California’s “Suicide by Liberalism” Continues

Mark Noonan15 Comments

Bankrupt State falling apart?  Then what you need to do is continue to erode the moral values which once upon a time made your State great…hey, you’ve already got one foot in the grave and another on banana peel, might as well go for it!  From California Catholic Conference:

On Sept. 6, Archbishop José H. Gomez issued the following statement on California Assembly Bill 499, which would allow children 12 and older to be vaccinated against sexually transmitted disease without parental consent or knowledge.

I am praying that Governor Brown will veto AB 499, which passed the California Senate last week.

Parents have a fundamental right and duty to be responsible for their children’s physical and spiritual well-being. Children have a fundamental right to the guidance and protection of their parents.

This legislation would deny those rights.

AB 499 would allow children as young as 12 years old to decide by themselves — without their parents’ involvement — to get vaccines to prevent sexually transmitted diseases…

Come on, Archbishop – who you trying to kid?  We know that all parents can ever do is get in the way.  It is always better if bureaucrats and politicians are in control.  Parents might try – horror of horrors! – to convince their kids that sex before marriage is wrong…better if we just piece by piece remove all parental authority and allow the kids, carefully guided by liberals, decide “for themselves” what to do. Geesh, next thing you know that crazy priest will be asserting that parents can even tell kids what to wear and what to buy!  Where would this all end if it weren’t for liberals?

It is just amazing, isn’t it?  Its sort of like they know they are dying out, but they just want to do as much damage as they can before they go.  California teeters on the edge of bankruptcy, but someone in the legislature found time to draft and pass a bill requiring something that no one other than a tiny minority of anti-family fanatics cares about.

I do wonder how long it will go on – just how utterly destroyed will California be before the people wake up and elect some Republicans to save the State?

 

Solyndra Scandal Update

Mark Noonan23 Comments

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

The Obama administration restructured a half-billion dollar federal loan to a troubled solar energy company in such a way that private investors — including a fundraiser for President Barack Obama — moved ahead of taxpayers for repayment in case of a default, government records show.

Administration officials defended the loan restructuring, saying that without an infusion of cash earlier this year, solar panel maker Solyndra Inc. would likely have faced immediate bankruptcy, putting more than 1,000 people out of work…

Which is a rather stupid defense – because now we’ve got the 1,000 people out of work, plus an additional half billion dollar burden on the American taxpayer.  When you start making stupid defenses of your actions, it means you know you’ve really screwed up and are just hoping that it doesn’t entirely blow up in your face.

This scandal, though, is starting to show signs of getting legs – legs which will keep it walking through American politics for quite a while.  And legs which just might lead us to ever more scandals just like this.  It is clear from Solyndra that at least some in the Obama Administration were happy to make deals which were bad for the taxpayers and good for Obama donors…the only thing we don’t know is the “Watergate” question:  what did the President know, and when did he know it?

In a lot of ways, Obama had better hope he loses next year – the rising tide of scandal bodes ill for an Obama second term, and after the 2012 elections, even if Obama does win, he is likely to be faced with a Congress entirely controlled by the GOP…no friendly Reid holding back the Senate half of government oversight.  A re-elected Obama might be forced to do nothing but defend himself against scandal after scandal flowing out of his complete control of government 2009-11.

UPDATE:  More information emerging in the “LightSquared” scandal – seems that President Obama was an early investor in the company.  To remind, there is evidence that Administration officials pressed an Air Force general to change his testimony to be more favorable to LightSquared.  This is getting to be the sort of run-of-the-mill corruption we see out of Chicago…has Obama really been playing that particular game while in DC?  Only an investigation will settle the matter…

On Immigration, Border Security Remains Key

Mark Noonan16 Comments

From Rasmussen:

With the Legal Workforce Act, a bill forcing companies to check the immigration status of their employees, working its way through Congress, voters nationwide continue to believe overwhelmingly that when it comes to immigration legislation the focus should be on the border.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of Likely U.S. Voters say it is more important to gain control of the border than to legalize the status of those already living illegally in the United States…

