Sinking fast.

Following the Tweet Grid has once again pissed me off.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the Tweet Grid is a search function for twitter. Once again, I inputted Gov. Jindal's name last night and found the following.


Yep. So many on the left have fallen hook, line and sinker for noted left-wing moron Zachary Roth's article stating Jindal "lied" in his rebuttal to the President's address this past week.

First off, let's make sure we're all clear -- Jindal did not lie about helping Sheriff Lee during Katrina. Want proof?

Partial transcript -- Sheriff Lee: "Hurricane Katrina, the day after, Bobby was in my office, said, 'What do you need?' And it wasn't phone calls, he was in my office... I know how involved he was... He was hands-on. I got him everywhere he had to go in my helicopter, and he was there all the time. When the thing was over, he'd got equipment for us. And I said, 'Bobby, where did this new equipment come from? I wanna thank somebody.' And he said, 'I took care of it, don't worry about it.'"

Ok, now that we have that straightened out we can address the motivations of the suckers in the Tweet Grid I posted above.

Now it's possible these schmucks are just victims of bad reporting. Roth's story has spread like wildfire across the blogosphere and twitterdom(I'm new to the twitter thing, so gimme a break on the lingo). They simply fell for it without looking elsewhere for confirmation. But I don't think that even matters to these people. They don't have Palin or Bush to push around anymore, so they found a new target and truth will not get in their way when it comes to smearing their adversaries.

The activist left has become even more dangerous with the advent of modern internet communication. It breeds lies and encourages vulgar behavior with the relative anonymity of a computer between you and the world.

Are those on the right innocent of the same? Of course not. But this isn't a game of false equivalence. Just because some are just as guilty doesn't make everything ok for both sides.

The left has a lot of work to do if they want to quit mocking the new brand of discourse that Obama claimed to usher in with his inauguration.

The downward spiral continues....

According to today's Columbus Dispatch:

Ohio's unemployment line grew by a staggering 79,000 workers last month and the jobless rate jumped to 8.8 percent, the state said yesterday.

The rate, which was up 1.4 percentage points from the revised number for the previous month, was the largest one-month increase since 1980.

Also yesterday, the U.S. Commerce Department reported that the country's economic output dropped by 6.2 percent in the fourth quarter last year, a major shift from the 3.8 percent drop that had been expected. The dramatic fall in the gross domestic product showed that the economy is deteriorating faster than had been thought.

Holy shit.

An unemployment rate 16% higher than the national rate? Largest one-month unemployment increase in almost three decades?

And Ted Strickland still thinks education is the number one issue facing Ohio?

Listen, Gov. When we're approaching 1 out of 10 Ohioans without jobs and a state economy recessing faster than my forehead, I think you can safely say the economy is issue number 1. Hell, I'll even give it issue 1,2 and 3.

And it all can be explained with one simple jpeg. (click it to enlarge)


Yep. Ohio has the 47th worst tax climate for businesses in the country. Not only does this kill jobs by bleeding businesses statewide, but when a state is in recession, business owners need to see some REAL hope and change^TM. That means easing the tax burden on businesses. They need to see change coming and taxes cut. When they see neither, they bolt the state or just close up shop.

Governor Strickland has failed to give Ohio business owners what they need to survive.

Instead he's gone all the way to Washington D.C. to beg for stimulus dollars that will throw a bandaid on Ohio's budget woes. This is downright irresponsible and completely self-serving. Clearly, his only motivation is to keep things under the radar until election day.

We need a change. Help make it happen.

Why are young conservatives always "unlikely"?

Thanks4YourTaxes is back with 3BP to give the MSM hell:

I was sent this Washington Post story as I work at a non-profit think tank that I am apparently too embarrassed to mention. Wait a minute, no I’m not. I proudly tell anyone and everyone, even all the democratic staffers I see on a daily basis, that I work for the Heritage Foundation. “I work for the premier conservative think tank that puts out papers based on principle and real understanding of public policy inside and outside of Washington, DC.” I have a feeling the writers DID have a few quotes like this, but left them on their notepad.

Instead, the reporters quote interns at a bar. This is akin to Carrie Bradshaw quoting single girls at a bachelorette party on the subject of men. Not only are the interns a bit loose lipped(thank the dollar beers), but they apparently don’t know much on the subject. Since when does asking college kids to spout off any CNN or Fox News soundbyte (depending on their affiliation) they remember count as journalism? If this was a blog or piece on the Wonkette, I would laugh and feel bad for the poor interns, whose friends might happen upon their inane comments while deviating away from facebook for a few seconds. Rather, this is a respected newspaper reporting on a real political issue in the ARTS section and assigning a highly biased and telescopic viewpoint on a large and diverse group of young underdogs who are not riding any media/celebrity exuberance bandwagons.

Siggins says he struggles with some of his party's more culturally orthodox ideals. "Because I am in this generation and was raised in a pro-gay-marriage era, I am only a little bit against gay marriage, but only a little, like 53 percent to 47," he says. "I have about a dozen gay friends, 30 or 20, and they would all back me up. In college, I used to have lunch with them. . . . We went ice skating once."

The writers say young conservatives are alienated by the rest of our generation who “voted overwhelmingly for Obama” according to “network exit polls.” Besides exit poll accuracy, the 66% to 33% numbers speaks more interestingly about the conservative movement rather than our generation I believe. America’s youth has been “rallied” in 200 and 2004, most famously by MTV’s Rock the Vote, but with Gore and Kerry on the ballots, the young vote did not impress. Were the democratic youth a ‘lost generation?’ Last year conservatives had a moderate old guy that was quoted as not using email on the ballot. Not a great rallying point. This journalistic issue was not addressed in the article. No surprise.

Instead, the article reads as a National Geographic piece from 1920 would on indigenous natives in the rainforest, labeling any deviance from the norm of our species as weird and mystical. One example is an intern quoted “might be out of a job after his internship ends in May.” Really? Not all interns have jobs already lined up 3 months out? Does his internship even count as a job right now? He is in college!

Maybe the Post should hire some of the quoted young conservatives to better report on this issue. I know this is hopeless as the three young “conservative writers – such as Julian Sanchez, Megan McArdle and Will Wilkinson,” probably would not be hired at the Post, as they obviously have not even done any background checks on other writers they report on. FYI Post Editors: These three writers are NOT conservative! They don’t even label themselves republicans. This is such a dumb mistake I don’t even think it warrants a retraction; just a slap in the forehead.

Also, if a reporter actually did some research on any of the points in this article, they would find there are a lot of conservative jobs for non-profits, fundraising and even on the Hill. The writers obviously don’t know that non-profits that lean a cartain political direction get MORE donations when their party is in the minority. Look at the rise of moveon.org during the early years of the Bush administration as an example. As far as trouble finding any job, the reporters fail to mention, what is it called again? The RECESSION. They quote a White House staffer leaving DC “because, among other reasons, he couldn’t find a job.” What reasons? My sister moved to South Carolina after the election, leaving the republican fundraising sector, because she wanted to and had decided to move on from politics. Is that an ‘other reason?’

