I haven't blogged in quite a while. Work has been hectic and I have been so busy that I haven't had time.
Well, leave it to the current Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to get me to the point that I need to take extra blood pressure medication to keep from having a coronary.
Pelosi spoke to a group that included both legal, as well as, illegal aliens and said that the enforcement of existing immigration laws, as currently practiced, is "un-American."
Really. I think it is time for the wonderful people of California to say goodbye to Ms. Pelosi by kicking her butt out of office the next time the opportunity presents itself.
Excuse me but didn't she, with the rest of her colleagues in the House, take an oath to up hold the Constitution of the United States. Well Madam Speaker...that in my mind includes the laws that are in place to protect that document and all it stands for.
Please, doesn't the word ILLEGAL mean anything to you? I guess not with the way those in congress and the current administration seem to forget to live by it.
People complain about laws in this country all the time. I for one don't think that the current laws against prostitution and use of marijuana are worth the paper they are printed on and should be repealed. I tell my elected officials this and that is all I can do.
Ms. Pelosi however is the Speaker of the House. She can introduce legislation and even control how the bill flows through the House.
Ms. Speaker, if you don't like the current laws try something novel. Instead of calling them un-American try changing them. Instead of jumping all over ICE and law enforcement for enforcing the laws that YOU and the others in congress passed you might try to enact changes.
Go ahead Nancy...introduce a bill in the House of Representatives that changes the way the law looks at ILLEGAL aliens.
You won't because you know what would happen.
Here is the link to the article http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/18/pelosi-tells-illegal-immigrants-work-site-raids-american/
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Hypocrits
Have you all read this news article?
Foxnews:
WASHINGTON -- Invoking his own name-and-shame policy, President Barack Obama warned the nation's mayors Friday that he will "call them out" if they waste the money from his massive economic stimulus plan.
"We have asked for the unprecedented trust of the American people to deal boldly with the greatest economic crisis we have seen in decades -- and the privilege of investing unprecedented amounts of their hard-earned money to address this crisis," Obama told a gathering of mayors at the White House.
"With that comes an unprecedented obligation to do so wisely, free from politics and personal agendas," the president said. "On this I will not compromise or tolerate any shortcut."
The $787 billion economic plan passed by Congress and signed by Obama will inject a sudden boost of cash into infrastructure, education, energy and health care.
Now the political focus shifts to how all that taxpayer money will be spent on meaningful, job-creating projects.
Obama has staked his reputation on it.
He said Friday that legislation will allow the country "to watch the taxpayers' money with more rigor and transparency than ever."
The White House released excerpts of Obama's comments shortly before he spoke in the East Room.
"If a federal agency proposes a project that will waste that money, I will not hesitate to call them out on it, and put a stop to it," Obama said.
"But I want everyone here to be on notice that if a local government does the same -- I will call them out on it as well, and use the full power of my office and our administration to stop it," he said.
The president did not specify how, exactly, he would call out one of his administration's own agencies or a local government.
I don't often re-post an entire news article. However in this case I thought it was best to put it here instead of by link.
Looking strictly at what the President is trying to do this seems like a very good idea. On the sheer basis of it I would agree.
But when you look at all the spending on pet projects that the President allowed congress to add to the stimulus package it smells to high heaven to me.
Don't you think this is just a little hypocritical? Tell the state and local governments that he will be watching and call out those that propose spending that is wasteful all the while allowing those in the House and Senate a free pass.
I don't think so Mr. President. Is this what you call change? Is this what you call transparency? I guess that transparency only applies to state and local government not to those on Capital Hill.
You want to do this Mr. President I am okay with it, in fact, I am for it. But you need to start by going through the stimulus package and naming all those in the House and Senate who added waste full spending to the bill. Spending like neighborhood stabilization and all those other little pet congressional projects that are in that 1100 page piece of legislation.
Call out your old friends in the congress Mr. President, then you can call out those in state and local government that are wasting the taxpayers money.
