CARPE DIEM
Michael Barone -- About one-third of the $787 billion stimulus package was directed at state and local governments, which have been facing declining revenues and are, mostly, required to balance their budgets.
The policy aim, Democrats say, was to maintain public services and aid.
The political aim, although Democrats don't say so, was to maintain public-sector jobs -- and the flow of union dues to the public employees unions that represent almost 40% of public-sector workers."
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
United Solar Ovonics reports $39 million loss in second quarter
United Solar Ovonics reports $39 million loss in second quarter
"USO's parent company, Energy Conversion Devices Inc., reported a grim $39 million loss for its second quarter Tuesday, disappointing analysts and sending its stock to record lows."
No homeowner or any company would buy their worthless products so they depend on "extra" government money (like Jenny's mansion) to pay for their boondoggle.
And government mandates that energy producers to use 10% "green" energy.
Just another way to say "tax" to us fools who vote for the AlGore koolaid drinkers in our state government.
Most of whom are are in the democrat party.
Yes Virginia. There is a Santa Clause...but he ain't in government.
"USO's parent company, Energy Conversion Devices Inc., reported a grim $39 million loss for its second quarter Tuesday, disappointing analysts and sending its stock to record lows."
No homeowner or any company would buy their worthless products so they depend on "extra" government money (like Jenny's mansion) to pay for their boondoggle.
And government mandates that energy producers to use 10% "green" energy.
Just another way to say "tax" to us fools who vote for the AlGore koolaid drinkers in our state government.
Most of whom are are in the democrat party.
Yes Virginia. There is a Santa Clause...but he ain't in government.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Big Government: Big Labor's "Bread and Butter"
Big Government: Big Labor's "Bread and Butter"
"In it, NILRR points out that in 2008 and the first 11 months of 2009, unionized private-sector workers lost their jobs at more than double the rate than their private-sector non-unionized colleagues.
Meanwhile, for the first time ever, more than half of our nation's government workers are now under union boss monopoly bargaining control and the number is growing with disastrous consequences:"
"In it, NILRR points out that in 2008 and the first 11 months of 2009, unionized private-sector workers lost their jobs at more than double the rate than their private-sector non-unionized colleagues.
Meanwhile, for the first time ever, more than half of our nation's government workers are now under union boss monopoly bargaining control and the number is growing with disastrous consequences:"
State Pension Funds Fall Off a Cliff
ALEC State Pension Funds Fall Off a Cliff
"The financial crisis encountered over the past decade reveals that many state pension plans are fundamentally fawed.
Using more realistic assumptions regarding the rate of return on assets, as well as assumptions regarding the actuarial value of liabilities, it is highly unlikely that these plans will achieve actuarial balance over the amortization period.
The solution to the funding crises in state pension plans will require fundamental reform.
Everything should be on the table, including changes in benefits and increased employee contribution rates, as well as employer contribution rates.
These plans should consider replacing their defined benefit plans with defined-contribution plans for new employees."
"The financial crisis encountered over the past decade reveals that many state pension plans are fundamentally fawed.
Using more realistic assumptions regarding the rate of return on assets, as well as assumptions regarding the actuarial value of liabilities, it is highly unlikely that these plans will achieve actuarial balance over the amortization period.
The solution to the funding crises in state pension plans will require fundamental reform.
Everything should be on the table, including changes in benefits and increased employee contribution rates, as well as employer contribution rates.
These plans should consider replacing their defined benefit plans with defined-contribution plans for new employees."
Snowpocalypse now?
Snowpocalypse now?
Watch hilarious weather video and heed National Weather Service's winter storm warning
Watch hilarious weather video and heed National Weather Service's winter storm warning
Recession chugs on, except in government
"But the back story behind the figures provides cold comfort.
First, the drop to 9.7 percent unemployment does not reflect the creation of new jobs that normally accompanies an economic recovery.
Second, anybody who thinks the job situation is going to improve dramatically in coming months is not paying attention to what's going on behind the unemployment rate. ...."the labor force participation rate is the lowest since mid-1985." This means that fewer Americans are in the labor force.
Third, among the few sectors of the economy showing net employment growth over the past year is the federal government.
The federal civil service is rapidly expanding as Obama increases the size of government, with 33,000 new positions being added in January alone.
Only 9,000 of those new slots were for temporary census jobs.
In other words, what we are seeing is good times for the public sector and the growing prospect of a continuing and perhaps even deepening recession for everybody else.
