The Won’s One World Order

Don’t think that I don’t know that many of you out there think we are stark raving mad here at Dewey’s. What with our strident insistence that team Obama - that was swept in on sweetness and light - harbors a not-so-thinly disguised dark strain of socialism that they intend to impose on the Republic.

May I submit as exhibit A in our defense the following article from American Thinker? I present, you decide.

Department of Justice ditches red, white and blue stars and stripes

Bruce Cunningham

Well, how interesting! It seems the U.S. Department of Justice has changed its  website. Gone are the colorful red, white and blue U.S. flag decorations on the page,

replaced by stark black and white.

And at the top of the page, is a rather interesting quote:

"The common law is the will of mankind, issuing from the life of the people."

Catchy, huh? Just one tiny little (too small to be relevant obviously) point -- the quote is from C. Wilfred Jenks, who in the 1930's was a leading proponent of the "international law" movement, which had as its goal to impose a global common law and which backed ‘global workers' rights.'

Call it Marxism, call it Progressivism, call it Socialism -- under any of those names it definitely makes the DOJ look corrupt in their sleek, new black website with Marxist accessories to match. 
See for yourself:  http://www.justice.gov/

How very interesting that 'they' couldn't find a nice quote from one of our Founders. People, we have lost our Republic. We need to get it back ASAP.

H/T Larwyn, who also points out that this gives context to the Department of State’s idiotic decision to take Arizona’s state law to the UN – arguably the largest body of Marxists/socialists  on the planet.

Why the Peaceful Majority is Irrelevant

A friend sent this today. It’s an email making it’s way around, and is frequently accredited to a German by the name of Dr. Emanuel Taney. And while there is an Emanuel Taney who is a holocaust survivor,  investigation seems to indicate that this piece was written by Paul Marek as an op-ed titled Why the Peaceful Majority is Irrelevant in 2007. It’s still true, and only grows more relevant as additional time passes.  Worse than doing nothing, we are now bending over backwards to accommodate the “religion” that set the new world of terror in motion. We bow, now, not only to the demands of Islamists who chastise us, but also to the demands of the willfully blind, politically correct fanatics who just want us all to go along to get along.

Here is Mr. Marek’s original editorial. A simple, straight forward history lesson. Pass it on, maybe some of our fellow countrymen will wake up. Before Islam owns us, before we discover we have lost control and the end of our world has begun.

Jewish children being transported to Chelmno, a Nazi death camp: never forget 

 

I used to know a man whose family were German aristocracy prior to World War II. They owned a number of large industries and estates. I asked him how many German people were true Nazis, and the answer he gave has stuck with me and guided my attitude toward fanaticism ever since.

“Very few people were true Nazis,” he said, “but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.”

We are told again and again by experts and talking heads that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unquantified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.

The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars world wide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or execute honor killings. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard, quantifiable fact is that the “peaceful majority” is the “silent majority,” and it is cowed and extraneous.

Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China’s huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people. The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a war-mongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across Southeast Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians - most killed by sword, shovel and bayonet. And who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery? Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were “peace loving”?

History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt; yet, for all our powers of reason, we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points. Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by the fanatics. Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don’t speak up, because, like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.

Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Bosnians, Afghanis, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians and many others, have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late. As for us, watching it all unfold, we must pay attention to the only group that counts: the fanatics who threaten our way of life.

Burning people jumping from the WTC. Never forget.

Atrocities are often committed by “fanatics.” Wake up people. It took but 19 “fanatics” to permanently change the world. No, Islam is not a religion of peace. It’s not even really a religion. It’s a fanatical political system comprised of religious, legal, political, economic and military components. The religious component is the mask behind which all the other components hide.

Our constitution does not protect political systems that are antithetical to our democratic republic. Got that? We are on a path of national suicide and the usual useful idiots are caught up in their own stupid, post-modern, rhetorical fallacies.

For the last time, can we all please heed Mr. Burke’s admonition: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”                

H/T L. Alexander

Your Tax Dollars at Work.

 

from IOTW via American Digest Sidebar

I’m quite certain I need say no more about postmodernism in education, do I?

If anyone wishes to interpret Professor Haraway’s profundity, or at least advise what language she is speaking, feel free to take a crack at it.

And while I don’t often recommend Wikipedia as a source, her entry there does prove that this was not just an isolated case of over-medication. Enjoy. 

Do you see now why it was so easy to elect an emperor who had no clothes?

At Least We’re Not Cleveland: Part Deux

We reported last February that Detroit was officially not the Worst City Ever, when Forbes gave that “honor” to Cleveland. It appears they are not about to give up that title without a fight.

Broke and deeply in debt, Cleveland recently decided to spend $2.5 million on garbage cans fitted with microchips to monitor use. Mark Gillespie reports on blog.cleveland.com that Cleveland is implementing a new mandatory recycling program that will fine you $100 if your garbage is not sorted between “garbage” and recyclables to Waste Collection Commissioner Ronnie Owens’ liking. 

The new automated garbage pick-up and recycling program uses automated garbage trucks that allow the garbage man to sit in the truck, rather than get out and dump the garbage by hand. According to Mr. Gillespie, “Cleveland owns three of these trucks and plans to buy more.”

Hard Working Garbage Man? (blog.cleveland.com)

But the big part of the new garbage policy is the high tech, Big Brother style monitoring of your recycling habits. The new garbage cans are fitted with microchips which will wirelessly report to “garbage central” how often you recycle. If you fail to meet Ronnie’s expectations, you will be issued a civil penalty packing a $100 fine, and your garbage will be inspected by the Garbage Police to see if you are putting “recyclable materials” in your regular garbage can.

