Hate, Hate, Hate!?

Check out this email from a Florida lib. Underscores where the hatred really lies. I've never seen anything like the last 10 years of so, and it's only getting worse. Even the wacko Reagan haters of the '80's (I was one) could not compare to current "journalists".

Hitler, Pol Pot, Mao: Who's your hero?

Here's a video of Anita Dunn (whitehouse spokesperson) speaking truth:

Let them speak long enough and they can't help but expose themselves...

Welcome to the NFL (New Facist League) Rush!

I'm supposed to sit quietly as Keith Olberman makes his hateful snide and irrational comments about me and those of my ilk, and watch his vapid, arrogant, presentation on NBC's NFL shows but Limbaugh aggravates a few lib's and he's too devisive for the NFL? Give me a break.

Roger Goodell, you have just created enemies out of millions of avid NFL fans. You may not be aware of the number of Limbaugh fans, Free speech advocates, and fans of the Constitution that will not tolerate your fascist policy against Limbaugh. My phones have been ringing off the hook, since you made your foolish little statement about "having a higher standard". Every single person I have talked too has pledged to never participate in the NFL ever again. No NFL on TV, no game attendance, no team paraphernalia, nothing. Nada.

I'll be calling Goodell in the morning, along with Redskins owner Dan Snyder. I'm sure they'll both take my calls of course. But whether they do or not, they must know they cannot make the NFL a political hot potato with such outlandishly fascist policies.

The legacy media, the Unions, the music industry, the high tech industry, Public education, higher education and politicians are all arrayed against those who take a more traditional, if conservative approach to culture and politics in America. They now want to co-opt the last bastian of non-pc Americana? I'm just not going to sit still for it.

Dana White, head of the UFC better watch listen and learn. Goodell's gonna be gone by the end of the month...

Principled Analysis of Constitutional Fidelity

This Marine's analysis of Constitutional defense, and responsibility for failure to do so is refreshingly free of the political "bravo sierra" we so often find.

Our current cultural reliance on overwhelming over complication of such topics normally makes such discussions completely irrelevant. This Marine nails it. He happens to be one of John Boyd's Acolytes, too.

Wonder What the Other Nobel Winners Think?

The week since President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize has been a storm of controversy. Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you're on, it's undeniable that the rationale of the Nobel Committee is not clear to many of us.

One angle I've not heard discussed among all the chaos on talk radio and cable news is the effect this sort of award has on the other presumably deserved Nobel Prize winners. It's really unfortunate that the luster of their award may be tarnished. I would love to be a fly on the wall in their offices as they express their true feelings amongst their family and friends.

 

40 Years of Progress?

40 years after the moon landing in 1969 and we haven't much to show. A lot of entertainment choices we didn't have in 1969, but the steel industry, electronics industry, textile industry, auto industry and even the aerospace industry are all but gone from our shores.

When will we get the fight back? The drive, the positivity and willingness to risk to progress? Not any time soon I'm afraid. This is so reminiscent of the '70's it's incredible. We can't even pay for our own doctors services. We can't build a fence on the border, and we can't tell the folks in D.C. that we've had enough. What a weak, pitiful people we have become.

Are you ready to fight back? Offend some people and even make a few mad? That's what it's going to take you know - and then some.

America could build a fence to the moon if we wanted too. That's the America I know and love!

Lifelong Remininces on Walter Cronkite

Walter Cronkite was one of the traditional cultural icons of my life. For many years he was THE source for "accurate" information about the state of the world. He was on the introduction page to my first set on Encyclopedia authoritatively saying, "and that 's the way it is", thereby certifying as absolute truth all of the information contained in those tomes. At least in the mind of an incredibly knowledge thirsty and gullible 5 year old.

Then I began to see him on the evening news, talking about the horror of the Vietnam war, and the outrageous mistake that it was. He commanded respect just by being on TV as "THE" CBS News anchor. I wasn't sure why, but knew it was true. Every evening at the end of his broadcast," and that's the way it is," sealed the deal. There was no question, no doubt. Cronkite said it - it was so!

Now many years later he has passed from this Earth, and my perspective is no longer that of a gullible 5 year old. Or even 20 or 30 year old. I have learned, much to my disappointment that Mr. Cronkite was quite a dishonest fellow. The Nation, Society and Culture he was charged with impartially informing, was one he hoped to fundamentally change through his work because of it's outrageous flaws. Flaws that justified dishonorable and misleading editorials about the war, the state of America, our enemies and the World.

We've since learned that Cronkite was an Internationalist that viewed traditional Americanism as a destructive force. No less destructive than Communism, Fascism, or any other nefarious political force. A force that could potentially prevent the Internationalism he so valued. The American people he sought to propagandize each evening were in a very real sense his enemies. Little did we know, so innocent and believing were we, that we were the only thing standing between him and the traditional American values he so despised.

Little by little, night after night, we were pounded gently into submission. American patriotism was unsophisticated and wrong. America was a destructive force throughout it's history, rather than the freedom, prosperity and health engine we had been so ignorantly been taught. It's founders were evil, ignorant slaveholders rather than brilliant freedom loving people flawed by traditional racial beliefs held by nearly every culture since the dawn of man.

My purpose is not to dishonor Walter Cronkite, but to further expose the truth about him and others like him who have for the last 50+ years sought to undermine the values that have made America the greatest force for good in the history of the Earth. His fundamental misunderstanding of human nature, history and the practical requirements of law enforcement(internationally and otherwise) make his views VERY difficult to take seriously. Serious or not the damage has been done. Here's a taste courtesy of Youtube. You'll hear it right from the horses mouth and can make your own judgment.

Dr Dave

Gov't's Blatant Exploitation of the Rule of Law

Just another self defeating move by another Government entity exploiting their power and ignoring the rule of law.

The cost to LA and California is staggering and won't be addressed until it's too late. Lib's and bureaucrats are still ignoring the facts and aren't likely to wake up until California is a wasteland and there's no one left to exploit.

We have built our entire modern Government and bureaucratic system in this country on the fundamental idea that we can exploit at our whim those who are the producers. We extort more of the fruits of their efforts and risk taking, through greater and greater taxes, regulatory costs, and political demonization. We are reaching the threshold where business people are forced to make the decision to flee in spite of the relocation costs and personal affection for La and California. This flight response is not limited to California. The same has been happening for years in Southern Arizona. Businesses laugh when approached with the idea of relocating here. It's almost, but not quite, as anti-business an environment as California.

Come on folks, this is getting serious. We must throw out those who are trying to destroy our prosperity and freedom, no matter what party they're in!

DOD Will No Longer Support Dangerous Celebration

No matter where you stand on participation of DOD resources on events, this is a perfect illustration of just how upside down the world is.

