Another Rich Guy 'Nailing it' on the Social Contract & Taxes

There are two theories on 'trickle down' economics. Actually there is only one. I am making up the new one.

Trickle down #1 - Cut taxes, cut government and all of the potential wealth that is locked up in those taxes and funding big Government will be unleashed.

An economic boom.

In the real World that doesn't work :
Cutting taxes :
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/02/stimulus_and_jobs_bills

And cutting Government EXCEPT for the military -

http://www.examiner.com/independent-in-orlando/tax-day-2010-most-of-every-dollar-you-pay-federal-taxes-is-spent-on

'The correct answer may be that 53% of the federal tax being collected in 2010 has already been allocated for defense spending'.

Trickle Down #2 - Raise taxes to fund Government that needs to fill in when the Private sector can't (or won't) and switch the Government from 53% of every dollar being spent on the military to SBA loans, State job training funding, infrastructure projects and social services (Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid). GET PEOPLE TO FRICK'N WORK AND THEY TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF GOVERNMENT AND CONTRIBUTE TO REVENUE!!!!

HOW

HARD

IS

THAT

TO

UNDERSTAND?

Mark Cuban :

'Make a boatload of money. Pay your taxes. Lots of taxes. Hire people. Train people. Pay people. Spend money on rent, equipment, services. Pay more taxes'.

'When you make a shitload of money. Do something positive with it. If you are smart enough to make it, you will be smart enough to know where to put it to work'.

'I don’t care what anyone says. Being rich is a good thing. Not just in the obvious sense of benefiting you and your family, but in the broader sense.  Profits are not a zero sum game. The more you make the more of a financial impact you can have'.

'I’m not against government involvement in times of need. I am for recognizing that  big public companies will  continue to cut jobs in an effort to prop up stock prices, which in turn stimulates the need for more government involvement.  Every cut job by the big companies extracts a cost on the American people in one way or another'.
From : http://blogmaverick.com/2011/09/19/the-most-patriotic-thing-you-can-do-2/
 
Aside from being the owner of the Dallas Mavs, he writes a pretty good blog too.

And it starts - Chris Christie 'isn't Conservative enough'

Rush Limbaugh :

'Nothing's changed. "But, Rush, but, Rush, Christie's a big conservative." I will reserve my comments for later on in the program. I'll just give you one little hint. I heard a lot of John McCain in that speech. Well, maybe not a lot, but I heard enough to send up a red flag or two'.

'Herman Cain is a conservative that worries them. Rick Perry is a conservative that worries them. Bachmann is a conservative that worries them. Santorum is a conservative that worries them. Reagan was a conservative that worried the Republican establishment. Christie is not'.
From : http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/rush-limbaugh-pans-chris-christie

I don't know if Christie will get in or not. I hope he does not because I'll vote for him. I don't know yet. I want to know more about him and I want to see if Obama is actually going to keep following up his rhetoric with postivie action. DOING what he says.

I want Christie in the race because I want the level of intelligence from the Republicans to raise above the clowns.

Perry, Palin, Bachmann, Cain, Trump, Gingrich.

I said before it would get ugly. Conservatives are going to have to start asking themselves just how much power do they want people like Limbaugh to have over the 'uninformed'? Are Conservatives ready to 'take' their Party back from the fringe element? Are they ready and willing to fight for the Eisenhower and Reagan Republican Parties?

'Milking' the unemployment check

'Gone In 50 Minutes: GE Gets 6,000 Applications For 480 Jobs -WLKY Louisville'

'The company began accepting online applications for hundreds of new jobs at Appliance Park on Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. The company received its limit of 6,000 applications by 7:20 a.m'.
'GE previously said it would begin taking applications at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday through Friday at 4 p.m., or until 6,000 applications were received. That number came at 7:20 a.m., just 50 minutes after the online application process opened. That’s an average of 120 applications a minute'.
From : http://underthemountainbunker.com/2011/09/28/this-morning-ge-received-6000-applications-in-50-minutes-for-480-jobs/

Yeah. All those unemployed people are just sitting around milking that hand out check from the Government.

We'd better put American back to work and not wait 17 months to do it. It could get ugly if Congress wants to do nothing.

While some are busy 'taking the money out of politics',

Something that will never happen, some transparency :

'An outbreak of listeria, a disease tied to tainted cantaloupe, has sickened 72 people and killed at least 16 others, making it the country’s deadliest food outbreak in more than a decade. As many as 25 states received the shipment of bad cantaloupes, which have now been recalled, according to the Associated Press'.

'The outbreak follows recalls of other tainted food products, including the third largest food recall in American history, when Cargill was forced to recall 36 million pounds of turkey due to a salmonella outbreak that killed one and sickened 80 others'.

'In June, House Republicans attempted to kill the first significant upgrade in the nation’s food safety laws in more than 70 years, saying the private food industry sufficiently self-policed itself. Last week, presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) called for an end to food safety laws that she claimed were stifling job creation':

“That’s part of the problem, the overkill.” Bachmann told reporters'.

'As Pat Garofalo has noted, one in six Americans is sickened by food-borne illness each year, and more than 3,000 die'.
From : http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/09/28/331177/tainted-cantaloupe-republican-gut-food-safety/

On a local note of transparency, on June 16 this year, US Representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers voted yes on H.R. 2112, (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2011-459), cutting $87 million from the Food and Drug Administration, as well as $35 million from the USDA’s food safety and inspection service.

The 'need' of the few outweigh the health of Americans. With any 'luck', you won't be one of those '1 out of 6.'

Got Health Care?

Sorry, US Representative Cathy McMorris-Rodgers voted to defund that too.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2011-10

'Save a Pretzel for the Gas Jets'

Just Rick Perry (sort of)

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/09/28/lip_reading_rick_perry.html

Sunday Picks

Week 4

Kane 9-7
Total 28-20 = 58%

SUN, OCT 2.......

Atl v. Sea.
Pick - Atlanta
Atlanta lost to Chicago, beat Philly and then lost to Tampa. Seattle lost to San Fran, Pittsburgh and then beat Arizonia. Seattle still has the wrong QB along with so many other problems. Seattle needs to 'find' an offence. Don't think it will happen this week. Come on! Light it up! Even if you throw a bunch of INT - DO SOMEthinG! You've only scored 30 points this year!!!!! We expect you to lose but at least make it interesting.

Det. v. Dal.
Pick -Dallas
An upset and a reality check for Detroit.

Car. v. Chi.
Pick - Carolina.
Upset. Carolina has an offence. And played GB tough at home. A BIG away win.  

Buff. v. Cin.
Pick - Buffalo. 

Tenn. v. Cle.
Pick - Tennessee.
Matt is starting to hit a stride with less then top teams, he'll win. 

Minn. v. K.C.
Pick -K.C.
KC starterd to actually play last week. This week, at home, a win. 

Wash. v. St.L.
Pick - Washington.
The Rams have no offence and have given up just under 100 pts.  

N.O. v. Jack.
Pick - New Orleans

Pitt. v. Hou.
Pick - Houston.
Game of the week?
Pittsburgh IS NOT playing like it needs to. Houston IS. 

S.F. v. Phil.
Pick - Phily
San Fran went on the road last week and won. Not this week.

NYG v. Ari.
Pick - NYG
The Giants found their running game last week. IF they keep it, an easy win. If NOT, then Arizonia could sneak away with a win. I think the Giants run. 

Mia. v. S.D.
Pick - San Diego

N.E. v. Oak.
Pick - New England
Oakland IS NOT Buffalo.

Den. v. G.B.
Pick - Green Bay.

NYJ v. Balt.
Pick - Baltimore
Another game of the week.
Defence beats offence.
  