This just reaffirms what I have been saying for years – before anything else regarding immigration is tackled, the border must be made secure.  Whether or not we’ll amnesty those already here or deport all or do a mix is irrelevant in political terms until the border is secure.  The reason for this is that the people simply do not trust the government…any proposal for reform which does not emphasize border security first will be seen by the people as a mere amnesty bill with the problem of illegal immigration never to be solved.  Liberals can put it down to nativism or racism all they want, but the overwhelming majority of Americans simply want the laws enforced.  It is against the law to illegally cross our borders…make sure the law is being enforced and then get back to us on your other issues.

In my view, this poll also indicates that we Republicans will not be punished if we make border security an important, 2012 issue.  Not the most important issue, but it is an issue none the less…and an issue where we can draw stark contrasts between ourselves and Democrats.  Remember what really happens in illegal immigration – our liberals like to concentrate on those who have got here and are working hard, but they never talk about those robbed, raped and murdered before they get here…nor do they talk about those who don’t work hard but, instead, choose to abuse our social welfare programs.  The contrast being drawn would be one of responsible government vs feel good politics which lead to death and poverty.  This can be the opening wedge in a general discussion of all liberal feel-good policies which lead to disaster.

Some Republicans worry that a strong stance in favor of border security will cost us Latino votes.  In this, they are right…a certain, small segment of the Latino population of the United States does vote on whether or not there are open borders.  But it is a small group…most Latino voters vote sensibly, just as most Americans, overall, vote.  Bottom line, I don’t want those votes – and if it costs us votes to do the right thing, then that is the most honorable cost you can incur.

We can own this issue and make it work to our advantage…just as soon as we brace ourselves to do the right thing; and the right thing to do, first, is to secure the border.

Egyptian PM: Peace With Israel “Not Sacred”

Mark Noonan20 Comments

From the Jerusalem Post:

Egypt’s Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said a peace deal with Israel was not “sacred” and could be changed for the benefit of peace or the region.

His comments, made in an interview with a Turkish television channel and broadcast on state television, were the strongest yet by the new government which took over after president Hosni Mubarak was overthrown in February.

“The Camp David agreement is not a sacred thing and is always open to discussion with what would benefit the region and the case of fair peace … and we could make a change if needed,” he said in the interview…

My suggestion to Israel is that they re-open the “discussion” of peace by pushing the Egyptians out of the Sinai.  When you’ve got them by the privates, it is said, hearts and minds will follow…the Suez Canal is one of Egypt’s few money-makers and Israeli control of it might remind Egypt’s government of just why the Sadat regime sought a peace treaty in 1979.

Israel is in her most difficult position since just prior to the 1967 war – rising Islamism; Turkish hostility (it looks as though the Turks are asserting themselves for the Palestinians in order to forestall Iranian efforts…but, no matter, it still works out bad for Israel); threat of Iranian nukes…and a US government which actually believes that Israeli/American actions are the cause of the conflict (instead of it really being nothing more than a manufactured issue by Islamic leaders who want a short cut to personal power and wealth…and scapegoating Jews is just easy).  Israel had to both tread carefully but at the same time be willing to act with lightening speed to disrupt the Islamists.

Right now, those Islamsits are looking forward to re-starting the war with Israel – confronting Israel with massive terrorist attacks from the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai and southern Lebanon.  Israel, caught between four fires, will be terribly vulnerable.  Better if one or more of the fires could be put out before it gets started.  As Israeli re-occupation of the West Bank is impractical (ties down too many Israeli units in occupation duty), the logical place to strike is in the Sinai…minimal Egyptian civil popualtion to control, it cuts off Gaza (thus putting that fire out) and would allow the IDF to concentrate on south Lebanon and the West bank with their southern and western fronts secure.

The worst thing Israel can do is just hunker down – MacArthur was once asked his formula for defensive war.  His answer?  “Defeat”.  Sitting there and waiting for the terrorists to strike won’t help…better a spoiling attack against them, throwing their plane in to confusion and allowing Israel a breathing space until a new American government comes to power…hopefully one with a more realistic understanding of the Islamists.