The DOD has recently insisted on Islamic sensitivity training INSIDE the DOD, but discontinued the fly-overs of this patriotic celebration after 42 years. Isn't the imbalance clear?

Gutsy Brit Gets Away with Journalistic Suicide

Our Presidents weakness is reminiscent of Jimmy Carter only worse. His lack of seriousness is frightening. I've been talking about since before the election, and making enemies by the boatload doing it.

Our enemies sniff out weakness like my Ridge-back hunting rabbits. They exploit it instantly and completely. They will push the envelope as long as we don't give them strong reason to stop. When we do, they will. It's no coincidence that the violence in Iraq has recently escalated...

Here's a British journalist that is committing professional suicide, unless the atmosphere in the UK is a little more accepting of serious, critical analysis than our own country. This guy tells it like it is. 

Read the article and tell me what you think.

A Refreshingly Rational Palin Analysis

I am so used to the whacked out Palin hatred in the MSM, that I was shocked to read this response to a readers question by Camille Paglia of Salon.com.

She accurately summarizes Palins weaknesses and her strengths. She accurately and with cool analysis, characterizes her lack of high-level, professional political advisors as both a problem and a part of Palin's charm.

She then takes to task the "Northeast media complex" that so viciously and with a complete lack of dispassionate professionalism, repeatedly attacks Palin over the most trivial issues.

I suspect we will, in time,  find that Paglia has been a disgruntled Dem for some time, and has begun to turn. One can only watch and excuse the insanity for so long. It can happen to the best of us. Even me!

Palin Surprises Again

Sarah Palin surprised everyone, fan and foe alike, with her announcement today that she would not seek re-election as Governor of Alaska.  But to resign as of the 26th of July to avoid participating in a destructive "lame duck" administration has prompted wild speculation in the Press about her personal weakness and/or pending scandal.

Like G.W. Bush, the secret to understanding Sarah Palin, requires listening to her words. The text of her speech makes clear her rationale, and as odd as her resignation may seem, underscores her independence, strength and commitment. Want to know why Palin is resigning? Just read her words.

Whether this radical step will be the end of her effectiveness as a politician is yet to be seen. Surely the Democrats and their comrades in the Press will attempt to use it as a bludgeon to ensure that it is. This only legitimates her claim that she needs to leave the office of Governor of Alaska to allow that State to avoid being collateral damage in the political war against her.

Sarah Palin is consistently underestimated by the press, her political enemies and even those in her own party, but it's clear she has considerable support among the American population, including me. Let's "hope" she has an "audacious" plan to defeat her critics and leverage her incredible personal appeal to un-"change" America.

Glimmer of Truth in ABC's Obamacare Infomercial

I knew that ABC's outrageous Obamacare special was going to be a joke, but there was a surprising twist. 

Dr. Orrin Devinsky, a neurologist and researcher at the New York University Langone Medical Center pulled no punches, questioned the President on the realities of such a plan and Obama was very ineffective in reponse. The article has the details.

Thank goodness that not everyone has been intimidated by the popularity of our new President and his audacious plans for us.

We must all commit to courteous but aggressive questioning and when appropriate, opposition to all things unconstitutional. Regardless of the power, popularity or charm of those involved. Our great country, our freedom and our prosperity are in the balance. Way to go Dr. Devinsky!

Dr Dave

Captian Phillips On Board After Rescue!

Walid Shoebat - Bravery and Honesty Personified

Walid Shoebat - Former PLO Terrorist who speaks out for Israel

One of the most difficult things to do in life is to develop beyond the prejudices and invalid teachings of your childhood that you've continued to live as an adult. The pain of that awareness and the decision to work against those errors is one of the most difficult and traumatic in life. Most never have the courage to do it, even when given glimpses of the truth. It is just too painful and difficult. In fact most of us even more desperately grasp and defend the familiar comfort of the wrong that we've lived.

Walid Shoebat has embraced that revolutionary reality and been committed to it in spite of the very real threat of death. He is a former Islamo-Fascist PLO terrorist who has learned of the profound nature of his wrongs and is completely committed to undoing them.

It's an incredible story of true intellectual honesty, intense personal bravery and commitment to the truth. He is a little unpopular amongst his former terrorist peers, as you might imagine, but he also has many hateful detractors in America because he goes against the foolish conventional wisdom of Palestinian injustice at the hands of the Jews.

This guy makes me feel like a wimp. I hope am only half as brave and committed to what I believe is right as Mr. Shoebat. God bless 'im!

Rove, "he's a serial exaggerator..."

I used to argue in support of Joe Biden. No more. He was discredited years ago for plagiarism, then made goofy statements during this last election regarding spending time with average Americans at a restaurant in Delaware that was closed decades ago.

Between Obama's Whitehouse denying the non-bow, and Biden's serial bravo sierra I have no respect for the present Administartion. It's not a political thing, it's a credibility and respect thing.

Of course the MSM will support Biden and demonize Rove with no regard for any facts. He's their guy and that's all that matters. They wonder why their credibility is in the basement...

New Techniques for Advertising Effectiveness

BK, Kia in VH1 Integrations

In these times of historically diluted media and savvy, even jaded and overly pitched audiences, advertisers are groping for more effective content, message and methods. Burger King, Kia and VH1 are partnering on a project to test some new ideas on all 3. Results are yet to be known.

I believe more transparent, personal and pertinent messages reach and motivate prospects. Humor and shock always do well with audience memory initially, but persistent pertinent personal persuasion is hard to beat. It's about facts, solutions, value, credibility and respect.

Look at Microsoft's new TV ads. They get to the nitty-gritty. Finances, convenience, value. They've learned they cannot compete with Apple in the media with Jerry Seinfeld and whatever those spots were supposed to be about.

It's all easy to write about, but VERY difficult to do. Watch this space...

The American form of government. (Video)

The Fundamentals of Effective Gov't and Personal Freedom

By today's standards this video is a bit long (16+ min.), but does a brilliant job of explaining what makes the American form of government so special. This independent, non-partisan presentation corrects a misunderstanding most Americans have about our form of government, even the most educated.

You could attend 12 years of public schools and 4 years of liberal arts education in college and not learn these basic facts, precepts and history. Should be required viewing by all 6th Graders in America. It would shortcut much of the foolishness in politics and political reporting.

If you do nothing else today - you MUST view this!

6 1/2 minutes of Brilliance - Watch it now!

