A Look At The News
Sep 12, 2017 General, Political
Debt Limit Surpasses 20 TRILLION!
The US debt limit (debt ceiling) has exceeded 20 TRILLION dollars (debt counter in right sidebar). The claim is that the debt jumped 317.6 Billion dollars in one day but that is only due to the funny math and accounting procedures used by the federal government. You see, the debt limit was reached months ago. In March we hit the statutory limit and the federal government has been using what it calls extraordinary measures to keep paying the bills. This involves taking money from the government funds in pension plans, stopping government contributions to pension plans and other methods of manipulating money the government does not own but controls (one day they will just confiscate it and pay the bills and dare you to do anything about it).
The reason there was a spike in the debt which had held at the same number since March is that President Trump and Congressional Democrats agreed to a plan to extend the debt ceiling and pass a continuing resolution moving the time to 15 December at which time the government will need to come to an agreement on the budget. Republicans wanted to kick this can down the road and Trump wanted to accomplish it by the end of the fiscal year (30 Sept) but the two hurricanes pummeled Texas and Florida and money is needed for disaster relief. Remember, Trump was ready to shut down the government if he did not get what he wanted but doing so now that people are suffering would be a stupid move so he agreed to increase debt, a CR and disaster relief until 15 December.
If he is smart (he keeps saying he is) he will use the holidays to hold Congress hostage and not let them adjourn until he gets what he wants or he can let the government shut down through the holidays. If he goes to the public now explaining what he expects and what will happen if he does not get it he might be able to get what he wants. Time will tell if he is a deal maker or a deal faker.
Rand Paul Has A Better Plan
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said that the disaster relief for Texas, Florida and other states affected by the hurricanes should come out of the foreign aid budget. He introduced the America First Amendment that would do just that. It would take billions of dollars from the foreign aid we send to other nations and use it instead for disaster relief. This is a wonderful idea. Who could not get on board of actually taking money that we usually give to nations that tolerate us, hate us or want to kill us and use it HERE in our own country instead? Who cannot get behind the idea of using American tax dollars to help Americans in America rather than letting it go to help people in foreign nations?
Evidently most of the Senate can’t because they voted against the Amendment 87-10. That means 87 US Senators thought it would be a better idea to send US tax dollars to other nations rather than spending them here to help our own people. One of those who voted against is a Senator from Texas. Sad, very sad indeed.
Remember this when these jackasses ask for your vote.
More Of The Police State
The Miami Herald is reporting that many folks who live in the Florida Keys and followed the mandatory evacuation orders are not being allowed back into the Keys. The police have blocked the road and tensions are high as people try to get back to their properties to see what their losses are. The police claim there is debris and live wires (even though all the power is out) across the roadway. The indications are it might be a week before these folks are allowed back in. They are being told to go to a shelter (26 miles away) and wait to be told they can enter.
People are not happy at this police state. The claim that public safety is a priority can only go so far. Emergency vehicles and certain others who live in specific areas of the Keys (the outraged claim it is the rich people who live there) are crossing the roads and making it in. There is no reason that the people who live there can’t get in to survey their properties and determine if they can stay or if they need to pack belongings and bug out until repairs are made. This is government making a bad situation worse by flexing its muscles.
Many folks interviewed are letting the police and elected officials know that the next time they will ignore the mandatory evacuation orders and stay home. They claim this is why most people do not follow those orders. They say getting back home is the problem and officials are only making it a certainty that more people will be placed in harm’s way the next time.
Gouging Bad Unless Government Does It
Remember not that long ago as Harvey was approaching and people were told to evacuate? Remember how the news was filled with stories of disgusted people who were faced with eight and nine dollar a gallon gas and water ranging from forty-eight to seventy-two dollars a case? Does anyone remember government officials claiming gouging will not be tolerated and businesses that price gouge should be ashamed and will be held accountable? I seem to remember a lot of bluster from government stooges who claimed they would tramp down hard on people found to be gouging.
[note]It is amazing that people in Florida will go to Disney and spend three dollars for a bottle of water (which is seventy-two dollars a case) and not bat an eye but when they have to pay a dollar and a half or two dollars a bottle they scream bloody murder.[/note]
Well now, it seems those very anti price gouging politicians who would come down hard on the price gougers are guilty of the very same thing. The Mayor of Houston has proposed a 9% increase in property tax to pay for some of the cleanup from hurricane Harvey. Yes, the very officials who were talking about how immoral it was to gouge for water and gas are now gouging for taxes.
