Archive for December, 2009
Three Security Threats
Posted by Tom in Defense, Foreign Policy on December 29, 2009
THESE PERSONS ARE SERIOUS THREATS TO THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES:
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was confident in her Spiegel Online interview that there would be no worries about future “man-caused” disasters since her policies would be guided by “authoritative information” that makes us “much better to keep track of travelers coming into the US than we were before” 9/11. To buttress her belief she said that “the system worked” when referring to the foiled Christmas explosion on Northwest Flight 253.
But never fear she is focusing on the real threats to the US, “rightwing extremists.” Yes, that’s right, she is the same bozo whose department report, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” singled out troops returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan “overseas contingency operations” as at risk for being recruited by rightwing extremists.
Napolitano is indeed a “man-caused disaster,” and a dangerous one at that.
Attorney General Eric Holder is a political animal of the first order but not much of a lawyer. He’s the bozo who decided to forego a guilty plea by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed before a military tribunal in Gitmo and award this 9/11 “man-caused disaster” planner all the rights of a United States citizen in a criminal trial in New York City in a civilian courtroom just blocks from Ground Zero. Notwithstanding this magnanimity he will try other terrorists before military tribunals in Gitmo. Why is Holder talking out of two sides of his multi-sided mouth? Why wouldn’t he save money and accept the KSM guilty plea before the military court?
Simple answer: Holder puts his leftist politics above the safety of this country. Holder is granting citizenship rights to a non-citizen, an enemy combatant. In a criminal law these include, discovery, exclusionary rules of evidence, confrontation, cross examination, counsel, and freedom from self-incrimination. Holder’s attorneys will be able to expose US intelligence and interrogations. They will be able to expose interrogation techniques so that “torture” can be shown and evidence excluded. Al Qaeda will have an international publicity stage that couldn’t otherwise be attained. All so Holder and his boss can play to their antiwar leftist base.
So, what happens to the Nigerian jihadist, Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, is he treated as the enemy combatant he is so that he can be questioned and intelligence gained on future attack plans? No Holder’s precedent is followed and he is turned over to civil authorities and given the rights of a US citizen, gratis!
Eric Holder too is a “man-caused disaster” bent on harming the United States.
President Barack Hussein Obama, the community organizing Chicago supernova has an internationalist world view that denies the greatness of this nation; he is bent on weakening that greatness and plunging us into mediocrity. Thus he travels the world bowing and scraping and apologizing. He abandons our allies who courageously stood up to Russia and Iran and curries favor with Russia and Iran. He embarrasses us with his “Mi Amigo” embrace of Chavez and threats to forego diplomatic recognition to a duly elected Honduran government.
But like his minions Napolitano and Holder, he is a political animal. To gain sway with his leftist base in America and Europe and to appease our enemies abroad he quickly ordered the closure of our military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. His order issued with so little thought or planning presented a problem, what to do with the detainees! Unfortunately, part of his solution was to release some of them, in fact six were just repatriated to Yemen! We now know that the young jihadist Mutallab who tried to bomb Northwest Flight 253 was trained in Yemen. Al Qaeda has hailed him a hero. (NRO has a good editorial posted today, Stop Releasing Terrorists!)
Hopefully the country will survive this team of incompetents.
Tom Motherway
$400 Billion in Job-Killing, Economy-Killing Taxes
Posted by Tom in Deficit, Nationalized Health Care, Taxation on December 23, 2009
Old Harry Reid takes the term tax & spend to a new level. Besides the $300 Billion in Senate bribes, and the $480 Billion in Medicare “cuts,” his Senate Obamacare bill includes nearly $400 Billion in new or increased taxes. Some quite arbitrary, like those on tanning salons! Decroy Murdock summarizes them well in today’s National Review Online post:
“A $2.7 billion levy on indoor tanning salons that Reid imposed after ditching a plastic-surgery tax. He just as arbitrarily could tax haircuts, or heirloom tomatoes, or Hula Hoops. Why not a tax on guys named Harry?
A $5 billion Medicine Cabinet Tax specifically permits insulin purchases but otherwise prohibits using money in Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, or Health Reimbursement Accounts for non-prescription, over-the-counter medications. While diabetics thankfully are spared, how does this benefit those who use antacids or asthma inhalers?
A $15 billion individual mandate would force Americans to buy health insurance. In 2014, those without “qualifying” government-approved coverage would pay $495 or 0.5 percent of Adjusted Gross Income, whichever is higher. In 2016, that rises to 2 percent of AGI, or approximately $640 today.
