Been there, done that

Remain calm, all is well.



Now, I really don't think all is well, but here's my point...we've been here before economically. During the 80's, I had a CD that paid 15%. I also had a loan that I paid 17% on. I'm not talking about a credit card...I'm talking about a bank loan.

We have been through real estate crises before...if you lived in Texas in the 80's, you've seen much worse than what we're seeing now. My roommate from college moved into a house in Houston in 1982, paying $140,000 for that house. 5 years later, his house was worth about $80,000. He lives in that house today, and the value is back over what he paid for it...much higher, even with the recent downturn.

My point is...there is no reason to panic. Concern - yes...panic - no. We should recreate the Resolution Trust Corp (RTC) and put the bad loans in the RTC. I don't like it...but it's better than the billions that Obama wants to throw at it...and the cram-downs he wants to do. At least in an RTC-like entity, the government could hold those homes and make some money on them when the economy turns around.

Let's stop all this caterwauling and just calm down. We'll get through this recession. Sure, some folks will lose their homes to foreclosure...that's what happens when you don't pay your mortgage. They'll move into apartments or rent houses. But we'll get through it.

The administration is scaring the shit out of people in order to push through all of the left's pet projects. Let's take a deep breath, let it half out, take steady aim, and shoot this plan out of the water.

Did you notice that the guy in the video is Kevin Bacon?

Fare Well, Mr. President

God Bless George W. Bush.



I'm glad he's going to be living in Dallas. We have some friends who have a ranch near his. I hope I'm able to meet him one day, either in Dallas or while hunting. Quite a man, whom I respect tremendously. History will show he protected us well...extremely well.

Roots of Freedom and Economic Growth

A few days ago, I wrote a blog entry about ACORN, and I mentioned property rights and the rule of law. I was talking about how these things are fundamental to our freedoms, and we are at risk of losing our freedom if Obama gets many of his policies enacted. If, for instance, the government is allowed to force mortgage companies to accept changes to interest rates or, worse, the total amount of the loan in their mortgage contracts, then we lose freedom. More importantly, we lose faith in our ability to enter into a contract and know that the contract will be enforced in court. If you are a home builder, or a mortgage lender, and you're worried that the government can "declare" an emergency and change the terms of your mortgage contracts, you'll probably raise interest rates for all. Why? Well, that extra profit from the 92% of folks who pay their mortgages will cover the loses in the 8% that you are forced to renegotiate. This leads to higher prices for EVERYONE! This is so fundamentally logical (and true) that the fact that the Obama administration is talking about doing these things is scaring the crap out of the markets.

I watched the video below from the Cato Institute tonight (I promise I didn't watch it before I wrote my original blog post! I have an economics degree, so we studied this -- yes, even 30 years ago). This is one of the best 6 minutes you'll spend to learn where the fundamental support for our economy lies. Property rights, sound money, and the rule of law. Please crack a beer and watch.



I'm a big fan of The Cato Institute, and kudos to them for this video, and others.

Great Bumper Sticker

H/T American Digest and Right Wing News

"Not One Single Dime"

So, my taxes will go up "not one single dime...not a dime". I'll believe it when I see it.

I'm going to scan my March 31 paycheck, and my April 15 paycheck, and we'll see if I get my $13 bucks. Then we'll watch the taxes. I do not for one minute believe this President. He is a liar and a socialist. He can't help himself. To pay for all that crap, he'll have to raise taxes on more than just the $250k+ earners.

Sounded just like "Read my lips" to me...and I voted for GHWB.

Mama Tells Obama

FROM THE BOSS:

Obama needs to man-up. He's pulling a Jimmy Carter, and he needs to be Lincoln. In order to help Obama get the mood, here are the movies that he should have watched growing up. Since he's acting like Jimmy Carter Light, odds are he hasn't seen most of these. My advice: get a Netflix account and watch these movies PRONTO. Hint: Don't order your Chief of Staff to get the movies for you...you need to get in touch with the average American. Repeat: Get your own Netflix account.

Here is a list of movies dealing with Leadership that I suggest you watch.

Patton
Leadership

Field of Dreams
Vision (people will follow it)

Ladder 49
Teamwork and Loyalty

The Patriot
Family, then country, but always Freedom

Return of the King
Prove your worth and you will earn respect

When you are done with these let me know and I will send you the next five you should watch.

ACORN "Political Thugs"

Stuart Varney is a bulldog here...bravo.

(I can't get the flash player link to work, so click here to see the video over at Fox News.)

I knew a guy in college who drank 'shroom tea. He made more sense than this idiot that Varney is interviewing.

As Varney points out, ACORN is occupying homes that are in foreclosure (that means the homeowner hasn't been paying their mortgage, for those of you who don't know it). They are preventing the authorities from evicting the deadbeat homeowner to get the home back. And now our tax dollars are going to be funneled to these deadbeats to bring their mortgages current.

