A 1-In-100 Blogger

A Mideast Summer’s Dream

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:18:30 PST

Act I—Introduction

Act II—A Mideast Summer’s Dream

Maneuvering from lane to lane, it is all so easy for me to get lost in the dunes of Iraq – as if there is anything here but flat, endless lanes of sand. I jack up the music; a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival blasts as loud I can set it, titled Heard It through the Grapevine. Oh the joy of freedom, the reckless driving in the open desert. The military hummer and myself behind the wheel, we showed the sand dunes who’s in charge. Every now and then I notice a slight lump of sand out in front and ahead of the vehicle. Pressing down on the gas pedal, I gun it, hoping to catch air. Just for the thrill of it, testing out the power of its engine, the hummer gets me where I need to go. I am able to easily maneuver in and out of things in my way at top speeds – as fast I can go there isn’t a damn thing to stop me. The song nears its end, drifting quieter and quieter to the whisper of a siren.

Snapping back to my being, racing down the highway, I notice a police officer in my rear view mirror. In a hurry to go somewhere with flashing lights and a blaring siren, he crept up directly behind my vehicle. “How odd,” I think to myself. Even more peculiar is the fact as I slow down allowing him to pass he let his vehicle get within feet or inches of my own. Unsure what to think at this point, other than, well, I wonder, “When did he start following me?” Slowing down to 85MPH, then 75 to 65 and slower, I prepare to pull over. Realizing I had been racing along at who-knows what speed, I suppose this journey on the freeway was fun while it lasted. I’m home in the good state of Oregon.

Stopping the car I roll down my windows as two officers slowly walk up from both sides of the vehicle, hands on their holsters – I gulp, though swallowing mostly air. My hands tightly grip the steering wheel. The first officer reaches my driver side window, speaking first he says, “Where are you going?!” Pausing for a moment, I don’t want to say anything stupid or lie to him. “I’m going home, officer.” Looking up at him, I try appearing innocent. I swear he’s reading my thoughts because the next thing he mentions answers my unasked question. “I’ve been chasing you since you screeched your tires leaving the Costco parking lot. Did you not see me?” I didn’t. That was five miles ago. It occurs to me I’m probably going to jail. “Officer, I-I had no idea…” Stumbling to fix the situation, I say, “I apologize, Officer. I truly had no idea you were following me. I had my music turned up and was just driving home.” Soon thereafter I’m holding a yellow sheet of paper with five unique ticket violations on it, totaling about $1,000.

During my trial in court, I plead “not-guilty.” Before leaving court, after receiving my next trial date, another police officer stares me down as he walks up to me. He tells me sarcastically of my new fame, having been ‘the guy in a black sedan running from the cops.’ Wearing a collar-shirt during my show in court, I have a high-and-tight military haircut. I explain to the officer my recent return from Iraq. I assume it is easy for him to see that I was telling him the truth. Lo and behold, weeks later when after posting a plea bargain to reduce my fine – I’m told it’s denied. Instead, the court informs me that I must pay the sound violation fine for screeching my tires upon exiting the Costco parking lot. Shocked but extremely appreciative, I take it. The fine totals about $94. I can rest assure I’ll pay more attention while driving from there on out, lesson learned. I don’t want to do that again.

Immediately upon my return home from Iraq I notice my bank account has about $10,000 in it. Not having to pay taxes for ‘living’ outside the U.S. during the previous six months, each paycheck accumulated very nicely. Doing the math, I calculate the net income of $10k by the number of days I was in Iraq – which is six months, so approximately 180 days – it turns out each paycheck I received a cool $55.50 a day. Having worked twenty-four hour days with no weekends, I was paid a hefty $2 or $3 an hour for my work. What the money did offer me was a nice cushion for beginning school at the Oregon State University.

Walking on campus to class, my backpack is loaded with books. I’m a college student aiming to achieve an undergraduate degree. Sometimes I’m still aiming the barrel of my M-16 toward the enemy, wondering if the convoy my hummer leads is about to get ambushed. The campus streets fill with other students, each searching for their own building and classroom destination. Mine is for an English Philosophy class. Before entering the building where my classroom is located, I double check the streets, accounting for each remaining student still meandering along. Some appear lost. Making sure there isn’t anybody hiding on the roof-tops of other buildings, including my own, it’s time to head into class. “No snipers,” I imagine. It’s safe to enter the building; there will be no incoming fire. Lining the stairway up to the door, sandbags rest on either side, barbed wire along the railing. Quickly entering through the doors I search for room 189A.

Sitting down at my desk, we’re told to take our reading material out so we can follow along with the instructor as he takes us through the lesson plan of the day. Following instruction I quietly find myself looking around the room, impatiently waiting for everyone else to shut their mouths and do as we’re told. Time passes and eventually the other students catch up. Class begins. The instructor carries on, discussing something about William Shakespeare and poetry, or whatever. "Lord, what fools these mortals be!" the instructor quotes. Trying to keep focus on the lecture I take notes along with the lesson. At all costs I keep my head up, occasionally writing down what I hear, though mostly looking straight ahead. I must stay confident. I mustn’t show weakness from a lack of knowledge in lectures.

My head snaps forward, realizing my eyes are looking out the window. Stay focused. Keep alert. Class is still in session. I go over my notes and begin to recollect the instructor’s strategy given to us that morning, right before our convoy plans to head deeper into Iraq and into a hostile city. We are told of the enemy’s willingness to use all means necessary to kill Marines. Stay focused. Another convoy had run into trouble that morning after being suspiciously halted by “civilian vehicles and people” blocking the road. Look, read over my notes. The enemy, a child clutching a live grenade ran up to one of the stopped hummers packed with Marines, resting the device onto a wheel before running away. Focus. Many Marines were killed in that ambush. We prepare to move out.

The desert peels away from the earth under the tires of the hummer. “Now class,” the instructor continues. “We have to ask ourselves some important questions.” Nothing remains here; it is a constant state of motion. “Because we now have a Lysander who is under the influence of pixy dust.” With a fully loaded, locked-in-place magazine to my weapon, I have three remaining magazines strapped to my Kevlar vest. I am deadly at a distance of up to 500 yards. “His motives have been altered.” I am armed and kill-ready, there are few who are able to stop this weapon. “They are displaced, I’ll admit that. Puck may have used pixy dust, but can we still view his qualities as those of natural human beings?”

The instructor continues his lecture, quoting another reference to our reading from Shakespeare. He said:

"I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream past the wit of man to say what dream it was. Man is but an ass if he go about t’expound this dream. Methought I was—there is no man can tell what. Methought I was, and methought I had—but man is but a patched fool if he will offer to say what methought I had. The eye of man hath not heard, the ear of man hath not seen, man’s hand is not able to taste, his tongue to conceive, nor his heart to report what my dream was. I will get Peter Quince to write a ballad of this dream. It shall be called ‘Bottom’s Dream’, because it hath no bottom."

A few minutes later I check my notes, or at least I believe some time had gone by, because I apparently wrote the same quote down. I have no idea what it means, but satisfied with myself for writing it in my notes. “Ooh-Rah” I think, relieved that I’m staying on top of class work. The bell to end class blares and I realize my own shock that it’s already over. I pack up my things and leave. Assuring myself that I took quality notes, I’m pretty sure I gained something from today’s class lecture. Heading into the hallway there’s a lot of people in my way, I need to get out of the building and to my next class.

Locking my bayonet into place, I hold up my M-16 A2 service rifle while noting to self, “Not today.” It’s my life or theirs. And I sure won’t let it be mine. Our convoy enters the ‘hot zone’ in Iraq. The streets are filled with civilians and people, trucks and cars all pulling over to the side as we pass by them. Except for one, which did quite the opposite, it pulls out directly in front of our convoy ahead of me. About twenty yards in front of the hummer.

Staged on the back of the lead hummer I look over to the Marine next to me, his weapon mounted on the top and center portion of the vehicle. The M240 Machine Gun is extremely powerful having the capability to rip into and demolish the potential threat in front of us. Leaning to my right I also notice people begin to crowd near us, moving closer to our vehicle and the convoy which has now slowed down slightly – due this truck ahead of ours. Aiming my weapon at those getting closer, I’m yelling for them to get back, to move away. My bayonet-mounted rifle fiercely interpreting to them what I want. Searching for a weapon of any kind, I’m looking for the enemy. Noticing the white truck in front of our convoy hadn’t moved out of the way, I know our orders. Thirty seconds to a minute, that’s all we give them. We cannot afford another ambush. Not today. A minute passes by.

Waiting outside the classroom for my next class, a student near me asks if I finished the homework assignment from the night before. “I think so,” I reply, simultaneously dropping my backpack to the ground, rummaging through it for a particular sheet of paper. Apparently this is a follow up lecture teaching the same genre of written poetry and plays by Shakespeare and other well-known artists. Also apparent to me now, there was an assignment given the other day for us to complete. The ten-minute warning bell rings alerting us that class will begin soon but I couldn’t find my homework. I didn’t do it, it wasn’t there. My classmate tells me he hadn’t finished his either. He asks me if we should work on it before the class begins.

“Let’s do it,” the Marine next to me atop the hummer yells. He reminds me the truck in front of us seems all too suspicious, which is full of Iraqi’s standing in the truck-bed. I aim my rifle at them, frantically searching for a weapon aboard the vehicle or potentially held by those inside of it. Realizing some of the Iraqi’s in the truck bed were looking at us, I wave them off; motioning to them, they must move aside. Seconds pass by. No change of direction. There will be no warning shot. Not if my life has anything to say about it. General George S. Patton once stated, “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.” It’s my life or theirs.

“Wait,” I say to the Marine next to me. Still looking down the barrel of my rifle, aiming directly at them I say, “Are they looking to die or for an open street corner so they can turn?” After all, the street is crowded with people. And just as I mention it they turn. Satisfied with their movement, I finally exhale; taking note that there will be no killing here today. The men in front of us will live another day, and so will we.

A philosopher named Bertrand Russell who lived during the WWI and WWII-era once said, "Patriots always talk of dying for their country and never of killing for their country." How true it is, our willingness to sacrifice our life for our country do indeed make us heroic. Yet killing for our country isn’t a discussion veterans talk about or want to hear about. This is probably for the better.

I am accustomed to this mentality in Iraq; it is in my training, and it’s a daily routine I am used to in order to remain at the top of my game. But make no mistake; war is no game at all. It reminds me that, "There are no atheists in foxholes…” isn't an argument against atheism, it's an argument against foxholes. Few understand this, luckily even less experience it. Nobody wants war, but if war is an intrinsic quality of humanity, then Marines should be the ones to punish those who try and restrict or damage the freedom that every human deserves a life of. I am proud of the freedom I’ve given to the Iraqi people.

In class I listen to our instructor speak. At least I can see that she is telling us something. Reciting and translating a final quote from Shakespeare’s play, she says,

“If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumbered here.”

“To help translate,” the instructor clarifies, “What Puck is saying is this: ‘if the actors in our show made you mad, it’ll be okay if you think of it this way! You fell asleep and dreamed the whole thing anyway.’” She continues,

“While these visions did appear;
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend.
If you pardon, we will mend."

Following along in the text, I ask myself, “What does the rest of it mean?” The struggle to regain focus and the concentration I know all too well I once had. “Where does it go?” I suppose that is asking for too much. I cannot know everything. I have many goals, though no regrets. Everyone’s life is unique and challenging in its own surrounding. Understanding this I comfortably remind myself that, “This is my challenge, and by way I will work around it.” And the instructor completes the recital, “Now to scape the serpent’s tongue, ‘illustrating the hissing of the audience,’” she says, “...So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends.” Paraphrasing, she states, “This demonstrates a yearning of applause from the audience, if they so desire. ‘And Robin shall restore amends.’ For William Shakespeare’s, A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the instructor finishes, “This is the end.”

