Wow..If you haven't figured it out yet, let me spell it out to you in plain English: There are no political parties, just idiotic, greedy, opportunistic, two faced politicians. Case in point- Arlen Specter.
You can bend it any way you want, but when you are getting hammered in the polls by Pat Toomey 41% to 27% and have up to a 70% disapproval rating in certain Republican segments, you are going home.
Wait, no you are not, you are going to switch parties and become the swing vote to enable killing Republican filibusters after you've brokered a sweet deal for yourself.
That my friends, is the definition of a P.O.S. who has lived off of our tax money for way to long.
Kudos again to the Dems for their photo op with Air Force One yesterday in NYC
I guess it is ok to cause a panic in Downtown Manhattan and possibly endanger American lives through the panic, but please, PLEASE DO NOT WATERBOARD A TERRORIST! Their lives are important too!
Wait..I just figured out what was going on.....
Damn Snoop is always down for a party!
Still, the children in the White House need to know it is time to put away their toys and start acting like grownups. When is the first White House hunting trip scheduled??
My throat is itchy, my joints ache, I might be sick.....Oh no it's the swine flu....oink oink... Listen to reason with Mr. Ron Paul:
My gosh..I wonder how many people died of T.B. last year in the U.S.? Heck, I wonder how many people died last year of overdosing on Viagra and booze? I bet it was more than 64!
I'm willing to bet my buddy a few dinars on that one!
I really didn't think I had much to say lately. Seems like idiocy is running wild and there is going to be no end in sight. Still, as I was holding my baby boy, a thought turned into a thread, which turned into my topic of today: The Majority.
What really does that mean nowadays? The standard definition of "majority" as defined by Webster is " a number greater than half of a total ". Seems simple enough. Six out of ten would be a simple majority.
In terms of governance it's enough to pass most laws and measures (unless a state mandates a super majority for amendments or certain measures) and to elect our officials.
It is how our country has functioned for over two hundred years. There are always going to be flaws in any system, but on the whole I believe it can be argued that our poor are better off than Somalia's poor. Our health care system is better than Canada's. Our disenfranchised have a clearer voice than those in Cuba or Venezuela.
Although I will argue with you that any district which gives Nancy Pelosi 73% of the popular vote is clearly mentally challenged, it was well within their right to elect who they saw fit to protect their interests.
Okay...back to my line of thought on the Majority...
Example One: Our glorious leader received 53% of the popular vote or 69,492,376 votes by those either living, fictional or dead. His opposition received 46% or 59,946,378.
This is not by any way a clear cut, super majority (we did not reach 60% +) and would indicate that you could almost flip a coin as many times and get the same result. There is no "mandate for change". There is just a simple majority who believed the Republicans had screwed up just one too many times.
Example Two: California Proposition 8 of 2008. The infamous same sex marriage bill. Yes votes= 6,322,732 or 52.2% No Votes= 5,796,637 or 47.8
Again, pretty much a coin flip. No clear mandate there either but a simple majority overturned the previous court ruling outlawing same sex marriage.
In both cases "The Majority" had spoken......
Quoted after the presidential election by Time Magazine:
"Barack Obama Elected President with Mandate for Change"
"...when historians analyze the 2008 campaign, they're going to remember that the two-term Republican President had 20% approval ratings, that the economy was in meltdown, and that Americans didn't want another Republican President. They'll also remember that Obama was a change candidate in a change election."
Well, kinda. Let's look at the House of Representatives for an example. Of the 435 seats up for grabs, a grand total of 23 incumbents were defeated. Factor in the 13 open seats and that makes 39 total incumbents out the door. Of those 39 total newbies, the Dems took all 13 open seat elections and added 8 more through defeating incumbents. Their popular vote percentage was 53.04% versus 44.16% for the Republicans.
From an incumbent standpoint, however, only 9% were voted out. Is that change when 90% of the pigs at the trough are still feeding?
Is that "change" when only 53% voted Democrat in the House and Presidential elections?
Judging by Time, and other gleeful lefties it sure is:
“Good morning, Republicans! Welcome to the wilderness. We saved you a seat right over here, next to us. Looks like we'll have a lot of time to talk in the next four years.” —libertarian blogger Katherine Mangu-Ward on Reason’s Hit & Run blog.
Stay with me now because here is the kicker......