Once again, in spite of the corruption, crime and desolation of Detroit, we Motown residents can stand up and proudly declare:

“At Least We’re Not Cleveland”

That’s Going to Cost You $100

No Further Questions, Your Honor.

None needed.

 

PS MOTUS had a swell re-cap of Jack Webb’s Copper Clapper Caper, here.

H/T forkarrie

The Year of Living Unexpectedly

Motor City Times has reported on a $154 million  “unexpected” loss at Vestas – the world’s largest maker of wind turbines:

The unexpectedly poor financial results come amid recent warnings from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) that the previously buoyant US wind market was in precipitous decline and desperately needed positive new policies from the White House.

In case you’re a political neophyte, that means you are going to pay subsidies for  yet another money-losing proposition.

This is kind of important in Michigan, where our lame duck governor has declared the state a hot zone for green energy development. In fact, Jennifer Granholm has declared that Michigan’s future depends on it. That’s unexpectedly disturbing, given that the industry itself is not, without huge government subsidiaries, sustainable. So I hope we don’t give up entirely on the auto industry just yet. Although we do still have the plan for urban farming in Detroit  on the table too.

But the bad news from the windmill farm was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unexpectedly bad economic news lately. Also “unexpected:” higher new unemployment claims this week, at 500,000. Oh no!  But still, it’s a far cry from the 500 million jobs that Chairman Nancy threatened would be lost if  Congress didn’t pass the $900 billion stimulus last February. I guess that number must include all the undocumented workers in the country as well. Idiot.

“My point? Right here. On top of my head.”

For the record: 48 out of 50 states have lost jobs since the Stimulus Bill passed. Good job, Nan.

Equally “unexpected:” employers expect health care costs to increase nearly 9% next year! How the heck did that happen?!!! Stupid non-partisan CBO. Well, don’t worry. Government costs will decrease. Unless, of course, they unexpectedly increase too. Unfortunately, that’s the way the indicators are trending – which is a surprise to many people in the government.

Did I mention that manufacturing indicators have declined? Unexpectedly. Now, in addition to spooking Wall Street,  we’re sucking the wind out of Europe too. I don’t imagine they expected that.

And the housing sector: well, housing starts were unexpectedly lower than forecast. And the Obama administration’s mortgage relief program intended to prevent 3 million foreclosures? Due to the unexpected continuation of Bush’s recession, it looks like 2.8 million of the targeted group will lose their homes after all. So far.

And here’s the strangest of the strangely unexpected economic trends: “worse than expected consumer confidence numbers.” Wow! Who could have seen that coming?

Thank goodness Labor Day is just around the corner. I don’t think we can take much more of this  summer of unexpected recovery.

 Perhaps this summer’s victory lap was as ill-advised as the “Mission Accomplished” sign.

I Do Not Like This Uncle Sam Either.

Larwyn sent the Dr. Seussical poem, to brighten our weekend, I added a few optics and RBJ sent this best-political-cartoon-ever to set the mood (forgive the French, but it loses something in translation). Enjoy.

 Cartoon by Dan Collins and H/T: RBJ

Too bad someone didn’t follow through on that one, eh? And now a word from Dr. Seuss:

 I DO NOT LIKE THIS UNCLE SAM

I do not like this Uncle Sam,

I do not like his health care scam.

I do not like those dirty crooks,

Or how they lie and cook the books.

I do not like when Congress steals,

I do not like their secret deals.

I do not like House Speaker Nan,

Nor do I like that ‘Yes, we can!’

I do not like the spending spree—-

Because I know that nothing’s free.

I do not like the O’s replies,

When I complain about his lies.

I do not like this kind of hope.

I do not like it. Nope, nope, nope!

 

I do not like ObamaCare,

As it will only raise the fare.

Obama will not save the day,

He’ll only scare the docs away.

And presidents should never bow;

Should we, could we, impeach him now?

I do not like Afghanistan,

Al-Qaeda or the Taliban.

But if we plan to win the fight

We need to fight with all our might.

We cannot tie our soldiers’ hands,

With wimpy generals in command,

And orders not to shoot to kill;

Of that I’ve simply had my fill.

I do not like that wife Michelle,

With eyebrows that came straight from Hell.

I do not like her attitude,

Or being lectured on my food.

A hypocrite she has become,

While flying ‘round on Air Force One.

I know that I don’t need first class,

‘Cause I don’t have that same wide ass.

I do not like that Biden guy,

But better that he’s drunk, not high.

And Jarrett, Axelrod, and Rahm,

To get their way would kill my mom.

I do not like Obama’s plan

To spend as quickly as he can.

To spend much more than we all have

Is just a temporary salve.

The bills we someday all must pay—

Not leave for just another day,

For grandkids that we leave behind,

Will always have our debt in mind.

O’s bloated budget we must cut,

To get out of this debtor’s rut.

We can’t afford his cap and trade,

Or billions more for foreign aid.

We have to end the public dole,

Hard work must now become the goal.

The borders must be sealed quite tight,

To stop invaders left and right.

The racist charges we’ll ignore;

The main thing is to mind the store.

It is quite simply common sense,

To build a long, strong border fence.

To keep illegals out, yes, that;

Undocumented Democrats!

The bitter pill we need to take,

Is that we made one huge mistake.

But God he’s not—he’s just a man,

And we’ll evict him, “Yes we can!”

The emperor, he has no clothes,

And as he gazes down his nose,

He thinks he is the best of all,

But soon he’ll take a mighty fall.

