NebraskaPatriot

Federal Government Goes 0 For 2

maybe a light at the end of the tunnel . . .

ObamaCare passed last spring and the “Stimulus” program passed back in February ’09 have become faces of excessive Government intrusion and nanny-state governance. For many of us, they are prime, number one examples of why we desire a greater majority of government decisions being pushed back  down to the state and local levels.

On Monday (12-13-10), a federal district court judge in Virginia ruled that Congress “exceeded its authority” by imposing an individual mandate to purchase insurance. The website Hot Air points out the really important parts of the ruling in Virginia vs Sebelius:

“[Judge] Hudson rejected the government’s argument that it has the power under the Constitution to require individuals to buy health insurance, a provision that was set to take effect in 2014.”

Judge Hudson then wrote these two very interesting sentences:

“Of course, the same reasoning could apply to transportation, housing or nutritional decisions. This broad definition of the economic activity subject to congressional regulation lacks logical limitation”

As the folks at Hot Air were quick to point out, Judge Hudson’s two sentences described the progressive-liberal agenda and why the Constitution forbids it.

There is added significance in the ruling coming from this court as it is known as the “rocket docket” from which important cases are speedily launched to the U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. The very backbone upon which ObamaCare is built is now rejected. This will be one to watch in the coming days and weeks ahead.

Now a moment of less dramatic impact but still insightful into the workings of our Federal Government.

For most of us, $141,000 is a good amount of pocket change (!), in fact, enough for a company to hire and pay a couple people to work.

Remember the Stimulus program passed back in February ’09? Remember how we had to quickly pass it because we had all these “shovel ready” projects just waiting to get started that would put Americans back to work? Remember how Vice President Biden was going to be the watchdog for abuse and make sure our almost 900-billion in tax dollars were spent appropriately? Remember President Obama telling us that “no one messed with Joe” [Biden]? Well, since that time, we found out just what Washington-speak for Stimulus is and it’s not pretty. One ideological wish list after another had money thrown at it. And now, we have yet another example of Stimulus money not going to produce jobs but someone’s pork project, this time at the National Science Foundation.

Here are the brief disappointing details. The National Science Foundation gave $141,000 in Stimulus funds to Montana State University to fund a six-week student trip to China to study dinosaur eggs and other fossils. Now, the trip on its own is a great experience for those students so I’m not questioning that, what I am questioning is the use of Stimulus money. How many jobs did that $141,000 Stimulate or create? I think we all know the answer and over the past two years, it’s become an all too familiar answer to Stimulus outlay after Stimulus outlay.

This is yet another example of why we need to get as much control back down to the state and local level. Trust me, if the State of Nebraska had taken state tax dollars that were meant for job creation and given it to one of the college or universities for a trip to China to study dinosaur eggs, I can guarantee you that phone lines and e-mails would be flooding into the State Capitol. It would be a very unpleasant time for state senators and the Governor and trust me, they would feel the heat. I’m very confident in saying that answers and a resolution would be forthcoming. Yet, no one in Washington seems the least bit concerned. Oh well, it’s just $141,000 no biggy. Well, here’s a dose of reality nuanced just for the elites in Washington.

This is yet another example of the complete ineptitude of the Stimulus program. Remember the Stimulus program was passed after our Democrat U.S. Senator Ben Nelson stepped in and marshaled it past a filibuster and to a successful vote in the Senate. Yet another proud moment for Cornhusker Kickback Ben which I’m sure he will make into a real snappy campaign ad in 2012 (sarcasm)!  

Now there will be those that will debate that we giving tax cuts (soon I hope) and cost the treasury $800-billion over two years. I would remind everyone there is a big difference. First, Obama/Pelosi/Reid and Mr. Nelson sold the Stimulus as a job creator. Again, the phrase “shovel ready projects” was the mantra.   Second, the Stimulus has cost almost one-TRILLION dollars and produced how many jobs? And don’t give me the “it saved jobs” unless you have hard numbers which no one can produce because if we are going to go down that road then the Bush tax cuts after 9-11 saved thousands upon thousands of jobs. Are Bush’s detractors willing to say that? I think hell will freeze over first and cue the song “The Sound of Silence”.