A $15.2 billion tax requires costs to reach 10 percent of AGI, up from 7.5 percent, before Americans may deduct itemized medical expenses.
A $28 billion tax would hit employers who do not provide health coverage to their payrolls of at least 50 employees. If only one worker qualifies for a health-care tax credit, the employer must pay a fine of $750 on all 50 staffers, not just the one tax-credited employee. For 50 staffers, this penalty equals $37,500 annually. Small-business owners who file personal returns and earn below $250,000 will suffer this tax themselves.
Sen. Mike Crapo (R., Idaho) tried to enforce Obama’s pledge by deleting from Obamacare all taxes on families earning less than $250,000 and individuals making under $200,000. Every Republican supported Crapo’s amendment. All but five Democrats ganged up and killed it.
Beyond the $250,000 threshold, Santa Harry’s sleigh overflows with other new taxes:
A $149.1 billion, 40 percent excise tax awaits those with “Cadillac” health plans worth at least $8,500 per individual and $23,000 per family. These taxes, the Congressional Budget Office predicts, “would be largely passed through to consumers in the form of higher premiums for private coverage.” Also — in an affront to equality before the law — longshoremen are exempt from this tax. Why not ship captains, or nurses, or test pilots?
An additional $59.6 billion tax on health-insurance companies also will make costly coverage costlier.
A $22.2 billion tax on drug companies would increase price pressures and slash funds available for pharmaceutical research and development.
A $19.2 billion medical-device tax would boost prices of hearing aids, heart stents, artificial limbs, and similar implements and divert money to Washington that could refine such products and create new therapeutic, life-saving inventions.”
Obama says he wants to create jobs, yet he kills job creation with his expensive socialized medicine. He says he wants to reduce the deficit, yet he increases it by some $300 Billion with this Obamacare fiasco. Can we believe a word that this demagogue says?
Tom Motherway
What Price Prostitution?
Posted by Tom in Congress, Constitution, Deficit, Nationalized Health Care on December 22, 2009
Harry Reid got his 60 votes dealing his “cash for cloture.” Problem is that the cash is yours, or more appropriately that of your children, grandchildren and descendants for several generations. Because the bill will not reduce the deficit but increase the deficit some $300 Billion–this for the simple reason that Congress will not cut Medicare the $480 Billion required in the bill. Old folks vote, and vote consistently; the pols won’t cross them. So the unsustainable mountain of federal debt grows higher!
George Will says it well: “Reid was buying the votes of senators whose understanding of the duties of representation does not rise above looting the nation for local benefits. And Reid had two advantages — the spending, taxing and borrowing powers of the federal leviathan, and an almost gorgeous absence of scruples or principles. Principles are general rules, such as: Nebraska should not be exempt from burdens imposed on the other 49 states.” (via RealClearPolitics – Obama Claims Two Unsightly Triumphs.)
Here’s an initial list, complements of research from the Senate staff, of how you bribery money was spent:
In the original Reid amendment:
- Louisiana Purchase ($300M) (section 2006, page 432, line 14)
- Florida Medicare Advantage grandfather clause ($25-30B) (section 3201, page 895, line 9)
In the new Reid amendment:
- Nebraska ($100M), Vermont ($600M), Massachusetts ($500M): Adds three targeted state FMAP provisions. Specific FMAP bonuses for VT, MA, and NE (starting at page 96, line 9). VT gets a 2.2% FMAP increase for 6 years for their entire program. MA gets a 0.5% FMAP increase for three years for the entire program. NE gets 100% FMAP for newly-eligibles forever. (section 10201, page 96, line 9)
- Hawaii: Adds a DSH extension (section 10201, page 101, line 6).
- Michigan, Connecticut: Amends section 508 extension so that hospitals in Michigan and Connecticut have option to benefit under section 508 if it means higher payments. This was also done in previous legislation. (section 10317, page 174, line 9)
- Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming: Dorgan/Conrad frontier amendment adds 1.0 hosp wage index for those states. MT, SD, ND and WY would qualify (AK and NV also qualify but would not benefit because they are already above 1.0 wage index value). Also establishes a 1.0 practice expense GPCI floor for physicians in those states. (section 10324, page 208, line 16)
- Libby, Montana: Medicare coverage for individuals exposed to environmental health hazards in or around the geographic area subject to an emergency declaration as of June 17 2009.. The EPA announced a public health emergency at the Libby Montana asbestos superfund site on June 17, 2009. Posted at http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/libby/phe.html <http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/libby/phe.html> (section 10323, page 193, line 21)
- Nebraska and Michigan: Carve-out from the insurance fee for Nebraska Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Michigan Blue Cross/Blue Shield. (section 10905, page 369, lines 10-25 though page 370, lines 1-15).