We’ve taken measure of the man,

And spread the word as best we can.

November 2 will be the day

On which we take his power away.

The media will be enraged,

That citizens became engaged.

The O will curl into a ball,

Or pound his fist against the wall.

His leftist schemes will have been stopped,

Despite the COLB he Photoshopped.

Deport him soon, we’ll try, we’ll try!

And cause Michelle to cry, cry, cry!

We’ll take control from sea to sea,

Restoring every liberty!

And then we’ll see it, yes we will…

That shining city on the hill!

First 14 lines, Kono at IOTW; remaining lines: Don Fredrick

 

You are now free to move about the country.

Just because you can…

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

 

 

Respect their memory.

 

H/T MJ at MOTUS Comments

Steroids: Not Just for Pitchers Anymore

Given all the pressing problems that one might wish our country’s elected officials to address, (e.g. unemployment, illegal immigration, trade imbalances, underfunded social security, unfunded Medicare/Obamacare, foreign oil dependence, nuclear Iran, etc.) you might think Roger Clemens’ steroid use would be way down the list.

Let me be clear: Congress’ concern with Clemens isn’t that he used steroids and/or human growth hormone. It’s that he lied!  To them – the Pooh-Bahs!

Personally, I don’t care if Roger Clemons used horse tranquilizers. And I sure as hell don’t know why Congress does. A Snickers bar to the first person who can explain why Congress is spending their time and our money on such nonsense as steroids in sports and - even more pressing - the issue of how college football teams handle playoff games. Since it’s too obvious, “in order to take the spotlight off the Rangel/Waters ethics hearings” is not an acceptable answer for purposes of this contest.

Are their mouths moving?

 

I have been wondering when “lying”  to the government became a crime, and a crime worse than extortion, bribery, fraud and voter intimidation? Even in Catholic school lying’s only a venial sin -  not likely to leave a permanent stain on your milk bottle.

The last time I looked Congress was still a function of the legislative branch of government, not the Judicial. I thought they could only prosecute their own members. But even if I’m wrong about that (and apparently I am), the rules of fair play should dictate that any citizen is free to lie to Congress. After all, they lie to us with more regularity than the MSM (whom I also advocate lying to).

Additionally, is there anyone in the country who doesn’t know that Congress has been operating on steroids for decades?

The one illegal substance that I’m quite certain Congress doesn’t use - and maybe should - is human growth hormone. Aside from Madame Pelosi, the rest of the batch could probably stand to grow a few.

Fancy Nancy, carrying her nutcracker, on the way to the Capital to pass Obamacare. That’s Rep. John Lewis, holding hands with Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer.

Dear 43, How About Grabbing a Mop?

I’m sure Maureen Dowd speaks for many others in the supportive media when she explained that the Mosque kerfuffle is all George Bush’s fault. She thinks he owes it to her, and Obama, to grab a mop and clean up his mess:

 As the man who twice went to war in the Muslim world, he has something of an obligation to add his anti-Islamophobia to this mosque madness. W. needs to get his bullhorn back out.

Since President Obama and his entire staff left on vacation today, I decided to help out. I’ve drafted a letter that President Obama can send to Forty-three. All 43 will have to do is sign and return the original and he will be designated Commander-in-Chief of the mop brigade. I think it will bring us much closer to the heeling healing process that President Obama envisions.

See what you think:

 

