Obama asks us to believe in impossible things

By Roger Hedgecock outlines absurd contradictions of current administration

"There is no use trying," said Alice, "one can't believe in impossible things."

"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the queen. "Why, sometimes I've believed six impossible things before breakfast."

– " Alice in Wonderland"

To believe in Obama's America, it's good to be a queen. You must be prepared to believe impossible things.

You must believe that Obama's indefinite detention of terrorists at Gitmo is different than Bush's indefinite detention of terrorists at Gitmo. After all, Obama promised to close Gitmo as a necessary action to restore America 's reputation in the world. His intention to close Gitmo is what's important, certainly more important than the reality of leaving it open "indefinitely."

You must contrast Obama's indefinite detention of terrorists at Gitmo while heroically working to close Gitmo to Maricopa County ( Arizona ) Sheriff Joe Arpaio with his desert tent city of county inmates in pink underwear singing Christmas carols. Obama, the indefinite detainer, has sued Sheriff Joe for violating the human rights of county inmates because Sheriff Joe has no intention of closing his tent city. Understand?

You must believe that Obama is committed to border security even though he sued Arizona when that state wanted to actually enforce the federal laws on immigration.

You must believe that openly homosexual U.S. soldiers will win the war with radical Islam when Islamic Shariah law punishes open homosexuality with death.

You must believe that "tolerance" demands your approval of a triumphal mosque at Ground Zero, but respect for "diversity" requires you to understand why Muslims were so offended by a Christian church near Baghdad they killed 68 parishioners attending mass. Those Christians (who were in Iraq before there was an "Islam") sure can be provocative.

You must believe that you are safer on an airplane flight from radical Muslim terrorists if the TSA can take your nude X-ray picture and/or grope your genitalia.

You must believe that FCC restrictions on the Internet will enhance free speech. And you must believe that these FCC restrictions, adopted by the FCC without any lawful authority from Congress, are lawful because the FCC intends to protect you from evil corporations, and its intention is pure. The FCC is acting in the public interest and need no authority from Congress to do so.

Similarly, you must believe that (contrary to record cold and snow) man-made, CO2-caused global warming is now so threatening that the EPA must act now to cut CO2 emissions from power plants and manufacturing plants to save the planet. That Congress has not given the EPA this authority should not stand in the way of critical action needed now.

Never mind that the planet seems to be entering a new Ice Age. The religion of greenhouse-gas emissions causing the earth to warm and the seas to rise lives on. (See, for example, the Los Angeles Times last week.)

Never mind that cutting CO2 emissions would result in electricity rates "necessarily skyrocketing" (Obama's own words). Never mind that the FCC and the EPA are in the vanguard of a bureaucratic dictatorship free from congressional control. Believe it. They are doing the right thing.

You must believe that Sarah Palin is a nutcase for talking about "death panels" in Obamacare when everyone at the New York Times knows that no such thing exists. You must also believe the New York Times article last week describing limitations on "end of life care" in Obamacare and not see the contradiction.

You must believe that the antidote to an economic recession caused by too much debt – is more debt. You must believe that government taxes and regulations making it tougher to be in business will produce more jobs.

You must believe that America gets stronger by borrowing from the Chinese. And that begging the Chinese to help "restrain" North Korea (a Chinese puppet state) is "diplomacy."

You must believe that giving the Russians a veto over U.S. missile defense technology makes you safer.

You must believe that leaking 250,000 secret papers from the U.S. Departments of Defense and State promotes transparency and accountability, but that revealing Obama's birth records, college transcripts and college financial aid sources would not.

The queen in " Alice in Wonderland" could only believe six impossible things before breakfast. Obama asks us to believe an unlimited number of impossible things every day

The Yin and Yang of Reading

Boy what a weekend. I read two books starting on Christmas Day and finished them last night. Each was at the other end of the spectrum from the other. I basically spend my Christmas weekend, alternatively laughing my butt off and being madder than hell.

The first book, "$#*! My Dad Says", by Justin Halpern was a result of his young man e-mailing friends on stuff his Dad, a Neuro-Surgeon (now retired), would say. This in turn, resulted in a web site, then this book, and now a Television series - which cannot be half as funny as the book. I had tears coming out of my eyes. My wife thought I was having a heart attack. This is a funny, funny book.

On the other hand, I also read "Broke", by Glenn Beck, which is billed as a plan to restore our trust, truth and treasure. I am very familiar with Glenn Beck and watch him almost daily, but his production of this book escaped me - I did not know it existed until my wife gave it to me for Christmas. I would suggest a different sub-title on this book as it is an exceptional history lesson on preceding presidential administrations and congresses. But to be fair, the last 30% or so of the book, is a plan and as with all success plans it begins in educating yourself and understanding the problems and issues in order to analysis the possible solutions.

"Broke" takes you through the founder's ideas on debt and freedom,....various Presidents and their view of the Constitution, debt and monetary policy including some very socialist Presidents who started us on this path of entitlements, debt and social justice. These princes of the liberal - socialism are of course, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Barack Obama. My wife was not too impressed,....Me: "Hey Sweetie, did you know that FDR raised the top tax rate to 88% on people making more than $200,000? What a Socialist scumbag!"........My Wife: "That's nice dear."