The tax increase would be temporary (they always start that way) and would be in the tax bill due the first part of 2018. Isn’t it amazing that a gas station that will be shut down raises its prices and charges more for water to curb hoarding and make up for future loss is condemned by the very government that thinks it is OK to raise taxes on people who have suffered huge financial losses and who will have trouble making ends meet and rebuilding?
I think if I lived there and Houston politicians wanted to increase my property tax I would force them to come reassess my property so I could pay taxes on the lower value now that it is damaged.
In any event, politicians are all the same. They think people are ATMs and that money can be withdrawn at any time for any reason.
Remember these jackasses when they ask for your vote.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Cave canem!
Never surrender, never submit.
Tags: debt limit, hurricane, lies, police state, proice gouging and taxes, rand paul
Race Not The Issue With Colin Kaepernick
Poor ole Colin Kaepernick has been having one heck of a time landing a job as a quarterback in the NFL. It all seems to have started after he took a knee to protest the supposed loss of life due to cops looking to exterminate black folks. Yes, Kaepernick was one of the loons who ignored the criminal acts leading up to the shootings and focused on the facts the police had to shoot someone. He knelt down in protest during the National Anthem during the football season and he wore clothing that showed police officers in an unfavorable light.
Only a fool thinks that all shootings (of people of all colors) by the police are correct and necessary. There are far too many trigger happy LEOs and we have seen the bad shootings that have come. Yes folks, those shootings were bad no matter what the POLICE review found.
But for the most part the huge majority of officers try to do a good job and try to steer away from confrontation. They just want to go home at the end of the day. The reality is many of the shootings of black folks is completely justified. People reach for things, rush the cops, try to get tough or try to intimidate and end up getting shot. To Kaepernick and the BLM crowd no shooting is ever justified, the cops are pigs who are wrong and America is racist.
Only a fool believes racism is the reason Kaepernick has not gotten a job. He might not be happy about it but the real reason is his actions are a distraction and most fans don’t like them. There was a recent stir when the Baltimore Ravens indicated they would consider signing him as a back up to Joe Flacco (particularly since Flacco injured his back). Fans by and large were not happy with the idea. A number of black folks chimed in to indicate that it was all racism and that if Kaepernick could help the team they should sign him and if they don’t sign him it is all because of racism.
Not quite little BLM snowflakes. The reality is Kaepernick would bring distraction and mayhem to a team. Why would any team want to bring the scrutiny and the media circus sure to follow Kaepernick particularly when he will be second string at best? I know teams could change his on field behavior. The person signing the paycheck gets to decide what behavior is acceptable so it would be easy for any team to require him to stand during the National Anthem and to forbid him from protesting during games or when representing the NFL. They could force him not to wear clothing that insults police officers or any other groups. But they probably can’t control his off field behavior, what he wears or says or does in his free time and they certainly could not control the circus surrounding him.
It is not racism to decide against signing Kaepernick. It is about listening to a fan base that does not want an anti American cop hater on their team.
I have heard the talk shows and the folks calling in who support Kaepernick and his “protests” claim he has a right to take a knee (he does not) and that he is being held out because he knelt down for something he truly believed in and that this would not happen to a white player so it must be raycis…..
Perhaps the name Tim Tebow will ring a bell. He was a white quarterback in the NFL and he also knelt down for something he truly believed in. He knelt down to honor G-d and give him praise and thanks. The very same people who think Kaepernick was justified in kneeling and is being black balled (no pun intended) because he did had no problem with Tebow being overlooked and labeled as a distraction because of his practice of kneeling.
That blows the argument that it would never happen to a white guy and if it is racist that Kaepernick is not working because of kneeling then it must be racist with regard to Tebow.
Especially when one considers whites might be the minority playing in the NFL…
There are consequences for things we do. Colin Kaepernick is discovering that right this very moment and race has nothing to do with it.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Cave canem!
Never surrender, never submit.
Tags: colin kaepernick, lies, protests, racism, second string, tim tebow
Random Thoughts About Current Events
Apr 25, 2017 General, Political
Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh was given special power by the State legislature when it passed legislation taking away the governor’s discretion for legal action and giving it directly to the AG. This was done in order to allow Frosh to sue Trump over his immigration Executive Order. The EO was perfectly legal and Constitutional but liberals like Frosh are not keen on following the law or the Constitution (the Supreme Law of the land and coincidentally, the state of Maryland) as evidence by Frosh and his cronies in Annapolis with regard to gun control. These cretins disregard the constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms and don’t bat an eye. In any event, Frosh took to his new powers so he could sue the Trump Administration.