THE WHITE HOUSE Washington D.C.   Dear  Forty-Three, I know that you have a total and ongoing commitment to doing what’s best for America. That’s why I’m calling upon you today to assist me in helping the American people understand why all of the things that have them so wee-weed up are actually the result of misguided policies and decisions that originated in your administration. By stepping up to the plate and taking one for the team, you will be able to help me persuade the folks out there that my fiscal/social policies are the only way out of the morass created by your failed policies.  I also think we can use this occasion as a teachable moment to demonstrate definitively that representative democracy is way over rated when it comes to making history-changing  decisions. Let me be clear: It’s important for me to get you to stand behind me on this, for the good of the country. I trust I haven’t misunderestimated you, and that I can count on you to step up and do the right thing. I also trust that you'll take this suggestion in the spirit that it’s intended. I’ve instructed my staff to draft the enclosed statement. It states that you accept responsibility for the unprecedented problems America now faces, and expresses your remorse. I’ve taken the liberty of ordering new stationary and letterhead for your use as well. After you’ve read the enclosed letter, I’m requesting that you sign it and mail it back to my office for official dissemination. If we determine at a later date (when I return from the Vineyards) that a video would also prove useful in our propaganda education campaign, we’ll arrange for your transportation to and from a government-approved recording studio for videotaping. We will also provide you with full use of the official Teleprompter Of The United States, and lunch. Letter follows, on official stationary:       THE BUSH RANCH Crawford, Texas Hello, fellow Americans. My name is George W. Bush. I recognize that there are a lot of tensions weighing heavily on the citizens of this once great land of ours. I also realize, and take full responsibility for, the problems that I created over the 8 years that I occupied the Oval Office. Thanks to my policies, programs and decisions – with absolutely no help from the Democrats in Congress – I created, or saved from being resolved, all of the thorny issues that President Obama is dealing with today. Allow me to elaborate: First, for 8 years I allowed my pals on Wall Street to rape the little people in America by selling them homes they couldn’t afford. I simultaneously allowed them to con savvy investors into buying and selling complicated mortgage derivatives that they were incapable of  understanding. We all know  now how this led to the world wide financial collapse and eventually the “Bush recession of 2009-12.” Then there’s the undocumented worker problem. It is driving a wedge between those Americans who have to deal with the gangs, crime, drugs and other costs - monetary and social - of having their states overrun by undocumented workers flooding across the borders , and those who don’t.  This whole mess got out of hand because John McCain and I, who both completely backed unfettered amnesty for undocumenteds, backed down. We allowed ourselves to be cowed by the will of a pack of racists who don’t really know what’s best for either themselves, the Democratic party or this once great country. I also know all too well the great divide that’s been created between the “drill here, drill now” crowd and the proponents of clean, green energy. This rift has recently grown wider due to my letting BP drill recklessly in the Gulf of Mexico even after I left office. Now that President Obama has plugged that damn hole, let’s all agree that it will be much wiser and safer to abandon our pursuit of carbon based energy in this country and throw all of our resources into the development of wind, solar, green battery cell power and mice on treadmills. The science is settled, and the math couldn’t be simpler: wind and solar are free, battery cells are sustainable because we make them in factories (and we’ve already created hundreds of new jobs) and mice don’t eat much. So rather than opening up the hundreds of thousands of federally owned acres for exploration and production of dirty oil/gas/coal, I’m now in full support of pursuing only clean energy. And I’m quite sure that our publically educated scientists in the employ of the Department of Energy, under the fine direction of Noble Laureate Dr. Chu, will figure out in no time how to get the laws of thermodynamics to bend to our energy plan. At that point, our clean energy initiative and human waste recycling programs will  provide us with all the energy we will need to fuel the economy of this once great country of ours. And I want to apologize to the American people for not slapping wage and price controls on doctors, hospitals, insurance companies and other healthcare providers while I was in office. This would have controlled all the runaway medical costs we’re now facing.  After all, similar controls proved quite effective when Richard Nixon implemented them - I think Jimmy Carter can tell you that. I also must apologize for the drug pricing deal I cut with Big Pharma in order to get the Medicare drug bill passed. Don’t be mislead. Just because it looks - aside from being much smaller - identical to the deal President Obama’s team cut with the pharmaceutical lobby in order to get his healthcare bill passed, it was my deal  that plunged us into a $13 trillion deficit, not his. My failures in this area are what made it necessary for Congress to pass the increasingly unpopular Obamacare. As we get further into the details of the plan that Congress passed before they had a chance to read it, it appears as though we won’t be able to afford all the bells and whistles that were previously part of the greatest healthcare system on earth. So, as the quality of care deteriorates in this once great country of ours, and since it’s my fault, our new national healthcare plan will henceforth be referred to as “Bush-care.” And lastly, I wish to apologize for attempting the fool-hardy plan of taking the fight to the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. Had I only realized that all I had to do in order to appease this very tiny radical minority of Islam was extend my hand in peace and friendship, I never would have launched two foolish wars that President Obama is left to prosecute. I’ve left him between a rock and a hard place. But for my careless actions, he likewise would not have to endure all of the hateful, personal criticism for his inability to successfully triangulate his position on the Mosque at Ground Zero issue. You must see how difficult it is to effectively straddle this line: having to appear sensitive, on one side,  to people whose children, wives and husbands had to decide whether to jump out of burning buildings to their death, or stay and burn to death. On the other side, there’s Islam - the great religion of peace that has made so many cultural contributions to our once great county - that wants to erect a shrine at Ground Zero. That’s a call that’s clearly above any President’s pay grade. I’m sincerely sorry for having placed Mr. Obama in a position where he has to make a call. In conclusion, let me just say “I’m sorry” for ruining the economy of the entire world, causing America to be despised by our Muslim friends, as well as the French and Belgians, because I chose to act in a dismissive, and at times derisive manner. President Obama can fix all the problems I created but it’s going to take time and your support. Thank you for your cooperation, and “assalamu alaikum.” George W. Bush Failed Former President of the United States So, George, give me a call if you need any clarification on any of this. I’d give you my private Blackberry number, but you know how the SS is. If I’ve made everything clear, just sign and return it in the enclosed, self-addressed, stamped envelope . I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s best for the country, and the least you can do after stirring up that hornet’s nest in the Muslim world, just to get even with them for trying to kill your daddy. Hope things are going well for you on the ranch. You’re not too close to the border are you? I hear there’s been a little trouble down there lately. Take care, and give my regards to Laura. And 41. Sincerely,   Barack Obama

 

One thing is not like the other

 Maureen Dowd is so beside herself with loathing of Obama’s equivocation over the Hamas-que at Ground zero that she’s invoking George W. Bush to give the Won a hand (emphasis added): 

George W. Bush understood this. And it is odd to see Barack Obama less clear about this matter than his predecessor. It’s time for W. to weigh in.

This — along with immigration reform and AIDS in Africa — was one of his points of light. As the man who twice went to war in the Muslim world, he has something of an obligation to add his anti-Islamophobia to this mosque madness. W. needs to get his bullhorn back out.

And - even though this was just a way of fingering Bush as the source of yet another malaise hanging over the country - whenever MoDo invokes the name of George W. Bush without referring to him as Bushie, you know she is in deep existential despair. But that’s not even the worse part:

… Obama presents himself as a paragon of high principle. So when he flops around on things like “don’t ask, don’t tell” or shrinks back from one of his deepest beliefs about the freedom of religion anywhere and everywhere in America, it’s not pretty.

Followed by:

Let me be perfectly clear, Mr. Perfectly Unclear President: You cannot take such a stand on a matter of first principle and then take it back the next morning.

