Just remember, Ron Paul believes in negotiating with these bastards. Therefore, he is a terrorist supporter. So are Democrats.
Category: Wealth
The Other McCain on the Economic Reality
A very interesting read, quite true too.
Not everyone is sold on the iPad
Irk! Now this is not a good thing to read:
Gadgets come and gadgets go. The iPad you buy today will be e-waste in a year or two (less, if you decide not to pay to have the battery changed for you). The real issue isn’t the capabilities of the piece of plastic you unwrap today, but the technical and social infrastructure that accompanies it.
If you want to live in the creative universe where anyone with a cool idea can make it and give it to you to run on your hardware, the iPad isn’t for you.
If you want to live in the fair world where you get to keep (or give away) the stuff you buy, the iPad isn’t for you.
If you want to write code for a platform where the only thing that determines whether you’re going to succeed with it is whether your audience loves it, the iPad isn’t for you.
via Why I won’t buy an iPad (and think you shouldn’t, either) – Boing Boing.
I have to give props to Mr. Cory Doctorow for his brutal honesty. The article is quite the good read; from a standpoint of someone, who does not even own a iPod, much less an iPhone! š I mean, I am just not big into, what I like to call, useless gadgets. To me, a phone is for making phone calls. Not for sitting there and playing games and all the crap you can do on them today. I mean, there is a thing called “Sexting” which is transmitting rather nasty pictures of one’s self over the internet. We never had to contend with stuff like that when I was a kid. (I am 37, by the way…) Besides that, you would not want to be transmitting naked pictures of my body anyhow; as I am almost sure it would cause someone great problems of the psychological sort to see me naked.
Now, from a greedy capitalist’s stand point; if I had a bunch of shares with Apple right about now and I saw this article. I would be asking for this guys head on a platter. I mean, just who the hell does this grumpy old jackass think he is? I am sure that Steve Jobs is not too happy about someone dissing his product, that he’s worked his rear end off to produce. On the other hand, this is just one man’s opinion of this product and I am sure that there are many others who have written that this is an exciting product to try.
The bottom line is this; we live in a free market, capitalistic society, and that free market will decide if this product is a smashing success or if it will be a flop. That is because that Free Market allows the PEOPLE, not the Government, to choose whether a product will be sold or even successful or not. Granted, it will take effort to make this happen; promotion by the company, the sales people and even the customer to buy the product. However the point is….. the freedom of choice is there. You can choose which product you wish to own by apple, all of them or none of them at all. That is the beauty of America. The only thing stopping you is your financial situation and also possibly your personal desire to own such product. Personally, even if I did have the money to own one of these iPads, I most likely would not own one. Because I personally do not see the point in owning such a thing. I have a very nice laptop, which suits my needs perfectly. I also do not see the point in owning something like this, and then having to own a iPhone or something similar, why not just put a camera and the ability to make phone calls in it as well? Again that is wonderful power of personal freedom and choice.
Now I could yammer on here about how the some of the Democrats and the socialists want to do away with all this freedom and change the system we have here in America. But I think everyone that reads this knows my position on those subjects. It also is not lost on me, where this thing is produced and the political positions of some of the people that will own one of these things.Ā However, I will not bring that into this discussion here, as I am blogging about an iPad. š š š
Update: Others Talking about the iPad: Pajamas Media, The Confluence, Althouse, Vanity Fair, Bits, Scripting News, VentureBeat and Gawker
Update #2: Message to AllahPundit: Do you really want to be known as the dude who owns a electronic gadget, who’s name basically invokes thoughts of a Electronic Maxi-Pad or Internet Maxi-Pad? Not if you are Beta-Male. I mean, you are already being called a candy-ass Rhino as it is; you do not need anymore help. I’m just sayin’ š
It’s about time: Obama proposes offshore drillng
Finally, the stupid socialist is doing something right:
The Obama administration is proposing to open vast expanses of water along the Atlantic coastline, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the north coast of Alaska to oil and natural gas drilling, much of it for the first time, officials said Tuesday.
The proposal ā a compromise that will please oil companies and domestic drilling advocates but anger some residents of affected states and many environmental organizations ā would end a longstanding moratorium on oil exploration along the East Coast from the northern tip of Delaware to the central coast of Florida, covering 167 million acres of ocean.
Under the plan, the coastline from New Jersey northward would remain closed to all oil and gas activity. So would the Pacific Coast, from Mexico to the Canadian border.
The environmentally sensitive Bristol Bay in southwestern Alaska would be protected and no drilling would be allowed under the plan, officials said. But large tracts in the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean north of Alaska ā nearly 130 million acres ā would be eligible for exploration and drilling after extensive studies.
The proposal is to be announced by President Obama and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Wednesday, but administration officials agreed to preview the details on the condition that they not be identified.
The proposal is intended to reduce dependence on oil imports, generate revenue from the sale of offshore leases and help win political support for comprehensive energy and climate legislation.
via Obama to Open Offshore Areas to Oil Drilling for First Time – NYTimes.com.
It’s about time that Bambi Teleprompter is doing something right.
An exasperated Moonbat Steve Benon whines:
My confusion, then, is over the administration’s negotiating tactics. In February, the president cleared the way for the first new U.S. nuclear power plants in more than 30 years. Today, the president will reportedly open up new opportunities for coastal drilling.