Foxnews:
WASHINGTON -- Invoking his own name-and-shame policy, President Barack Obama warned the nation's mayors Friday that he will "call them out" if they waste the money from his massive economic stimulus plan.
"We have asked for the unprecedented trust of the American people to deal boldly with the greatest economic crisis we have seen in decades -- and the privilege of investing unprecedented amounts of their hard-earned money to address this crisis," Obama told a gathering of mayors at the White House.
"With that comes an unprecedented obligation to do so wisely, free from politics and personal agendas," the president said. "On this I will not compromise or tolerate any shortcut."
The $787 billion economic plan passed by Congress and signed by Obama will inject a sudden boost of cash into infrastructure, education, energy and health care.
Now the political focus shifts to how all that taxpayer money will be spent on meaningful, job-creating projects.
Obama has staked his reputation on it.
He said Friday that legislation will allow the country "to watch the taxpayers' money with more rigor and transparency than ever."
The White House released excerpts of Obama's comments shortly before he spoke in the East Room.
"If a federal agency proposes a project that will waste that money, I will not hesitate to call them out on it, and put a stop to it," Obama said.
"But I want everyone here to be on notice that if a local government does the same -- I will call them out on it as well, and use the full power of my office and our administration to stop it," he said.
The president did not specify how, exactly, he would call out one of his administration's own agencies or a local government.
I don't often re-post an entire news article. However in this case I thought it was best to put it here instead of by link.
Looking strictly at what the President is trying to do this seems like a very good idea. On the sheer basis of it I would agree.
But when you look at all the spending on pet projects that the President allowed congress to add to the stimulus package it smells to high heaven to me.
Don't you think this is just a little hypocritical? Tell the state and local governments that he will be watching and call out those that propose spending that is wasteful all the while allowing those in the House and Senate a free pass.
I don't think so Mr. President. Is this what you call change? Is this what you call transparency? I guess that transparency only applies to state and local government not to those on Capital Hill.
You want to do this Mr. President I am okay with it, in fact, I am for it. But you need to start by going through the stimulus package and naming all those in the House and Senate who added waste full spending to the bill. Spending like neighborhood stabilization and all those other little pet congressional projects that are in that 1100 page piece of legislation.
Call out your old friends in the congress Mr. President, then you can call out those in state and local government that are wasting the taxpayers money.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Here is an idea
I happened to see the conversation Greta Van Susteren had with Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) on the Fox news website this morning. Senator Kyl and Greta were lamenting the fact that no one had the chance to read the Stimulus package bill prior to voting on it.
Well ain’t that just a damn shame. Like this is the first time I have heard that complaint from a member of the Senate or the House. It has been brought up before and by members on both sides of the isle, democrat and republican.
My question is, and it is a rather simple one, why haven’t you clowns done anything about it?
You know that the House and Senate setup their own rules on how legislation is expected to be handled. All it takes is a vote by the members of that chamber to amend to rules. Why not go for it? Bring up a change in the rules in the House and the Senate that says no legislation will be voted on without first having three days to allow all members to read the bill. We want bi-partisan politics, well this seems like something each side can get behind. Each committee could enact a similar rule for their respective committees. Problem solved. If you don’t read the bill now it is the fault of the senator or house member.
Yes, this would slow down the legislative process. Well to quote a phrase used by the Blue Collar comedian Ron White, the legislative branch of government is already moving at half the speed of smell. What the hell is more of a slow down going to hurt? Besides, it will take away an excuse for all these legislators because they can’t say they didn’t have time to read the darn thing.
Let us just suppose that members of the House and Senate are not behind a change in the rules like this. What happens then? The answer is simple…DO NOT VOTE FOR THE BILL. There ya go. If the leadership cannot get the proposed legislation to its members in time to allow said members to read it then just don’t vote for it. I don’t mean abstain. I mean vote no. I don’t mean vote present. I mean vote NO.
