Saturday, January 29, 2011

Obama school choicer?..not!

TOTAL GLEES Chicks On The Right
"You know what’s completely awesome?
When Obama touts the success of something in his SOTU, only to have to discover later that the reason for the success of that something is because that something did the EXACT OPPOSITE of what Obama would normally support.

Case in point.
In his SOTU, Obama shone a spotlight on the Bruce Randolph School in Denver.

“Take a school like Bruce Randolph in Denver,” he said. “Three years ago, it was rated one of the worst schools in Colorado. Last May, 97 percent of seniors received their diploma.”

Total success story, right?
But here’s why.
Five years after it opened, that school was given permission by the state to run completely autonomously – free from district and more importantly, UNION rules.

And then, in the most brilliant move ever, the principal made every teacher reapply for his/her job.
A grand total of SIX made the cut.

Try THAT in a union setting.
The school also transitioned from being only a middle school to a school for students ranging from 6th through 12th grade."

Get Internet Access When Your Government Shuts It Down

Get Internet Access When Your Government Shuts It Down - PCWorld
"These days, no popular movement goes without an Internet presence of some kind, whether it's organizing on Facebook or spreading the word through Twitter.
And as we've seen in Egypt, that means that your Internet connection can be the first to go.
Whether you're trying to check in with your family, contact your friends, or simply spread the word, here are a few ways to build some basic network connectivity when you can't rely on your cellular or landline Internet connections."

Unions make up 40 percent of employees exempted from Obamacare

Unions make up 40 percent of employees exempted from Obamacare David Freddoso Beltway Confidential Washington Examiner
"It is worth noting that there are 166 union benefits funds now exempted from this requirement, which account for about 40 percent of the exempted workers.
This means that although there are only 14.6 million unionized employees in the United States, and 860,000 of them are already exempted from this provision of Obamacare."

Wayne superintendent's $1M retirement package creates storm

Wayne superintendent's $1M retirement package creates storm The Indianapolis Star IndyStar.com
"Thompson, 64, who retired in December after 15 years with the district, already has received more than $800,000 of his retirement deal, which included a year's base pay at more than $225,000, as well as contract provisions that kicked in hundreds of thousands more.
But that's not all"

Muskegon to honor former Congressman Pete Hoekstra at Feb. 10 event

Muskegon to honor former Congressman Pete Hoekstra at Feb. 10 event MLive.com
"The local delayed farewell celebration for former U.S. Congressman Pete Hoekstra has been scheduled for Feb. 10 at the offices of Revel, 900 Third, Suite 200.
The Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce gathering for the 18-year outgoing congressman from Michigan's 2nd District was postponed in December because of lame duck sessions of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Feb. 10 event from 4:30-6:30 p.m."

Friday, January 28, 2011

ORIGINAL Santa Cruz Girl video

Draft EPA report: Biofuels threaten habitat, water quality

Draft EPA report: Biofuels threaten habitat, water quality - The Hill's E2-Wire
"A draft Environmental Protection Agency report concludes that expanded production of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel carries an array of ecological risks in the U.S. and other nations, and calls for improved policies to mitigate these harms."

Obama channeling Reagan? Hardly

EDITORIAL: Obama channeling Reagan? Hardly - Washington Times
"Time Magazine asserted this week that “there is no mistaking Obama‘s increasing reliance on [Mr. Reagan’s] career as a helpful template for his own.” Just to keep this preposterous public relations ploy in perspective, we have compiled a handy list to remind people how little these two men have in common"

The United States Of Shame Map

The United States Of Shame Map someecards.com
"A map of what every state should be most ashamed of."

Twilight Landing At LAX (Cockpit View)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Muskegon to honor former Congressman Pete Hoekstra at Feb. 10 event

Muskegon to honor former Congressman Pete Hoekstra at Feb. 10 event MLive.com
"The local delayed farewell celebration for former U.S. Congressman Pete Hoekstra has been scheduled for Feb. 10 at the offices of Revel, 900 Third, Suite 200.

The Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce gathering for the 18-year outgoing congressman from Michigan's 2nd District was postponed in December because of lame duck sessions of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Feb. 10 event from 4:30-6:30 p.m. hosted by the Muskegon marketing firm is sponsored by L3 Combat Propulsion Systems.
It is a chamber Business After Hours event that is open to the public."

Gafftastic! Joe Biden stops by battery plant, calls Ener1 plant "Enron One," gets the gender of an Indiana Senator wrong

theblogprof: Gafftastic! Joe Biden stops by battery plant, calls Ener1 plant "Enron One," gets the gender of an Indiana Senator wrong

Major bozo alert...as if we needed any more.....

A SUGGESTION FROM MICKEY KAUS: Shouldn’t Republicans hold hearings on the general threat of Putinlike corporatism?

A SUGGESTION FROM MICKEY KAUS: Shouldn’t Republicans hold hearings on the general threat of Putin…

"Shouldn’t Republicans hold hearings on the general threat of Putin-like corporatism—i.e., an insidious alliance between big government and favored corporate and labor interests?

a) They could call GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt to testify and embarrass him about the myriad ways in which his slightly creepy role as CEO and presidential adviser might allow him to benefit his company and squash competitors;

b) They could grill the various regulators who might be tempted to favor the auto manufacturers that the government bailed out (and which, in GM’s case, it still owns about a third of).
Maybe some GM competitors would even be brave enough to testify.
(Exhibit No. 23: Will GM and Chrysler claim all the remaining billions of “green” retooling loan money from Obama’s Department of Energy? Entrepreneurial startups need not apply?)

c) They could question whether these bureaucrats and others are also doing favors for other Obama constituencies, like labor unions, or Google;

d) They’d appear transpartisan–this is an issue where left and right populists unite.
Do they love corporate-government alliances at Daily Kos?
It’s also one of the legitimate worries at the heart of TeaPartyism.

e) Hearings might help."

Federal Money Hasn't Bought Better Schools

Federal Money Hasn't Bought Better Schools - Investors.com
"American test scores and graduation rates are stagnant.
One in 10 high schools is a dropout factory.
And our students' performance in one of the most prestigious global math competitions has been so abysmal that the U.S. simply withdrew altogether."

First Lady Asks Businesses to Allow Employees to Spend Part of Work Week Mentoring Youth

First Lady Asks Businesses to Allow Employees to Spend Part of Work Week Mentoring Youth CNSnews.com
"First lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday said she was “thrilled” to announce a new program that asks U.S. businesses to allow employees to spend part of the work day volunteering with young people.
The program will be run by the federal agency tasked with overseeing volunteerism in the United States."

This is NUTS!
Since when does the government "ask" companies to do anything?

The 12 Worst Colleges For Free Speech

Greg Lukianoff: The 12 Worst Colleges For Free Speech
"In 2008, Michigan State University (MSU) was added to FIRE's Red Alert list after it punished student government leader Kara Spencer for e-mailing a carefully chosen list of faculty members to express concern about a proposal to shorten the academic year (without reducing tuition, of course).
Spencer was found guilty of 'spamming,' and following a national outcry--13 civil liberties organizations sent MSU an open letter protesting the decision--MSU dropped the charges.
Unfortunately, the school then enacted an overbroad spam policy even worse than the one used against Spencer.
As a result, every MSU student remains at risk of being punished for 'spamming'--simply for sending more than 10 friends, classmates, or faculty the same unsolicited e-mail within 48 hours."

We're # 7!

Public Employee Unions: Public Enemy No. 1?

Public Employee Unions: Public Enemy No. 1? - Capital Journal - WSJ
"“We have a new privileged class in America,” Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels told Politico.
We used to think of government workers as underpaid public servants.
Now they are better paid than the people who pay their salaries.”"

Soldiers Seize Drug Slingshot on US-Mexico Border

Soldiers Seize Drug Slingshot on US-Mexico Border
"In what seems like a scene straight out of a Monty Python movie, Mexican soldiers seized a giant catapult believed to have been used to fling drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border."