Now AG Frosh is begging the federal government not to decapitate Obamacare subsidies in the next budget (or continuing resolution as the case may be) because it will take away a lot of federal money that goes to drug addiction treatment. I don’t think Republicans in Congress, and President Trump in particular, would keep funding just for lil ole Brian Frosh and his concerns BUT perhaps Frosh should have thought about the consequences before he sued the President over a perfectly legal Executive Order. If it actually came down to should we or shouldn’t we because of Maryland do you think President Trump would be more or less likely to capitulate?
That also brings us to the real insanity. Why should a state have to beg the federal government for funding? States generate a lot of money. Even states that have no income or sales taxes generate income. Why should those states send all this money to the federal government only to beg for it later on? States should be responsible for their own existence and the federal government should only be involved in things that it is supposed to be involved in under the Constitution. If this actually happened we could shrink the size of the federal government and states would be more sovereign.
But Frosh and his ilk would rather get on their knees (a familiar position) and beg for money. Screw them. Cut every dollar that goes for Obamacare.
Speaking of Obamacare subsidies it looks like the Democrats in Congress are demanding that the budget or CR contain an extension of Obamacare subsidies. You see, Obamacare is failing and the Democrats want to pump more money into it so they are claiming there will be no budget if it does not get included. These morons will always threaten a shutdown if they do not get what they want. Even when they are the minority party they act like they are in charge.
To complicate matters further President Trump wants money for a border wall included in the budget. Democrats (including a liberal moron I work with) say “I thought the Mexicans were going to pay for it”. They will but we need up front money at first and yes, there are plenty of ways to make them pay.
The way I see it the Republicans, the ones supposed to be the majority, should take out Obamacare money and add border wall money and tell Democrats that they must take it or leave it. If all Republicans vote for it and Democrats do not then it will be they who are responsible for the shutdown of government. Perhaps Republicans can use parliamentary tricks to get it passed. Maybe they can introduce the border wall and Obamacare monies in separate standalone bills and they can all vote on them separately. No matter what, now is not the time to compromise with these morons.
[note]Before anyone (particularly anyone from Congress) tells me how urgent this is and how we are almost out of time let me remind you that these pukes have been on vacation for two weeks. They got back last night and today and they now have three days to get a budget. If it was so damned important or so urgent they should have stayed in town and gotten it done. Short on time is no excuse for them not doing what they said they would do.[/note]
Looks like there is opposition to a border wall now (by the same Democrats who voted for one in the early part of this century). My how times have changed because we have a person in office who is actually working to get the wall. Voting for one when there is never any intention of building one or when the can can be kicked down the road is different than actually doing it.
President Trump is working to get a wall built. Those who claim we can’t do it use Google and search Great Wall of China or Berlin Wall. Those should show it can be done. We have illegals in this country and they are sucking up valuable resources. They take welfare and other things like healthcare (which Obama said they would not – You Lie!) and they are a menace to society. You will not read this in many places because the MSM calls them immigrants and always leaves the word ILLEGAL out of the equation. This is a deliberate attempt to make it seem normal to be here illegally.
It is not.
In California the morons there have special driver’s licenses for ILLEGAL immigrants and now those illegals claim they are worried the feds will use the database to deport those here illegally. The government SHOULD use that database to get rid of people here illegally. Just because California is breaking the law does not mean the feds should ignore it. The state assures illegals they will not turn over that information to the feds. I imagine a subpoena for it would do the trick. In any event, if you are here illegally you are breaking the law and if you are found and deported then that is YOUR problem.
Illegal immigration is down since Donald Trump took office. Now it is time to build a wall and clean up the rest of the illegal immigration mess.
It is unfortunate that we have so many liberals running around mucking thinks up. I do like seeing morons like Frosh begging after spitting in the face of the President. I also like how Democrats warn of poison pills and upsetting the budget process only a few short years after their take it or leave it approach to governing.
Screw them. Go for broke and go for it all and if they do not vote for it make sure the public knows that Democrats refused to vote for the budget.
On a side note I bet if government does shutdown (unlikely because they will pass a short CR to keep working things out) the President will not close things that are self-funding or unmanned like the petulant one Obama did.
Sources:
WBAL
CNBC
Oregon Live
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Cave canem!
