The Obamas' Date Night and Who's Keeping Track of the Costs

Everyone has heard that Michelle and the Prez went on a date in New York City over the weekend. The blogs are screaming about what poor taste it is for the Prez to spend all that money to fly to NYC for dinner and a show when people are out of work, GM is filing bankruptcy, and we own Fannie, Freddie, AIG, and more. Not to mention the carbon footprint, oh my!

What hasn't been as widely reported is that the Inspector General (IG) of the Federal Reserve is supposed to be watching over where all that money goes after if comes off of the printing presses. Here's the IG's testimony in front of Congress. It is almost painful to watch, she's such a dope.



I only wish the Congressman had asked, "Who's paying for the date and the dinner for the Obamas?". You think she's squirming now; just think if she had to answer that one.

If you were in charge of watching over trillions, wouldn't you at least have a better answer than "we're doing a high-level review and we'll get back to you on that"? This gal needs to be fired.

H/T Moonbattery

"Four Score and 20 Centuries Ago..."

What a maroon...



Julie Caesar is rolling in the grave.

How this idiot made it past the Ides of March is beyond me.

H/T Moonbattery

Sarkozy Takes Lessons from Obama

From THE BOSS:

It does not take the knowledge of Emily Post to know that Queen Elizabeth should have been first on Sarkozy’s guest list for the 65^th anniversary of D-Day. One fears he is taking protocol lessons from Obama and his wife.

This anniversary will most likely be the last for hundreds of WWII veterans coming to Normandy to walk the sandy beaches, view the cliffs that were scaled by US Rangers and visit the graves of those they call their brothers.

Those who are now in charge of running countries around the world don’t have a clue on how to show respect to the Queen and the role she played during WWII. Shame on all of them, including Gordon Brown, for not handling this matter and showing the world how grateful and thankful we are to her as well as all those who fought and gave their all on that day, D-Day.

Not Guilty

There's a story up on FoxNews.com now (from AP) about a pharmacist in Oklahoma who is being prosecuted for killing a would-be robber. According to the story, the pharmacist shot one of two robbers, chased the other out the door, then came back and shot the first guy again 5 times. The first robber had been shot in the head at first, then killed by the second set of shots.

I'm willing to bet that he'll be found innocent. This is Oklahoma, after all. He wouldn't even be charged in Texas.

Bad guys get what they deserve.

H/T FoxNews.com and AP

San Diego Bible Study

This is rich. San Diego County is trying to stop a couple from having a bible study in their home...saying it's a violation of the zoning ordinance. Here's the link to the story on FoxNews.com.

The money quote:

"...this is just a bible study with friends. We have a meal, we pray, that was all," Jones said.

I mean...come ON, people.

I volunteer to fly to San Diego and be arrested for Bible Study. That would be great to have on my rap sheet.

I'll bet if it was a commie study group there would be no problem.

H/T FoxNews.com and picture from Getty Images

Current Recession in Perspective

It's all relative...unless you're the one who is unemployed.


H/T Donald Marron

Baxter Black is a Lucky Man - As Am I

H/T American Digest

Never Forget

Stiffed for Steelers

SEE UPDATE BELOW.

I could understand if it was for the Cowboys, but the Steelers?

Sobbing Kindergarteners Snubbed for Steelers?

Thursday was supposed to be the highlight of the year for more than 100 kindergarteners from Stafford County, Va. They got up early and took a chartered bus to the White House for a school field trip. But when they arrived, all the 5-year-olds got was a lesson in disappointment.

The buses from Conway Elementary arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue a little later than planned, and they were locked out.

"We were going to the White House, but we couldn’t get in so I felt sad," 5-year-old Cameron Stine said.

Parents say they were just 10 minutes late for their scheduled tour. School officials say White House staff said they needed to get ready for the president's event with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, so they couldn't come in.

I mean, maybe if Mean Joe Greene was going to be there...

From NBC News, via NRO.

UPDATE: Compare Obama's treatment of kids to President Bush's reaction to the 9/11 attacks. Bush has long been unfairly criticized for staying in the school room in order not to alarm the kids. Obama doesn't even care about the kids. As THE BOSS said, 'Why didn't he let them in to meet the Steelers, too? They'd get a two-fer!!!'

Here Come Low Fares!

Yesterday, Southwest Airlines announced that it would begin service in Milwaukee starting this November. Since I'm originally from Dallas, I think this is great news. It's not so good news to Midwest Airlines. But for the flying public -- terrific.