Video: Actor Danny Glover Blames Conservatives for Tucson Tragedy

theblogprof: Video: Actor Danny Glover Blames Conservatives for Tucson Tragedy

Keep in mind that this same actor that blamed global warming for Haiti's earthquake last year.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Quantitative Easing Explained

President Barack Granholm |

President Barack Granholm themichiganview.com The Michigan View
"Granholm envisioned a transformation of Michigan from Rust Belt to 'Green Belt' with massive, European-like, public investments in infrastructure and alternative energy.

'In five years, you'll be blown away,' she predicted in what would become her signature line.

Ironically, thousands of state jobs were blown away as Granholm's vision diverted pols' attention from much-needed reforms to the state's budget and business climate.
Since her speech in 2006, the state's unemployment rate has exploded from 7.4 percent to 11.4."

Muskegon has a new "Sustainability Coordinator"!

Isn't that nice.....
http://muskegontaxpayers.blogspot.com/2011/01/yikes-i-almost-forgot-this-gem.html

Selective Thoughts

Selective Thoughts - Bruce Bialosky - Townhall Conservative
"Of the wealthiest zip codes in the U.S., 19 out of 20 vote Democratic.
How much longer can the Dems continue the lie of representing the interests of the common man?

What they represent is the interest of those who can take advantage of government in the most selfish manner."

Report Says Rate of Illegal Immigration into US at Lowest Level in Two Decades

Report Says Rate of Illegal Immigration into US at Lowest Level in Two Decades
"The Pew report is based mostly on census data.
The center estimated the number of illegal immigrants by subtracting the number of legal, documented immigrants from the total number of foreign-born people living in the country, it said."

Gotta love "reports" by groups that use census data that specifically precludes asking about an individuals immigration status.

Ain't studies great?

City officials float the idea of regional taxation in Michigan

City officials float the idea of regional taxation in Michigan MLive.com
"League officials said Wednesday said cities can’t join together to provide shared services without changes in state law that currently require employees to be paid at the highest rate provided by a unit of government participating in the merger.

Cities also want the authority to eliminate the December billing and consolidate all property tax collections in the summer.

Another measure would amend state binding arbitration law so that in resolving impasses with police and fire unions, an arbitrator would have to consider a city’s ability to pay."

Obama’s Spending “Freeze” 

Obama’s Spending “Freeze” NetRight Daily
"But alas, Obama did not propose reining in the nation’s unsustainable entitlement obligations.
Net spending will increase every year on end under his proposals, until one day the public treasury will no longer be able to sustain it."

YOU WANT A “SPUTNIK MOMENT?” HERE’S YOUR FREAKIN’ SPUTNIK MOMENT: US Budget Deficit to Pass $1.5 Trillion!

Instapundit » Blog Archive » YOU WANT A “SPUTNIK MOMENT?” HERE’S YOUR FREAKIN’ SPUTNIK MOMENT: US Budget Deficit to Pass $1.5 Trillion

This is really scary too.
Where’s the serious response?
And no, more of the same doesn’t count.
A 5% across the board spending cut — real year-over-year cutting, not a cut against projected growth — would only barely begin to count as serious.
Freezes and other flimflams don’t count at all
.

U.S. Manufacturing: Output vs. Jobs Since 1975

U.S. Manufacturing: Output vs. Jobs Since 1975 Mercatus
"This week, Veronique de Rugy examines changes in employment and productivity in the American manufacturing sector.

Since 1975, manufacturing output has more than doubled, while employment in the sector has decreased by 31%.
While these American job losses are indeed sobering, they are not an indication of declining U.S. competitiveness.

In fact, these statistics reveal that the average American manufacturer is over three times more productive today than they were in 1975 – a sure sign of economic progress."

Abercrombie Admits There Are No Obama Birth Records In Hawaii

How NAACP concealed George Washington

How NAACP concealed George Washington
"'The NAACP's hypocrisy, and the double standard of the media, reared their ugly heads yet again.
This time, it's South Carolina.
The event is the MLK 'King Day at the Dome' hosted by the South Carolina NAACP.'


'They literally built a (15-foot wooden) box and covered (all but the backside of) the statue of President George Washington for the duration of their event. … Naturally, the media are absolutely silent on this matter' (italics added)."