Never surrender, never submit.
Tags: brian frosh, budget, lies, obamacare, trump, urgency, wall
Merry Christmas 2016
Dec 25, 2016 General
My annual tradition:
To My Liberal Friends:
Please accept this with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.
I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2017, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishes.
To My Conservative Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Cave canem!
Never surrender, never submit.
Dear Government, It’s None Of Your Damn Business
Apr 28, 2016 Commentary, General
The US Constitution is clear about the Census. It States:
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. ~ US Constitution, Article 1, Section 2
Representation and taxation (the taxation part was changed by Amendment) are based on respective NUMBERS. Therefore an enumeration (read counting) will take place within 3 years and then every ten years thereafter. In plain language, they will count how many people there are every ten years. Therefore, the only Constitutional duty people have is to answer how many people there are every ten years. As citizens we have a duty to answer that question.
We are under no obligation to answer any other question.
Many scholars as well as the courts have upheld that Congress has the authority to ask any question it wants. They base this on the phrase; “in such a manner as they shall by law direct”. We are told “they” refers to Congress and that Congress can do whatever it wants because it says “in such manner…”
Hold on though, what “they” may decide is HOW to count people. The “by law” statement merely says Congress may count the population in any manner it shall direct by law. This means it could make a law that people have to show up at a census station, or be counted by door knockers or do it online. But the only thing it may direct by law is the manner in which people are counted. They can change the law every ten years about how the information is obtained but not WHAT information is obtained, contrary to popular opinion.
To the scholars and judges the phrase reads we will take a census of the people every ten years and Congress can ask whatever else it wants by passing a law. This is not what was intended and it is not what the Constitution states.
But Congress has been encroaching on our liberties for a long time. They ask a lot of questions they have no real need to know. The other reality is the government, at one level or another, has all the answers to the questions. They know what color you are based on a birth certificate. They know how many bedrooms and bathrooms you have based on building permits and floor plans. They know all about your property because they TAX you on it. They know how many cars you have because they are registered.
You see, the government has all this information scattered all over. There is no need and no authority for the government to ask all these other questions.
But they do and the law is clear that one can be fined for not answering the questions (and you have to be truthful). My answer to the other questions was “this is already on file with the government”. I answered the question and it was truthful.
I realize that some have pointed out that the first census asked questions about race and how many free people there were (particularly males) and use it as proof that Congress can ask what it wants. Keep in mind that the Constitution only allotted representation (and taxed) based on certain segments of the population (free persons excluding Indians not taxed) and fractions of others (non free people) so asking questions about free and slave as well as color made sense in order to follow the allotment scheme in the Constitution. By the way, the necessary and proper clause does not give Congress unlimited powers. It merely means, in this case, Congress can enact whatever law is necessary to count the number of people in the country IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION.
[note]There are several definitions of census one indicating counting people and collecting information about them. Since the Constitution states the purpose is to enumerate (or count) the population then the definition; ” a usually complete enumeration of a population; specifically: a periodic governmental enumeration of population” is the appropriate one. Webster[/note]
There is no real need to know one’s color in this day and age.
Why is all this important? A number of liberal lawmakers are urging the Census Bureau to DEMAND more information from people about their gender identity. DEMAND? Who the hell is the government to demand this information? And what business is it of theirs?
The claim is it will help them craft laws to improve the lives of gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual people (those with gender identity disorders).
The government should not be crafting laws designed to affect one segment of the population. It is unnecessary to state that these folks have some kind of protection or are special. Laws should apply to every person equally.
No matter, the government does not belong asking these kinds of questions or any others beyond how many people live in a home. The goal is to count the number of people so representation in Congress can be determined. That is all they should be doing.
Congress asks questions under the threat of a penalty in order to coerce people into providing information that is none of the government’s business.
What harm could that do?
Well, what if the questions are; do you have any firearms in your home? If so, how many? Are you here illegally? Did you file your taxes? Are you a child molester? If so, have you registered with the sex offender registry?
It seems to me government could use the census to have a gun registry by asking questions and requiring people to answer them under penalty of law. It could find illegals or child predators or use the information in any number of ways to encroach on the privacy and freedom of the people.
Remember folks, you have a right not to answer anything. You have a Constitutional duty to answer how many and they can make a law compelling you to do that but beyond that you have no obligation to answer. You have the right not to provide anything, the right to remain silent.
Cave canem!
Never surrender, never submit.
Tags: census, gender identity disorder, law, usurpation