diplomacy, the White House said Saturday.
To which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (funny how often despotic regimes are democratic republics) promptly responded by firing off a missile potentially capable of reaching Alaska with a nuclear warhead.
You can draw your own conclusions about the effectiveness of Obummer's foreign policy.
President Barack Obama's vision of a world without nuclear arms is an achievable goal and the president will pursue it with an eye on the lessons learned from four decades of difficult diplomacy, the White House said Saturday.
To which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (funny how often despotic regimes are democratic republics) promptly responded by firing off a missile potentially capable of reaching Alaska with a nuclear warhead.
You can draw your own conclusions about the effectiveness of Obummer's foreign policy.
Went to the Gun Show
I went to the gun show with a buddy today. It was one of the bigger shows, filling three of the buildings. Prices on all of the bannables were up. Olympic ARs I saw a year ago for $599 were $799 from the same dealer. Not as many ARs out there, but still plenty to be had, average price seemed to be about $1,200. AK variants were few and far between, those I saw were selling for about $750, way overpriced in my opinion. SKS rifles were generally $400 to $450 for the half a dozen I saw. Also overpriced: I remember buying one for $129 fifteen years or so ago, in better shape than those I saw today. The regular dealers had only modest price increased over what I saw over the past year. A lot of opportunists jacking their prices. Was not that long ago you could get a used S&W .38 in good shape for $300. My friend was looking for one, and most I saw were between $400 and $450. Ammo prices were markedly higher for what was available. 7.62x39 and .223 were about $3.00 to $4.00 more a box than in local stores (that still have it in stock, by the way). 9mm, .38, .357, .380, and .45 were scarce if they could be found at all. The ammo dealer who seems to be at every show had empty spots where the most common handgum calibers would be. I did not buy anything today.
Interesting thought I had while making my way through the other attendees: Everyone is exceedingly polite at gun shows. No one is allowed to have a loaded weapon, so in theory no one is armed. One constantly hears the words "please", "thank you" and "excuse me" being uttered. So different from a trip to the mall.
Interesting thought I had while making my way through the other attendees: Everyone is exceedingly polite at gun shows. No one is allowed to have a loaded weapon, so in theory no one is armed. One constantly hears the words "please", "thank you" and "excuse me" being uttered. So different from a trip to the mall.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Retarded Politician of the Week
The first Retarded Politician of the Week is U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards, D-MD. New federal legislation, if passed, could allow District of Columbia residents to purchase firearms in Maryland (there are no firearms retailers in D.C.). The scholarly Ms. Edwards expressed concern that the cost of background checks on D.C. purchasers would place a "tremendous burden" on the state of Maryland at a time when its budget is already strained.
What a load of crap. Ms. Edwards is either lying or just incredibly stupid. I'll vote for stupid, thus her attaining status of Retarded Politician of the Week.
Allow me to elaborate. With instant checks in place, the retailer makes a phone call for the background check. I have had about ten of these in the last five years. I have never had to wait more than ten minutes while the retailer made the call to obtain approval for the sale. To be generous, let's just say that the proximity to D.C. makes the process take twice as long in Maryland.
Let's say that the average sale price of a firearm is $400.00. The state sales tax in Maryland is 6%. I'm not even going to count the local additions to the sales tax. So, on a $400.00 firearm sale, the state makes $24.00. If the background check took twenty minutes to complete, the state makes $72.00 per hour for the work. Taken another way, the state makes $24.00 it would not have had but for the firearm sale to the D.C. resident. Keep in mind that Maryland would still have to pay to staff the instant check line, regardless of whether D.C. residents purchase firearms.
Also consider that Maryland businesses would be profiting from the sale of firearms to D.C. residents. These are profits that are spent in Maryland by the firearms retailers, after those retailers pay taxes to the state of Maryland. I assume that these are the kind of taxes the state spends in its budget.
The idiotic equivalent of Ms. Edwards' statement would be for the Maryland State Police to sit at the state borders and refuse entrance to automobiles from other states because of budget constraints. Any idiot could see that denying entrance to out-of-state motorists would be depriving the state of business from those motorists and resulting tax revenue. Any idiot but Donna Edwards.
The source.
What a load of crap. Ms. Edwards is either lying or just incredibly stupid. I'll vote for stupid, thus her attaining status of Retarded Politician of the Week.
Allow me to elaborate. With instant checks in place, the retailer makes a phone call for the background check. I have had about ten of these in the last five years. I have never had to wait more than ten minutes while the retailer made the call to obtain approval for the sale. To be generous, let's just say that the proximity to D.C. makes the process take twice as long in Maryland.
Let's say that the average sale price of a firearm is $400.00. The state sales tax in Maryland is 6%. I'm not even going to count the local additions to the sales tax. So, on a $400.00 firearm sale, the state makes $24.00. If the background check took twenty minutes to complete, the state makes $72.00 per hour for the work. Taken another way, the state makes $24.00 it would not have had but for the firearm sale to the D.C. resident. Keep in mind that Maryland would still have to pay to staff the instant check line, regardless of whether D.C. residents purchase firearms.
Also consider that Maryland businesses would be profiting from the sale of firearms to D.C. residents. These are profits that are spent in Maryland by the firearms retailers, after those retailers pay taxes to the state of Maryland. I assume that these are the kind of taxes the state spends in its budget.