MON, OCT 3 
Ind. v. T.B.
Pick - Tampa Bay  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NFC EAST......W L....PF....PA....DIFF....STRK
Dallas........2 1....69....67....+2......Won 2
Washington....2 1....66....53....+13.....Lost 1
NY Giants.....2 1....71....60....+11.....Won 2
Philadelphia..1 2....78....77....+1......Lost 2

NFC NORTH.....W L....PF....PA....DIFF....STRK
Detroit.......3 0....101...46....+55.....Won 3
Green Bay.....3 0....99....74....+25.....Won 3
Chicago.......1 2....60....69....-9......Lost 2
Minnesota.....0 3....60....74....-14.....Lost 3

NFC SOUTH....W L.....PF....PA....DIFF....STRK
Tampa Bay....2 1.....60....60....0.......Won 2
New Orleans..2 1.....104...88....+16.....Won 2
Carolina.....1 2.....60....68....-8......Won 1
Atlanta......1 2.....60....77....-17.....Lost 1

NFC WEST.......W L....PF....PA....DIFF....STRK
San Francisco..2 1....70....52....+18.....Won 1
Seattle........1 2....30....67....-37.....Won 1
Arizona........1 2....59....56....+3......Lost 2
St. Louis......0 3....36....96....-60.....Lost 3


AFC EAST......W L....PF....PA....DIFF....STRK
Buffalo.......3 0....113...73....+40.....Won 3
New England...2 1....104...79....+25.....Lost 1
NY Jets.......2 1....83....61....+22.....Lost 1
Miami.........0 3....53....78....-25.....Lost 3

AFC NORTH...W L....PF....PA.....DIFF....STRK
Baltimore...2 1....85....40.....+45.....Won 1
Pittsburgh..2 1....54....55.....-1......Won 2
Cleveland...2 1....61....62.....-1......Won 2
Cincinnati..1 2....57....54.....+3......Lost 2

AFC SOUTH.....W L....PF....PA....DIFF....STRK
Houston.......2 1....90....60....+30.....Lost 1
Tennessee.....2 1....57....43....+14.....Won 2
Jacksonville..1 2....29....62....-33.....Lost 2
Indianapolis..0 3....46....84....-38.....Lost 3

AFC WEST.....W L....PF....PA....DIFF....STRK
Oakland......2 1....92....82....+10.....Won 1
San Diego....2 1....65....69....-4...... Won 1
Denver.......1 2....58....62....-4......Lost 1
Kansas City..0 3....27....109...-82.....Lost 3

And just for the halibut of it......

'Chinese Town Cancels Dog-Eating Festival'

'If you've been gearing up for the annual dog eating festival in Jinhua City, China, you'll have to find something else to do that weekend: "Internet-savvy" animal rights activists and dog lovers convinced the local government to cancel the fest, originally scheduled for October'.

As the LA Times explains, the dog-eating festival celebrated a tradition dating back to 1389, in honor of a Ming dynasty military hero who supposedly killed all the dogs in Jinhua so they wouldn't bark and blow his cover as he attempted to capture the town. People on the Internet complained about how dogs have been stabbed, strangled, beaten, and boiled at the festival, or subjected to having their eyes scratched out, fur plucked out, and mouths wired shut. The local government thought these concerns outweighed  (YA THINK!!!!!) the importance of the "emotional attachment" some villagers had developed for the festival, and there you go, no more dog-eating'.
From : http://gawker.com/5843649/chinese-town-cancels-dog+eating-festival

Or how about 'missing' Pigs?

'Attention pig farmers! Thieves who may or may not be operating in "well-organized rings" have been stealing hundreds of pigs owned by your Minnesota and Iowa brethren—most likely to sell as emotional-support animals the pork chops and hams of the future. Your porcine pals could be next'!

'Thieves stole 200 pigs in Mitchell County, Iowa, and hundreds more from southern Minnesota farms. One Mitchell County farmer attributes the thefts to "a few bad eggs," but that's really not specific enough. A sheriff in Minnesota believes the thefts are intentional, well-researched, and conducted by experienced pig dealers who target isolated farms where the pigs come with no identifying marks. Soaring pig prices are their incentive: A healthy 250- to 275-pound porker now goes for around $200, almost double last year's average asking price'.
From : http://gawker.com/5843683/whos-stealing-americas-pigs

From the 'Oh Shit' Department......

'Nightmare in Libya: 20,000 Surface-to-Air Missiles Missing'

'U.S. officials had once thought there was little chance that terrorists could get their hands on many of the portable surface-to-air missiles that can bring down a commercial jet liner'.

'But now that calculation is out the window, with officials at a recent secret White House meeting reporting that thousands of them have gone missing in Libya'.

"Matching up a terrorist with a shoulder-fired missile, that's our worst nightmare," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D.-California, a member of the Senate's Commerce, Energy and Transportation Committee.

'The nightmare has been made real with the discovery in Libya that an estimated 20,000 portable, heat-seeking missiles have gone missing from unguarded Libyan Army weapons warehouses'.

'The missiles, four to six-feet long and Russian-made, can weigh just 55 pounds with launcher. They lock on to the heat generated by the engines of aircraft, can be fired from a vehicle or from a combatant's shoulder, and are accurate and deadly at a range of more than two miles'.
From : http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/nightmare-libya-20000-surface-air-missiles-missing/story?id=14610199&page=2

How To Amend the US Constitution

With the raise of the tea bags, it's hard not to go some place and NOT have 'experts' on the Constutution. Of late, it's about getting the money out of politics.

A very nice thought.

You asked if I had read it. Yes I have. Have you? Or do you not understand the historical and legal aspects of the Constitution?

That aspect of the Constitution has very, very little to do with 'We The People'. Understand that at the time the Constitution was written, only white men, over the age of 21 who owned land could vote. Not 'We The People' but actually an elite group.

Under the Constitution, amending it IS NOT a populas movement.

Methods for Proposing and Ratifying Amendments to the Constitution

•The US Constitution
Article V of the Constitution ( http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A5.html ) spells out the processes by which amendments can be proposed and ratified.

To Propose Amendments

•Two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to propose an amendment, or

•Two-thirds of the state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention to propose amendments. (This method has never been used.)

To Ratify Amendments

•Three-fourths of the state legislatures approve it, or

•Ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states approve it. This method has been used only once -- to ratify the 21st Amendment -- repealing Prohibition.

The Supreme Court has stated that ratification must be within "some reasonable time after the proposal." Beginning with the 18th amendment, it has been customary for Congress to set a definite period for ratification. In the case of the 18th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd amendments, the period set was 7 years, but there has been no determination as to just how long a "reasonable time" might extend.

Of the thousands of proposals that have been made to amend the Constitution, only 33 obtained the necessary two-thirds vote in Congress. Of those 33, only 27 amendments (including the Bill of Rights) have been ratified.
From : http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/usconstitution/a/constamend.htm

"For the First time in 10,000 years..........'

'Bowhead whales have navigated the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans for what could be the first time in nearly 10,000 years'.

'Researchers from the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources used satellite tracking to monitor the movements of the whales - and found that, last year, whales from both oceans entered the passage to reach an area called Viscount Melville Sound'.

'It was previously thought that the sea ice in the Northwest Passage was too impenetrable even for Bowhead whales, which are known for their ability to navigate ice-bound seas'.

'They say that the movement of species along this route could have implications for North Atlantic fishing stocks'.
From : http://www.desdemonadespair.net/2011/09/whales-navigate-northwest-passage-for.html

But it has nothing to do with 'climatge change' 'global warming'.........

'In the paper in 1975, Columbia University geoscientist Wally Broecker calculated how much carbon dioxide would accumulate in the atmosphere in the coming 35 years, and how temperatures consequently would rise. His numbers have proven almost dead-on correct.'
From : http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hchUFDTcFVXkIzVWWH9iYGIXmCtw?docId=d837de45d0f44d3e8d178949d13b180c

Nope, nothing to do with either of them.

What's the name of that river in Egypt?

The United States - From a Republic to a Parliament

Great read at Frum Forum : http://www.frumforum.com/who-broke-the-government#more-104260

'What’s happening before our eyes is that the US congressional system is adopting the
attitudes of a Westminster-style parliamentary system'.

'In a parliamentary system, “the duty of an opposition is to oppose” (in the famous words of
Benjamin Disraeli). The opposition uses every trick and technique to thwart and defeat the
government; the government uses all the powers of a parliamentary majority to overwhelm the
opposition. (To quote Disraeli again: “a majority is always better than the best repartee.”)

'Get the money out of politics'

One of my battle cries for years here and elsewhere.

And in a 'perfect' World.............

But in the REAL World, this will never happen. It instead is an excerise at 'tilting at windmills'.