Idiots Guide to Government in America

I've been thinking a lot about the fundamentals of the situation politically and economically in the US right now. I want to boil things down to the atomic elements of our problems. Here is my incredibly simplistic, unsophisticated analysis:

10 Easy Steps for Complete Political and Economic Meltdown in America.

1. Foment fear, anger and envy in whatever crisis can be politically leveraged to your advantage.
2. Enlist the support of your PR arm (the MSM) to marginalize anyone criticizing your plans or actions.
3. Rush to institute unworkable, unconstitutional regulations, contracts and law.
4. Do not read your own legislation before voting for it.
5. Lock out the opposition party from attending debates and discussion of these proposed actions.
6. Force Americans to conform to these unread laws under the threat of seizure, fine and/or prison.
7. When these laws and contracts produce ridiculous, destructive and unexpected (to some) results; persecute, demonize and threaten those in compliance in hearings and in the press.
8. Encourage those compliant Americans you persecute to commit suicide.
9. Use the bad results of your faulty legislation to agitate anger and class envy in your constituents against those in compliance with your legislation, to misdirect attention away from your complete culpability for the chaos.
10. Use the ever increasing panic and anger to implement even more destructive unconstitutional legislation.

Sprinkle liberally with arrogance, class envy, bigotry and lies. Rinse, repeat...

Outrageous Political Manipulation!

Zimbabwe's 'beer and cigarettes' Economy

Zimbabwe 'surviving on beer and cigarettes' - CNN.com

Zimababwe has been an agricultural, human rights, military and economic tragedy for the last 3 decades. Now through a power sharing arrangement with the opposition party, Robert Mugabe has remained in power. This article describes the depth of depression and depravity in that nation, as expressed by their new Finance Minister Tendai Biti.

Biti's ability to express his country's sad circumstances in typical African understatement makes it easy to underestimate the staggering human cost, "We are now implementing the basic law of hunting economics," he said. "What we gather is what we eat."

Why human beings repeatedly drive themselves to the depths of depravity pursuing the pipe dream of artificial "social justice" and "economic equality" at the hands megalomaniac micro-managers I cannot understand. It seems the more vigorous that pursuit, the more gullible the populace, evil the leaders and devastating the results.

It's stunning that in this article, the journalist refers to murderous land takeovers that result in the beheaded corpses of the former property owners hanging from meathooks in barns as a , "land reallocation program".

The journalists and media in the 20th and early 21st century are complicit in covering up more evil, death and starvation than any other time. Stalin, Mao, Saloth Sar (Pol Pot), Middle Eastern and African slave traders, Castro, Chavez, Il, and the rest are inevitably excused, pardoned, even idolized whilst stealing from those in their countries they don't murder. The UN turns a blind eye, and the enlightened "journalists" write stories of their victimization at the hands of western powers. When do the UN and ammoral journalist enablers of such evil get their comeuppance?

Simply Unbelievable!

I cannot keep up.

I have never seen such a frenzy of uninformed, irrational and unconstitutional stuff rammed down Americas throat! The legislators are passing bills without reading them, or giving Americans time to read them. They have locked the doors of chambers in which debate is supposed to take place, not allowing the opposition party to participate in the process at all!

They pick and choose targets to persecute, because those targets have conformed to ridiculous regulations, contracts and laws written by the Government. Any American - liberal or conservative should be VERY concerned. No one is safe. Only the luck of NOT being in their sites protects any one of us.

Keep your eyes on this space. I will have a whole host of posts coming soon getting in to the details of the historic proportions of today's political hijacking and persecution.

Paul Hollander - Prager Would Shine His Shoes!

Paul Hollander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I was driving between appointments today, listening to Dennis Pager and heard him talking to an author about a fellow named Paul Hollander. He mentioned that he thought so highly of him that he'd shine his shoes.

With that kind of endorsement, I had to get to a place where I could look this guy up. Here 'tis: The Russian Center at Harvard.

Now I have to add his books to my ludicrously lengthy list of literature...

Cell Phones more Common than Water...

White African: Where African and Technology Collide!

Interesting quotes from a couple of experts regarding the ubiquity of the web. I would think we'd want to make sure people had access to healthy water before an iPhone. I guess my priorities are out of whack. That is, if it's even true. Read the article and tell me what you think.

Extra! Extra! Gregory Behaves like Unbiased Journalist!

March 15: Romer, Cantor, roundtable - Meet the Press, online at MSNBC- msnbc.com

I never thought the Obama Administration would be subjected to this type of questioning. particularly from David Gregory. Kudos Mr. Gregory!

Check it out and mark the date.

Why Bother with Legislation?

DOD Ends Sale of Expended Military Brass to Remanufacturers | Project World Awareness

I've always poo-poohed the right wing wackos that saw an unconstitutional conspiracy behind every Government action, but I must say that the brilliance of this smooth move was slicker than I saw coming.

No need to deal with Congress or the political process. Way too messy, controversial and time consuming. Just regulate ammo out of the marketplace. Guns become historic show pieces, relics of a bygone time of independence, strength and freedom.

What is the right move now? Phone calls? Emails? Anybody up for a million round march?

21st Century Stanley & Livingston Coming Soon on History

Mark Burnett series scheduled on History channel - Road Runner

I am really looking forward to this series. It's a great example of how entertaining TV can be more than vacuous personalities battling in artificially dangerous and dramatic environments. The Hitle, ah, History Channel is one of my favorite networks. Who can forget the series "Dogfights"? The finest combination of CGA and aerial battle strategy history ever made.

The stories of Stanley and Livingston as individuals are incredible. The story of Stanley's search and their eventual meeting against all odds is nearly mythical. True Providence.

Both men knew how to live. Took great risks to pursue great dreams. Not always with the most elevated of motivation.

If you haven't read any of the dozens of books available, here's a couple written by Stanley and Livingston in the late 19th century that you can read free on line at Google Books. "How I found Livingston" by Stanley and "Explorations of Africa" by Livingston and others. Both are in my library and both are spellbinding.

Failure and the Creation of Opportunity

SemGroup

As a follow up to my post on the Semgroup controversy, and Jon Catsimatidis' planned takeover and rehabilitation of the company; I located this official website.

It's a good resource for following what is sure to be a very convoluted road to health for Semgroup. The point I'd like to highlight is how self-interest and public good often go hand in hand. Catsimatidis will undoubtedly make a good chunk 'o change in the deal, but not without considerable risk. But what often gets ignored is the 2,000+ jobs in Tulsa and elsewhere that are likely to be saved AND the likelihood of payment of creditors. Not to mention Catsimatidis commitment to oil independence and the American markets. Catsimatidis did a similar deal in '86 that returned 100% of the creditors money! How many bankruptcy's have you seen that even come close? When self interest and public good are aligned (and they often are) good stuff happens in the pursuit of profits. No regulation, no legislation, no bureaucrats. Just ethical self-interest, a man of character and skill, and an opportunity.

What a country!

Steal Waters Run Deep

Report: Rep. Maxine Waters Helped Steer Bailout Funds to Bank With Family Ties - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

It's the typical political story. Do as I say, not as I do. Glad Pelosi implemented all those ethics reforms.

