Yesterday,  President-elect Barack Obama revealed his new "stimulus plan", which he has dubbed the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan".

I call it the New Raw Deal.

In this post I'm going to dissect some of the highlights of Obama's speech.


"Throughout America’s history, there have been some years that simply rolled into the next without much notice or fanfare. Then there are the years that come along once in a generation – the kind that mark a clean break from a troubled past, and set a new course for our nation.
This is one of those years."

I love this, "A troubled past"?  So, according to Obama, nearly a decade of unequaled economic growth is now "A troubled past"??

I guess, if your goal is turning America into a socialist nirvana, I can understand the triumph of capitalism "a Trouble Past", but all the people who became millionaires during this "Troubled Past" by the sweat of their brow, may feel a bit differently.


"We start 2009 in the midst of a crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime – a crisis that has only deepened over the last few weeks. Nearly two million jobs have now been lost, and on Friday we are likely to learn that we lost more jobs last year than at any time since World War II."


While they'll be arguing for decades over the cause of the current crisis, all the economists I've read, say that it was poor government regulation, coupled with liberal meddling in the market that brought this mess on.

One thing is clearly evident, Obama is still in campaign mode.  Much like the first 4 years of the clinton administration, it appears Obama will be in non-stop campaign mode for the next four years. After he won his second term, clinton quit campaigning and started chasing fat interns.(But that's another story)


"I don’t believe it’s too late to change course, but it will be if we don’t take dramatic action as soon as possible. If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years."

Talk about Deja-Vu! If you read transcripts of FDR's early economic speeches, you will see the very same warnings, If we don't do something now, we'll never recover.
Of course, if you read "The Forgotten Man" by Amity Schlaes, or just about anything by Thomas Sowell, among other economists, you learn that the "Drastic Measures" FDR implemented did nothing to fix the recession, and instead turned a Recession into the Great Depression.  Recessions through our history, usually have an average lifespan of 18 months. The Depression lingered a Decade!


"This crisis did not happen solely by some accident of history or normal turn of the business cycle, and we won’t get out of it by simply waiting for a better day to come, or relying on the worn-out dogmas of the past. We arrived at this point due to an era of profound irresponsibility that stretched from corporate boardrooms to the halls of power in Washington, DC."

In some ways, this is correct. We didn't get here because of normal business practices, we got here through a combination of really bad ideas backed up by a liberal government overseen by Clinton, then Bush, and Wall street trying to take the lemons handed them by DC, and trying to make lemonade.
 The Community Reinvestment Act, begun by Jimmy Carter, and Strengthened by Bill Clinton, forced banks to provide loans to buyers who couldn't repay those loans. Sub-Prime mortgages became a huge Ponzi scheme, that needed constant infusions of new blood, from increasingly bad risk borrowers, because the only way to profit was to spread the risks around. They packaged bad risk loans with some that weren't quite so bad, then sold them as "Securities".  As long as everyone paid their mortgage payments, everyone profited. But when democrats refused to do anything about skyrocketing energy prices, the bottom fell out of the market, when the sub prime mortgage customers had to decide between paying their bills and buying food.


"Now, the very fact that this crisis is largely of our own making means that it is not beyond our ability to solve. Our problems are rooted in past mistakes, not our capacity for future greatness."

I would actually agree with this, if he actually meant "We democrats screwed up", but we know that the "We" simply means "Republicans". And his line about Greatness, means the Greatness of socialism.


"That is why I have moved quickly to work with my economic team and leaders of both parties on an American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that will immediately jumpstart job creation and long-term growth."

This translates to, "We're going to throw money around and hope something works."


"There is no doubt that the cost of this plan will be considerable. It will certainly add to the budget deficit in the short-term."

Talk about Understatement!
This package costs more than the entire Iraq war, which dems ghave screamed is too expensive. And by "In the short term" he means "Our grandchildren's grandchildren will be paying for it.


"Only government can break the vicious cycles that are crippling our economy – where a lack of spending leads to lost jobs which leads to even less spending; where an inability to lend and borrow stops growth and leads to even less credit."

This gets to the Heart of his whole plan.
Only Government can truly give you everything you want, and give you a security blanket, so you don't have to do anything to improve your own life.
 Trust us, we'll take care of you.


"That work begins with this plan – a plan I am confident will save or create at least three million jobs over the next few years."