From the Sacramento Bee.com:
"It's time. The 4 percent difference between the people that voted yes and people that voted no are not enough to change the state constitution." -Tina Reynolds, Sacramento community activist
"Those amendments applied universally to all Californians. This is a situation where you are removing rights from a particular group of citizens, a class of individuals the court has said is entitled to constitutional protection. That is a structural change." -Joel Franklin, a constitutional law professor at Monterey College of Law
Two anti Prop 8 quotes from liberals who believe that the 4% voting difference does not speak for the "majority" of voting people.
If 7% and 9% are mandates for change, even though they are not "super majorities", than the 4% number must be looked at in the same light. You cannot just pick and choose "mandates"because they suit your political needs or beliefs. There needs to be a consistency in the line of reasoning. With the left, so far it doesn't exist.
Aside: Because of the many difficult angles of Prop 8, this blogger's belief is that the people will decide and that the majority must abide by it's decision. It is not in the hands of the Supreme Court, and should it be overturned by the people- it is for the good of the people because the majority has spoken.
Anyway..you know the joke, and what a voice! We need more of this and less of the other crap that drags down this world!
Wow....there is not a single member of our legislature (state or federal) which has the clarity or the stones to fire off like Daniel Hannan, English MEP.
Our esteemed leader (who we shall call Mr. 52.7% ) believes that the European model of control is the way to go. Hell, they've been soooo successful over there with 0.00% job growth, an out of control and constantly appeased Muslim underclass, a health care system which decides who is treated and what is treated, an EU monetary system which does not work (ask the Germans who took the pipe when the Euro came into play), a housing bubble threatening to topple Eastern European nations and Western European banks like a house of cards, a rising of the Russian Bear, etc. etc. etc.
Finally someone called it like he saw it. It was a shot fired over the pond, but hit the mark over here also.
Are we that dense as a people to not see that these same mistakes have been made before and resulted in lost decades?
Are we all enticed by the free handout?
Would we rather take the coupon, get the flat screen TV, and vegetate away?
I bust my ass every day to provide for my beautiful family. I am not busting it for the cretins in East Oakland, the deviates in West Hollywood, or the Octomom.
I've made some poor decisions in my lifetime, but nobody bailed me out. I just picked myself up and trudged forward. It sucked, but I learned and was wiser for it.
We as a nation are about to get flattened if we don't change course. I hope we learn, pick ourselves up, and never forget.
Well, I guess I could say "I told you so", but it wouldn't change anything right now. Things look utterly ridiculous until the mid-term elections bring a flushing of the lefty toilet. Still, if you have any sense of fight left in you while watching us do our best imitation of 1976-1980, then here is a pick me up for you. Much credit to Rob Neyer at ESPN who posted the original link.
A friendly reminder to NEVER let them take your spirit or the fight out of you. That is what made us great, and will continue to make us who we are. The rest be damned!
After one of the most important days in the history of our nation, I am still in awe over something I continued to see from the left: a complete and total lack of respect for the outgoing President.
I found it so appalling, that I felt ashamed of my fellow "enlightened" Americans.
Say what you want about the myriad of faults associated with the last eight years, but the one fact remains: You were kept safe. The threat level would vary depending on where you get your information (and I'm not going to debate you conspiracy theorists), but NO Americans were killed on our soil as attacks occurred in other parts of the globe.
The cost was high. As our ex completely took his attention away from domestic issues and allowed a Democratic led Congress to run wild over us as Frank, Pelosi, Reed, et. al. just could not help themselves. Unfortunately, it happened on his watch and he takes the fall for not controlling the children with the power of the pen. He SHOULD be held accountable for that unforgivable mistake.
The vilifying on the way out though is disgusting.
I'm ashamed to call these morons my countrymen.
As much as I think our current President is unproven, I am willing to reserve judgement until 12-18 months into the gig. I also RESPECT the Office. Even if I do not agree with the man, his politics, his seedy political background, and nebulous personal history, I cannot escape the fact he is THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. That in and of itself deserves your respect.
To all those "educated souls" who can only express themselves in four letter words and illogical emotion--good luck in the future.
History will judge everyone, and my belief is that our ex-President took it on the chin to combat a threat he believed to be priority #1. Strong is a man who can do so-- whether right or wrong.
I hope the current party has the same fortitude. Recent history shows it hasn't, but I hope I'm wrong.