We send these men and women to Washington to be our elected representatives. How can they in good conscience vote for a bill that they haven’t even read? How can WE THE PEOPLE allow our elected representatives to behave in a manner like this? We send them there to read the bills and cast a vote for us. Now we see again where these elected people are not doing what we expect them to do.
Just once I would like to see a press conference where a Senator or Congressman steps up to the microphone and says, “I didn’t vote for this bill because the leadership did not get it to me to allow sufficient time for me to read it.” Lay the blame square on the shoulders of those in leadership of the House and Senate. I don’t care what party they belong to.
It is high time we started holding our elected representatives accountable for what they do in Washington. But it is also high time we start holding ourselves accountable for allowing this to go on as long as it has.
Well ain’t that just a damn shame. Like this is the first time I have heard that complaint from a member of the Senate or the House. It has been brought up before and by members on both sides of the isle, democrat and republican.
My question is, and it is a rather simple one, why haven’t you clowns done anything about it?
You know that the House and Senate setup their own rules on how legislation is expected to be handled. All it takes is a vote by the members of that chamber to amend to rules. Why not go for it? Bring up a change in the rules in the House and the Senate that says no legislation will be voted on without first having three days to allow all members to read the bill. We want bi-partisan politics, well this seems like something each side can get behind. Each committee could enact a similar rule for their respective committees. Problem solved. If you don’t read the bill now it is the fault of the senator or house member.
Yes, this would slow down the legislative process. Well to quote a phrase used by the Blue Collar comedian Ron White, the legislative branch of government is already moving at half the speed of smell. What the hell is more of a slow down going to hurt? Besides, it will take away an excuse for all these legislators because they can’t say they didn’t have time to read the darn thing.
Let us just suppose that members of the House and Senate are not behind a change in the rules like this. What happens then? The answer is simple…DO NOT VOTE FOR THE BILL. There ya go. If the leadership cannot get the proposed legislation to its members in time to allow said members to read it then just don’t vote for it. I don’t mean abstain. I mean vote no. I don’t mean vote present. I mean vote NO.
We send these men and women to Washington to be our elected representatives. How can they in good conscience vote for a bill that they haven’t even read? How can WE THE PEOPLE allow our elected representatives to behave in a manner like this? We send them there to read the bills and cast a vote for us. Now we see again where these elected people are not doing what we expect them to do.
Just once I would like to see a press conference where a Senator or Congressman steps up to the microphone and says, “I didn’t vote for this bill because the leadership did not get it to me to allow sufficient time for me to read it.” Lay the blame square on the shoulders of those in leadership of the House and Senate. I don’t care what party they belong to.
It is high time we started holding our elected representatives accountable for what they do in Washington. But it is also high time we start holding ourselves accountable for allowing this to go on as long as it has.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Fairness Doctrine
There has been a lot of talk recently about the federal government and/or the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) re-instituting something called the fairness doctrine.
What this basically says is that radio, TV and other media outlets have to provide a both sides of an issue equal time during interviews and debate over these issues.
No at first look that seems enticing to me. That would make all the liberal leaning media provide a more fair and balanced approach to the news. May be we could get away from the slanted news all news outlets seem to use.
But at the same time, this idea flies in the face of one of the most basic freedoms in our Constitution, that of free speech.
I must admit that on the surface a fairness doctrine for all the news outlets looks pretty good. Then all the news outlets from Fox news to CNN have to give both sides of an issue a chance to have equal time. That would mean that WE THE PEOPLE would get a more balanced product from the news.
But as you did into it you come to realize that this would be a huge intrusion into the free speech rights of all Americans.
Now I may not like the way a news outlet presents its news. I may not like the way the news is skewed to one political side or the other. But you the listener always have the option of changing the channel or turning the TV or radio off. I have news outlets I never watch due to the obvious slant they put on their news. That is my right. That news outlet has just as much right to present the news in any manner they chose consistent with journalistic ethics.
Ultimately whether a news outlet continues to present the news with a certain political slant depends upon how many viewers they get. The number of viewers determines the advertising rates and thus income to the company.
