(Edit: I know, I know. Nyuk nyuk nyuk.)
Monday, May 28, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Obama's glass house
The Obama campaign, and Barack Obama himself, have made Mitt Romney's time at Bain Capital a target of their attacks. In a recent Washington Post column, Marc Thiessen has shown that Obama might want to reconsider throwing rocks in his extremely vulnerable crystalline palace. From the story:
"...if Romney’s record in private equity is fair game, then so is Obama’s record in public equity — and that record is not pretty. Since taking office, Obama has invested billions of taxpayer dollars in private businesses, including as part of his stimulus spending bill. Many of those investments have turned out to be unmitigated disasters — leaving in their wake bankruptcies, layoffs, criminal investigations and taxpayers on the hook for billions."
"...if Romney’s record in private equity is fair game, then so is Obama’s record in public equity — and that record is not pretty. Since taking office, Obama has invested billions of taxpayer dollars in private businesses, including as part of his stimulus spending bill. Many of those investments have turned out to be unmitigated disasters — leaving in their wake bankruptcies, layoffs, criminal investigations and taxpayers on the hook for billions."
Monday, May 21, 2012
The steps to every Liberal argument
A North Carolina teacher got caught on video telling a student that he could go to jail for insulting Barack Obama. From the story: "The kerfuffle started after one student asked a question about the teacher’s “fact of the day” that said Romney was a bully back in high school. A student asked: “Didn’t Obama bully somebody, though?”
And then the trouble started.
The video actually only catches the audio of the conversation, but here it is:
From the recording, it's clear that the Liberal teacher followed the typical Liberal steps of argument almost perfectly, leaving out only the last step.
Step #1: State a lie, rumor, innuendo or misrepresentation as a "fact."
Step #2: When challenged, immediately become angry.
Step #3: As soon as possible, start screaming and do everything possible to silence those who disagree with you.
Step #4: During the discussion, tell more lies, rumors, innuendo or misrepresentations to support your point.
Step #5: Call the other person a racist, sexist, homophobe or nazi. (This is the step the teacher omitted.)
Give credit to the student, who had to know what was going to happen. He spoke reasonably and truthfully. Best of all, he recorded it so the teacher couldn't deny what happened.
And then the trouble started.
The video actually only catches the audio of the conversation, but here it is:
From the recording, it's clear that the Liberal teacher followed the typical Liberal steps of argument almost perfectly, leaving out only the last step.
Step #1: State a lie, rumor, innuendo or misrepresentation as a "fact."
Step #2: When challenged, immediately become angry.
Step #3: As soon as possible, start screaming and do everything possible to silence those who disagree with you.
Step #4: During the discussion, tell more lies, rumors, innuendo or misrepresentations to support your point.
Step #5: Call the other person a racist, sexist, homophobe or nazi. (This is the step the teacher omitted.)
Give credit to the student, who had to know what was going to happen. He spoke reasonably and truthfully. Best of all, he recorded it so the teacher couldn't deny what happened.
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Obama in trouble...with Democrats
In my previous post, I noted James Carville's observation that Democrats can lose big in November. Then I read this story on HuffPo. A convict in a Texas prison got 40% of the vote running against Obama in the West Virginia Democrat primary. That's forty percent of Democrat voters who want someone other than Obama.
Other Obama opponents in Democrat primaries also have done well. Randall Terry got 18% of Democrat votes in Oklahoma. John Wolfe received 18,000 votes in Louisiana. And in Alabama, 18% of Democratic voters chose "uncommitted" in the primary rather than vote for Obama.
Most of the voters didn't know Obama's opponent was in prison. Emily Brown planned to vote for him until she found out his address was at Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution. "I'm not voting for somebody who's in prison," she said. She was certain about one thing: "I just want to vote against Barack Obama."
Other Obama opponents in Democrat primaries also have done well. Randall Terry got 18% of Democrat votes in Oklahoma. John Wolfe received 18,000 votes in Louisiana. And in Alabama, 18% of Democratic voters chose "uncommitted" in the primary rather than vote for Obama.
Most of the voters didn't know Obama's opponent was in prison. Emily Brown planned to vote for him until she found out his address was at Beaumont Federal Correctional Institution. "I'm not voting for somebody who's in prison," she said. She was certain about one thing: "I just want to vote against Barack Obama."
Democrats and The Big Lie
If you want to know the depths to which Democrats will go to deceive themselves and others about the real world, check out a recent column ("Wake Up, Democrats") by James Carville. The column's main point is valid -- Democrats can easily lose in the November elections, and lose big -- but his supporting points are absurd. A couple of quotes:
"...the Republicans are raising not millions, not tens of millions, but potentially hundreds of millions of dollars from the pollution industry as result of Citizens United v. FEC."