We're in charge. All we have to do is vote 'em all out. Wreck havoc with their switchboards and email servers. It does work, but we have to stay committed and consistent. They're not giving up the perks from our pockets without a fight.

Profound Thoughts of Economic Justice

I have been thinking a lot about "economic justice" recently because that's a very common phrase used to manipulate people into giving the Government the right to take the fruits of people's labor and play Robin Hood. Here's what the Salvation Army has to say about economic justice. Please don't let the references to Jesus and the Bible give you an excuse to discard the profound truth in their analysis.

"Economic Justice

The Salvation Army believes that all people are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and that we are to "love our neighbor as ourselves" (Matthew 22:39). We believe in the sacred freedom and dignity of persons and are committed to the redemption of the world in all its dimensions (physical, spiritual, social, economic and political). We believe that, as God's children, we are called to exercise a clear priority for the least among us (Matthew 25: 31-46).

The Salvation Army recognizes that poverty is a complex problem and that we will always have the poor with us (Mark 14:7). We are compelled by our love for God to serve "the whole person" (spirit, soul and body).


Jesus inaugurated his mission on earth by stating:

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor"(Luke 4:18-19).

A vital component of The Salvation Army's mission is to "meet human need in His name without discrimination." The Army's commitment to economic justice was expressed in 1890 by the organization's founder, William Booth, in his "Cab Horse Charter:"

"... every Cab Horse in London has Three things: a shelter for the night, food for its stomach, and work allotted to it by which it can earn its corn. These are the two points of the Cab Horse's Charter. When he is down he is helped up, and while he lives he has food, shelter and work. That, although a humble standard, is at present absolutely unattainable by millions of our fellow men and women in this country."


Salvationists affirm the following principles

• All people have a right to secure the basic necessities of life (e.g., food, clothing, shelter, education, health care, safe environment, economic security).

• All people have the right to economic initiative, to productive work, to just wages and benefits, and to decent working conditions.

• All people, to the extent they are able, have a corresponding duty to work, a responsibility to provide for the needs of their families, and an obligation to contribute to the broader society.

The Salvation Army believes that certain societal structures can perpetuate economic injustice and is committed to seek constructive changes in those structures wherever they exist. The Salvation Army endeavors to serve individuals in such a way that the spiritual and social dimensions of their needs are identified and addressed. In this approach we find the very essence of the Gospel expressed."

The Salvation Army has it right. The key here is the Salvation Army's doing it. With small paid staffs and selfless volunteers. Not with laws, coercion, bureaucrats and force. Charity, love and service are none of those when done at the insistence of the Government or in the pursuit of political power. What do you think?

Obama's Ugly Vector

Tech Startups 3.0: Obama, market's least favorite president so far

The curve is unkind in this graph of the market's response to the new Presidents policies. This tells us more than all the talking heads on all the networks combined. Wall Street wants profits and a hope of future profits. They don't see it happening right now.

Admittedly not all of the ugliness is directly in response to Obama, but if he had taken serious, informed action the traders would have jumped all over it. When he selected the people he did for his Administrations most important economic positions Wall Street realized this guy just didn't get it, and accelerated the pitiful slide. Each time Obama or another administration representative took to the mike to assuage Americas fears, they just compounded the problem by exposing their lack of clarity and purpose.

I hope for the best, but Obama's moves so far are likely to be as damaging as Hoovers in '30-'32, perhaps worse. The similarity is stunning. One mitigating factor is the sophistication of the average American today. The wool can't be pulled over everyone's eyes for long, regardless of Obama's favored status in most of America. It won't take years for Americans to respond and demand effective leadership. Even with the MSM in his pocket, the tide is already beginning to turn.

Cramer's a Traitor!

Jim Cramer Shorting Stocks, Manipulating Markets, Saying The SEC Doesn't Understand

I was hollering about this when I first heard about it 2 or 3 years ago. It's funny that the Huffington Post people didn't hear about it until Cramer started dissin' Obama.

They have become so overtly Stalinist, they don't even make an attempt to appear journalistic. Character assassinate anybody on the other side, no matter how ridiculous the circumstances, and protect your guy no matter what he's done. It's a deal with the devil.

I know, because I participated in it when Reagan was in office. He was "tryin' to starve our chilren"! And I relished in it. I knew it was ridiculous, but it was all about slingin' mud on our opponents, it never occured to me how filthy I had become.

There have always been political gangsters, but the mainstreaming of it is breathtaking. It's just rip and shred, the more aggressive the better. It's amazing to watch the shameless destruction of a political system and culture in the pursuit of power.

Dr. Ronald Chevalier - The Art of Relaxating

A Cluster Award winner and master relaxator, Dr Ronald Chevalier is on the leading edge of sonorous personal inspiration. Do yourself a favor and immerse yourself in his unusually insightful, uplifting perspective.

While I almost without exception, have complete disdain for the current crop of popular gurus, even Oprah; Dr Chevalier is uniquely effective at enabling my relaxating, inspirating, and enjoymentating of the web. ;-)

An O'Reilly Apology?

While I'm at it, I thought I'd send ol' Bill another email about another example of his class envy/corporate evil blind spot.

Last summer when fuel prices were completely out of control, Bill pounded the oil companies for profiteering. I thought there was more to the story, perhaps having to do with the speculators in that industry, but didn't have any facts to back it up. Now I do. I wrote about it all in a previous post. If you haven't read it, you need to take a moment to do so. The truth is even more stunning than we thought.

Here's my email to Bill:

Bill,
Last summer you were pounding the gas companies for profiteering. It didn't pass the smell test for me. Turns out the Semgroup, a company out of Tulsa, OK shorted 30% of American fuel and created the price problems. They have since declared bankruptcy, and the details are trickling out. Check out the Steve Forbes interview with Jon Catsimatidis. He's taking over the Semgroup. Please do the story on the fraud and apologize to the oil companies.

I'm looking out for you,
Dr Dave

O'Reilly's Class Envy Cliche's

Watched O'Reilly tonight and saw his flippant excuse of the responsibility of American Representatives and Senators for much of the economic chaos we are all having to deal with. Here's my email to him:

Bill,
Your class envy and corporate hatred cliches are getting a bit old. The Bush administration warned Congress several times that the Government regulations were out of control and were called racists as the result of telling Congress they needed to take action.

The guys that created the rules, created the crash. We can't let them go after the guys that were forced by law to make those loans and have the rule makers get off Scot free.

If Frank can get those guys, Bill, they can get you and me!

I'm looking out for you!
Dr Dave

Extreme PCs and "Homebrewing": Rest in Peace | Tech Broiler | ZDNet.com

Technology Hobbiests Reality vs Fantasy | ZDNet.com

This is an overwrought article on technology enthusiasts demise. I don't believe the high end market is going to evaporate, but like everyone right now, even the geeks have to get more practical about their expenditures.