Third and most important, the Stimulus took money from you and me in the form of taxes and redistributed it throughout the country on ideological wish lists that Democrats have for decades wanted but were unable to get passed through Congress. Conversely, the tax cuts that should be approved this week, will maintain the tax rate levels that we’ve had and will NOT take additional money from tax payers rather leaving it to families across the country to spend as they see fit. I know, novel concept allowing folks to decide how they want to spend their own money but hey, call me silly, it Stimulates me.

 

Joe Biden Shows Again That Anyone Can Be V.P.

these endless idiotic statements by this man just keep on coming . . .

So now it appears that our Vice President, the man a heart-beat-away from the Presidency, is accusing the National Guard's top defense attorney in New England of not knowing the legal procedures for military tribunals. 

That top defense attorney in New England just happens to be newly elected U.S. Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Mr. Brown is none to happy with old Joe over his charge.

POLITICO reports that on CBS' Face-The-Nation on Sunday, Biden said he doesn't "know whether the  new senator from Massachusetts understands: When you get tried in a military tribunal, you get a lawyer, too."

Brown responded:

“He’s trying to give me a lesson on military law, and I didn’t think it was appropriate,” Brown told POLITICO. “And I thought he was off base when it comes to explaining to the American people that somehow I need a lesson on whether people get attorneys — of course they get attorneys. There’s a difference as to what type of attorney they’re going to get and when they’re going to get that attorney, and how are they treated, and what rights do they, in fact, get.”

“I know the military rules and regulations and procedures from A to Z,” Brown said."

POLITICO went on to say:

"Brown pushed back Monday on one of the White House's talking points about the handling of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab: that the Bush administration handled Richard Reid, the so-called shoe bomber, in the same way.

“I’ve always felt that suspected terrorists should be tried in military tribunals and not civilian court, and as a matter of fact so do the majority of Americans,” Brown said. “The big difference is are we going to pay $1,000 an hour for a private attorney and treat him as a civilian or ordinary criminal in a criminal court, or are we going give him a military attorney who’s going to be paid as a captain, major or lieutenant colonel, and obviously go through the military tribunal process?”

Scott, don't worry. Old Joe has no credibility with the American people, just consider the following QUOTES from Joe Biden:

I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man. --Joe Biden on Barack Obama

In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.

When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the princes of greed. He said, "look, here's what happened." slight problem is that FDR wasn't President in 1929 and TV was still experimental

Uh, uh, Chuck Graham, state senator, is here. Stand up, Chuck, let ‘em see you. Oh, God love you. What am I talking about. Biden to a wheel-chair bound Missouri state senator

We're doing things that we know are going to save you, your children and your grand children billions of dollars over the next years. But we're not able to prove it. Biden to members of the AARP last summer

It's a bad idea and should be shut down and dismantled - Biden in 1973 on the Alaska Oil Pipeline

He's a beauty isn't he . . .

The Stimulus is Working, The Stimulus is Working . . .

just don't tell those unemployed . . .

You just have to love Joe Biden's timing. Yesterday, he announced to the world that Obama's Stimulus is "working". Click here and see this wonderful proclamation. 24 hours later, Obama's own Labor Department revealed that the unemployment rate jumped to 9.7% in August the highest since 1983.

Yup, Joe is right. It is stimulating something . . . the UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. Can we all agree now that Biden is the worst V.P. in history.

Click here and go over to GayPatriot, he has a really good write up on the latest unemployment numbers with some great graphs.  Excellent job.

The news today on the unemployment front is not good and just re-enforces my view that this economy is in for a long, slow, slog.

There are pundits out there that think the economy is turning around. Larry Kudlow, whom I have great admiration is one that thinks things are turning for the better. I’m not a naturally negative person but I don’t see it. An economist that I really admire who watches trends in the trucking industry closely, also isn’t offering celebration. He points out that while there are some small glimmers of good news, the overall picture still remains muddled. As I’ve stated several times previously, trucking is a good barometer of the conditions in the economy with its large role in the supply chain.

September ’08 was the last time that overall truck shipments increased compared to the prior year. Since that time, every month has recorded a decrease versus that same month the prior year. In fact, starting last December and through August '09, the volume of freight hauled by the trucking industry was down more ten-percent  each month when compared with the prior year’s monthly volumes. June's number was the worst with a 13.6% reduction '09 vs '08. It's just not there, consumers aren't spending.