In other words, Obama has already effectively given Republicans what they wanted on energy. What is he getting in return?
My question is, why the fuck should he get anything in return, at all?
He better be fucking hoping and praying that we don’t make his origin of birth a big issue when the Republicans take back the house and senate come 2010! What assholes… like the Republicans owe that floppy eared son-of-a- bitch anything at all. š”Ā š
Again, I say, good on ol’ big ears for finally learning that capitalism is a good thing and that drilling is a good idea. Now if we could just teach the REST of liberal and socialist, and communist America that! We’d have to start in the fucking oval office first!
Video: Is the Stimulus Working?
This comes via R.S. McCain:
Video: America’s Comeback
This Comes via The Other McCain:
RGA 2009 Chairman’s Report
View more documents from Republican Governors Association.
Republican Governor’sĀ AssociationĀ HQ
The revolution starts today. What are you doing?
Kids Kids, Play Nice
You’d think these two were related, or something. I could see this out of 15 year olds, but these two?!? Crikey.
America tries to help Haiti, gets accused of occupation
No, I am not kidding.
I have two stories, first this story via the U.K. Telegraph:
Video:
The Story:
The French minister in charge of humanitarian relief called on the UN to “clarify” the American role amid claims the military build up was hampering aid efforts.
Alain Joyandet admitted he had been involved in a scuffle with a US commander in the airport’s control tower over the flight plan for a French evacuation flight.
“This is about helping Haiti, not about occupying Haiti,” Mr Joyandet said.
Geneva-based charity Medecins Sans Frontieres backed his calls saying hundreds of lives were being put at risk as planes carrying vital medical supplies were being turned away by American air traffic controllers.
But US commanders insisted their forces’ focus was on humanitarian work and last night agreed to prioritise aid arrivals to the airport over military flights, after the intervention of the UN.
The diplomatic row came amid heightened frustrations that hundreds of tons of aid was still not getting through. Charities reported violence was also worsening as desperate Haitians took matters into their own hands.
Let me get this straight —- The United States of America’s last two Presidents get together, put political differences aside and begin to raise all sorts of funds for people of Haiti and now we are the bad guys? Unreal. š
And then, there’s this by Paul Goodman:
The humanitarian catastrophe in Haiti is turning out to be a classic illustration of anti-Americanism in seven easy steps.
- Calamitous events take place in a chaotic place (think Bosnia, think Somalia, think Iraq in 1991).
- The U.N and the U.S intervene.
- The civil government proves to be useless or malign, or both.Ā The U.N isnāt up to the job.Ā The only effective force in sight is the U.S.Ā According to todayās Guardian, John OāShea, the head of Goal, a medical charity, has called on the U.S to take charge of the whole operation.Ā So has a major U.S aid agency (āwhich declined to be named for political reasonsā).
- There are only two possible outcomes.
- The U.S takes over.Ā If this happens, it will be accused of ācreating a military occupation under the guise of humanitarian aidā and āoccupyingā the country outright.Ā (Apologies, my memoryās failing me.Ā These criticisms have been aired already.Ā The first quoteās from President Chavez of Venezuela.Ā The secondās from Alain Joyandet, Franceās āCo-operation Ministerā.)
- The U.S doesnāt take over.Ā If this happens, it will be criticised for ānot doing enoughā – and isolationism.
- So either way, the U.S loses.
Iām not a fully signed-up member of the Stars-and-Stripes fan club.Ā But there are times when I think: whoād be an American?
Sorry, I am just going to say this, and I know that some identity politics type of jackass or some minority serial complainer will bitch about it; fine, screw ’em, I just don’t give a damn anymore. What needs to happen right about now, is this — The United States of America needs to get all those supplies off of those ships and planes and get back on their ships and planes and get the hell out of Haiti now. I mean, we have ponied up for these people and other such people long enough, let them idiots deal with their problems themselves, why the hell should WE have to be the ones to go in and play captain? Not like they are going to appreciate what we do any damn way. If the U.N. does not like our forces being there, LET THE U.N. TAKE OVER THE MISSION AND LEAVE!
Yeah, I know, some liberal asshat is going to call me a racist bigot for saying it. I got two words for you: Screw You. The United States of America has wasted more money on Countries that do not like us, for whatever reason and we are doing it again; and again we are being fingered as the bad guys. Enough is Enough! It is time for the United States to say home and take care of its own problems and stop trying to help everyone who has a Earthquake or other kind of natural disaster.
It just so happens that the United States of America is going through its own sort of disaster, A man-made one, its called our Economy — and instead of us watching what we spend and keeping what we have, which is not much, when you figure that China is buying our debt, we are sending it off to a bunch of idiots, who really do not like us anyhow! No, this is not sarcasm, I am quite serious. What do we get for all this sort of charity? The above nonsense that I just quoted.
Bottom Line: I believe it is high time that the United States of America reevaluated its role abroad and got out of the rescue and charity business for Countries that really do not like us anyhow.
