The White House Channels Don Corleone

Amendment I
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

Congress shall make no law, but Barack Obama and his White House posse can do any  thing they please.

Watch out, Bob Woodward, this administration makes Richard Nixon look like Billy Graham.

Rand Paul Gives A Nod To Chuck Hagel

Chuck Hagel is now Secretary of Defense thanks to a 58-41 vote in the Senate.  Troubling indeed.  But even more troubling was Rand Paul's yes vote. Why did this heretofore ally of Tea Party conservatives vote to confirm?

According to a Paul spokeswoman:

Paul spokeswoman Moira Bagley told Yahoo News. "As he has said before, the president should be entitled to some leeway on his political appointments. That is why Sen. Paul voted in favor of Sen. John Kerry, with whom he largely disagrees on foreign policy, to serve as secretary of state, and that is why he voted for final passage of the nomination of Sen. Hagel this evening, with whom he also disagrees on a number of issues."

So . . . if Obama had nominated Michael Moore for the job, Senator Paul would have voiced his opposition to the nomination, supported a filibuster, but then voted to confirm when the nomination managed to ooze onto the floor of the Senate because "the President should be entitled to 'leeway'"?

First of all, I haven't noticed this President giving the Republicans any leeway when it comes to Sequester, the budget, immigration reform or any other legislative issue. Leeway, it seems to me, ought to be a two way street.  Secondly, I don't believe that leeway in appointments ought to include the unfit, the unqualified, or the dangerous and there is ample evidence that Chuck Hagel falls into all three categories.

This scenario has become all too familiar, different plays with the same plot.  The President demands, the Republicans protest and then (after a self described heroic battle) cave while making excuses for their capitulation.

But  lately we've had hope that some new faces in the Senate, Paul's included, would be willing to stand and fight for immutable conservative values and principles (They are immutable, aren't they?).  After yesterday's Senate vote, that hope dims!

Grab A Tissue And Prepare To Be Encouraged

Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of the Deity; and without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing.
Francis Bacon  

We, who follow politics, see the busy, the mischievous, and the wretched on a daily basis . . .  So how inspiring it is to witness a genuine act of human goodness


. . .  goodness that even a misanthrope can't deny!

Michelle Obama's Oscar Surprise!

. . . It's not what you think!  Why should we be surprised that Michelle Obama appeared at the Oscars last night?  The long time cozy relationship the Democrats in general, and the Obama's in particular have with Hollywood is well known, if not legendary.

What I found surprising is that her appearance was merely live via a big screen satellite hookup, presumably from the White House.  While it was intrusive and annoying it was sorely lacking in the excessively ostentatious department.

To really offend and irritate the sensibilities of the average hard working American, Michelle should have ordered up an Airforce jet, assembled her entourage of hairdressers, wardrobe people, makeup artists, secret service agents, and those good looking service persons/background props then secretly jetted off to Hollywood . . . at our expense! Come on, Michelle!  You're a Democrat and an Obama for God's sake. You have standards to maintain. Why didn't you give us what you *know* in your heart we deserve . . . the "Royal Flush"!?

A Woman's Right To Choose

The Second Amendment . . . a woman's prerogative

H/T impliedinference.wordpress.com

Shame, Shame, Shame!

The president is on a campaign to urge Republicans to do *something* to stop that dreaded Sequestration. "Doing something" in Obamaese means "capitulate".  His weapon of choice, is shame.  He intends to shame the Republicans into compromising their principles and abandoning all common sense in order to avoid a Sequestration that he (the President) demanded.  The details on Obama's preferred solution to avoid total ruin are a bit sketchy, if not non-existent, but you know, you have to agree to a solution before you find out what the solution was that you agreed to.

The thought of it makes my head hurt!  Even worse, the prospect that the Republicans could possibly fold on this issue, is heartbreaking.

It's time for a reality check.  If implemented, Sequestration will not deliver a fatal blow to our economy, heck, it won't even decrease spending. It will only decrease the rate of increase in our national spending frenzy (My head is starting to hurt again).  Is it optimum . . . no, but it won't take a meat cleaver to our economic future.  The cleaver in question is in fact wielded by Mr. Obama himself.  He's used it on our Constitution (with his crippling regulations and his rule by executive order) and the financial futures of our children (with spending so out of control and irresponsible it can only be classified as generational theft). Quite clearly, the cleaver, and the shame that goes with it, belong to Barack Obama.

In Obama's America . . .

through regulation (FDA, EPA etc) and taxation, the family farm may cease to exist   . . . ripping out the heart and soul of America.


