No, There’s No Pork in The “Stimulus” Bill

Not pork...just how does this "stimulate" the economy.

WASHINGTON – “Fore!”

The federal government is preparing to spend millions to purchase a fleet of small electric vehicles that critics compare to golf carts.

The $838 billion economic stimulus bill that passed the Senate yesterday contains $300 million for the government to purchase a fleet of “green” cars.

But the money won’t just go to buy fuel-efficient hybrids such as the Ford Escape or Chevy Volt.

The cash also can be used to purchase “neighborhood electric vehicles.”

The NEVs, which resemble streamlined golf carts, scoot at up to 25 mph, operate on battery power and can be plugged into 110-volt outlets for charging.

"If there's one thing I know it's pork!"

They are sometimes used at hospitals, college campuses and retirement communities, and can cost around $8,000 each. They don’t produce carbon emissions.

The House-passed version of the stimulus provides even more money for federal car purchases – $600 million. The pot of money also specifically includes the NEVs.

There’s also a tax subsidy in the bill to juice up vehicle sales – a potential a job-killer for golf caddies.

The provision gives a 10 percent tax credit off the price of specified “low-speed” vehicles costing up to $40,000, for a total cost of $3 million.

The bill does not appear to cap the total number of credits that a person or business could take.  (Read more.)

B.S. Report–I’m sure that few of the members in both the House and Senate have actually read the “stimulus” bill so we’re going to keep hearing about all these cute little items like this one that were “accidentally” slipped in.

But they’re not considered pork or “earmarks” because they are written in vague language even though it’s obvious to whom and what state these “gifts” are headed.  The “stimulus” bill is nothing more than a political spending bill–governmental vote-buying designed to keep Democrats in power for as far as the eye can see.

Woman Has Football-Sized Tumor Removed From Her Face

Gee, you can hardly notice it--why have it removed?

An Indian woman has had a tumor as big as a football removed from the side of her face, 25 years after it first developed.Doctors who performed the operation believe 67-year-old Lakhmani Devi’s parotid gland tumour, which weighed nearly two kilogrammes, may have been the biggest ever removed from a human.

“It was made of solid tissue and was the largest I have come across in all the medical books,” K.K. Handa, the operating surgeon at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences, told AFP on Monday.

“The patient was told by doctors in her village that she would die if it was removed so she coped with it for decades. But she is now eating well and should make a full recovery.”

Devi, from the eastern state of Jharkhand, is expected to be discharged from hospital 10 days after the surgery on February 4.

Her tumor didn't have laces.

Her son, Lallan Singh, said that the operation would give his mother a new lease of life.

“The tumor kept on increasing,” he said. “She felt uncomfortable and embarrassed and stopped going out of the house. We can’t thank the doctors enough.”

B.S. Report–There are some real strange things going on with people in some areas of the world.  I’ve seen “Bubble-People” and  “Tree-Bark” people, I think I’m just going to stay right here in the U.S.  where it’s safe!  I don’t even think I’m going to go outside anymore.

Wisconsin Parents in an uproar, school teaches social studies in Spanish!

This from Madison.com

Wisconsin Classes Being Taught In Spanish

Being taught about famous people and events in Wisconsin history in Spanish is not how some Waunakee parents want their fourth-graders learning social studies at school.

“We as parents have been in such an uproar over this,” said Keith Wilke about the district’s elementary language program in which students learn Spanish by having the language integrated into social studies lessons for 30 minutes three days a week in first through fourth grades. “They’re force-fed Spanish.”

Jorge Washington--No muy bueno!

This is the third year for the program, which has added one grade a year since 2006 and is designed to continue until fifth grade.

“A fair amount of (social studies instruction) has been in Spanish,” said Wilke, who has a daughter in fourth grade. “The kids are to the point where they don’t understand it.”

Concerns over teaching more complex topics in Spanish isn’t a surprise to district leaders and a meeting Thursday has been set to address those issues. (Read more.)