If you don’t like CNN…don’t watch. If you don’t like Rush Limbaugh…don’t listen. But I don’t need the federal government telling me, a private citizen, what kind of news I am allowed to watch and/or how fair they have to be. If I don’t like it…I won’t watch/listen to it. The decision is mine not Uncle Sam’s.
Not to mention now there is a move within the legislature and the FCC to apply this fairness doctrine to the internet. I always thought that www stood for the “world wide web”. What gives us the right to tell the rest of the world how they have to run their websites and its content?
I want everyone to take notice of who is behind this movement to bring the fairness doctrine back to life. It is the democrat party folks. They are the ones that are trying to silence you and me. If they go through with the plan, then the sites where I post this blog will have to find people to submit content from the opposing view point. Even if there are no people submitting such content.
In short the so called “Fairness Doctrine” is only fair to incumbent politicians. They will be allowed to control to news content and to offset those that may speak against them within the public sphere. The Fairness Doctrine is NOT fair to WE THE PEOPLE.
Keep your eyes open people. They will try and package this thing in a way that tries to hide what they are up to. Make sure your elected officials know that you are opposed to any kind of fairness doctrine in news reporting.
What this basically says is that radio, TV and other media outlets have to provide a both sides of an issue equal time during interviews and debate over these issues.
No at first look that seems enticing to me. That would make all the liberal leaning media provide a more fair and balanced approach to the news. May be we could get away from the slanted news all news outlets seem to use.
But at the same time, this idea flies in the face of one of the most basic freedoms in our Constitution, that of free speech.
I must admit that on the surface a fairness doctrine for all the news outlets looks pretty good. Then all the news outlets from Fox news to CNN have to give both sides of an issue a chance to have equal time. That would mean that WE THE PEOPLE would get a more balanced product from the news.
But as you did into it you come to realize that this would be a huge intrusion into the free speech rights of all Americans.
Now I may not like the way a news outlet presents its news. I may not like the way the news is skewed to one political side or the other. But you the listener always have the option of changing the channel or turning the TV or radio off. I have news outlets I never watch due to the obvious slant they put on their news. That is my right. That news outlet has just as much right to present the news in any manner they chose consistent with journalistic ethics.
Ultimately whether a news outlet continues to present the news with a certain political slant depends upon how many viewers they get. The number of viewers determines the advertising rates and thus income to the company.
If you don’t like CNN…don’t watch. If you don’t like Rush Limbaugh…don’t listen. But I don’t need the federal government telling me, a private citizen, what kind of news I am allowed to watch and/or how fair they have to be. If I don’t like it…I won’t watch/listen to it. The decision is mine not Uncle Sam’s.
Not to mention now there is a move within the legislature and the FCC to apply this fairness doctrine to the internet. I always thought that www stood for the “world wide web”. What gives us the right to tell the rest of the world how they have to run their websites and its content?
I want everyone to take notice of who is behind this movement to bring the fairness doctrine back to life. It is the democrat party folks. They are the ones that are trying to silence you and me. If they go through with the plan, then the sites where I post this blog will have to find people to submit content from the opposing view point. Even if there are no people submitting such content.
In short the so called “Fairness Doctrine” is only fair to incumbent politicians. They will be allowed to control to news content and to offset those that may speak against them within the public sphere. The Fairness Doctrine is NOT fair to WE THE PEOPLE.
Keep your eyes open people. They will try and package this thing in a way that tries to hide what they are up to. Make sure your elected officials know that you are opposed to any kind of fairness doctrine in news reporting.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Politics As Usual
Why is it that WE THE PEOPLE expect something different when all we have is the same ole band of degenerates in public office?
Now we have the new Senator from Illinois, Roland Burris, being caught in a potential perjury scandal. Sorry folks, life long politician equates to life long liar. It is just that simple, or at least it seems to be.
In case you are a parallel universe and have not kept up with such reports, here is a quick overview of what we currently know.