I read alot, much if which is western history, western novels and contemporary Cowboy and ranching books,.....but these books are must read - one for the sheer entertainment value which is sorely needed if you watch much of the news,...and the other a valuable history lesson.

16 U.S. Cities That Could Face Bankruptcy in 2011

Provided by the Business Insider, Dec. 21, 2010, by Gus Lubin and Leah Goldman:

Cowboy's comment: Actually there are 17 Cities listed. Four of them are in California, go figure,.... 3 in New Jersey - long ran into the ground by Democrats, and the rest are stalwart liberal bastions (Chicago, Wash D.C., Detroit, etc.).....serves them right. I hope the Federal government doesn't try to bail them out with money they don't have - but I fear it's coming,....remember the term "too big to fail?".

2011 will be the year of the municipal default. At least that's what analysts like Meredith Whitney predict, as do bond investors that have been fleeing the muni market. There are many reasons to be worried. First, the expiration of Build America Bonds will make it harder for cities to raise funds.

Second, city revenues are crashing and keep getting worse. Property taxes haven't reflected the total damage from the housing crash. High joblessness is cutting into city revenues, while increasing costs for services.

The next default could be a major city like Detroit, or it could be one of hundreds of small cities that are on the brink. Did we leave off your ailing city? Let us know in the comments.

San Diego, CA.

Deficit through June 2012 : $73 million

Budget in FY2011: $2.85 billion

Annualized gap: 1.7%

The city's official have tried curbing the deficit by increasing sales taxes, but residents of the city strongly oppose this and have voted it down. San Diego already cut over $200 million over the past two years, so these cuts won't come easy.

New York, NY

Deficit through June 2012: $2 billion

Budget in FY2010: $63.1 billion

Annualized gap: 2.1%

Estimates of the NYC deficit range from $3.6 billion according to Comptroller John Liu to around $2 billion according to the Independent Budget Office. Everyone agrees that the deficit will be worse if New York state cuts aid as part of its own deficit reduction plan. Mayor Bloomberg has already started to address the FY2012 deficit, calling for layoffs in all city agencies, closing 20 fire departments at night, and reducing services for seniors, libraries and cultural centers.

San Jose, CA.

Deficit through June 2012: $90 million

Budget in FY2010: $2.7 billion

Annualized gap: 2.2%

After an audit of the San Jose police department, city officials found it to have too many high paid supervisors, costing the city too much money. The answer to this is converting some of those upper ranked officers to patrol positions. This could reduce the city's debt by $33 million. Last year's deficit was $116 million, leading to brutal cuts including nearly 900 layoffs.

Cincinnati, OH.

Deficit through December 2012: $60 million

Biennial budget FY2009/2010: $2.5 billion

Annualized gap: 2.4%

Helping the budget in Cincinnati depends largely on changes in the police and fire departments. The city can either get $20 million in concessions from the two unions, lay off 216 firefighters, or outsource the police force to neighboring city, Hamilton.

Honolulu, HI.

Deficit through June 2012: $100 million

Budget in FY2011: $1.8 billion

Annualized gap: 3.7%

Mayor Peter Carlisle said police officers and fire fighters will be asked to make concessions in the upcoming budget and he will also end furloughs of two days per month for public workers. This will require the 2,900 officers to give back their 6% pay raises they have received in each of the past four years. Last year Honolulu raised some property taxes to fill a huge $140 million deficit.

San Francisco, CA.

Deficit through June 2012: $380 million

Budget in FY2011: $6.55 billion

Annualized gap: 3.9%

Mayor Gavin Newsom says this year's deficit is completely manageable. Last year's deficit approached $500 million and the city did not need to lay off any police or firemen. While Newsom's term is coming to an end, he says he and his colleagues will leave detailed options for the incoming mayor. Last year's cuts were even larger, eliminating a $438 million deficit. The city is down to the bone.

Los Angeles, CA.

Deficit through June 2012: $438 million

Budget in FY2011: $6.7 billion

Annualized gap: 4.4%

The Los Angeles City Administration Office plans to cut 225 civilian positions in the LAPD, reduce firefighting staffing, and eliminate a dozen positions in the City Attorney's Office and General Service Department. The deficit will only get worse unless an effort to privatize parking garages is approved. If not, the city will require more layoffs, furloughs, and curtailed hiring. Last year's deficit was even larger, totaling nearly $700,000.

Washington, D.C.

Deficit through September 2012: $688 million

Budget in FY2011: $8.89 billion

Annualized gap: 4.4%

Council member Tommy Wells proposed tax rate increases which were voted down, but Wells says he will continue to push his proposal. Wells' proposal seems reasonable as residents making $100,000 a year would only pay $63 more in taxes per year. This is a small price to pay that would benefit the city immensely.

Newark, NJ

Deficit through December 2011: $30.5 million

Budget in FY2010: $677 million

Annualized gap: 4.5%

Newark's deficit was $83 million before Mayor Cory Booker initiated a plan to sell city-owned buildings, raise property taxes to 16 percent and decimate the police force. Nontheless, Moody's cut Newark's rating to A3 citing its $30.5 million remaining deficit.