The enthusiast market has always been an important one, but vastly over rated. True geeks are about 3% of the market. They supported bleeding edge research and encouraged companies to push the envelope in development of new products. But they also encouraged a warped perspective of what effective technology was. We were often led around by the nose by these technologists. Afraid to seem unsophisticated we bought really questionable technology, because we thought we needed to. We couldn't explain why we needed it, but we needed it.

I remember one stunning time in the late '90's when Bluetooth technology was promoted as a life changing technology that was going to be ubiquitous, automate and interface with ever single machine in our lives. I couldn't see how low power, short range radio was a revolutionary technology. Manufacturers had been using their own proprietary technologies for years. I know the standardization was the key, but even today the effect of Bluetooth technology of human life is negligible. Headsets and a few keyboard/mouse products. Big deal. Few if any refrigerators talking to air conditioners, talking to garage doors talking to toilets.

It's not that Bluetooth isn't useful. It's just the breathless reporting about revolutionizing humanity that gets a little weird. Then you have all the cell phone buyers running around buying new cell phones, just to get Bluetooth without having a clue what Bluetooth even is. Good for the technology companies sales reports, but maybe not for the consumers. Sure they should be better informed, but eventually they wise up.

Another segment of the business world that is lamenting the good old days are the technology journalists. Partnering with the technology companies and the PR mavens, they became expert at manipulating public opinion and creating white hot frothy demand for glitzy but mediocre products. They're wondering how they are going to do with with what they view as pedestrian products that actually provide value for consumers. A true test of journalistic excellence.

So now we find ourselves post Bubble II, with the economy temporarily stalled in the fast lane. Consumers are having to carefully consider all expenditures before parting with their money. Companies have to find a way to communicate real value to very skeptical prospects. Sure it's not as much fun, but it's the real world. Like life on the African plains, those tech companies (and journalists) left standing will be truly tested with products of proven value in the real world. That's a good thing.

Romanticized Mass Murder as Curriculum

FrontPage Magazine

University of Texas is offering a class that is the study of murdering thug Che Guevara. I have friends whose relatives were murdered at the hands of this man and his agents. To romanticize him and demonize the US is beyond wrong, it's evil.

William Ayers, Angela Davis and their likes have turned our educational system upside down. You can't teach people this bilge and not suffer the consequences. How did we let this happen?

I still believe it's a tragic '60's hangover that we've been unable to purge from our cultural system. It's incredible how intelligent, healthy, prosperous citizens in the greatest country in the history of man can fool themselves into suicidal self-loathing. I don't understand it.

What one is unwilling to fight for, will be lost. Are you ready to ruummmmbbbllllle?!

The Trillion Dollar Oil Fraud

Shortin' oil and gettin' squeezed, the untold story - Forbes.com

About half way through this video with Steve Forbes and Jon Catsimatidis, Jon drop a bombshell story about a company out of Tulsa Oklahoma that was shorting oil and getting squeezed. If they had been able to make their 500 million dollar margin call things would have been much worse than they are even now.

It's a good 17 minute video and the bombshell comes after about 10 minutes or so. Shocking story, I'll be doing more research, you can bet on that.

Minimum Wage Raise Increases Kidnapping?

OSAC - Honduras Kidnappings on the Increase

In a report by the OSAC (a part of the State Department) a massive raise in the minimum wage in Honduras, has caused a massive increase in unemployment and a corresponding increase in kidnapping.

While I would have never made that connection with kidnapping, I am surprised that the State Department put together the minimum wage increases with unemployment. Someone in the Federal Government actually gets it. Too bad they're not in the Congress or FTC. Perhaps the OSAC needs to do business and economic seminars for Congress, The White House and other portions of the Government whose main responsibility is Economic policy.

Artificial manipulation of the fundamentals of the economy almost always backfire because of the automatic leveling that occurs with people and money. Read the report in the link above, it's the best I've read from the Government in a long time.

When the rule of law is neither

Justices Consider When a Judge Should Bow Out - washingtonpost.com

I wrote in a previous blog on the outrageous injustice of the behavior of many in the House and Senate, along with so many Administration officials with legal issues that have been ignored.

Yet another example of the elite using the system for their advantage. The Supreme Court seems willing to address it, but they'd better act decisively. Once the people see that the system is stacked against them it's over. The respect for the rule of law is vital. Once lost, it gets very messy indeed.

Smoke and Mirrors AND Teleprompters

Obama’s Dirty Little Secret « FOX Forum « FOXNews.com

I could care less if Obama needs a teleprompter, but I do care about the media's complete advocacy for Obama. I don't expect fair reporting and assessment of Conservatives, but do hope for a small fraction of that viciously aggressive reporting of Democrats. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd get complete passes on the destruction of the banking and mortgage industries. Rangle, Geihtner, and others for tax compliance problems. Obama has no serious professional history, and his college records are still sealed. I'd like just one of those topics addressed by Frontline, or Keith Olberman.

A tragic event from my childhood is the most glaring example: Chappaquiddick. A young woman dies in 5 feet of water, the drunk culprit allowed to walk. But wait. He is excused by nearly all good Democrats and becomes one of the most powerful Senators in the nation, and is only narrowly defeated in a run for the Democratic nominee for President. What a sick, outrageous example of elitist injustice.

I know, I know, how silly of me. Republicans are bad guys so they deserve it, and Democrats are good guys so they deserve a pass. Our whole country suffers for the bad policy and dishonest propaganda. Including Democrats.

Just Because I Don't Know Doesn't Mean I'm Lying!

Environmental Capital - WSJ.com : A Heated Exchange: Al Gore Confronts His Critic(s)

I find the resistance to dialog about the scientific basis for man-made global warming the biggest potential confirmation of it's illegitimacy. One who is confident in the facts encourages the opportunity to persuade people, he doesn't angrily avoid interaction.

We live in a time in which the entire culture is immersed in childish superstition and mythology. The litany of irrational judgments and misperceptions is overwhelming. From the rationale behind unlimited abortion, the denial of the free practice of religion in the public square to the demonization of America, it's military and it's businesses, the list runs the gamut of twisted misunderstandings of life, morality, justice and human nature. It includes the insane perception that criminals and terrorists are poverty stricken innocents created by their victims.

It's the price of out of control secular humanism. Man's inbuilt spiritual nature makes us prone to such neurosis when we stop humbly acknowledging some spiritual higher power. We substitute amoral human imaginings couched in science. Science becomes the worship of the human intellect, rather than the more traditional study of God's handiwork as Isaac Newton and others viewed it. Once that tether to reality is broken, here's no limit to the misuse of "science" in the destructive glorification of the human intellect. Propaganda and emotion rule. Why do you think the first act of tyrants and dictators is to outlaw religion?