Reagan for Senate?

Mark Noonan1 Comment

Interesting bit of news from SFGate regarding Senator Feinstein’s 2012 Re-election battle:

…the landscape may change soon, analysts said, given Feinstein’s recent campaign money problems and a Field Poll released today that gives one of California’s most consistently popular politicians a 41 percent approval rating, the lowest of her Senate career.

One person considering a run, The Chronicle has learned, is Michael Reagan, a former conservative talk-radio host and the son of former President Ronald Reagan.

Republicans may consider a challenge to Feinstein less foreboding after the survey of 1,001 registered voters found that 39 percent disapprove of Feinstein’s performance and 20 percent have no opinion.

For the first time since being elected to the Senate in 1992, a plurality – 44 percent – of Field Poll respondents were “not inclined” to vote for her while 41 percent were…

I’ll donate to him – he’s all right on the issues…but it has been a looong time since California was “Reagan Country”.  Though there would be a certain satisfaction if the upcoming political revolution in 2012 included electing a Reagan in California.

But, we shall see – given that the hopelessly liberal Jerry Brown was elected by the people of California to get them out of the mess brought on by hopelessly liberal policies, we have to assume that the level of political intelligence in California is quite low.  Think about it – the choice last year was between a dynamic, successful private-sector executive and the man who did more than most to set California on the path to disaster back in the 1970’s…Californians choose the creator of disaster.

Still, I hope Reagan goes for it – it would be endlessly fun, if nothing else.

Obama Jobs Bill: Billions for ACORN and the Left

Mark Noonan27 Comments

From Pajamas Media:

ACORN and other radical left-wing groups would be eligible for up to $15 billion in federal funding if President Obama’s new economic stimulus package becomes law.

Now that public polling shows Americans are realizing that economic stimulus programs don’t work, the Obama administration is calling the latest round of futile stimulus a “jobs bill.” In a sense it really is a jobs bill: a jobs bill for Saul Alinsky-inspired community organizers.

The draft legislation, which had not yet been introduced in Congress at press time, makes ACORN, Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), and a phalanx of leftist groups that regularly feed at the public trough eligible for funding…

With the left getting rebellious over Obama’s failure to turn America fully socialist, Obama has to do something to recover their support…and there is nothing a leftist likes better than some taxpayer swag.  To be sure, this doesn’t mean that all $15 billion so earmarked would go to ACORN and similar groups, but with that much cash flowing you know that such groups would pick up at least hundreds of millions…and, perhaps, billions.

This is probably part of the reason Obama wants it passed as is – if he can’t payoff his supporters, there is simply no upside to the bill.  It won’t improve the economy, it won’t create jobs…it won’t, that is, do anything to help Obama in the larger sense, so it had better at least solidify his leftist support.  If the GOP is allowed a say, then the payoffs won’t be in the final bill.

Kill this bill – don’t even think about passing it.  Pass a GOP jobs bill out of the House and let Reid kill that in the Senate, or Obama veto it after passage.  We have no reason to work with the President and the Democrats, at all, because their efforts are not directed at helping America, but at helping themselves.  Let the people decide in 2012 what they want – legislation which is just a payoff for cronies, or legislation that will actually help the United States.

Obamunism! Unemployment Claims Jump

Mark Noonan20 Comments

First time claims for unemployment came in at 428,000 against the “experts” expectation of 410,000; continuing claims are at 3,726,000 against an expectation of 3,700,000.  What I really want to know – in both first time and continuing claims, the expectation was that they would decline.  Who expected this?  Why?  What bit of information out there would lead any financial prognosticator to expect a decline in unemployment?

I think we’ve simply got a bunch of idiots – public and private sector – running the economy.  People who don’t know how things are made, mined and grown and can only predict things based upon assumptions on borrowed and printed money.  For crying out loud, things are lousy out there…you’d at least expect some caution and have the prediction be for things to remain as lousy as they were last week, not get better.