Southwest has a long history of entering markets and causing fares to plummet. When I was in college, we flew from Dallas to San Antonio for $7. That's not a misprint -- $7. Southwest offers no-frills service at rock-bottom prices.

I have been flying Midwest for 10 years now...both THE BOSS and I have been Midwest Executive members over the years. I simply love their service...when you can get it nowadays. The Signature Seat is harder to find than Obama's birth certificate. That has driven me to fly on Northwest (ugh) and Delta out of Milwaukee. As you may remember, I'm a longtime Delta fan, and the Delta - Northwest merger has me flying back on Delta again. Midwest lost me with all of their minijets. I hate those damn flying pencils. Now Delta/NWA and Midwest have announced a code-sharing deal to start this summer. This might help, as I'll keep flying Delta, and if I can get a Signature Seat, I'll fly on Midwest. But I think it means that YX will become a smaller regional carrier for Delta, much like COMAIR and others.

I expect the local business community to rally round Midwest. All of those Harley dealers, Snap-On execs, and Miller-Coors execs (well, the ones left in MKE) love Midwest. But the plane fact is that competition leads to lower pricing, and the leisure traveler in Wisconsin will flock to those low Southwest fares. That will be the death-knell of Midwest's larger planes -- they'll just keep shedding them and going with RJ's. I'll miss Midwest, but I prefer lower fares and bigger seats over cramped cabins. You will, too.

KC Aviation is on life-support, and we're just waiting for them to pull the plug.

Indiana Wants Me

Seems as if the good and conservative folks in Indiana are getting their priorities straight...

Indiana will no longer invest in bonds issued by banks and automakers who receive federal bailout money.

Bondholders are supposed to be at the head of the line for repayment if a company goes bankrupt. But State Treasurer Richard Mourdock says the government rewrote the rulebook for the Chrysler bankruptcy, leaving investors with 29 cents on the dollar. Mourdock says that cost state investment funds $5.6 million.

Gotta like that. Wonder if we'll see Mourdock at the Tea Parties on July 4th.

Did I tell you that I met THE BOSS in Indianapolis?

H/T NRO and WIBC in Indy

Krauthammer for President

Charles has it just right. While I don't agree with increasing gas taxes, in this case it would be revenue-neutral to the taxpayer...what you paid in increased gas taxes you'd get back as a tax-credit on your income taxes. Sweet and crude at the same time. From NRO:

Well, if you do the math, it is a seven-year plan. Stalin restricted himself to five-year plans.

It's quite ambitious, and it's the most inefficient way of curtailing gasoline consumption, which we ought to do for a host of reasons, including national security. We want to reduce the amount of oil imported.

But instead of having it in mandates from Washington, arbitrary numbers picked out of a hat, what you do is you impose a gasoline tax and you refund it immediately [as] a reduction in the payroll tax, so Washington keeps not a penny of it.

And the beauty of that is when you had the gas at $4, we had a change in consumer habits and the buying of smaller, efficient cars. What you do is you recreate that with a gas tax, except that instead of all the money ending up in Saudi Arabia and in the pockets of Hugo Chavez, it ends up in the pockets of the American consumer.

And that's what we ought to do instead, but nobody has the political courage to propose that.

I'm in for this. I sure as hell want the freedom to buy another Suburban whenever I want it.

H/T NRO

Mastercard, buh-bye

I am one of those who has way too many credit cards.

"Hi, I'm TIW, and I'm a crediholic". There, I said it.

Now Mastercard has made it easier for me to break the credit card habit.



Thanks guys.

Freaking morons.

H/T The Corner

Gun Control

From Lex.

Heritage on Deficits

Oops.



Now what?

THIS WILL NOT STAND.

H/T Heritage.org

Newt about Pelosi

Here's Pelosi trying to walk back her claim that the CIA lied to her.



And here's Newt about Pelosi.
One thing about Newt...he doesn't pull any punches.



God Bless Newt.

I still think Pelosi will step down as Speaker.

H/T Brutally Honest

Obama and Pelosi, sitting in a tree...

...p-i-s-s-i-n-g.


Obama shows class and leadership in office. Pelosi calls the CIA a bunch of lying liars (apologies to dipshit Franken). The Press Secretary says the President doesn't want to fight that fight.