B.S. Report–It’s amazing how quickly a nation can crumble.  It takes hundreds of years to build but it can unravel in just a couple of generations.   We cannot indefinitely chip away at the founding principles of our country and still retain our identity.

Americanism not only needs to be defended, it needs to be promoted.  It seems we spend more time apologizing for building a successful society–instead of proudly offering to share that success with those who choose to come here.

We have shown ourselves to be accepting of  any and all people who wish to immigrate to the U.S.  They can celebrate the culture they left but they need to “adopt” the American culture.  We need to conduct our business in the language of our people:  English.

Language is the key component to unifying people. You cannot continue to bring groups of people into the country who are not being assimilated.  Before long, you will end up with people that are Americans only because they live within your borders and not because they share your ideals.

Arnold: “You look tired…I think you need furlough”

Governor Arnold Sues To Furlough More Workers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP): Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sued the state’s Democratic controller Monday, trying to force furloughs for 15,000 more government workers to address California’s $42 billion deficit.

The Republican governor already ordered more than 200,000 state government workers to take two days off each month without pay and projected it would save $1.3 billion through June 2010. The first furlough day was last Friday.

But the court ruling that upheld Schwarzenegger’s authority to order the furloughs did not address employees of state constitutional officers or members of a tax panel, the Board of Equalization.

You workers...Go home and rest!

The lawsuit filed Monday seeks an injunction that would force Controller John Chiang to reduce the hours of those employees. Chiang’s office cuts the checks to state workers.

Furloughing the 15,000 employees in the constitutional offices and the tax board will save $93.2 million, according the governor’s finance department.

“This is absolutely worth it,” Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said about the lawsuit. “Every amount that state government can save is less of a burden on the taxpayers of California.”  (Read more.)

B.S. Report–The truth is we could probably permanently furlough  a good percentage of the government work force without missing a beat.  No offense meant to you government employees, but, since it doesn’t appear that we’re ever going to cut spending, you’re the best place to start.

Ex-D.C. Mayor Barry May Be Going Back To Jail; Failed To File Tax Return For 8th Time in 9 Years…Shouldn’t He Be In Obama’s Cabinet?

More Tax Problems Might Mean More Jail For Ex-Mayor Barry

Mr. President, I Should Be Your New Bankruptcy Czar!

WASHINGTON (AP) – Prosecutors asked a federal judge Monday to send former Washington mayor Marion Barry to jail for failing to file his tax returns for the eighth time in nine years.

In a motion filed in U.S. District Court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Zeno said Barry, who’s also a current District of Columbia Council member did not file his taxes in 2007, violating his probation for previous tax offenses.

Barry, 72, was given three years of probation in 2006 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges for failing to file his tax returns from 1999 to 2004. As part of a plea bargain, he agreed to file future federal and local tax returns annually.

Two years ago, however, prosecutors sought to have that probation revoked after Barry failed to file his 2005 taxes. But U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson refused, ruling that prosecutors did not prove Barry willfully failed to file his returns, even if he was aware that he missed the deadline.

In Monday’s motion, prosecutors noted that Barry has now failed to file his taxes on time for the eighth time in nine years and called his conduct “indefensible.”

“It is not acceptable for any citizen to shirk a basic civil duty, let alone a former mayor and a current city councilman who has been responsible in the past and continues to be responsible for spending public funds collected from District of Columbia taxpayers,” the motion states. (Read more.)

B.S. Report–I have to agree with the ex-Mayor, he’s made to order for an Obama cabinet position.  So what about that little tax thing…after all he did pay taxes once over the past 9 years–actually maybe not, he at least filed once during that time.

It looks like he has some money–he’s a very snappy dresser!  You might even say he’s overdressed, at least for prison.  Come on Mr. President, there has to be a cabinet post for a high-level political operative like Mr. Barry.  How about Drug Czar?–we know he has experience there.  We even have the videotape to prove it!

This guy is still on the government payroll!  Any fast-food restaurant would have canned him by now but he’s perfect City Councilman material…at this point I don’t think he could “throw” an election and get defeated.  They just love him there–he can do no wrong in the eyes of the voters.  Although if he dragged his crooked butt over to H&R Block, it probably would have spared him a possible stay in the pokey.