Over a Trillion dollars to create Three Million Jobs? That averages out to 4.6 million dollars per job created. This is Responsible fiscal policy???
 If you want to really stimulate the economy, why not just take that 1.4 trillion and disburse it to the approximately 200 million adults citizens in the country? That would Stimulate the economy. It would also eliminate the unemployment problem, save the auto industry, and the baking industy in one fell swoop.  Of course that would make too much sense, so it could never happen.


I could go on, but the above makes my point.
This is nothing new, this is basically the same stuff that FDR tried out, which failed miserably. A nation cannot tax and spend it's way into prosperity.
If you want to stimulate the economy and create jobs, simply repeal the Capital Gains Tax, remove stupid government regulations like "Mark to Market, and Sarbanes-Oxley", then get the hell out of the way, and let the market fix itself.


There are Overwhelming amounts of evidence that FDR's New Deal extended the Great Depression for a decade, when it could have been over in under 2 years, if market forces had been allowed to play out.

It took World War Two, to finally get us out of the depression, If Obama's New Raw Deal goes into effect, it may take World War Three, to get us out of the Next Great Depression.  (We didn't have nukes in 1941)

Basically, all I can say is, Fasten your seat belts folks, it's gonna be a long bumpy ride.


As always, comments are welcome and encouraged. :o)

The new year is a time for Resolutions.

Folks resolve to quit smoking, lose weight, and so on, but it's not just individuals that make resolutions.

I've collected the resolutions made by some famous folks, and other entities around the world.


George W. Bush
This year, soon to be former President Bush will resolve to catch up on that Brush Clearing that he's let slide for the past 8 years. He also has resolved to not say "I told you so", even though he'll be sorely tempted to do so almost daily, after Obama takes office.


Rod Blagojevich
This year the guy with the funkiest hair in politics has resolved to be an even bigger jerk than in previous years. With his record, this won't be easy, but something tells me he has the determination to go from low-life, all the way to true Bottom-feeder.


The United Auto Workers
Will resolve to keep grinding their cash-cows into hamburger, while they continue to waste 26 million dollars a year on their executive golf course in northeast MI.
Once they have bankrupted the big 3, they'll resolve to set their sights on the foreign automakers.


General Motors, Ford, Chrysler
The "rusty 3", flush with taxpayer billions, will resolve to keep coddling the UAW
until they face bankruptcy again. At which point they will fly their private jets back to DC with tin cups in hand to beg for more. Congress of course will be happy to fork it over after the obligatory dressing down on TV. (Anyone else think it's Ironic that Congress has the nerve to attack corporations for "Fiscal Irresponsibility"?)


US Congress
Following their dismal showing over the past 2 years, congress has resolved to become the first US Congress in history to achieve Negative approval numbers.
(I think they can do it)


Nancy Pelosi/Harry Reid
The little grey man from Nevada resolves to take his record of failures to all new depths in his quest to become the worst failure in US senate history. Pelosi, not to be outdone resolves to be a bigger failure than Reid, and have that stick surgically removed from her butt.


Barack Obama
Resolves to be the first President in history to be canonized as a saint by walking across the potomac river.


Oprah Winfrey
The queen of TV talk resolves to finally lure the true love of her life away from his wife and marry Barack Obama.  As soon as she can dump that damn Steadman guy.



Al Gore
The Goreacle resolves to keep fleecing the gullible of the world until it becomes painfully obvious that the earth really isn't warming up. He then resolves to change tactics and claim that greenhouse gasses are also causing the new ice-age. Liberals the world over rejoice in their new quixotic quest.


And finally,

Wobbie the wonder wodent/Hal Drunkahue/Sophie.
Our favorite troll resolves to add another 100 new careers to his already impressive fantasy resume, and continue to be a royal P.I.T.A. to TH posters for another year.
Meanwhile the REMF warrior resolves to reach his ultimate goal of drinking himself into a permanent coma. 
Sophie resolves to finally undergo the surgery required to finally become a Real woman.


I could keep going all day, but I think I'll stop here, I don't want this post to become a novel.
If you can come up with more, feel free to post 'em!

Happy New Year gang, and good luck with your own resolutions. :o)

From Our House to Yours

 

Every year, I create a Christmas e-card just for friends and family.

Since many of you already feel like family, I decided to post it to the blog.

This year I took a picture of my house, redrew the scene in flash, then crammed it into a snow-globe. :o)

There are 5 random scenes that play out when you shake the snowglobe. :o)

 

Have Fun.

From Our house to Yours!
 