Here's how The Campaign Spot over at National Review Online says it best:

The elected official third in line to the presidency has accused the CIA of repeated crimes, and the Agency has responded by essentially calling this official a liar. And the president's representative tells the public he has nothing to say on the matter.

This is, essentially, voting "present."

As I said before, Pelosi is cooked. She's going to have to resign as Speaker (not from her Rep seat, just Speaker). Otherwise, the Truth Commissions will get her. And Obama will just watch her drown -- throwing her an anchor.

And I love it. Freaking witch.

From The Pelosi Spot

How to Freak out a Doctor (without blood)

Took THE BOSS today to the doctor's office. Routine...until...well, the Young Dr. Lady Resident came in to help out with the experienced doc. You know...teaching hospital that UW Medical Center is and all.

Anyway, one of the things that the good Young Doctor wanted to do was to ask THE BOSS some routine questions. Like, what day of the week is it? What's your full name? What month is it? What's this? (thumb). What are these? (knuckles). THE BOSS got 'em all correct, of course. Then the biggie: Who's the President? To which THE BOSS immediately replied (and I quote): "I don't have one".

Was a very stunned look on the Young Doc's face. Then a pregnant pause. Gotta say, though, that she just kept on going. Didn't let on what she thought of this. But that first stunned look...hehe.

Visit to the doctor's office: $180.00
Charge from hospital: $134.00
Gas to drive to and from: $34.00
Crappy lunch in hospital cafeteria: $8.00
Look on liberal Doc's face: PRICELESS

My wife...I think I'll keep her.

I Spy a Spy

From AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a Defense Department official with feeding classified information to an agent for the Chinese government.

Officials have unsealed charges in federal court in Virginia against James Fondren, Jr., saying he conspired to relay classified information to a foreign agent.

Authorities say Fondren, 62, believed he was feeding information to the Taiwan government, when in fact the agent was working for China.

Fondren worked at the Pentagon and is the deputy director of the Washington liaison office for U.S. Pacific Command. He has been on administrative leave since February.

How about this? Once this POS is convicted, and given the death penalty, offer to let him live if he will submit to waterboarding and all other EIT (enhanced inter...oh, you know). Then we can show that EIT's are humane and save lives.

THEN kill him by firing squad. Just for justice.

H/T The Corner

Press Reports Racism in America

Except it's not what you think.

A Chicago family is vowing to be racist for a year...and are celebrated for it.

Check it out (full story here):

Maggie and John Anderson of Chicago vowed four months ago that for one year, they would try to patronize only black-owned businesses. The "Empowerment Experiment" is the reason John had to suffer for hours with a stomach ache and Maggie no longer gets that brand-name lather when she washes her hair. A grocery trip is a 14-mile odyssey.

"We kind of enjoy the sacrifice because we get to make the point ... but I am going without stuff and I am frustrated on a daily basis," Maggie Anderson said. "It's like, my people (emphasis mine) have been here 400 years and we don't even have a Walgreens to show for it."

So far, the Andersons have spent hundreds of dollars with black businesses from grocery stores to dry cleaners. But the couple still hasn't found a mortgage lender, home security system vendor or toy store. Nonetheless, they're hoping to expand the endeavor beyond their Chicago home.

My people? MY PEOPLE? How about hard-working AMERICANS, you twit.

Oh, I didn't mention that they were black? I didn't think it was important, but I guess the AP thinks otherwise. Just why in the world are these folks not called racists, as I would be if I tried to pull this kind of crap?

How about finding good service at a good price, at a convenient location, regardless of who owns the business? No wait...this is the hope and change we have been waiting for.

If they keep it up for the full year, maybe we can sue for reparations.

H/T FoxNews.com and AP

Make that 3 Liars

Obama joins Pelosi and Reid in the Ring of Dishonor.

Read this article in today's Wall Street Journal by Debra Burlingame, who's brother was the Captain of the plane that was hijacked into the Pentagon. Mrs. Burlingame is a class act, and represents the families of those killed in the 9/11 attacks. She met with Obama, along with relatives of those killed in the USS Cole bombing. They wanted assurances from Obama that those at Gitmo would not be released. The result? Well, let her tell it:

Believe . . . feel . . . hope.

We'd been had.

Read the entire WSJ article here. And if you're not pissed off, you don't belong in this country. You belong in Gitmo.

New GOP Video

Pretty powerful.



I volunteer to build a maximum security prison and house these animals. I'll ask for funding from Obama, and we'll have a camera in each cell. Watch us ignore these animals 24 x 7.