There is opportunity here not just for those chasing “prestigious careers in politics” as the authors attest all young conservatives are, but for young people who believe in conservative principles like “personal responsibility and… the strength of the individual.” Yes, that is a quote from Obama’s speech Tuesday night, but those are OUR principles, OUR strength and OUR future. Maybe we are an “Obama generation.”

But only during his speeches.

The Audacity of Ignorance

This is a guest post by reader Petr Weifen:

If the last decade has proven anything, it's that Americans can be pretty cavalier about debt. Yet while American consumers seem to have gotten the message and are trying to reduce their personal debtload, President Obama has introduced a federal budget that’s unconscionable in its reckless attitude towards amassing new debt.

A little history might be useful. In 1980, the US Federal debt stood at $930 billion or 33% of that year's GDP. At the end of 2008, the Federal debt was slightly below $10 trillion (that’s $10,000,000,000,000) and represented 70% of the 2008 GDP. Most reasonable people would conclude that it's time to put down the debt-pipe and exhibit some fiscal discipline. Not President Obama…..he's running to the house fire with a gasoline hose.

The 2010 budget published yesterday by the Office of Management & Budget is the most fantastic document produced since Theodor Geisel's death. Under the Obama budget, the nations' debt will jump an astounding $4 trillion by 2010 to 96% (!!) of the projected GDP. And that’s just the warmup. Like a subprime borrower who just refi'd the house, we're going on a crazed and inspired national spending spree. By 2016, we cross the magical 100% debt/GDP level (boldly joining the five other global economic powers who have crossed the 100% debt threshold -- Jamaica, Japan, Italy, Lebanon & Zimbabwe). Finally, by the last year of the OMB projection (2018), we'll have racked up $23.1 trillion in debt or 101% of the 2018 projected GDP. Go USA!!!

What are the consequences of this debt burden? First, the risk of inflation looms very large. Like any person or company that has borrowed heavily, the next incremental dollar of debt is likely to cost more. As the US has taken on more leverage (debt), the risk of default increases which results in investors demanding higher returns (in this case, interest rates) to compensate them for the increased risk. This will lead to higher interest rates for both individuals and companies as the borrowing rate for the US government sets the baseline for all types of personal and corporate debt.

The second impact of the US debt level is more subtle. Economists generally agree that increases in government expenditures increases aggregate demand in the economy. In a fully employed economy, in addition to raising prices, the increase in demand also leads to a rise in interest rates. And this invariably leads to lower spending by the private sector as business have less available cash for capital goods such as plant, equipment, and structures. Thus, the high level of government spending (and its consequences) reduces the amount of capital investment that businesses make. And as lower capital investments are made today, the private capital inherited by future generations is likewise smaller, implying that the level of output (GDP) enjoyed by them will be lower. This lower level of output is thus the ultimate burden of the debt and it is a burden that is largely shifted forwarded to future generations.

President Obama campaigned on the promise of "change". He's right about one thing -- this budget, if enacted, will irrevocably change the futures for our children and grandchildren. We called our predecessors the "Greatest Generation". I shudder to think of the names that our kids will coin for us when they realize the burden we're leaving for them.

Trust.

Yep. Trust is hard to come by in DC.

With all the numbers thrown around by analysts and pundits, it's hard to keep track of who is spinning what. One federal office had their profile recently raised a few points when they announced that the economy would be better off if Obama's stimulus package wasn't passed at all.

The Congressional Budget Office.

Here's a little background:

• They are mandated by Congress to provide objective, nonpartisan, and timely analyses to aid in economic and budgetary decisions on the wide array of programs covered by the federal budget.
• CBO was founded on July 12, 1974, with the enactment of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (P.L. 93-344). The agency began operating on February 24, 1975.
• The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate jointly appoint the CBO Director, after considering recommendations from the two budget committees. The term of office is four years, with no limit on the number of terms a Director may serve. Either House of Congress, however, may remove the Director by resolution. At the expiration of a term of office, the person serving as Director may continue in the position until his or her successor is appointed.
• CBO currently employs about 235 people. The agency is composed primarily of economists and public policy analysts. About three-quarters of its professional staff hold advanced degrees, mostly in economics or public policy.

At the end of the day, you're going to be hardpressed to find any organization more non-partisan and capable than the CBO. Want budget info without an agenda? Go here.

Such arrogance.

From HuffPo:

Obama's decision to override Petraeus's recommendation has not ended the conflict between the president and senior military officers over troop withdrawal, however. There are indications that Petraeus and his allies in the military and the Pentagon, including Gen. Ray Odierno, now the top commander in Iraq, have already begun to try to pressure Obama to change his withdrawal policy.

A network of senior military officers is also reported to be preparing to support Petraeus and Odierno by mobilising public opinion against Obama's decision.

Petraeus was visibly unhappy when he left the Oval Office, according to one of the sources. A White House staffer present at the meeting was quoted by the source as saying, "Petraeus made the mistake of thinking he was still dealing with George Bush instead of with Barack Obama."

Listen, you schmuck. Petraeus isn't some political campaign rival of yours. Don't treat him as such by leaking quotes like these to the media.

You want to disagree and do it your way, Mr. President? Fine. That's your right as Commander-in-Chief. But when you make this more about exuding political cojones rather than making the right decision, it lessens confidence in you. For the umpteenth time, this isn't a political campaign anymore. These are real-life decisions. Act like it.

This says it all.

I'm your huckleberry.

As expected, John Kasich has drawn first blood in the 2012 Ohio Governor's race. Many wondered when the campaign would begin. They can mark down February 25th as that day.

In today's Columbus Dispatch, Kasich made his most direct attack yet:

At a time when Ohio's economy is in a death spiral and the state continues to shed jobs, it is irrespons-ible for our state's leadership to increase spending based on a one-time bailout from the federal government. Ohio's families are tightening their belts and making tough spending decisions. But Gov. Ted Strickland consistently has refused to make tough decisions, and his two-year budget plan puts the state's long-term economic future at risk.

Over the past two years, he has made a series of bad choices that have contributed to the state's economic woes. In laying out his previous two-year plan back in 2007, Strickland played games with the budget, allowing spending in fiscal year 2009 to exceed revenues by almost $1 billion. The negative effects of this were compounded in 2008, when tax revenue fell dramatically because of the souring economy.

[...]