First of all you have the now former Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, who was allegedly trying to sell President Obama's vacant senate seat to the highest bidder. Then we add the former Governor's brother, Robert Blagojevich, who apparently was the point man in all this mess. Robert apparently called Mr. Burris and asked for campaign finance assistance. The dollar figured being bandied about in the media is $10,000. Mr. Burris declined to help due to the fact that he was seeking the vacant senate seat. Smart move by Mr. Burris don't ya think.
Rod Blagojevich was indited by the State Senate of Illinois for his actions related to the federal investigation. The actions then shifted to the State House in Illinois where Rod Blagojevich was put on trial for impeachment. One of those who testified against the governor was Mr. Burris, who had just taken the oath and had been seated as the junior senator from Illinois.
Now here is where things get a little hazy.
While being questioned by the State House's Impeachment Committee, Mr. Burris did not say anything about having contact with Robert Blagojevich prior to his appointment as President Obama's successor. Then on February 5th an affidavit sent to the Illinois State House democrat leadership where Mr. Burris admitted that he did have three phone conversations with the former governor's brother. This sets us up for the old familiar political game of they said, I said. The Illinois GOP (that is Republicans for those that don't know) has stated that this amounts to perjury by Senator Burris and that he needs to resign. Mr. Burris states that he simply answered the questions he was asked and that no one ever asked him about his contact with Robert Blagojevich. In short, he was never given the opportunity to come forth with the information about the contact he had with the governor's brother.
Senator Burris has stated that he has no intention of resigning from the senate. For that matter why should he? He fits right in with the rest of the group. I always thought that our elected officials and those appointed to serve in the government were held to a different standard. Apparently the standard they are held to is different. It is a lower standard.
Mr. Burris, don't you think that the Illinois House Impeachment panel might have wanted to hear about the governor's brother contacting you about campaign fundraising help? Are we to believe that you never had the opportunity to put forth that information during the impeachment process? Transcripts of Mr. Burris' impeachment committee testimony clearly shows that he was directly asked about speaking to Robert Blagojevich. Now I am pretty dense Mr. Burris, but wouldn't a phone call be contact. Or are we using the Clinton defense; "it depends on what your definition of contact is"?
Let us be real Senator. The only reason that you submitted the affidavit to the Illinois House was you were told by Robert Blagojevich's lawyer that it is possible that at least one of the phone conversations you had might have been taped. This is nothing more than a politicians attempt to cover thine own ass.
Some people may not like those of from the republican party. But one thing you must admit. If this were a newly appointed republican senator, would he be allowed to stay in office? The answer is no.
If William Jefferson were a republican he would have been run out of office. If Charles Rangle were a republican he would have been removed from office. But I guess Mr. Burris does just fit right in with those in the House and Senate. Particularly those with ties to the democrat party.
Its time to clean house people.
Now we have the new Senator from Illinois, Roland Burris, being caught in a potential perjury scandal. Sorry folks, life long politician equates to life long liar. It is just that simple, or at least it seems to be.
In case you are a parallel universe and have not kept up with such reports, here is a quick overview of what we currently know.
First of all you have the now former Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, who was allegedly trying to sell President Obama's vacant senate seat to the highest bidder. Then we add the former Governor's brother, Robert Blagojevich, who apparently was the point man in all this mess. Robert apparently called Mr. Burris and asked for campaign finance assistance. The dollar figured being bandied about in the media is $10,000. Mr. Burris declined to help due to the fact that he was seeking the vacant senate seat. Smart move by Mr. Burris don't ya think.
Rod Blagojevich was indited by the State Senate of Illinois for his actions related to the federal investigation. The actions then shifted to the State House in Illinois where Rod Blagojevich was put on trial for impeachment. One of those who testified against the governor was Mr. Burris, who had just taken the oath and had been seated as the junior senator from Illinois.
Now here is where things get a little hazy.