Senate Passes “Stimulus” Deal; 3 Turncoat Republicans Make It Happen

Senate Passes Obama’s Economic Plan

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama’s economic recovery plan has passed the Senate and is on its way to difficult House-Senate negotiations.Just three Republicans helped pass the plan on a 61-37 vote and they’re already signaling they’ll play hardball to preserve more than $108 billion in spending cuts made last week in Senate dealmaking. Obama wants to restore cuts in funds for school construction jobs and help for cash-starved states.

Those cuts are among the major differences between the $819 billion House version of Obama’s plan and a Senate bill costing $838 billion. Obama has warned of a deepening economic crisis if Congress fails to act. He wants a bill completed by the weekend.

The bill backed by the White House survived a key test vote in the Senate Monday despite strong Republican opposition, and Democratic leaders vowed to deliver legislation for President Barack Obama’s signature within a few days.

Monday’s vote was 61-36, one more than the 60 needed to advance the measure toward Senate passage on Tuesday. That in turn, will set the stage for possibly contentious negotiations with the House on a final compromise on legislation the president says is desperately needed to tackle the worst economic crisis in more than a generation.

Turncoat #1 Arlen Specter

Turncoat #2 Susan Collins

The Senate vote occurred as the Obama administration moved ahead on another key component of its economic recovery plan. Officials said Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner would outline rules on Tuesday for $350 billion in bailout funds designed to help the financial industry as well as homeowners facing foreclosure.

Monday’s vote was close but scarcely in doubt once the White House and Democratic leaders agreed to trim about $100 billion on Friday.

As a result, Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania broke ranks to cast their votes to advance the bill.

Turncoat #3 Olympia Snowe

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., battling a brain tumor, made his first appearance in the Capitol since suffering a seizure on Inauguration Day, and he joined all other Democrats in support of the measure.

“There is no reason we can’t do this by the end of the week,” said Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. He said he was prepared to hold the Senate in session into the Presidents Day weekend if necessary, and cautioned Republicans not to try and delay final progress.

He said passage would mark “the first step on the long road to recovery.”  (Read more.)

B.S. Report–This is “the first step on the long road to recovery.”  Actually, the road was just made that much longer thanks to three turncoat phony Republicans.

Thanks a lot you three for insuring that this Unconstitutional monstrosity of a bill gets enacted.  You guys ought to be ashamed.  Where is the Constitutional authority to spend taxpayer money in this fashion?  Oh well, a trillion here, a trillion there, who really cares?  Apparently no one.

Buffalo Couple Had Hundreds of Animals…In Their Apartment!

You Name It, SPCA Removed It From Buffalo Dwelling

New York (CBS/AP) – More than 100 chickens, rabbits, rodents, iguanas and tarantulas have been removed from a two-bedroom Buffalo apartment by authorities who needed three vans to cart off the menagerie.

Police officers responding to an animal mistreatment complaint at a South Buffalo apartment found the animals living in a couple’s cramped apartment Monday. The animals were removed in dozens of cages and cardboard containers by officers from the local chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

They may have even had one of these on the balcony of their apartment.

The animals included about 100 chickens and rabbits.

The couple living in the second-story apartment has been charged with animal cruelty.

The SPCA is trying to find homes for some of the animals, while other animal rescue organizations are expected to take some.

B.S. Report–How long did they live there with all these animals?  I guess a neighbor finally complained, but after how long?  They somehow managed to fit all these animals in their 2-bedroom apartment.  How did they move them in without anyone noticing?  Human beings are the weirdest animals on the planet.

Dow Ends Day Down…Way Down

Not exactly a Wall Street vote of confidence for President Obama's "stimulus" plan.

Dow Falls 382 Points Amid News Of Obama’s Bailout Plan

US stocks fell sharply Tuesday in a broad-based decline as the government announced details of its latest bailout plan.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down more than 300 points after Treasury Secretary Tim Geither revealed details of the bank-bailout plan. Earlier, the blue-chip index was down less than 100 points.