The pollution industry?? Is there a Pollutions-R-Us store in your town? Maybe Pollution~Mart? No?
"...the Republicans are raising not millions, not tens of millions, but potentially hundreds of millions of dollars from the pollution industry as result of Citizens United v. FEC."
The pollution industry?? Is there a Pollutions-R-Us store in your town? Maybe Pollution~Mart? No?
But the supernova of crazy lies, presented as a Democrat's version of the truth, is this one:
"There is a full-fledged legislative agenda in many states to keep Democrats from even voting."
I assume that he's talking about voter ID legislation. I haven't read or heard anything about having to pass an IQ test in order to vote. If you had to prove a minimum level of intelligence to vote, I can see where Democrats might think such a test was aimed at preventing them from voting. Carville doesn't explain what he means, he simply presents his nutty assertion as true.
You don't expect a well-known (and well-respected by Democrats) political strategist writing on a national media website to act like a troll commenting in a regional blog, but there it is. You can bet that such silliness is already making the rounds as a "fact." One thing that you always have to look out for with Liberals is their use of The Big Lie. And that one's already out there.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Obama's "same tired rhetoric"
The
Republican National Committee has produced a video showing Barack Obama giving
speeches about financial issues...a year apart. The odd thing? The speeches are
virtually identical. Watch:
Where's that vaunted Obama "articulateness" and "eloquence" his supporters bragged about? (In fairness, I guess they never said anything about "originality.")
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
My goal when arguing with a Liberal
"Conan! What is best in life?"
To crush your enemies,
See them driven before you,
And to hear the lamentation of their women.
To crush your enemies,
See them driven before you,
And to hear the lamentation of their women.
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Obama: Republicans will make weather forecasts less accurate
...And voting for Obama lowers the sea level and heals the planet. I'm not sure why we even have elections any more, if what Obama says is true.
Oh.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Noonan on Obama
Peggy Noonan has a column in the Wall Street Journal that articulates the devastation
that Obama has caused himself. Some quotes:
"...the president
is coming across more and more as a trimmer, as an operator who's not operating
in good faith. This is hardening positions and leading to increased political
bitterness. And it's his fault, too. As an increase in polarization is a bad thing,
it's a big fault."
She itemizes the blunders Obama has made in
recent months. In January the mandate that the Catholic Church's agencies
would be forced to provide birth control, a concept that goes against the
Church's teachings, caused an immediate negative reaction. "Faced with the
blowback, the president offered a so-called accommodation that even its
supporters recognized as devious. Not ill-advised, devious. Then his operatives
flooded the airwaves with dishonest—not wrongheaded, dishonest—charges that
those who defend the church's religious liberties are trying to take away your
contraceptives."
Then came the open-mic incident with Russian
president Medvedev. "When he knew he'd been caught, the
president tried to laugh it off by comically covering a mic in a following
meeting. It was all so...creepy."
Then there was the shooting of 17-year-old
Trayvon Martin. Obama's statement, "If I had a son, he'd look like
Trayvon" came across as political grandstanding during a tragedy. Noonan: "At the end of
the day, the public reaction seemed to be: "Hey buddy, we don't need you
to personalize what is already too dramatic, it's not about you."
"Now this week
the Supreme Court arguments on ObamaCare, which have made that law look so
hollow, so careless, that it amounts to a characterological indictment of the
administration. The constitutional law professor from the University of Chicago
didn't notice the centerpiece of his agenda was not constitutional? How did
that happen?"
Noonan, always a great writer, outdoes herself
with this column.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
An open mic reveals Obama's intentions
Terry Jeffrey has a great column regarding Obama's recent open-mic gaffe where he's overheard telling Russian President Medvedev, "On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved but it’s important for him [incoming Russian president Vladimir Putin] to give me space….This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.”
Jeffrey's lead paragraph: "President Barack Obama would like to do some things for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President-elect Vladimir Putin that he does not want American voters to know about before they decide whether to re-elect him in November."
Something to think about.
Jeffrey's lead paragraph: "President Barack Obama would like to do some things for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President-elect Vladimir Putin that he does not want American voters to know about before they decide whether to re-elect him in November."
Something to think about.
Friday, March 23, 2012
The copy key got stuck
...on the presidential speechwriter's keyboard. So says a Danish TV host. Here's why:
Gosh, I wonder what would have happened in the media if George Bush had got caught doing that?