Last month, the governor unveiled his outline for addressing Ohio's problems. Unfortunately, rather than a sound fiscal plan for Ohio to live within its means, Ohioans received a misguided plan that increased spending and pinned the economic future on a handout from the federal government, for which Strickland for months had been lobbying his friends in Washington. The problem is that this is merely a bandage. It allows the governor to kick the can down the road rather than make tough choices now that will put the state on a sure footing. A governor with his hand out for more money is not the type of leaders that instills confidence or will bring jobs to Ohio.

He nails it. Strickland simply hasn't shown the courage to bring Ohio back from the brink. Our Republic, our very economy, wasn't designed to rely on a far off Capital to make everything better everytime things go bad. It's up to Ohioans to fix Ohio. And only one man understands that -- John Kasich.

Strickland's strategy is to hold on for dear life and hope voters don't connect Ohio's failures to him. That strategy has worked....'til now. His rival has called him out from hiding. Will Strickland bite? Probably not. Not until the Ohio media does a better job of recognizing his Neville Chamberlain style of leadership. Kasich's willingness to call down the fire is just the first step. But many more salvos will be needed. The media needs to hear the criticism to report on it.

What can you do? Sign up at Rechargeohio.com. Write letters to the editor expressing your frustration with Strickland. Spread the word.

Strickland called down the thunder. Well now he's got it.



UPDATE: Wow. Ask and you shall receive. This morning's Columbus Dispatch takes up the Kasich banner and runs with it.

Gov. Ted Strickland and the General Assembly have a fiduciary obligation to draw up a spending plan that looks beyond the next budget cycle.

Strickland's $54.7 billion blueprint for fiscal 2010-11 falls well short of that, meaning that the subsequent budget might require a steep tax increase or spending cuts far deeper than the ones the state is now experiencing.

Using $7 billion in one-time money for long-term obligations is irresponsible. If Strickland's plan presumes a future tax increase or some new revenue source such as gambling, he should say so now, not after the 2010 election when he is expected to run for a second term.

[...]

As presented, Strickland's budget is been more of a political document than a fiscal one.

Would I have liked them to mention Kasich? Sure. But it's very good news to see the media finally knocking off pieces of the Strickland armor.

Folks, this is exactly how it's supposed to work. Once the opposition speaks up, the media reports. But don't expect to see an all-out Kasich assault anytime soon. This is just the first shot in a long war, and we don't want to use up all the ammunition early.

Just a thought...

...but do all the people complaining about Jindal criticizing stimulus spending on Volcano monitoring understand what the supposed point of the stimulus was?

28 days later.

Yep. Four weeks. That's all it took for the Strickland Administration to start backing off the no new taxes pledge taken at the State of the State last month. [yes, we'll ignore all the Governor's 'fee' increases just for this post]

Per the Dayton Daily News:

Is the Strickland administration backing off a bit on the governor’s vow not to raise taxes in tough times?

On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Rep. Tyrone Yates, D-Cincinnati, asked budget director Pari Sabety if it “wouldn’t make good sense” for the state to take a look at hiking taxes on “other tobacco products” - chewing tobacco, snuff, cigars and smoking tobacco - to pay for a tobacco cessation program to helps hold down Medicaid costs.

[...]

Asked about Strickland’s “no tax hike” vow, she said “that’s correct.”

Does the vow apply to the tobacco tax, she was asked.

“You know, you’ve got to look at what’s out there,” she said.

Good. Because working-class Ohioans really need more money out of their pockets. That is EXACTLY what would help them right about now.

Moron.

I guess, just like Obama, Strickland's promises come with an expiration date.

Ka-POWIE!!!

The Bobby Jindal I know and love showed up this morning on The Today Show.

Clearly, last night was an imposter.

Enjoy.

We dodged a bullet.

Thank God we don't have some idiot as our Vice President, eh?


"Website number?" Really?

It's Ash Wednesday.

I'm giving up HOPE^TM for Lent.

What about you?

Ergh.

Ok, so let's just face it -- no one is going to be slapping any Jindal '12 bumper stickers on their car anytime soon.

While last night wasn't a disaster, it definitely could have gone much better. And the Louisiana Governor is only partly to blame. The performance had two main problems:

1. The story - Yes, sometimes stories help convey a sense of humanity within our politicians. It may help set-up the message. But whatever it was last night that came out of the Gov's mouth was just a colossally bad decision. His delivery was absolutely atrocious. As my apolitical girlfriend said while watching the speech, "does he think I'm in third grade"? Clearly the Gov made a poor decision, the question is whether he was overprepared or underconsulted. Either way, it sucked.
2. The environment - Some comments I saw from conservatives last night questioned whether Jindal had any fire. Well folks, it's hard to have any fire or enthusiasm when talking to a camera in the middle of the hallway of your house. Without an audience, a speaker must be able to convey a conversational tone out of thin air, and that is something that takes time to polish.

Last night, Bobby Jindal should have read only the last half of his speech from the desk in his den with a flag behind his shoulder. When he speaks on substantive policy, he's able to do it clearly and with conviction. And most importantly, we trust him. This is a guy who at 37 already had accomplished much more than Obama did when he decided to run for President. He knows what he's talking about and he has the record to prove it.

The fact is, Jindal is the anti-Obama. Great on his feet, but deficient with a teleprompter. Have any doubts? Watch this past week's Meet the Press.

Alas, Gov. Jindal is still going to receive a bit of the Palin treatment from the left. And if my Tweet Grid is any indication, Obamamaniacs can't wait to harass him.


Calling him Piyush, folks? Really? Weren't you the same ones who bitched about lame-ass Republicans calling Obama by his middle name?

Just noticed something.

I'm having a bit of a spike in traffic during Obama's speech. Sorry, folks. I'm not gonna waste anybody's time on liveblogging something so damn predictable.

Wake me up when Bobby speaks.

Worth fighting for.

Back when I worked for the Bush Administration at the US Department of Education, one of favorite memories was when DC School Choice finally passed. I remember families affected by the new program coming into the House Education Committee Room. And unfortunately there is no way to express this without sounding like a Hallmark card, but the look on their faces was one of hope and joy.

Unfortunately, this Congress wants to get rid of this program, in spite of its successes.

Take a look at this youtube and contact your Congressman to express your support for DC School Choice. It matters.

Tonight...and more importantly, tomorrow.

As we learned last week, Gov. Jindal will be presenting the GOP rebuttal to the President's address to Congress this evening. Jindal's recent rejection of stimulus dollars for Louisiana and his magnificent explanation of his actions have increased his 2012 chatter to an all-time high.

Tonight we can expect more substantive points made by the Lousiana Governor. Thanks to the President's claims that Republicans refused to provide alternatives to the stimulus, Jindal will hopefully provide an agenda detailing how Republicans would like to see the country move forward. There may be subtle indictments of the Democratic President and Congress, but nothing too spiteful or harsh.

But what will be most interesting to watch will be the response to Jindal from the White House.