And here’s something else to ponder. Consumer spending makes up 70-percent of the U.S. economy. If you add in the recent figure that payrolls are continuing to decline along with the continual jobless claims each month punctuated by August's number just released today and the overall fear and unease of those that do have jobs, all of this does nothing but damper future economy improvement.

I think the sobering perspective from the Central Plains is that if you look at all the reports out there plus the financial malpractice being perpetrated by our good Democrat friends in the White House and Congress(Ben Nelson, hello!!), I just don’t see anything that gives me any comfort about this economy.  It appears that at best we will be just muddling along for the foreseeable future.

Is this transparency or change? Or is this just inept leadership? 

Cheney Fox Interview Refreshing

a breath of fresh air . . .

Former Vice President Dick Cheney was great on "Fox News Sunday". If you didn't see the interview, then click here and you will be able to read the transcript. Or, I would highly recommend watching the video interview by clicking here.

As I watch Cheney, I came to realize just how much maturity that he lent to the Bush Administration. Didn't mean the President always took his advice and Mr. Cheney references that in the interview. Obama on the other hand has Mr. Biden, do I need to say anything more . . .

It was refreshing to hear a Republican finally connect Obama and Holder on this new investigation that the A-G has opened. It amazes me that no one is pressing Obama because there is no way he hasn't given it the ok. Here is what Cheney said on that issue:

Well, I think if you look at the Constitution, the president of the United States is the chief law enforcement officer in the land. The attorney general's a statutory officer. He's a member of the cabinet. The president's the one who bears this responsibility. And for him to say, gee, I didn't have anything to do with it, especially after he sat in the Oval Office and said this wouldn't happen, then Holder decides he's going to do it. So now he's backed off and is claiming he's not responsible. I just, I think he's trying to duck the responsibility for what's going on here. And I think it's wrong.

One note of interest, the Vice President is writing a book and I can not wait till it comes out. It should be great.

The Great Emptiness That Is A Democrat's Brain

apparently Democrats have a retention issue with what they read . . .

Obama, Pelosi, Hoyer, Reid and the flakes over the DNC might want to consider these words from someone I think they may know:

"I am convinced that whenever we exaggerate or demonize, oversimplify or overstate our case, we lose."

And those wise words come from none other than:

The Audacity of Hope by Barrack Obama   p. 39       

Does Obamacare Pass the Taste Test?

          the candy being sold looks good on the outside but be careful of the hidden nugget inside

 

Golly, the President sure can make nationalized healthcare sound great. It will lower the deficit; reduce Medicare and Medicaid costs; increase care and make the world a better place. Who knew! And for the low, low price of $1-trillion over the next ten years. And we all know how accurate Obama’s figures have been just ask Vice President Biden who said over the weekend, “everyone guessed wrong” on the impact of the almost $800-billion stimulus plan. And so, how much credence do we put into Obama’s “guess” on the cost and benefit of his Obamacare program? Come on Joe, come clean on this one as well!

 

So over the coming weeks when the President looks down from the mount and into the eyes of the American people, will the minions drop their eyes in awe and reverence or will they realize the  unknown nugget inside this candy is not worth taking a chance on and opt instead to stay with the brand whose taste we all know and like.

 

Obama and Democrats after 5 Months in Charge

    Change, Inexperience or both run amok? 

 

Got to give it to President Obama, Rahm Emmuel and all the Democrats in the Senate, including our very own Ben Nelson of Nebraska and as well as Nancy Pelosi and her litter of lemmings in the House, what a first almost five months. 

 

A lot has been thrown against the wall and for Democrats, the slime is starting to build up under their feet. So let’s review some of their actions:

 

Obama and Democrats pass a nearly $800-billion stimulus with the promise that it will prevent unemployment from rising past 8% with all those “shovel ready projects”.

·         4 months after it’s passage, unemployment is now at 9.4% nationally . . . Oops

 

Obama and Democrats now claim that their nearly $800-billion stimulus package has saved or created nearly 150,000 jobs.

·         The only problem is that the President’s own Labor Department says no one can substantiate that claim. Oops . . . 

 

President Obama said on C-SPAN over the Memorial weekend that “we are out of money”. Ok, doesn’t that just make you want to scream out loud “YOU THINK!!!!”

·         Mr. President, that was a Joe Biden type comment, is he rubbing off? . . . Oops

 

Cap and Tax, sorry, Cap and Trade is projected to cost each household in Iowa and Nebraska $240 more per month. That’s $2880 a year. That’s a chunk of change.