Prosperity plays an important role in that tragic neurosis, but that's for another blog.

Great Depression Cooking Ep:6 - Depression Breakfast

The good old days circa 2009

The Internet is now!

Media's Pirate Peril - WSJ.com

Way back in 1999 I watched a 60 minutes piece on the Internet and a busboy who had just started a web site and secured some VC. I don't even remember what the site was, I do know it's long gone.

This busboy enthusiastically said in 2 years he would put CBS out of business and that the reporter interviewing him would no longer have a job. It was incredible chutzpah and obviously didn't happen, but that busboy was only off by about a decade.

This report in WSJ describes Disney's plans to do subscription services for TV, video and other content. There's no question that things were headed in that direction, but this recession has accelerated the process. Newspaper, Radio, TV, Music and Movies are all going away. Not completely, but we will not recognize those media and their radically different distribution models in 3 years. The Internet and the recession are the secret elixir of that metamorphosis.

So in a replay of that 60 Minutes episode of a decade ago; get on board or get pounded by the wave. If you don't we'll be hunting for what's left of you in the foam...

The Architect toTestify

EXCLUSIVE: Rove Warns of 'Show Trial,' Says Dems 'Would Love to Have Me Barbecued' - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

The Libs have been after this guy for years. They are convinced that he is complicit in some sort of illegal firing of Justice Department personnel. Funny thing is the Bush Administration fired only a few people who resisted following through on Administration plans, while Clinton fired ALL prosecutors, and nothing was said. When Dems were told about this they said Bush should have done the same thing or fired no one at all. The fact that only a few were fired was proof of discrimination and was illegal. Now that's a HR recipe for success: fire everyone or no one, anything else is illegal.

It was discrimination - against loafers, insubordination and sabotage. Of course the MSM is beating the drum, so I pray Rove doesn't end up getting railroaded like Libby. Law enforcement types must fight this sort of misuse of the legal system. Makes average everyday, law abiding types contemptuous of it. Once the populace really believes it's all a sham, it is. The rule of law becomes a joke and all control is lost.

We may be only a couple of years away.

Who do we count on now?

I was listening to a national radio show host with a noted writer as guest. They were discussing the recent economic downturn we find ourselves in, and I was surprised to hear them both agree that we had no choice but to place our faith in the Government. This host is a rather Conservative fellow to say the least, so I was shocked. That's not a very Conservative outlook.

There are precious few things we can have faith in. Here's the list in descending order of reliability:
1. Your God - Completely
2. Your family, friends and you - Mostly.
3. the Constitution - Mostly
4. True Conservatives - a lot
5. Conservative Republicans - a little bit.
6. Everyone and everything else - not at all.

It's that simple. The fact that Americans believe they can place their faith in the Government is THE root of our problems. I don't just mean Democratic Governments can't be trusted. I mean any Government!

What has made America great is the incredible combination of personal self-sufficiency and ambition and a structure of Government that encourages and protects that. That form of Government has always been an unsteady compromise between effective enforcement of those freedoms and the instinctual reflex of any Government to grow and protect it's own growth by buying the favor of special interests.

We find ourselves in a historic time, a time only experienced 5 or 6 times in our country's 232 year history. Each time the crisis was used by the political elite to consolidate power. Are we going to react in the same way and allow the elitist pit us against each other to further erode our freedom and prosperity?

The American people have never been so powerful. We ARE waking up. It's been a rude awakening, no doubt. Now we have a real responsibility. It is completely up to us...

One-of-a- Kind Broadcaster Dies at Age of 90

Broadcasting pioneer Paul Harvey dies today

Paul Harvey is one of 2 people who saved AM radio. Without him I would not have gotten in the business and wouldn't be in it today. He was a real pro, and proved that being the best you, is always the best thing to do. It works even when the experts say otherwise.

God bless you Paul. Keep on showing me the way.

The Obama Baseline - James C. Capretta - The Corner on National Review Online

In Government Less Doesn't Mean Less, More Doesn't Mean More

I've known this for a while, but I realize many of us don't. Its worth repeating. When the Government says it cut the budget, it doesn't mean it's less. It means it grew by a smaller amount. I know, it's ridiculous but true.

Elegant Solutions: Mmm Mmm Good! Campbell's "Stop-Doing" Strategy

Another Counter Intuitive Insight

At least for me. It's easy to get stuck working hard trying to make something work that just isn't going to. We all admire those brilliant business people who know when to get into a business or product line at just the right time and make a killing.

It's at least as important to be able to time getting out intelligently. It's ironic that I was discussing this very skill at a luncheon with a very successful realtor today.

It is not a skill that comes natural for me. Whatever success I've enjoyed generally came by beating things to death. Just shear determination and stick-to-it-iveness. That's an important trait too, but knowing when to move on is a real advantage. It allows you to concentrate on what's working, and avoid the negativity and stress that can come with a struggling product. Read the article, it's very insightful.

150 Year Success Story Folds

Rocky Mountain News No More

After 150 years The Rocky Mountain News ceases publishing Friday. Another iconic newspaper down the drain. An example of not keeping up with change and printing content that people want. There are many theories as to what the primary problem is. The method of delivery comes in to play, but ultimately the issue is content.

Unfortunately, as the heat is applied economically management tends to take the focus off content and into revenue exclusively. The content degrades slowly over the years, with no apparent negative effect on readership or revenue. But all of the sudden at some point the threshold is crossed and nobody's listening, nobody's advertising, and ultimately nobody has a job.

Radio is experiencing a similar process. It's slower, less dramatic, but potentially just as catastrophic. If we keep the focus on revenue only, making excuses for content we know is poison, we may go the way of newspapers.

There is hope for radio. Some companies get it. We've been very fortunate that our affiliates remain focused on content quality, believing that revenue will eventually catch up. Let's hope that people don't leave radio the way they did newspapers. Radios delivery method is big positive, but does not inoculate us from the 3 most important things in media: content, content, content.

What about the Constitution?

Senate Approves D.C. Voting Rights Bill With Gun Amendment - D.C. Wire -

The vote taken today is in direct contradiction to the Constitution. All they need to do is run an amendment through, have it ratified and it would be legal. Right now it's political chaos. Otherwise embassies, Military bases, and even Guantanamo Bay should have elected representatives. See my blog warning of this: In defiance of the Constitution

MSNBC Intro

Gov. Jindal: 'Oh God'

No matter what side of the isle you're on you must admit the lack of professionalism is stunning. They have completely given up any effort to appear serious or journalistic, not to mention unbiased. I feel like I'm living Tunnelvision. Only a lot less funny...

