Truth Freedom Prosperity: Commentary on the Economy, Markets, and Current Events
Because Hope and Change is not a strategy, and socialism stinks!
Truth Freedom Prosperity
The President Grew Up, If Only We Can Trust Him
As I said in an earlier post, the massive Prism and metadata NSA programs appear to be legal and even justified, if they are implemented as contemplated and not abused by the government, a big assumption.
A good analysis of the situation: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/350702/why-president-obama-became-snoop-rich-lowry
Now on the issue of trust:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/350687/obama-just-keeping-us-safe-mona-charen
The most interesting thing about the NSA leaks is that approval or opposition to these programs is all over the political and ideological map. Leftists and conservatives are together in staunch opposition while Democrats and Republicans are united in their support. The political theater is fascinating.
A good analysis of the situation: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/350702/why-president-obama-became-snoop-rich-lowry
Now on the issue of trust:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/350687/obama-just-keeping-us-safe-mona-charen
The most interesting thing about the NSA leaks is that approval or opposition to these programs is all over the political and ideological map. Leftists and conservatives are together in staunch opposition while Democrats and Republicans are united in their support. The political theater is fascinating.
Will Obama See Out His First Term?
Excellent post here by my favorite financial blogger, Tyler Durden. If either the IRS, Benghazi or DOJ scandals lead to Obama, to say nothing of the NSA, I think there is already enough here for him to be removed from office. The problem is, unless his fingerprints are all over something totally heinous, the liberal media and his far-left supporters will rally around him and practically fight to the death to prevent his removal. Never mind the potential for domestic unrest from certain, um, people.
The best news is that with all this trouble swirling around Washington, I believe that Obama's second term agenda is largely dead in the water.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-06-10/will-obama-see-out-his-full-term
The best news is that with all this trouble swirling around Washington, I believe that Obama's second term agenda is largely dead in the water.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-06-10/will-obama-see-out-his-full-term
It Is Time To Close The EPA
I have been saying for a long time that if I were put in charge of the US Government, the first agency I would close would be the EPA followed closely by Education and Energy. With the recent IRS scandal that agency has jumped to the top of the list for many, and I largely concur. Not to be outdone, the EPA currently has FOUR scandals running, both large and small. The most egregious are the EPA showed bias to liberal groups over conservatives by not charging FOIA fees, and the agency leaked names of farmers and ranchers to radical environmental groups. What if some radical green nut had harmed somebody? What about that, EPA?
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/06/10/psst-there-are-four-separate-scandals-going-on-at-epa-right-now/
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/06/10/psst-there-are-four-separate-scandals-going-on-at-epa-right-now/
NSA Surveillance Programs
With the leaks last week that the NSA is tracking domestic US phone calls and monitoring internet traffic, the government generally and Obama specifically are in more hot water. Legally validated but Constitutionally dubious, these programs have ramped up the debate over privacy versus security to a fever pitch.
As I understand the way the programs are structured, American citizens should have little to worry about IF the government can be trusted. The problem is that based on recent events (the IRS scandal, the DOJ monitoring media and targeting journalists, Benghazi) it is very clear that the government CANNOT be trusted as it currently exists. High-level DOJ officials appear to have broken the law and it is begs credibility to think that Obama administration officials were not involved in the IRS bullying. This is what should concern law-abiding Americans, especially those who are opposed to the current DC regime. My advice is to consider no electronic communication private until there are major changes in our government. It is also very disturbing that "big data" as it is now being called (Google, Facebook, Microsoft, telecoms) are becoming the tools of big government and are being run largely by people with very liberal bents.
As an aside, we are led to believe that the NSA's monitoring has stop terrorist attacks, but they couldn't detect the amateurish Boston attack? Something is not right.
As I understand the way the programs are structured, American citizens should have little to worry about IF the government can be trusted. The problem is that based on recent events (the IRS scandal, the DOJ monitoring media and targeting journalists, Benghazi) it is very clear that the government CANNOT be trusted as it currently exists. High-level DOJ officials appear to have broken the law and it is begs credibility to think that Obama administration officials were not involved in the IRS bullying. This is what should concern law-abiding Americans, especially those who are opposed to the current DC regime. My advice is to consider no electronic communication private until there are major changes in our government. It is also very disturbing that "big data" as it is now being called (Google, Facebook, Microsoft, telecoms) are becoming the tools of big government and are being run largely by people with very liberal bents.
As an aside, we are led to believe that the NSA's monitoring has stop terrorist attacks, but they couldn't detect the amateurish Boston attack? Something is not right.
For Obama and Dems, The News Gets Worse Every Day
IRS conspiracy may be widening:
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/31/mcclatchy-irs-targeting-of-conservatives-may-go-beyond-tax-exempt-applications/
This is laughable. The current government's posture is: pro Obama leaks good, all other leaks bad. In addition, Holder likely lied under oath.
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/30/chris-hayes-there-must-be-doj-search-warrants-aimed-at-journalists-who-reported-pro-obama-leaks-too-right/
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/31/mcclatchy-irs-targeting-of-conservatives-may-go-beyond-tax-exempt-applications/
This is laughable. The current government's posture is: pro Obama leaks good, all other leaks bad. In addition, Holder likely lied under oath.