What possible incentive do I have to pay my mortgage? I live up to the terms of my mortgage...I signed the papers, and that contract between us spells out what happens if I don't pay my mortgage. I have a moral (not to mention a legal) obligation to pay that mortgage. If I don't, I can't cry about the consequences. Now Obama is going to take my tax dollars and give them to these morons. I might as well stop paying my mortgage, for then I would get a tax refund in the form of money to pay my mortgage.

One of the most fundamental things that makes Americans free is the right to enter into contracts, and to have those contracts enforced in an unbiased way. Our courts make sure (well, most of the time) that both parties to an agreement live up to their side of that agreement. Private property and enforceable contracts are part of the backbone of this country. You would not have a house, car, HDTV, boat, private school for your kids, etc, if you couldn't contract for them and know that the other party had to live up to their end of the contract. You might not like paying 18% on your credit cards, but you signed the agreement. If you don't like it, stop using the card. Pretty simple, yet it's the bedrock that this country is built upon.

Now ACORN wants to interfere with your right to a contract. Make no mistake about it...if contracts aren't enforceable, how long do you think it will be before you won't be able to get a car loan?

Stop paying your mortgage and you'll get a tax refund and you'll get your house for free! Such a deal!

H/T Moonbattery

Google Earth wrongly blamed

Here's the headline from yesterday:

Google Earth Exposes Secret U.S. Drones at Pakistan Base in 2006

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/02/19/google-image-shows-base-pakistan/

Well, I have to take exception to this scare tactic.

I worked for the company that was sold to Google that became Google Earth. We were very, VERY careful about what we put up on our web site available to the public. In 2003, before the Gulf War, we had daily meetings to make sure that nothing in our database of imagery could be of use against US and coalition forces. The President of our company was (and is) a patriot, and security for the US was #1 with him.

Our imagery was never real-time...we provided satellite imagery and aerial photography that was typically 6 months to 2 years old. All our imagery came from the commercial satellite companies and companies that flew planes with stereo cameras...and it was available to anyone who would pay for it. So we were very clear that we wouldn't be the first to put new imagery out there, but we'd follow if it was already in the public domain.

Now, for Fox (or anyone else) to sensationalize this by saying Google Earth (GE) "exposes" anything is downright B.S. Sure, you can see things in GE that are sensitive. But the US Government is asking the satellite companies to clear their data, plus the commercial companies are not giving out the best resolution imagery. We used to talk about 1 meter imagery, and 1 foot imagery. 1 meter resolution means you can see something that is 1 meter in size, but can't see something smaller. The idea that Google is giving away "secret" info is preposterous.

The US Military knows when the commercial satellites are overhead, so my bet is that the Gov't wanted this info out, so they parked the Predators on the tarmac at the right time, knowing that this would come out. If they wanted it hidden, they could keep it hidden -- trust me. Hell, this is a picture from 2006!

I never saw ANY classified imagery while there...we only worked with commercially-available pics. Don't blame the messenger.

Eric Holder, Racist POS

Ok, he's officially a POS.

AP photo

Here's what he said today:

Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. Though race related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race. (Emphasis mine.) It is an issue we have never been at ease with and given our nation’s history this is in some ways understandable. And yet, if we are to make progress in this area we must feel comfortable enough with one another, and tolerant enough of each other, to have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us. But we must do more- and we in this room bear a special responsibility. Through its work and through its example this Department of Justice, as long as I am here, must - and will - lead the nation to the "new birth of freedom" so long ago promised by our greatest President. This is our duty and our solemn obligation.

Let me tell you something, you freaking lunatic. One of the reasons we don't talk a lot about race is -- there's not a lot of racism in everyday life! Sure, there is racism out there. And you really don't have to look too far to find it. And we can all do a better job of standing up against it. I'll give you that one, you dope.

But WTF do you want? I'm in a meeting with 5 execs of a billion dollar company, negotiating a multi-million dollar deal, and you want me to ask one or two of them if they got to this position of trust and responsibility by overcoming race in the workplace?

Let's use a better example...let's say I'm a lawyer, and I'm negotiating a plea deal with DOJ staff and attorneys. During our negotiations, do you want me to say, "Hey, while we're here, let's discuss how those of you of color in this room got here and why."? How long would my client stay out of jail? Don't you morons understand inappropriate behavior?

Good God. Can't we talk about business? Can't we talk about saving people's jobs without resorting to race? We all want to solve problems using COLORBLIND rules...why do you want Color-sensitive blinders on?

Are there any adults in this administration?

Porkulus Bill Signing

Here are dumb and dumber at the bill signing.



And here's a copy of the bill. I copied it off of the Congressional web site, and had it printed off. Fits neatly into two 3-inch thick binders.