The people we elect have in effect set themselves aside or slightly above us. And with our approval via apathy.

The majority are not 'wealthy' but do enjoy a very good life with lots and lots of 'perks'.
Political influence peddling is NOT always about the money. Getting family and friends into good, better schools, invites to exclusive events to hob nob with the wealthy and powerful, getting staff and themselves very high paying jobs after their political life. Insider knowledge on business. And much more.

Influence peddling is not limited to the money. It's just the most obvious and tangible.

Here are a couple more attempts to 'get the money out'......

http://www.dylanratigan.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Screen-shot-2011-08-19-at-2.47.07-PM.png
http://freespeechforpeople.org/

That while interesting, will have little to no effect.

The very people that will have to vote on these amendments, are well off if not with money, with political 'friends with benefits'. But even more important and influencial - our Representatives, Sentators, Presidents, politicans in general DEPEND on, NEED the money to get elected. How is their voting to take the money away, going to benefit them?

So common sense tells you that they are NOT going to put much effort into eliminating funding of their live styles and campaigns. We will hear a lot of 'I'm fighting hard for you' in public and then in private using both hands to rake in the money and favors.

Rather then have movements to 'take the money' out of politics, likely to be held Unconstitutional, consider the more likely alternative of eliminating 'private' financing in favor of funding 'public' financing. This would take the 'money out of politics'. 

But even that would have little chance of passing. Again the very people that have to approve it by passing the legislation, are the ones that benefit the most.

The BEST and only OPTION for open, honest, accountable, responsible Government is TRANSPARENCY.

If 'keeping informed' to you is listening to FOX, CNN or any 'news media' and just accepting what they say as 'truth', then you are the problem. And also you have lots and lots of company as most Americas are simply too lazy to take, say an hour a week to actually find out the truth.

And THAT, even more then the money in politics, is the reason America will fail as a Nation.

Apathy.

The 'list'.

'Term limits, banning big business lobbyists, total accountability, honesty and elected representatives actually representing their constituents'?

'Term Limits' - That's what elections are for. Why amend the Constitution when the Constitution PROVIDES for elections? Why have the 'Government' step in and take way your right to vote for WHO you want WHEN you want? To the tea baggers - this is one of your talking points. Government 'overreach'. And yet you WANT the Government to 'overreach'.

'Banning Big Business Lobbyists' - Why just 'Big Business'? Why not ALL business? Why not all lobbyists? Why? You may have heard of the First Amendment to the Constitution wherein it states : 'and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances'. Or do you again want Government to 'overreach' and set up lists of who can and cannot lobby or 'petition the Government'?

'Total Accountability' - For what? Do you mean if they don't vote the way you want them to that they need to be held 'accountable'? In a Republic, our representatives represent ALL of us. NOT just the people that voted for them. And elections ARE our way of holding them accountable. Or do you want weekly public trials?

'Honesty' - Yeah. That's what campaigns and especially 'KEEPING INFORMED' are for. We have the recall process for thsoe that are not 'honest'. Or and you may have heard of this - we have elections.

'Elected representatives actually representing their constituents'? - Again do you mean that if they don't vote the way YOU want them to 'EVERY" time that then they are not 'representating' you? The vast majority of Americans have little to no idea of what our Representatives do or how they actually vote on legislation. And again in a Republic, our Representatives represent ALL of us, not just the ones who voted for them. Or do some actually want the choas of a 'Democracy'? 

   

'That's A Fact Jack'!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeZmwE1oboE&feature=related

A great read from : http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/that_we_need_government_is_just_fact

'Seriously just grab a notebook and put in a hashmark for every time you do something that you couldn't do if it weren't for government regulation, funding, and organizing.  You'll find you fill a page up before lunch with hashmarks.  I've been up for an hour now, and I've made coffee(1,2,3), eaten breakfast (4,5), had a glass of water (6), used the toilet (7,8), checked stuff on my iPhone (9, 10, 11, 12, 13), gotten online through my computer (14, 15, 16, 17, 18) , and read some stuff (19). I played with my cats (20, 21, 22).  Oh yeah, this whole time I was wearing pajamas (23) and using electricity (24).  I haven't even left the house or finished my coffee so I can brush my teeth. Leaving the house will multiply those hashmarks exponentially'.
'In other words, "we need government in order to have our standard of living" isn't an argument.  It's just a fact.  It's pathetic that this "debate" is even going on'.

'1) Clean water'.

'2) International trade agreements getting the coffee to the U.S'.

'3) Roads to ship it to the store'.

'4) Clean water'.

'5) Roads'!

'6) Water'!

'7) Seriously, water'.

'8) Regulations governing size and other aspects of the toilet'.

'9) International trade'.

'10) Anti-trust legislation'.

'11) Funding research into space programs that make satellite techonology possible'.

'12) Rooooooooaaaaaaads'.

'13) Funding the development of the internet'.

'14-18) See iPhone, but substitute "regulation of cable lines" for the satellite technology stuff'.

'19) Thanks, public schools, for the literacy'!

'20) Government-mandated vaccines'.

'21) Obtained from a government-funded shelter'.

'22) Brought to me via roads'.

'23) International trade'.

'24) Duh'.
'Posted by Amanda Marcotte at 08:40 AM • Permalink'
Another 'nailing it' on the need to 'pay it forward.'

Soon to be the new leader in Republican Polls

May not even have to wait for next Summer.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/64326.html

I think he will run. At least I hope so. Don't knowe if I'd vote for his but what an improvement in the quality of debagte in the Republicna field. Well the Republican powers that be will push/force him to run? It's better then watching the Republican party Presidential candidates turn this election into a joke fest. 

If /when he announces, he goes right to the top. And he is completley different then any GOP hopeful we've seen this year.

#1. His personality and ego go way beyond what 'The Donald' or Perry have. He is in fact a 'bully'. Which also makes him an ass a lot of the time. The difference being Christie is NOT locked into an ideology of us vs. them or just promoting some book or himself. He IS a Republican but he actually considers policy.

#2. You may not agree with him but he actually KNOWS politics and even more important - policy. And his personality is such that even if he doesn't know it, he still dominates the conversation. He is the 'Teddy Roosevelt' of our times. And something this Country actually needs. Obama has been trying that the last couple of weeks, doing almost the same thing. Almost. But close only counts in Horse Shoes and hand grenades - and thermo nuclear devices. Christie doesn't have to 'change course' to do this - he IS that.
For this reason alone, Obama should be very scared.

#3. Sorry tea baggers. Christie will NOT put up with your bs. And he doesn't have to. He will attract rank and file GOP, the RINOs, the Blue Dog Dems and the majority  of the Independents out there. The actual Tea Party has been taken over by social conservatives (Bachmann, Perry, Cain) and Christie is a fiscal conservative but could care less about social conservativism. This is also what the powers that be in the GOP want.  A way to seperate themselves from the extremists conservatives.

And THIS is the reason that if/when he announces, Obama will be a one term President.

The tea party has become too extreme. They don't represent what the average American wants.
(See Palin, Bachmann, Cain)

Perry was just to slow in the debates. People DO want someone that sounds like they know what they are talking about. On the stump, Perry did. On live TV? What a clod.

Romney would have a real hard time getting the nomination because of the Christian Conservatives in the South. If he did get the nomination, he would have a hard time against Obama because of Romneycare.

Christie brings a dominant personality and knowledge. He has a little nepotism problem but nothing too major and he has some bad baggage from some of the policies in New Jersey. Nowhere near the bad baggage that Obama has. So he can beat Obama and reduce the power of the extreme right/tea party to pre 2010 election.

In other words the GOP can go back to being about fiscal conservativism. It's going to get ugly and let me repeat that. IT'S GOING TO GET UGLY! The social conservatives have gotten almost too much of a foothold on the GOP but if anyone can pull it off, it's Christie.

And if he decides not to run?

Then 'almost' will win over 'too extreme'.

As a Nation, we don't want the 'cure' (cut everything') to kill us as more and more of us need something.

Obama and the Democrats may not be able to 'deliver' Hope but thinking there is a possibility is better then having the Republicans 'cut' it off. 

Sunday Picks
Week 3..............Kane.....