But one thing I WON'T do is...RELEASE THEM. They can rot in there on bologna sandwiches (the kind with pork in them).

STATE'S RIGHTS: Montana, Utah, then Texas

Montana has adopted a new law (effective in October) that exempts firearms manufactured and kept inside Montana as exempt from Federal regulations. Utah is working on it, and I saw an interview with a Texas lawmaker in which he said Texas will pass the same bill that Montana has.

Here are the fundamentals:

1. The US Constitution empowers the federal government to regulate interstate commerce (between states, not inside a state).
2. All powers not specifically given to the feds are reserved for the states.
3. So if something stays inside a state, and doesn't cross a state line, then the state can regulate it, but the feds can't.

For years, the feds have crept into our lives inside our states. Example: The feds threatened to withhold highway funding if the states didn't lower the speed limit to 55. It's nobody's business in Washington how fast we drive in Texas!!!


Now, the feds knew they couldn't FORCE the states to lower the speed limit...they didn't have the constitutional authority. But they could damn well stop the money.

No one likes this, but it hasn't been challenged in court in a long time.

Now these states are going to pass these laws, and it'll go to the Supremes.
No, not those Supremes......these Supremes.

I love it. Think about a few consequences. What if gas stations refused to collect federal gasoline taxes? What happens if my city gets its water from a local source...not across state lines...and my city and state tell the Feds to pound sand about the Clean Water Act, or tells the EPA to take a hike about water quality? Think about how much money we'll save if we don't have to meet all these cockamamie regulations.

We're talking about big changes here, folks. Big changes usually mean big consequences, and usually mean Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton will come out and wring hands about how it would affect the poor.

Let's hope these states and more pass these laws. Then we have a little power to barter with against Washington.

Public to Pelosi: RESIGN NOW

She lied. To Congress, and to the American People.

If I gave testimony to Congress, and I lied, I could be prosecuted.

To prove she's not above the law, she should either be prosecuted or resign.
I don't care if she resigns through clenched teeth...just GO, for God's sake.

Buh-bye, bitch.

Oh, yeah, that guy in the photo? Harry Reid. You know, the guy who lied to Arlen Specter.
He should go, too, but good luck with that.

H/T Fox News and AP Photo

UPDATE: Caption contest. My entry: "See how good his teeth look in my mouth?"

Where your tax money goes, part 3,239,402,300

Nice chart...if you're a socialist.

The real worry here is that states have constitutions that require them to balance their budgets. The money from the feds (simply a wealth transfer, after a healthy bite taken out for overhead) helps to balance those budgets. But won't it become a death spiral? The worse the economy gets, the less sales tax revenue for the states, and the more the states will demand more money from the feds. So as you and I try to save some money by cutting back on expenditures, state sales tax revenues go down. Then the states ask for more money, which they take from us via federal income taxes, which makes us cut back more...

One word: UNSUSTAINABLE.



H/T Heritage.org and The Corner

Obama to Rule the Economy

Since there are no adults around Obama to teach him Economics, and Dr. Friedman is gone, I'm going to go through this story and tell this miserable SOB just where he's wrong. My comments will be in RED.

Here's the AP story as seen on the FoxNews.com website:

Obama: Wall Street Will Play Less Dominant Role

Wall Street is not going to play as dominant a role in the economy, president says.

AP

Sunday, May 03, 2009

WASHINGTON - Wall Street is not going to play as dominant a role in the economy as regulations reduce "some of the massive leveraging and the massive risk-taking that had become so common," President Barack Obama says.

Sadly, this moron doesn't know what drives the economy. He thinks Wall Street is the problem...well, it's not. Leverage and Risk are fundamental to our society. Most people take out a loan to buy their home. That's leverage. If you take out a $1 million loan on your house, and you make $8/hour, that's massive leveraging. Massive risk taking is ok as long as it's DISCLOSED, and everyone knows what risk they are exposed to.

The changes in the role of Wall Street and the huge profits that came from that risk-taking could mean other adjustments as well, Obama said in an interview in this week's New York Times Magazine.

Huge profits that come from risk-taking are sometimes warranted. Again, I don't want to tell you how to work. Nor do I want to tell you what to buy. But if I buy your stock I want to know what risks you've taken. Simple. "Other adjustments" -- Great, like what? A tax increase? Just what I need, you twit.