Others: Mudville Gazette, Fausta’s Blog, Neptunus Lex,Ā and The Jawa Report
WaPo: Haiti’s Rich and Elite Spared the worst because they are really rich or something
Man, talk about a liberally biased article! š
Check out this anti-wealthy article by the Communist Post AKA The Washington Post:
PETIONVILLE, HAITI — Through decades of coups, hurricanes, embargoes and economic collapse, the wily and powerful business elite of Haiti have learned the art of survival in one of the most chaotic countries on Earth — and they might come out on top again.
Although Tuesday’s 7.0 magnitude earthquake destroyed many buildings in Port-au-Prince, it mostly spared homes and businesses up the mountain in the cool, green suburb of Petionville, home to former presidents and senators.
A palace built atop a mountain by the man who runs one of Haiti’s biggest lottery games is still standing. New-car dealers, the big importers, the families that control the port — they all drove through town with their drivers and security men this past weekend. Only a few homes here were destroyed.
“All the nation is feeling this earthquake — the poor, the middle class and the richest ones,” said Erwin Berthold, owner of the Big Star Market in Petionville. “But we did okay here. We have everything cleaned up inside. We are ready to open. We just need some security. So send in the Marines, okay?”
Those dirty bastard rich business owners, how dare they not get hurt as bad, as the poor downtrodden bottom feeders?!?!
Unbelievable. š
Are the Democrats jumping from the ship?
It is a plausible question, and an interesting one at that.Ā Are the Democrats now jumping from the bloated ship of socialist waste ever known to humankind?Ā Are Democrats preparing themselves for the āNuclear Optionā on healthcare?Ā The questions abound, the speculation is running rampant, and internet memeās are burning up the bandwidth.Ā I, on the other hand, will tell you what I do know.
First off, let us start with the local story; Michigan Lt Governor John Cherry was expected to be the person to succeed Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm at the helm of Michigan Governorship.Ā However, Democrat Governor Jennifer Granholmās performance as Governor of this state has been less than stellar.Ā I ought to know this, I have lived here all of my life.Ā Double-digit unemployment, a one state recession that towered over the national recession for many years now; put quite bluntly, there are no jobs here in Michigan. Sure, there are jobs, if you want to work in a fast food joint, making minimum wage. Ā However, if you happen to be a 37-year-old man, looking for a decent paying, full time job, with health insurance — you are frankly out of luck.
However, to be fair, some of Michiganās woes cannot be laid at the feet of the Democratic leadership.Ā GMās credit crisis cannot be blamed entirely on the Democrats, at least not the current ones in office here in Michigan.Ā GM and Chryslerās troubles are a direct result of the mortgage crisis, which was caused by President Jimmy Carter and President Bill Clinton and that idiotic piece of legislation that opened up the mortgage market to high-risk individuals.Ā When the credit markets froze up, due to the stock market crash and subsequent credit freeze, the big three found themselves in the middle of it.Ā This is my biggest issue that I have with the āRepublicansā or those within the Conservative movement.Ā They always, without fail, blame the unions for the troubles of the big three; when in all honesty, unions had zero to do with the meltdown or its effect on the automakers.Ā The entire mess was, in fact, lack of proper regulation in the mortgage industry and the stock market in regards to credit swaps that caused this whole mess in the first place.Ā Sorry to my fellow Conservatives, but I am just not buying that talking point.
However, it would be fair to mention that the unions did play a role in the financial woes of the big three, as did the big threeās failure to listen to the automotive experts, who saw what Japan was doing in the 1970ās and their arrogant attitudes.Ā The big three could have saved themselves much heartache, by building smarter, higher quality vehicles.Ā However, by the time the big three got around to embracing the ISO standards, it was too little, too late.Ā As for the talking point of Union workers making too much money, I find it amazing how many Conservatives have axe to grind with those who simply want to make a decent working wage.Ā Most of the people that make these idiotic claims are those who are making more than two hundred and fifty thousand a year and have no financial worries at all; but they want to rip away the comfortable living of others.Ā Do you see now why I have not voted āRepublicanā yet?
Another point that I feel that is important to make, is the fact that the big three are just designing some of the most god-awful looking car nowadays.Ā Heck, even the trucks are now getting just plain butt-ugly.Ā Does it make any damned sense to build cars for every day Americans that look like they taken from the pages of a twenty fifth century comic book?Ā Whatever happened to graceful, classic designs from the 1950ās, 1960ās and 1970ās?Ā Those were real cars back then, now all the big three can produce is glorified garbage — and do not even get me started on the idea of an electric car, now that is a idea that is going to go right straight were the Chevy EV1 went, right straight into the scrap heap.
Now back on the subject of politics, it seems that Chris Dodd, going to retire.Ā Getting sweetheart deals on a house mortgage can do that to a fellow, especially when people in your district are losing their houses left and right. Ā I also notice that Bryon Dorgan is also retiring; he supported Obamaās healthcare plan, which made him damaged goods. Ā I also notice that Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is withdrawing from that race — corruption will do that to a fellow.
Now what is my personal take on these retirements and how it affects the 2010 elections?Ā My take is this; I believe that there are going to be some very big upsets come election time.Ā Now, I do not necessarily see a Republican wave or anything like that.Ā However, I do see a drastic change in Washington D.C.Ā I do also see a ādefangingā of the socialist monster that exists on Capitol Hill right now. Ā As for the Governorās race here in Michigan, I believe that the Republicans can win Michigan, but they are going to have to work to earn the trust of the American people. Ā It would take some very hard work and some massive breaking of some very established political rules to do it.Ā However it can be done.Ā The people of Michigan want real answers, real results, not political grandstanding, and platitudes.