Detroit, MI

Deficit through June 2011: $85 million

Budget in FY2011: $3.1 billion

Annualized gap: 5.5%

Detroit's city government has cut costs with layoffs and by leaving currently vacant positions open. Mayor Bing's emergency fiscal plan includes demolishing houses and cutting police and trash services to 20% of the city. Last year the city council pushed through severe cuts to fill an over $700 million deficit.

Reading, PA

Deficit through December 2011: $7.5 million

Budget in FY2010: $120 million

Annualized gap: 6.3%

One of Pennsylvania's several distressed municipalities, which receive state aid, Reading has been running an operating deficit for years. In September the city council said their deficit was bigger than expected, soaring to $7.5 million for the current year, which means they will have to borrow around $17 million from the state to pay off total debts.

Joliet, IL

Deficit through December 2011: $21 million

Budget in FY2010: $274 million

Annualized gap: 7.7%

Last year, the city increased property tax by over 12 percent and hiked water and sewer rates by 45 percent over three years to help with the deficit. The city council also cut police and public sector jobs.

Camden, NJ

Deficit through December 2011: $26.5 million

Budget in FY2010: $178 million

Annualized gap: 15%

Despite holding title of second most dangerous city in America, Camden recently received approval to lay off half of its police force.

Hamtramck, MI

Deficit through June 2012: $4.7 million

Budget in FY2011: $18 million

Annualized gap: 17%

City manager Bill Cooper was denied permission to declare bankruptcy. He says the city is owed millions of dollars in tax dollars from Detroit from a shared facility. The state offered the city a loan to stave off bankruptcy. Cooper says he has already cut almost everything possible, going so far as to lay off the city's five crossing guards. Hamtramck might avoid bankruptcy, but also-broke Michigan can't afford many of these deals. That's why Gov. Rick Snyder predicts "hundreds of jurisdictions" going bankrupt in the next four years.

Central Falls, RI

Deficit through June 2012: $7 million

Budget in FY2011: $21 million

Annualized gap: 22%

Central Falls has been put in state receivership due to critical budget problems. State-appointed receiver Mark Pfeiffer thinks the best solution is for Central Falls to be annexed by its neighboring city, Pawtucket.

Paterson, N.J.

Deficit through December 2011: $54 million

Budget for FY2010: $225 million

Annualized gap: 24%

As a "last resort," Paterson is considering laying off 30 percent of its police force, said councilman Steve Olimpio. This will put 150 police officers out of work.

Chicago, IL.

Deficit through December 2011: $654 million

Budget in FY2010: $6.8 billion

Annualized gap: 9.6%

Mayor Richard Daley has balanced the budget, but absolutely ruined Chicago finances from here on. His FY2011 plan uses up nearly the entire revenue from a long-term lease of the local parking system and airport, which he passed in 2008. The multi-billion lease deal was supposed to last for decades, but it only lasted two years. The best hope for the future is building a city-owned casino. Cowboy's comment: I hope Rahm Emmanuel (the psycho dwarf who like to confront Legislators when they are naked) gets elected Mayor of Chicago. Then we'll see him blame Mayor Daley - like he and Obama blamed Bush.

Republican Surveys

Have you ever received a phone call that went something like this: "Mr Johnson, Representative or Senator So and So, greatly respects your opinion and would like your input on which priority should the new incoming Republican's concentrate their legislative agenda on,...Repealing Obamacare, lowering taxes or fixing the economy?"

It's like "Duh?!", Here's a thought, let do all three plus more!!

Of course this is a lead in to donate to the Republican coffers. But it certainly gives you a chance to give a staffer an ear full. The most recent call I received, I said to the staffer that I was livid about the Republicans caving on the tax rate extension and allowing $200 billion in money we don't have to go to entitlements.

Anyway, here's your chance to take a poll without talking to a person. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has a poll up on their website, and when you complete it, it will take you to a contribution page, just check the $0 or submit without a contribution.

From the NRSC:

2011 Issues Survey
In January a new Congress will be sworn in with the new Representatives and Senators YOU elected. To get this nation back on track, our Party needs candid feedback. Business as usual won’t cut it. Please share your thoughts below on what you want the Senate to focus on in 2011 and we'll share them with all of the Republican Senate Conference.


http://join.nrsc.org/issues-survey/?utm_source=housefile&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2011-Issues-Survey

Random Comments - Joe Biden and Immigrant Opinions

Did any of you see Joe Biden’s bizarre interview on Meet the Press this past weekend? Old Joe, God Bless his Idiot self, made the statement words to the effect that “We got it,..(meaning the results from Nov 2010 election)…..we understand the People are mad at the Democrats,…but they are also mad at Republicans also. In fact I have seen polls that show the people are madder at Republicans.” What the hell - Joe?

I recently had an opportunity to take several taxi cabs rides in our Nation’s Capital. Each driver was an immigrant to this country. One was an elderly guy from Persia ,...not Iran, but Persia he stated emphatically. We talked about the events in Iran circa 1979 which brought the Islamic fundamentalists to power. This taxi driver was impressed that I understood a little of his Country’s history, but what was important was his perception of Americans. He told me that most American’s do not appreciate what opportunities and freedoms they have in this country. Boy, ain't he right!