"That means that more talent, more resources will be going to other sectors of the economy," he said. "I actually think that's healthy. We don't want every single college grad with mathematical aptitude to become a derivatives trader. We want some of them to go into engineering, and we want some of them to be going into computer design."

Who does this moron think he is, JFK for God's sake? He wants math majors for the space program or something? In our society, we all get to chose what we do for a living. If I spend my money to get a math degree, I should be able to work wherever I want. Derivatives might be fine for me; so might teaching. But it's MY choice, dammit. That's what we call FREEDOM, you freaking imbecile. We need some to go into computer design so they can hack his Blackberry and display "LOSER" on it.

The Obama administration is trying to restore more regulations on the financial sector to avoid some of the risk-taking that helped cause the current economic problems.

The first part of that last sentence is almost right. We need to restore more disclosure in the financial sector. We don't need to avoid risk-taking...we need to let people do what they want...but disclose the risks for all to see and evaluate.

"Wall Street will remain a big, important part of our economy, just as it was in the '70s and the '80s," he said. "It just won't be half of our economy."

Another stupidity...Wall Street was never half our economy. But even if it is...so what? As long as the risks are disclosed.

Obama said he expects that government efforts to fix the economy will cause long-term changes.

He's said a mouthful there...his stupid ideas on "fixing" the economy will screw it up long-term unless we undo it soon.

"What I think will change, what I think was an aberration, was a situation where corporate profits in the financial sector were such a heavy part of our overall profitability over the last decade," he said.

Now look...corporate profits in all sectors of our economy are good...for crying out loud, don't you get it? If you buy a stock for your retirement account and you want it to go UP, the company needs to be profitable. DOH. It doesn't really matter what sectors are profitable, because more people will buy stock in those sectors. Then other sectors will have to compete better for investment money...which means more companies get profitable, and some go bankrupt.

By the way, I mean bankrupt in the classic sense...not you screwing the Chrysler bondholders to deliver for your UAW pals.

Obama said he's confident that people will regain trust and confidence in the financial system, but he believes it will take time.

Oh, we'll regain trust alright...as soon as this dipshit is out of the White House and back in Illinois where he belongs.

"I think it's important to understand that some of that wealth was illusory in the first place," he said.

Some of it was a big PONZI scheme with Madoff. But most of it was just regular risk-taking and risk-management. The real problem was that risky investments were sold without full disclosure of the risks involved.

MORE COMMENTS:

I don't begrudge anyone the ability to make a million as long as it's legal. Hell, it doesn't even have to be ethical...just legal (I exaggerate).

Economics 101 for Dumb Democrats in White Houses and in Congress:

In the USA, people go to school, get degrees and training, and then find jobs. Jobs of their own choosing, or, in tough times, any old job that is available. But the point is...you chose your job. Then, if you're good, you rise steadily, change employers a few times, and perhaps find a new way to write software or sell securities. You get paid well, maybe even millions.

Look around your neighborhood or your town...do you begrudge the guy who wrote some software and made $50 million when he sold his company? Hell, no, you just wish you could do it, too. So perhaps seeing someone else do it motivates you to start your own company and develop the next new thing that makes you a millionaire. That's what makes America the land of the free -- you're free to take risks and get the rewards that come with those risks. You also have to suffer the consequences (and the costs) if you fail. Don't look at me to make your house payment if you mortgage that house to start a new company and it fails...that's all on you, pal.

Obama wants to reduce your choices -- what you can study, what job you take with your math degree, what you can with that math knowledge in your head... These are all reductions of your FREEDOMS.

If your boss tried this, you'd quit your job and go find another.

When the President tries it, what can you do? You throw the bum out. Too bad we have to wait 3 years.

If we're not careful, he may have destroyed free enterprise and entrepreneurship by then.

The Wisest Man who Ever Lived

The great Milton Friedman offers advice for the ages.
Certainly applies to today.



At 1:39 he talks about stimulating the economy.

And at 6:00 he talks Economics 101 -- what you should know about economics.

Brilliance.

H/T Heritage.org

Barrel Shrouds

Is that like a wedding shroud? Shroud of Turin? No? Then what is it?



Don't ask this dipshit. If a bill passes that limits the sale of guns with barrel shrouds, I'm in trouble. Mostly because my right hand would be suffering from 3rd degree burns (I'm a lefty, like Flipper) that I'll receive when they try to take it away from me.

With apologies to Charlton Heston, "From my burned, dead hands".

H/T Moonbattery