Cite this story
APA style
Erwin, D. (2009, November 2). A Mideast Summer’s Dream [Online exclusive]. A 1-In-100 Blogger. Retrieved from http://derekerwin.blogspot.com/2009/11/mideast-summers-dream.html

MLA style
Erwin, Derek. "A Mideast Summer's Dream." A 1-In-100 Blogger. 2 November 2009. Weblog entry. Retrieved from http://derekerwin.blogspot.com/2009/11/mideast-summers-dream.html

Introduction

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:07:08 PST

Act I—Introduction

The flight from Kuwait back home takes what seems like forever. Eager to see our family, friends, and supporters, there is not a single U.S. Marine aboard the plane whose anticipation is hidden. For six months there are two things we think about: our mission and family—home. But on this flight it is only thoughts of home. During our flight and until finally reuniting with our families we lose all discipline – if even for a brief period. Looking forward to arriving home is, after all, one of only two things crossing our minds since we left.

What we didn’t realize at the time is that the Middle East soon finds us again; the images, surroundings, and our mission. War follows the involved back home, waiting for the right moment to begin its eternal rerun from the past. But on this day it doesn’t show, on our first night home it is all family and no mission. Nothing can stop us from enjoying the safety and comfort of our return home.

Act II—A Mideast Summer’s Dream

Prelude: The true story of a war veteran's return home, crisscrossed with the theatrical play-within-a-play, and the on-again, off-again struggles returning to civilian reality.

Susan Hutchison for King County Executive? Absolutely!

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:20:46 PDT

As the November 3rd King County election nears, I feel it's important to express my views on one of the more important political challengers on the ballot: Susan Hutchison, who's running for Seattle's King County Executive. Endorsed by the Seattle Times, Susan Hutchison is a political outsider who recently emphasized the need for fresh ideas in county government. Hutchison said this:

"With hundreds of millions in projected deficits and critical services on the chopping block, our county's financial house is in disorder. We need a new direction in King County, with new leadership that does not believe the answer to every problem is a new fee or a higher tax."

Her top priorities are budget reform, improving jobs and the economy, enforcing government accountability and reform, and public safety; as well, Hutchison has also been focused on helping South King County residents before and after flooding.

Meanwhile, her opponent Council member Dow Constantine, he looks to continue a destructive path which leads to more debt for our state and a less accountable government.

I will add this however, which is perhaps an indirect warning to those like myself who do want change from Constantine's "business as usual" politics. ACORN’s Siamese twin, the same Unions who despised those asking tough questions at Townhall meetings during the nationwide healthcare debates, and who "...will punch back twice as hard..." toward those who want more fiscal responsibility, it has been reported by the Seattle Times that three locals of the powerful Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have "overwhelmingly" endorsed Dow Constantine for county executive. According to Dow Constantine's home page, a fourth SEIU Local has also endorsed him: Local 6, Local 925, Local 775, and Local 1199NW.

This is the same national "team" which had eyewitness account's of their Union thugs beating an independent Tea Party attendee at a Town Hall meeting of Congressman Carnahan in St. Louis. According to reports, six people were arrested after the altercation which left a man named Kenneth Gladney shaken, bruised and his glasses broken.

Does Seattle really need more of the same thugery that disrupts ordinary citizens from speaking out against (or for) certain legislation in our State? After all, Dow Constantine hasn't provided any positive "change" in King County. He's already had his chance and failed. Contrarily, Susan Hutchison (who is a former union member) has said she is "not afraid to work with the unions and seek to open their contracts." She looks to bring the type of leadership and strong political balance to a county which is in desperate need of it.

These are just a few reasons why I voted for Susan Hutchison, a true conservative, and who I believe is the best chance for Republicans to bring real change and real fiscal responsibility back to Washington state.

Financial Collapse and 'The Warning'

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:51:43 PDT

In reference to a PBS special on Frontline, called The Warning, Brooksley Born was the chairman of the Commodity Future Trading Commission in the Clinton administration. She not only warned of the potential for economic meltdown in the late 1990’s, but also tried to convince the country’s key economic powerbrokers to take actions that could have helped avert the crisis. Here’s a quote from Brooksley Born:

"We didn't truly know the dangers of the market, because it was a dark market. They were totally opposed to it. That puzzled me. What was it that was in this market that had to be hidden?"

The hidden history of the nation's worst financial crisis since the Great Depression is revealed; and at the center of it all is Brooksley Born, and her failed campaign to regulate the secretive, multitrillion-dollar derivatives market whose crash helped trigger the financial collapse in the fall of 2008. The Warning shows exactly what happened with the derivatives, and how Born (she’s also a Democrat) knew as far back as 1997 that there was going to be a financial collapse, and she tried to warn everyone about it.

Former SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt, a member of President Clinton's powerful 'Working Group' on Financial Markets, he said, "I didn't know Brooksley Born. I was told that she was irascible, difficult, stubborn, unreasonable." He explained how the other principals of the Working Group convinced him that Born's attempt to regulate the risky derivatives market could somehow lead to financial turmoil, a conclusion he now believes was "clearly a mistake."

Born's battle behind closed doors was apparently "epic." However, despite her attempts to warn those with power to make the right call, the members of the president's Working Group vehemently opposed regulation – especially when proposed by a Washington outsider like Born. Michael Greenberger, a former top official at the CFTC who worked closely with Born, said this:

"I walk into Brooksley's office one day; the blood has drained from her face. She's hanging up the telephone; she says to me: 'That was [former Assistant Treasury Secretary] Larry Summers. He says, 'You're going to cause the worst financial crisis since the end of World War II. [...] [He says he has] 13 bankers in his office who informed him of this. Stop, right away. No more.'"

She was ultimately blocked by Rubin, Greenspan, Larry Summers, and others who were with the president's Working Group at that time. They hammered Brooksley Born until she gave up. She was in hearings before Congress explaining that there's going to be a major collapse if these derivatives aren't banished, and instead of getting a less risky market, the president's Working Gourp crushed her career for it. Ironically, a 25 year old Geithner was involved in the Working Group at that time. Just as ridiculous, Summers is still presently in the White House, too. Many of the same people and organizations that helped cause the financial meltdown just so happen to be in key positions in the Obama administration.

The federal government created policies that forced banks to make bad loans to people who couldn't pay them - "toxic debt," I believe is the term used today. That's what the subprime mortgage crisis is all about. And these people in government, many of whom are still in power today, they were all warned about the problems that they themselves created. But they ignored the warning. And now they're working with the Obama administration as the "heroes" as having the "solution" to the problem. Everybody hop on the Geithner plane, he says it might work out OK this time.

Even ACORN is involved! The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now was given extraordinary power in the late nineties with Clinton, Barney Frank and Chris Dodd, and they went around and forced the banks to make bad loans after making them a federal law. Banks were forced to make bad loans that led to today's financial disaster; and these banks, after following orders, the irony is that they are now being blamed for the financial problems today by the very people who were warned about the inevitable problem and actually created it themselves in the first place.

Considering many of the same men who shut down Born are now also in key positions in the Obama administration, what's Born's latest warning? Brooksley Born now warns, over and over,

"It'll happen again if we don't take the appropriate steps. There will be significant financial downturns and disasters attributed to this regulatory gap over and over until we learn from experience."

Related Reading:
RushLimbaugh.com has Rush Limbaugh's take on The Warning, included in the linked article is the full hour-long video of the PBS special on Frontline.

Obama a super hero? Think again. A follow up to this series will be written in the future, once things unfold a bit more.

Performance and timeline of Stock Market calls by Jim Cramer, includes Barney Frank's ridiculous agenda and attempt to cover up Fannie and Freddie's woes - before they "woe'ed," per say.

Domino's Pizza Tracker IS Amazing!

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:18:05 PDT

Have you ever ordered pizza online only to find yourself waiting, 45 minutes to an hour later, wondering whatever happened to your pizza? We've all been there. A countless number of times I've done it - called for an update on an order I made online - pleading for the status of my pizza delivery.

This of course also defeats the purpose for ordering online in the first place. It's not that people are rude on the phone or anything (in most cases). It's just that, well it's nice not dealing with the hassle and having to miss ten minutes of a football game because you're in another room waiting, on hold for god-knows how long just so you can get the status or your order. The answer is always the same too, they say, "It's already left our store for delivery. So it should be there at any moment." And then ten or fifteen minutes later it finally arrives, forever remaining a mystery what happened to your pizza from the time you placed the order to when it actually got to your place.

Oh the good ol' days of delayed delivery. But enough about the past. Have you checked out Domino's lately?

For starters, Domino's Lava Cakes are insanely delicious. And they come in two's, so you'll feel even more guilty if you happen to be ordering alone. Why? Because you'll eat both - guaranteed. Trust me. They're that good. There's lava inside! Chocolate lava! Ha--funny how I started by describing the dessert. Talk about a lasting impact. My favorite pizza is above all the Brooklyn style, with pepperoni and roasted garlic. Parmesan cheese is a must, too.

Just looking at it... I already had dinner about half an hour ago and yet, the thought of what it'd be like to have this pizza here right now, steaming hot and ready to eat... My stomach just growled. Is it suppose to do that even after you've eaten and are "full?" I just had a carbohydrate-free grilled chicken dinner, with broccoli. And a salad. I'm full, right? Hmm... maybe something is wrong with my stomach... OK, enough chatter. I've already written enough fragmented sentences for one blog entry, so I don't need any more. I'll get to the main point. The reason for publishing this blog tonight: Domino's Pizza Tracker.

This thing solves ALL of my delivery problems of the past! Thus far, every time I've ordered from dominos.com, my pizza arrived within 30 minutes - sometimes less, which is eerily fast for what I was used to. What seems like the most simple invention, it's actually an extraordinary milestone and great improvement in online delivery. I swear the pizza tracker is mesmerizing at times!

Not only do you get the name of the delivery person, but you know who's making your pizza as well. Accountability is ALWAYS a good thing when it comes to food. Because you also get to rate virtually every aspect of the pizza order and delivery process right on the same screen as the Pizza Tracker. If it takes 10 minutes to go from "order placed" to "pizza has left for delivery," but then takes 25 minutes for your pizza to arrive - you know exactly who's getting a complaint. And you know where in the process of making, baking, and delivery your food the bottleneck occurred. It's really an interesting, unique device that's been long overdue in the pizza delivery business. I love it!

Best of all? Which I might add, it's the upgrade I've been waiting for since first experiencing the Pizza Tracker. If you have an iPhone, there's an app for that. Domino's rocks!

Web Exclusive: Rush Limbaugh Unaired Clips on the Today Show

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:12:04 PDT

Recently, Jamie Gangel from the Today Show interviewed Rush Limbaugh, a two part series. But there's more! Below are some excellent web-only clips from the interview, unaired on MSNBC.

First up: Limbaugh comments on Donovan McNabb

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Next: Unaired clip on Miss America

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Web only: Rush comments on Letterman (the 'social commentator') and fame

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Rush comments on McCain: Denies responsibility for hurting McCain during election

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

On Radio Success: Rush says 'Ideology and business inseparable'

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

For written transcripts of the interview, click here.

Obama Can You Hear Us Now

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:37:12 PDT

Growing Tea Party rallies are on the move!

Why won't the mainstream media just tell the truth? They need our help.

The plan is simple: March on the media!

From a Community Organizer, "You want you to argue with them, get in their faces... you guys are the ones who can make the change." - Candidate Barack Obama to supporters September, 2008

Local media nationwide still refuses to let the valid concerns of conservatism be heard, so we're bringing our concerns to them! It’s called, "Operation: Can You Hear Us Now?" We've protested in our town halls, rallied in our cities, and marched on D.C., with an aim of restoring the balance of power in favor of citizens; to stand up for the principles of fiscal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and a strong national defense.