It is going to be a very interesting 2010.Ā I look forward to writing about it and giving you my take.
Update: What I really want for Christmas
First off, I do not want anyone thinking that this is a some sort of a whiny post. It’s not; it is just me, window shopping and sharing it here on the blog.
For Christmas this year, I have, so far gotten a pair of gloves and a band to go around my noggin. This will come in handy, when I’m out there running snow blower. I will most likely get a few dollars in my checking account too, via my parents.
But what I really want for Christmas; is this stuff here. Stuff I could really use. But, truthfully I cannot afford. So, I write this posting, with subtle hints, hoping that some “well to do” Conservative will see it and maybe, possibly, hopefully, take the hint! š
First of all, What I want more than anything, is to be able to get back to my hobby of Amateur Radio. Yes folks, I am a licensedĀ Amateur Radio Operator. I hold a General Class License.
I have had my eye on this little beautiful thing Ā here for a long time:
The Icom IC-7800 HF Transciever
This is the top of the line,Ā High Frequency Transceiver forĀ Amateur Radio. It is aĀ DX’ers dream.
So, how much will one of these contraptions set you back? Oh, about $10,300.00! (Shipping Included…)
Of course, if I had a station like this, I would have to get a niceĀ Amplifier to go with it. I have one that I would really love to own.
This one:
The Ameritron AL-1200 Amateur Radio Amplifier and innards
It’s made in America, very high quality. An excellent machine. How much will it set you back? Ā $3200.00!
Plus another $100 or so to get the 220 ran into the ham shack. Plus another $100 for your friend, for being brave enough to stick his hands in theĀ circuitĀ breaker box and hook it up for you!
I already have a good antenna and a decent antenna tuner. In fact my buddy Matt put up the antenna; and then it tuns out my rig had some major issues. He tried to fix it, but it needs some serious TLC by someone who’s got some really good equipment. This is a job that would be over my head. I can do basic stuff, but major stuff is out for me.
Another thing I could use, is this:
Window 7 Home Premium
My Laptop runs Windows Vista Basic. I need Windows 7. This is the only version of that this laptop will run.
How much? $120.00 from Dell and I have to buy it through them, or I void the warranty. (Sucks, but, thems the breaks!)
Update: I picked up Windows 7 myself. I got just enough from the folks to be able to pick up Windows 7. I, for one, am looking forward to this upgrade! š So, I removed the link to paypal on this one. As I already have it now. The rest? Feel Free!
Anyhow, feeling generous? Want to get me off of this blog? then, you know…. š š š
Merry Christmas to all! š š š
Quote of the Day
The real entitlements are never mentioned. The ādefenseā budget is an entitlement for the military-security complex about which President Eisenhower warned us 50 years ago. A person has to be crazy to believe that the United States, āthe worldās only superpower,ā protected by oceans on its East and West and by puppet states on its North and South, needs a ādefenseā budget larger than the military spending of the rest of the world combined.
The military budget is nothing but an entitlement for the military-security complex. To hide this fact, the entitlement is disguised as protection against āenemiesā and passed through the Pentagon.
I say cut out the middleman and simply allocate a percentage of the federal budget to the military-security complex. This way we wonāt have to concoct reasons for invading other countries and go to war in order for the military-security complex to get its entitlement. It would be a lot cheaper just to give them the money outright, and it would save a lot of lives and grief at home and abroad.
The U.S. invasion of Iraq had nothing whatsoever to do with American national interests. It had to do with armaments profits and with eliminating an obstacle to Israeli territorial expansion. The cost of the war, aside from the $3 trillion, was over 4,000 dead Americans, over 30,000 wounded and maimed Americans, tens of thousands of broken American marriages and lost careers, 1 million dead Iraqis, 4 million displaced Iraqis and a destroyed country.
All of this was done for the profits of the military-security complex and to make paranoid Israel, armed with 200 nuclear weapons, feel āsecure.ā
My proposal would make the military-security complex even more wealthym as the companies would get the money without having to produce the weapons. Instead, all the money could go for multimillion dollar bonuses and dividend payouts to shareholders. No one, at home or abroad, would have to be killed, and the taxpayer would be better off.
WordPress 2.9 has dropped
If you run WordPress, you should upgrade. Lots of bug fixes and nice little additions to the greatest blog software on the planet.
I want to make you mine, all the timeā¦ oh wait. Hello. Iām here on behalf of the entire WordPress development team and community to announce the immediate availability of WordPress version 2.9 āCarmenā named in honor of magical jazz vocalist Carmen McRae (whom weāve added to our Last.fm WP release station). You can upgrade easily from your Dashboard by going to Tools > Upgrade, or you can download from WordPress.org.
Matt Mullenweg has got to be the luckiest kid on the planet. I call him a kid, because he is half my age. š Of course, WordPress is much more than Matt. WordPress is made up by some of the most crazy people smartest people on the planet.