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/30/chris-hayes-there-must-be-doj-search-warrants-aimed-at-journalists-who-reported-pro-obama-leaks-too-right/
The Latest On Global Warming, I Mean Climate Change
At a private fundraiser in Chicago the other day, the President said this: "I don’t have much patience for people who deny climate change".
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-i-don-t-have-much-patience-people-who-deny-climate-change_731961.html
A few points:
1) Notice how the language is now "climate change" and not "global warming".
2) Uh, the climate has always "changed" and always will. Nothing man does will prevent that.
3) Notice how Obama still has a God complex, thinking he can still do something to prevent climate change.
4) Nothing the US does to reduce CO2 emissions will have any impact on climate, even if CO2 was a factor, which I believe research shows it is not. The rest of the world will not follow the US' lead, so the only change will be the destruction of our economy.
By the way, this researcher believes CO2 has no impact on "climate" or temperature or whatever. He believes the problem is/was CFC's and is now largely going away after these chemicals were banned.
http://www.sciencecodex.com/global_warming_caused_by_cfcs_not_carbon_dioxide_study_says-113115
http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-i-don-t-have-much-patience-people-who-deny-climate-change_731961.html
A few points:
1) Notice how the language is now "climate change" and not "global warming".
2) Uh, the climate has always "changed" and always will. Nothing man does will prevent that.
3) Notice how Obama still has a God complex, thinking he can still do something to prevent climate change.
4) Nothing the US does to reduce CO2 emissions will have any impact on climate, even if CO2 was a factor, which I believe research shows it is not. The rest of the world will not follow the US' lead, so the only change will be the destruction of our economy.
By the way, this researcher believes CO2 has no impact on "climate" or temperature or whatever. He believes the problem is/was CFC's and is now largely going away after these chemicals were banned.
http://www.sciencecodex.com/global_warming_caused_by_cfcs_not_carbon_dioxide_study_says-113115
The Dumpster Fire That Is MSNBC
MSDNC, er MSNBC is in full-fledged ratings free-fall. No surprise, when you spend 100% of your time 1) bashing Bush, the GOP, and conservatives, 2) promoting lunatic-fringe far-left ideas that are too radical for all but 10-15% of America and 3) running cover for one of the most dishonest and corrupt regimes in the history of the US.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-msnbc-falls-below-559923
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-msnbc-falls-below-559923
How The Smartphone Killed The Three-Day Weekend
And I would add the Blackberry. They are both huge productivity enhancers but with a big downside.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100765600
http://www.cnbc.com/id/100765600
Obama's Scandals and the Crisis of Leadership
The Wall Street Journal produced an excellent analysis of the current crisis in government. I would like to make a couple of observations first.
No matter what Obama does, many on the left will support him to the bitter end. I am not sure they would back away even if a photo was presented showing him with the proverbial "smoking gun". The defenses of him range from government being too big (exactly) to "he can't possibly be held responsible for all these far-flung operations". But the left misses the point: whether or not he is personally culpable, these scandals all flow from his basic bitter, attacking political instincts. He and his party have helped create the most divisive culture in Washington in decades.
Some on the left are trying to redirect the conversation, as in "this is a Republican witch hunt when what the people really care about is jobs, education, ect." This is a red herring as liberal policies have done NOTHING to create jobs, provide education or help the economy. Furthermore, this once again misses the point: government abuses and violating the rights of the people have long term chilling effects on society as a whole including the economy.
What we have here is not a crisis of democracy, but terribly inept and corrupt leadership enabled by a messianic cult of personality which has led Obama to believe (or at least signal to his minions) that they can do anything they want, the law be damned. If the American people do not wake up, our democracy will be lost.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324787004578494961837484232.html
No matter what Obama does, many on the left will support him to the bitter end. I am not sure they would back away even if a photo was presented showing him with the proverbial "smoking gun". The defenses of him range from government being too big (exactly) to "he can't possibly be held responsible for all these far-flung operations". But the left misses the point: whether or not he is personally culpable, these scandals all flow from his basic bitter, attacking political instincts. He and his party have helped create the most divisive culture in Washington in decades.
Some on the left are trying to redirect the conversation, as in "this is a Republican witch hunt when what the people really care about is jobs, education, ect." This is a red herring as liberal policies have done NOTHING to create jobs, provide education or help the economy. Furthermore, this once again misses the point: government abuses and violating the rights of the people have long term chilling effects on society as a whole including the economy.
What we have here is not a crisis of democracy, but terribly inept and corrupt leadership enabled by a messianic cult of personality which has led Obama to believe (or at least signal to his minions) that they can do anything they want, the law be damned. If the American people do not wake up, our democracy will be lost.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324787004578494961837484232.html
Corrupt US Government Denies Asylum to German Christians
Blame the Justice Department, but the US Government is happy to give asylum to future Muslim terrorists from Chechnya, just not German Christians. I agree that the homeschooling angle is a bit tenuous, but come on. Don't think for a second that our current corrupt adminstration would have opposed this if these people were Muslim.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2394349513001/
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2394349513001/