A Tale Both Positive and a Cautionary: President Obama's Phantom $15 Billion Program for Small Businesses
A Tale Both Positive and a Cautionary: President Obama's Phantom $15 Billion Program for Small Businesses
"Last March 16, President Obama and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner announced a new $15 billion program to help encourage loans to small businesses -- the Unlocking Credit for Small Businesses, or UCSB program.
Subsequently, wrote Neil Barofsky, Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, in his latest report, 'two additional initiatives were announced to support small-business lending, and Treasury announced an increase of the TARP funding dedicated to support these efforts to $30 billion.'
But oddly, Barofsky noted, as of December 31, 2009, 'the details of the initiative under this program had not been announced and no funds had been disbursed.'
A $15-30 billion program for small businesses and no details have been released?
And no money disbursed??"
"Last March 16, President Obama and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner announced a new $15 billion program to help encourage loans to small businesses -- the Unlocking Credit for Small Businesses, or UCSB program.
Subsequently, wrote Neil Barofsky, Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, in his latest report, 'two additional initiatives were announced to support small-business lending, and Treasury announced an increase of the TARP funding dedicated to support these efforts to $30 billion.'
But oddly, Barofsky noted, as of December 31, 2009, 'the details of the initiative under this program had not been announced and no funds had been disbursed.'
A $15-30 billion program for small businesses and no details have been released?
And no money disbursed??"
The Secret History of the Birthers
The Secret History of the Birthers - The Daily Beast
"Investigating the roots of the Obama birthplace conspiracy theory, John Avlon—author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America, available now on Beast Books—uncovers the first Birther and finds she's a Hillary Clinton supporter also implicated in Dan Rather's exit from CBS."
"Investigating the roots of the Obama birthplace conspiracy theory, John Avlon—author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America, available now on Beast Books—uncovers the first Birther and finds she's a Hillary Clinton supporter also implicated in Dan Rather's exit from CBS."
Monday, February 08, 2010
Sarah Palin caught with crib notes on her hand
"A close examination of the former vice-presidential candidate speaking at the National Tea Party Convention in Nashville at the weekend revealed she had the words 'Energy', 'Tax,' and 'Lift Americans Spirits' scrawled in ink on the inside of her left hand.
'Budget cuts' was written and then crossed out."
Hell Hath No Fury More Childish Than Andrea Mitchell Scorned
Hell Hath No Fury More Childish Than Andrea Mitchell Scorned NewsReal Blog
Pretty pathetic for the not pretty feminist NBC "gal".
Pretty pathetic for the not pretty feminist NBC "gal".
Sticker Shock: Experts Say World Food Program's Afghan Relief Effort Overpriced
Sticker Shock: Experts Say World Food Program's Afghan Relief Effort Overpriced
"The United Nations’ World Food Program, or WFP, is preparing to launch a mammoth, three-year relief operation in Afghanistan this year for 7.4 million people at a cost of $1.2 billion — but less than half of that amount will actually go to purchasing food for the war-ravaged country.
The majority of the money — nearly $730 million — is being spent on shipping, land transportation, handling, office construction and U.N. staffing and administration costs, according to program documents obtained by Fox News.
Outside experts consulted by Fox News say that some of the costs are more than 100 percent higher than they need to be"
"The United Nations’ World Food Program, or WFP, is preparing to launch a mammoth, three-year relief operation in Afghanistan this year for 7.4 million people at a cost of $1.2 billion — but less than half of that amount will actually go to purchasing food for the war-ravaged country.
The majority of the money — nearly $730 million — is being spent on shipping, land transportation, handling, office construction and U.N. staffing and administration costs, according to program documents obtained by Fox News.
Outside experts consulted by Fox News say that some of the costs are more than 100 percent higher than they need to be"
General Dynamics to close Norton Shores facility
General Dynamics to close Norton Shores facility
"General Dynamics Land Systems, a national defense contractor based in the Detroit area, announced Monday it will close its Muskegon Technical Center on June 14, company officials said.
About 100 employees — mostly engineers — will have the option to transfer to General Dynamics headquarters in Sterling Heights or another facility in nearby Shelby Township, said spokeswoman Rae Higgins."
More "hopie, changie" for Muskegon from Jenny and her "yes we can" friend in DC.
"General Dynamics Land Systems, a national defense contractor based in the Detroit area, announced Monday it will close its Muskegon Technical Center on June 14, company officials said.
About 100 employees — mostly engineers — will have the option to transfer to General Dynamics headquarters in Sterling Heights or another facility in nearby Shelby Township, said spokeswoman Rae Higgins."
More "hopie, changie" for Muskegon from Jenny and her "yes we can" friend in DC.