Some market pros said the market selloff was simply a case of buy on the rumor, sell on the news.

Tony Crescenzi of Miller Tabak said Geithner spoke to the wrong street: Main Street instead of Wall Street.

“The problem is that Geithner needed to speak more to Wall Street, where the problems lie, rather than stay at a distance as he did, and leave Wall Street with too few details with no roadmap by how it might find its way out of current difficulties,” Crescenzi wrote in a note to clients.

The “Financial Stability Plan,” as it’s now called, consists of four main components:

1) It will set up a public-private fund to mop up to $500 billion of spoiled bank assets.

2) It will set up a consumer-lending facility to support up to $1 trillion in new lending.

3) It will devote up to $50 billion to help stem home foreclosures.

4) It will provide new funding to banks after a “stress test” to determine if the bank is healthy.  (Read more.)

B.S. Report–I guess Wall Street wasn’t nearly as impressed with President Obama’s plan as the media was.

Car Chase Television–Just another program on L.A. T.V.

Slow Speed Chase Ends With Driver Suicide

The driver of a white Bentley with Illinois license plates who led police on a circuitous slow-speed pursuit on Los Angeles freeways that ended with a lengthy stand-off died later at St. Joseph’s hospital, police officials said Tuesday morning.  A source told the LA Times that the driver, identified later as Mustafa Mustafa, had shot himself.

Mustafa, 27, was a businessman of Pakistani origin who was distraught over the loss of his business. Police said he was from Illinois, but it was not clear if he was a current resident.

Despondent man kills himself after car chase.

The chase began around 8 p.m. when police attempted to arrest Mustafa, who was being sought for an alleged armed assault on his girlfriend late Monday night, in the 4000 block of Lankershim Boulevard. When police arrived at the scene, they saw Mustafa driving away in the Bentley, and the chase was on.  (Read more.)

B.S. Report–For those of you who don’t live in L.A. you can’t really understand the phenomenon of the “car chase.”   They happen so frequently out here that the T.V. guide actually has them listed! (Just kidding!)  What makes them so strange is that the newscasters will drop coverage of all other stories, as if nothing else happened in the whole world today, just to follow the car chase from the helicopters–often for hours!

When there is a particularly good car chase (that means high speed, running all the red lights and stop signs) it can be absolutely captivating.  I’ve had friends call me and ask what I’m doing, “Just kicking back, watching the car chase on Channel 5,” I’d say.  “Oh, is it a good one?” they would ask.  “I’ll go put it on.”  Car chases are just a part of life out here.

There is a video on the “jump page” but there really isn’t anything to see.

National GOP Could Take Some Lessons From Tennessee

Tennessee GOP ousts House speaker from party

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Republicans ousted the new House speaker from their party Monday, giving up their first chance in 150 years to control the entire Legislature, instead choosing to punish him for banding with Democrats to win his seat.

Kent Williams was the first Republican speaker in the state in 40 years. But party loyalists were angered that he snapped up the top position by joining all 49 Democrats in January to beat GOP nominee and House Republican Jason Mumpower by one vote.

The decision Monday to banish him resulted in the loss of a 50-49 House majority the Republicans had for just a month. They control the Senate 19-14.

Like that old Twilight Zone episode, they should banish him to the cornfield.

State GOP Chairwoman Robin Smith brushed aside questions about losing control, saying the decision to oust Williams was driven by principles and rules.

“You can call it 49-49, Williams,” said Smith, who acted after the party’s top leaders last week approved a resolution to oust the speaker.

B.S. Report–Isn’t your party supposed to stand for certain principles?  I mean, if he doesn’t largely agree with the Republican platform then he should get the heck out of the party.  If he’s siding with Democrats to win the speakership, he doesn’t belong in your party.  He sounds like just another phony Republican.

If Republicans are ever going to get their act together again they have to rid the party of these so-called moderates who are nothing more than Democrats.