Degree of Madness

Obama's rules

Principles for Managing Ownership Stake:

Largely overlooked in the coverage of the historic bankruptcy filing by GM, President Barack Obama laid out his four principles for government ownership for financial firms. (my emphasis)

Chilling words.  Government ownership of formerly private enterprises. 

Rule number three:

After any up-front conditions are in place, the government will protect the taxpayers’ investment by managing its ownership stake in a hands-off, commercial manner. The government will not interfere with or exert control over day-to-day company operations. No government employees will serve on the boards or be employed by these companies.

After the up-front conditions are mandated no government employee will need to serve on the board.  The "rules" will be in place, the board will have no choice but to follow them.  This is no slippery slope.  This is a downhill slalom and once we hit bottom it will be a long, difficult climb to get back up.  If it's not too late by then.  If we're going to turn back this socialist clock, we'd better get started.

Doogie Howser in charge at GM

Never met a payroll, never sold a car:

Imagine you had to pick someone to shepherd a gigantic multinational corporation through a bankruptcy in order to salvage it.  Would you look for someone with extensive experience in the firm’s industry, or would you prefer someone with demonstrated savvy on Wall Street in turning around troubled firms?  If the firm made cars, perhaps you could think of it as a choice between a Lee Iacocca or a Mitt Romney.

Or, maybe, you’d just pick someone from the mail room, as Barack Obama apparently has in the GM bankruptcy.

It is not every 31-year-old who, in a first government job, finds himself dismantling General Motors and rewriting the rules of American capitalism.

But that, in short, is the job description for Brian Deese, a not-quite graduate of Yale Law School who had never set foot in an automotive assembly plant until he took on his nearly unseen role in remaking the American automotive industry.

Nor, for that matter, had he given much thought to what ailed an industry that had been in decline ever since he was born. A bit laconic and looking every bit the just-out-of-graduate-school student adjusting to life in the West Wing — “he’s got this beard that appears and disappears,” says Steven Rattner, one of the leaders of President Obama’s automotive task force — Mr. Deese was thrown into the auto industry’s maelstrom as soon the election-night parties ended.

“There was a time between Nov. 4 and mid-February when I was the only full-time member of the auto task force,” Mr. Deese, a special assistant to the president for economic policy, acknowledged recently as he hurried between his desk at the White House and the Treasury building next door. “It was a little scary.”

Not to worry.  I hear he has actually driven a car. 

I am an Anti-government Gunslinger

Oh Dear.

My Conservative Identity:

You are an Anti-government Gunslinger, also known as a libertarian conservative. You believe in smaller government, states’ rights, gun rights, and that, as Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

Take the quiz at www.FightLiberals.com

Maybe I'd better take it again. I was going for the sweet, angelic Anti-government gunslinger.

You can say that again

Future hostess for The View.

So you want to be a Czar?

There may be a spot for you in the Obama administration:

Name a top issue and President Barack Obama has probably got a "czar" responsible for tackling it.

A bank bailout czar? Herb Allison. Energy czar? Carol Browner.

There's a drug czar, a U.S. border czar, an urban czar, a regulatory czar, a stimulus accountability czar, an Iran czar, a Middle East czar, and a czar for both Afghanistan and Pakistan, which in Washington-speak has been lumped together into a policy area called Af-Pak.

Stimulus accountability czar?  Now there's a knee-slapper.  That Obama is one funny guy. 

Some lawmakers believe President Obama's multitude of czars is a power grab.  I'd say that's a pretty safe bet.  Next up, Cyber Czar:

"It's now clear this cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation," Obama said, adding, "We're not as prepared as we should be, as a government or as a country."

He said he will soon pick the person he wants to head a new White House office of cyber security, and that person will report to the National Security Council and the National Economic Council — a nod to his contention that the country's economic prosperity depends on cybersecurity.

...

As many as a half dozen candidates — from the public and private sector — are being considered for the job, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

Michelle Malkin:  Let’s hope it’s not the same person who ran the Obama campaign’s grossly insecure online credit card donation operations.