Don't let it happen!  STAND UP! This is NOT Obama's AMERICA!

Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

Is it even possible to *reform* insanity? 

We can, however, begin to restore sanity by enforcing our borders.  Trying to discuss any further *immigration reforms* before that is accomplished is an exercise in futility.

While we're waiting, let's try to agree on the definition of illegal and work on some comprehensive welfare reform.

This might not produce new, monolithic voting block, but it just might help save the country (a goal we used to think was worth pursuing).

Happy Presidents' Day . . .

To all of  them . . .

Oh, and to him too (If anyone can find him... [Try the golf course]). . .

Update:

We found the reincarnation of Ben Hogan!  And has he got a Presidents' Day greeting for YOU!

BarackObama Barack Obama 21 hrs

Happy Presidents' Day! pic.twitter.com/CnSkCqXv

Just when you thought he couldn't *possibly* think more highly of himself than he already does . . .

Does Anyone REALLY Know What Time It Is? (Your Sunday Inspirational Sermonette In Song)

. . . I know a lot of people in Washington D.C. don't. Do you?


H/T to God, by way of Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

Happy Valentines Day, Everyone!

I may be a misanthrope, but I still have a heart!

Six Weeks Into 2013 . . . How Many Vacations Have YOU Taken?

If you happen to be the President of The United States, that number would be two.  Let me do some quick math . . . (2 goes into...) . . . That would be one vacation every three weeks!  How DOES he maintain this gruelling pace?  This time he'll be vacationing among the *people*, you know, the common folk in West Palm Beach. (Don't be so judgemental!  After all, the *rich* are  people too and they're very common in West Palm)

Hopefully, time on the golf course in the warm sun will allow him to recover from his exhausting performance at the SOTU.  Sustained prevarication can be really draining, even to the well practiced.

Update:

To add insult to injury it has now been reported that while Bronco romps on the links in West Palm Beach, our belle, Michelle, will jetting off to Aspen to ski (in something sleeveless), or something. You see, family vacations are SO passe. . .  pre-2008 even!  These days, since we're picking up the tab, the sky's the limit.

SOTU: A Concise Summary

All you need to know about the SOTU via The Looking Spoon

Parched! The Republican Response To The SOTU

Predictably, CNN, CBS, and others had a field day ridiculing Marco Rubio's dry mouth moment during his Republican response to the SOTU address. Senator Rubio even made fun of himself after the fact.  Still, one would hope that the substance of the Senator's message won't be lost due to his untimely thirst. Unfortunately, the main stream media is never very charitable and can even be slightly <cough> petty when it comes to anyone of the conservative persuasion.

Be that as it may, if we must judge our leaders solely on external appearances, I'd rather go with the thirsty guy . . .

than the guy who attracts flies!

. . . How about you?

Rand Paul: Tea Party Response to 2013 State of the Union Address

Did you feel like you needed a shower (and a stiff drink) after enduring the SOTU monologue last night?  Well, here's a palate cleanser.  This is well worth watching . . . an excellent speech by Rand Paul.  Please pass it around.

In Search Of . . . The Perfect Glass: Our Misguided Priorities

The State Department has informed us that they won't be answering any more questions about Benghazi.  Apparently, they've told us all we need to know, and after all, they're REALLY busy . . .

The U.S. Department of State once again has resumed its search for providers of high-end crystal stemware and other tabletop glassware, only this time the estimated cost has leaped back up a couple of million.

The estimated price tag previously was $5.4 million, but had dipped to $3.5 million at the time of the initial report. That estimate has jumped to $5 million--though State assures taxpayers that it will not spend more than $2 million on the glasses in any given year over the five year life of the contract.

Now, before you get all wee wee'd up over a perceived lack of justifiable priorities, the fine people at the State Department go on to explain . . .

Not just any crystal pieces, according to the solicitation, but only those “of the quality that is sold in high end retail department stores for fine dining, such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Lux Bond & Green, Borsheims, Michael C. Fina, etc."

Because:

The United States international relations, national interest and success are, in part, built upon the ability of our ambassadors to entertain host country nationals in our embassies and residences abroad. In this regard, furniture, art and tableware that are provided by the Department of State to our embassies and residencies abroad represent U.S. cultural and manufacturing excellence to our host country guests.

Well, that certainly clears things up, doesn't it!?

. . .  Still (call me silly), I wonder if $5 million might be better spent on upgrading embassy and consulate security?  Because I just don't see how goblets from Bloomingdales would have prevented (or survived) that night in Benghazi.