SUN, SEP 25

10------13 Loss
Ari. v. Sea.........Pick - Ari
Which proves we should ALL keep our day jobs (GRINS!)
Seattle actually had a running game. Well better then before. Still the wrong QB. Jackson looks like he wants to always play it safe. Seattle is used to Zorn, Kreig and Hasslebeck. LIGHT IT UP!!!!

33------40 Loss
Hou. v. N.O ......Pick - Houston
Which proves that I should really keep my day job. But what a game. I've got Direct TV and that almost makes me wish I had the NFL package. (Check price) No it doesn't!

29-----16Loss
NYG v. Phi..........Pick - Phi
The Giants brought back a running game. Like Seattle, they need to keep it and make it the center of their game. Without Vick, the Eagles aren't the team they need to be. Vince Young? Nah. (I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HATE the NFC East!)

10-------16 Win
Jack. v. Car........Pick - Carolina

31------34 Loss
N.E. v. Buf.........Pick -N.E
Ah COme On!!!!

16------17 Win
Mia. v. Cle.........Pick - Cle

13------8 Win
S.F. v. Cin.........Pick - S.F.
An NFC West team with a win ON THE ROAD?

14------17 Win
Den. v. Tenn........Pick - Tenn
I was wrong.I thought that Hasslebeck would go there and basicly not have a good O line just like in Seattle. Tenn. is starting to look better and better. Admittedly against not the best teams in the World but Matt is also starting to look comfortable (after only 8 weeks) and with Johnson starting to get his legs back? Could be interesting in that Division.

26------23 Win
Det. v. Minn........Pick - Det
And here I was laughing at the betting line only being 3 1/2 pts.

37------7 Win
Balt. v.St.L........Pick - Balt

24-----34 Loss
NYJ v. Oak..........Pick - Jets
Ah Come On!!!!

17------20 Win
Kan. v. S.D.........Pick - S.D
K.C. decided to actually PLAY football. Might not be too late for them.

13------16 Loss
Atl. v. T.B.........Pick - Atl

27------17 Win
G.B. v. Chi.........Pick - G.B
Now that N.E. lost, it's (for me) G.B. all the way.

23------20 Win
Pitt. v.Ind.........Pick - Pitt
Pittsburgh is NOT playing like they need to.

MON, SEP 26 
Wash. v. Dal........Wash.....Wash.....Wash.......Wash....Dal

So before tonights game
Moi 9-6
Total 28-19 = 60%

A couple of thought experiments.

Move beyond one religion is 'right' or one is 'wrong'. I follow the Path of Buddha, which is NOT to say that I am or it is better but rather in a way of explaining that as I practice my belief, I accept that others believe in God, so God exsists. I don't have to believe in the God that others do but I can accept it.

A thought experiment for another day. Perhaps that is a 'flaw' in not religion but how it is practiced. Some cannot or will not accept that others can or should believe differently. More then likely just a 'flaw' in us as humans and not in religion in general. But isn't/shouldn't that be a basic teaching in religion? Kind of the 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'? Or is it 'get them before they get you'. I keep getting confused.

Anyway.......I accept that Jesus is the Son of God and sent for Mankind's salvation. But, and HERE'S my thought experiment - why was he sent to the Middle East?

Why not Asia? The raising populations of what would be Japan, China, India. In fact this area had a much greater population then the Middle East. 

Or how about Africa? The soon to be 'birthplace' of Islam? Why not put in place an alternative to the future teachings?

Or how about Central or South America? As a counter to the Gods worshiped in the Mayan and Aztec cultures?

Or why not to the nomadic tribes of North America? Now what a fretile ground THIS would have been to establish and eventually spread the teachings of Jesus. And what a different World it would be when Columbus sailed and discovered this.

Perhaps the 1000 years of repression of the Dark Ages would not have occured if Jesus had not been in the Middle East. (More thoughts experiments) Perhaps religion would not have had such a strong growth and such a tight hold on life itself, smothering all discovery (And still more).

So why was Jesus 'sent' to the Middle East rather then some other place? Were they not 'worthy' or was the Middle East deemed more necessary?


And another........

Are we, the human race, running out of purpose?

We began millions of years ago as hunters and gatherers. Survival of the fittest. A purpose. But as communities. Not individuals. We quickly understood, if we wanted to survive, that our strength was in numbers. We gathered together for protection, support, stability. 

That was our purpose. To survive and then explore. Both in the immediate World around us and then outward.

And from pre-industrial revolution survival and exploration came post industrial revolution and with that, the advancement of the quality of life. Large advances in education, health care, standards of living. Quality and quanity of food, water and shelter. We understood that we would only be as strong as our weakest link.

Links who's numbers drasticly increased with the post revolution population boom. 

Although individuals have used and abused the power we often held in our greater numbers, the drive of humans was always been for the greater good. Advancing our 'Civilization'. The quality of our lives.

But have we gone from 'hunters and gatherers' to 'greedy hoarders'?

A so very few hold so much wealth and power. But for what purpose?

I'm not talking about the 'redistribution of wealth' but our short and long term purpose as a Civilization. Not a 'spiritual' purpose but the 'nuts and bolts' purpose. Building 'Civilizations' for all not 'Empires' for the elite.

For millennium our, humans, purpose was to explore and conquer the World. This was our home and to survive we needed to know it and dominate it.

And having done that, we then began to concentrate on the quality of life. Using the vast resources of the Planet and the vast resources of a growing work force. 

And now after that? - what is our purpose?

The thrist of knowledge is still there but in an ever shrinking World of known and unknown. And the ever shrinking World of smaller public revenues vs. spending those on war, security, intelligence - NOT on advancing knowledge or quality of life.

The ever shrinking World of the 'have's' and the growing World of the 'have not's'.

Do we now favor hording and profit over the advancement for the greater good?

That great line from Star trek II: THe Wrath Of Khan, when Spock after saving the ship tells Kirk 'The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few'.

That WAS humanity but is it still? 

Again looking around as so few hold so much. Has their 'World' become the survival of the fittest at the expense of the rest of us? Is their power and domination for the good of themselves or the good of humanity? As we pollute the planet, our only 'home' or stand helpless as millions slowly starve. Millions and millions have no access to clean water, basic health care, basic education.

Has our 'purpose' become so narrow, so defined so directed by so few that it is driven by the selfish greed of hoarding?

Have we stopped 'paying it forward'?

Are we 'Hallow Men'?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15029924

Not with a bang but a whimper?

Have we run out of purpose? Or has our 'purpose' changed form the 'greater good' to the 'selfish need', the 'NEW' survival of the fittest?

Will this be our last millennium?

Do we need an answer and NOW to the 'Ten Foot Pole Question?'

The Hollow Men
A penny for the Old Guy
  I 
We are the hollow men 
We are the stuffed men 
Leaning together 
Headpiece filled with straw. Alas! 
Our dried voices, when 5
We whisper together 
Are quiet and meaningless 
As wind in dry grass 
Or rats' feet over broken glass 10
In our dry cellar 
Shape without form, shade without colour, 
Paralysed force, gesture without motion; 
Those who have crossed 
With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom 
Remember us - if at all - not as lost 15
Violent souls, but only 
As the hollow men 
The stuffed men. 
II 
Eyes I dare not meet in dreams 
In death's dream kingdom 20
These do not appear: 
There, the eyes are 
Sunlight on a broken column 
There, is a tree swinging 
And voices are 25
In the wind's singing 
More distant and more solemn 
Than a fading star. 
Let me be no nearer 
In death's dream kingdom  30
Let me also wear 
Such deliberate disguises 
Rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves 
In a field 
Behaving as the wind behaves 35
No nearer - 
Not that final meeting 
In the twilight kingdom 
III 
This is the dead land 
This is cactus land 40
Here the stone images 
Are raised, here they receive 
The supplication of a dead man's hand 
Under the twinkle of a fading star. 
Is it like this  45
In death's other kingdom 
Waking alone 
At the hour when we are 
Trembling with tenderness 
Lips that would kiss 50
Form prayers to broken stone. 
IV 
The eyes are not here 
There are no eyes here 
In this valley of dying stars 
In this hollow valley 55
This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms 
In this last of meeting places 
We grope together 
And avoid speech 
Gathered on this beach of the tumid river  60
Sightless, unless 
The eyes reappear 
As the perpetual star 
Multifoliate rose 
Of death's twilight kingdom 65
The hope only 
Of empty men. 
V 
Here we go round the prickly pear 
Prickly pear prickly pear 
Here we go round the prickly pear 70
At five o'clock in the morning. 
Between the idea 
And the reality 
Between the motion 
And the act 75
Falls the Shadow 
For Thine is the Kingdom 
Between the conception 
And the creation 
Between the emotion 80
And the response 
Falls the Shadow 
Life is very long 
Between the desire 
And the spasm 85
Between the potency 
And the existence 
Between the essence 
And the descent 
Falls the Shadow 90
For Thine is the Kingdom 
For Thine is 
Life is 
For Thine is the 
This is the way the world ends 95
This is the way the world ends 
This is the way the world ends 
Not with a bang but a whimper.
From : http://www.aduni.org/~heather/occs/honors/Poem.htm

Smoking IS bad for your health

“MBTA police say Sandra Gawlik, who works across the street at the Center Cafe, was trying to light her cigarette on the platform'.