While being questioned by the State House's Impeachment Committee, Mr. Burris did not say anything about having contact with Robert Blagojevich prior to his appointment as President Obama's successor. Then on February 5th an affidavit sent to the Illinois State House democrat leadership where Mr. Burris admitted that he did have three phone conversations with the former governor's brother. This sets us up for the old familiar political game of they said, I said. The Illinois GOP (that is Republicans for those that don't know) has stated that this amounts to perjury by Senator Burris and that he needs to resign. Mr. Burris states that he simply answered the questions he was asked and that no one ever asked him about his contact with Robert Blagojevich. In short, he was never given the opportunity to come forth with the information about the contact he had with the governor's brother.
Senator Burris has stated that he has no intention of resigning from the senate. For that matter why should he? He fits right in with the rest of the group. I always thought that our elected officials and those appointed to serve in the government were held to a different standard. Apparently the standard they are held to is different. It is a lower standard.
Mr. Burris, don't you think that the Illinois House Impeachment panel might have wanted to hear about the governor's brother contacting you about campaign fundraising help? Are we to believe that you never had the opportunity to put forth that information during the impeachment process? Transcripts of Mr. Burris' impeachment committee testimony clearly shows that he was directly asked about speaking to Robert Blagojevich. Now I am pretty dense Mr. Burris, but wouldn't a phone call be contact. Or are we using the Clinton defense; "it depends on what your definition of contact is"?
Let us be real Senator. The only reason that you submitted the affidavit to the Illinois House was you were told by Robert Blagojevich's lawyer that it is possible that at least one of the phone conversations you had might have been taped. This is nothing more than a politicians attempt to cover thine own ass.
Some people may not like those of from the republican party. But one thing you must admit. If this were a newly appointed republican senator, would he be allowed to stay in office? The answer is no.
If William Jefferson were a republican he would have been run out of office. If Charles Rangle were a republican he would have been removed from office. But I guess Mr. Burris does just fit right in with those in the House and Senate. Particularly those with ties to the democrat party.
Its time to clean house people.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Is California the start?
If you have not paid much attention the State of California is at the edge of the cliff and is ready to take a dive into the abyss.
According to reports the state faces a deficit of over $42 billion. The state has had to stop some public service type projects and delay paying tax refunds due to the latest crisis.
After a 30 hour session trying to pass legislation that will cut into the deficit the state senate is still one vote shy of having the required 2/3 majority to pass. The senate needs the votes of 3 republicans and apparently, they are not willing to cooperate.
What is the sticking point? Well it seems along with deep budget cuts there is also a rather hefty tax increase. This is something that the Republicans in the senate see as a deal breaker.
On strict principals I must side with these republicans. But given the fact that I may get an IOU for my tax refund in the coming weeks may be I should rethink that position. Nah.
Both the federal government and those at the state level have avoided this issue for far too long. The issue of spending more than you are taking in. Now that the overall economy is on the rocks everyone is feeling the pinch...and it hurts like hell.
WE THE PEOPLE have allowed our elected officials to take us down this path. We should have been in near revolt over some of the spending that has been allowed to be passed by state legislatures and that of the federal government. But we sat idly by and did nothing. We let the spending on frivolous research projects, projects for the arts and yes...even education go unchecked and unquestioned. WE THE PEOPLE have allowed the frivolous spending that is in the current stimulus package to go through congress with out so much as a whimper.
Question...how many of you even contacted your elected Representatives in the House or Senate and let them know how you feel about the stimulus package? All of the polls said that only about 1/3 of the population favored the thing. The phones in the capital should have been ringing off the hook. The capital email servers should have been shutdown due to the high volume of incoming emails. As far as I heard, none of that happened. So once again we sit back and do absolutely nothing. Oh we will whine and complain when our taxes are raised. We will complain about the pork spending that congress does. But we will not stop and say a darned word. To make matters worse we re-elect these people to office and then act surprised when all we see is more of the same.
During the presidential campaign then candidate Obama said that he would not allow pork spending. Well Mr. President, look at the bill you are about to sign and tell me what you see.