I rode in another Taxi Cab with a young (maybe mid 20’s) Jamaican driver. Aside from his choice of music (rap) he was a pretty smart young man. He too said that young Americans squander their opportunity and don’t realize the things they take for granted that most countries wish to have.

And yet another Taxi Cab ride from an Ethiopian immigrant got me involved in a discussion on why the U.S. doesn’t secure it’s borders and arrest all the illegals and send them home. This conversation was on the morning after a Border Patrol agent was shot and killed by armed smugglers in Arizona, who as it turns out were Mexican Nationals. My driver thought it was a simple case of rounding up all the Mexicans and deporting them. I explained to this driver that we have constitutional rights and due process, and, that the law enforcement agencies have different levels of statutory authority and jurisdictions where local and state police do not routinely enforce or provide support for the enforcement of immigration laws and that racial profiling is illegal. He was perturbed, as you and I are, that the Federal government doesn't do more to secure the borders.

Damn shame where immigrants are much more grateful of this Country and it's opportunities than the people living here are.

Republican Gains in Census

Associated Press Article, 21 December 2010

WASHINGTON – Republican-leaning states will gain at least a half dozen House seats thanks to the 2010 census, which found the nation's population growing more slowly than in past decades but still shifting to the South and West.

The Census Bureau announced Tuesday that the nation's population on April 1 was 308,745,538, up from 281.4 million a decade ago. The growth rate for the past decade was 9.7 percent, the lowest since the Great Depression. The nation's population grew by 13.2 percent from 1990 to 2000.

Michigan was the only state to lose population during the past decade. Nevada, with a 35 percent increase, was the fastest-growing state.

The new numbers are a boon for Republicans, with Texas leading the way among GOP-leaning states that will gain House seats, mostly at the Rust Belt's expense. Following each once-a-decade census, the nation must reapportion the House's 435 districts to make them roughly equal in population, with each state getting at least one seat.

That triggers an often contentious and partisan process in many states, which will draw new congressional district lines that can help or hurt either party.

In all, the census figures show a shift affecting 18 states taking effect when the 113th Congress takes office in 2013.

Texas will gain four new House seats, and Florida will gain two. Gaining one each are Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah and Washington.

Ohio and New York will lose two House seats each. Losing one House seat are Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Florida will now have as many U.S. House members as New York: 27. California will still have 53 seats, and Texas will climb to 36.

In 2008, President Barack Obama lost in Texas and most of the other states that are gaining House seats. He carried most of the states that are losing House seats, including Ohio and New York.

Each House district represents an electoral vote in the presidential election process, meaning the political map for the 2012 election will tilt somewhat more Republican.

If Obama were to carry the same states he won in 2008, they would net him six fewer electoral votes under the new map. Some states Obama won, such as Florida, tilted Republican in last month's election and the electoral votes they will gain could further help GOP candidates in 2012.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he did not expect the census results to have a "huge practical impact" on national politics.

For the first time in its history, Democratic-leaning California will not gain a House seat after a census.

Since 1940, 79 House seats have shifted to the South and West, mainly from the Northeast and Midwest, census officials said.

Starting early next year, most state governments will use detailed, computer-generated data on voting patterns to carve neighborhoods in or out of newly drawn House districts, tilting them more to the left or right. Sometimes politicians play it safe, quietly agreeing to protect Republican and Democratic incumbents alike. But sometimes the party in control will gamble and aggressively try to reconfigure the map to dump as many opponents as possible.

Last month's elections put Republicans in full control of numerous state governments, giving the GOP an overall edge in the redistricting process. State governments' ability to gerrymander districts is somewhat limited, however, by court rulings that require roughly equal populations, among other things. The 1965 Voting Rights Act protects ethnic minorities in several states that are subject to U.S. Justice Department oversight.

The average population of a new U.S. House district will be 710,767. But each state must have at least one district. So Wyoming, the least populous state with 563,626 residents, will have a representative with considerably fewer constituents. Six other states will have one House member. Each state has two U.S. senators, regardless of population.

The U.S. is still growing quickly relative to other developed nations. The population in France and England each increased roughly 5 percent over the past decade, while in Japan the number is largely unchanged, and Germany's population is declining. China grew at about 6 percent; Canada's growth rate is roughly 10 percent.

The South had the fastest growth since 2000, at 14.3 percent, the Census Bureau said. The West was close behind at 13.8 percent. The Northeast had 3.2 percent growth while the Midwest had 3.9 percent.

The declining U.S. growth rate since 2000 is due partly to the economic meltdown in 2008, which brought U.S. births and illegal immigration to a near standstill compared with previous years. The 2010 count represents the number of people — citizens as well as legal and illegal immigrants — who called the U.S. their home on April 1.

States losing political clout may have little recourse to challenge the census numbers. Still, census officials were bracing for the possibility of lawsuits seeking to revise the 2010 findings.

North Carolina just missed picking up the last House seat, falling short by roughly 15,000 people.

The release of state apportionment numbers is the first set of numbers from the 2010 census. Beginning in February, the Census Bureau will release population and race breakdowns down to the neighborhood level for states to redraw congressional boundaries.