This weekend I was sitting around trying to come up with ideas for new Christmas e-cards, and was watching the terrorist attacks in india.
So, being the slightly twisted individual I am, I decided to combine the 2, and created "A Terrorists Christmas".






A Terrorist's Christmas!

Hope ya like it, and send it to all your friends. :o)
(Be sure to use the handy tell-a-friend form on the page)  :o)


As always, comments are welcome and encouraged.

With today being Halloween, I thought I'd send a couple chills up your spine.
(As opposed to a thrill up your leg)


'Twas the night before elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!

I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV,
Tired of political crap.

When all of a sudden
There arose such a din
I peered out my window
Saw Obama and his men

They’d come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!

He snatched up my money
And quick as a flash
Jumped back on his bandwagon
And left with my cash

He rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!
“On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi”
He screamed at the pairs!

They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
That wouldn't stand up and fight!

So I leave you to think
On this one final note -

IF YOU DON’T WANT SOCIALISM,
THEN GET OUT AND VOTE!!


The World's Scariest Halloween Card!!



       

          The World's Scariest Halloween Card

Use the form on the card's page to send to all your friends (10 at a time!)
to help us avoid this Nightmare!

Are you still a Mugwump?

I'll let Army Spc. Joe Cook explain things for you.
(This is currently the #1 video on Youboob!!)





As always comments are welco0me and debate is encouraged. :o)

Let's face it, this election has dragged on to the point that you just want to punch all of the candidates, right?

Well, now's your chance!

Presenting my newest game Presidential Punchout 08!

Strap on the gloves and go five rounds with the presidential candidates.

Choose either McCain/Palin, or Obama/Biden.

Of course there's a High Score table so you can challenge your friends for superiority.

Have fun!

Comments are welcome and encouraged.

 

                          

                                    Play Presidential Punchout08!

 

New Political Slideshow!

I also added a new Slide show to my growing collection.
In case you've never seen one of my slideshows before, I take
actual campaign press photos, and add "word balloons" to them.

Guaranteed Giggles for all. :o)

 

                            

                                            Political Slideshow #5!

Here are the previous 4 slideshows for ya too!

     Political Slideshow #1!

     Political Slideshow #2!

     Political Slideshow #3!

    Political Slideshow #4!


New one coming soon!

 

Finally, a goodie for ya for Halloween!

The World's Scariest Halloween Card!

 

                      

                                The World's Scariest Halloeen Card!!

         All of my Political stuff in One place!

OK,  That should keep ya occupied for a while.

If you like these be sure to send 'em to your friends using the handy Tell-a-Friend form on each page. :o)

 

As always Comments are welcome and encouraged!

 

On the o'Reilly factor last night Bill interviewed Barney frank, and took hi to task for defending fannie/freddie as late as this year,
and denying any responsibility for the credit meltdown.

Yes Bill is a blowhard a lot of the time, but this time he was totally justified in blowing his top.

If you haven't seen this bit of classic TV yet, you really need to.
If you have seen it already,  you still need to see it again, just for laughs!




Comments are welcome and encouraged! "o)

With all the crazy stuff going on lately,
I figured we could all use a good laugh or 2.

So I figured this was a good time to release a new Slideshow.


This one has 30 pictures, with my little word-balloon captions.

Enjoy!



New Political Slideshow!

Here is all my political fun-stuff in one place!!

As always comments are welcome and encouraged. :o)

  Over the past few days we've seen the likes of Chris Dodd, Barney Frank and Charles Schumer calling for "More federal Oversight of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.

  This is funny considering that by huge numbers, democrats have received more money from Fannie/Freddie over the past 10 years, than republicans.

  According to the stats on Opensecrets.org it breaks down like this.

  The top 3 recipients of Fannie/Freddie money have been:

Chris Dodd        $165,400
Barack Obama   $126,349
John Kerry         $111,000

  In the interests of Full Disclosure, John McCain also got money from them.
Since 1998, he received $21,550.

You can see the numbers at OpenSecrets.org Here! 

  The amazing thing is Obama has only been in the senate for 4 years (2 of them running for President full time) This means, in 4 short years, he's become the #2 favorite of Fannie/Freddie. ($31,587.25 per year! as opposed to $2,155/year for McCain)

  When you look at this, and the voting records of these "Leaders", it's pretty easy to see why the dems have been so adamant about blocking any further regulation of F/F until this week.

