Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Fed Likely to Press On With QE Even as Business Lending Rises

Fed Likely to Press On With QE Even as Business Lending Rises - Bloomberg
"Since reducing its target federal funds rate to near zero in December 2008, the central bank has used its balance sheet as a monetary policy tool.
Its assets have tripled to $2.43 trillion from $873 billion in February 2008."

Monday, January 24, 2011

Muskegon Taxpayers Alliance

Muskegon Taxpayers Alliance

A bunch of new posts!

Plus big meetings tomorrow!

STANLEY KURTZ: Tucson, Piven and the Left’s Strategic Blunder

Instapundit » Blog Archive » STANLEY KURTZ: Tucson, Piven and the Left’s Strategic Blunder.
“The hope of silencing Beck in the wake of Tucson has lured the left into a strategic blunder.
They’ve decided to turn Piven into a martyr.
Yet in doing so the left has tied itself to Piven’s wild writings and over-the-top radicalism.
Dreier acts as though Piven’s scholarly work is somehow different from the calls for rioting, crisis, and polarization in her two notorious Nation articles.
Actually, Piven’s scholarly writings are worse. . . . A quarter century later the Nation has embraced Piven’s call for Euro-style rioting in America, allowing her to speak with the magazine’s editorial voice.
It’s not Beck who’s tarring the left with the brush of Piven’s radicalism.
They’re doing it to themselves.”

Related, from Ann Althouse:

Do academics mean to have influence or not?
Are we supposed to think of them as oversmart flakes who are tucked away in institutions where they won’t screw up real life for the rest of us?
Because that’s the only way in which it makes sense to portray Glenn Beck as the villain.

He took an academic seriously, as if she meant what she said and expected real people to hear and act.

Indeed. And one of Althouse’s comments suggests that the logic of blaming Beck is this: “Because if Americans learn the truth of what the Left really is, they’ll want to shoot them.”

Thus, accurate quotes are an incitement to violence!"

MLive.com Muskegon Forum

MLive.com Muskegon Forum
29356. are we ALL birthers?

by muskigordo, 01/24/11 4:02 PM

Does simply asking the democrat governor who promised to end these questions to produce the document make me a birther?

Does greeb and his ilk simply not care?

They just trust the guy who lied about everything to get elected?

http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2011/01/wh-birthers-arent-rational.html"

"Big Sugar" Cartel Cost Consumers $4.5B Last Year

CARPE DIEM: "Big Sugar" Cartel Cost Consumers $4.5B Last Year
"In a recent Wall Street Journal letter titled “The Sugar Program Makes Sense,” the American Sugar Alliance’s chief economist claimed that “sugar policy operates at no cost to the government and is projected to do so for the next decade.”

While it’s true that U.S. sugar producers haven’t tapped American taxpayers directly since the beet sugar farmers raked in more than $240 million in farm subsidy payments from 2000 to 2005, U.S. sugar policy did force American consumers to pay out $4.5 billion last year in higher sugar prices to support the “Big Sugar” cartel."

W.H.: 'Birthers' aren't 'rational'

W.H.: 'Birthers' aren't 'rational' POLITICO 44
"Gibbs snuck a jab at the so-called birthers who don’t believe Obama was born in Hawaii. “I think rational people have -- have long ago, many when they first heard and saw the president, come to the conclusion of his citizenship,” he said."

OK.
I'm not a birther, Obama is president after all.

But when a democrat ex-congressman and now governor of Barry's birth state, publicly promises to produce the "holy grail" of the anti-birthers and then presents an unbelievable "it's there but we can't find it but trust us it's there" explanation......well.......

What's a normal American to think?

Something sure does smell stinky in Obama-land.

Three SEIU Locals--Including Chicago Chapter--Waived From Obamacare Requirement

Three SEIU Locals--Including Chicago Chapter--Waived From Obamacare Requirement CNSnews.com
"Three local chapters of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), whose political action committee spent $27 million supporting Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, have received temporary waivers from a provision in the Obamacare law.

The three SEIU chapters include the Local 25 in Obama’s hometown of Chicago."

Title IX backlash: Girls basketball loses crowds when boys play first

Title IX backlash: Girls basketball loses crowds when boys play first MLive.com
"That type of scene has played out in Friday night doubleheaders across West Michigan this winter.
This season is the first to see the effect of the OK Conference’s decision to have the boys play first — crowds that drop off by 80 percent or more for the girls."