'Apparently Gawlik was so focused on trying to get her cigarette lit, she was unaware how close she had wandered to the tracks'.

'Gawlik walked right into the side of an approaching train and was knocked to the ground'.”
From : http://www.mediaite.com/online/this-exists-woman-walks-into-oncoming-train-while-lighting-cigarette/

Rick Perry - The Thrill Is Gone

His new theme song : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE_NEO2UfBQ&feature=related
B.B. King and Pavarotti? It kinda works...............OK Maybe not.

I still think it will be Rick and Mitt. Mitt still has the Romneycare thing to answer and of course to get the nomination, he has to try to convince the Southern Christian Conservatives that Mormonisn ISN'T a 'cult'. The tea bag part of the Republican party, roughly depending on the issue - 25% to 40% - HAS to have a candidate. If Mitt gets the nod I'm wondering WHAT the tea's will do..............Because Mitt ISN'T a tea bag!

That might be more interesting then the Presidential Campaign. 

Bachmann, who IS a tea bag, is just so, so stupid.

Sarah (The Quitter) who is, by some, the orginal tea bag? 
Oh she REALLY, REALLY, REALLY would like a populas upraising and have America carry her on their shoulders to the White House so that a 'REAL' American could be President. Does she HAVE to campaign? But aside from being just slightly less stupid then Bachmann, Sarah (The Quitter) has commitment issues and people are way past tired of waiting for HER to decide.

But she wants your money as she is 'on the verge of making her decision of whether or not to run for office.”
See : http://zandarvts.blogspot.com/2011/09/last-call_22.html

So Perry's negatives keep going up as his popularity goes down.
'Mr. Perry’s numbers have been in net-negative territory in four polls released since the first debate, however'.
'Mr. Perry’s numbers have also worsened slightly in head-to-head match-ups against President Obama'.
From : http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/views-of-perry-turn-more-negative-since-first-debate/

And after last night - 'In contrast, Perry looked tired and was barely able to finish a two hour debate. He stumbled badly over his attack lines on Romney -- almost as if he never practiced them'. (From : http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/09/22/reaction_to_the_gop_debate.html) Yeah. The thrill IS gone.

Somebody call N.J. Governor Chris Christie. Please! Hell I'd even consider Senator Marco Rubio. Are you SURE Jeb won't run? Can we get Governor Mitch Daniels over the cockhold thing?. Donald trump? Is Dino Rossi busy?

After Taser comes LRAD

Maybe it's just 'practice' in case, oh I don't know, people start rioting because of the economy.
'A bystander who suffered permanent hearing loss after Pittsburgh police deployed a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) against protestors during the 2009 G-20 Summit has filed a federal lawsuit against the city. The device emits pain-inducing sounds to disperse crowds and is also deployed on American warships'.
'While Piper was trying to leave the protest, without warning the police activated a LRAD a short distance away from her. She immediately became nauseous and dizzy, and felt fluid flowing from her ear'.
"The intensity of being hit at close range by a high-pitched sound blast designed to deter pirate boats and terrorists at least a quarter mile away is indescribable," said Piper, now an English professor at the University of Missouri'.
(Note** She then goes on TO describe it...............)
"The sound vibrates through you and causes pain throughout your body, not only in the ears. I thought I might die. It is shocking that the LRAD device is being promoted for use on American citizens and the general public."
"Police departments should not be using weapons built for the military on civilian protesters," said Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania "As this case shows, the LRAD cannot be controlled to prevent serious harm to innocent bystanders. Collateral harm to innocents may be justifiable in wartime, but not to quell protesters who overturned a couple of trash dumpsters."
From : http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/22/professor-sues-pittsburgh-for-using-sonic-device-at-g-20-protest/

Firearm Friday - FREE AK-47 Giveaway

Better then a raffle for a glock................
'Florida Company Offering Free AK-47s for People Opening New Accounts With Them'
'Do you happen to need an AK-47, as well as a company to process your credit card transactions'?
'MerchantService.com -- a Sarasota-based company that provides the equipment and processing for credit-card transactions in businesses -- announced its "Free AK-47 Giveaway" yesterday, offering an AK-47 worth up to $750 for new accounts based on how much credit-card processing volume businesses put through the company'.
'The company doesn't exactly have a cache of AKs sitting in its stock room -- it gives you a voucher to redeem instead -- and while you don't have to get an AK-47, they'd prefer you did'.
"Keep in mind we are not simply handing out AK-47 assault rifles to anyone who opens an account with us," the company says. "Instead, you will receive a voucher that can be used towards the purchase of a firearm at any reputable gun shop where you must go through the proper background checks and waiting period that the law requires. If you prefer, the voucher can also be redeemed for cash."
'Under the banner on its website that says "God, Guns & Guts" as part of the company's "No Victims" campaign, the company is promoting its services to protect against robberies and such, and apparently assault rifles fit the bill.'
'For the $750 AK, you're going to need to open an account for 15 or more stores and do more than $1 million in volume'.
From : http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2011/09/free_gun_ak_47_florida_company_merchant_service.php

Before there was 'Sunday Picks' - There was 'The Sky is Falling'

'NASA refines the crash window for the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite to sometime between "whenever" and "later, possibly Sunday'."

'Odds of a human life being squashed? 1 in 3,200'.

'Odds of right-wing outrage over Obama allowing this to happen? 2 to 5'.
From : http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/2011/09/hard-rain-coming-down.html

'Nasa refines satellite crash time'
'By Paul Rincon'
'Science editor, BBC News website'
'The US space agency (Nasa) says that its out-of-control climate satellite is expected to crash to Earth sometime on Friday evening (GMT)'.
'There is still much uncertainty over when and where the satellite will re-enter the atmosphere'.
'Satellite and space expert Dr Stuart Eves stressed the large uncertainties involved in tracking the "decay" of satellite orbits (their slow fall back into the Earth's atmosphere)'.
'Using the most recent determination of UARS' orbit - taken in the early hours of this morning - Dr Eves and a colleague have come up with their own projections of the satellite's final descent. But he explained that a spacecraft's orbit lifetime could only be estimated to about 10% accuracy'.
'This translates to a six-hour window either side of the expected decay which is based on a range of probabilities. Calculations using the data available on Thursday afternoon suggested a splash down in the Southern Ocean. But this is likely to change as tracking specialists get a better fix closer to Friday evening'.
'In its latest update, the space agency said only that the spacecraft would "not be passing over North America" when it is expected to be pulled through the atmosphere to Earth'.
'The spacecraft could pass over Britain during its final passes over the planet'.
From : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15021323

Talk to the Animals - And They Talk Back

'Across parts of Australia, reports have been pouring in of strange voices chattering high in the treetops -- mysterious, non-sensical conversations in English. But while this phenomenon is certainly quite odd, its explanation isn't paranormal. It turns out that escaped pet birds, namely parrots and cockatoos, have begun teaching their wild bird counterparts a bit of the language they picked up from their time in captivity -- and, according to witnesses, that includes more than a few expletives'.
'Once back in their natural environments, these chatty ex-pets eventually join with wild birds who, in turn, start picking up the new words and sounds. The remnants of that language also eventually gets passed along to the escaped birds' offspring, much like it does for humans'.
'According to the report, 'Hello cockie' is one of the most commonly heard phrases feral birds are teaching in the wild, along with a host of expletives -- perhaps the last words those escapees heard after their frantic owners realized they were making a break for freedom'.
From : http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/escaped-pet-birds-are-teaching-wild-birds-to-speak-english.php