Pelosi: "We Avow The First Amendment," "People Have A Right To Have A Gun."

Perhaps she should take her own advice and read the Constitution to see what's in it.  I could be nice and call her confused, but I won't.  I think she is a dolt.

*They* Only Keep Us Around For the *Revenue* We Generate (As Sung By The Supremes)

I'm speaking, of course, about liberals.  They have nothing but contempt for conservatives, but keep us around so we can finance their coming entitlement utopia!


... I feel SO used . . . but maybe there's something we can do about it!  I have an idea!  How about electing conservatives with spines (and balls!)?

Perhaps It's The Sensible Thing To Do . . .

Via Breitbart:

In response to sequester cuts, the Navy will ground the Blue Angels.

This was revealed by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert last week, when he sent out a memo showing the Navy's plan for complying with the cuts.

Grounding the Blue Angels for half a year will entail canceling 30 shows and will save approximately $20 million.

Greenert says the Navy is already making cuts "because of Congress's failures to pass...spending bills last year," and if sequester hits it will cost them an additional $4 billion for 2013 alone.

Thanks to the total incompetence of our so called leaders in D.C. we will be deprived of an symbol of American military might.  No, it's not in the same category as providing our troops with hot meals and proper weaponry, but the Blue Angels are a representation of American exceptionalism. You remember American exceptionalism?

So although it may be the sensible thing to do, I HATE it and find it tragic that we're being reduced to less than ordinary (in so many ways).

We really need to fix this while we still can!

F-16s For Ye, But Not For Thee

Certainly everyone is aware that someone in the "fighter jet dispersement" department of our federal government has decided to gift  16 F-16s to Egypt.  If you can figure out why anyone would think that's a good idea, I need to hear from you . . . but I digress!

In a seemingly unrelated matter, today it has been reported that Senator John Cornyn is threatening to hold up the nomination of Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense due to his failure to make clear his position on selling F-16s to Taiwan.  It seems that Taiwan wants to buy some F-16s, but there is opposition to such a sale from those who think that it would antagonize the Chinese.

So here's the deal.  We are giving F-16s to Egypt, but we're really iffy about selling the same jet fighters to Taiwan.

The inmates really ARE running the asylum!

God, help us!

Let Me Get This Straight . . .

The Pentagon has decreed that women will be allowed in combat by 2016

Photo by Nate Abrew

. . . While a New Jersey school has instituted a no curse rule just for girls.

What kind of Bull Sh*t is that?  I mean think about it . . . No, REALLY think about it!

Boy! Does The Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Have A Red Face This Morning!!

On Saturday (just a day before the Super Bowl), the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy was doing a little chest thumping and self promotion.

While the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers compete to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy this weekend, eco-friendly fans and city leaders in New Orleans are competing to maximize sustainability practices to the fullest.

To make this the greenest Super Bowl, the New Orleans Host Committee has partnered with fans and the community to offset energy use across the major Super Bowl venues. The exterior of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome features more than 26,000 LED lights on 96 full-color graphic display panels, designed to wash the building in a spectrum of animated colors, patterns and images. The system draws only 10 kilowatts of electricity -- equivalent to the amount of energy used by a small home -- and the lights are expected to last for many years before needing replacement.

 On Super Bowl Sunday, only minutes into the third quarter, the funniest thing happened.

. . . The lights went out!

Oh, the symbolism.  Oh, the hilarity.  They "washed" the exterior of The Dome with lights, but apparently no one thought to check the lights on the inside? Impressive! You can't beat the efficiency of a comprehensive government subsidized program! Fortunately it only took them 32 minutes to find the fuse box, and the game continued!

Epiphany!

For the first time in history, according to a new Pew poll, a majority of Americans (53%) now believe that government is threatening their rights and freedoms.  This is especially encouraging to those of us who have felt that way for years.  Though it's tempting to condemn the new converts for being slow to recognize the obvious, it is doubtlessly more productive just to be gracious.

So to those of you who have crossed over into the light, Welcome!  We share your concern.  Our nation has drifted away from the principles on which it was founded and our beloved Constitution is being shredded. It's time to right the ship, and head for safety. Everyone grab an oar!

And while you're rowing . . . enjoy this song which is strangely appropriate ... just sing it to the Constitution.

(And yes, I know this isn't Air Supply, though the government will probably try to limit our air supply next!)

Andrew Breitbart Would Have Been 44 Years Old Today

Gone, and sorely missed, but his spirit and his work live on!