Here’s the problem MoDo, he never really presented himself as a paragon of high principle and moral value. He presented himself as an empty vessel for you and your ilk to fill with your hopes and dreams. You never so much as peered curiously over the edge, into the crock, to behold it’s vacuous depth.

Here, then, is my most sincere advice for Maureen and others. When you select future candidates to cleave to, follow Martin Luther King’s advice: try to judge a man on the content of his character, not the color of his skin.

Racist.

One thing is not like the other…

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

"The Cambridge police acted stupidly."

He Speaks Truth to Power

…the quislings speak of power as if it were the truth.

Compare and Contrast…

 

Our last best hope is the ballot box in November. If we don’t stop them there, God help us.

H/T MarianWW

A Short Compendium for a Hot August Afternoon

 

Hot Afternoon on Pell Hill                     Hudson River Painter

A short compendium of good reads from the wonderful world of blogs for your Sunday afternoon perusal:

Warning: Contents not verified

Fausta’s story of the Crash-proof motorcycle. To be remembered when someone wants you to rely on a “fail-safe” system.

Something Wonderful from American Digest: the best ever resignation. Makes the idiot from Jet Blue look like an amateur. Ok, it was phony, but apparently so is Stephen Slater.

Greg Gutfeld’s plan to open a gay bar next to Cordoba House Mosque (aka Park 51). Greg and Glen discuss possible names.

The EPA: dangerous at any speed. Another agency acting with impunity. From Steve at Motor City Times

Thomas Sowell’s How Smart are We? Just because it’s Thomas Sowell.

Just for the optics: from Moonbattery, Shirley Jackson Lee, hard at work for the American People. You all remember Shirley of astronauts-on-Mars fame who, it it were up to her, would just have the government take over the oil companies. For their own good of course.

Re. Ground Zero Mosque (GZM): This one could go on for ever, as Legal Insurrection hints, but here are just a few:

Don Surber’s searing question: Hallowed ground for whom?

Doug Ross’ review of the Prez’ unloading of another ton of … crack-pottery

Charles Krauthammer on why this is Sacrilege at Ground Zero.

Nice Deb’s musings on Sarah Palin’s reminder to the Won that this is not above his pay grade.

Barry Rubin’s Why today’s world must understand the crimes of communism in order to survive.

And of course there was MOTUS’ birds-eye view.

And from there we go to Socialists in our Midst:

From DougM at SondraK: great anime plus a link to the Gateway Pundit for the complete list of Congressional members who are also members of the Democratic Socialists of America. And as Doug points out: these “ are just the congressional jackasses who admit to being socialists.”

Of note to Michiganians: Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (history) and John Conyers are members. Of special note, Conyers is also on the Judiciary committee. Can you spell “dangerous”? How about “November”?

That’s really enough for a hot Sunday afternoon.

Islam Creeps in on Little Cat Feet…

That Muslims can build a mosque at the WTC tells you everything about America. That they WILL build it, tells you everything about Islam.

                                                                        Dennis Miller

Here’s a dramatic re-enactment of the creeping Islamazation of America:

via  iOTW , who says: When the birds fly away – GET OUT!

Facts About Elias Abuelazam You May- or May Not- Know

The suspected serial murderer of 5 black men in Michigan who was arrested while attempting to fly home to Israel is not Jewish, as MsNBC’s initial reporting implied. Nor is he “white” as reported across many media outlets earlier. He may or may not be Catholic, as reported by the Detroit News. He may possibly be a member of some other Christian sect as reported elsewhere. Technically ABC was correct in stating that Elias Abuelazam is an Israeli-Arab: sometimes referred to as a Palestinian, under other circumstances.

And while he was in the United States on a green card, it had long since expired – which is so often the case these days.  And yes, while he had married (and divorced) an American woman, he never bothered to use that opportunity to gain legal status. So he really wasn’t in this country legally as reported by ABC, NBC, CNN and CBS and FOX.  Aside from that, it looks like the MSM  - who was crawling all over this story with political correctness if not accuracy – got this one  right.

Intrepid blogger Debbie Schlussel (who has an accuracy rate of about 99.8% on these issues) reported the following:

Serial Killer Who Targeted US Blacks is Palestinian Arab Illegal Alien, Police Hid “Mid-Eastern” Description

For the record: no one (including Debbie) has yet claimed that Mr. Abuelazam is a Muslim. So we’ve got that going for us. Never-the-less, given that this crime spree was perpetrated by a “middle-eastern” man against primarily black men, it leaves the race industrialists on the horns of a dilemma. But I’ll bet the ACLU can make some hay out of it. Even if it turns out he’s just a nut case.

Solid Reasons to Join My “No Incumbents” Club: With Notable Exceptions.

A comment on my “Smart Nerd vs Loud Pol” post reminded me of something I heard on Frank Beckman’s (excellent) WJR morning radio show the day after the Michigan primary, when he was interviewing the winner of the Democratic primary. But I’ll get to that in a bit.  

First, the comment:

“Only one problem: government is not, never has been, and never will be a business. In fact, it is not supposed to be a "business". We have government for those things which business does not and cannot do. Protect the country, enforce the law, keep the water clean, prosecute crimes, etc.
Why a businessman would have an edge in running a distinctly non-business entity like the government is beyond me. The purposes, goals and capabilities are nothing even similar.” 

In these days of crony capitalism, it would be nice if business and government were two completely distinct pursuits. In reality though, the private and public sector have more in common than you might think. And they can both benefit from basic business skills.