Louisiana, Virginia, New Jersey and Mississippi will be among the first states to receive their redistricting data in February.

The 2010 census results also are used to distribute more than $400 billion in annual federal aid and will change each state's Electoral College votes beginning in the 2012 presidential election.

Gov Christie Corrects a Travest y of Justice

N.J. Governor Chris Christie Commutes Gun Owner’s Prison Sentence

NRA Hails Decision, Calls for Real Reform

Fairfax, Va. –The National Rifle Association praised New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for commuting the prison sentence of Brian Aitken—a gun owner who was arrested, convicted and imprisoned for illegal possession of firearms, even though he had made every effort to comply with New Jersey’s restrictive and confusing laws. The NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund supported Mr. Aitken’s case.

“On behalf of the 4 million members of the National Rifle Association of America, I would like to thank Governor Christie for freeing Brian Aitken in time to spend the holiday with his family,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

Mr. Aitken was convicted last year of illegal possession of firearms, following a trial in which the judge refused to let the jury hear about exceptions in the law that allow possession of firearms without a license, while moving to a new residence. Mr. Aitken was sentenced to a seven-year prison term even though he had lawfully purchased and owned the firearms.

“While Governor Christie’s grant of clemency was absolutely the right thing to do, Brian Aitken’s case is just one example of how New Jersey's ridiculous gun laws turn law-abiding gun owners into criminals,” added Cox. “There is a serious need to reform New Jersey’s gun laws so that the full weight of the state’s law enforcement and legal system falls squarely on the shoulders of criminals, not on people like Brian Aitken.”

We have to be constantly vigilant on measures by the left to take away not only gun rights but other rights granted by the Constitution. Keep on your Legislators!

Interesting Conservative - Herman Cain

I saw a interesting new conservative on Fox News Friday night...new to me anyway. Herman Cain who was announcing that he was exploring a bid for the Republican nomination for President in 2012. Mr Cain expressed a belief in smaller government, revamping of social programs to eliminate dependancy and all the things that conservatives should believe. He also stated that he was a conservative first and republican second, which of course was an immediate hit with me.

I wish this gentleman good luck if he decides to run. The more true conservatives we have in the initial pool for the Presidential nomination, the better choices we have and the more conservative the platform and discussion becomes. You can make up your own mind about him, but at least he has tons more executive experience than Obama had when he took office....well, who doesn't? Watch the video from the 2009 Georgia state republican convention.



This is biographical information from Herman Cain's website:

Raised in Georgia, Cain adopted the lessons of his parents - dedication to hard work and the importance of faith - and carried them with him to the pinnacle of the corporate world. Cain earned a degree in mathematics from Morehouse College in 1967 and later earned a master's degree in computer science from Purdue University, while working as a mathematician for the Department of the Navy. He then worked as a business analyst for The Coca-Cola Company. In 1968, he married his wife, Gloria and they have two grown children.

Subsequently Mr. Cain worked for The Pillsbury Company, and within three years, at the age of 34, rose to the position of Vice President of Corporate Systems and Services. Cain, reflecting his father's drive to seek greater challenges, then set his sights on a corporate presidency.

With this goal ahead of him and his mother's faith to support him, Cain resigned his senior position and started on another career path - the restaurant industry. He started from the ground up by making hamburgers at Pillsbury's Burger King division. Nine months later, he was managing 400 Burger King units in the Philadelphia region, the country's poorest performer. Within three years, his region had earned the reputation for excellence and was the company's best.

In 1986, Pillsbury appointed Cain to the presidency of the then financially troubled Godfather's Pizza, Inc. chain headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. In 14 short months, under Cain's leadership, the chain regained profitability. In 1988, he led his executive team in a buyout of the company from Pillsbury.

Cain was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association in 1988. In 1994 to 1995, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. While leading this association, he developed the organization into a pro-business voice via national debates and speeches concerning health care reform, employment policies, and taxation. Following this experience, he was appointed to serve on the Economic Growth and Tax Reform Commission in addition to serving as Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. He then became a senior advisor to the 1996 Dole/Kemp campaign for the Presidency.

Herman Cain continued the responsibilities of President and Chairman of Godfather's Pizza, Incorporated, while beginning a second career delivering national keynote speeches. Using his messages as the foundation, he created his own leadership consulting company, The THE New Voice, Inc. THE New Voice packages his speaking and develops his products, including books, DVDs, CDs of gospel music, and promotes his keynote speeches. He has authored four books to date on topics ranging from leadership to self-empowerment including Leadership is Common Sense and CEO of Self.

In 1996, Cain became CEO and President of the National Restaurant Association. He had been a member of the NRA Board since 1988, and had served as its elected volunteer chairman in 1994/1995. Cain thus became the only volunteer chairman to become the full-time CEO and President of the Association while still a member of the Board. Cain headed the NRA in this position for two and a half years.

In 1999, Cain sought to leverage his restaurant experience with the technology market and he became CEO and President of RetailDNA. Its mission is to provide innovative marketing solutions to the retail sector.