I just wish I had Matt’s money. š š š
As much as I’d like to, I shall refrain from the usual gutter sniping of the area in which Matt lives. (Hint: Nancy Pelosi’s Area….) His politics is of no matter to me; the man is at the center of all things cool. Besides, he’s from Texas, he can’t be that bad…(or can he?)
In case you don’t get the funny opening line of the above quoted text, here is the video that Matt is referring to:
Which is the first AND LAST time, you will ever see a video by Toni Basil on this blog. *shudder*
Some useless factoid information…. Mickey was a cover of this song here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAhuwfaU4vs
That’s ” Hey Kitty” by anĀ 1970’s English band “Racey”
Personally, I’d like to see Matt Dancing in a cheerleader outfit to mickey myself. Well, maybe not. š š š š
Give to Project ValourIT Today!
Just a reminder, these guys need your help.
This comes via From My Position….On the Way!
Click here to give to Soldiers Angels. You will be getting voice activated laptop’s to our war injured. Let’s help those who put thier lives on line; for our President and for all of us.
Think all this spending and Healthcare won’t raise your Taxes?
Think again…
This comes via the Tax Prof:
Q & O chimes in:
So when you hear that all this new spending, which will indeed raise the deficit, wonāt raise your taxes by a single ādimeā, you can believe it if you wish. But that doesnāt mean it is true.Ā And it certainly doesnāt mean Democrats can keep that promise.Ā Because if they do, theyāre simply kicking the same can down the road that Republicans have for years (and no, Iām not advocating massive tax increases, Iām just providing a little reality check to counter the nonsense the politicians continue to spout). Ā The alternative to the tax rates above is to cut spending ā drastically.Ā If you see that on the horizon youāre the only one because Congress just raised the debt ceiling ā again.
Where this means anything to me, is this. Not only would they have to raise taxes on the very wealthy. They would have to raise on people who are middle class and poor as well. So, as many Conservative Bloggers have pointed out in the past; when a Nation engages in statism and enacts those sort of policies —- everyone pays. From the very wealthy, to the extremely poor. You also pay with the loss of your liberty; what which is something that the statist socialist liberal Democrats find to be a quaint idea, that needs to be modernized.
A text book example of why Keynesian economics does not work
I have said it a thousand times on this blog. Pumping excessive currency into the money supply results in a devalued currency.
Well, this is the fall out from our President pumping currency into the money supply. Now those who trade oil want to stop using the dollar as their currency.
The Story Via the U.K. Independent:
In the most profound financial change in recent Middle East history, Gulf Arabs are planning – along with China, Russia, Japan and France – to end dollar dealings for oil, moving instead to a basket of currencies including the Japanese yen and Chinese yuan, the euro, gold and a new, unified currency planned for nations in the Gulf Co-operation Council, including Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Qatar.
Secret meetings have already been held by finance ministers and central bank governors in Russia, China, Japan and Brazil to work on the scheme, which will mean that oil will no longer be priced in dollars.
The plans, confirmed to The Independent by both Gulf Arab and Chinese banking sources in Hong Kong, may help to explain the sudden rise in gold prices, but it also augurs an extraordinary transition from dollar markets within nine years.
The Americans, who are aware the meetings have taken place – although they have not discovered the details – are sure to fight this international cabal which will include hitherto loyal allies Japan and the Gulf Arabs. Against the background to these currency meetings, Sun Bigan, China’s former special envoy to the Middle East, has warned there is a risk of deepening divisions between China and the US over influence and oil in the Middle East. “Bilateral quarrels and clashes are unavoidable,” he told the Asia and Africa Review. “We cannot lower vigilance against hostility in the Middle East over energy interests and security.”
Ron Paul, of whom I have some disagreements on Foreign policy, has said since he was running for President and even prior to that; that what we are doing to our Economy is the moral equivalent of economic Jones-town massacre mass suicide —- and it turns out that the man was and still is absolutely correct.
Of course, the oil traders are denying that this is taking place; but of course! The last thing that they want is a mass panic by market investors!
Via Fox News:
The world’s oil producers will continue using the U.S. dollar as the currency for buying and selling crude, high-ranking oil and finance officials in the Gulf said on Tuesday, denying a report in a British newspaper.
Earlier, The Independent reported that Gulf Arab states, as well as China, Russia, Japan and France, are in secret talks to end the use of the U.S. dollar to trade oil, causing the American currency to fall in overseas trading Tuesday.
Qatar’s oil minister, Kuwait’s finance minister and sources in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi central banks all denied the report.
The Independent report is āabsolutely incorrectā and there has been āabsolutely nothingā of that nature discussed between Saudi Arabia, the worldās biggest oil exporter, and other countries, Saudi Central Bank Governor Muhammad al-Jasser told reporters in Istanbul.
We did not discuss this at all,” Russia’s deputy finance minister Dmitry Pankin said on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund meeting.
The newspaper report said, “Secret meetings have already been held by finance ministers and central bank governors in Russia, China, Japan and Brazil to work on the scheme, which will mean that oil will no longer be priced in dollars.”