First, let me explain why I disagree with the hypothesis that “the purposes, goals and capabilities (of business and government) are nothing even similar.”  There are differences between private and public enterprises, chief among them the requirement for profit in the private sector. Because, after all, without these profits there would be precious little tax basis on which to fund the public sector. But generating profit in no way means that the skills required to do so are not equally beneficial in the public sector.  General business skill is general business skill. GM and Microsoft. are not similar businesses either. Yet regardless of whether you are an auto manufacturer or a computer software company certain general business functions must be executed in order to remain solvent: design and deliver products that people want or need at a price they’re willing to pay.

The U.S. Government ought not be any different: as long as taxpayers are receiving what they believe are valuable services they will continue to “buy” what Washington is selling.  It’s when they start charging for non-existent services (as occurred in the case of the original American Revolution), or services the people really don’t want (Obamacare) that the people rebel.

For not only is government a business, it’s the biggest business in the country. It has a Profit and Loss statement just like any other business entity. It charges money (taxes) for products and services which it delivers to end users (want them or not). It’s just not a for-profit enterprise, and a monopoly at that. One that’s currently running a deficit of trillions of dollars. That’s not a sustainable business model, I don’t care who you are.

When you don’t know how you’re going to pay your employees, cover your operating expenses and pay off your long-term debt, you’re headed for bankruptcy.  With any other enterprise, this would entail a huge shakeup and belt tightening.

Any CEO will tell you that managing the enterprises’s financs is the singularly most important part of their job. You simply cannot commit to costs that you don’t have adequate funding/financing for. But the legislative and executive branches of government –state and federal – do it repeatedly. And worse, they kid themselves  and lie to us about having adequate funding, knowing that when the bill comes due it will be someone else’s problem. If you play games like that in business you get fired or prosecuted. In government you’re likely to get re-elected. Indefinitely.

So, here are my reasons for wanting an elected official to have business experience before seeking to “serve” me – aside from the fact that I’m just plain tired of lying weasel career politicians :

1) Because the government is granted the right to take our money in the form of taxes to allocate as they see fit, it might be nice to have someone guiding the appropriation and redistribution who understands the basics of accounting, financing and fiduciary responsibility. Instead of career-pols whose primary concern once in office is to raise enough money to get re-elected.  

Most politicians knowledge of “financing” goes no further than filling the coffers for their next run. Far too much of a politician’s attention is spent on “fund raisers:” events where  businesses that hold - or wish to hold - government contracts (aka Crony Capitalism) come to contribute large stashes of cash for the politician’s re-election bid. These events also attract lobbyists who expect to get face-time to advance their clients’ causes in exchange for their large contributions of cash (this is equally the purview of  “non-profit” special interest group lobbyists, such as every union in the country and “industry” lobbyists, a sub-set of crony-capitalism.) Ordinary citizens’ votes are bought sought with various community based pork projects funded with someone else’s money.

2) Because government can and does declare war, it would be reassuring if those required to authorize such action had demonstrable skills in setting and clarifying objectives,  real world strategy, (vs. white board navel gazing) implementation/execution protocol and contingency planning. Not because those things are their direct responsibility, but so they will be able to recognize a flawed strategy, an unattainable objective, a weak implementation when it’s presented, and demand better. Many of our politicians have no experience in these critical skill levels beyond getting elected (Obama’s claim to fame) or re-elected.

3) Because the government writes the laws we are required to fund (via endless regulatory bodies) and live by, it might be nice if elected officials understood that they are minimally accountable for reading the bills they vote on. The law of unintended consequences is not sitting well with the angry mob.  CEOs are responsible to their board and shareholders for decisions they make and actions they take. If they do so unwisely, without understanding the import of what they are authorizing, they are subject to termination and/or a jail term. (see “fiduciary responsibility” above). But apparently most pols are too busy to actually read the legislation they vote on. Instead, they just follow the directive of their party leader, in hopes of getting enough money from the Party to get re-elected. I would remind sitting politicians  that the Nuremburg defense hasn’t worked out very well for anyone who’s used it thus far.

And the fact that government has ventured far,  far beyond what “only government can do.” (e.g. Legislation on everything from water per flush  to the kind of light bulb I can buy to what kind of healthcare I can have.) Many of the things they “do” for us they wouldn’t have to “do” in the first place if they were limited to what the original framers intended.  And don’t get me started on imminent domain. Do not.

Then we have one of the primary responsibilities of government: “protect the country” which includes protecting citizens from foreign invasion across our border. This, the politicians claim, they can’t do. So instead of doing what they are responsible for, they chose to do something they are not responsible for: something we most assuredly don’t need them to do – healthcare. Which I can assure you they likewise won’t be able to do.

But let’s put those reasons aside and focus on the candidates for Governor in Michigan. Both men agree that business experience is critical to Michigan’s future. I think they’re right. 

Both candidates claim to have “business experience.” Republican candidate Rick Snyder is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist and former President and COO of Gateway computers. Democrat candidate Virg Bernero is “… a  seasoned veteran of Michigan's political scene, having served previously as a county commissioner and as a state representative and senator in the Michigan Legislature. He also served as the executive director of a statewide non-profit association…”

Rick Snyder has created businesses, created jobs and knows what Michigan needs to do to attract private sector business. Check, check and check.