Obama's Administration understands that they prefer to control a debate by choosing their opposition. Whether it be Rush Limbaugh or Rick Santelli, this White House has chosen a strategy that greatly differs from the previous one in that it has no problem lowering the stature of the office to the level of a de facto campaign office.

I have little doubt that many will come away impressed with Jindal tonight. So much so that at tomorrow's White House briefing, Obama's Press Secretary will be asked directly what the President thought of Jindal's rebuttal. Now the question will be, is the Obama White House willing to come out swinging, or lay back and simply be complimentary to the Governor?

Rush and Rick are easy targets. They aren't running for anything anytime soon. They aren't in control of budgets or elected leaders. Jindal is another story. He can, and just may, directly challenge Obama in 2012.

The question now is whether Obama wants the campaign to start tomorrow.

And that....is the rest of the story.

Yesterday, John Ziegler, creator of Media Malpractice, took Norah O'Donnell to task on the media bias vs. Sarah Palin in the last election.

doc talk
by luvnews

While I agree with much of what Ziegler said, he provides an easy deflection for the journalists interviewing him when he says comedy shows are looked at as news by the general public. This statement is much too simple an analysis and easily dismissed by the mainstream media. Ziegler needs to take it one step further.

It's true that the public accepts shows such as SNL or the Daily Show as instruments to develop their opinion. They are smart enough to recognize they are simply comedy shows. But the public doesn't account for the bias inherent within these shows. The electorate trusts comedy news shows to use accurate information as a basis for their parody. They subconsciously ask themselves, "why would Tina Fey play Palin as a moron if it wasn't true?"

So yes, while Jon Stewart is allowed to call his news 'fake' all he wants, the fact is he still has a responsibility to play both sides for the fools they are.

h/t: hotair.com

Rahm found Palmolive had a nice, piquant after-dinner flavor - heady, but with just a touch of mellow smoothness.

Byron York has a revealing piece analyzing the New Yorker's profile of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

...while containing nothing particularly newsworthy, [the article] does add to the public record on the new White House chief of staff's fondness for the F-word. Although we all know the word has flown around previous White Houses, it's hard to cite any former chief of staff, or other top-ranking official, who has actually said it on the record in Emanuel fashion.

Some examples. The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza talks to Emanuel on a day in which Emanuel is preparing to fly to Park City, Utah for a ski getaway with his family. "Do you know what I'm thinking about?" Emanuel says. "I'm going to finally get to see my kids after a month. So that's all I give a f--k about."

Here's an organizational management tip for ya, Rahm -- don't complain on record about stuff that's WORSE for people working for you than it is for you.

You think the sailors on Navy carriers in the Mideast or the guys on patrol in Afghanistan don't miss their kids?

You schmuck.

h/t: Chobemaster

Run on it.

Hate to say this, folks...but the 2010 election has already begun. Potential Congressional candidates are being recruited, donors are being targeted and strategies are being formulated.

Rep. Gohmert has already given us our message. Something simple, timely and easy to communicate to the electorate:

"I would like to say tonight that if the American people will let the Republicans back in charge, the 60% of this bill that won't be spent until after the next election, we'll cut it off and let it go to the Americans."
-Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Hannity Show, February 19, 2009

Is he right? According to the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan office under the jurisdiction of the United States Congress:

"...the current recession, which started in December 2007, will last until the second half of 2009.

[...]

In preparing its economic forecast, CBO assumes that current laws and policies governing federal spending and taxes do not change. This forecast, therefore, does not include the effects of a possible fiscal stimulus package. On that basis, CBO anticipates that real GDP will drop by 2.2 percent in calendar year 2009, a steep decline. CBO expects the economy to begin a slow recovery in the second half of 2009 and to grow by a modest 1.5 percent in 2010."

So plainly speaking, according to experts with no allegiance to any side, the recession will be over before over 700 billion of the stimulus is spent.

The difficulty will be in making sure the electorate understands what is yet to be spent of the stimulus as the 2010 election rolls around. If the CBO is correct, we will be coming out of the recession, despite the stimulus, before people go to the polls. This will enable the White House to demagogue the issue and tell Americans, simply speaking, 'the stimulus worked'.

It's an easy message to communicate: No recession = Stimulus success.

Strategically, perhaps Republicans will want to cede this ground. But turn it back around on the White House and Congress to tell them further spending is unnecessary.

Does this strategy of ceding stimulus success provide possible ammo to Obama in 2012? Of course, but at the end of the day, 2012 voters will be choosing their President based on how we've always chosen our President -- Is the economy satisfactory to them and do they feel secure. By 2012, the Stimulus will be long gone from our campaign lexicon.

Use this, 2010 GOP candidates. The '94 Revolution was won not simply because of Clinton backlash, but because Republicans gave Americans a clear understanding of what they will accomplish. Give them that again.

TheHill.com -- "Harry Reid: Economy starting to turn around"

Harry's proclamation reminds me of something...

Oh yeah...this:

Oops.

In their rush to proclaim an ice-free north pole and scream more global warming, environmentalists forgot to check basic sensor data against actual observations. The result: Their sensors drifted, thereby giving them completely wrong data. The scientists involved didn't even bother to check the data against reality until a lot of complaints about mismatches started flowing in.

Go figure.

Here is the link to the data.

h/t: Sailorbuck

9 months 'til the first report card.

There is a lot of talk among conservatives concerning Obama's less than stellar start. Many are beginning to wonder when we will see a drop in the pie in the sky approval numbers that the President currently enjoys.

With the signing of the Stimulus Shit Sandwich Act of 2009, this is now Obama's economy. What happens from here on out is his, and his alone. It's his 'Mission Accomplished' moment. Things better start looking up or in a few months the President may get his first bad report card from school. And it comes in the guise of two state elections.

In November, New Jersey and Virginia elect their Governor. RealClearPolitics has an interesting analysis on how these important races are shaping out:

New polling suggests that New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine faces a difficult challenge for re-election this year. A Monmouth University poll released last week shows that just 34% of Garden State voters approve of the job Corzine is doing, compared to 51% who disapprove. Another recent survey shows that Republican Chris Christie, who as the state's hard-charging U.S. attorney has pursued a number of high-profile corruption cases, is leading the Democrat 44% to 38%.

In Virginia, the only other state holding a gubernatorial election this year, Democrats face an uphill battle against former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell. A Rasmussen survey conducted on Feb. 4 had McDonnell leading each of his three potential rivals, state Sen. Creigh Deeds, former state Delegate Brian Moran and former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe. None is as well known statewide as McDonnell, who will watch from the sidelines until the Democratic primary on June 9.

While approval ratings are intriguing to watch, elections actually carry with it a real message. If these two states, which both went solidly blue in '08, switch to red -- well, then Obama will know the real consequences of poor policy and bad governing.

