Welcome, one and all to the most intense nightly read on the sphere… Bitsblog’s Nightly Ramble
An interesting weekend, and lots on the horizon to discuss. Let’s get it.
- PROKULUS: Obama is scheduled to beg and plead for his Porkulus bill tonight. He’ll lay out all kinds of doomsday scenarios [1], and basically, be playing the politics of fear, as I described the other day. And Class Envy [2]as well. He’s scheduled to show up on your TV at 8pm eastern.
- THE POLITICS OF FEAR: Fear, and something else, as well. Remember when Obama used to complain, bitterly about people ‘questioning his patriotism’? Funny how when questions ours [3], it’s OK. Whatever happened to his call for ‘bipartisanship’? [4] Dissent, apparently, is no longer patriotic. Did I call this one, or what?
- Over at Pajamas Media, Victor Hanson notes the tendency of Obama and his people to engage in hyperbolic arguments [5], and says it’s hurting them. He’s right, but notably, it’s not affeced their base much, I think.
- UNIONS: One aspect of this ‘stimulus’ bill is a lot of projects on highways, and other federal level construction. One thing you may not be aware of, however, is an executive order from Obama [6]which stipulates that all construction projects that get federal funds, will be required to use only Union people. Can you imagine why? Yep… Political payoffs. No wonder he’s throwing everything he can at this. Want proof of the union connection? Yesyerday we were treated to Barney Frank on “Meet the Depressed”. [7] Frank used New Bedford Mass and the threat of impending fire and police layoffs there no less than five times in his argument. The reality is, however, that layoffs are not contemplated, except as a last resort. What’s really going on [8] is the unions are being asked to take pay cuts. Only if they refuse, will there be layoffs. In short, Barkey Frank lied. Again. (BBCT: Mark Hemmingway) [9]
- HOME LOANS? One thing he won’t tell you is that this whole thing was started by Democrats [10]trying to make housing more affrdable for the poor, and specifically, minorities. This was backed by people like Dodd and Frank, who got well paid for their backing [11], apparently. The resulting financial crash is what we’re dealing with now. In response to all this, the bill the Democrats, Obama included, are pushing involves… catch this, now… $9.7 trillion US Dollars. Just to put some scope on that figure, that amount of money would pay off %90 of the mortgages in the country. [12] Now, of course, that’s not where the Democras are planning on spending the money. It’s going to their pet projects, instead. Doesn’t it kinda make you wonder what the Democrats are up to?
- DISASTER: Meanwhile, the Republicans are warning [13]that this thing will head us toward disaster. They are correct. thing is, it’s a disaster they will own.
- More tax cuts, less spending. That’s what the Rasmussen data [14]is showing the people want. Of course, it’s what the Democrats won’t do.
- OPPOSITION FROM WITHIN: Even the chair of Obama’s economic advisory board opposes this bill. [15]
- AND THE NEARLY WITHIN: John McCain is taking Michelle Malkin’s lead on calling this bill “Generational theft”. [16] My instinct here is to say ‘shut up, John…too little, too late’. But still… when someone who has shown the kind of willingness to lean left that McCain has says this thing is a real problem, I begin to think he may actually provide some weight to that argument… one of the few places he may yet do the Republicans… and the country… some good. Maybe.
My own answer to this bill? No only no, but HELL NO. Given what I see in the polling data, and what I hear from the front offices of Congresscritters, I’m hardly alone. I judge, based on what I see that the Democrats are doubling down on a bad move, here… They’re going to be paying for it for decades, politically speaking…. they’ll be out of power at the next election. Exiled. And good riddence. Trouble with this scenario? While they pay for it politically, we’ll be paying for it financially.
Other matters:
- RAP MUSIC STRIKES AGAIN: I’ve been commenting for years about ‘urban’ music awards shows and the violence inherrent in such venues. I’ve warned repeatedly that as ‘urban’ music became more ‘mainstream’ that we’d see such happenings in mainstream shows… like the Grammies. Guess what? That came true, apparently, last night. [17]
- MLB FRAUD: Is anyone really shocked to hear ARod was and probably is still juicing? [18] It’s not like the books we’ve been reading didn’t tell us that. He should now be banned from the hall of fame. Period. But more; Let’s stop danding around the involvement of Yankee officials, huh? Torre’s book was right. ARod is a fraud. And guess what, gang? So are the Yankees as a team. It’s time to face up to that fact. It’s also time to release the other 103 names. Are you listening, MLB?
- HEARTS AND FLOWERS: If you’re planning on doing soemthing for Valentine’s day and don’t have it in motion, now would be a good time to kick that mule, son. All as a public service.