Big SURPRISE!
Right?
Everyone saw this coming but the feminists who care not for women and girls, just power, won again.
Thanks NOW and your democrat friends in Michigan government.
Fro nothing!

One-Fifth of House Freshmen Sleep in Offices

One-Fifth of House Freshmen Sleep in Offices - CBS Evening News - CBS News
"THE LIST
Freshmen Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sleeping in their Washington, D.C., offices:"
including our own:
Bill Huizenga (MI-2nd), 41

Why Does The U.S. Still Give China Aid? - Investors.com

Editorial: Why Does The U.S. Still Give China Aid? - Investors.com
"U.S. aid, at $65 million a year, is relatively small thanks to sanctions imposed following Beijing's 1989 military crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators at Tiananmen Square.
Still, why are we sending China any succor at all?"

H&H Photos: Wildlife Today

H&H Photos: Wildlife Today
"Today I saw a little of everything, owls, eagles, ducks, geese and more.
I saw lots of swans by they were such comics so I will post them on a page of their own.
Susie"

Great shots, all local, from Susie!

Kyle Olson on FNC



Muskegon's Kyle Olson exposing the big education unions!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

HAWAII GROUND REPORT: Could Hawaiian Governor Neil Abercrombie not be as incompetent and foolish as he appears, but orchestrating a deliberate birth certificate recovery dead end to cover his own papakole?

HAWAII GROUND REPORT
Could Hawaiian Governor Neil Abercrombie not be as incompetent and foolish as he appears, but orchestrating a deliberate birth certificate recovery dead end to cover his own papakole?
UPDATED: Mystery solved!
Reason Obama will not release birth certificate is because his name is legally written “Barry Soetoro” on it."

Beware of Bureaucrats Bearing Gifts

Pajamas Media » Beware of Bureaucrats Bearing Gifts
"Raymund Paredes, the überbureaucrat heading the Texas Higher Ed Coordinating Board (THECB), has proposed that the state legislature hold state universities accountable.
When a bureaucrat asks us to hold him “accountable” in certain ways, we can count on the fact that he and his cronies have figured out how to game the offered accountability mechanism.
That’s certainly the case with the latest “accountability” proposal from the higher ed establishment.

What is it that we are supposed to hold the universities accountable for?
Answer: raising the graduation rates.
Who decides whether a student has earned the right to graduate?
The very institutions to be held accountable for his graduation.
As Homer Simpson would put it, DOH"

Breaking News: Detroit Police Commander Shot

Breaking News: Detroit Police Commander Shot
"He walked into the police station on Warwick and Plymouth alone and opened fire.
He was shot and killed at the scene."

Gotta love the "quality" of Detroit bad guys.

Instapundit »SO, HOW’S THAT “SMART DIPLOMACY” GOING?

SO, HOW’S THAT “SMART DIPLOMACY” GOING? “Chinese Pianist Plays Propaganda Tune at White House
"SO, HOW’S THAT “SMART DIPLOMACY” GOING? “Chinese Pianist Plays Propaganda Tune at White House:

US humiliated in eyes of Chinese by song used to inspire anti-Americanism.”
This seems like quite an expression of contempt toward one’s hosts.
It’s certainly quite a slap in the face to Obama, and a demonstration that our State Department remains not ready for primetime.

On the other hand, it should remove any shreds of guilt I might otherwise feel when China dissolves into civil war after we default on our bonds. . . ."

"Kids Aren't Cars" trailer - kidsarentcars.com

Fraud plagues global health fund backed by celebrities

Fraud plagues global health fund backed by celebrities - Health - Health care - More health news - msnbc.com
"A $21.7 billion development fund backed by celebrities and hailed as an alternative to the bureaucracy of the United Nations sees as much as two-thirds of some grants eaten up by corruption, The Associated Press has learned."

Only 2/3 ripped off?
I'd say that's a giant improvement over the UN!

Voodoo economics? Tote up the jobs from Obama's stimulus

Voodoo economics? Tote up the jobs from Obama's stimulus Examiner Editorial Editorials Washington Examiner
"In fact, job creation exceeded the White House's expectations in only one area: The District of Columbia created almost twice as many jobs as the White House anticipated.
In other words, thanks to the stimulus, the only sector creating new jobs is the federal government"

The World from The Hill: U.N. funding an early target for House Republicans

The World from The Hill: U.N. funding an early target for House Republicans - TheHill.com
"A key House Republican is quickly pressing forward with her goals to scale back U.S. funding for the United Nations."

A very satisfying start!