But two new Republican Governors in blue states (albeit only one historically so) will send an even more powerful message to the GOP.

That message? You have a shot in 2010. People aren't happy. And it's time to do something about it.

This message will inspire the RNC and State Parties nationwide to push harder and faster for quality congressional candidates and the money necessary to win those states.

Keep an eye out. November matters.

A word of warning.

"...the state's increased role in times of crisis is a natural reaction to market setbacks. Instead of streamlining market mechanisms, some are tempted to expand state economic intervention to the greatest possible extent.

[...]

In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state’s role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly."

Who exactly was it that gives us a lesson in historical perspective?

None other than Vladimir Putin during a speech at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 29th of this year.

Dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria!

What's the difference between Jesus and Obama?

Jesus could build a cabinet.

h/t: Jim Treacher

The One.

No, I'm not talking about Obama.

Today, Andrew McCarthy has an article on NRO that details his problems with Chairman Steele's debut.

Republican leadership, though, has bought into the myth that Obama is too popular to assail as a radical. So Chairman Steele’s strategy, apparently, is to speak in hurt tones about his high expectations and then express his “disappointment” when Obama does exactly what all the flashing neon signs said he would do.

Call me disappointed.

Now, I won't argue with his primary issues. Yes, Steele could have been much more effective on the stimulus debate. But the GOP must decide who is going to be our spokesperson.

Effectively communicating your message is a major difficulty of being in the Minority and not holding the White House. There is no single voice, like a President or Speaker of the House, that seizes media attention and motivates the Party faithful. When there is not a single voice, the message risks becoming muddled and ineffective.

Now, for us Republicans, should this voice be someone in House or Senate leadership? Should it be the RNC Chairman? Or a Party talking head like Rush Limbaugh? Are the people in those positions capable? Are they effective? Is their role as such that it enables them to assume the position?

Currently, we seem to be in a trial and error period, trying to figure out who our leader will be. While Steele was relatively ineffective in the stimulus debate, it does not mean he will be an ineffective Chairman. In my opinion, the Party Chair's primary job is getting Republicans elected, not being the Party's Press Secretary. Instead RNC members were selecting someone to help the Party evolve, become more effective and win seats. Steele has a history of innovative thinking and Party building success. Our judgements will have to wait 21 months before we can determine his success.

Limbaugh rallied the faithful and helped build an understanding about the dangers of the stimulus. But does the electorate see him as a true leader of the cause, or more just as a medium of the message? He simply doesn't have a stake or a direct role in the matter. Close, but no cigar.

That leaves Congressional leadership. McConnell and Boehner do a great job behind the scenes. They know how to strike the right deals and when to fight back. But they seem to lack the chutzpah that is necessary.

That leaves my guy from this morning's post. Eric Cantor.

He's young. Bright. Articulate. And has already proven his ability to motivate his fellow GOP colleagues to do the right thing by voting against the Stimulus as one voice.

Let Michael Steele do his job, Mr. McCarthy, and let's hope the GOP sees the leader in Eric Cantor that I see and gives him the opportunity he needs to bring us back.

Back in the saddle, again.

Thanks to the leadership of Minority Leader John Boehner and Minority Whip Eric Cantor, the House GOP seems to once again resemble that band of political marauders that took back Congress in 1994. Even the New York Times is noticing. By utilizing the opportunity provided by the President, the Republicans in the House have taken advantage by coalescing(finally) around the ideas of fiscal conservatism and individual liberty. Cantor's office wants to make sure you know this isn't Hastert's House GOP anymore.



But what I found particularly amusing was the youtube rating and 'thumbs down' comment disapprovals by the viewers. Clearly, this video has gotten under the skin of the Obama generation.



The whiny pricks clearly can't find anything better to do.

Tempted by 'The Man'.

The DJ Tablesauce e-mail account recently received easily its best message since its inception a few months ago.


Sorry, David. This Sauce ain't selling out.

Ugh.

Relying on Mushmouth.

Thanks to Sen. Coburn, here is the latest list of wasteful spending from the compromised bill passed today out of the House.

"Wasteful and Non-Stimulative Spending in the House-Senate Conference Report (Note: Many of these items are typically debated and funded through the regular budget process. Including these items in an emergency “stimulus” spending bill plays an Enron-style shell game with taxpayer dollars. We’re borrowing from the next generation to avoid tough budget choices today.)

• $8 billion for high-speed railway (including an earmark for an Los Angeles to Las Vegas MagLev)
• $1 billion for the “FutureGen” not-ready-for-primetime near zero emission plant in Illinois
• $53.6 billion for the “state stabilization” slush funds
• $1.3 billion for Amtrak
• $24 million for USDA buildings and rent
• $176 million for renovating Agricultural Research Service buildings
• $290 million for flood prevention activities
• $50 million for watershed rehabilitation
• $1.4 billion for wastewater disposal programs
• $295 million for administrative expenses associated with food stamp program
• $1 billion for the 2010 Census
• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges and libraries
• $650 million for the DTV converter box coupon program
• $360 million for construction of NIST buildings
• $830 million for NOAA research and facilities
• $2 billion for Byrne JAG program
• $10 million to combat Mexican gunrunners
• $125 million for rural communities to combat drug crimes
• $1 billion for the COPS program
• $1 billion for NASA
• $300 million to purchase scientific instruments for colleges and museums
• $400 million for equipment and facilities at the NSF
• $3.7 billion to conduct "green" renovations on military bases
• $375 million for Mississippi River projects
• $10 million for urban canals
• $5 billion for weatherizing buildings
• $2 billion to develop advanced batteries for hybrid cars
• $3.4 billion for fossil energy research (possibly including an earmark for FutureGen)
• $5.1 billion for environmental cleanup around military bases
• $5.5 billion for "green" federal buildings
• $300 million for "green" cars for federal employees
• $20 million for IT upgrades at the Small Business Administration
• $200 million to design and furnish DHS headquarters
• $210 million for State and local fire stations
• $125 million to restore trails and abandoned mines
• $146 million for trail maintenance at National Park Service sites
• $140 million for volcano monitoring systems
• $600 million for the EPA Superfund environmental cleanup program
• $200 million to clean up leaking underground storage tanks
• $500 million for forest health and wildfire prevention
• $25 million for the Smithsonian Institution
• $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts
• $1.2 billion for "youth activities" (for "youth" up to 24 years old)
• $500 million earmark for NIH facilities in Bethesda, MD
  
• $1 billion for Head Start
• $32 million for home-delivered nutrition services
• $160 million for volunteer programs at the Corporation for National and Community Service
• $500 million earmark for the SSA National Computer Center in MD
• $220 million for the International Boundary and Water Commission, U.S. and Mexico"

And a special props once again to the House GOP leadership team who, somehow, kept the entire minority caucus in lockstep -- voting against this Stimulus Shit Sandwich.