Now to top it all off someone else has come forward to ask for their piece of the stimulus money. Guess who? The United Nations. Are you kidding me? This is the nation that pours more money into third world countries than any other. An earthquake hits...we send money. A flood happens...the American people are there. Yes I said the American people...that would be WE THE PEOPLE. It is not through the federal government only that money is sent to these places that are hard hit. It is from the Red Cross and other like organizations where WE THE PEOPLE give our hard earned dollars to help people. Now the UN wants 0.7% of the total stimulus package. That is over $5 billion taxpayer dollars to go to another of the most bureaucratic and wasteful, not to mention corrupt, organizations out there. Hey...can I give the answer to the UN for us. You can kiss our ass. You are never there to help us so you can take your request for $5 billion and put it where the sun don't shine.
Look, I am getting side tracked here.
We have went down this road of social spending for far too long. I am all for giving help to those that are in need. There was a time a few years ago where I collected unemployment for over a year and where if it weren't for my church I don't think we would have made it. But there were LIMITS. We can't just give out money for welfare and other things on an endless bases. We can help yes. But in the end that means that those receiving help must also help themselves. Right now we make it too easy to sit back and relax on the backs of those of us who are working and paying taxes. I can't speak for all the taxpayers but my back hurts.
It is time we started forcing those elected in Washington and in state governments to do what each of us has to do...live within our means. You can't spend it if you ain't go it.
Yes, this is going to hurt...really bad. But in the end our children will be much better off. We might see a little relief ourselves.
According to reports the state faces a deficit of over $42 billion. The state has had to stop some public service type projects and delay paying tax refunds due to the latest crisis.
After a 30 hour session trying to pass legislation that will cut into the deficit the state senate is still one vote shy of having the required 2/3 majority to pass. The senate needs the votes of 3 republicans and apparently, they are not willing to cooperate.
What is the sticking point? Well it seems along with deep budget cuts there is also a rather hefty tax increase. This is something that the Republicans in the senate see as a deal breaker.
On strict principals I must side with these republicans. But given the fact that I may get an IOU for my tax refund in the coming weeks may be I should rethink that position. Nah.
Both the federal government and those at the state level have avoided this issue for far too long. The issue of spending more than you are taking in. Now that the overall economy is on the rocks everyone is feeling the pinch...and it hurts like hell.
WE THE PEOPLE have allowed our elected officials to take us down this path. We should have been in near revolt over some of the spending that has been allowed to be passed by state legislatures and that of the federal government. But we sat idly by and did nothing. We let the spending on frivolous research projects, projects for the arts and yes...even education go unchecked and unquestioned. WE THE PEOPLE have allowed the frivolous spending that is in the current stimulus package to go through congress with out so much as a whimper.
Question...how many of you even contacted your elected Representatives in the House or Senate and let them know how you feel about the stimulus package? All of the polls said that only about 1/3 of the population favored the thing. The phones in the capital should have been ringing off the hook. The capital email servers should have been shutdown due to the high volume of incoming emails. As far as I heard, none of that happened. So once again we sit back and do absolutely nothing. Oh we will whine and complain when our taxes are raised. We will complain about the pork spending that congress does. But we will not stop and say a darned word. To make matters worse we re-elect these people to office and then act surprised when all we see is more of the same.
During the presidential campaign then candidate Obama said that he would not allow pork spending. Well Mr. President, look at the bill you are about to sign and tell me what you see.
Now to top it all off someone else has come forward to ask for their piece of the stimulus money. Guess who? The United Nations. Are you kidding me? This is the nation that pours more money into third world countries than any other. An earthquake hits...we send money. A flood happens...the American people are there. Yes I said the American people...that would be WE THE PEOPLE. It is not through the federal government only that money is sent to these places that are hard hit. It is from the Red Cross and other like organizations where WE THE PEOPLE give our hard earned dollars to help people. Now the UN wants 0.7% of the total stimulus package. That is over $5 billion taxpayer dollars to go to another of the most bureaucratic and wasteful, not to mention corrupt, organizations out there. Hey...can I give the answer to the UN for us. You can kiss our ass. You are never there to help us so you can take your request for $5 billion and put it where the sun don't shine.