Hitler Finds Out That Olbermann Has Been Fired



Wait til Adolf finds out KrazyKeith quit cuz he wanted more money!

And there ain't no place for him to get a job with more lucre than he got from the Obama Network....bummer Keith...

(thanks to Z)

Walmart vs the morons

A timely e-mail that's going around:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41221369/ns/business-us_business

Subject: Wal-Mart vs. The Morons

Wal-Mart vs. The Morons
1. Americans spend $36,000,000 at Wal-Mart every hour of every day.

2. This works out to $20,928 profit every minute!
3. Wal-Mart will sell more from January 1 to St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) than Target sells all year.
4. Wal-Mart is bigger than Home Depot + Kroger + Target +Sears + Costco + K-Mart combined.
5. Wal-Mart employs 1.6 million people, is the world's largest private employer, and most speak English.
6. Wal-Mart is the largest company in the history of the world.
7. Wal-Mart now sells more food than Kroger and Safeway combined, and keep in mind they did this in only fifteen years.
8. During this same period, 31 big supermarket chains sought bankruptcy.
9. Wal-Mart now sells more food than any other store in the world.
10. Wal-Mart has approx 3,900 stores in the USA of which 2,906 are Super Centers; this is 1,000 more than it had five years ago.
11. This year 7.2 billion different purchasing experiences will occur at Wal-Mart stores. (Earth's population is approximately 6.5 Billion.)
12. 90% of all Americans live within fifteen miles of a Wal-Mart.
13. Wal-Mart has gross sales that total more than the total revenue of all the countries in the world, except 6.
You may think that I am complaining, but I am really laying the ground work for suggesting that MAYBE we should hire the guys who run Wal-Mart to fix the economy.

This should be read and understood by all Americans Democrats, Republicans, EVERYONE!!

To the President and all 535 voting members of the Legislature, both parties. It is now official you are ALL corrupt morons:

a.. The U.S. Postal Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke.

b.. Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke.

c.. Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke.

d.. War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only w ant more.

e.. Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke.

f.. Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke.

g.. The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure.

You have FAILED in every "government service" you have shoved down our throats while overspending our tax dollars.

AND YOU WANT AMERICANS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN BE TRUSTED WITH A GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ?? YOU THINK YOU CAN RUN THE AUTO INDUSTRY.... THE BANKING SYSTEM?????

MAYBE WE OUGHT TO KICK YOUR EGG-HEAD BUDDY BUMS OUT OF OFFICE AND HIRE WALMART TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT ???

WALMART SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS.......WHY DON'T YOU GUYS JUST ADMIT IT'S WAY BEYOND YOUR PAY GRADE, AND QUIT?

"You can't fix stupid, but you can vote it out."

15 Funny Exam Answers

15 Funny Exam Answers - Oddee.com

Federal agency to spearhead new drug-development center

Federal agency to spearhead new drug-development center - The Denver Post
"The Obama administration has become so concerned about the slowing pace of new drugs coming out of the pharmaceutical industry that officials have decided to start a billion-dollar government drug development center to help create medicines."

The Left’s Piggy Bank?

The Left’s Piggy Bank? [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"New report shows the National Education Association to be a cash cow for many liberal causes"

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Left's Tucson Strategy: Stage Two

Power Line - The Left's Tucson Strategy: Stage Two
"This is Orwellian on several levels.
It is Ms. Piven, not Glenn Beck, who explicitly defends violence, and comes perilously close to advocating it:"

Read this and see the future!

Scots attempt to overturn US ban on haggis

Scots attempt to overturn US ban on haggis - Telegraph
"Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Government's Rural Affairs Secretary, has invited a delegation of American politicians to Scotland in the hope of persuading them to overturn the ban."

Snowshoeing on Lake Michigan!

Well, even though the weenies at Hoffmaster (http://muskegonpundit.blogspot.com/2011/01/muskegon-weenies-rule.html) decided that snow, wind and cold are reasons to cancel a "SNOWSHOE Hike in WINTER" event, Honeybunch and me went out on our own and we didn't even die!

Oh my golly!

But is was cold, windy and snowy.

Who'd of guessed?

Instead of trekking between the soft and cozy mounds of fluff at Hoffmaster, we trudged along the beach at Pier Marquette Beach and even waved to the 3 Muskegon snowplowers that zipped by us as we crawled back to our car.

It was 20 degrees out, windy as heck and at least -269 degrees wind-chill-for-weenies.

A lovely day in our winter paradise that the wussies will only see in a "global warming" video.

Bummer dudes.