I think Obama has put ACORN in charge of the search committee.  He's very impressed by their innovation and hard work.  Hopefully they'll share their "best practices" with the new Czar.  (On second thought, maybe we can get that campaign credit card guy after all).

Here's another Czar opening.   I nominate Robert Gibbs.

Wake up America. We have a problem.

Yesterday's blog post concerned the need - or not - for a leader of the Tea Party movement.  My conclusion was no.  The Tax Day Tea Parties were a phenomenal success by any measure.  They succeeded without a national leader, although many well known politicians and pundits participated.  That success proves we don't need a national figurehead, we just need to stick with the plan and keep going.  What is the plan?  Maybe that's where we need a little work.

The overriding theme for the Tea Parties was, appropriately, TEA, Taxed Enough Already.  I believe this will remain the number one priority for most of us.  Significant, permanent tax cuts.  But there is so much more that needs to be done.  Tax cuts aren't enough.  The tax code must be overhauled (FAIR TAX IS THE ANSWER HERE).  Additionally, the hundreds of other federal taxes we are charged every time we make a phone call, turn on the AC, buy a pack of cigarettes, turn on the TV, die, retire, sell stock, fill-up the car, must be brought under control.  (Coming soon, tax on Coke.  The one you drink).  These are pretty much hidden taxes that we all pay without batting an eyelash.  Where does the federal government get the authority to charge all these taxes?  From We the People.  We sit by, some of us complain, but by and large we just accept it and continue to vote for the same self-interested folks who are taxing us to death - at which time we will have to pay more tax.

And that's just for starters.  I believe we must take this opportunity to totally overhaul not just the tax code but the federal government itself.  Return it to its proper place according to the United States Constitution.  That too often ignored document that made the United States of America the greatest country in the history of the world, the beacon for millions of people who longed for the liberty promised and assured by its words.  We don't need a leader for this, we do need a plan.  How about A Bold Step Back?

Even a crack addict needs to recognize the problem before they can make a move to recover.  WAKE UP AMERICA !!!   We have a problem!

Today is Memorial Day.  The day we remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  What price are we willing to pay to keep it?   Can't we at least sacrifice a little time?  It is a very small price, after all. 

Freedom Is Not Free. Our Heroes Have Paid For It. Remember Them Always.

All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

via: Michelle Malkin

Memorial Day. A day of Remembrance.

This Memorial Day:

Tomorrow, Americans across this great country will join together in remembering those American warriors—throughout our storied history—who gave their lives in defense of freedom. From the blood-soaked beaches of France to the bombed-out back-alleys of Fallujah, the American G.I. has fought—and died—opposing that which is evil and oppressive, and defending all things good and free.

Memorial Day is about one thing: remembering the fallen on the battlefield and passing their collective story to the next generation. These stories, and the men who bear them, are the backbone of this American experiment and must never be forgotten. As John Stuart Mill once said, “War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse.” The minute, excuse me—the second—we believe our freedoms "inevitable and/or immutable," we cease to live in history, and have soured the soldier's sacrifice. He died in the field, so we can enjoy this beautiful day (and weekend). Our freedoms—purchased on the battlefield—are indeed “worthy of war.”

Time will never dim the glory of their deeds:

Memorial Day is about those who gave up their tomorrows for our today. They’re the men and women who forever gave up the chance to see and hold the child born while they were at war. The chance to again caress their husband or wife and tell them they love them. The chance to hold their mother's hand and bask in her sweet smile one last time. Or to stare in pure awe at their first grandchild.

They gave it all in the service of their country, and it is our job as citizens of this great land to remember them and their sacrifice. So the next time you are near a national cemetery, take some time and stop in with your family and spend a moment with the heroes who are buried there.

They are all someone you should know.