Gathering on Saturday October 17, “Can You Hear Us Now” groups are forming events in many states to let local media outlets know that people want responsible journalism.

Related Readings

Tea Parties Media Lies Exposed

TEA = Taxed Enough Already
Tax Day Tea Party in Seattle, WA

Pinpointing Obama's Indecisiveness On Afghanistan

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:18:54 PDT

Despite having increased the federal budget deficit by $1.2 trillion after he signed two new bills, the $787B stimulus and the $410B omnibus, President Obama is in the midst of another problem: the war in Afghanistan. I must admit, when Barack Obama decided to send troops into Afghanistan, this was his first and only decision so far as President that I support. He acted quickly, choosing to continue the fight against the terrorists. But just as quickly did Obama act when sending troops into Afghanistan, he soon forgot about the issue and moved on to lesser important things.

In attempt to re-focus the President, I'll remind him that General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is still requesting between 30,000 and 40,000 more troops. Since the President has already ordered an initial troop surge in the Afghanistan War, Obama must make another decision very soon: send between 30,000 and 40,000 more troops into Afghanistan and try to win the war, or be weak and surrender to Al-Qaeda. And to reiterate the President's current state of confusion, Afghanistan is indeed on the list of places we're fighting Al-Qaeda. If it helps the President to remember, I'll just say it like it is — we're at war with Al-Qaeda — and they are still terrorists.

Here's another quick memo to President Obama: You cannot simply vote 'present' on the issue and hope the problem goes away on its own. Unlike the too-quick to pass $1.2 trillion in earmark-riddled, pork barrel spending bills, Afghanistan is a situation where you, Mr. President, must make a decision sooner than later. Stop playing political games with the lives of American troops and make the right call. If it helps to feed your craving for personal gain and bolster your arrogance, win this war for your own legacy. More importantly however, and for the sake of not jeopardizing U.S. troops currently in Afghanistan, listen to Gen. Stanley McChrystal!

That's not all either, because the real problem I have with Barack Obama is that we have no idea how the inexperienced and indecisive President will choose to continue the war in Afghanistan. Actually, unfortunately, history might be a greater tell-tail sign as to how the President may act; Obama's previous notions on war strategy seem to correlate with how-to lose a war. Currently, the President must decide one thing: Is there proof that a troop 'surge' in Afghanistan will work? Even if there is proof, how will Obama interpret the results?

Going back to the January 10, 2007 speech by former-President Bush, he had announced plans to increase the number of troops in Iraq by about 20,000 in an effort to quell violence throughout the country and especially in Baghdad. By spring 2008, the number of deaths and other violence in Iraq began to drop, and most journalists in the media were hailing the "surge" as a success and giving it much of the credit for improvements. Top U.S. officials have verified that the buildup did indeed help cut violence in Iraq to four-year lows. However, despite its success, what did Obama think of Bush's decision to push a troop surge in Iraq? "First, he opposed the surge — then he confidently predicted that it would fail," McCain said in his August 11 speech.

Barack Obama openly mocked the war in Iraq and tagged the efforts as a loss and defeat when he said, "Here's what we know. The surge has not worked. And they said today, 'Well, even in September, we're going to need more time.' So we're going to kick this can all the way down to the next president, under the president's plan."

Obama arrogantly suggested that U.S. troops could not win the war, but what actually happened? McCain said it best, "Thanks to the courage and sacrifice of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines and to brave Iraqi fighters, the surge has succeeded. And yet Senator Obama still can't quite bring himself to admit his own failure in judgment."

I have to wonder if now-President Obama will make the same mistake again. Will he have an epic-failure in judgment and lose the war in Afghanistan? I hope not. But he probably will, assuming he acts similarly arrogant as he has in the past. Barack Obama campaigned vehemently against the Iraq War, and he tore into the idea of a troop surge. Thus, a legitimate concern I have is that Obama will again refuse to listen to top military strategists when they ask for a troop surge.

Nothing tells me that President Obama knows what he's doing, yet he wreaks of false-confidence. Failure after failure he stubbornly chooses to make the wrong decision, rushing when he shouldn't be, and then taking his time when the clock is ticking and American lives are counting on him to act quickly. Maybe he just needs some more encouragement? Or maybe he is looking for a third, fourth, and possibly a fifth opinion to assure a troop surge is the right thing to do.

For those who have heard of the famous acronym, "WWJD?" (What Would Jesus Do), here's another acronym and after-thought as to what Obama's next decision as President should be: "WWPLD?" What Would President Limbaugh Do?

If asked, "WWPLD?" Limbaugh said, in own words, "I'd win." President Limbaugh would listen to what the generals say. It's not hard. We win; they lose.

Politics, Obama and a History Lesson

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:43:06 PDT

At times it seems paying too close attention to politics can drive anyone crazy. "So the pendulum swings," some will say. A shift in political power is apparently healthy and normal, so I'm told. Our political system is uniquely structured so that we have a system of checks-and-balances. In this system, several branches of government are created and power is shared between them. At the same time, the powers of one branch can be challenged by another branch. This is what the system of checks and balances is all about.

Before President Obama, I only experienced two different last-names in the Executive branch, as President of the United States: the Bush's and Clinton. It would have been ironic had Hillary Clinton won the presidency over Barack Obama. I never got to experience what it must have been like when Ronald Reagan was the President. But still today he can be heard as he speaks out against socialized medicine.

“Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again.” ~ Ronald Reagan, from his first inaugural speech as governor of California, January 5, 1967

Perhaps he is one of the greatest President's of your time. But I wouldn't know, as hard I might try there's little I can do to imagine what life was like during an era that I did not exist. For me it has been Clinton and the Bush's, until Obama came along hoping to fundamentally transform America.

The pendulum swings. Far, far left it goes...

To make political matters more difficult for Republicans, Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats hold a Congressional supermajority, not seen since 1977 under Jimmy Carter; thus, tipping the political balance of power further left than I have ever seen in my lifetime.

There's a chance I'm thinking too pessimistic about the lasting negative effects Barack Obama will leave for Americans during his presidency. We survived the American economy of the 1930s, the decade in which President Franklin D. Roosevelt did everything he could to interfere with the economy's adjustment from depression to health. The country withstood the Presidency of Jimmy Carter, who after embarrassing himself yet again was headlined on #TCOT Report as the "Worst President in American History (Until Obama)."

Taking a look at how FDR damaged America, Roosevelt created New Deal programs marked by inconsistent planning, wasteful spending, and opportunity for political gain -- falling flat in achieving the economic revitalization that America so desperately needed from the Great Depression. From 1933 to 1940, the unemployment rate averaged 18 percent. Some say it never fell below 20 percent.

Similar to what President Obama is currently in the process of doing, Roosevelt broke every promise he had made and did the exact opposite of what he had promised. During a time of economic "crisis," Roosevelt swore to 'reduce the cost of government operations twenty-five percent.' From 1933 to 1936, government expenditures sky-rocketed up 83 percent.

Also like President Obama, Franklin Roosevelt was a Statist. Which slowly moves toward socialism. President Obama is simply continuing a socialist agenda, and with the help of our education system Obama's administration is attempting to indoctrinate school children with propaganda as well.

Or am I exaggerating how far left the Obama administration is taking America? Is it me who is the extremist? After all, we survived FDR and Jimmy Carter with most of our liberty still intact. If that's the case, then the balance of political power will do its thing and America will be fine after another President takes office. A gain of 20 Conservative seats in the U.S. House would be a great benefit to the country, too.

Meanwhile, children go to public school every weekday, but during this Presidency they must learn something new. The children receive a follow up on President Obama’s education speech, an order made to "educate the whole child." Upon watching and learning about the 'Story of Stuff' (see video below), the children must take a simple test to verify that they've learned what Obama wants them to believe. Then they are taught to praise Obama.

Once the children have learned all that they can from the Story of Stuff, and only after they've taken Obama's test to make sure they are satisfactorily indoctrinated, teachers gather your kids together and sing fun songs in praise of a great dictator, or President. Whatever.

Lyrics - Song 1:
Mm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

Yes!
Mmm, mmm, mm
Barack Hussein Obama

Lyrics - Song 2:
Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!
For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say "hooray!"

Hooray, Mr. President! You're number one!
The first black American to lead this great nation!

Hooray, Mr. President we honor your great plans
To make this country's economy number one again!

Hooray Mr. President, we're really proud of you!
And we stand for all Americans under the great Red, White, and Blue!

So continue ---- Mr. President we know you'll do the trick
So here's a hearty hip-hooray ----

Hip, hip hooray!
Hip, hip hooray!
Hip, hip hooray!

Maybe children shouldn't be getting lessons in school on the Story of Stuff, just a thought. I guess it could be voted on by individual states and districts? In my opinion, children in school should be taught the facts instead of what Barack Obama wants them to learn. Or, quite possibly, I've become an extremist in the eyes of America and it is not Obama or his agenda that is out of line, it could be me. It's not like the Obama administration is going so far as to use the National Endowment for the Arts as a propaganda arm for its left-wing agenda on health care, the environment, education, and "community renewal."

My hope is that our system of checks and balances will hold up, keeping the United States in tact, because the Obama administration is doing everything in its growing power to fundamentally change it.

Question Our Government With Boldness

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:31:15 PDT

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Everyone knows that power left unchecked can turn very ugly, very rapidly. For all Americans it is very important that we continue to question our government with boldness, especially now that there's a Liberal "super majority" in Congress. Temporarily however, after the death of Ted Kennedy, the Democrat-led super-majority is no more; that is, until the corrupt powers that be simply reverse a law to allow the 60th seat to be filled sooner than later in the U.S. Senate - a law first enacted to keep Republicans from potentially filling the seat if John Kerry were elected president in 2004. Funny how this "law" works, its only use is to keep Republicans out and Democrats in power. If the law favors Conservatives? "Simply change it," lawmakers say.

"Republicans also may be less likely to get a chance to run in a January election. Though Massachusetts law currently requires a special election within 145-160 days after a Senate seat becomes vacant, state lawmakers are considering reversing the 2004 law that Ted Kennedy himself proposed to require a vote rather than a gubernatorial appointment.

At the time, Democrats were worried that then-Republican Gov. Mitt Romney would be able to fill any vacancy created if Democratic Sen. John Kerry were elected president."

Regardless of the corruption, I'm still going to use my First Amendment right to question with boldness. To Congress, the U.S. government, I have questions that you need to answer.

First, why the rush on health care reform, cap-and-trade?

Luckily, cap-and-trade can be reversed; unfortunately, forcing Americans to pay for universal healthcare, called "public option," this is damage to the nation that cannot be overturned. Once the government forces its people to rely on it, especially with health care, this is a scar that will last forever, and with it there will be debt that will forever-never be paid. It is all the more likely that Obamacare would become similarly like the ponzi scheme that is Social Security. We all know Social Security is a big Ponzi scheme, one can only imagine the debt and problems that will come with Obamacare.

Next question is about the Apollo Alliance. The Apollo Alliance claimed credit for writing the stimulus bill; why was this group allowed to write any portion of this bill?

What role did the Apollo Alliance play in crafting bills? Does the president know the co-founder of the Weather Underground is a board member of the Apollo Alliance?

If politicians aren’t writing the bills and aren’t reading the bills, do they have any idea what these 1,000-page plus bills actually impose on the American people?

Nancy Pelosi called naysayers to Obama's health-care agenda "un-American." So I have to ask: why are you called "grassroots" if you are for Obama's agenda, but "Astroturf" if you are against? Is dissent and freedom of speech no longer patriotic?

Who are the "Special Advisors" to President Obama?

Green jobs "czar" Van Jones, he's an avowed communist and radical activist who co-founded the communist group STORM — a group that describes themselves and their activities as:

"We upheld the Marxist critique of capitalist exploitation. We agree with Lenin's analysis of the state and the party. And we found inspiration and guidance in the insurgent revolutionary strategies developed by third world revolutionaries like Mao Tse-Tung and Amilcar Cabral."