America's Social Compact vs. 'Class Warfare'

This of course is all over the net but why not keep posting it.
You can call it 'shared sacrafice'. You can call it 'paying your fair share'. But Elizabeth Warren NAILED it :
'“I hear all this, you know, ‘Well, this is class warfare, this is whatever,’” she said. “No. There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody'.
“You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear: you moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for; you hired workers the rest of us paid to educate; you were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for. You didn’t have to worry that marauding bands would come and seize everything at your factory, and hire someone to protect against this, because of the work the rest of us did.
“Now look, you built a factory and it turned into something terrific, or a great idea? God bless. Keep a big hunk of it. But part of the underlying social contract is you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along.”
From : http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_09/the_underlying_social_contract032342.php
Elizabeth Warren is running for US Senate in Massachusetts against Scott Brown.
'During a rally at Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said that Americans were engaged in one of the greatest political struggles the country had ever faced'.
“On one side, we have the wealthiest people in America who have never ever had it so good,” he said. “On the other side, what we are seeing is 16 percent of our people unemployed, and 46 million Americans who are living in poverty and that number is growing every single day.”
“So the issue we have to determine right now is whether that capitol, that government,” Sanders continued, pointing towards Washington, D.C., “is there to represent all of the people, and not just the wealthiest and most powerful'."
From : http://www.rawstory.com/rawreplay/2011/09/bernie-sanders-we-are-in-one-of-the-greatest-struggles/

Another Shutdown?

What's that Speaker Boehner? What's that House Majority Whip Eric (The Ass) Cantor? It's YOUR way or the Highway?
'The House stunned Republican leaders Wednesday by rejecting a temporary spending bill that would have funded the government through Nov. 18'.
'The vote failed, 195-230, after Democrats pulled their support for the bill and Republican leaders were forced to scramble for enough votes entirely within their own ranks. Four dozen conservatives voted against the bill because it left spending levels for 2012 higher than the cap set in the House GOP budget'.
'The defeat hands leverage to congressional Democrats in a dispute over federal disaster funding. Democratic leaders objected to a GOP provision cutting funding from a Department of Energy manufacturing loan program to offset additional money for disaster relief'.
'The House and Senate must pass a spending bill by Sept. 30 to keep the government running into the next fiscal year. Both chambers are scheduled to be out on recess next week'.
From : http://the-reaction.blogspot.com/2011/09/another-day-another-looming-republican.html

Are You Ready Fo Some FOOTBALL!!!!!

Father Kane... (19-13)
And I've added the teams standings and PA/PF and streaks at the bottom.
Good luck to all and may the better man win.
Which of course is me. (GRINS!)
Going with a couple of upsets and some underdogs. Why not?
So on Monday I hope to be doing this :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBh895KdXAU
Week 3..............Kane
SUN, SEP 25
Ari. v. Sea.........Ari.
Seattle is the 2nd worst team in the NFL. KC is the worst. I think Seattle will start looking and playing better but not enough to win on Sunday. And Seattle - YOU STILL HAVE THE WRONG QB STARTING!!!!
Hou. v. N.O.........Hou.
Upset? Could be one of the better games.
NYG v. Phi..........Phi.
No Eli. You are NOT as good as Brady. But will Vick be starting? (I really, really HATE the NFC East!!!!)
Jack. v. Car........Car.
Their rokkie Q.B is great. And Jacksonville is starting their own rookie QB.  
N.E. v. Buf.........N.E.
Buffalo has only one problem to stop them from being a great team. A defense. Buffalo's 'D' vs. New England 'O'? Could be another one of the good games this weekend.
Mia. v. Cle.........Cle.
Aside form almost no one caring......
S.F. v. Cin.........S.F.
Den. v. Tenn........Tenn.
Can Seattle have Matt back? Please?
Det. v. Minn........Det.
The line is only 3.5 on this game?
Balt. v.St.L........Balt.
Jackson should be back but Baltimore gets back on track. And another good game.
NYJ v. Oak..........Jets
Kan. v. S.D.........S.D.
Atl. v. T.B.........Atl. 
G.B. v. Chi.........G.B.
GB and Detroit start seperating themselves form the rest of the division. And ANOTHER good game.
Pitt. v.Ind.........Pitt.
MON, SEP 26 
Wash. v. Dal........Wash.
(I really, really HATE the NFC East)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NFC EAST
Washington  2 0  +15 Won 2
Philadelphia  1 1 +14 Lost 1
Dallas  1 1  0 Won 1
NY Giants  1 1 -2 Won 1
NFC NORTH
Detroit  2 0  +52 Won 2
Green Bay  2 0  +15 Won 2
Chicago  1 1  +1 Lost 1
Minnesota  0 2  -11 Lost 2
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans  1 1  +9 Won 1
Tampa Bay  1 1  -3 Won 1
Atlanta  1 1  -14 Won 1
Carolina  0 2  -14 Lost 2
NFC WEST
San Francisco  1 1 +13 Lost 1
Arizona  1 1 +6 Lost 1
St. Louis  0 2  -30 Lost 2
Seattle  0 2  -40 Lost 2

AFC EAST 
New England  2 0 +28 Won 2
NY Jets  2 0  +32 Won 2
Buffalo  2 0  +37 Won 2
Miami  0 2  -24 Lost 2
AFC NORTH
Cincinnati  1 1  +8 Lost 1
Baltimore  1 1 +15 Lost 1
Cleveland  1 1  -2 Won 1
Pittsburgh  1 15 -4 Won 1
AFC SOUTH 
Houston  2 0  +37 Won 2
Jacksonville  1 1 -27 Lost 1
Tennessee  1 1  +11 Won 1
Indianapolis  0 2 -35 Lost 2
AFC WEST 
Oakland  1 1 0 Lost 1
San Diego  1 1 -7 Lost 1
Denver  1 1  -1 Won 1
Kansas City  0 2 -79 Lost 2
  

Republicans still looking for 'Generic'

'WASHINGTON — Look out President Barack Obama, even Sarah Palin's gaining on you'.
'A new McClatchy-Marist poll finds that Obama looks increasingly vulnerable in next year's election, with a majority of voters believing he'll lose to any Republican, a solid plurality saying they'll definitely vote against him and most potential Republican challengers gaining on him'.
'By a margin of 49 percent to 36 percent, voters said they definitely plan to vote against Obama, according to the poll. Independents by 53 percent to 28 percent said they definitely plan to vote against him'.
'By 52 percent to 38 percent, voters think he'll lose to the Republican nominee, whoever that is. Even among Democrats, 31 percent think the Republican nominee will win'.
'The field lines up differently, though, when matched against Obama'.
'Giuliani would do the best against the president, leading Obama by 49 percent to 42 percent. He trailed by 5 points in an August poll, and by 7 in June'.
'Obama is neck and neck with Romney, leading by 46-44. Obama had led by 5 points in August, 4 points in June, and 1 point in April. Romney now leads among independents, 44 percent to 40 percent'.
'Obama leads Perry by 50 percent to 41 percent. They split independents 43-43. Obama had led Perry by 19 points in August, as Perry was joining the campaign.
Obama leads Bachmann 53 percent to 40 percent. He had led her by 17 points in August, by 12 points in June'.
'Obama leads Palin by 49 percent to 44 percent. He led in August by 21 points, in June by 26 points, and in April by 22 points'.
'Despite the suggestion that Giuliani would be the party's strongest general election candidate, and that Palin would be much stronger than earlier believed, Republicans do not want them to get into the race'.
'By 72 percent to 24 percent, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents do not want Palin to run for president in 2012. Even among tea party supporters — a group that likes Palin — 68 percent do not want her to run'.
'And by 58 percent to 32 percent, Republican voters do not want Giuliani, who ran and lost in 2008, to run in 2012'.