Virg Bernero has, well, gotten elected. So, he's got that going for him. Listen to CNN’s “Angriest Mayor in America” tell WJR’s Frank Beckman  about his business experience, and how he’s business friendly. You will note that he has memorized and can reel off all of his campaign’s rhetoric without barely taking a breath: demonstrating years of experience running effectively for office:

He doesn’t, however, know what a Profit & Loss statement is. But he’s here to help “working men and women,”  defined by Virg as “union members” (the “working poor” must be non-union members)  Virg takes credit for decreasing the deficit in Lansing while the majority of cities in the state teeter on the verge of bankruptcy. He fails to mention that Lansing has done better than most because it is the seat of state government and the home  of Michigan State University. It has more highly paid state employees than any other city in the state. So, he’s got that going for him too.

Yep, I’m going with the real businessman in the Michigan race, with certain equivocations noted in the original post. Career politicians learn nothing as well as how to work the system to get what they and, by extension, their contributors, want. For Virg, that appears to be moving up the ladder to the governor’s office. And he brings the full support of all the state’s labor unions with him: from the UAW to MEA.

Elected Public Official: you’ve got to love the power and the perks. Yet 98% (my estimate) of elected officials of both parties have proven themselves unfit to serve. Let’s start over. Preferably with people who have a grounding in reality instead of wishful thinking, a knowledge of our country’s Constitutional roots (which include a healthy disdain for and wariness of government’s inevitable bias to do harm) and a genuine respect for principles on which this republic was founded.

And with that, I endorse Rick Snyder for governor of the 2nd worst run state in the union. It would hold the number one position, but for its size. That honor goes to California. They’re working on a green economy too.

PS. Exempted from the “no incumbents" rule are Thaddeus McCotter and Mike Rodgers, due to a solid grasp of all of the above points.

The Michigan Giant Awakes

Well, Good Morning Michigan! Finally, our sleeping giant has been awakened from his dangerous sleep.

I have no editorial comment to add, just read this. It’s on American Digest via Neo-neocon . It’s from a fellow Michiganian. A Union Michiganian who’s finally had it it: with his governor, his party, himself for his role in it all.

As Gerard said, “This is Whitman’s “barbaric yawp sounded over the roofs of the world.” This is an American Citizen speaking, and it is the sound and sign of Democracy awakened. It is the voice of the people betrayed:”

Enter here, all ye who have abandoned hope. Here it is copied in total from American Digest:

Syoung809132001: The Voice of the People

Neoneocon found this commenter’s cri du Coeur deep inside the Washington Post’s long stream of comments castigating the Journolist quislings it still keeps on the payroll. I've corrected the spelling and punctuation and added paragraphing for pacing. Otherwise I have changed "Syoung809132001" words not one whit.

These words are long, strong, worth reading and absorbing. This is Whitman’s “barbaric yawp sounded over the roofs of the world.” This is an American Citizen speaking, and it is the sound and sign of Democracy awakened. It is the voice of the people betrayed:

I urge the new Republicans who are now running to reach out to the unions. We are weary. We know we are a big part of the problem and we are ready to compromise and work together.

Hell, I used to buy all of the spin. I am guilty of doing too little research and just toeing the party line because I was too busy. I’ve got plenty of time now. I’ve got plenty of will now. To say I regret all of the above doesn’t do it justice.

However, as a penance for the error of my ways, I am willing to take any kind of pay cut, benefit cut, furlough, whatever just to be able to feed my family and not have to worry about the bills and the roof over our heads. I am willing to cut whatever corners are necessary, learn whatever new skill is required to just get people working again.

If I never have to hear the words GREEN JOBS from my governor’s mouth again I would fall on my knees in gratitude. Fancy ideas, cotton candy spun dreams do not materialize into real paying jobs.

Our entire state of Michigan was sacrificed to the green job pie in the sky promise. Michigan now resembles a third world country. Whatever it takes, with whatever party candidate who has a realistic, adult answer will get our union votes.

The rose colored glasses are gone, I am turning accusing eyes at my so called “advocates” and I am bringing a hell of a lot of people with me.

I am an adult. Speak to me as an adult. Do not whine and point a finger of blame at a minority party for your own failure. ADULTS admit when they have made a mistake.

It is becoming clear to me who the irresponsible children are who go on a crazy “who cares” spending spree, and then become irritated when the people aren’t appreciative of their irresponsibility. And it is apparent who the adults are who are standing up screaming: “NO! STOP! YOU IDIOTS!” We will soon see which side the majority of the electorate is on.

I only regret I have one vote to cast. It is a dog eat dog world out there and the Democrat party wrote their own obituary with their utter foolishness. I played a part in that foolishness. I regret it utterly, but thankfully a tragic and deep lesson has been learned. If nothing else, I am grateful to be awake, thinking on my own, and seeing the light for the first time. It is a miniscule silver lining to a very dark cloud.

And here is the same commenter again, a bit earlier (at 11:53:50 AM on the same day, addressing the author of the article where he’s commenting, Ezra Klein who, in his callow way is trying to convince all and sundry that the recession is over and happy days are here again):

This is really pathetic, how old is Ezra Klein?

PLEASE be sure to head over to Michigan’s ghost towns, boarded up shops, and empty parking lots. See the lines teeming at the unemployment offices. See people lined up for food stamps and tell all of those people that the “slow recovery is right on schedule.”

What a complete and out of touch idiot -- one of many tone deaf, over confident fools that seem to make up our media nowadays; the same media who will be stunned speechless when the auto workers of this country turn on the Democratic party, and either vote Republican as a protest, or don’t even show up to vote at all.

We are everywhere in this country, but mostly we are in the blue states. We are beyond fed up with promises. We are beyond fed up with being taken for granted by our non-representing representatives. And we are determined to make a deafening exclamation point at the ballot box on Nov.2.
After being unemployed for nearly two years, I am over the blame game of GOP versus DEM. Who in the heck cares?