(And yes, that's an AT&T Home Manager...shameless plug.)

I pledge to read every word so that as I travel the country on business, I can identify where my money is being wasted, er, spent, and promise to yell "stop" wherever possible...like that's going to do a lot of good.

Just a reminder...there is NO ONE who could have read that whole thing before it passed. I call bullshit on anyone who says he did.

"All Luggage Must be Removed from the Area Around your Feet."

Y'all know how much I respect and support our military.

Why do the stewardesses tell me I can't do this?



If it's good enough for our soldiers, it's good enough for me.

H/T Strategy Page

Porky

This is so...so...FUCKING STUPID...that I just can't believe it was said on the floor of the US Senate. Until I saw that it was Shumer, who will say anything to get his pork in a bill.



How dare this moron say this? Can't the voters of NY get rid of him?

Your punishment: wash Barney Fag's balls.

Obama, Congress, Taxes and YOU

From THE BOSS:

ALERT ALERT ALERT - WARNING WARNING WARNING

I was listening to Fox Business News live on my computer this morning and the discussion was about the stimulus package and its cost to the American public.

It struck me that if this stimulus package passes, where is Obama going to get the money to pay for all these items plus the pork? So I sent them a question via email and asked the following: "Because of the state of the economy and the government "spending" billions, will we be seeing a stepped-upped effort by the IRS on collections, to gather as much money as possible for the government?"

Believe it or not they picked my question to ask the panel on the air, and the panel said " Where do you think they are going to get the money to pay for this stimulus bill? Yes, the consumers will see an increase in IRS audit activity…."

Hubby and I had our conference call with our CPA today on our taxes and he mentioned that the IRS is "hiring like crazy" and he said there will be more audits.

Be warned that the IRS will leave no stone unturned to get what they believe is theirs.

Good Luck on staying under the radar !!!!!!

Traitors

This picture from the Fox News website says it all.


Well, not quite. Hang 'em...after a fair trial, of course.

These 3 have just screwed over every American family for the next 2 or 3 generations.

Tyranny of the majority. And by the 3 UGLIEST, too. Damn cadaver contest.

H/T Fox News and AP for the pic.

VDH on Obama-panic

On The Corner this afternoon, Victor Davis Hanson sums it up nicely:

When one adds up what Obama himself has said, what the Pelosi/Reid team have said, and what various cabinet members have voiced (farming doomed here in California?), either the USA is about ready to explode, or its leaders have become unhinged (emphasis mine).

As my cousins would say, "This guy is wicked smaaat." (Lame attempt at Massachusetts accent.)

H/T The Corner from National Review

Gibbs smackdown

I don't watch MSNBC, but I think we should make Jake Tapper an offer to move over to Fox. He should at least get a Bulldog Award. Man I like that guy's style.



This is a big-time slapdown. I've seen comments that folks think Gibbs isn't up to this job. I give him 30 more days, then he's done.

H/T The Corner

Verizon and Billing

Ever had a question about your Verizon bill? Don't ask their billing customer service. They flunked 2nd grade math.



This supervisor has worked for SWBell Mobile Systems, AT&T, T-mobile, Cingular and Sprint, because I've spoken to her at each of these companies.

H/T Moonbattery

Quit Picking on Pelosi (not)

She said "every month we do not have an economic recovery package, 500 million Americans lose their jobs". Yowzer...that's almost 2 Americas a month. (In case you didn't know it, there are about 330 million Americans, not counting illegals.)



But if we get rid of Nancy, just think how many plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and hospitals will lose millions on her and be out of work. Check it out:



Just saying...

PS And THE BOSS says, "I think she's just a stupid bitch".
Kinda sums it all up.

Daschle's Done

When the New York Times says a liberal is cooked, I think you get out of the way and let the bird outta the oven.

When President Obama nominated former Senator Tom Daschle to be his secretary of health and human services, it seemed to be a good choice. Mr. Daschle, as the co-author of a book on health care reform, knew a lot about one of the president’s signature issues. As a former Senate majority leader, he also knew a lot about guiding controversial bills through Congress, where he remains liked and respected by former colleagues.

Unfortunately, new facts have come to light — involving his failure to pay substantial taxes that were owed and his sizable income from health-related companies while he worked in the private sector — that call into question his suitability for the job. We believe that Mr. Daschle ought to step aside and let the president choose a less-blemished successor.

No comment from me needed (snicker, snicker). Ok, one comment: I worked for a company that was based in SD, and it was amazing how many decent, hard-working folks liked this moron. He came to our company's office once and I'm glad I was out of town. Ok, one last comment: in that picture above, he's laughing because he knows he hasn't paid his taxes and you have.

H/T The Corner

UPDATE: Yep, see ya later, non-tax-payer.