How did Van Jones, a self-proclaimed communist, become a special adviser to the president?

Did President Obama know of Van Jones’ radical political beliefs when he named him special adviser?

Should a communist have the ear of the president of the United States?

And who is FCC Cheif Diversity Czar Mark Lloyd? This guy actually lamented the fact that non-state-run radio stations prevented the "incredible" revolution in Venezuela.

Ronald Reagan once said, "...back in 1927 an American socialist, Norman Thomas, six times candidate for president on the Socialist Party ticket, said the American people would never vote for socialism. But he said under the name of liberalism the American people will adopt every fragment of the socialist program."

The history of the United States of America is of historical awesomeness, which holds meaning and value, and its citizens have a deep-rooted love for the country. Yet it unfortunately appears like our history is disliked, abandoned, and possibly unknown by our current president Barack Obama. His actions suggest so; his words however contradict those action, lie after lie. Actions cannot lie.

Check out an interesting history lesson in law, The Smith Act of 1940. The accusations charged against eleven defendants were that "they conspired ... to organize as the Communist Party and willfully to advocate and teach the principles of Marxism-Leninism," which the government alleged to mean "overthrowing and destroying the government of the United States..." They were also accused of conspiring to "publish and circulate ... books, articles, magazines, and newspapers advocating the principles of Marxism-Leninism," again interpreted by the prosecution. Seem eerily relevant to what's going on today? It shouldn't. But it does. Makes me wonder if Glenn Beck is onto something...

Newt Gingrich Offers Bold Solutions to Better Healthcare

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 22:59:34 PDT

What's in the healthcare bill? If you haven't had a chance to skim through the original health care bill index, I recommend you do so; the linked site offers a line-by-line analysis.

During a recent Fox News segment on Bill O'Reilly, Newt Gingrich pointed out that the next several weeks offer a critical opportunity for the American people to express their First Amendment Rights on health reform. Regardless of one's political affiliation, everyone is entitled to an opinion regarding something so personal and so critical to their individual future and the future of this nation.

America still seeks solutions. Alternatives to universal health care, solutions that are going to work.

In Washington state, Steve Beren, who's running for Congress in Washington state's seventh CD, has expressed that a priority in health care reform is putting individuals in more direct contact with providers, reducing the role of insurance companies, government regulators, employers, and attorneys. He also believes there should be increased competition among health insurance carriers to provide consumers more options and more variation in benefit plans. It seems the core belief among most Americans right now is that we all want coverage that is less expensive, based on individual need, and with more choices and options for the health care consumers.

We don't want a government-run health care system that would lead to massive tax increases, and more increases in bureaucracy and delays (which would drive up costs, and decrease the quality of care). We don't want a socialized government program that would drive some of the best medical professionals out of the field, and in turn discourage talented young people from entering the field due to a lack of incentive. We don't want a reduction in services offered, nor do we remotely desire the rationing of health care services - especially on the poor and the elderly. We don't want the government making any medical or health care decisions for us, we want to keep our liberty.

Newt Gingrich has worked extensively on the issues of health and healthcare, devoting the majority of his time to advocating a transformation of the entire system. Mentioned during an interview with Bill O'Reilly, Newt believes there's an opportunity for Republicans to come together with a really bold, solid alternative for health care reform. While the Democrats continue to push for socialized, universal health care in America - the Republican party can act quickly and come up with something to rally around in September. The next 45 days are crucial.

Gingrich wants to help create a system that delivers more choices of higher quality health care at lower cost. His alternative to Obama's plan has outlined the following six straightforward steps to better healthcare:

1. Stop Paying the Crooks
2. Move from a Paper-based to an Electronic Health System
3. Tax Reform
4. Create a Health-Based Health System
5. Reform Our Health Justice System
6. Invest in Scientific Research and Breakthroughs

The last thing we need for September is a continuation of Obama's plan that raises taxes and eliminates jobs. The best plan will aim to stop fraud first and boost the economy at the same time. Newt's bold solutions become a pro jobs, pro growth plan for health care reform, a solid alternative to universal health care.

Updated to add a message for Congress, from Lloyd Marcus, the Tea Party Anthem guy. 'Feet to the Fire!'

How To Fix A Broken Garage Door, Health Care

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:24:46 PDT

A husband and wife find themselves in a bit of a difficult situation. They wake up one morning, finish their early routine, and at some point either the man or woman went to the garage - attempting to open the garage door. But it doesn't open. Something is wrong. Whether you're a handyman, mechanic, carpenter, builder, economist, electrical engineer, stock market guru, or in general just an American citizen who knows what a broken garage door looks like, one thing is clear: if the garage door is broken, then it must be fixed.

So how do you repair a garage door that's broken? The husband and wife know that it must be one of five problems: it could be an issue with a faulty Spring, a problematic Track, a broken Mounting Bracket, something wrong with the Hinge, or quite possibly the Roller. As it turns out, there's an issue with the Track. Neither the husband or the wife know how to fix it, so they seek help.

They call up and gather all of their closest neighborhood friends into a room and search for answers. One of the women in the room blasts, "The track - it's out to lunch!" Another man in front yells, "We must reform this garage door!" Staring at each other, still unsure of the quickest and easiest solution to the problem, a quiet, tall and handsom man in the back of the room raises his voice for the first time.

"I know! I've got it. Let's tear the whole house down. Your house is faulty. So let's start from scratch, I can bulldoze the entire house down and rebuild it for you. But I want everyone here to pitch in money to help me pay for it - I'll fix it," said Barack Obama.

The same problem-solution is being floated around on the front lines to solve a nationwide issue of health care. We know what the problem is: the need for fraud and tort reform, which if resolved would dramatically lower the cost of health care coverage for everyone. The next includes a need to resolve the problem that--for unknown reasons--the cost of health care insurance is tied to your job.

According to Barack Obama, both problems have the "easiest" solution. Tear the whole thing down and socialize it. Start from scratch. Make it everyone's problem.

I'm definitely no expert in health care or the insurance industry - you decide if what is written here makes more sense than Obama's plan. So let's discuss a more rational approach to fixing America's health care problem. Starting with the first. Tort Reform must be legislated to make it significantly more difficult for the lawsuits to be approved. Barack Obama himself has said, "Efforts to cut costs and increase coverage couldn’t succeed without freeing doctors from the fear of lawsuits." If you don't protect doctors from outrageous $40 million lawsuits over a broken finger mishap, generally speaking, what happens? Well, the doctor will do test-after-test to assure themselves that they are doing what is best and safest for the patient; in turn, increasing costs. It's a no-brainer.

I'm not an expert, but rather than tear the whole system down and start from scratch - why not just fix the problem? It's the track to the garage door, stupid. Not the whole house!

Another problem: why is the cost to receive health care coverage directly tied to your job? For instance, and I'm sure many of you have noticed this, if you work for a company and, for example, use COBRA insurance - why is it that the company you work for might be charged only $400-600 a month to provide you the benefits of health insurance, but if the unfortunate occurs and you lose your job, to be provided with the same exact insurance coverage it will cost you $1,200? Nothing changed but your job situation. You aren't any greater or less of a risk to the insurance company, but for unknown reasons if you no longer have a job you get charged over twice as much as the company you previously worked for was charged. Something about that doesn't sound right; either I'm wrong or the insurance company is wrong. If the insurance company is wrong - legislation can fix it.

"But how," Obama might ask.

Why not make health insurance more like car insurance? With car insurance, you can move to a new home or state, you can buy a new car, and yet you don’t have to change insurance companies; however, based on where you live or the car you drive (risk), that's the key indicator that will change the cost of your insurance policy. So why can't legislation be put into place for health insurance in a similar way that it is for car insurance?

In this solution, we don't have the government muddling around in a private industry that relies on innovation and excellence - efficiency. The government has no business competing against the private health care industry - especially when lives are at stake. It's another no-brainer that the government will win this competitive thrill for power because the United States government is NOT a business. It isn't designed to run for profits so it will crush the private health care industry.

Wipe that smirk off your face, Obama. You think this is funny?

You know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't you?

It's called a single payer universal health care plan, and it stinks.

Instead, what the government should do is their job. Legislate something! Help the American citizens by enforcing laws on private insurance companies, similarly seen for car insurance. That's a problem and a solution worth attempting.

Or we could do it another way; we know there are approximately 10 to 20 million American citizens without health care and who do not have a choice due to the cost. From the over 300 million American citizens in the country, I'll assume 10-15% want health care but cannot afford it. The solution? As doctor Barack Obama would say, just tear the whole system down and start from scratch. Forget legislation and tort reform laws - let's socialize the problems and make it everyone’s issue.

Obama, stop attacking doctors who work in the private industry. You need to wake up and take a look at what real problem is - and how foolish the solution is that you're offering. Like, today. As Albert Einstein would say, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."

It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Obama!

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:07:24 PDT

Things were great in America - across the globe in fact. Nothing could slow down the stock market. Distant cries of excitement could be heard around the world, "We're in the money!" So it goes... then the inevitable happened.

The Great Wall Street Crash of 2008.

The Dow's worst week finally came to an end. Desperately in search of a hero, Wall Street, the United States, and the entire world thought they had found their guy - a 'selfless' someone to break the economic free-fall and put a stop to the madness! Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

Similar to Lex Luther, a villain in disguise, it turned out that Hank Paulson conned an already bewildered U.S. Congress and a integrity-lacking Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi into handing him a 'no-strings-attached' $700 billion check - paid for by the U.S. taxpayers. Paulson held a bazooka to taxpayers’ heads: "For the survival of the economy. No time for deliberation. No time to review the failures of such interventionist approaches around the world. Now, now, now! Gimme, gimme, gimme!"

Also faintly similar to Luthor when he used a crisis to help super charge his Presidential campaign, Paulson too is ultimately assisted by the unpopularity of the previous administration's mishandling of the economy and financial markets. In Paulson's case, he simply had "other plans" to spend his hard earned $700 Billion. Of course, none of his true intentions were aforementioned prior to receiving taxpayer dollars. None the less, his con was revealed. The right question was finally asked by Congressman Stearns: "Mr. Paulson, how do you have any credibility?"

This story isn't over yet folks. It's just beginning! Like Superman who's the hero countering an evil Lex Luther, America also needed a superhero to counter its villain. The United States was in need of a real hero - with emphasis on the 'O'. But where could such a man be found? The fairy tale suggests it must be one not born in the U.S., or on Earth for that matter. Where is the Hope?! Who will give the needy some Change?

Look! Up in the sky!

It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Obama!

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He spoke with such prevalence, Obama made so much sense! His charming looks and the intellectual conversations with a teleprompter put it all into perspective for his followers. Barack Obama the hero - here to fix the USA!

With a straight face and full of confidence, America's hero said, "I think my initial measure of success is creating or saving 4 million jobs." To show his courage and might, just months later, only 6.5 million jobs had been lost.

Even more astonishing: Obama's pledge didn't end there. The great hero also made the statement, "I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes."

Besides pushing through the largest tax hike in American history, along with other massive tax increases to fund socialized health care, Obama absolutely held to his word. A carbon tax increase here, a soda tax increase there, why were some people still so worried? This of course didn't account for the other tax increases on small businesses which kill jobs and slash wages, but who's counting? Obama said that only the wealthiest people will have to pay for everyone else to get free stuff! Who doesn't like free entitlements?

His followers believed in every word he spoke, they believed in him. They trusted Obama. His plan was proof that idealism really was the right way to run the U.S. government. To show their gratitude, America and the world spoke back to their savior, collectively they said, "Thank you, Mr. Obama; thank you, hero."