Lew Rockwell‘s Reaction to the story was not entirely surprising at all:
Though conservatives call this important story āArabs Plot to Drop the Dollar,ā itās simply self-defense. Or are other peoples just supposed to be kicked in the teeth by the Fed and like it? China, Russia, Japan, France, and Gulf Arab states seek to substitute for the dollar in oil transactions a basket of currencies including the yen, the yuan, the euro, and gold. Heroic. Iād like to use that myself. In fact, why isnāt the Fedās crazed monetary expansion called a plot to harm others and regular Americans, to the benefit of the US state and its bankster and corporate allies? And if it does indicate another step in āThe Demise of the Dollar,ā all the fault is in Washington, DCāas usual.
UPDATE From Ryan Cowles:
In light of this, see Ron Paulās 2006 article on Dollar Hegemony
I could not have said it better myself. š
A funny reaction from Vinnie over at the Jawa Report:
Oh well, I’m good. It takes me 3 minutes to drive to work in traffic. If they go off the dollar in the Scotch industry though, I’m taking up arms.
Heh. In my case, if they go off the dollar in steaks or in coffee; it’s on baby. You can ream my butt for Gas… Hell, I usually just put in five or so bucks to get me around town. Considering the fact, that I drive a piece of crap clunker. But we start fiddling around with my caffeine jolt, or my monthly or so splurge on a good steak; there will be war.
Sammy over at Yid with A Lid quips:
But wait a second this cant happen, don’t they know that Barack Obama is our president, they love him.
Yeah, They love him alright; with that knife behind their backs. If ol’ Big “O” thinks because he’s black and got a funny middle name, is going to stop the Arab Nations from royally screwing America. The President has another thing coming. The Arab nations have hated us; for taking their resources for decades, that goes back to before the President; and myself for that matter, were even born. So, the socialist liberals cannot scream BOOOOSH on this one. This even predates him too.
William Jacobson over at Legal Insurrection writes:
I would like to think someone in the Obama administration would be concerned, but honest reflection leads only to the conclusion that the lowering of U.S. international power will be music to Obama’s ears. He never misses an opportunity to lecture the world about the evils of domination by any one country, by which he means the United States.
A fiddler who is not oblivious to the fire, by any means.
So true, I mean, I have followed politics with some sort of interest since I started voting when I was 18 and I never, ever heard a President apologize for America, Ever. In another time period, President Obama would have been impeached for treason for saying something like that in another Country. But in this day of socialistic rule; nothing happens at all.
I guess time will tell on this one; if it happens, the results will be devastating to our economy. Let us home, for the sake of America, that this is nothing more than poorly sourced rumor story.
The Round Up: Fox News, The Moderate Voice, Guardian, Left Coast Rebel, Credit Writedowns, naked capitalism, Another Black Conservative, ParaPundit, Mish’s Global Economic ā¦, YID With LID, RedState, Townhall.com, The Jawa Report, LeĀ·gal InĀ·surĀ·recĀ· tion and LewRockwell.com Blog (via Memeorandum)
Gore-backed firm takes money from Government to build car that nobody can afford.
This is an outrage!:
A tiny car company backed by former Vice President Al Gore has just gotten a $529 million U.S. government loan to help build a hybrid sports car in Finland that will sell for about $89,000.
The award this week to California startup Fisker Automotive Inc. follows a $465 million government loan to Tesla Motors Inc., purveyors of a $109,000 British-built electric Roadster. Tesla, like Fisker, is a California startup focusing on high-end hybrids, with a number of celebrity endorsements that is backed by investors that have contributed to Democratic campaigns.
Fisker’s Karma hybrid sports car, above, will initially cost about $89,000.
The awards to Fisker and Tesla have prompted concern from companies that have had their bids for loans rejected, and criticism from groups that question why vehicles aimed at the wealthiest customers are getting loans subsidized by taxpayers.
“This is not for average Americans,” said Leslie Paige, a spokeswoman for Citizens Against Government Waste, an anti-tax group in Washington. “This is for people to put something in their driveway that is a conversation piece. It’s status symbol thing.”
Ten years ago, my reaction would have been, “So what?” But now that I am a bit older and much wiser; when it comes to politics, this just sends me through the roof. Why the hell are my tax dollars being used to build a car, that no one that I know of, including me; could even afford? I hate to break to you all, but I just do not have $89,000 laying around to buy a car.Ā Much less an electric car! š
The just totally reinforces the idea, that the Democratic Party does not give a flying flip about the average common man anymore. They are simply out to fulfill their own warped agenda and if they happen to step on anyone in the process, so be it. Ā I mean, look at Al Gore; the dude has gotten filthy rich on peddling paranoia about Global Warming. This another one of those investments for himself. The sick part is, he is using tax dollars to further that warped agenda of his.
Here is my question to Al Gore and his countless number of supporters; Mr. Gore are you planning on using Union Labor to build these cars with? After all, the Democratic Party has used the big labor vote as its resident useful idiot for many years, have they not? It is kind of like the African-American community, because seeing the Democrats cannot keep the Negros in slavery anymore, they have to use them for something; so, why not votes?
Yeah, I know, what I wrote up there was potentially offensive; it is no more offensive than the millions of babies that are slaughtered at the hands of the Socialist Liberal Democrats, who enacted such legislation. It is no more offensive that the millions of Children, that are molested at the hands of homosexuals; of whom that party enables.
Mr. Gore, I await your answer. Of course, I will not hold my breath, least I turn blue and die.