Gosh, I wonder what would have happened in the media if George Bush had got caught doing that?
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
How could anyone (besides everyone) have known?
The Congressional Budget Office came out with new estimates on the cost of Obamacare, and it turns out that it will cost almost twice as much as Obama said when Democrats forced through passed their “healthcare” legislation.
From the Washington Examiner report: "President Obama's national health care law will cost $1.76 trillion over a decade, according to a new projection released today by the Congressional Budget Office, rather than the $940 billion forecast when it was signed into law."
Edit: The CBO also estimates two million fewer people will be insured than were first claimed. Revenues from penalties paid by individuals and employers will also be greater than claimed. And despite claims that Obamacare was not a takeover of the insurance industry, by 2022 three million fewer people will have insurance through their employers, 17 million more Americans will be on Medicaid, and 22 million more will get coverage through the government's "insurance exchanges."
Edit: The CBO also estimates two million fewer people will be insured than were first claimed. Revenues from penalties paid by individuals and employers will also be greater than claimed. And despite claims that Obamacare was not a takeover of the insurance industry, by 2022 three million fewer people will have insurance through their employers, 17 million more Americans will be on Medicaid, and 22 million more will get coverage through the government's "insurance exchanges."
Friday, March 09, 2012
Unemployment and the LFPR*
*Labor Force Participation Rate is the percentage of the civilian workforce that is actually employed or looking for work. On the chart below, notice the absolute crash in this rate since Barack Obama took office. Although unemployment under Barack Obama has been high, it's actually gotten much worse since he took office, and that fact is not reported in the media.
This measurement is important, because a low participation rate hides a high unemployment rate. Here's an example of how that happens:
Under Obama
Out of 1000 people, 637 are in the workforce (33 fewer than under Bush.) 53 of those are unemployed. Unemployment rate = 8.3%.
The 33 people no longer in the workforce? Although unemployed and able to work, they are no longer looking for jobs. They are no longer "in the workforce." They are simply ignored. They are not counted as part of the "official" unemployment figure. Add them back into the equation, and Obama's real unemployment rate is 15.2%, using the exact same calculation as used under Bush.
This measurement is important, because a low participation rate hides a high unemployment rate. Here's an example of how that happens:
Under Bush
Out of 1000 people, 670 are in the workforce. 35 of those are unemployed. Unemployment rate = 5.2%.
Out of 1000 people, 670 are in the workforce. 35 of those are unemployed. Unemployment rate = 5.2%.
Under Obama
Out of 1000 people, 637 are in the workforce (33 fewer than under Bush.) 53 of those are unemployed. Unemployment rate = 8.3%.
The 33 people no longer in the workforce? Although unemployed and able to work, they are no longer looking for jobs. They are no longer "in the workforce." They are simply ignored. They are not counted as part of the "official" unemployment figure. Add them back into the equation, and Obama's real unemployment rate is 15.2%, using the exact same calculation as used under Bush.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
LL Battles #5
2/1/2012
"As flawed as the Republican field is, I would consider any one of them a vast improvement over Obama. My favorite would be the one who would work hardest to reverse the damage Democrats have done.
* Obamacare was forced through by a Democrat majority, based on lies (the "ten year budget," double counting Medicare funds,) already resulting in higher insurance costs, and the promise that "you can keep your own insurance" when the Obama administration is doing all it can to drive insurers out of the market.
* The Obama administration seized control of General Motors and violated existing bankruptcy laws to award Chrysler to its union allies.
* The Obama administration "loaned" half a billion dollars to a favored company owned in large part by an Obama fundraiser; when the company was clearly about to go bankrupt, the Obama administration renegotiated the contract so that said fundraiser got paid before taxpayers.
* You want consistent? Obama is the epitome of inconsistency. He campaigned against government spending under Bush, and then led Democrats as they doubled the spending. They correctly observed a problem, then did all in their power to make the problem worse. Obama railed against Gitmo; it remains open. He threatened to prosecute CIA operatives; the CIA program is essentially what it was under Bush.
* Obama refuses to take responsibility or consequences for his own actions. He's been in office three years, yet still blames Bush. He did everything to cut Republicans out of all legislation his first two years in office, yet now insists that the Republican House cooperate with him.
* Obama has denigrated, condemned, apologized for, demeaned and diminished the United States. It seems to me the President ought at least to like the country he wants to lead.
There's more, but maybe you get a hint of why I support an imperfect Republican against the rotten-to-the-core pretender that currently holds the position."
"As flawed as the Republican field is, I would consider any one of them a vast improvement over Obama. My favorite would be the one who would work hardest to reverse the damage Democrats have done.
