A ‘Stimulus’ Package That Would Make ‘Farmer John’ Proud…

Just how much pork will the final "stimulus" package have?

Whether we like it or not we’re going to get some kind of  “stimulus”  package, or “pigulus”  package, as I like to call it, because it’s just another “pork bill.”  It appears that the bill will be somewhere in the $900 billion range, but at this point, who can tell?  It long ago became clear that our pols consider it a) their money, and b) monopoly money.  No worries, we’ll make more.

It appears that most Republicans will vote against the bill, but that doesn’t figure to matter in the long run.  The Democrats should have the votes necessary to steamroll even the most ardent dissent.

However, President Obama desperately wants to have at least some token Republican support, just enough to at least shield him from absorbing total blame if and when the “stimulus” fails to stimulate.

According to Drudge, Democrats have removed birth-control funding and sod for the “National Mall” from the bill, but have included a whopping $335 million for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

On Tuesday when he met with congressional Republicans, the President seemed ready to compromise.  But the two sides couldn’t reach a deal.  Read more about this from the Politico.

Since this is very much a “fluid” situation we’ll update the “progress” of the bill throughout the day.

Nearly 50 Years Ago: Rock Fans Meeting To Recall ‘The Day The Music Died’

Plane Crash Forever Linked These 3...February 2nd, 1959, "The Day The Music Died"

Rock fans head to Iowa to recall day music died

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — It’s been 50 years since a single-engine plane crashed into a snow-covered Iowa field, instantly killing three men whose names would become enshrined in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.

The passing decades haven’t diminished fascination with that night on Feb. 2, 1959, when 22-year-old Buddy Holly, 28-year-old J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and 17-year-old Ritchie Valens performed in Clear Lake and then boarded the plane for a planned 300-mile flight that lasted only minutes.

“It was really like the first rock ‘n’ roll landmark; the first death,” said rock historian Jim Dawson, who has written several books about music of that era. “They say these things come in threes. Well, all three happened at the same time.” (Read more here.)

‘World Is Relieved as U.S. starts to repair Bush damage’ says Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…Frankly, if the world is relieved–I’m worried

Get ready to see the many faces of Secretary of State Clinton for at least four years.

I’m trying not to jump the gun in my criticism of President Obama and his team.  But it seems that every statement I’m hearing makes me feel more and more like we just tossed the car keys to a bunch of drunken teenagers.

The Obama Administration is one whole week old and yet they’ve already gone out of their way to kow-tow to the Muslim world.  The President’s first formal interview was with Al-Arabiya, a so-called news network (and that’s only if you compare them with Al-Jazeera, their more radical rival).

Couple that with his first call to a foreign “leader” when President Obama made nice with Palestinian President/Terrorist Mahmoud Abbas, and it’s obvious that Obama is sending the message that this is a whole new ballgame, now that GWB is out of the picture.

Then we have the ominous statement made by new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in which she says that Washington has “a lot of damage to repair” to its global standing, (whatever that means and entails).

What is this so-called damage and what is it that we need to repair?  Does that mean that we stop aggressively pursuing our own national security and economic interests so other nations around the world will like us more?  Personally, I don’t think they will like us one wit more, that is, until they need us to bail them out of their next crisis.

I’m worried that we’re going to start pursuing a make-nice foreign policy of the likes we haven’t seen since the Carter years.  Make no mistake, our enemies are feeling out this administration-not in the expectation of striking up a friendship, but more in the desire of exploiting a weakness.

I know I’m going to be accused of not giving the new administration time to get their footing–and I can understand that charge.  It’s  just that, based on their statements so far, I’m skeptical whether the Obama team is going to show the toughness necessary to protect our country and our interests.  Needless to say, I pray I’m wrong.

You can read more of Secretary Clinton’s first news briefing here.

Too Much Heavy News Today Has Made Me Hungry…This Meal Might Make Me Sick

Too much heavy news today…it’s time for a break.  And a little fun.

Are you hungry?  I saw this video via the great Debbie Schlussel, so I grabbed it.  I haven’t decided whether or not I want to eat at this restaurant…I’m leaning no…doctors orders.  Let me know if you tried it.

Ashley Judd-head: ‘It’s So Nice To Be Living In America Again,’ Another Airhead Celeb Spouts Off…

Just what country have you been living in?...I'll bet it was this one.

Even though President Obama has been in office a full week, that’s plenty of time for Hollywood airhead Ashley Judd to proclaim that everything is good again.  “It’s so nice to live in America again,” said the not so bright bimbette as she emceed a NARAL luncheon celebrating their 40th anniversary of promoting abortions.

My only question for Judd is:  “What rights did you lose while former President George W. Bush was in office?  You, who live a life that 99.9999% of people would dream of living.  Please Ms. Judd, tell us about all your pain and suffering.  On second thought, forget it, I’m not interested.

I’m not talking about the abortion issue here either; obviously a difficult issue with legitimate viewpoints from both sides.  This is about a woman who doesn’t understand that people can actually disagree with her and still be honorable.  No, if you don’t see the country through her liberal prism, than you are not only wrong, but evil.