Today, Herman is a radio talk show host on "The Herman Cain Show" out of Atlanta’s WSB 750am and is a FOX News Business Commentator. Cain remains President and CEO of THE New Voice, Inc. and serves on the Boards of Directors for AGCO Corporation, Hallmark Cards Incorporated and Whirlpool Corporation. In 2004, he ran as a candidate for the United States Senate from Georgia.

Go to Mr Cain's website to view his positions and issues: http://www.hermancain.org/

The Ten Commandants of Arab Lies

Be aware of an organization called, IfAmericansKnew.org, that serves as a pro Arab-Palestinian, Anti-Israeli mouthpiece spewing half truths and out right lies in order to turn American opinion against Israel and reduce if not eliminate U.S. funding for the most pro-American democracy in the Middle East.

IfAmericansKnew post this header on their site which quickly orients he reader to their political bent: "Whenever Israel commits yet another atrocity, its defenders are quick to redirect public attention away from the grisly crime scene."

They proceed to post "stats and facts", such as:

Israel has been targeted by at least 65 UN resolutions and the Palestinians have been targeted by none. Cowboy's comment: Ain't that a shame! This shows nothing more than the anti- Israeli bent of the United Nations. We need to get out of the U.N. and kick all those lying, beggin scum bags out of this country. If we are not willing to do that, then I suggest the U.S. Government base overseas aid on whether or not the intended receiving country has ever bashed the U.S. on the U.N. stage.

Israel currently has 223 Jewish-only settlements and ‘outposts’ built on confiscated Palestinian land. Palestinians do not have any settlements on Israeli land. Cowboy's comment: This is because the Israeli settlers are peaceful and bring economic vitality to where they live. They are builders not destroyers. On the other hand the vast majority of the Palestinians want death to all the Jews. Would you what a group of people who routinely call for your extinction living next to you?

Zero Israeli homes have been demolished by Palestinians and 24,145 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since 1967. Cowboy's comment: Well,.....you probably have to be smart enough to operate a bulldozer.

We found this excellent video that refutes some of the Arab and Leftist U.S. media lies about Israel and Palestine.

People Fleeing New York and Illinois

This article from Forbes is on the changing demographics in States. I think more of research could have been put into the reasons why people are leaving these states. I think a trends analysis would reveal that the tax rates, unemployment rates and projected jobs availability, the break in the housing bubble, overall regulation, and the unimpeded spending by the states are have much to do with these trends.

Top 10 States People Are Fleeing
New York, Illinois and Louisiana are expected to lose more residents than they gain this year. By Jenna Goudreau, Forbes.com

"We're seeing one of the lowest mobility rates in a century," says Nathaniel Karp, chief economist for banking firm BBVA Compass. Karp says the recession has forced many people to stay put because they are unable to sell their homes, cannot find jobs or are unwilling to relocate for work if it means sacrificing a partner's stable position.

The slowdown makes the question of who's moving and why even more significant than in years past. Using 2010 projections by Moody's Economy.com, Forbes ranked the states in which people are leaving faster than they are arriving. Economists report several overlapping trends that may be forcing people out of certain states as much as they are pulling them toward others.

At No.1 on our list, New York is expected to wave goodbye to 49,000 more people than it gains this year. The state has seen a steady loss of residents over the past five years, losing an average of 100,000 people per year. Karp explains that, because New York is a large state, it may report greater movement than others, but notes that population size is not the only reason residents are fleeing.

"In order to move, you need to be able to sell your home," says Karp. "The housing market [in New York] has not gone through the meltdown that other states have gone through." While New York homeowners may have a slightly easier time selling their homes and moving to greener pastures, a competing trend is the number of unemployed renters who can no longer afford the high cost of living in and around New York City. Karp says the expensive lifestyle and high taxes may force the long-term unemployed to move on to more affordable regions.

Cowboy's comment: New York is probably the most heavily taxed state in the union.

The Prairie State came in at No. 2. Illinois is expected to lose 27,000 people this year, consistent with its average annual loss over the last five years. The losses are likely linked to the state's economy and tax structure. Job losses in manufacturing and industrial machinery are likely
pushing people out of the state, Karp says, adding that state taxes have also been "an issue" for many residents.

Midwestern states, in fact, are well-represented in the top-10 list. Nebraska (No. 4), Kansas (No. 5) and North Dakota (No. 9) are among the many central states projected to lose residents in 2010.

The movement may be related to broader structural changes. "For most of the decade people have been moving to the South and Southwest," says Kenneth Johnson, a demographer and professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire. He believes the trend is closely related to life cycle: Retirees are attracted to states with temperate climates, affordable costs of living, good health care and pretty scenery. For these reasons, Florida and Arizona are expected to receive an influx of hundreds of thousands of people this year.

Cowboy's comment: You're are welcome to the Southwest,....as long as you're a conservative.

At the same time, young people in search of jobs may move to the regions to work in services and high tech, says Karp. Texas and North Carolina are home to some of the largest public companies in the country, like Exxon Mobil and Bank of America, and are also among the top-five most attractive states this year.

At least two states in the top 10 are victims of unfortunate circumstances. Louisiana (No. 7) and Mississippi (No. 10) are both expected to lose residents this year. In 2006, the year after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, almost 300,000 people left Louisiana and nearly 20,000 moved out of Mississippi. The projected losses this year, though much milder, could be related to the impact of the BP oil spill.