Obama Health Care In The Year 2020

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:27:16 PDT

What will Health Care be like in the year 2020? How about even further into the future during the year 3000? Dane Cook once joked that in the year 3000 everything will be instant. Metaphorically in-line with Health Care, he also poked fun at how the DMV will still be a cause of frustration. See Dane Cook tell it (video).

Dane Cook joked, "In the year 3000, everything will be instant... but the DMV will still take, like, nine f**king seconds."

Now there's a government program in action! Paying huge taxes and taking a number is a terrible idea. If you can't stand the DMV - just wait until you have a medical problem. ObamaCare will hope to schedule you an early appointment for the next available time-slot: six months away. If it were the year 3000 you would be begging for a number at the DMV - pleading for only a nine second wait. Everything will be instant except for ObamaCare; but in the year 2020, it'll take six months.

And what's a person's name mean anyway? Under the ObamaCare Health plan you'll be a number instead. Here's how you can predict what your new name will be: take the last 4-digits of your social security number, and then add the initial of your last name to the beginning of your SSN. Then at the end of your new name there will be a random letter (or two), this will be the district given to you, it'll designate the district for available health care providers you can take a number for. Think you get a choice? Nope. The government will control your medical needs for you. Very, very slowly too...

Fast-forward to six months later - the alarm clock didn't alarm, the kids were unusually slow getting ready for school, and nothing went right. You finally got to your car, touch the finger-print secured start button, ready to drive to your long-awaited doctor's appointment. Nothing. Car won't start. Forget to transfer money into your designated government Visa account? Notice the paper hanging from the receipt printer on your Government Motors dashboard? Believe it - Government control goes that extra mile. It reads:

"Your designated visa account rejected your Road Use Tax in the amount of $87.32 for the month of June, 2020. You must insert a valid account card to activate your automobile."

Replacing by-the-gallon fuel tax, you'll get a monthly tax bill based on each mile you drove — tracked by a Global Positioning System device in your car and uploaded to a billing center. Forget to pay? Your car simply shuts down. The new by-the-mile tax system will give government much more than a new tax collection mechanism; it will give government much greater control over everyone.

This begs another question: How are we going to pay for this new low quality health care? What would happen if we didn't increase taxes for everyone to pay for ObamaCare? Vice President Biden defended Obama's $787 billion down payment, saying without it, "we're going to go bankrupt as a nation." He said it saved thousands of jobs of public employees, including jobs in schools, fire departments and law-enforcement, and punctuated his point by announcing $1.6 million in new federal stimulus cash for Richmond's police department. "Those billions of dollars get poured back in the economy," he said, turning to face John Fernandez, owner of DayStar Desserts in Richmond. "It means someone's buying your desserts, it means someone's going to the local shoe store. It means people's jobs."

Meanwhile, in reality, the unemployment rate is skyrocketing and the stimulus has not succeeded.

So why is the Obama administration touting success when the reality is people are losing their jobs? Can the government not see that families are going into economic free fall?

At the same time people are losing their jobs and finding it more difficult to get another job, taxes are going up - for everyone. According to a new Bloomberg report, if the health surtax rate is 5.4 percent, taxpayers in 39 states will pay a top tax rate over 50%. The chart with the rates for each state is here.

Greg Mankiw thinks top tax rate may soon exceed 50 percent.

"I believe the relevant marginal tax rate is even higher than the Tax Foundation suggests. Their calculations seem to ignore sales taxes, which are significant in many states. Because income earned will eventually be spent and thus subject to sales taxes, sales tax rates need to be combined with income tax rates to find the true tax wedge that distorts the consumption-leisure decision. Once sales taxes are included, a top earner in a typical state would face a marginal tax rate of about 55 percent."

Even worse (and apparently unbeknown to Biden, Barack Obama and his gang), Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf said the health care overhauls released to date would increase, not reduce, the burgeoning long-term health costs facing the government. So, like, if the U.S. is treading in deep water and getting fearfully close to bankruptcy, doesn't that mean this could be the burden that breaks America's back? Could it be that Barack Obama's out of control spending and hope for low quality health care for all is in fact The Problem? Indeed it is.

If Congress' own independent budget analyst said reforms now being considered would do little to control rising costs, one thing is for sure, it will increase burden on taxpayers to fork over more of their hard earned money to pay for a failing plan's estimated $1 trillion cost - which still only covers the next 10 years. Maybe Geithner should just print more money, that should solve the problem. Right?

Rush Limbaugh further detailed the worst part about all of this, which is that this stimulus plan is doing everything its "architects" intended it to do. That's prop up the states first and prop up Democrats first, prop up unions first and second, and not ever stimulate the economy.

Limbaugh said, "It has been pointed out to me, by the way, and this is a good point, that the Democrats, Biden and these guys, are saying the same thing about the economy they said about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. All of these Democrats, remember how eager they were to go in there and take out Saddam, Hillary and all that bunch. They believed, 1998, we have the audio of all of them saying Saddam's got these nuclear weapons, mass destruction weapons, we gotta go in there and get 'em out, bad, bad, bad, when Bush said so, they did, same thing. But then, when no weapons of mass destruction of significance were found, what happened? Well, Joe Wilson surfaced and that started this whole parade of Bush lied, Bush lied to us. And that's essentially what Biden is saying, the same script, when Biden says, we misread, we guessed wrong, we didn't know how bad it was, they're saying they've been lied to again. These poor old Democrats lied to again."

The phrase is: Obama Lied and the Economy Died.

I pointed this out in February of 2009, how we're told the record spending by our government is "necessary," because we’re in an economic crisis. Barack Obama and his thugs are still using the same tactic, too! They continue forcing wave after wave of increased taxes and spending, at the same time warning of “hazards and reverses” the economy will face, stressing grim economic statistics and warning of economic “catastrophe” if their agenda fails to pass. And so it remains. Obama Lied; the Economy Died.

Newt Gingrich Loves America, Patriotism

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:25:34 PDT

In the year 2009, America has found itself in big trouble. With out-of-control government spending at its peak, the country and its taxpayers are desperately searching for a willing Patriot who understands what fiscal responsibility means. Though we must remain focused on 2009 and finding solutions this year, Newt Gingrich made the comment, "Remember, everything Obama's doing, Bush started last year. If you're going to talk about big spending, the mistakes of the Bush administration last year are fully as bad as the mistakes of Obama's first two, three months."

To clarify, Gingrich further explained what it means to be fiscally responsible. He said, "During the period I was speaker, the U.S. government – for four years – total growth was 2.9 percent a year. Under Bush, it was 6.1 percent. ... This year, I think it will be 36 percent in one year. It is just literally irrational." Indeed it is, I'm with Newt Gingrich 100%.

In late September 2007, Gingrich founded American Solutions for Winning the Future. The stated mission of the group is to become the "leading grassroots movement to recruit, educate, and empower citizen activists and elected officials to develop solutions to transform all levels of government." Gingrich, the General Chairman, recently spoke about the breakthrough impact of the organization and what drives its powerful approach:

* Broad scale engagement of elected officials and candidates of both parties at all levels of government, interested citizens, private sector leaders, reporters, scholars and students.

* Development of big, breakthrough solutions to the most important issues facing this country, including creating jobs and prosperity, energy independence, protecting workers' rights, reforming education, moving government into the 21st Century and more.

* A process to educate, ignite collaboration and implement these solutions across all levels of government with widespread support from citizens.

Going back to fiscal responsibility for a moment, in an interview from On the Record with Greta Van Susteren, Gingrich said, "I am very sad that a number of Republicans do not understand that this country is sick of earmarks. They are sick of politicians taking care of themselves. They are sick of their money being spent in a way that is absolutely indefensible ... I think you're going to see a steady increase in the number of incumbents who have opponents because the American taxpayers are increasingly fed up." Newt noted how, at American solutions, the organization is "working to help people with the April 15 taxpayers parties," because it was good for those Americans who are fed up to communicate how ready they are to fire some of their incumbents next year. The organization joined a growing Republican Revolution following the February 27 "Chicago Tea Party" protests, helping to guide future rallies where hundreds of thousands of taxpayers showed public outrage against massive bailouts for businesses thought to be too big to fail.

When Greta asked if he is thinking of running for President in 2012, Newt replied, "I want to spend all of 2009 trying to develop good policies at American Solutions ... trying to defeat bad policies, like the effort to take away your right to a secret ballot before being forced to join a union. We need to focus everybody on 2009 and finding solutions this year because we are on the edge of being in big trouble."

Most recently, Newt Gingrich was welcomed to The Daily Show for an interview with Jon Stewart. Gingrich made an appearance on Comedy Central to talk about his book, 5 Principles for a Successful Life, and he also discussed current political issues that have affected the Republican Party.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Newt Gingrich Extended Interview

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Joke of the Day

Newt has proven that he knows what it means to be accountable in politics, holding himself and the government to a higher standard, upholding fiscal responsibility with taxpayer dollars; and at the same time, he can be funny but serious too!

I thoroughly enjoyed his interview on The Daily Show. In fact, it's one of the first times I've seen liberal Jon Stewart have a, "Wait, what?!" moment when discussing political issues with a Republican. If Gingrich can show Stewart the light, there's a possibility he can show others what it means to be accountable in politics too. I expect to see more and more of him in the coming years, hopefully playing a much larger role in politics once again, showing what it means to not just talk-the-talk, but walk-the-talk.

For everything Newt Gingrich does to appropriately and successfully represent the American people, he has proven that he loves America -- for that, he's a true patriot!

Help the Environment and Wildlife Habitats

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:05:23 PDT

The theme for this particular post is to "do a good turn daily." This is also the slogan for the Boy Scouts of America. Some example of Good Turns are "saving a life, helping out after floods or other disasters, recycling community trash, and working with your patrol on conservation projects." A Good Turn is a special act of kindness; a volunteered kind act of good deed. Another example of said kindness can be construed as helping the environment.

In a video produced for SOLV, a non-profit community through volunteer action to preserve Oregon, one can quickly see the beauty and cherished sentiment of the many volunteers at Bosky Dell Natives. This is a place where the primary goal is to positively contribute to the livability and maintenance of the environment and its economic health. Here's one of many volunteer projects held at Bosky Dell to enhance the livability of Oregon:

Having been honored with the 2007 SOLV Citizenship Award, a volunteer in the video can be heard explaining, "Bosky Dell is probably the heart of the native plant nursery community [...] like a native plant wonderland, really."

Lory Duralia, Bosky Dell property owner, feels her mission or goal is to assist people with preserving Earth. "We need to take care of Earth so the Earth will take care of us." Lory continues, "We want Earth to be a good place for our children to live, and for our children's children as well."

For instance, Bosky Dell provided all the plants that are planted on the "Eco-Roof" at the Native American Student Community Center at Portland State University. To name just a few species Bosky Dell Natives provides a habitat for, there are rabbits, weasels, birds, coyotes, and many more that depend on a well-preserved, clean environment.

Lory Duralia started Bosky Dell Natives nursery eighteen years ago. With an ever-growing passion for the environment, she purchased the land across the drive from the nursery that borders beautiful Fields Creek. Working on various environmental projects such as Fields Creek Riparian Restoration – a Tualatin River basin restoration project, Lory and other volunteer crews worked to improve stream health for cutthroat trout, red legged frogs and other native species. With a grant from OWEB and the help of SOLV and so many other volunteers, Lory Duralia restored the stream.

Due to the restoration project, the creek can now resume its role as essential habitat for Red Legged Frogs (a threatened species), salamanders, Golden Mantle Squirrels, native Cutthroat Trout, Douglas Squirrels, deer, and a wide variety of birds, butterflies and dragonflies. In addition, the water that enters the stream will be filtered naturally by the stream side plantings.

Lory Duralia (pictured: left) provided the vision for the Fields Creek restoration. She put together the restoration design, invited neighbors, friends and customers of Bosky-Dell Natives to dig in the native plants, and organized the barbecue while inviting Judy Bluehorse-Skelton to talk about native plants for healing.