* Obamacare was forced through by a Democrat majority, based on lies (the "ten year budget," double counting Medicare funds,) already resulting in higher insurance costs, and the promise that "you can keep your own insurance" when the Obama administration is doing all it can to drive insurers out of the market.
* The Obama administration seized control of General Motors and violated existing bankruptcy laws to award Chrysler to its union allies.
* The Obama administration "loaned" half a billion dollars to a favored company owned in large part by an Obama fundraiser; when the company was clearly about to go bankrupt, the Obama administration renegotiated the contract so that said fundraiser got paid before taxpayers.
* You want consistent? Obama is the epitome of inconsistency. He campaigned against government spending under Bush, and then led Democrats as they doubled the spending. They correctly observed a problem, then did all in their power to make the problem worse. Obama railed against Gitmo; it remains open. He threatened to prosecute CIA operatives; the CIA program is essentially what it was under Bush.
* Obama refuses to take responsibility or consequences for his own actions. He's been in office three years, yet still blames Bush. He did everything to cut Republicans out of all legislation his first two years in office, yet now insists that the Republican House cooperate with him.
* Obama has denigrated, condemned, apologized for, demeaned and diminished the United States. It seems to me the President ought at least to like the country he wants to lead.
There's more, but maybe you get a hint of why I support an imperfect Republican against the rotten-to-the-core pretender that currently holds the position."
LL Battles #4
12/22/2011
"Obama was favored to be re-elected before he was elected the first time. His supporters voted for him because of who and what he was, not for what he had ever accomplished. 2012 will be the same way. The Republican candidates beat each other up. The media subject every GOP "frontrunner" to a colonoscopy to expose past trivia (e.g., Rick Perry's college grades). Meanwhile, on the Democrat side, Obama is untouchable and untouched. Don't believe me? Try to find Obama's college grades. The game's been stacked for decades. Republicans realize they have to beat both the Democrats and the media. If Obama is voted out of office, it will mean that even his worshippers finally took a look around at what he's done to the country."
Saturday, March 03, 2012
My reading is on Fire
Since my wife gave me a Kindle Fire for Christmas, I've become a reading machine again. I'm not reading as much as when I was a kid, but more than I have in many years. I resisted the e-book phenomenon because I couldn't rationalize the cost of the machine, and because as a "book person," I love actually possessing books. Kathy took the first objection out of my hands, and I've come to acknowledge the idea that a book's worth is the ideas it contains, not the paper it's made of. (Still, I know that I'm only a drained battery or an EMP away from not having anything on my Kindle.)
Here's a list -- eclectic would be accurate, although crime fiction and political nonfiction seem to dominate -- of what I've read so far:
Here's a list -- eclectic would be accurate, although crime fiction and political nonfiction seem to dominate -- of what I've read so far:
A Study in Scarlet, A. Conan Doyle
The List, J.A. Konrath
Demonic, Ann Coulter
The Lincoln Lawyer, Michael Connelly
The Sign of the Four, A. Conan Doyle
Critical Confrontations, Patterson et al
No Higher Honor, Condoleeza Rice
Decision Points, George W. Bush
Outlining Your Novel, K.M. Weiland
Deathworld, Harry Harrison
Afraid, Jack Kilborn
Killing Floor, Lee Child
Deathworld 2, Harry Harrison
Crime Stories, J.A. Konrath
Planet of the Damned, Harry Harrison
Afterthoughts, Lawrence Block
Die Trying, Lee Child
Write Your Blook in 30 Days, Dee Burks & Liz Ragland
Who Really Cares, Arthur Brooks
The Right Fights Back, Evan Thomas, Mike Allen & Politico
The Secret Knowledge, David Mamet
Friday, March 02, 2012
LL Battles #3
1/7/2012
"Take a look at the past three years of Obama's reign if you believe it doesn't make a difference who you vote for. His Justice Department sues Arizona for trying to enforce federal law, while dropping an already-won case against Black Panthers in camo posted outside a polling place with billy clubs. The Obama administration defied a judge's order to lift the ban on oil drilling in the Gulf; gave waivers to Obamacare to Harry Reid's entire state, deluxe hotels and restaurants in Nancy Pelosi's district, and over half a million union members; it sold weapons to Mexican gangsters that were used to kill at least one American citizen (and which Obama's AG lied about;) gave half a billion dollars to a company partially owned by an Obama fundraiser knowing it was about to go bankrupt; urged a general to lie to Congress about a company owned by another Obama fundraiser --
Well, you get the idea. There's a difference."
Well, you get the idea. There's a difference."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)