It is clearly obvious that NEITHER party has the answer. I am game to vote in someone who has EXPERIENCE RUNNING A BUSINESS, has never served in Congress, isn’t reading a speech off of a teleprompter that someone else wrote, and doesn’t REEK of the stench of corruption.

Maybe that person will rise above the pettiness -- “They are the party of no-wah - we only have a supermajority” -- and for a change do something that WORKS!

I have been a Democrat all of my life. I am a union worker in a generation of union workers. My entire family are union workers. We are all Democrats. Not a one of us has even the slightest problem voting against the democratic party, The democratic party doesn’t exist anymore. We don’t recognize it, we don’t like it, we don’t buy what they’re selling and very soon WE will be giving THEM a pink slip.

And then this, today, in response to the craven Matt Yglesias’ evil and overwhelmingly dense Welcome to the summer of fear .

Pure and utter drivel, Sir.

Let me see if I get this straight: If I disagree IN ANY WAY with the Obama administration, I am either a racist (courtesy of the black caucus), a xenaphobe. (According to Mayor Bloomberg and the other reptilious NY politicians), simply too stupid to understand the complexity of the issue (repeat that again, Reid or Joe Biden?).

This is absolutely hilarious and speaks of a "high schooly" clique of "group think."

Let us come up with a new word that will be in much use come Novemember 2, 2010: OBLITERATION,

We will look back at that once vaunted political party inappropriately named "Democrat" and tsk-tsk while shaking our heads in wonder at the sheer buffoonery of a man with the spine of a ham sandwich for a president; a senate majority leader who single handedly bankrupted his own state of jobs, evicted a huge swath of his constituents with his rubberstamping of an agenda of failed fiscal policies and socialist ideals the country rejected; a speaker of the house so universally loathed that her approval ratings seldom make it out of the teens, a woman who spends taxpayer money like water on libations, flights, bon bons and God knows what else for her friends and family; a congress that acts like pompous sniveling pantywaists worthy of the court at Versailles. Add to them a media with yearlings such as Klein who can't be more than a score and 5 years old; Krugman who is so rabid that only the most lack-wit lemmings put any credence into his overly inflated tripe, and the estimable Dionne, who can be depended on to toss out the race card on, at the very least, a weekly basis.

We will point out a wax doll in a museum of the species titled "Democrat", chuckle to our children, and say, "Child, THIS is what happens to those who underestimate the American people. Should you grow up and try such folly, you too, will one day be an oddity, to be pointed at, mocked, and thoroughly despised as well."

DEAREST Matt, I recall your name on the JOURNOLIST. Please do get back to your partners in crime at the new, but not improved CABALIST, and relay our fondest wishes and the unfortunate news that the gig is up. One has that most fabulous invention called the Internet, where we can do the most amazing trick. We can go from blog to blog, or to this site called Real Clear politics, where we can read 20 articles from different papers AND see the JOURNOLIST talking points in each one, and who the constant repeat offenders are.

Tick tock, simpleton -- only three short ,short months to go.

 

Pass this on to everyone you know: Syoung809132001 is far from alone.

Vernor’s : It’s Still What We Drink Around Here! 2010 Club Event

In the first entry in our “Things Detroiters Like”  category last year, we told you the story of Detroit’s unofficial, official beverage: Vernor’s Ginger Ale. Later, when we found out about the Vernor’s Ginger Ale Collector’s Club, we reported on the club’s 2009  Event.

Today we are pleased to post the details of the greatly anticipated 2010 Vernor’s Ginger Ale Collectors’ Club  Summer Event:

 Click Here to Download the 2010 Event Flyer pdf.

This year’s Summer Event kicks off Saturday, August 14, 2010, at 10:00 AM in Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub on Woodward in the heart of downtown Motown, with delicious Vernor’s floats, memorabilia,  collectibles, and photos next to a ginormous Vernor’s sign.

Delicious, nose tingling Vernor’s float

 

Foran’s  once housed the Detroit ticketing office for the historic Grand Trunk Railway, which ran coast to coast. It has been a pub since 1935.

 

 Foran’s circa 1935

  Foran’s today

At 11:30, the action moves to the Guardian Building for the Vernor’s Float Drinking Contest (unclear on the rules, but don’t say we didn’t remind you that Vernor’s gets up your nose and can cause great distress), photos next to the Gnome sign and a tour of the lobby of one of Detroit’s greatest architectural treasures, the “Cathedral of Finance.” (One of us used to work there!) The art deco, Byzantine, Aztec lobby alone is worth a trip downtown.

 

Lobby, looking up into the mezzanine

  Mezzanine Elevator Banks

Stained glass window in Lobby

Exterior

Exterior at night 

But imagine enjoying Boston Coolers in the midst of this opulence! It’s enough to make your nose tingle just thinking about it.

Then at 12:30, it’s over to Hart Plaza for the Vernor’s Plant site walk (which is to say, the memorial Vernor’s Plant site walk. It’s where there used to be a Vernor’s plant, with Boblo Boats docked in front.)

before heading back to Foran’s at 1:15 for Collector conversation (again, unclear on what that is), lunch (you’re on your own, but Foran’s has great food) and a book signing by author of the “Images of America: Vernor’s Ginger Ale”, Keith Wunderlich.

So if you’re in the Detroit area and want to have some fun, come on out to the 2010 Vernor’s Adventure Summer Event and enjoy a frosty glass of Vernor’s: It’s what we drink around here.

It don’t get no better than that. Enjoy the rest of the golden summer.