My brother just got laid off yesterday. Actually, my brothers entire division got laid off yesterday. Seriously-- the entire sales force was told to hit the bricks. Things became "so bad" in the software business that an industry leader decided to axe its only real incoming source of new revenue. Talented individuals showed up Monday like everything was fine and were back at home by noon wondering "what next?".
An associate of mine has an issue. He's a one man shop. Built his business starting from the ground up in 2000. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, but smart and dedicated enough to build a decent business with a "future". That was until the downturn came. Now he is stuck in the middle--can't afford a mortgage, can't expand the business (has nothing to offer except higher commission rates), and is like a hamster running on a wheel.
One is a 40 man shop, the other a 1 man shop. Both American backbones.
The Captain's old business was one that faced decline since 2001. We were saddled with a constricting marketplace, higher costs, declining margins, and an ever declining customers base. People just did not want to open their wallets for our product anymore.
We did not panic, however.
I had to cut overhead, lay off employees, jump to just in time ordering, pare inventory down to nil, and be as lean and mean as possible. Mind you--this was during the "boom". Everyone else was knee deep in excess as we were bailing out the water from the sinking ship. Guess what--we held out for seven more years-- but then closed.
Eventually there was nothing more we could do-- it wasn't our fault-- markets change, conditions change, etc. Still we were forced to become innovative and aggressive as the market pared everyone out. We could have survived but we foresaw everything collapsing around us. We were just smarter than everyone else and ran out the door before it was slammed shut on us. The two cases of companies I laid out in the beginning are in the exact same position: heading for closure. They just don't know it yet.
Everyone faced with paring back starts axing fixed costs: wages. Problem is you do not get the same productivity out of what or who you kept to replace what you have let go. I axed all my sales guys in 2005. Went Internet based and print based. The result: sales were off 20 %. They were down 15% industry wide so in reality I was only down 5 points, but it still was down.
Next I started axing crew. Soon 5 guys were doing the work of 15. Quality inevitably starts slipping, mistakes increase, product satisfaction decreases, and you are left asking "why" when you know damn well what the answer is: you are just trying to get by.
Soon you have no choice. It is made for you.
We made rational decisions over a period of years in a "good" economy and were forced to close.
Irrational decisions are being made now. Panic has set in.
My brothers problem: His company fired all its bullets at the enemy and now the gun is empty as the enemy comes in for the kill.
My associates problem: He has no bullets to fire at the enemy.
Guess what--both companies are screwed. They will both close. It is inevitable.
That my friends is why the politicians need to be held accountable for their actions. Wars, Markets, Open Borders, Tort Law, Mismanagement of Tax Coffers, etc.etc.etc.
We were ready for the onslaught-- why wasn't everyone else? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's leave on a good note though!!!!
Don't ever lose the ability to dream! It keeps us going against all that is evil and wrong with this world!
Wow!!!! Impending fatherhood can make the time fly like a mofo. Well here are some post 2008, not so pre 2009 thoughts:
* This year is going to suck if you let it. There will be many things to get you down this year- economy will not be better, housing market will still be weak, 15% unemployment, socialism pushes forward in the U.S., - but there is still much to be happy about!! You are not taking a dirt nap and Burn Notice is coming back on USA Network! Hooray!
* Where has the formality gone in this country? Damn the whole casual lifestyle attitude. How you dress has a lot in determining how you act, feel, and perform. Screw casual Friday and bring back business formal.
* Was I one of the few who saw Transporter 3 and thought it was just as good as the new Bond flick?
* Jameson 18 year is damn good. Sorry JW Blue--you gots some competition.
* A treat for you from the G.O.A.T!!!!!
* I'll be surprised if Bernie Madoff and Blagojevich make it to April....
* Is there anything better than warm Marion berry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream?
Well, some more thoughts later--and remember especially this year to not bitch and moan when you got what you wanted and it turned out worse than you thought!!
The Cap'n is a man of many talents, but his true loves are wife, god, country, and a solid 3-2 changeup. Clinging to the belief that this is the greatest country ever seen in the history of the world, the Cap'n is here to muse about what he feels is going right, but also terribly wrong. Armed with an acerbic wit and some Johnnie Walker Blue, the Cap'n is here to set it all straight!
Wow..If you haven't figured it out yet, let me spell it out to you in plain English: There are no political parties, just idiotic, greedy, opportunistic, two faced politicians. Case in point- Arlen Specter.