'METHODOLOGY'
'This survey of 1,042 adults was conducted on Sept. 13-14. Adults 18 and older residing in the continental United States were interviewed by telephone'.
From : http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/09/20/124702/poll-obama-expected-to-lose-but.html

Beyond stupid

'Rep. Michele Bachmann visited a traffic signal plant in Iowa and called it an example of how President Obama's policies are "continuing to dig us deeper into the hole toward another recession," the Los Angeles Times reports'.
'However, the plant "thrives on the kind of road and bridge spending that Obama has promoted as a key remedy to the nation's economic slowdown" with as much as 80% of the plant's revenue coming from government'.
From : http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/09/20/bachmann_pitches_message_at_wrong_factory.html
This should have resulted in someone or ones being fired. So the real question is not how stupid this sounds but WHY wasn't someone or ones fired? 

The Tax Man Cometh

Let me start with a little Thomas Jefferson.
'Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions of property in geometrical progression as they rise'.
Thomas Jefferson to James Madison
28 Oct. 1785
From : http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch15s32.html
Yeah I saw the story on that Representative. The bottom line, to him, was that he'd only have $400,000 left to reinvest in his bussiness.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/09/19/322405/gop-rep-whines-400k/
Now from another perspective, how much more in taxes would he pay if his rate was rasied to 39% - pre Bush 'Tax Cuts'?
He'd pay what, an additional $4500 TO $9000?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60717.html
Now seriously. How much is that really going to effect his 'reinvestment'?
We had two very large tax cuts under President Bush and the Republican Congress.
One of your favorite links (GRINS!)
http://wallstreetgreek.blogspot.com/2011/09/taxes-and-deficit-seed-of-corruption.html
We then started two wars - WITHOUT RAISING TAXES TO PAY FOR THEM.
We then put in place a perscription drug benefit - WITHOUT RASING REVENUES TO PAY FOR IT.
We are facing massive unemployment and underemployment that is putting a larger and larger drain on social safety net programs.
Well unless we adopt the Tea Party Clint Didier standard -
'"We've got to get rid of this 'protecting the weak.'
From : http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012416668_didier22m.html
Mass graves? Maybe export poor people? Or just pretend they don't exsist?
That higher unemployment ALSO REDUCES federal tax revenues as fewer people pay taxes and more are 'underemployed' so pay less in taxes.
Those two dynamics alone are putitng a huge strain on our economy. This is an abstract. It's the 'social compact' that exsists between our Government and 'We The People'.
Some people actually believe in that 'social compact' and some don't. That currently is the ideological war or 'class warfare' if you like, that is taking shape/place.
What's not an abstract is the crumbling of our infrastructure.
http://t4america.org/
Go too this link to see the bridges within 10 miles of you : http://t4america.org/resources/bridges/
We have kept reducing, cutting taxes as campaign promises both from Republicans and Democrats.
http://visualizingeconomics.com/2007/11/03/nytimes-historical-tax-rates-by-income-group/
http://jaredbernsteinblog.com/buff-tax/
THAT is why we do indeed have a 'spending' problem. We keep reducing taxes/revenues so that we DO have a problem stretching the fewer and fewer tax dollars on, because of our procrastination on infrastructure and because of the economic recession on social programs.
I am in favor and have been for yerars of a flat tax. That's never going to happen. Or not under our present legislative structure. Nor is Speaker Boehner's 'tax reform' goinng to happen. Too much money in politics to EVER, EVER even attempt to have a fair tax code.
So lets undo what to a major degree, is causiing us to be in the position we are in.
You are always going to have fraud and corruption in social programs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_fraud
Nowhere near the dollar amount as we do in corporate fraud.
http://www.pogo.org/
And don't worry. The Hollywood types will be taxed at higher rates also.
The alternative is to not raise taxes.
Continue to give hundreds of millions and billions of dollars in subsidies and tax breaks to corporations because they are the 'job creators'.
Continue to give and keep lower then in even our recent history, lower tax rates for the wealthier because they are the 'job creators'.
Now start asking yourself, if they are the 'job creators' why do we have such high unemployment?
Fear of uncertainity?
A good reason. After all they should expect a perfect economic climate before they invest or reinvest. They shouldn't take ANY risks. Should they.
Well sad to say our economy in slowly collasping. SO SOMEBODY better take the risk.
Allow me to introduce you to the ONLY entity left to take the risk to at least attempt to support and maybe even jump start our economy - the US Government.
They can't wait for the 'perfect economic' climate so that they won't 'risk' investment.
Are President Obama's proposals going to work?
At least they could, could have relatively quick effects. Speaker Boehners' not so much.
Cutting taxes does NOT create jobs. Tax reform is never going to happen. Cutting the scope of Government when more and more people are needing to depending on it - just stupid.
Actually I think Obama's proposals are too little and too late.
But it's certainly better then the alternative.
We either tax those who have the money as they can afford it and they are not creating jobs.
Or we tax the middle class who can't afford it and with less money to spend will spend less and continue the cycle of companies laying off more people because business is down because fewer customers.
Or we cut maore and more Government social program at a time when they are needed by more and more people. Because Government is a balance sheet - not people.
And all the while as we don't raise taxes, our infrastructure keeps falling down. Our education system keeps failing. Our health care is for profit insurance companies not actual 'healt care'.
Which America do you want. A question I've asked before.
One where, as we have historicaly done, those who have help?
Or one, a direction that the extreme right is taking, those who have it -keep it for themselves?

Cartoon from : http://whatwouldjackdo.net/2011/09/welcome-to-the-republican-new-world-order.html

The Real 'Class Warfare'

'For generations, Procter & Gamble Co.'s growth strategy was focused on developing household staples for the vast American middle class.Now, P&G executives say many of its former middle-market shoppers are trading down to lower-priced goods—widening the pools of have and have-not consumers at the expense of the middle'.
'That's forced P&G, which estimates it has at least one product in 98% of American households, to fundamentally change the way it develops and sells its goods. For the first time in 38 years, for example, the company launched a new dish soap in the U.S. at a bargain price'.
'P&G's roll out of Gain dish soap says a lot about the health of the American middle class: The world's largest maker of consumer products is now betting that the squeeze on middle America will be long lasting'.
'In the wake of the worst recession in 50 years, there's little doubt that the American middle class—the 40% of households with annual incomes between $50,000 and $140,000 a year—is in distress. Even before the recession, incomes of American middle-class families weren't keeping up with inflation, especially with the rising costs of what are considered the essential ingredients of middle-class life—college education, health care and housing. In 2009, the income of the median family, the one smack in the middle of the middle, was lower, adjusted for inflation, than in 1998, the Census Bureau says'.
From :
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904836104576558861943984924.html

The 'war' on Drugs

I don't usually comment on any drug posts because frankly I just don't care. Did my share (well OK. Maybe a bit more then MY share (GRINS!)) in the day. But I saw this and.........you know, it is time to do something.......
'1.6 Million Drug Arrests in 2010'
Ok 1.6 million is sort of out of context. So some sontext....
'82% were for possession only'.
'46% were for possession of marijuana'.
'More than 50% of all arrests were for marijuana.
The BIG CONTEXT?
'LEAP (Law Enforcment Officers Against Prohibition): That's one drug arrest every 19 seconds'.
ONE DRUG ARREST EVERY 19 SECONDS!
"If we legalized and taxed drugs, we could not only create new revenue in addition to the money we'd save from ending the cruel policy of arresting users, but we'd make society safer by bankrupting the cartels and gangs who control the currently illegal marketplace."
'The War on Drugs is an expensive failure that needs to stop'.
From : http://www.talkleft.com/story/2011/9/19/20111/8008
Gotta agree.

Tea Bag Tuesday

Republican House Speaker John Boehner is a 'socialist' :
Hauling out and dusting off Captain Jack Sparrow - 'WHAT'!!??!!
'David Lewis, a 26 year old Tea Party activist believes the man he is mounting a primary challenge against, Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), is a "socialist."
'"Well, John Boehner is a socialist. I'm not calling him names," said Lewis, in response to Cavuto's rebuttal that the bill Boehner voted for was already doomed. "Here is someone that refuses to phase out Social Security."
From : http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/tea-partier-john-boehner-is-a-socialist-video.php?ref=fpblg
And a little background on Mr. David Lewis :
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/boehners-tea-party-challenger-really-randall-terry-plant
'Lewis already has three graphic ads up on his campaign website ... so it is pretty obvious that his candidacy is not really a "Tea Party" challenge to Boehner at all but is simply the latest step in Randall Terry's campaign to get graphic anti-choice ads aired on television'.
The tea party being taken over by social conservatives? Yep.