Turning on the Faculty - Inside Higher Ed

public_college_faculty_fear_loss_of_public_support
'The amount of populist resentment against public employees has magnified unbelievably in the last few years,'"

Vallejo Bankruptcy Plan Offers Unsecured Creditors 5-20%; JPMorgan CEO Forecasts More Municipal Bankruptcies; Bernanke Will Not Rescue Cities

Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis Financial Discussion Blog:
Vallejo Bankruptcy Plan Offers Unsecured Creditors 5-20%;
JPMorgan CEO Forecasts More Municipal Bankruptcies;
Bernanke Will Not Rescue Cities

"Vallejo is using federal bankruptcy laws to stick it to unsecured creditors. Please consider Vallejo Plan Would Give Unsecured Creditors 5 to 20 Cents on the Dollar"

Wal-Mart In Unions' Cross Hairs

Wal-Mart In Unions' Cross Hairs - Investors.com
"Organized Labor: The union idea of civil discourse is to protest outside opponents' private homes.
Now union supporters are targeting a developer , with fliers showing a bull's-eye and his home address.

Cue the chirping crickets.
That will be the soundtrack for mainstream media reaction to the latest example of thuggery perpetrated by Wal-Mart opponents who are not happy that the non-union retailer wants to build a Wal-Mart-anchored development on the site of an abandoned Chevy dealership in Washington, D.C.

The development would employ up to 1,200 people in a city with 10.2% unemployment."

What The Heck Happened to the Anti-War Movement?

What The Heck Happened to the Anti-War Movement?
"Remember those hoary days of raucous protest when anti-war protesters sent thousands of people into the streets sometimes with only a days notice?
Now consider this: have you seen any of these giant protests since 2008 presidential election?"

Obama's Internet passport

EDITORIAL: Obama's Internet passport - Washington Times
"The White House cybersecurity adviser joined Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on Jan. 7 to announce what amounts to a national ID card for the Internet.

....Their plan is straightforward.
Instead of logging onto Facebook or one's bank using separate passwords established with each individual company or website, the White House will take the lead in developing what it calls an "identity ecosystem" that will centralize personal information and credentials.
This government-approved system would issue a smart card or similar device that would confirm an individual's identity when making online credit-card purchases, accessing electronic health care records, posting "anonymous" blog entries or even logging onto one's own home computer, according to administration documents."

Imagine if this was the Bush administration.

What is with libs who scream bloody murder at imagined swat teams in libraries but not a peep when the current regime wants into every computer and phone in the land?


It is not so frightening that Omama and his henchmen would concoct such a plan.
We've read their books and listened to their speeches.

What is terrifying is the entire MSM and all the usual free speech/privacy voices who went postal with the mild in comparison, Patriot Act are totally silent.


Does the left really prefer totalitarian government if it's run by Obama?


The perfect merge of the IRS and the thought police.

1984 anyone?

Friday, January 21, 2011

Olbermann gone!

Twitter / HowardKurtz: It is true. MSNBC contract ...
"It is true.
MSNBC contract has ended.
Olbermann is outta there.
Lawrence O'Donnell moves to 8, the Ed Show to 10"

Interesting in that Krazy Keith has the best non-Fox numbers of any cable host:
NEWS RACE
THURS. JAN. 20, 2011

FOXNEWS O'REILLY 2,918,000
FOXNEWS HANNITY 2,079,000
FOXNEWS BAIER 1,940,000
FOXNEWS SHEP 1,786,000
FOXNEWS BECK 1,780,000
FOXNEWS GRETA 1,460,000
MSNBC OLBERMANN 1,106,000
CNN PIERS 1,025,000
MSNBC MADDOW 976,000
MSNBC O'DONNELL 855,000
MSNBC SCHULTZ 760,000
CNN COOPER 740,000
MSNBC HARDBALL 700,000

The roots of Irish dancing



(thanks to Bonnie for this historical insight)

Accounting Tweak Could Save Fed From Losses

Accounting Tweak Could Save Fed From Losses - CNBC
"'Any future losses the Fed may incur will now show up as a negative liability as opposed to a reduction in Fed capital, thereby making a negative capital situation technically impossible,'"

Sort of like saying a 300 pound man is now "thin"?

What color of clothes is our new emperor now wearing?

Muskegon weenies rule!

DNR - P.J. Hoffmaster State Park Offers Snowshoe Hikes in January and February
"The Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon is offering guided snowshoe hikes on Saturdays, beginning Jan. 15 through Feb. 26, with a special moonlight hike offered Friday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m."