In 2003, President Bush was pushing for more federal oversight of the two quasi-governmental agencies, he was shouted down by the likes of Dodd, Schumer, Frank, and Kerry. Some spineless republicans went along with the dems to look good to Acorn, and other "Community organizer" groups, but the dissent came mostly from the left.

In 2005 4 senators, and 16 congresscritters co-sponsored the "Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005",  Not One democrat is in the list of co-sponsors.

Senate sponsors

Sen. Charles Hagel [R, NE]
Sen. Elizabeth Dole [R, NC]
Sen. John McCain [R, AZ]
Sen. John Sununu [R, NH]

House bill sponsors:

Rep. Richard Baker [R, LA-6]
Rep. Robert Aderholt [R, AL-4]
Rep. James Barrett [R, SC-3]
Rep. Roy Blunt [R, MO-7]
Rep. Geoff Davis [R, KY-4]
Rep. Tom Feeney [R, FL-24]
Rep. E. Scott Garrett [R, NJ-5]
Rep. Paul Gillmor [R, OH-5]
Rep. Jeb Hensarling [R, TX-5]
Rep. Walter Jones [R, NC-3]
Rep. Thaddeus McCotter [R, MI-11]
Rep. Patrick Mchenry [R, NC-10]
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R, FL-18]
Rep. Paul Ryan [R, WI-1]
Rep. Christopher Shays [R, CT-4]
Rep. Frank Wolf [R, VA-10]

During debate over the bill, Barney(I didn't know there was a gay brothel in my house) Frank is quoted as saying:

"These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis, the more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."

 While we have to admit that there were Linguine spined Republicans who also voted against the bill (so they didn't appear racist) the vast majority of the dissenting voices came from the left side of the aisle.

   In fact, Frank & Co. made matters worse by pushing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to take on greater risk. They wanted more loans to people who might not qualify for traditional bank financing. And, as The Wall Street Journal has pointed out, Frank “pressured regulators to ease up on their capital requirements — which now means taxpayers will have to make up that capital shortfall.”

   Even now, after the government took the companies over (which Frank repeatedly said over the years was not a possibility), Frank opposes limits on the amount of money they can risk on mortgage backed securities — the one reform that might have done the most to prevent the current meltdown and probably would do the most to keep it from happening again

   My Question is,  since the dems have repeately blocked efforts by Republicans to get more oversight on taxpayer supported companies, Why are these same democrats suddenly calling for more oversight? Could it be that since it's an election year, they want to Appear to be "fixing" the problem? (C'mon Jackpine, you can't be that jaded can ya?)  Yes I can! :op

   The left will do all they can to drop this in the lap of the republican party, but while not totally blameless, the republicans have Far Fewer slimy fingerprints on this "Crisis" than the democrats do.

   While Barack Obama is trying to spin this to make it look like it's McCain's fault (You should see his commercials here in MI) just by looking at the numbers, it's easy to see that Obama is part of the Problem while McCain was trying to find a Solution.

   While I personally believe that we should just let Fannie and Freddie fail on their own, and let the market sort the mess out, it looks like we're all going to be paying for another Dem created mess. (Surprise Surprise)

 The next time a Liberal tries to tell you it's all "Bush's Fault", you now have ammunition to fire back. :o)

You're welcome.

 

First off, we have Whoopie Goldberg on The View, asking John McCain if he plans to Bring Back Slavery!!!

I mean, C'mon!
 
In 2004, the dems screamed that Bush was going to bring back the draft, and in urban neighborhoods they said he was bringing back Jim Crow along with "Firehoses and attack dogs".

I Guess that wasn't crazy enough for the dems this year, so now they claim McCain will reinsitute SLAVERY??!!!

 

You just can't make this stuff up!

 

Next up on today's episode of Nutballs on parade, we have Tennesee congressman Steve Cohen comparing Barack Obama to Jesus Christ, and Sarah Palin to Pontius Pilate!

This didn't happen at some Obama Rally either, this was on the floor of the House!

(By the way congressman, I love the "Balding Alfalfa" hairstyle)

Again, you Can't make this stuff Up!!

 

Finally, we go to Hollyweird and that paragon of intellect, Matt Damon.

You're gonna Love this. 

There's also a little back story to this clip.
Recently I read a quote by Damon who said:

""For a lot of actors our biggest fear is that we're going to start talking about things we don't fully understand and sound like idiots.""

I guess Matt believes in facing his greatest fears Head on!

One more time,  You cant Make this stuff UP!

And Liberals are the ones who try to say Conservatives are Irrational???

 

As always, Comments are always welcome and encouraged. :o)