·         Is there any TARP or auto bailout money left? How about can we just get some change from your date night slush fund Mr. President?  Oops . . .

 

Obama is looking at taxing all employee health benefits as a way to fund his Nationalized Healthcare program. Seventy percent of the 253 million Americans with health insurance receive at least some of it through their employers. The Office of Management and Budget projects such a tax would yield a whopping $246 billion every year.

·         Rumor has it that upon hearing the prospect of such a tax revenue windfall, the President leapt to his feet and did a 360 slam dunk on the White House basketball hoop. . . just kidding . . . Oops

 

Someone said recently there is a certain irony in a president who routinely praises America's commitment to "the rule of law" but who picks Supreme Court nominees for their readiness to discard the rule of law whenever emotions move them

·         Emotion translates into empathy or bias toward one party. I thought Lady Justice was blind  Oops . . .

 

Obama and Congressional Democrats have quadrupled the budget deficit to almost $2 trillion. This dramatic increase in the deficit plus the overall increase in the national debt surpass all the deficit spending by ALL prior Presidents combined!! Obama’s spending madness is driving up yields on U.S. debt and threatening to derail the Federal Reserve’s efforts to cut borrowing costs for businesses and consumers.

·         Can anyone give me an example of where else in history this spend-yourself-out-of-recession plan has worked? This is a big OOPS because THERE IS NONE!!

 

Obama and his fellow Democrats are forcing inner-city kids in Washington DC back into that city’s failed public school system. Dems and Obama are ending the DC voucher system that have provided a safe and productive environment from which many minority kids can achieve and break the cycle of poverty.

·         Gosh, sounds rather racist doesn’t it. Are Obama and the Democrats in Congress really wanting to return us to the days of George Wallace and the 60’s by locking the doors on the DC voucher option? Oops . . .

 

The first Gitmo detainee who was allegedly involved in, as Obama now calls it, a man-caused disaster, has been brought to our country for trial. At the same time, it’s reported that Obama is now requiring the FBI to read Miranda rights to terrorists captured in foreign lands thereby giving them U.S. Constitutional rights. Say WHAT!

·         Maybe the President should put American’s national security above politics. Oh, but that would mean Obama would have to have a sense of duty and obligation. Oops . . .

 

$50-billion in taxpayer dollars have gone to G.M. so far. The Wall Street Journal reports that GM would have to be worth a cool $80 billion for taxpayers to break even on their 60% stake. By way of comparison, GM's market capitalization at its recent peak in 2000 was only $56 billion.

·         Hey, good deal Democrats. Can’t wait to see your new car designs. Eco-Green cars the size of riding lawnmowers will have such an appeal to consumers . . .

 

And finally, Nancy Pelosi  . . . she is all yours Democrats.

·         Could she be classified as a man-caused disaster? Why do I think that the folks in the White House have their own term for her. Oops . . . 

Comedian in Chief?

            Look out Abbott and Costello . . .     

 

I don’t know who writes President Obama’s comedy routines but Tuesday’s was a classic entitled pay-as-you-go. I almost fell off my chair I was laughing so hard when Obama said, “The reckless fiscal policies of the past have left us in a deep hole and digging our way out of it will take time, patience and some tough choices.”

 

Oh, stop, you are killing me. Oh, Obama man, you are hysterical. I mean, golly, look dog, Great deadpan delivery. I mean wow, in five short months as President you have spent more taxpayer dollars than all the other Presidents combined! And so you’ve really done a great job of destroying any hope of fiscal sanity and that’s what helped sell the joke.

 

Gosh, you ought to put out a CD with this stuff. You could then download it onto the Queen’s IPod. I’m sure she could use a good laugh.

 

Hey, you and Biden also need to take this show on the road. Maybe some Obamaized-version of Abbott & Costello like:

 

Obama: Who’s on First?

 

Biden: What’s the most stupid thing I’ve said?

 

Obama: I don’t know Joe, there’s a lot to choose from, so Who’s on First?

 

Biden: What’s a train got to do with a car tunnel over to New York City?  

 

Obama: Uhh, I don’t know Joe. So Who’s on First?

 

Biden: What’s meant by the phrase the-truth-in-a-lie? No really, Barrack? Hey Barrack don’t walk away, come back . . .

 

 

 

 

Wake me up when this nightmare is over . . .