Would those 'social conservatives' bring back say - 'birtherism?'
Yep.
'Infamous Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced a five-person "Cold Case Posse" that will delve into the issue of President Obama's birth certificate'.
'The posse follows a request by the Surprise, Arizona Tea Party, who Arpaio met with on August 17. The Surprise Tea Party believes that the long-form birth certificate released by President Obama in April -- which put the issue to rest for pretty much everyone -- could be a forgery'.
From : http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/sheriff_joe_arpaio_assigns_cold_case_posse_to_inve.php?ref=fpc

And then of course the 'Texan' himself, Governor Rick 'Tea Bag' Perry and his bigger then life 'Texas Miracle'...........part two.....
'While it's true that Texas is responsible for 40% of the jobs added in the U.S. over the past two years, (Well maybe not so much. See : http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/08/17/297556/report-texas-ranks-dead-last-in-total-job-creation-accounting-for-labor-force-growth/), its poverty rate also grew faster than the national average in 2010'.
'Texas ranks 6th in terms of people living in poverty. Some 18.4% of Texans were impoverished in 2010, up from 17.3% a year earlier, according to Census Bureau data released this week. The national average is 15.1%'.
'And being poor in Texas isn't easy. The state has one of the lowest rates of spending on its citizens per capita and the highest share of those lacking health insurance. It doesn't provide a lot of support services to those in need: Relatively few collect food stamps and qualifying for cash assistance is particularly tough'.
From : http://money.cnn.com/2011/09/18/news/economy/poverty_perry_texas/

A twist on 'When Pigs Fly'

"Pork choppers," Texas' newest weapon in the war on feral hogs, will take to the skies Thursday when it becomes legal for hunters to buy seats on hog-hunting helicopters and gun down as many pigs as they can put in their sights'.
'With more than 2 million feral hogs rooting around the Lone Star State, there will be plenty of targets for aerial gunners willing to pay $475 for an hour of heli-hunting'.
'The Houston-based firm requires shooters to take a $350 hunting safety course before they can book a hunt, said President Mike Morgan, a former Army helicopter pilot'.
(OK. We're up to $825 for ONE hour of 'hunting'.)
'Sixty hunters have taken the course, and two more 15-person classes are already filled, he said'.
"These are people who are really, really serious about shooting things," Morgan said, noting that hunters from New York City, Missouri and Kansas have taken the course, which includes a four-hour class and 30 minutes of learning airborne target practice'.
'The company has booked more than 30 hunts with a three-hour minimum of flight time.
(At 3 hours, we're up to $1775)
Most shooters are scheduling five hours to six hours, he said'.
(And at 6 hours it's up to $3200!)
From : http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/08/27/3318555/serious-shooters-are-lining-up.html

The 'Jobs Act' - What Washington State WON'T get

The House and Senate Rebublican via Speaker Boehner's statement,
http://historymusings.wordpress.com/2011/09/15/full-text-september-15-2011-speaker-house-john-boehner-jobs-speech-economic-club-washington-transcript/
prefer to cut Government spending, cut taxes and reform taxes, none of which actually 'create' jobs.
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2010/02/stimulus_and_jobs_bills
So as we continue to watch our economy, our Nation stagnate and then slowly crumble, lets ponder what MIGHT have been vs. looking around us, what is.
Our Infrastructure : http://t4america.org/
Great link. You can type in your address and it'll show deficient bridges within 10 miles :
http://t4america.org/resources/bridges/
And for those saying it's not that bad : http://www.startribune.com/local/11593606.html
What is that saying ? 'Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it'.
So don't spend the money on fixing our roads/bridges. Lets just keep cutting taxes and cutting Government.
The United States of America. A third World Nation with a Military that can kill every man, woman and child on the Earth 7 times.
Is THAT the reason we should be a great Nation? Or is it that we COULD have a modern and safe infrastructure, modern and advanced educational system and a World class health care system open to all.
The 'Jobs Act' as it would effect Washington State residents.

 1. Tax Cuts to Help America’s Small Businesses Hire and Grow
•  In Washington, 150,000 firms will receive a payroll tax cut under the American Jobs Act.
2. Putting Workers Back on the Job While Rebuilding and Modernizing America
• Of the investments for highway and transit modernization projects, the President’s plan will make immediate investments of at least $741,100,000 in Washington that could support a minimum of approximately 9,600 local jobs.
• The President is proposing to invest $35 billion to prevent layoffs.
 These funds would help states and localities avoid and reverse layoffs now, and will provide $627,800,000 in funds to Washington to support up to 8,500 educator and first responder jobs.
• The President is proposing a $25 billion investment in school infrastructure.
 Washington will receive $365,100,000 in funding to support as many as 4,700 jobs.
• The President is proposing to invest $15 billion in a national effort to put construction workers on the job rehabilitating and refurbishing hundreds of thousands of vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses.
 Washington could receive about $20,000,000 to revitalize and refurbish local communities, in addition to funds that would be available through a competitive application.
• The President’s plan proposes $5 billion of investments for facilities modernization needs at community colleges.
Washington could receive $83,900,000 in funding in the next fiscal year for its community colleges.
3. Pathways Back to Work for Americans Looking for Jobs.
• Drawing on the best ideas of both parties and the most innovative states, the President is proposing the most sweeping reforms to the unemployment insurance (UI) system in 40 years help those without jobs transition to the workplace. This could help put the 133,000 long-term unemployed workers in Washington back to work.
• Alongside these reforms, the President is reiterating his call to extend unemployment insurance, preventing 46,200 people looking for work in Washington from losing their benefits in just the first 6 weeks.
• The President is proposing a new Pathways Back to Work Fund to provide hundreds of thousands of low-income youth and adults with opportunities to work and to achieve needed training in growth industries. Pathways Back to Work could place 2,600 adults and 6,900 youths in jobs in Washington.
4. Tax Relief for Every American Worker and Family
• The President’s plan will expand the payroll tax cut passed last December by cutting workers payroll taxes in half next year. A typical household in Washington, with a median income of around $60,000, will receive a tax cut of around $1,860.
5. Fully Paid for as Part of the President’s Long-Term Deficit Reduction Plan.
• To ensure that the American Jobs Act is fully paid for, the President will call on the Joint Committee to come up with additional deficit reduction necessary to pay for the Act and still meet its deficit target. The President will, in the coming days, release a detailed plan that will show how we can do that while achieving the additional deficit reduction necessary to meet the President’s broader goal of stabilizing our debt as a share of the economy.
From : http://www.whitehouse.gov/jobsact

.

Constitution Day!!

There's a web site of course :
http://www.constitutionday.com/
I read where the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) have some celebration/information event planned. (My many and humble apologies to the DAR as I couldn't find a link nor a copy of the story I read in the Review.)
And no doubt 'there is an app for that' too.
Our Constitution is a subjective document.
'As Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story said in 1845: "How easily men satisfy themselves that the Constitution is exactly what they wish it to be."
From : http://theweek.com/article/index/212209/the-constitution-what-the-founders-intended
THAT underlying truth and having the tea party members tell me that I wasn't a 'real' American - is what drove and drives me AGAINST the tea party.
You can tell someone their argument is false. And then you have the choice to present FACTS showing cause or cowardly decline and resort to sniping and name calling. But you CAN NOT tell another American that THEY are false.
Our Nation was founded on the guiding principle that 'We The People' are United.
We are Americans first.
Republicans, tea party, Democrats or Independents SECOND.
Far, far too many forget that.
So with hope, take a moment today, even just 5 minutes and look over that great document that daily we should celebrate and embrace is the very reason we can choose.
I've had the same copy of the Constitution since 1970.
But for sure convenience I love this site : http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/
And another great site : http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html
This one line along with Justice Story's quote should sum it up : 'Basically, unless your interpretation of the Constitution freezes it in 1789', there is a LOT that the Constitution may not state in print but allows in spirit.
You know that old saying - the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law.