Another volunteer at the work party said of the project, “Many different native plants were put in to help shade and stabilize the stream bank. I enjoyed going and felt good about helping improve the stream. There was a large group of people and the work done was a beneficial improvement to the surrounding environment.”

Recently, however, Bosky Dell Natives has been struggling with a neighbor whose actions can only be described as inconsiderate and anti-environmental. Lacking the understanding or care of work by others, ladies and gentlemen, meet Dr. Michael Robinson!

Described as a man of coarse, vulgar language, Bosky Dell Natives has had its fair share of run-ins with Doctor Robinson. He cares little about the environment or volunteers who support nature, and more about destroying their hard work for his own personal gain - regardless of the destruction his actions cause. For example, here's a recent project he opted to pursue, installing a mailbox on public property surrounded by protected environmental native plants.

To make room for his spiffy mailbox, which is rumored to be placed illegally (without permission from the post-office), the Bosky Dell Natives neighbor insisted on destroying a protected environmental area previously developed by Lory and the many volunteers, including children (as seen in the first video).

After throwing thousands of dollars in plant costs in the trash, Dr. Robinson took it upon himself to extend a public road several feet, in turn forcing the letter-carrier to drive through protected Wildlife and natives simply to deliver mail to his mailbox. Rumor has it the letter-carrier is refusing to deliver to it. Unfortunately however, the remarkable habitat didn't get a say whether or not it could live.

While paving his own personal road on public property, you can see the freshly cleared road over the protected environment, and you can see his shiny new mailbox.

Beautiful mailbox, doctor.

What's that behind his new mailbox? The sign???

Oh there it is, a now hidden Backyard Wildlife Habitat sign that reads, "This property provides the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover, and places to raise young. It has been certified by the National Wildlife Federation as an Official Backyard Wildlife Habitat site.

Tell me, doctor, can your mailbox match or replace any of the four basic habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive? Will a threatened species, the Red Legged Frog, be provided the shelter or food your mailbox replaced?

If you find yourself wondering, "Why is this significant?" It is important to protect natural areas because:

* they cannot be easily or fully replaced once they are lost.
* they provide homes for diverse species, the values of which (e.g., medicines) we are only beginning to understand.
* they help prevent flooding by catching rain and slowly releasing it back to surface and groundwater.
* the plants emit oxygen and filter air and water pollutants.
* they often have recreational and educational value.

Other helpful tips include reducing lawns and changing maintenance practices, avoiding and removing invasive plants, using natural design and conserving natural resources.

Besides the obvious frustration this has caused for Lory Duralia and Bosky Dell Natives, the protected environment she preserves wasn't grown and maintained for the ultimate recreation and destruction by one man: Michael Robinson. With nowhere else to go for help, after talking with Lory I've decided to do my part and make it be known that situations like this shouldn't be ignored by the Oregon environmentalists (or anyone for that matter), nor should the inconsiderate neighbor to Bosky Dell continue this destruction.

What can you do to help? As Lory would say, "Help take care of Earth so the Earth can continue to take care of us." Tell Dr. Michael Robinson his actions cannot continue without outcry from concerned citizens. The public is likely to uphold environment over the development of a personal road on protected public property.

The problems don't end with the mailbox. The list goes on. And the neighbor to this Wildlife habitat has made it clear he won't stop. Maybe with a little motivation he will wake up and realize that sometimes, doing a Good Turn Daily requires selfless acts of humility.

Tea Parties Media Lies Exposed

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Mon, 04 May 2009 07:52:20 PDT

How are the Tea Parties creating 'Insanitea'?

On coverage of the events, did MSNBC and CNN miss the mark on tea party protests? Why won't the mainstream media just tell the truth?

Here's Glenn Beck on, "The truth about the tea parties."

Then again, maybe it is those conservative racists. Sigh.

Liberal Super-majority Brings Filibuster-Proof ‘Change’ Last Seen In 1977

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:38:53 PDT

The strategy: for Democrats to gain as much power as politically possible.

The tactic: wave the right-hand to distract, claim how far-right it’s moving; simultaneously, shift the hidden left-hand as far-left as possible.

Obama’s power-sponge grows, soaking up even more than imagined—power.

Celebrating his 100th day in office, US President Barack Obama secured unfettered power in Washington, gaining a Congressional “super-majority” not seen since 1977. Last possessed by Democrats in 1977 under President Jimmy Carter; it took over a generation for another filibuster-proof majority to resurface, making it easier for rapid progress with key items on the Democrat’s bulging legislative agenda such as healthcare reform.

As one of just three Republicans in Congress to have backed Obama's first $787 billion stimulus Bill earlier this year, Senator Specter said he was aware his vote had caused "a schism which makes our differences irreconcilable." Specter added, “I have not represented the Republican Party,” and that he is “unwilling" to have his 29-year Senate record "judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate.”

In a note to Arlen Specter after his move, Mr. Obama stated that Democrats are “thrilled to have [Senator Arlen Specter],” who feels Republicans had “moved far to the right” in recent years. So as to balance the far-right, Mr. Specter’s shift in political affiliation allows for a Liberal Supermajority to reign. It seems to me we're moving much further left than some Congressional leaders are willing to admit. The Liberal strategy must be working.

Is there good that can come from this? The guy who got Specter out, Pat Toomey made this comment on Glenn Beck’s show:

“The fundamental idea it seems to me that unites Republicans is belief in the freedom of the individual and limiting the power of government, and Arlen Specter has always been about growing government as long as he's got the opportunity to exercise control, as long as it enhances his power, he's been for more government and less freedom. That just, I don't see a home in the Republican Party for someone who takes that approach.”

Prior to the 2008 US Elections results, I asked that the ‘real Obama please stand up’ and show his true agenda; since then, he’s more than answered the call. Obama has better defined his motives for “change,” and the over-stayed Nancy Pelosi is clearly enthralled with all of it. Now with a super-majority, democrats can slam through their agenda with greater ease. And they will continue to do so. The massive increases in debt created from, as Pelosi described it, a “wave upon a wave” of earmark-riddled, ‘pork’ barrel spending bills will ensue. The 60 votes needed to overcome tactics known as filibusters have succeeded; nothing remains from stopping the increases in wasteful spending.

Whether planned or unplanned, the first 100 days of his presidency have shown that Obama possesses an extreme left backbone to support his political agenda. The Obama administration might lack the integrity or honor that his predecessor’s have offered before him, but the power and influence he holds has only grown since January 21.

The Road to Socialism and Communism is... the Revolution of change.

Beginning with down-payments to socialized health care and government ownership of businesses, a Congressional super-majority now gives the extreme left-wing movement its desired momentum. Unfortunately for capitalist pigs and right-wing extremists, Obama looks to strengthen his tidal wave of unwanted, wasteful spending and shove his undesired agenda down Americans throat over the next two years. Oh joy.

Blazermania Returns to Portland as Trail Blazers Rock NBA Nation

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:46:35 PDT

The Portland Trail Blazers have a long history of success in the NBA. Likewise, as an Oregon native myself, I've also experienced some hard-to-swallow bumps in the road. It's been a long time since the Blazers have had a team this exciting in Portland. Might I add--it's well worth the wait!

Currently the second youngest team in the NBA, and the youngest team to ever win 50+ games in a single season, there's a lot to be proud of with the Trail Blazers. With so much to look forward to in the future, it'll surely be exciting to watch this team grow up and thrive as they develop unity and move from young talent to a veteran playoff-seasoned team.

No doubt, Brandon Roy is the Star player on the team. More than 'NBA ready' B-Roy is versatile, a threat on both ends of the court, he's got a brilliant basketball mind, but above all else, he's a positive member in his local community. Following the 2006-07 season, Brandon Roy was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, simultaneously lifting an organization from its darkest days, a city desperately in search for its next Clyde Drexler or Terry Porter. Blazermania found their man. He's a team-leader, and in 2009, for the 2nd straight year, Brandon Roy was named NBA All-Star.

Prior to the NBA, four years at the UW Brandon Roy yielded three NCAA Tournament appearances for the Huskies, as he capped his illustrious career with Pac-10 player of the year and first-team All-America honors as a senior. Recently Roy returned to UW to ovation, the school retiring his jersey - a capstone to his amazing performance while at the University.

The No. 25 jersey of former UW great Bob Houbregs is the only other to receive such a tribute.

The young talent loaded onto this team doesn't end with Brandon Roy, either. The sensational Spaniard who set the Euro league 'ablaze' the last several years, Rudy Fernandez is another up-and-coming star. You might remember Rudy from Spain's 2008 Men's Olympics Basketball team. In the August 24, 2008 Men's Gold-Medal Game during the Olympics, Fernandez scored 22 points, with 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Spain won the Silver medal, falling short of a victory against a revived Team USA.

Then there's the 2007 #1 pick in the NBA Draft: Greg Oden.

There's also Lamarcus Aldridge, a player who's catching on fast in the NBA and quickly becoming a threat against any team or player going up against him.

The Trail Blazer's have set themselves up for an exciting decade. One in which Portland fans will hopefully be delighted to a much desired Championship. After all, history has brought success to Portland, but also pain. The team has been so close to victory, so many times! Take a look at some of history's greatest Portland Trail Blazer moments. And for good measure, in memory of Clyde Drexler, his 1995 Championship win with the Houston Rockets. Houston, you can thank Portland any time now.

Regardless of the 2009 NBA playoffs outcome for the Blazers, one thing remains true. This is still a very, very young team. This years' playoffs are a true testament and necessary learning experience for a team sure to make a return in the coming seasons. Only time will tell how great this team will make a name for itself, however, today one thing seems reasonably true: Blazermania is back! And Portland finally has a team (again) to be very proud of.

Go Blazers!

A 'Dozen' Ring Liberty Belle's Sound, 800 Cities Ring-Back

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:37:09 PDT

The very first anti-spending protest happened in Seattle on February 16, 2009, organized by Liberty Belle.

It was a 'Porkulus' protest ahead of its time. Barely, but still the first publicly held movement against Obama's economic agenda; more specifically, Congress and the President's wasteful spending, rising unemployment, higher taxes, unconstitutional expansion of government, and restrictions on liberty.

The following day a local Seattle news source reported, "Dozens gathered at Seattle's Westlake Park Monday to protest programs and spending they say don't belong in the President's economic stimulus plan." One video. Soon forgotten. Poof.

The main-stream-media entertains: 'What protest?'

Then it came back. In an ad hoc, grassroots citizens Tea Party movement, non-partisan protests are held in over 800 cities nationwide. As Liberty Belle explains in her blog, all it took was for frustrated citizens to "imagine that you are a left-wing college student with nothing else to do." And just like that, the nations craft-making juices start flowing, signs and banners get made, and if it takes till our last breath - 'We The People' shout to be heard!

Since her first call-to-action protest on Presidents day, when 800 cities jumped in to follow on April 15, 2009 - the "SuperBlogger" Liberty Belle stepped up to lead Seattle's Tax Day Tea Party rally:

The debt Congress is creating from within these unread, earmark-filled bills will lead to much higher tax increases, massive deficits, and hyperinflation. Our government is risking debt handed down to children not even born yet, on a sidebar chance that a never-before-been-successful plan with trillions in irresponsible spending will somehow help a struggling economy flourish.

Will it work? Can the U.S. Dollar keep up with the worst hyperinflation it will have ever seen? Should Congress or the President have the power to force this type of debt on our children, then turn around and gamble with the money on a plan that has historically always failed? Here's what Glenn Beck has to say about it:

President Obama, Congress... values really do matter in government. Maybe not to you, but you'd better listen to the Tea Party protests by the American people, because we won't go away until our representatives start to represent - We The People!