Twitter, Facebook, Blogs and Tea Parties

The end of blogging?  Are Facebook and Twitter making the blog obsolete?  I suppose I can speak to that since I haven't blogged at all since April 19, however I have been twittering away.  When your computer starts crashing every 15 minutes or so, twittering at 140 words or less is much easier - and much less frustrating - than attempting a coherent blog post.  I had decided to get a new computer rather than trying to figure out the problem but for some very strange unknowable reason my computer stopped crashing a few days ago.

What prompted me to get back in the blogging game today was this column by Andrew Malcolm.  What's coming up for future "tea party" protests.  Malcolm concludes the tea party movement needs a leader, or as he calls it a "decider":

It will be interesting to see if someone emerges as organizers roll out plans for the next round of protests. If it is to be effective in the long term, it seems the movement will need a decider: not just a public figurehead, but someone who can focus and modulate the multifarious blob of themes and emotions that seem to drive this fascinating middle-class revolt.

Someone, in short, who can tap both the thoughtfulness and anger behind the movement, the patriotism and Americans’ natural skepticism of government power … plus the anti-Obamaism, the call for a fair tax, the fear of new controls on carbon emissions. All that and more.

We managed to get the movement off the ground without a "decider" so I don't believe we necessarily need one now.  We organized via the new media, Facebook, Twitter, and the not yet obsolete blogs.  Along the way we attracted the attention of politicians, pundits, and Fox News.  The above article by Andrew Malcolm was posted at Lucianne.com.  Many commenters are arguing against the involvement of politicians and to a point I agree.  The Tea Parties were conceived, promoted, and successfully carried out by We the People.  Critics, most notably the Speaker of the House, tried to downplay the success of the Tea Parties by claiming they were organized and subsidized by the wealthiest people in America.  Nancy Pelosi's blatant, intentional mischaracterization  of the Tea Parties proves the power of a true grassroots movement:

Pelosi said the movement "is funded by the high end - we call call it astroturf, it's not really a grassroots movement. It's astroturf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class."

Pelosi, of course, provided no names, no evidence of such involvement by the wealthiest people in America, she was flat-out lying. Now there's a shocker.  

In order to build on the success of April 15th we need to remain a true grassroots movement but I don't think that necessarily means we should shun the involvement of like-minded politicians and pundits.  We have many true conservatives serving in government at all levels and we need them as much as they need us.  Why shut out those who agree and are willing to fight with and for us?  No, we don't need them to lead but we need their voices.  They are already in the arena, our movement can help them by discovering new talent to join them in Washington and in state and local governments.  We are in perilous times right now and need all hands on deck.  

Next up for the Tea Party Movement is Independence Day.  Let's celebrate our Independence by reclaiming it.  Loud and clear.  Twitter it, Facebook it, and Blog it. 

Obama's tax cut bait and switch

Barack Obama "just cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people".  So why all the tea bags?  Obama understands our burden, don't you know? 

Senior White House adviser David Axelrod on Sunday suggested the "Tea Party" movement is an "unhealthy" reaction to the tough economic climate facing the country.

...

"I think any time you have severe economic conditions there is always an element of disaffection that can mutate into something that's unhealthy," Axelrod said.

Axelrod is bewildered:

"The thing that bewilders me is that this president just cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people," Axelrod argued. "I think the tea bags should be directed elsewhere because he certainly understands the burden that people face."

I suppose Axelrod, and his boss, think all Americans are either stupid or are not paying attention.  Some of us, stupid or not, however, are paying attention.  Obama believes Americans will be so grateful for the crumbs he's tossing out, said crumbs just now showing up in their paychecks, they will not notice the massive loaf Obama has hidden behind the curtain.  That loaf will dwarf the crumby tax cut. 

Obama's cap and trade plan will cause all Americans' utility bills to skyrocket.  He admitted as much during his campaign:

You know, when I was asked earlier about the issue of coal, uh, you know — Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket. Even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad. Because I’m capping greenhouse gases, coal power plants, you know, natural gas, you name it — whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, uh, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.

And so many of those consumers will blame not the person responsible, one President Barack Obama, they will instead blame the evil utility companies.  Obama is counting on it and he probably won't be disappointed.