Guest Voice: It Is Going To Be A Rocky Road by Chuck Baldwin
Let’s face it: most Americans live in a world of false security. This is somewhat understandable, given the fact that the majority of the U.S. population was born after 1945. Few remember the dangers and hardships of World War II; fewer still remember the Great Depression. Few Americans knowĀ what it’s like to not have some sort of “supercenter” nearby with shelves stocked with every kind of food imaginable, twenty-four hours a day. Few know what life was like before there were restaurants of all sizes and types on virtually every street corner in America. And only a handful remembersĀ when most roads were unpaved, or when sports were truly a pastime and not a megabuck obsession.
Modern living within the world’s only “superpower” has created a giant unsuspecting, soft, lackadaisical, and lethargic society. We expect the government to keep our streets safe, our roads paved, our stores stocked, our jobs secure, and our enemies at bay. However, in the desire to make government the panacea for all our problems, we have sold not only our independence, but also our virtue.
Where the federal government was contracted (via the U.S. Constitution) to accept limited power for the overall good of both states and people, it has become a monster of gargantuan proportions, claiming authority over virtually every liberty and right known to man. And in the process, it decided it didn’t need God, either.
It is no hyperbole to say that the U.S. federal government has been on a “Ban God” bandwagon for the past 50 years. Whether it kicks prayer and Bible reading out of school, bars military chaplains from praying in Jesus’ name,Ā burns Bibles in Iraq, removes state supreme court chief justices from their positions for posting the Ten Commandments, or threatens high school principals with jail for asking the blessing, the federal government has invoked the judgment of Heaven upon our country as surely as did Old Testament Israel.
Although the comfortable, sports-crazed, TV addicts probably aren’t paying attention, this country is on the verge of an implosion like you cannot believe. For anyone who cares to notice, the signs are everywhere.
First of all, Israel and Iran are on the verge of war. And right now, I’m not concentrating on the “why” or “who’s right or wrong” of the equation. I’m simply telling you, war between Israel and Iran could break out at any time. And when it does, the chances that it will not become nuclear and not become global are miniscule. Yes, I am saying it: the prospects for nuclear war have never been greater. The CBS-canceled TV show, JERICHO, could become Ā a reality in these United States in the very near future. (I strongly urge readers to purchase both seasons of JERICHO and watch them, because this could be our future.)
Secondly, America is on the verge of total financial collapse. By the end of this year, America’s budget deficit will stand at around $2 trillion. The debt gap is many trillions more than that. But the nail in the coffin for America’s fiscal health will be the decision by China to dump the U.S. dollar. Ladies and gentlemen, this will be the death knell for our financial stability (and a painful lesson in sowing and reaping).
It is estimated that China owns around one-third of all U.S. debt. If and when China dumps the U.S. dollar, there would be nothing left to stabilize it, and Weimar Republic/Zimbabwe-style inflation will ensue. America will be thrust into financial chaos. (If one doubts that China is planning to dump the dollar, consider that China is currently purchasing and stockpiling gold at an unprecedented level. This is why gold has suddenly surged to over $1,000 per ounce and why it will continue to rise.)
Third, the paranoia regarding the Swine Flu being demonstrated by both government and media spokesmen begs a giant push for some type of “government solution.” If they keep hyping this “pandemic,” mass hysteria and fear (created by the government and its lackeys in the media) will result. This would, no doubt, necessitate some form of forced vaccination, quarantine (maybe this is what all those internment camps will be used for), and martial law.
Exactly how and when all of the above will actually materialize is yet to be seen. There is no doubt in my mind, however, that within the next few months, the world that we know today is going to vanish. And most Americans are totally unprepared for what’s coming.
If you are able to get out of debt, do it. If you need to scale down your lifestyle in order to be better prepared for difficult days, do it. If you don’t have guns and ammo, buy them. If you have not prepared some sort of preserved food pantry, do it. If you don’t have some kind of survival plan in place for you and your family, get one. If you are not physically fit, get in shape. If you are able to move to a more secure, out-of-harm’s-way location, do it. (During any kind of financial or societal meltdown, urban areas will quickly turn into war zones. Can anyone say, “New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina”?) In other words, get your nose out of the boob tube, get your bottom off the easy chair, and get busy.
Am I worried or discouraged? Absolutely not! (But I am preparing.) The potential good that may result from all of the above is that perhaps God will protect and raise up a remnant of people who would be willing to rebuild a place where Natural Law is respected, constitutional government is revered, and where a ubiquitous, loathsome, overbearing federal government is far, far away. You know, like America’s Founding Fathers did 233 years ago.
In the meantime, get ready. It’s going to be a rocky road.
(Source)
Progressive Fat Assed Idiot Michael Moore says Capitialism is evil
This is too rich….:
Capitalism is evil. That is the conclusion U.S. documentary maker Michael Moore comes to in his latest movie “Capitalism: A Love Story,” which premieres at the Venice film festival Sunday.
Blending his trademark humor with tragic individual stories, archive footage and publicity stunts, the 55-year-old launches an all out attack on the capitalist system, arguing that it benefits the rich and condemns millions to poverty.
“Capitalism is an evil, and you cannot regulate evil,” the two-hour movie concludes.
“You have to eliminate it and replace it with something that is good for all people and that something is democracy.”
via Capitalism is evil, says new Michael Moore film | Lifestyle | Reuters.