Tax Day Tea Party in Seattle, Washington

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 03:49:54 PDT

Exclusive: here's a great collection of video and pictures from the Seattle (Westlake Park) tea party protest. Pajamas TV estimates overall attendance in Washington State reached 14,020 people! Low estimates suggest approximately 1,300 protesters attended the Seattle event, while attendance numbers for the tea party in Olympia suggest over 5,000 people showed up to protest and march to the State Capital for the rally. What a great turnout! Hopefully our politicians are listening and understand why we're doing this.

From downtown Seattle, Westlake Park:

My photos:

More pictures from around the Web and across the nation, an aerial pic from the Seattle Tea Party protest.

Updated: More pictures!

For more photos and comments from other citizen reporter's on the event, check out the official Pajamas TV April 15 Tea Party Web site.

Obama We Are Taxed Enough Already

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:27:09 PDT

Most of you know what happens on April 15th, 2009: taxes are due. Except this year it'll be different, because we're also counting down to a nationwide "Tax Day Tea Party." The day taxes are due we're gonna tea party like it's 1773! More importantly though, it's our job as Americans and as taxpayers to tell the government when enough is enough. And this day has come, Tax Day.

Inspired by CNBC Rick Santelli's Shout Heard 'Round the World, his anti-tax fervor called for the president to have "people vote on the Internet as a referendum to see if we really want to subsidize the losers' mortgages." A week later approximately 30,000 people gathered at 50 tea parties from Green Bay to Philadelphia to protest, celebrating a sentiment first made popular in Boston in 1773. Back then however, patriots threw tea into the harbor rather than pay outrageous taxes.

Today our message to politicians is simple: "Vote for the wasteful spending bill and we will find someone from the crowd to run against you and we will beat you in 2010."

Tax Day Tea Party

Counting down the days, it's clear Glenn Beck is fired up. He put together The 9-12 Project, which aims to hold Congress and President Obama accountable for their actions. This is more specifically outlined on The 9-12 Project's Mission Statement Web page.

The concept of accountability is simple. At the origin of America, our Founding Fathers built this country on 28 powerful principles. These principles were collected from all over the world and from centuries of great thinkers. Glenn Beck distilled the original 28 down to the 9 principles. Whether Republican or Democrat, "If you believe in at least seven of them," said Glenn, "then we have something in common." Across the nation it's clear there are many with something in common with Glenn Beck.

For instance, over at Pajamas TV there's the American Tea Party with Glenn Reynolds.

Then there's Fox News who reported that Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and Texas Rep. John Culberson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, say they will also attend the protests to show their opposition to the government's massive spending bill.

The list goes on, the revolution continues brewing, and at a city near you!

This isn't about which side of the political party you associate with, it's about holding all politicians accountable. We must come together and hold Congress and the White House accountable to the same powerful values and principles that we believe in. We must get this message through to our elected officials in government.

After all, if we asked him, what would Thomas Paine say about all of this? Take a look.

For more information, here's the Tool Kit for tea parties. It's got a bunch of Tax Day Tea Party Resources, too.

A Tribute to Jim Cramer's Mad Money

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:13:35 PDT

Happy Fourth Anniversary, Mad Money!

On the eve of Mad Money's fourth anniversary, it seems the press hasn't changed on its stance of attacking Jim Cramer. Some media enjoy a good story, whether true or false, and I suppose Jim Cramer makes for a great target. He's in the news a lot, and he isn't afraid to say how things are rather than how things should be. Moreover, Cramer is a market guru but who's susceptible to mistakes. After all, he is human! However, unlike many pundits in the media, Jim Cramer actually upholds self-accountability, as well holding others accountable. For myself personally, this is a quality trait my father taught me when I was growing up, placing great importance upon accountability. Holding this value closely to those I take advice from, it's probably one of several reasons why I appreciate Jim Cramer more than others in the media.

What's more interesting about the anti-Cramer enthusiasts, it's the fact that in order to devalue anything and everything he says, they must neglect Jim Cramer's Rules for Investing and Trading:

* Cramer's Twenty-five Rules for Investing

* Watch and Learn Cramer's Rules to the Game

* 20 Golden Rules for Traders

* Cramer's 20 Rules for Effective Trade Execution

* Cramer's 20 Rules To Stop Losing Money

Without these rules, the naysayers, the pundits, and the bashers will have you believe Jim Cramer is a loudmouthed buffoon ranting about this and that, without any background or knowledge on the subject at hand. They'll have you believe Cramer has no idea; when in fact, these misinterpretations cannot be further from the truth.

For Jim Cramer's Mad Money Fourth Anniversary, I have written a quality sourced time-line of all the great calls he has made, and how - if you actually watched and listened to Jim Cramer - his advice would have saved you a lot of money. In fact, Cramer would have made you a lot money.

Starting on August 3, 2007, before the stock market began spiraling down toward a recession, Jim Cramer can be heard in what is now known as the infamous 'Rant Heard Round the World.' The Mad Money host Jim Cramer made a passionate plea to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to consider cutting interest rates and, in turn, help the market and the people who are losing their jobs on Wall Street:

Jim Cramer's list of accolades doesn't end there either. On July 8, 2008, also before the financial meltdown began, he brought up the possibility of bank failures. In his article, 'Look At The Facts,' Cramer said, "The losses are increasing, the auction-rate preferreds are now biting, the mortgage implode-a-meter now measures how many home-builders are going under." Then on July 9, 2008, during a segment on Mad Money, he again pointed out the forthcoming Financial Collapse. Cramer described the problem lurking in the stock market: "stocks dropping without a sound." A frustrated Cramer pointed out, "These companies are failing not because of things said, but because of things not said -- none of the right people are saying the right things."

Fearing an imminent financial collapse -- and not a small one, but one on the scale of big money -- Cramer discussed his worry over Citigroup, Bank of America (with its dubious acquisition of the troubled Countrywide), WaMu and Wachovia (given its lack of CEO and sharp decline), the lack of news from Lehman (besides the unavoidable finger-pointing), the silence from Merrill, and more silence from Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac the twin giants.

"Most frightening," Cramer said, "is the silence from those in the government who could take action but haven't. If silence means there is no plan, that's trouble for everyone."

Despite Cramer's warning to the oncoming disaster, the government's silence was shared by the media, and Cramer's silent rant went unnoticed.

Turns out silent Cramer was correct.

A few months later on September 15, 2008, the Meltdown occurred, loud and clear. The financial system rocked top Wall Street Institutions. To quote a few sources,

"In one of the most dramatic days in Wall Street’s history, Merrill Lynch agreed to sell itself on Sunday to Bank of America for roughly $50 billion to avert a deepening financial crisis, while another prominent securities firm, Lehman Brothers, filed for bankruptcy protection and hurtled toward liquidation after it failed to find a buyer."

Others call this day, "Bloody Monday" The Dow Jones industrial average declined by 504 points (4.4%), its largest drop since September 17, 2001, when trading resumed after the 9/11 attacks. The financial slide proceeded unabated, leading to an 800 point decline of the Dow Jones in less than a week. Since the World's stock markets are interconnected "around the clock" through instant computer link-up, volatile trading on Wall Street immediately "spills over" into the European and Asian stock markets thereby rapidly permeating the entire financial system.

U.S. News & World Report in its Money & Business section concluded, "It's pretty big. It's pretty bad."

For those that listened to Cramer, viewers were likely heard saying, "We know. Jim Cramer told us this was coming."

Other media started to notice problems with the silent meltdown too, wondering why regular investors only heard "the fundamentals are sound," right up until they weren't. Brian Maloney pointed out on his blog, The Radio Equalizer, had you listened to Barney Frank, "the poster child for how we got into this mess," you would have lost all of your money.

"These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis," said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. "The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."

I suppose, to Frank's defense, he had every right to defend these Democrat-led agencies. Your money invested in these companies or not, it was at his benefit to claim nothing was wrong:

Where's the outrage on that? Why are all the fingers, instead, pointing directly at the one guy who actually tried warning investors - Jim Cramer? This doesn't make sense. And it shouldn't to you either. Especially after I have clarified all of the details to you.

It came to no surprise for those listening to Jim Cramer when on Hardball with Chris Matthews for September 19, 2008, Cramer suggested "It's not too late to be on the sideline." On this day the Dow was resting at an uneasy 11,388.

Furthering his own warning, Cramer spoke on the Today Show on October 6, 2008, suggesting to investors, "Whatever money you need for the next five years, please take it out of the stock market." The financial guru continued to warn that investments could lose 20 percent of their value:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

By February 24, 2009 the Dow was down to 7,351. Since Jim Cramer's first warning to investors, the DOW plunged some 3,000 points.

If numbers and statistics don't measure how much this call would have saved you had you listened to Jim Cramer, here's a chart indicating the direction of the market, red lined from Jim Cramer's September and early October warning to where the stock market ended up:

This proves a monster saving to those who listened to Jim Cramer. But does he get any due praise? Nope. The pundits rant and rave that he's the culprit who should have warned them of this happening. Are they not listening?

It takes a lot of guts to suggest something like what Jim Cramer said on air, especially when the market is so vulnerable to every day comments. Yet Cramer comes through in clutch times to help you make money, or in this case, save a lot of money. Where are others pointing this stuff out? I guess it's much easier, after the fact if you lost money, to blame him rather than listen to what he's actually telling viewers. Sure, it might feel good to rip on someone who receives a lot of media attention, but it seems to me if you're looking for a direction to point your finger, go back and read more on Barney Frank.

Or better yet, blame Geithner for the market mess. Cramer criticized Timothy Geithner’s unwillingness to address the public with a clearly defined idea of how to save the financial markets. He asked, "What will happen to the banks? Will preferred shares be saved? What about bonds?" Instead of answering these questions, Geithner reserved his statements for just a few select reporters. How about helping the regular investor, Geithner? Where the heck is Tim Geithner, anyway?!

"His recklessness is shocking," Cramer said, and Geithner’s failure to act "will continue to be reflected in the averages."

Outrage after outrage, Cramer continued to call out Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. Here's one on Geithner's decision to forsake Citigroup's preferred shareholders, which could have had disastrous consequences for banks across the board:

Where's the praise for Jim Cramer calling out Geithner?

Next, there's the Uptick Rule. Jon Stewart, unfortunately, he will have you believe that Jim Cramer is part of the Short Sellers reigning in against gains in the stock market, helping lose you money. Sure at one point in time, during Cramer's stint working at a Hedge Fund, he did take part in this activity; however, those days are long gone. Consider it a change of heart. Instead of helping Hedge Fund managers Short the market, Jim Cramer is helping to reveal their methods. Cramer routinely mentions on his show that he no longer shorts stocks.

On the March 20, 2008 episode of Mad Money, Cramer launched his campaign to reinstate the uptick rule, which was taken off the books in July 2007. The uptick rule was devised in the 1930s by Congress and the SEC following the "Great Crash" to prevent a repeat of it from ever occurring. They investigated the tactics used by market manipulators and installed the uptick rule -- a rule that "required short-sellers to wait until a buyer could be found to pay an uptick, meaning a higher price, before they could short a stock." Without this rule in place, Cramer said, "This kind of savagery has cost the average investor millions and millions of dollars."

On March 28, 2008 Jim Cramer further underscored the true scale of the absence of the uptick rule, pointing out how they harm today's stock market. He said reintroducing the short-selling uptick rule would help stabilize the banking sector:

As many of you know, these tactics Jim Cramer discussed were learned by him while working at a Hedge Fund, he knows how easy it is to manipulate stocks. He's done it before. However, in his eagerness to help others make money today, and because he knows the skeptical tactics used by Hedge Funds are wrong, he's trying to get everyone else to imagine what the uptick rule will do for the stock market if reinstated - how it will benefit your 401(K). He again discussed reintroducing the uptick rule during his November 21, 2008 episode of Mad Money, "Out with Cox, in with Uptick Rule."