The White House - Press Office - Executive Order: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects

The White House - Press Office - Executive Order: Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects

Obama quietly signed this executive order in the third week of his administration to mandate the use of union labor only for Federal projects. At first I was angry, but then I realized that maybe they would destroy our Government like they have our educational system, auto manufacturers and other heavy industries, then we could get back to a Constitutional American government.

Sure to happen, but it will be an excruciating wait.

In Defiance of the Constitution

Voting Representation for the District of Columbia: Violating the Framers' Vision and Constitutional Commands

The latest in a long line of unconstitutional legislation is being voted upon today in the Senate. s. 160 provides for a Representative for the District of Columbia.

To put this in perspective, the Constitution treats the District of Columbia as a special Federal possession similar to a Army base, dock or a "Federal town". Not a state. Much like Guantanamo Bay.

We have come to believe that the Constitution is a set of suggestions that can only be violated if it makes real sense and helps people. In fact it cannot be violated at all, whether it helps people or not. Any prospective law MUST promote the common good AND be Constitutional. Period.

Our Governemtal problems are all either created or exacerbated by the political manipulation and even defiance of the Constitution. All we need to do is insist that our Legislators live up to their oath of office, or face impeachment. Everyone has given that up, so we have no recourse. We vote as fools, for fools pretending it's OK to "Federally" steal from our fellow citizens. We are now just along for the ride.

Draconian new toy legislation (CPSIA)

Information on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA)

I realize that few if any of you are going to read this legislation, but we now have a law in place that has caused 10's maybe even 100's of millions of dollars of inventory to be tossed out.

Most Americans have no clue how this legislation has and will destroy the toy industry among others. Congress has no idea how to implement legislation that is effective and reasonable. They are so much in the palm of the Environmental Wackos (not the responsible environmentalists), that they don't even know what damage they've done.

The lawsuit and insurance costs are going to go through the roof. Be prepared for an East German like business environment. It was tough before with the crazy OSHA and EPA regs. Now it's repressive. Just what we need in this tough business environment.

We MUST get informed and active. We must go on the offensive. We can't wait until it kills our own products, by then it will be too late. Whether its' the Fairness Doctrine (or it's stealth terms like localization, diversity and public interest), global warming, or CPSIA; will destroy the freedom and prosperity we always enjoyed.

All totalitarianism is for the good of the people. This is how it happens.

Enormous Arctic Sea Ice Error

Due to sensor drift, the recent seasons Arctic ice count was UNDERcounted by 193,000 square miles - roughly the size of the state of California. While I don't fault anyone for making an honest mistake let's see how the mainstream media handles it. You won't see a mention, I'm sure.

The carte-blanche we give scientists, journalists and politicians is amazing. These are humans with faults and frailties as significant as any other profession. Sometimes worse, because some abuse their trusted position. We often treat them as though they are immune to the same character flaws and weakness that any other human has, and we are so impressed with their position that we abdicate our responsibility for remaining vigilant. How many similar errors have we not heard about because the media is in the tank? Check out this earlier blog of mine about a media guy/scientist who is bucking the trend: The Amazing Story of the Global Warming Scam.

When you have scientists, journalists and politicians get together to promote an idea like man-made global warming, you've got potential for catastrophic fraud. The trustworthiness of that mob has got to be subterranean.

Fannie Mae Ex-Officers Sued by U.S. - New York Times

Fannie Mae Ex-Officers Sued by U.S. - New York Times

Hand it to the NY Times. They may be going out of business, but they did report what was going on with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This story is from December 06.

Not real hard to find. I'm just doing searches on the NYtimes.com site for FannieMae. This one is about Franklin Raines and two other top officers who were being investigated for fraud and questionable accounting while at Fannie Mae. I may have to take back all the mean things I've said about the NY Times.

Guess who is an Obama economics advisor?

New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae - New York Times

New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae - New York Times

Gottcha!

This is not a current story, it is a NY Times article dated September 11th 2003. That's right, 6 years ago! It outlines the Bush administrations warning - one of at least 3, that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were broken and at great risk.

The solution proposed by the administration is absolute idiocy, but it proves what almost no one is aware of - or is unwilling to admit - that this financial meltdown was not Bush's fault. It's seeds were own decades ago, and the last 10 years we have been shoveling fertilizer on it. The Liberals had the shovels. And when they were warned about the financial reality, they accused the Administration and Republican Senators of being racists.

Read the article, it contains some compelling details. How much do you remember hearing about this?

Fannie Mae to Restate Results by $6.3 Billion Because of Accounting - New York Times

Fannie Mae to Restate Results by $6.3 Billion Because of Accounting - New York Times

I'm on a jag now, looking up Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac reports that no one took seriously. Again the NY Times of 12/7/06.

We have no excuse.Yet another example of the failure of the MSM to do their job, although the Times did cover it, it never got the legs it should have. Why not? Who squashed it?

Recovery.gov blocked search engine tracking | Surveillance State - CNET News

Recovery.gov blocked search engine tracking | Surveillance State - CNET News

I am not going to get into the details of all the significant mistakes the Obama administration has made in it's first month in office. I don't have the time , but I must say that they have proven that what they say they are doing and what they do are often completely unrelated. Recovery.gov is just another example. It was put on the Internet with code that blocked Googling.

One can only guess why the administration would do that. Would it be because the web team is incompetent and didn't realize their mistake. Would it be because it would then be more difficult to search for key terms that the administration isn't particularly anxious for us to learn about? I can't say. But I do suspect the later.

The good news is they seem to be VERY sensitive to political pressure, so they removed the offending code within hours of the blog uproar. Proves just how important we have become. The days of mainstream media checking these guys is long gone. It's up to us now. I think we are up to the job.

The administrations commitment to transparency is just an empty promise that we must diligently monitor. This isn't the first nor will it be the last time they try to pull the wool over our eyes.

Ebony and Ivory circa 1970

I was thinking about my experiences with other races and cultures as the result of the rather embarrassing comments today of our new Attorney General.

One incident sticks out in my memory. I had a very good friend in 6th grade at McGogney Elementary School in Southwest Washington D.C. We both lived in the middle of the ghetto, about 6 blocks from the area that was burned to the ground after Martin Luther King was killed. His name was Marcellus Greene. He was a gifted athlete, bright student and more rational and insightful than any current politician I can think of. He was black, I white and as was often the case we were walking down the hall between class discussing our insane world and what we could do about fixing it. We had decided that ultimately racism can only be eliminated if people of both races stopped attempting to gain advantages based on race, but how hard that seemed to be to avoid.

Marcellus and I were taken aback when the teachers we passed in the hall became very emotional after overhearing our discussion and friendly agreement on the solution. Teachers came up to us crying, congratulating us for our insight, maturity and overall cute wonderfulness.