Red Eye Celebrates Third Year By Topping CNN Prime Time Last Week
Red Eye Celebrates Third Year By Topping CNN Prime Time Last Week
"And it’s coming at a time when the 3amET show is seeing big ratings in the A25-54 demographic – even topping CNN prime time last week.
....This time, the show had better ratings in the A25-54 demographic than Campbell Brown at 8pmET and Larry King at 9pmET, and tied Anderson Cooper at 10pmET (Monday-Thursday)."
Holy moley!
A 3 AM Fox show that no one has heard about beats CNN PRIME TIME!
Imagine the loneliness of the mokes on MSNBC....is Prozac generic yet?
"And it’s coming at a time when the 3amET show is seeing big ratings in the A25-54 demographic – even topping CNN prime time last week.
....This time, the show had better ratings in the A25-54 demographic than Campbell Brown at 8pmET and Larry King at 9pmET, and tied Anderson Cooper at 10pmET (Monday-Thursday)."
Holy moley!
A 3 AM Fox show that no one has heard about beats CNN PRIME TIME!
Imagine the loneliness of the mokes on MSNBC....is Prozac generic yet?
Obama's Budget Means Higher Taxes and Lower Living Standards - WSJ.com
Obama's Budget Means Higher Taxes and Lower Living Standards
"Moody's Investors Service's warning last week that the AAA credit rating of the United States is in jeopardy raises fresh concern about the nation's fiscal health.
The question to ask about the president's eye-popping budget, also rolled out last week, is whether it prepares the country for its future—or shackles it to past decisions that our leaders would rather not confront.
President Obama's blueprint gave us a federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2010 of $1.6 trillion, about 10.6% of GDP.
While one expects bigger budget deficits in a downturn, the administration expects the deficit and debt buildup to persist.
By 2013, it forecasts that deficits will bring about a debt-to-GDP ratio of 72%, unprecedented in our experience except during a major war.
The problem is spending.
Despite Mr. Obama's words about restraint, the new budget proposes more spending—1.8% of GDP for 2011 to be precise—and a higher level, roughly one percentage point of GDP higher, in subsequent years"
2013 is only 3 years away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Moody's Investors Service's warning last week that the AAA credit rating of the United States is in jeopardy raises fresh concern about the nation's fiscal health.
The question to ask about the president's eye-popping budget, also rolled out last week, is whether it prepares the country for its future—or shackles it to past decisions that our leaders would rather not confront.
President Obama's blueprint gave us a federal budget deficit for fiscal year 2010 of $1.6 trillion, about 10.6% of GDP.
While one expects bigger budget deficits in a downturn, the administration expects the deficit and debt buildup to persist.
By 2013, it forecasts that deficits will bring about a debt-to-GDP ratio of 72%, unprecedented in our experience except during a major war.
The problem is spending.
Despite Mr. Obama's words about restraint, the new budget proposes more spending—1.8% of GDP for 2011 to be precise—and a higher level, roughly one percentage point of GDP higher, in subsequent years"
2013 is only 3 years away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And EVERY city, county and state in our country is ignoring the very SAME disaster that will hit us ALL soon!
The local problem is government employee pay and benefits!
Too much pay for too little work for too little benefit for the taxpayer.
And automatically growing every year!
If you love your kids or grandkids, you MUST get involved!
Iran anniversary 'punch' will stun West: Khamenei
Iran anniversary 'punch' will stun West: Khamenei
"Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that Iran is set to deliver a 'punch' that will stun world powers during this week's 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
'The Iranian nation, with its unity and God's grace, will punch the arrogance (Western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11) in a way that will leave them stunned,' Khamenei, who is also Iran's commander-in-chief, told a gathering of air force personnel."
Mark your calendar!
Obama will probably send out invites to his class action lawyer comrades in advance.
"Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that Iran is set to deliver a 'punch' that will stun world powers during this week's 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution.
'The Iranian nation, with its unity and God's grace, will punch the arrogance (Western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11) in a way that will leave them stunned,' Khamenei, who is also Iran's commander-in-chief, told a gathering of air force personnel."
Mark your calendar!
Obama will probably send out invites to his class action lawyer comrades in advance.
‘We Weren’t Told’: Hoekstra Fires Back at Claim GOP Knew Christmas Bomber was Mirandized
‘We Weren’t Told’: Hoekstra Fires Back at Claim GOP Knew Christmas Bomber was Mirandized
Our next governor is calling the Obama administration "LIARS".
And provides proof!
I like it when one of the good guys takes a powerful stand against those who lie to the citizens of our great country.
You go Pete!
Our next governor is calling the Obama administration "LIARS".
And provides proof!
I like it when one of the good guys takes a powerful stand against those who lie to the citizens of our great country.
You go Pete!
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