Cowboy's comment: Ever wonder why President Bush took so much heat for Katrina and the perceived lack of Federal response whereas President Obama did not spend any time on the hot seat for the Federal in-action over the BP oil fiasco?

Though specific conditions are pushing people out of some states, economists say more people moving around would be a positive sign for the economy. "Mobility makes it easier to respond to economic cycles," says Karp. "People are still living in places where there are no jobs. That's
one of [the] reasons why the unemployment rate remains really high."

Top 5 States People Are Fleeing

No. 1: New York
Projected Loss: 49,000 people
Population: 19.7 million
Percentage Change: -0.25%
The Big Apple may lose more people than it gains in 2010 because of the depressed job market, high cost of living and an ongoing trend of retirees and job-seekers heading to the South and Southwest.

No. 2: Illinois
Projected Loss: 27,000 people
Population: 13 million
Percentage Change: -0.21%
Economist Nathaniel Karp says Illinois' tax structure (Do you think?)and loss of manufacturing jobs may be pushing people out of the state this year.

Tax Cuts for Everyone!

Reading the title "Tax Cuts for Everyone!" you would think the tax rates are going down. Not so, they are staying the same. Then why, you ask, does the Liberals make it seem that the Republicans are cutting taxes for the rich. Oh,..that's just their lying, cheating ways my friend.

The Liberal press proclaims that the "tax cuts" will cost the government $186.8 billion. Not so at all. Again, the rates are staying the same therefore no money is lost. But it doesn't keep the Lib's from spreading their manure. Besides, Congress does not have a revenue problem,...they have a spending problem.

But what IS costing the government,....and that's you and me and the other tax payers,.....is yet another extension of unemployment benefits which will cost at least $56.5 billion. What the hell is Congress thinking! How can we spend money we don't have?...Well, don't think too hard, the answer is right in front of us,...they print more money of course.

When Liberals rant and rave that the "rich" aren't paying their fair share, we need to scream the truth in their stupid faces that the rich pay much more than their fair share, and how dare the Liberals demand they pay more. This is a classic socialist - communist theme....they want to redistribute wealth, as long as they are on the top end of pile.

Another smart move by Congress,...make a one year 2% Social Security tax cut for wage earners, when the Social Security Program is near bankrupt,.....this will cost $112 billion. Excellent idea - that's like cutting your own work hours when you can't make ends meet.

And you wonder why we are in trouble?

Old Texas Story

This is an old story out of Texas.

Seems a guy makes a rolling stop at a stop sign and gets pulled over by a local policeman. Guy hands the cop his driver's license, insurance verification, plus his concealed carry permit.

"Okay, Mr. Smith," the cop says, "I see your CCW permit. Are you carrying today?"

"Yes, I am."

"Well then, better tell me what you got."

Smith says, "Well, I got a .357 revolver in my inside coat pocket. There's a 9mm semi-auto in the glove box. And I've got a .22 Magnum derringer in my right boot.

"Okay," the cop says. "Anything else?"

"Yeah, back in the trunk, there's an AR15 and a shotgun. That's about it."

"Mr. Smith, are you on your way to or from a gun range...?"

"Nope."

"Well then, what are you afraid of...?"

"Not a damned thing..."

If you don't get this story,....then never mind.

Wikileaks Perspective

Excellent perspective on the Wikileaks security issue,..or fiasco from Doug Patton earlier this month. I enjoyed the read, but I'm a simple man,....throw Bradley Manning in jail for the rest of his natural life and shut down Wikileaks. What has happened since is Julian Assange has been arrested in Sweden for allegedly raping two women and who but liberal fatman Michael Moore could of or would of came up with the bail money.

Patton: Perhaps WikiLeaks Has Done Us a Favor

By Doug Patton December 6, 2010

The more that dribbles out of the whole WikiLeaks fiasco, the more I'm beginning to wonder if that little Tinkerbell character, Julian Assange, and his slimy "leakers" may have not done us all a favor. First, it was revealed that the traitor who gave Assange most of the highly classified materials he has been spewing out for the last few months was a gay Army private named Bradley Manning. It seems that Manning was unhappy about the U.S. military's policy of "don't make us deal with your sexual preferences," (otherwise known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"), so he betrayed his country.

This fact was exposed by my all-time favorite snarky author/columnist, Ann Coulter, who also contends that the document dump of thousands of pages of secret information has done untold damage to our national security interests. She's right, of course, but as I said, there may be a silver lining to this otherwise dark cloud.

First, the fact is that the sordid tale of Bradley Manning shows us the lengths to which some disturbed people will go to alter a policy they think is "unfair." What Manning did is as illogical as murdering an abortionist in order to save lives. Committing treason against one's own country is at least as heinous as cold-blooded murder.

PFC Bradley Manning should be tried and, if found guilty, executed for his crimes. But he probably will not be, because the United States of America has no stomach for such things anymore. (Technically, our "leaders" have no stomach for it; the public would sanction it in a New York minute.)