We thought they were nuts.

Looking back, we were cute and wonderful, but we were right too. And still are. Here's to you Marcellus.

Attorney General of a Nation of Cowards

Holder: US is nation of cowards on racial matters

I am so steamed about this I can barely write. I must ask once more: how much bigotry and hatred must be practiced to eliminate bigotry and hatred?

Here's my considered response to Holder's speech:

Mr Holder,
I have lost all tolerance for the warped perspective you and other America haters express about the country I love and it's citizens. With all due respect-screw you! I cannot believe that an appointee of my President, and a man in service to the people of America would make such an outrageously bigoted and false statement about my wonderful country.

This country once fought a devastating war, brother against brother, for four torturous years. That war cost around $2.5 million daily. An official report in 1879 estimated Federal costs totaled $6,190,000,000. The Confederacy spent somewhere around $2,099,808,707 more. The total casualties of 1,094,453 brave souls means more Americans gave their sacred lives and were wounded in that war than any other war before or since. By 1906 another $3.3 billion had been spent by the Federal government for Northerners' pensions and other veterans' benefits. That war was fought to end slavery and keep the Union together. The very existence of this country was risked to make right the horrific wrong of one American enslaving another.

During that war an American President risked his health, his life through multiple assassination attempts, his political power and position, and his wife's sanity. Ultimately he sacrificed his life to free American slaves.

In the 1960's LBJ spent over $305.7 billion (in 2009 dollars) in Great Society spending primarily in an attempt to make amends for the injustice of slavery, segregation and institutional bigotry throughout American history.

The Americans have freed more people of all races than any other country on the face of the Earth. In just the last 8 years we have freed over 50 million men, women and children in Iraq and Afghanistan. People can vote for their leaders, are relatively safe and no longer fear the death squads of their own evil leaders. Brave Americans volunteered to do this, and many gave their lives to do so.

Now we have an African American President and Attorney General and after all this we are a nation of racial cowards? What country on Earth could you possibly be talking about? You sir are an idiot!

I hold you in utter contempt not because of your race, but your ignorance and hateful bigotry. I refuse to be lumped together with whatever negligible remnants of cowardly racists may remain in this country. Show me just how brave a man YOU are by apologizing sincerely for your incredibly thoughtless, insulting statement. You are a hateful fool. I am embarrassed for you. Bigotry is evil whether based on race or country, when practiced by a person of any race. Period.

You are the Attorney General of the United States of America- grow up and get serious. The collegiate, liberal "bravo sierra" no longer cuts it.

I hope I don't regret this. I haven't typed what I really wanted to though, believe me. I usually try to cool off before I write, but this flummery demanded a strong, quick and clear response. Elections do have consequences.

THE Secret to Prosperity

Economic Truth and Economic Fallacy in the United States

In this article Tor Dahl, the productivity expert presents the reality of success in business and economies. We try to cheat in this regard, but we always end up paying. Productivity gains are the silver bullet, if there is one.

His criticism of six sigma is particularly refreshing. We have become a completely risk averse culture and are paying dearly for it. Six sigma, among other phenomena play a big part in it. When you focus completely on preventing failures and errors, as important as that is, you lose the ability to take rational risks for big productivity gains. You think you have too much to lose.

Tor doesn't put it this way, but a little dose of roughneck American Cowboy attitude is sorely needed. Read it and wake up to a reality you can work with. The answers aren't in D.C.

Retail Sales Rose 1% in January - WSJ.com

Good Economic News in Spite of Everything

Hard to believe, but retail sales are up 1% in January along with very slightly reduced jobless claims, according to this WSJ story.

While this doesn't mean that all is well, this is an indicator of Americans getting a grip on the realities of their situation and making adjustments in spending. The sky is falling reports have been overblown, and Americans are realizing this and spending slightly more.

The challenges remain, particularly in the automotive, housing and financial segments of the economy. Add the additional long-term economic stress of the "Porkulus" bill, and it remains to be seen just what the future holds.

Power, politics, gossip on daily call - John F. Harris - Politico.com

Politics Obliterates Objective Journalism Once More

Here's an open letter I've written to the folks at ABC and Disney:


I am troubled by ABC News reporters participating in daily phone briefings of the White House Chief of Staff.

Much of the value of news reporters and news organizations is in their credibility. Without that, even the most well connected and gifted reporter is suspect. I believe you do ABC News and the American people a great disservice by not clearly dealing with the obviously compromised objectivity of George Stephanopoulos. While I am not surprised by his bias given his history, I am greatly disappointed in the manner the issue has been dealt with and the apparent lack of concern of ABC News management.


Assertions of this type of behavior were leveled at other news outlets during the Bush years, but were of course unfounded. Ironic that this is occuring at ABC now. This is yet more evidence that the proud history of traditional American media is being trampled, along with it's business viability - by itself!

Alas all things must pass. I suppose that includes ABC News. Very sad...
Dave Mason



Click on the link at the top to review the full story on The Politico. Sad indeed.

Zero Hedge: How The World Almost Came To An End At 2PM On September 18

Media ignores another historic, catastrophic story!

Thank goodness we have the Internet, talk radio and other alternative media. Otherwise we'd never know that on September 18th, we nearly had a complete economic collapse and no one in the mainstream media is covering it. The evil alternative media that our national political leaders want to shut down is exposing the truth, at least for the time being. Click on the link to read the story and view the CSPAN video of a Democratic politicians discussion of the event. Frightening. Not so much that it occurred, but that it's gotten no coverage in the conventional media. And we have no idea who did it or why it happened. We must have transparency and accurate coverage of the facts or we will be unable to hold our politicians feet to the fire. Believe me, until that happens we are at their mercy, and whatever economic, political and cultural destruction they continue to railroad into law will occur without our consent, but will occur. And then be blamed on Conservatives...

It is becoming incredibly difficult to continue to be optimistic in light of what is going on right now. The porkulus bill passed in the Senate yesterday and now the Democrats are excluding the Republicans in all conference discussions today. So much for bi-partisanship, huh?

We simply MUST wakeup and give 'em heck in DC. Our livelihoods, freedom and indeed, the existence of America as we know it are at risk. Call, fax and email the President and your representatives now or else!!

The Amazing Story Behind The Global Warming Scam

Former ABC weatherman and Weather Channel founder continue's to risk his career to expose the truth...

Thank goodness there are a few brave souls willing to talk about the weakness in the scientific case for global warming. Of course, they now call it "Climate Change" to allow tying any weather change to humans and ultimate destruction.

John Cloeman's fact based, rational presentation of the history of the Global Warming panic phenomenon is compelling. His frankness and audacity are refreshing. I wonder how long John Coleman can keep it up before he is forced to protect his career and capitulate. You must read it.