Okay, so why isn’t sir-chubby-alot just giving his movies away?
Because he would not make any money on them. Thus Capitalism.
Just more of the “For me, but not for thee” mentality of the far-socialist left.
Typical, so typical. š
Others: theblogprof, The TrogloPundit, The Anchoress, Fausta’s Blog, The Western Experience, Cold Fury, The Other McCain, Pajamas Media, JammieWearingFool, BabalĆŗ Blog, Gateway Pundit, The Jawa Report and Althouse
Jack Hunter makes a good point
At one point, I had written that I was not going to publish this man’s videos anymore; and I do not make a habit of it. His comment about our Military over on The American Conservative‘s Blog called “Post Right” was the end for me.
However, this video does make a good point and so, I will post it; with a comment at the end.
(Source)
I posted this, because I happen to agree with Jack’s stance on progressive policy on economics. But because I am “Fair and Balanced”, I will tell you, what others will not about the “Paleo-Conservative” or the “Taft” wing of the Republican Party as it is called by some. If it were left to these guys; such as Jack Hunter and his two hero-like personalities like Pat Buchanan and Ron Paul —- America would have never went to war with Germany, at all. Hitler would have allowed to exterminate the Jews. Something that I am told Pat Buchanan has said that he wished happened, when he was around some friends once; which goes back to the old school catholic hatred of the Jews and their religion. Further more, most people of the Paleo-Conservative strand believe that Abraham Lincoln was a traitor. Not only to the White Man; but also to the South for the way he conducted the Civil War. Which Jack claims was not about race. (Wink Wink) But rather about Centralized Government.
So, while Jack might be correct about his thesis on the economic policy; his association with the bigoted “Old Right” is to be noted and for this, I feel, his credentials are marred.
Think the Mortgage Crisis is over? Think Again; round two is coming!
The Market Ticker has the ugly details.
(H/T to Freedom Phoenix)
John Stossel takes on Liberal Propagandist Michael Moore
I happen to likeĀ John Stossel; because he dares to take on the Liberals. Not in a mean or nasty way. But by simply stating the truth.
He writes about Michael Moore’s latest Movie:
Michael Moore has been working on another documentary.Ā This time, heās taking on capitalism:
“The wealthy, at some point, decided they didn’t have enough wealth. They wanted more — a lot more. So they systematically set about to fleece the American people out of their hard-earned money.”
How ridiculous is that?Ā The wealthy, and everyone else, almost always decide that they donāt have enough wealth.Ā People ask their bosses for raises.Ā We invest in stocks hoping for bigger returns than Treasury Bonds bring.Ā āGreedā is a constant.Ā The beauty of free markets, when government doesnāt meddle in them, is that they turn this greed into a phenomenal force for good.Ā The way to win big money is to serve your customers well.Ā Profit-seeking entrepreneurs have given us better products, shorter work days, extended lives, and more opportunities to write the script of our own life.
He goes on…:
Moore also fails to understand is that it was not ācapitalismā run amok that caused todayās financial problems.Ā Ā In reality, it was a combination of ill-conceived government policies and an overzealous Federal Reserve artificially lowering interest rates to fuel a bubble in the housing market.Ā Then it was government that took money from taxpayers and forced banks to accept it.
Moore ought to understand that, because he makes a good point when he says his movie will be about “the biggest robbery in the history of this country – the massive transfer of U.S. taxpayer money to private financial institutions.”
That is indeed robbery.Ā It sure doesnāt sound like capitalism.
Nope, sounds more like socialized Healthcare or simply Socialism in general; to me.
Mike Tennant writing over at Lew Rockwell’s Blog chimes in:
According to the press release you linked, Chris, āMoore has made three of the top six highest-grossing documentaries of all time,ā which presumably means he has accumulated a great deal of wealth.Ā Apparently, since he continues to foist his so-called documentaries on an unsuspecting public, Moore has decided that he doesnāt have enough wealth.Ā He wants moreāa lot more.
Like most anti-capitalists, Moore has no problem personally profiting from his own endeavors while demonizing other successful persons and attempting to have them dispossessed of their wealth.Ā The good news is that Moore ultimately has to answer to the marketplace and thus may find himself begging for work from the very people he now condemns if enough of his audience members wake up to the fact that heās a charlatan and stop shelling out their increasingly scarce cash for his celluloid propaganda.
Mike is right on point; that is exactly how the socialists in America are. The Socialist left wants to preach to America, how evil, rotten, nasty and no good the evil capitalist system is; all the whole pocketing a profit from their lectures, Movies and the books that they just happen to make a profit at.Ā It is more of that “Yea for me, but Nay for thee”, type of mentality and outright hypocritical nonsense that the Far Socialist left is known for.
The troubling thing about it, is this; these knuckle-headed socialists basically control the Democratic Party and it’s message.Ā Hence my reasoning for not wanting anything to do with them or their Party any longer.
Give me Capitalism, Freedom and Liberty or Give Me Death!
Others: Wake up America
The Southern Avenger on “Ron Paul Republicans”
While the GOP establishment continues to debate how the party lost its way, Republicans should consider the best path out of the wilderness – by following the one man who has always remained loyal to his party’s conservative roots.