Please Ms. Judd, you just continue to concentrate on taking your clothes off in B-pictures, and leave the thinking to others.

Here’s the article.

I’m Distraught! But Instead Of Just Killing Myself, I’m Going To Murder My Entire Family…

And Yet Another Sad Story From So. Cal.

Los Angeles Man Distraught Over Job Situation Kills Wife, 5 Children and Himself

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A father apparently distraught over job problems shot and killed his wife and five young children and then committed suicide at their home Tuesday, police said. The victims included two sets of twins.

The bodies were found when police responded to a report of a shooting in progress in the Wilmington area shortly before 8:30 a.m., Officer Sam Park said. The bodies were found throughout the family’s two-story home.

The victims were not immediately identified.

Deputy Chief Kenneth Garner said the man killed his wife, an 8-year-old girl, twin 5-year-old daughters and twin 2-year-old sons. He then killed himself. (More here.)

It makes me sick.  I just can’t stand these guys who, unhappy for whatever reason, (apparently, the loss of a job), decide that their family needs to die with them.

Things Still Aren’t Kosher At Agriprocessors Kosher Slaughterhouse

Conditions still not up to par even though CEO Sholom Rubashkin is no longer there.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Nearly a thousand new charges have been filed in the state’s prosecution of alleged child labor violations at a kosher meatpacking plant in northeast Iowa.

The 954 new charges were filed Jan. 16 against Jeffrey Heasley, a beef production supervisor at the Agriprocessors Inc. plant in Postville. They include alleged child labor violations of employing minors in a meatpacking establishment and for exposing minors to dangerous or poisonous chemicals.

Last September, the Iowa attorney general’s office filed more than 9,000 charges against the plant, its owners and managers. Heasley was not one of the managers charged at that time.

Prosecutors accuse the company of hiring minors and in some cases of having children younger than 16 handle dangerous equipment. (Read more here.)

Agriprocessors Inc.--The Nation's Largest Kosher Meatpacking Plant

Freedom Quote Of The Day

“We still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping at the spoil of the multitude.  Invention is continually exercised to furnish new pretenses for revenue and taxation.  It watches prosperity as its prey and permits none to escape without a tribute.”

—Thomas Paine

Big Win For California…Obama Endorses Key Part Of State Environmental Plan…Who Needs Wins Like This?

This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship, that is, unless you value freedom.

Sorry to bore you with more California politics, especially for you readers from out of state, but I have to write about this–because, at this rate, it looks like California might not make it through the week.

Great news!  We now have an advocate in the White House so all that “wonderful” environmental legislation that couldn’t be passed before is now set to sail right through.  Here’s what the Republican turncoat governor, and global warming believer, said.

“For too long, Washington has been asleep at the wheel when it comes to the environment,” Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said.  “Now California finally has a partner and an ally in Washington, in the White House.”

Doesn’t it warm you all over to know that President Obama is our special friend?  He’s also more than happy to ensconce as much power in Washington as people will allow him to have.  Now, Obama has agreed to grant California special status under the Clean Air Act that could allow us to implement our own tougher standards to limit the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

First the state must get a waiver from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  California was granted about 50 such waivers – and never denied – before seeking a waiver in 2005 to implement a landmark state law that would force automakers to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and light trucks by 2016.  There’s nothing and no one to stand in their way now that George W. Bush is gone.

This would also, of course, allow politicians to decide what kinds of cars and trucks automakers can produce…in effect, giving politicians the power to decide what kind of car we all can drive.  Undoubtedly, they will decide on “green vehicles.”

Just another step towards national control of another industry.  Lets see, financial markets-check, mortgage markets-check, banks-check, auto industry-check, health care-coming soon.  Hello Socialism.  Goodbye Freedom.

You can read more about this great “victory” here.

‘Caulifornia’ Governor Arnold Proposes More New Taxes…Arnold, What Happened To You?

The Old "In-Shape" Arnold Was A Free Market Crusader

Once upon a time, now a lifetime ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote and recorded testimonials for the late, great free-market economist’s Milton Friedman’s landmark series, “Free To Choose,” (later his best-selling book).  But those days are as long-gone as Arnold’s once fabulous physique.

Now the California Governor has not only surrendered, but he’s become one of the forces that advocate tax increases on a host of different products and services, in the hope that it will help reduce a nearly $42 billion budget deficit.

Arnold’s latest proposal would increase taxes on rounds of golf, auto repairs, veterinary care, amusement park and sporting event admissions, and appliance and furniture repairs.

The tax on services is part of $14.3 billion in hikes Schwarzenegger has proposed.  He is also seeking $17.7 billion in spending cuts (good) and $10 billion in additional borrowing (bad).  He also proposes hiking the sales tax by 1.5% through the end of of 2011, boosting taxes on alcoholic drinks, and increasing the vehicle registration fee by $12 and taxing companies that extract oil.

You can’t just look at this as taxing “the rich” or taxing the “other guys.”  This is a matter of principle.  Trying to milk individuals who might have a little more money than the other guy, instead of going after the real culprit–state spending gone wild, is definitely the wrong road to choose.

Read the story here.