- Nebraska: Carve-out from the insurance fee for medigap policies sold by Mutual of Omaha and other companies. (Section 10905, page 371, line 1)
- Connecticut Hospital ($100M): Dodd took credit <http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jk5LKXjjlToRUNXFB_OKs7AoX4EgD9CNFKM00> for this last night, but was it bait for Lieberman as well? $100,000,000 For “Health Care Facility” “At A Public Research University In The United States That Contains A State’s Sole Public Academic Medical And Dental School.” (Manager’s Amendment To H.R. 3590, Pg. 328) <http://www.politico.com/static/PPM145_chris.html>
Now you may think this is crass, unscrupulous and unprincipled as does George Will. But I see this portending the Animal Farm to which Obama is leading us. For, despite Constitutional protections like equal protection of the laws and due process, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
Tom Motherway
From the Precipice to the Cusp….Obama At the Helm
Posted by Tom in Centrally Managed Economy, Deficit, Nationalized Health Care on December 19, 2009
With Senator Ben Nelson’s acceptance of Dirty Harry’s bribe the Democrats have the 60 votes necessary to pass the 2000 page health insurance bill. This results in new taxes, penalties, and excess regulation on the American economy.
Obama wants business to create more jobs. Yet, things like the health insurance bill destroy jobs.
Obama complains that the banks are not lending to small business. Yet, he and the Fed incentivize that condition.
The net result if Obamacare ultimately passes will be higher deficits, more national debt and a lower standard of living.
You really wonder what happened to the “equal protection of the laws” clause in the Constitution. Ben Nelson sold his vote and the taxpayers of his state are better off than those of the states whose senators did not sell their votes.
So, Obama has taken this country from the “precipice” to the “cusp” and the ABYSS is now in view! What he is doing to our grandchildren is immoral.
Tom Motherway
Newt Gingrich-”Victory or Death”
Posted by Tom in Law, Morality & Religion in the Public Square, National Character, Politics on December 19, 2009
Allen West, A Man We Need In Congress
Posted by Tom in Uncategorized on December 18, 2009
Check this guy out, intelligent, articulate, combat veteran and black. Unlike Obama, Allen West knows his history. Wikipedia summarizes his career to date. His website offers you an opportunity to support him. But please listen to him first:
They’re They Go Again…Wasting Your Money
Anyone want to spend $2.7 Million for surgical operations in space? How about $1.6 Million for a tram to the Huntsville Botanical Garden? No, well then, I’m sure you’d want $1.3 Million of your hard-earned tax dollars to go to the UC Davis study of delta smelt breeding patterns? Just kidding. But this from Fox News isn’t:
Mixed in are more than 5,000 earmarks totaling $3.9 billion, according to watchdog Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Pork-watchers are only just beginning to sort through the earmarks, which typically are goodies set aside for the districts of members of Congress, as the bill tracks toward a final vote. So far, they've uncovered gems ranging from $700,000 for a shrimp fishing project in Maryland to $30,000 for the Woodstock Film Festival Youth Initiative to $200,000 for a visitor's center in a Texas town with a population of about 8,000.
“Let’s stop the madness,” House Republican Leader John Boehner said, before the bill passed without any GOP support. Twenty-eight House Democrats also opposed it.
via FOXNews.com – Watchdogs Cry Foul Over Thousands of Earmarks in Spending Bill.
Seems that neither Congressional Democrats nor Obama have any concept of whose money they are spending-sorry, waisting, how hard we work for it, that we’re in financially difficult times, and that they don’t know what the hell they are doing! Yeah, Pelosi, Reid and Obama promised that earmarks would be a thing of the past. Seems like it’s back to the future!
Tom Motherway
Primer on European Welfare State Terror Threat Levels
Posted by Tom in Humor, Nationalized Health Care, Welfare on December 14, 2009
As President Obama continues on his program to make the USA a socialistic European welfare state, it is important to learn the nuances of and variety in the various terrorism threat levels employed by European subdivisions. So as a public service I republish today’s article from the European edition of the Toomey Times:
The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their security level from “Miffed” to “Peeved.” Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to “Irritated” or even “A Bit Cross.” The English have not been “A Bit Cross” since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies all but ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from “Tiresome” to a “Bloody Nuisance.” The last time the British issued a “Bloody Nuisance” warning level was during the great fire of 1666.