In the meantime, keep an eye out on Sen. Specter. He may be our last hope for shutting down this bill. Collins and Snowe are lost causes. Gregg is back and voting with the GOP. Kennedy isn't coming back again to vote due to his health. Only one of the three original GOP switchers needs to come back to the fold. I think it could be Specter.

Why? Because of the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Clinical Effectiveness Research.

The FCCCCER is deep within the pages of the Stimulus. Its goal is to slow the development and use of new medications and technologies because they are driving up costs. This program is an idea straight out of Tom Daschle's playbook. Days ago when confronted with information about this program on Fox News, Specter seems open to voting against the Stimulus if this program maintains in the bill. Check it out.



UPDATE: Sen. Voinovich sent a press release out this afternoon announcing that he will not be supporting the Stimulus when it comes to the Senate floor. Voino had been a bit of a concern among some Republicans based on his efforts to work with the Senate Dem leadership, but his debt-hawk roots seem to have shown their colors in the end.

From his release: "Sen. Voinovich worked closely with a group of Senate Republicans who hoped to forge a bipartisan compromise with the Democrats. This group identified roughly $300 billion in spending that arguably does not belong in this bill. These programs generally fall into two categories: those that are worthy federal programs but should compete with other federal priorities in the regular budget process; and those that are not even a federal responsibility at all."

Props to Voino for giving it a shot. That's more than the Democrat leadership can say.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Happy Birthday, Abe!

In honor of President Lincoln's birthday, here is a tribute from The Whitest Kids You Know.

Publius is ticked.

DC is on the road to getting their voting Representative in Congress. Today the Senate Government Relations Committee voted 11-1 in support of a plan to give the District of Columbia and Utah an extra voting Member of the House of Representatives.

To be plainspoken: This is total and complete bullshit.

Our Founders made it very simple:

Clause 1: The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.

Clause 2: No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Last I checked, 'Districts' didn't count as 'States', nor do territories, regions, counties, townships, parks, cities, basements or other such locations.

Plain and simple, this is a power grab. An effort to increase the Democrat majority in Congress. Now, as Republicans we're supposed to look away because Utah was awarded the extra seat in Congress, and that seat will most assuredly be a Republican. Unfortunately, this extra seat was awarded because Utah "is the next state in line to receive an additional seat based on 2000 census figures."

Great. So what happens when the new figures come out after the 2010 census? Who knows where that seat will go?

No matter who gets the seat, forsaking the intent of the founders and abandoning principle just to satisfy the whiny federal bureaucrats who populate DC isn't acceptable. We can't simply pick and choose what we want to enforce in the US Constitution. Now, if DC wants to allow itself to be annexed by Maryland or Virginia, fine. But until then, quit bitching.

It's like ten thousand spoons, when all ya need is a knife.

The EPA building is next door to my new apartment building. This pic of it was taken around 10pm last night. Either everybody works late.....or they don't exactly support energy conservation.



Isn't it ironic, don't 'cha think?

Finally called up from AAA.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal will give the GOP response to President Obama's speech to Congress on February 24th. For Jindal, obviously this provides quite an opportunity for him. He missed his first chance to speak to a primetime national audience when he stayed home from the 2008 Republican National Convention in order do his job and make sure his state was prepared for a Hurricane.

This is payback.

And, it's also going to spur more talk about whether he really does want to run for President in 2012. If he gets rave reviews, which I'd be surprised if he doesn't, I'm sure the buzz will grow much beyond this little trip of his.

As tempting as 2012 may be for Jindal, the young GOP star still has another term available as Governor of Louisiana. There is no need to jump into the mix quite yet, especially since the timing of his reelection campaign in 2011 doesn't mesh well with the GOP primary calendar.

But, if Democrats suffer major defeats in the 2010 midterms...it may be a little too tempting. So make sure you keep an eye out for one of these...

Dear Virginia -- Yes, There Is a Santa Claus

It's called the United States Government.

Yep, folks....it's come to this. The glorious Commonwealth of Virginia is finally letting me properly ask for that unicorn.

Welcome to Stimulus.Virginia.Gov

The Commonwealth has developed a website for citizens, groups, localities, and others to use to share project proposals for potential funding from the expected federal stimulus package. As the stimulus package becomes finalized, more information and details will be made available on this site.

To begin your proposal, enter your email address below...

Really, Virginia? Hmmm. Well, fine. Here's mine.

It's on like Donkey Kong.

Today John Kasich announced his 88 County Statewide Leadership Team for his campaign for Govern......er, Recharge Ohio.

Not bad for a guy just 'flirting' with running for Governor, eh?

Now, some cynics may say Kasich was pushed into making this announcement. To those folks let me say this:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Announcing a statewide leadership team for ALL 88 counties is a monster task. It requires serious preparation and pragmatism. This isn't something one rushes into. Each county has their own political gamesmanship to consider and selecting the wrong person as Chairman can cause discord countywide. The last thing one wants to do is ruffle feathers this early.

On top of it, the team Kasich has put together reads like a who's who of Ohio Republican leadership. The County Chairmen of the three most populous counties, Doug Preisse (Franklin), Alex Triantafilou(Hamilton) and Rob Frost(Cuyahoga) are all on board.

This goes back to what I was saying yesterday. The Kasich team clearly is out in front and well prepared for a run for Governor.

I'm sure the new complaint will be, "that's all well and good, but why isn't he filing so he can begin to officially raise money?"

If that was a worry, don't you think they would have done it by now? Clearly, Kasich must have committments at a level that doesn't raise any concern in his camp. The fact is, once he makes his official announcement and creates his official campaign Committee, the spotlight will be on him. Yes, that means he'll be able to raise money, but it also raises complications that aren't necessary at this stage in the game, namely:

• Increased media scrutiny - The fact is, John doesn't need it right now. Yes, he is behind in the polls, but to think one needs to start increasing name recognition more than a year before the PRIMARY is insane.
  
• Provides Strickland a target - Right now, despite his numbers, the Governor is doing plenty to give the GOP ammo for the general election. Let's keep the focus on Strickland as long as possible so Ohioans can be sure who is to blame for our situation come 2010. If he has an opponent to focus his energy on, the Governor will be able to shape the debate away from his own shortcomings.
• Campaign hangover - Ohioans were hammered for the past 2 years with politics. They need a break. One of the great things about Kasich is he helps voters forget their cynicism. That would be much more difficult if he was seen as just another politician throwing his hat into the ring too early.
• Fox - The earned media John receives everytime he appears on Fox News as a guest host or contributor is like red meat for the conservative Ohio base. That goes away the moment he announces. Plus, it gives me another excuse to watch out for Megyn Kelly without my girlfriend getting suspicious.
  

Things are right on schedule.