Look, I am getting side tracked here.
We have went down this road of social spending for far too long. I am all for giving help to those that are in need. There was a time a few years ago where I collected unemployment for over a year and where if it weren't for my church I don't think we would have made it. But there were LIMITS. We can't just give out money for welfare and other things on an endless bases. We can help yes. But in the end that means that those receiving help must also help themselves. Right now we make it too easy to sit back and relax on the backs of those of us who are working and paying taxes. I can't speak for all the taxpayers but my back hurts.
It is time we started forcing those elected in Washington and in state governments to do what each of us has to do...live within our means. You can't spend it if you ain't go it.
Yes, this is going to hurt...really bad. But in the end our children will be much better off. We might see a little relief ourselves.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Get Back Our Trust
Well the grill is fired up in the chambers of the House Financial Services Committee meeting. The latest "meat" to be grilled are CEO's of the banking industry. Rep. Barney Frank has told these CEO's that they must work hard to gain back the public trust.
I have a better idea. Hey Rep. Frank...how about you and the other members of the House work to try and get back the public trust?
I just cannot believe that an organization that has an approval rating of 31.7% (that is the current average) is out to tell anyone to go earn back the public trust. The public lost its trust in the congress when Bush was president. They used to chide Bush about his approval ratings when the approval rating for congress was 10 points below that for Bush.
Get real Mr. Frank. As far as I am concerned we would do better having the other Barney in the House of Representatives. By the other "Barney" I am referring to that purple dinosaur. Come to think of it, there is a resemblance and you never see the two of them together.
No one in the House or Senate seems to be the least bit worried that their approval ratings are below that of Barry Bonds. No one in the House or the Senate seems to be willing to do a damn thing to try and gain back the trust and respect of WE THE PEOPLE. This is part of what makes me wonder why WE THE PEOPLE re-elect these relics to office.
Hey Mr. Frank. I realize that you don't read into the New Testament a lot. But there is a valuable lesson for you there if you take the time to read it. You might want to pass this along to the others in the House cause I don't think most of them read the Bible much either. Look at Luke 6:41-42 or Matthew 7:3-5. Then get the plank out of your own eye before you try and get the speck out of someone else's.
Now I know that didn't stick so let us try it this way. Get the public confidence and trust in Congress back Mr. Frank. Then you can tell others to do the same.
I have a better idea. Hey Rep. Frank...how about you and the other members of the House work to try and get back the public trust?
I just cannot believe that an organization that has an approval rating of 31.7% (that is the current average) is out to tell anyone to go earn back the public trust. The public lost its trust in the congress when Bush was president. They used to chide Bush about his approval ratings when the approval rating for congress was 10 points below that for Bush.
Get real Mr. Frank. As far as I am concerned we would do better having the other Barney in the House of Representatives. By the other "Barney" I am referring to that purple dinosaur. Come to think of it, there is a resemblance and you never see the two of them together.
No one in the House or Senate seems to be the least bit worried that their approval ratings are below that of Barry Bonds. No one in the House or the Senate seems to be willing to do a damn thing to try and gain back the trust and respect of WE THE PEOPLE. This is part of what makes me wonder why WE THE PEOPLE re-elect these relics to office.
Hey Mr. Frank. I realize that you don't read into the New Testament a lot. But there is a valuable lesson for you there if you take the time to read it. You might want to pass this along to the others in the House cause I don't think most of them read the Bible much either. Look at Luke 6:41-42 or Matthew 7:3-5. Then get the plank out of your own eye before you try and get the speck out of someone else's.
Now I know that didn't stick so let us try it this way. Get the public confidence and trust in Congress back Mr. Frank. Then you can tell others to do the same.
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