Honeybunch and I have been cruising the eastern Caribbean the last few weeks and just returned so we were really excited to go on our first snowshoe trek this year.

Well, we checked it out and it's cancelled tomorrow because it's gonna be....cold!

Gimme a break!!!!

What a bunch of pussies!

I guess they're worried they'll be in some lib lawyer's crosshares! (bunny speak-we don't want to offend sensitive libs with "crosshairs")

We're goin' tomorrow anyway.

Good golly....

Grand Rapids not just sick, it's dying

Newsweek: Grand Rapids not just sick, it's dying MLive.com
"Grand Rapids landed in tough company Friday, as one of the top 10 dying U.S. cities.

The No. 10 rank was a blow for a city trying hard to be cool.

The latest massage of census data came from Newsweek magazine.

Who did we beat?
No. 9 Flint, No. 8 South Bend, and No. 7 Detroit.

No, duh."

So I guess it's a good thing Muskegon has less than 100,000 residents?

A bunch of new posts at MuskegonTaxpayersAlliance

Lotto winner, Senate poll, new Irish bar and more!
http://muskegontaxpayers.blogspot.com/

USDA Approves Green, Bio-Based Product Label

USDA Approves Green, Bio-Based Product Label : NPR
"SHOGREN: Companies already have introduced thousands of products made from plants or animals instead of petroleum.
That's because of a law that requires the federal government to buy such products if they exist and are affordable.

Mr. STEPHEN CENSKY (Chief Executive Officer, American Soybean Association): We probably would not see the growth of these products without this program.

......SHOGREN: Using bio-based products is supposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on foreign oil.
But, of course, lots of petroleum goes into fertilizers, tractors and irrigation machines.
The government isn't taking that into account when it decides whether a product qualifies for its new label."

State visit by China's President Hu Jintao yielded little in the way of trade concessions or commitment to human rights

State visit by China's President Hu Jintao yielded little in the way of trade concessions or commitment to human rights - NYPOST.com
"Yes, those were white bird feathers sticking out of the tiger's mouth at the lavish state dinner hosted by President Obama at the White House this week."

Kidman, Urban have 2nd child through surrogate

My Way News - Kidman, Urban have 2nd child through surrogate
"Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have added a second daughter to their family, born through a surrogate mother."

Seriously, this new trend of "mothers" on the left to "experience" the gift of "motherhood" is sickening.

NewsBusted 1/18/11

Mitt Romney keeps away from Tea Party

Mitt Romney keeps away from Tea Party - The Boston Globe
"As the former Massachusetts governor lays the groundwork for a possible second presidential run, he has largely shunned Tea Party activists in key primary states"

Michigan Item Pricing Regulations Among Nation's Most Strict

Michigan Item Pricing Regulations Among Nation's Most Strict [Michigan Capitol Confidential]
"Snyder called the “Item Pricing Law” an undue burden on retailers.

The law requires that most items on store shelves being sold be individually priced.

He asserted that the item-pricing law cost Michigan’s economy $2 billion dollars a year.

His office didn’t respond to a message left asking how they computed that $2 billion figure.

Tom Scott, senior vice president at the Michigan Retailers Association, said Michigan has the most restrictive item pricing law in the country."

Study: Michigan left turns are the right way to go

Study: Michigan left turns are the right way to go MLive.com
"Considering the study's findings that this traffic design results in a “20 percent overall reduction in travel time compared to similar intersections that use conventional traffic designs,”"

Maybe time to expand this idea?

Old media now asking about birth certificate

Old media now asking about birth certificate
"The New York Daily News apparently found the interview published Tuesday by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reason to declare final victory over 'conspiracy theorists,' but ABC News featured a story on its website pointing out Abercrombie has not delivered the promised proof."

Black Devil - Moscow Ride on R1

France faces fine for neglecting its Great Hamster

France faces fine for neglecting its Great Hamster - Telegraph
"France is failing in its duty to protect the Great Hamster of Alsace, a cute fur-ball facing extinction with fewer than 200 remaining, the advocate-general of Europe's top court said on Thursday."

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Climate change study had 'significant error': experts

Climate change study had 'significant error': experts - Yahoo! News
"A climate change study that projected a 2.4 degree Celsius increase in temperature and massive worldwide food shortages in the next decade was seriously flawed, scientists said Wednesday.
The study was posted on the website of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was written about by numerous international news agencies, including AFP.
But AAAS later retracted the study as experts cited numerous errors in its approach."