And the campaign ninja takes no prisoners.

UPDATE: Thanks to Redstate for linking to the post. Makes me wish I had taken more than 10 minutes to write it. Ha.

For those interested in helping John, please sign up at Recharge Ohio and join the facebook group.

Why we lose.

While defending the Stimulus Shit Sandwich Act of 2009 yesterday, President Obama said the following:

"But what I — what I’ve been concerned about is some of the language that’s been used suggesting that this is full of pork and this is wasteful government spending, so on and so forth.

…

But when they start characterizing this as pork without acknowledging that there are no earmarks in this package — something, again, that was pretty rare over the last eight years — then you get a feeling that maybe we’re playing politics instead of actually trying to solve problems for the American people."

Now, I recognize that the President is technically correct. Traditionally, pork is defined as earmarks specifically submitted by Congressmen for projects usually in their own state. But anyone with any common sense recognizes that pork is much less about who is asking for the spending, and much more about how it is being spent.

Now, I won't go over the long and depressing laundry list of wasteful spending in this bill. We all have heard about the golf carts and health insurance for bees. But Obama's tactic of redefining terms is at best, intellectually dishonest. Unfortunately for Republicans, we are hesitant to resort to such lazy mechanisms for political debate.

And that, among many other reasons, is why we lose.

The Great Golf Cart Famine of 2009

$300 million for "golf carts": "$300 million has been allocated in the stimulus bill for modern golf carts and other forms of environmentally friendly modes of transportation. The Democrats thought they could fool you by renaming the money earmarked for golf carts in the stimulus bill as paying for 'neighborhood electric vehicles' and 'low speed motor vehicles.'

And everyone gets a $1,500 tax credit to get one. Yep, that works out to 200,000 brand spankin' new golf carts wandering our majestic countrysides.

One of four things are occurring:

1) Our country is suffering a massive shortage in development of newer/faster/stronger golf carts.

2) We're starting to take the Ryder Cup a little too seriously as a nation and are going to war with Billy Madison as our savior.

3) The Democratic Congressional majority is full of blithering idiots.

4) Or maybe David Obey is just a huge fan of the Charlie Sheen epic, 'Navy Seals'.

John Kasich: Campaign Ninja

I like Kyle Sisk. He's a smart guy and has done a great job utilizing his old contacts from his fundraising days to provide solid insight into Ohio politics. But one of his more recent posts, explaining his frustration regarding John Kasich's potential candidacy for Ohio Governor, seemed to be just a weeeee bit over the top.

"...you will need $15-20 million to win this campaign. First, people need to know who you are. Secondly, they have to know why you are better than the other guy. With the way your numbers look I hope you are planning on raising $20 million.

...

As Galloway said, "You had us at hello." This flirting with running for Gov, dinners at Thiebaut's(DJ note: It's 'Thibaut') house, Recharge Ohio blah blah blah has been going on since the end of 2006.

You have been flirting for over 26 months with running for Gov in 2010.

This is "line in the sand" time.

Are you running or not? That is a simple question. Why can't we get a simple answer?!?!?!?!?!?

If you are running then run. We are 100% behind you. I get no pleasure bashing on you, but this is starting to enter the realm of being ridiculous."

Ridiculous? I don't think someone has been paying attention. The reality is this -- John Kasich has set the stage for what should be the best statewide campaign since Voino in 1988.

This effort has been much bigger than a couple dinners and a website, as Kyle portrays. Beginning in 2007 and through March of 2009, Kasich has spoken or will have spoken at 45 County Lincoln Day Dinners or similar Party activist events. Attendance at these events has averaged out at about 400. That's 18,000 people. What's important to note is that these 18,000 aren't just regular voters. These are Party leaders, grassroots coordinators, fundraisers and combinations thereof. The very people that need to be inspired to work hard to make sure victory is assured in November of 2010.

It would be easy to say that these people can be counted on already. There is no need to waste time courting folks that will already help you, just as they help each campaign cycle, right? But as a campaign veteran I can tell you there is a ginormous difference between Party activists who feel obligated to help you and Party activists that WANT to help you. A perfect example would be what we saw at the Ohio McCain HQ in 2008 vs. Ohio Bush HQ in 2004. This past election cycle we saw row after row of empty GOTV phone lines. In 2004, there were lines of volunteers out the door. Hell, we had so many volunteers in 2004 that we had to ask some to make GOTV calls on their cellulars in the hall since we were out of phone lines.

Activists need to want to win. And speaking as someone who has attended one of these Kasich events, there is a fire that goes through the room after John speaks. I even recall one friend saying, "shit, I'm ready to advance a Bus Tour right now." Ah, those are always....fun. But I digress....

Sisk worries about John raising the funds necessary to win. Yes, admittedly Kasich is already $2 million down to Strickland, but that can quickly be made up. As Sisk knows, much of the fundraising battle is about establishing commitments from your big money donors and organizing a finance committee dedicated to helping to raise dollars. Recharge Ohio undoubtedly has prepared this network and will be ready to fully utilize its capabilities immediately upon announcing.

This 'flirting', as Kyle calls it, is so much more than that. It is the establishment of a campaign firmly rooted in inspired Party activists who will work their asses off at the grassroots level and into the development of a well-networked fundraising base.

Hopefully we can count on the campaign officially kicking off in the next few months, and in the meantime the Kasich camp must continue what they've been doing -- increasing the buzz, inspiring the Party activists, readying the fundraising machine and developing the policy solutions that will bring Ohio out of the hole of which Gov. Strickland has refused to pull us out.

These aren't rookies. They know what they're doing.

And they're taking back Ohio.

UPDATE: I wanted to respond to Kyle's comment (thanks for reading, Kyle!) and new blogpost. In his recent post he states:

"Has this whole thing just been one big publicity blitz for Kasich to build a following for his Fox TV appearances and to help him sell a lot of books???

Think about it for a second.

John Kasich hanging out at a Borders bookstore on a Friday night in February would give him an audience of 50-75 people of all ages and all political backgrounds (not the best target-rich environment).

I'm sure Grand Central Publishing (Kasich's publisher) was absolutely giddy when he told them that instead of sitting in Borders on a Friday night he could put himself in front of hundreds upon hundreds of 18-80 year old, like-minded GOPers for a cost of zero dollars and zero effort other than just showing up."

Kyle, I love ya man, but this is kind of talk just doesn't make any kind of sense. Doing this to build publicity for his Fox News appearances? To sell books?

If Kasich was worried about making money, he'd just sit back and enjoy his Lehman Bros. gig and exploit the contacts he has made over the years to continue making very well-earned money. But he isn't. You think his book is what is paying for his mortgage? I seriously doubt it. As for the 'building an audience' comment, I doubt he's worried about increasing his audience by 18,000 people.