The idiotic equivalent of Ms. Edwards' statement would be for the Maryland State Police to sit at the state borders and refuse entrance to automobiles from other states because of budget constraints. Any idiot could see that denying entrance to out-of-state motorists would be depriving the state of business from those motorists and resulting tax revenue. Any idiot but Donna Edwards.
The source.
The Gun Show Is In Town!!!!!
The gun show is in town this weekend at the fairgrounds. Yippee!!!!! Hopefully I can find some ammo I've been looking for and maybe a new toy.
Government Bailouts Unconstitutional?
Well, some pundits are finally coming around to the conclusion that the government bailout legislation and executive dispersment of the funds may be unconstitutional. This is the kind of spirited debate I like to see, and indicates that our constitutional republic may not be fading as fast as it appears.
George Will was the first to catch my attention with his argument that the Emergency Economic Stablization Act of 2008, which created TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program), is unconstitutional because it violates Article I of the Constitution, in which all legislative powers are vested in congress. Interesting.
Terrence Jeffrey took a more focused view, declaring that the money allocated to GM and Chrysler from TARP funds by Bushwhacker is unconstitutional because the loans did not purchase troubled assets and do not help financial institutions.
I like Will's approach because, if such a challenge was successful, it could impose limitations on the expansion of government. However, Will and Jeffrey both seem to overlook the idea that someone has to have standing in order to sue on the issue of constitutionality.
Ken Klukowski opines that if the Supreme Court were to reverse existing precedent to allow taxpayers to sue, that this would open a Pandora's box of judicial activism where the courts would have free reign to rewrite social and economic policy. Hmmm... To get constitutional government we would be subject to unconstitutional judicial activism. Not a good trade off.
My thoughts: Just remove politicians' immunity from suit. Sure, it might result in them getting sued for every little thing they do, but it would result in a lot less government.
George Will was the first to catch my attention with his argument that the Emergency Economic Stablization Act of 2008, which created TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program), is unconstitutional because it violates Article I of the Constitution, in which all legislative powers are vested in congress. Interesting.
Terrence Jeffrey took a more focused view, declaring that the money allocated to GM and Chrysler from TARP funds by Bushwhacker is unconstitutional because the loans did not purchase troubled assets and do not help financial institutions.
I like Will's approach because, if such a challenge was successful, it could impose limitations on the expansion of government. However, Will and Jeffrey both seem to overlook the idea that someone has to have standing in order to sue on the issue of constitutionality.
Ken Klukowski opines that if the Supreme Court were to reverse existing precedent to allow taxpayers to sue, that this would open a Pandora's box of judicial activism where the courts would have free reign to rewrite social and economic policy. Hmmm... To get constitutional government we would be subject to unconstitutional judicial activism. Not a good trade off.
My thoughts: Just remove politicians' immunity from suit. Sure, it might result in them getting sued for every little thing they do, but it would result in a lot less government.
Quote of the Day
Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
George Washington
George Washington
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Obama Administration Lying About Source of Guns in Mexico Crimes
It's about time that someone exposed the lies that the Obummer administration is telling about American gun owners. Kudos to the investigative journalists at Fox News.
The Myth of 90 Percent: Only a Small Fraction of Guns in Mexico Come From U.S.
In 2007-2008, according to ATF Special Agent William Newell, Mexico submitted 11,000 guns to the ATF for tracing. Close to 6,000 were successfully traced -- and of those, 90 percent -- 5,114 to be exact, according to testimony in Congress by William Hoover -- were found to have come from the U.S.
But in those same two years, according to the Mexican government, 29,000 guns were recovered at crime scenes.
In other words, 68 percent of the guns that were recovered were never submitted for tracing. And when you weed out the roughly 6,000 guns that could not be traced from the remaining 32 percent, it means 83 percent of the guns found at crime scenes in Mexico could not be traced to the U.S.
Click on the headline for the rest of the story.
The Myth of 90 Percent: Only a Small Fraction of Guns in Mexico Come From U.S.
In 2007-2008, according to ATF Special Agent William Newell, Mexico submitted 11,000 guns to the ATF for tracing. Close to 6,000 were successfully traced -- and of those, 90 percent -- 5,114 to be exact, according to testimony in Congress by William Hoover -- were found to have come from the U.S.
But in those same two years, according to the Mexican government, 29,000 guns were recovered at crime scenes.
In other words, 68 percent of the guns that were recovered were never submitted for tracing. And when you weed out the roughly 6,000 guns that could not be traced from the remaining 32 percent, it means 83 percent of the guns found at crime scenes in Mexico could not be traced to the U.S.
Click on the headline for the rest of the story.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
EyeWitless News
Man Charged With Drunk Driving on Bar Stool
NEWARK, Ohio - A 28-year-old man has been charged with drunken driving after crashing his motorized bar stool, Ohio authorities said.
Click on the headline for the rest of the story.
Now why didn't I think of that?
NEWARK, Ohio - A 28-year-old man has been charged with drunken driving after crashing his motorized bar stool, Ohio authorities said.
Click on the headline for the rest of the story.
Now why didn't I think of that?
Quote of the Day
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself.
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine
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