Obama is committed to the global warming hysteria and the EPA is chomping at the bit to get in on the action:

The Environmental Protection Agency concluded Friday that greenhouse gases linked to climate change "endanger public health and welfare," setting the stage for regulating them under federal clean air laws.

The EPA action marks the first step toward imposing limits on pollution linked to climate change, which would mean tighter rules for cars and power plants. Agency officials cautioned such regulations are expected to be part of a lengthy process and not issued anytime soon.

Sooner or later, the devastating effects on the economy are guaranteed:

Limits on carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases would have widespread economic and social impact, from requiring better fuel efficiency for automobiles to limiting emissions from power plants and industrial sources, changing the way the nation produces energy.

In announcing the proposed finding, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said it "confirms that greenhouse gas pollution is a serious problem now and for future generations." She reiterated that the Obama administration prefers that climate change be address by Congress through broad, economy-wide limits on climate-changing pollution. But the EPA finding of endangerment prepares for possible regulatory action if Congress fails to act.

...

Congress is considering imposing an economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions along with giving industry the ability to trade emission allowances to mitigate costs. Legislation could be considered by the House before the August congressional recess.

Train Wreck Ahead:

An endangerment finding would lead to destructive regulatory schemes that Congress never authorized. Significant uncertainty persists with regard to climate sensitivity—the core scientific issue. Despite the ongoing increase in air’s CO2 content, various measures of public health and welfare—life-expectancy, heat-related mortality, weather-related mortality, air quality, agricultural productivity—continue to improve. Endangerment of public health and welfare is not “reasonably anticipated.”

What else is behind that curtain?  A $6 billion National Service boondoggle:

The House passed the “Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act” – or the GIVE Act – last week. The Senate took up the companion “SERVE Act” Tuesday afternoon. According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis of the Senate bill, S. 277, the bill would cost “$418 million in 2010 and about $5.7 billion over the 2010-2014 period.” And like most federal programs, these would be sure to grow over time. The bills reauthorize the Clinton-era Americorps boondoggle program and an older law, the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973.

The programs have already been allocated $1.1 billion for fiscal 2009, including $200 million from the porkulus package signed into law last month. In addition to recruiting up to 250,000 enrollees in AmeriCorps, the GIVE/SERVE bills would create new little armies of government volunteers, including a Clean Energy Corps, Education Corps, Healthy Futures Corps, Veterans Service Corps, and and expanded National Civilian Community Corps for disaster relief and energy conservation. And that’s not all. Spending would include new funds for:

*Foster Grandparent Program ($115 million);

*Learn and Serve America. ($97 million);

*Retired and Senior Volunteer Program ($70 million);

*Senior Companion Program ($55 million);

*$12 million for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014 for “the Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships programs;”

*$10 million a year from 2010-2014 for a new “Volunteers for Prosperity” program at USAID to “award grants to fund opportunities for volunteering internationally

in coordination with eligible organizations; and

*Social Innovation Fund and Volunteer Generation Fund-$50 million in 2010; $60 million in 2011; $70 million in 2012; $80 million in 2013; and $100 million in 2014.

I'm still trying to find authority for this in the Constitution but I must have an old copy.  At any rate, someone will have to pay for all this volunteering.  Better hang on to that "tax cut".  There's more:

The House and Senate approved budgets of about $3.5 trillion for the government on Thursday with no Republican support, a sign of deep partisan tensions likely to color Congressional efforts to enact major policy initiatives sought by President Obama.

On the heels of House approval of its spending plan for 2010, the Senate voted 55 to 43 shortly before midnight to adopt a similar budget after a day spent laboring over politically tinged amendments that did little to change a fiscal blueprint generally in keeping with Mr. Obama’s ambitious agenda.

This ambitious agenda comes with an astronomical price tag.  Someone will be forced to pay for it.   Make no mistake taxpayers giddy over Obama's pathetic tax cut, it will be you.