Aside from that, we are seeing more and more indicators of a double dip recession here in the United States while Europe shows ever more signs of financial implosion (day by day there is a new rumor floated of some miracle money to come through to bail out Europe…eventually, they’ll run out of rumors).  Obama’s jobs bill will do nothing to get us back to work but even if we manage to make things improve, the coming crash of Europe will be a huge hit to our economy.  Only a complete re-working of our economic life to make all taxation and regulation geared towards wealth creation will get us permanently out of this mess…and that can’t happen as long as any liberal, anywhere, has a say in what goes on.

Sgt. Dakota L Meyer, Hero

Mark Noonan12 Comments

Though he, like all true heroes, refuses the title…but hero he is:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009. Corporal Meyer maintained security at a patrol rally point while other members of his team moved on foot with two platoons of Afghan National Army and Border Police into the village of Ganjgal for a pre-dawn meeting with village elders. Moving into the village, the patrol was ambushed by more than 50 enemy fighters firing rocket propelled grenades, mortars, and machine guns from houses and fortified positions on the slopes above. Hearing over the radio that four U.S. team members were cut off, Corporal Meyer seized the initiative. With a fellow Marine driving, Corporal Meyer took the exposed gunner’s position in a gun-truck as they drove down the steeply terraced terrain in a daring attempt to disrupt the enemy attack and locate the trapped U.S. team. Disregarding intense enemy fire now concentrated on their lone vehicle, Corporal Meyer killed a number of enemy fighters with the mounted machine guns and his rifle, some at near point blank range, as he and his driver made three solo trips into the ambush area. During the first two trips, he and his driver evacuated two dozen Afghan soldiers, many of whom were wounded. When one machine gun became inoperable, he directed a return to the rally point to switch to another gun-truck for a third trip into the ambush area where his accurate fire directly supported the remaining U.S. personnel and Afghan soldiers fighting their way out of the ambush. Despite a shrapnel wound to his arm, Corporal Meyer made two more trips into the ambush area in a third gun-truck accompanied by four other Afghan vehicles to recover more wounded Afghan soldiers and search for the missing U.S. team members. Still under heavy enemy fire, he dismounted the vehicle on the fifth trip and moved on foot to locate and recover the bodies of his team members. Corporal Meyer’s daring initiative and bold fighting spirit throughout the 6-hour battle significantly disrupted the enemy’s attack and inspired the members of the combined force to fight on. His unwavering courage and steadfast devotion to his U.S. and Afghan comrades in the face of almost certain death reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

As long as we’ve got men like Sgt. Meyer, we’ve got a country.

Global Warming Hoax Update

Mark Noonan134 Comments

From Climate Depot:

Nobel prize winner for physics in 1973 Dr. Ivar Giaever resigned as a Fellow from the American Physical Society (APS) on September 13, 2011 in disgust over the group’s promotion of man-made global warming fears…

…Giaever announced his resignation from APS was due to the group’s belief in man-made global warming fears. Giaever explained in his email to APS: “In the APS it is ok to discuss whether the mass of the proton changes over time and how a multi-universe behaves, but the evidence of global warming is incontrovertible? The claim (how can you measure the average temperature of the whole earth for a whole year?) is that the temperature has changed from ~288.0 to ~288.8 degree Kelvin in about 150 years, which (if true) means to me is that the temperature has been amazingly stable, and both human health and happiness have definitely improved in this ‘warming’ period.”…

I know, I know – our liberals will swiftly discover that Giaever is just a shill for Big Energy, or some such…never mind facts and logic; Al Gore says anthropogenic global warming is true, and so it must be…

But, it isn’t.  If the world is warming, then it is almost certainly not primarily caused by human CO2 emissions.  Additionally, if it is warming there is no conclusive evidence that it will be a net detriment to life on earth.  The whole thing of global warming is a double-edged scam…for leftists to gain political power in the name of saving the planet, and for con artists like Gore to make bags of money.  That is it – never has been anything else, never will be anything else.