There is a rhyme and reason for Kasich's strategy. Trying to shove him into a different one only damages what he has been trying to build the past two years.

Finally, knowing John the way many Ohio Republican political hacks know John, we all know he can't be shoved into doing anything he doesn't want to do. If we want him to win, we need to work together to build the best possible environment for him to enter the race the right way and in the best position. Trying to change public sentiment about his motivations is not the way to go about it.

Bonk.

After a long weekend moving, I needed a good laugh. Thanks, Mr. President.

Pardon the interruption.

DJ Tablesauce is headed to Arlington, VA -- so while he moves this weekend, please pardon the lack of posting. We'll be back full-go on Monday!

Gotta love the view at the new place.

I hate sequels

Listening to Obama speak about the need to do something right now, it's easy to imagine just enough Republicans getting sucked in to officially get "New Deal 2: Electric Boogaloo" green-lit.

I don't ever remember my unionized teachers mentioning the 20% unemployment rate in 1938-- six years after FDR took office and years into his version of stimulus.

That's not to say that Obama's actions won't eventually solve this. Remember that it took a World War to get us out of FDR's version of a Depression. Given our dear leader's apparent reliance on the "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" version of the Can't We All Just Get Along school of diplomacy, it's not outrageous to think that history could repeat itself down the road.

What a jerk.

I take that back. Cats suck.

It's more simple than you think.

Much has been made since November about how Republicans/Conservatives must go about becoming a Party with new ideas that translate to the constantly evolving electorate. A friend of mine, hitherto known as Chobemaster(yes, I know), put together an interesting monologue discussing how the most important issues must be based in the roots of conservatism. Do we need 'new ideas'? No. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. Conservatism as we know it has worked for our country before. It will work again.

========

In practical terms "new ideas" = "new programs", which is thus further from "core" fiscal conservatism. Realistically, what "new ideas" do we actually need? Let's rattle off the "issues" we face right now, and their conservative solutions.

Islamofacism. The current idea is to support nations confronting terror and to confront terror w/ any means necessary -- financial, diplomatic, force of arms. That's a good approach and has been working -- keep after it. Might there be tactical tweaks? Sure, but nothing that's at a national debate level. Meanwhile, endeavor to address the root cause fueling the movement…oppression of the masses in predominantly Muslim nations. This is also currently being done.

The Economy. The general conservative idea is to let capital flow in efficient markets. Let's do that, and remove impediments to it. Dictating who should get home loans, or which industries should get more capital from the taxpayer when they’ve already destroyed the capital the market allocated them are not it.

Energy. This is really a subset of the economy, but it probably bears specific mentioning. Let capital flow to solve energy needs. Drop tariffs on imported ethanol. Drop corn subsidies if ethanol is creating upward price pressure on corn, which I suspect it won't if domestic ethanol isn't shielded from competition. Drill for oil where it exists. Burn up our existing coal. Build nuke plants. Improve the transmission grid. If there are marketplaces where “alternative” energy sources are the right solution, those sources will come online through the efforts of entrepreneurs, financed by banks free to lend to the highest expected return marginal borrower provided they are free of burdensome regulation. None of this is “new”…we just need to actually do it.

Health-care. Constraining the free market isn't going to improve quality of care OR control runaway spending...much of which has of course been caused by the increased demand for medical services encouraged by the moral hazard of insurance. Certainly we don't need MORE such hazard. All government can do is make this problem worse -- so we must do nothing. We are on the cusp of a new age of medicine with designer drugs and nanotechnology. Don't spend trillions of dollars to try to "fix" a problem that is about to go away on its own.

Infrastructure. I'm not convinced there is a need for marginal federal infrastructure projects, especially on the roads-and-bridges front. I’ve never needed to get to a place I couldn’t reach by car except Hawaii. If existing federal-responsibility infrastructure needs repair/maintenance/capacity upgrades, make them. If there is a looming national infrastructure issue that local politicians are ignoring since they have too short term a focus, it's water infrastructure.

If Republicans MUST have a “make work” spending boondoggle, how about a national watershed management program? Iowa is flooding while Georgia is in a drought. Major cities are at the edge of their water capacity. While the obsession with being “green” is sweeping the country, the average municipal water system loses 20% of the water between the treatment plant and the consumer due to leaky pipes.

Education. This isn't a federal issue, except that the teachers’ union is national. Break it.

Abortion. Stop it.

Taxation. Income tax is a complicated mess that even the Secretary of the Treasury "can't" follow, and it destroys value in the economy. It also creates the single biggest lever for demagoguery in DC. Replace it with the Fair Tax or similar. (Here, the "or similar" would be a new idea, technically speaking).

=======

Now it's the making it happen part that's difficult.

Stimulus Shit Sandwich: The Letter Home

Dear Congress,

Do Nothing.

Love,
Your Own Experts

President Obama's economic recovery package will actually hurt the economy more in the long run than if he were to do nothing, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.

CBO, the official scorekeepers for legislation, said the House and Senate bills will help in the short term but result in so much government debt that within a few years they would crowd out private investment, actually leading to a lower Gross Domestic Product over the next 10 years than if the government had done nothing.

CBO estimates that by 2019 the Senate legislation would reduce GDP by 0.1 percent to 0.3 percent on net. [The House bill] would have similar long-run effects, CBO said in a letter to Sen. Judd Gregg, New Hampshire Republican, who was tapped by Mr. Obama on Tuesday to be Commerce Secretary.

Stimulus Shit Sandwich: The GOP Strategy

It's simple. Just ask yourselves.

Thanks, Drudge.

If you believe his web stats, over 24 million today have seen this headline.


Too bad they are all likely unemployed by now, eh Nancy? Ha.

Either way, 24 million people viewing it does help combat the inattention the rest of the MSM and Entertainment-based political media will give this amazingly stupid comment.

Of course, they probably all just came to Drudge for this article...

Don't get too excited.

The Washington Post reports that Senate Dems don't think they have the votes to pass the stimulus as is.

Stimulus opponents are rejoicing.

I'll make this very simple.

Democrats threw everything they possibly could into the initial bill. If it passed, great for them. If not, fine...cut a few things, show the world they are being bipartisan, try again. If it gets knocked, they can say "Republicans aren't cooperating!"

Win the war -- don't settle for one battle.

Rimshot.

Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters Tuesday, "The bar that we set is the highest that any administration in the country has ever set."

... which is why it's been so easy for us to walk back and forth under it so many times in just two weeks!

h/t: The Seaward

Oh crap.

Here comes Skynet.

A supercomputer with the processing power of two million laptops is to be built by IBM for the US government to help manage its nuclear arsenal.


IBM announced it was developing the technology for its "Sequoia" system, which will be easily the fastest computer on the planet, with delivery to the Department of Energy (DOE) scheduled in 2011.

I, for one, bow down to our new electronic overlords.