The Scots raised their threat level from “Pissed Off” to “Let’s get the Bastards” They don’t have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line in the British army for the last 300 years.
The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from “Run” to “Hide”. The only two higher levels in France are “Collaborate” and “Surrender.” The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France ’s white flag factory, effectively paralyzing the country’s military capability.
It’s not only the French who are on a heightened level of alert. Italy has increased the alert level from “Shout loudly and excitedly” to “Elaborate Military Posturing.” Two more levels remain: “Ineffective Combat Operations” and “Change Sides.”
The Germans also increased their alert state from “Disdainful Arrogance” to “Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs.” They also have two higher levels: “Invade a Neighbor” and “Lose”.
Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual, and the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels.
The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the New Spanish navy can get a really good look at the Old Spanish navy.
All kidding aside, it is very difficult to pay for effective defense when almost all the tax money goes to welfare.
Tom Motherway
Victory Through “Three Cups of Tea”
Posted by Tom in Education Facts & Policies, Foreign Policy, Military Policy on December 14, 2009
My friend Gene Humphrey, not short of combat experience or U.S. intelligence work, sent me an engaging little book, “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson. It opens with the heartbreaking defeat of an attempt to summit K2 and continues with the comparable struggles to build schools in the dauntingly remote Himalayas of Northern Pakistan but these are victories indeed. Gene picks his reading recommendations well; “Three Cups of Tea” has become required reading for U.S. commanders and troops deploying to Afghanistan.
“We can drop bombs and hand out condoms and build roads or put in electricity but if we don’t educate children, and especially girls, nothing will change in society….I find it somewhat amazing how very nimble and small, poor organizations are able to exploit the lack of education very quickly and use ignorance to feed their own agenda. I think that’s why I feel that educating girls is so important. If you educate a boy, you educate an individual but if you educate a girl, you educate a whole community. There is a proverb in Afghanistan that, roughly translated, says that the ink of a scholar is holier than the blood of a martyr. And I believe that. Education is our greatest weapon.” Greg Mortenson author of “Three Cups of Tea” in an MSNBC interview on December 3rd.
This is an interesting concept. Is there any validity to it? According to an article in Pars Times by Golnaz Esfandiari, Dr. Said Peyvandi who follows Iranian education from Paris said the number of Iranian girl in the educational system is growing dramatically even following the 1979 revolution and Islamization of the educational institutions. “The remarkable educational progress of Iranian girls is the last decade should be considered a social phenomenon, because its implications for social relations, the labor market, and the status of women in society and in the family are very, very important in determining the future of Iran.” A good argument can be made that we are seeing the results of that societal progress in the current demonstrations and uprising against the illegitimate regime in control of Iran, Ahmadinejad and his mullahs.
It’s good to know that the U.S. continues its support of education in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Perhaps victory will eventually come.
Tom Motherway
While Complaining About Wall Street Bonuses…..Let’s Remember Some Other Abusive Compensation
Unionized public sector pay and pensions are out of control and increasingly contribute to our fiscal demise.![mime-attachment[1]](http://renohayek.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/mime-attachment1.jpeg "mime-attachment[1]")
According to the 2008 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics while union members accounted for 12.4 percent of wage and salary workers, “the union membership rate for public sector workers (36.8 percent) was substantially higher than the rate for private industry workers (7.6 percent).”
And, USA Today reported in April, (a) public employees earned average benefits worth $13.38 per hour vs. $7.98 per hour for private sector workers, (b) overall average compensation for state and local workers was $39.25 an hour vs. $27.35 for private workers, and (c) a full-time government worker gets benefits worth and average of $27,830 per year, while a private workers average benefits are worth $16,598 per year.
Finally, we’ve all seen reports on the looming time-bomb of unfunded state and local retirement benefits. Greg D’Angelo of The Heritage Foundation reports that those governments have promised but not paid for “roughly $1.5 trillion” in retirement benefits. This coupled with early retirement ages, high percentages of last paid compensation and final year “promotions” exacerbate an already bad situation.
Perhaps, though, the most damnable aspect of public sector unionization is the unholy understanding that the unions campaign for the elected officials who in turn “take care of” the unions come payday. There is no check on this unholy alliance.
Tom Motherway