What's intriguing and likely due to Cramer's insistence on bringing this rule back, on February 25, 2009, in a question-and-answer session with the House Financial Services committee, Bernanke said that the rule "may have had some benefit" during the current crisis. Luckily, Mary Schapiro, the new chief of the Securities and Exchange Commission, said that she's thinking about reinstating the rule.

In praise of Jim Cramer's efforts to help the every day investor - booyah!

Jim Cramer says it all. It doesn't end there. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, the day after Barack Obama was sworn in, Cramer created a stock index to track the new president’s progress. Going back to his values on accountability, he called it the Obama Accountability Index. He chose companies that operated in the very sectors that needed the most help, with which their performance would tell us how effective Obama had been and whether or not his plans to save the economy had worked.

Clearly shown on Obama's 30-day report card, the administration wasn't helping the economy in any way:

The index was down 35% since Jan. 21, the day it was created. The S&P 500 over that same period declined just 8%. So Obama, at least according to Cramer’s portfolio, wasn't doing too well.

More recently however, on March 6, 2009 Cramer offered his "worst-case scenario for the Dow Jones Industrial Average." Suggesting a low of 5,320, he mentioned this during a segment on Stop Trading!:

Disclaimer: Cramer didn't think the Dow would actually drop to 5,320. He just tried to calculate a worst-case scenario to find a potential bottom for the index.

Had you listened to him there, and had you listened to him earlier when he warned you to take money out of the stock market, you would have saved money before the market fall and you could have used his advice to reinvest back into the market at just the right time -- immediately before the rally began.

Ultimately, one must choose who they listen to for advice and who not to hear. As I mentioned previously, not all press is equal in value. There are pundits who refuse to hear what Jim Cramer has to say, instead taking every opportunity to thrash him when the opportunity deems fit. Even when Jim Cramer is telling viewers exactly what the Jon Stewart's are ranting about, they still don't listen. Contrarily, there are those who actually want to learn how to make money in the stock market -- Jim Cramer is there for you.

If this doesn't make more clear who the real pundits are, maybe you should keep listening to Barney Frank, he'll tell you which stocks are better to invest in. Right? Even worse, take advice from Jon Stewart, whose show tag line reads, "Comedy Central's INdecision Reduced-Fact Political News." Where facts are meaningless and ratings are essential, surely he will point you in the wrong direction at just the right time.

In the meantime, here's to another four more years of Mad Money -- Booyah Jim Cramer!

A Satire for Hope, Obama Nation will Change You

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:36:10 PDT

Stand up. Change is here. No questions asked, or you will irritate Obama. Thanking Glenn Beck, I present to you the Obama National Anthem:

Now sit. Listen up, you pundits. You represent old America. A lost opportunity.

Conservatism is gone, you voted for change, so deal with it. Are there any entrepreneurs or innovators our there? Better not be. Not any more, Obama won't allow it. Change is here. The voice of authority will rise to create "New America," and you are followers of the new regime, under Obama. We trust.

You are wrong.

Everything Old America fought for and believed in are no longer a quality of, or a position within big-government that now rule this country. Your sacrifices, the blood spilled by Old America veterans and hard working entrepreneur's of the past mean nothing. Constitution my ass. Obama is here to stay, forever.

Do I hear static opposition to New America? Can you hear that?

"You--Jim Cramer! Stand up," says Squealer. Obama tells me you think our liberal economic policies represent the "greatest wealth destruction" by a president. "I'm not entirely sure what [you are] pointing to," because your money help us think; so, spending your income and taxing you more will help prevent another economic crisis from ever happening again. During these dark and gloomy times lurking in today's economy, which of course is the fault of Old America, redistributing your money is in the best interests of the people.

Now sit.

Whether it be 401(k)s or individual stocks or pension plans, those are on New America's enemies list. The enemy is wrong. You are wrong. You will change. No more wealth. All your money are belong to us.

What's that I hear?

Rush Limbaugh?! "You know," says Squealer. "I'd like to think, and I think New America would like to think, that you will change too." You must change. Your old ways, Old America is gone. Those of you out there, if you agree with Rush Limbaugh, speak up and thou shall be scorned. You failures. You small audience simpletons. You fake day-to-day economists just don't get it.

You are broken.

Old America's methods are incompatible with the future. Are you still hoping in the wrong direction? Can you see the light? You better not be. Squealer will Barack the hell out of you! Turn the lights out. New America is giving hope you never thought possible. Hope that isn't possible.

At once, everyone, hold up your Hope cups. Steady.

OK - now! Drink our decaf coffee.

Stop.

No more.

We can't afford it.

Who's unemployed? Raise your hands. You--all of you, we need more tax revenue to keep the enemy of our past economic mistakes away. Prepare your tax returns. In New America's attempt to create a "prosperous" welfare state, we are raising taxes on everyone. Obama Nation -- ahem, New America is going to redistribute your money to the people we think have been screwed by Old America. We will throw your money around until this crisis goes away. It will work! The economy is in shambles. Doom! Gloom! Quickly--!

Give him your money.

Obama Lied, Our Economy Died

noreply@blogger.com (A 1-In-100 Blogger) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:35:03 PDT

Are you sitting down? Please do, brace yourself, because the truth can be disturbing. If you're under the age of 30, Barack Obama just stole your future. President Barack Obama lied to every single one of us about his tax agenda, with a straight face too. Don't get me wrong, I did warn you this will happen. Yet we're told this record spending is "necessary," because we’re in an economic crisis!

President Obama, in his pursuit of liberal big-government spending, his every remark and the constant preoccupation of his Cabinet is to heighten the sense of crisis and to escalate the predictions of doom if we do not do as they tell us. Obama warned of “hazards and reverses” the economy will face, stressing grim economic statistics and warning of economic “catastrophe” if the stimulus failed to pass. Indeed, it was President Obama, not the markets themselves, who helped spread this fear. And now, every time he speaks, Obama sends the markets down and stocks crashing.

But wait! What about transparency? President Obama promised the federal government would be more open and transparent, and that all legislation would be available for 5 days of public review. The House voted unanimously to allow a 48-hour public review. However, somehow, the transparency and "public review" was never allowed to happen. Obama lied. Transparency became a meaningless phrase of the past.

With Obama’s first $1 trillion pork barrel spending project, what sort of special interest giveaways and wasteful government spending are included in the so-called “Stimulus Package?” To name just a few:

$4.19 billion in slush funds for ACORN, the left-wing advocacy group best known for allegations of voter fraud during the 2008 presidential campaign

$600 million to buy brand new cars for government bureaucrats

$335 million for adult sex workshops (one of the few line items which could conceivably deliver "stimulus")

$150 million for honeybee insurance

$2.8 billion for the US Department of Agriculture in a misdirected program more likely be spent to build unnecessary broadband internet services in urban areas than in the rural areas that lack service.

I just threw up, a moment please… I promise, it gets better – err, more appropriately, it gets much worse.

Obama promised $300 billion to $400 billion in infrastructure spending; but instead, congressional Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid fill the bill with pork barrel spending - we got just $30 billion. The jobs that were supposed to be created and the business that was supposed to be “stimulated” likely won't happen. At least, according to Obama, there's no guarantee the $1 trillion gamble with our money will create any jobs at all. The infrastructure spending is far less than promised, there’s no solution for the housing crisis, no plan to save the banks, and the market knows it. Other economists agree, too.

Jim Cramer, who graduated from Harvard College in 1977, where he was president of The Harvard Crimson, then worked as a journalist for four years before earning a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1984, he expressed strong dissatisfaction with the spending bill. “There’s really nothing here,” Cramer said of Obama’s plan. “It doesn’t put anyone to work. And it doesn’t build any bridges. And it doesn’t fix the bank situation.”

The irresponsible spending doesn’t end there, Pelosi’s next wave of pork got approved by Obama as well; President Obama's $3.6 trillion budget plan will boost federal spending across the board - and all of us will pay for it with tax hikes of $1 trillion on individuals and businesses over the next decade. Barack Obama's budget will cost each taxpayer $25,573.48, and it will take 10 years for taxpayers to fund Obama's tax hikes proposed for FY 2010.

Barack Obama's agenda includes a Capital-gains tax increase from 15% to 20%, an agenda that begins 2011, and a scar on our nation that will last until 2021. I’m willing to bet it doesn’t end there either, since Obama continues to prove he doesn’t believe in the work of Arthur Laffer, a young economist, who drew a curve on a napkin in a Washington bar. The Laffer curve suggests that, as taxes increase from low levels, tax revenue collected by the government also increases for a short period of time, but at some point further increases in tax rates would cause revenue to fall (for instance by discouraging people from working), thereby reducing tax revenue. Eventually, if tax rates reached 100% (the far right of the curve), then all people would choose not to work because everything they earned would go to the government.

Some economists said that most governments could raise more revenue by cutting tax rates, an argument proven in the 1980s by the tax-cutting government of Ronald Reagan. Under Reagan, marginal tax rates were cut from a top of 70% to 28%. Revenues (from all taxes) to the U.S. Treasury nearly doubled. According to the Budget of the U.S. Government, Office of Management and Budget, revenues increased from roughly $500 billion in 1980 to $1.1 trillion in 1990. Not surprisingly, Obama laughs at the Laffer curve; in fact, the name “Obama” and “Laffer” should never be used in the same context, since the two ideologies are quite opposite from each other. This leads us to where we are now, a new era that looks to erase all positive legislation since the Reagan-era.

House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio said, "The era of big government is back, and Democrats are asking you to pay for it. [Obama will] continue to pile debt on the backs of our kids and grandkids." Since Big Government is back - so are big taxes. America, we just got scammed! With Obama’s lies combined with Pelosi’s reckless approach to Governance and spending, our hope for opportunity and an improved economy died. Barack Obama, a Democrat, promised to get the red ink under control even as he planned new spending priorities that eerily resemble the ideals of socialism. He wants to reward bad behavior with income redistribution, taking from the hard working Americans and giving it to the needy.

There’s a saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day…” or in other words, create reliance on Big Government to feed you; or, “Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,” with which, unfortunately, Obama doesn't believe in. In the words of Rush Limbaugh, “We cannot have this large a government role in the private sector with so many people thinking that just because they're Americans they're entitled to things, that this guy is going to be passing them out, and keep this country great and innovative, full of entrepreneurs.” Here’s the full Video Clip:

With oncoming increases in taxes across the board, the government will lose the tax revenue it would have made had it allowed small businesses to afford employee’s to remain in the labor force; thus, more people paying taxes at a lower rate. Money invested in businesses will shrink since working citizens won’t be putting nearly as much of their income into a 401k or other investment vehicles; moreover, consumption will decrease and hurt local economy’s that depends on it.

So where does all of this leave us? What can we expect, or at the very least, hope to expect? Will Obama’s stimulus package spark a much-needed rebound in the second half of 2009? Cramer said during his special State of Cramerica show, President Obama needs to fix the financials before we see a full recovery. It doesn’t matter how well the rest of the market’s holding up. Everything depends on the banks.

If you missed it, here’s Cramer’s ‘State of the Market’ Address:

In short, Cramer created an Obama Accountability Index, consisting of Bank of America, Citigroup, Caterpillar, General Electric, General Motor, and JPMorgan chase, to track the new president’s progress. To bet with Obama, you buy these stocks. To bet against him, you short them. This index will grade Obama’s success as president. If he fails, Cramer said, so does the stock market.

In conclusion, history shows we’re in for a rough two years. Since 1992, a pattern has emerged between Democrat control of the Congress and the White House, and the Dow-Jones Industrial Average. This revealing graph makes the pattern obvious:

Democrat control = Bear Market and Recession.
Republican control = Bull Market and Prosperity.

The last two years of Democrat control and now Obama fit the pattern…

You do the math.