Category: commentary

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Clinkers in Congress

[Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) aka Cash for Clunkers was a dumb idea to begin with.  Now the bozos in DC are talking about adding to it.  I say how about some rewards for those folks who were smart enough to buy a car that gets good mileage and maybe a dope-slap for those who were dumb enough to buy, say, a Hummer.  I have been driving a car that gets better than 26 mpg for 14 years.  I could use a little help buying a new car that gets even better mileage.  Instead, I get to help a gas-waster get a slightly less wasteful new car.  The program should only apply to new cars that get 35 mpg or better and it should apply to all comers who have been driving the old vehicle for 3 years or more.  Or even better, just forget the whole Cash-for- Clunkers-subsidies-for-the-thinking-impaired idea altogether.]

I had set the above post to publish 4 hours from now.   The news on the way home implied there was some sort of crash program to make more Cash-for-Clunkers.  I guess I underestimated the ability of the current House to pick my (and your)  pocket.  Zippered pockets is my fashion prediction.   You are going to need them.

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Honduras

From various sources that I have seen, there was no coup in Honduras, rather an orderly execution of legal proceedings to enforce existing law. Honduras, having put up with dictators who cannot let go (Samoza family), put a clause in its Constitution that presidents serve 1 term. If the president tries to change the law, he is out. It is in the constitution. Former president Manuel Zelaya tried to have a referendum to change the law. When the referendum was was ruled unconstitutional, he was going to hold the vote anyway as a “non-binding” referendum. The Honduran Supreme Court ruled that the former president was trying to change the law and was therefore to be removed from office. He was removed. Previously scheduled presidential elections to follow.

The Obama administration seems kind of thick here. They lifted the visa of the Honduran Supreme Court Justice that signed the removal warrant along with the visas of a couple of others. President Obama may be on the wrong side of of the rule of law. Perhaps the President is getting bad advice from a poor lawyer on his staff. Perhaps that someone needs to be in private practice instead of messing up the hemisphere.

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United Breaks Guitars

And has unfriendly service besides. I heard the song behind this video on All Things Considered. An e-mail newsletter from Flight Aware jogged my memory so here is the video.

The last time I flew United Airlines, I was flying to a job interview with them. I did not know whether I was being treated liked dirt because something on my ticket let them know I was flying to headquarters or I was just another passenger to be treated like all the others. Still, I would rather fly United than Delta or American.

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Adjectives and actions

“Stupid” is the right word, even as used by the President to describe the Cambridge incident.  The President is also correct in saying he should have been more calibrated.  Perhaps the accurate calibration would have  avoided public comment.  There is way too much heat in this issue and plenty of stupid all around.

Sgt. Crowley should get some additional training defusing tense situations.

Sgt. Crowley’s Captain should make sure that he (and others on his team) get that training.

Cambridge City Council should make sure that the the appropriate funding and budget are available.

Mr. Gates should get some rest after a long trip.  He should also  work on being patient with those who have difficult jobs.

Hopefully Mr. President, Mr. Gates, and Sgt. Crowley will be able to enjoy a beer in the White House and have a great time at taxpayer expense. (President’s discretionary budget).

Full disclosure: I am related to some Crowley’s and no Gates or Presidents that I know of.

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Governor II

Governor Palin of Alaska has resigned.  From all reports, it is because she feels that she cannot properly manage the State of Alaska and deal with all of the false lawsuits that have arisen because of her run for the Vice Presidency.  If she were competent, this would be just one more detail to manage, she would manage it, and move on.  She’s moving on sans the management.  Just as well. Hopefully the Vice Governor of Alaska can drive a car safely and knows a good pilot (or can fly his own plane).  Then Alaska will be one up on South Carolina.

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Governor I

Governor Sanford of South Carolina is still apologizing for something he should never have done.  If he understood most South Carolinians, he would know that he has done the unforgivable. Get over it. Get on with running the state.  He apparently is another incompetent elected official.  This does not say much for the majority of the  electorate. Before the big flap, Governor Sanford was trying to prevent spending that had a chance of improving the schools and just perhaps the thinking of the voting populace.   Just what was he thinking?  Maybe I do not want to know.

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Pelosi-Panetta Spat

Speaker Pelosi has called Director CIA Panetta a liar.  Mr. Panetta says that despite some errors in a presentation to the Congressional Comittee, that the CIA never meant to mislead Congress.  If there is a truth-teller in this crowd, my money is on Mr. Panetta.  More bananas may improve Madam Speaker’s memory.

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Cap and Tax

If you like taxes, you are in pig heaven. Pelosi’s and Waxman’s Cap and Tax Bill pig has flown. Of course it will do nothing to reduce carbon use, which has little to do with global warming. But it does promote the liberal agenda. Tax the poor to support the politicians. That’s what the Democrats have always done. Check the facts and do the math. (That is modern talk for “The proof is left as an exercise for the reader”.) Better, starting this fall and leading up to November 2010, ask the hard questions. You will not be any cooler and you will be somewhat poorer. Make the culprits squirm.

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Worthwhile

I had resolved that I would not buy any CD’s while the RIAA continues to persecute. An exception is Judith Owen. I liked it so much I bought a copy of Lost and Found for each of my children and one for myself. Courgette Records does not seem to be a member of the RIAA. Instead they distribute through the Alternative Distribution Alliance (ADA). ADA is 95% owned by Warner Group which is a member and one of the vicious perps of RIAA extortion scheme.

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7 Demons

You may have gathered that I am not a big fan of the current governor. His recent confessions have done less than nothing to boost his esteem. But to call for Sandford’s resignation and elevate Andre Bauer, who cannot drive the speed limit, fly or land an aircraft, and perhaps could assemble a truthful sentence as governor of South Carolina is really a reach. SC Democrats, get real. SC Republicans you are clueless.
I am reminded of Jesus’s parable of casting out the demon only to have 7 demons take the place. Keep this in mind as you make your choices.