The second layer of that silver lining is the most recent revelation. It seems that WikiLeaks has dumped a whole boatload of documents on the web that expose the sham of global warming. "WikiLeaks Cables Reveal How U.S. Manipulated Climate Accord" reads the headline. The story continues: "Embassy dispatches show America used spying, threats and promises of aid to get support for Copenhagen accord."

As reported in The Guardian, the U.S. diplomatic "cables" published by Assange and his merry band of cyber-terrorists reveal how the U.S. (under Obama) sought dirt on nations opposed to its approach to tackling global warming. It also tells how financial aid was used to gain political backing, and how the U.S. carried out a secret global diplomatic offensive to overwhelm opposition to the controversial Copenhagen accord, the unofficial document that emerged from the ruins of the disastrous Copenhagen climate change summit in 2009.

What does a country have to do these days to sell Al Gore's lie all around the world, anyway? Quite a bit, it turns out. Has anyone seen Al lately? Does anyone care?

Cowboy's comment: Al Gore must be hiding in a good location as he is big as a circus tent.

Then there is the specter Assange and his ilk turning against Barack Obama. What we are witnessing is the worldwide Left doing what it does best: hating America. It really is irrelevant to them who is running this country. They still hate it. It matters little to them that Obama is basically one of them. Any vestige of capitalism, any shred of human freedom, any representation of the decency that is the United States, incurs their hatred. They cannot help themselves. We exist, therefore they hate us.

Finally, this whole ugly mess may give our shackled government goobers the guts they need to repeal the ridiculous law that says the CIA can't put a bullet in the head of someone like Julian Assange.

All these disturbing revelations should give Americans pause to reflect on what it is that we have been, what we have become, and ultimately, what we will be.

WikiLeaks is a tool being used in an effort to destroy America and the West, and its founder has overplayed his hand in an attempt to do so.

Read more on this.

Tax Rate Compromise - A Conservative Victory?

Is may be too soon to talk about this since nothing has been voted into law, but there seems to be a solution to the impending tax increases.

Newt Gingrich, from American Solutions, sent out an e-mail claiming this is our first conservative victory….”Last night's tax compromise between President Obama and the GOP is good news for the economy, and is proof that elections do matter. If the Left had won on November 2nd, there's no doubt that this deal wouldn't have happened. But the GOP leadership stood by their promise to prevent a massive tax increase on the American people.”

Really?! Just how firm did the Republicans stand for no more tax increases or no more wasteful spending or spending that we cannot afford?

New commentators are falling all over themselves saying this proves Obama is a Statesman and has demonstrated his ability to compromise. Not really. Obama proposed an increase in the death tax,….what was it?..something like a 35% tax on assets over 5 million? At any level this is an abomination on the American People. Imagine a rancher having assets over $5 million, tied up mostly in the land and his stock. The rancher dies, his wife or children have to sell off the cattle and some of the land in order to pay the death tax! This is not only government re-distribution of wealth but Government confiscation of property without due process.

Obama not only proposed the death tax increase but another one year extension of unemployment benefits. Are you kidding me? Get fired or layed off, which is a terrible thing, but now the government is going to fund your unemployed period for up to 3 years?.....another massive government spending program without the funds to back it up. We cannot continue to spend money we don’t have. Some people are predicting a collapse of the dollar, and hence this country, within 6 months if we don’t take massive course correction now.

Plus, Obama did not go willing to his proposal for compromise. He is under extreme pressure from such notables mutts as Harry Reid and Nancy Stretch Pelosi (and others) not to compromise. Obama got in his lying licks too when he call Republicans “hostage takers” holding the American people hostage in order to secure tax cuts for the rich. Tax Cuts – really? No, you idiot this is keeping the tax rates at the status quo.

One thing that is over looked in the whole tax debate is just how fair is it for someone to bust their butt building a business or enterprise then getting taxed at a higher rate. We need the fair tax.

Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) says that extending unemployment with paying for it and increases the death tax was unacceptable – and I for one am thankful that one of the conservatives we voted in, is standing pat on the values that got him elected.

Making The Rounds: What People are Saying

....About social security, taxation, government waste and over spending...

Just a short roll up on some of the blog comments making the rounds:

"I believe the gov. tolerates the low and middle class people only because they pay in enormous amounts of tax revenues and they make the best soldiers in the world. when or if they reach retirement age or for whatever reason they are not as productive as they once were they are then expendable, like most things today " they're throw a-ways"...once the elected officials in washington get elected they never look back, they're are then above the law. the lobbiests, special interest groups, big businesses and drug cartels run and own washington d.c. the american dream is a farce to keep people working, washington enjoys a life style unequaled anywhere on the face of the earth,they are never going to give that up..."

"Maybe all you people crying that you can't live off of what they give you or that somebody else gets more then you for less, should have prepared better. yes the system is broken and run poorly. But what happened to self preservation? Take of care of yourself and not sit around whining you don't get enough. Cause factually everyone gets more then they put in due to cost of living adjustments. People receiving $600month could live off of that easily back when they started putting money into social security. So in the end, you should have gotten off your rump and prepared for your retirement yourself and quit waiting for someone else to take care of you."

"We are all just pigs at the trough of the government and destroying the country for our children. We are the first generation of Americans to leave our country in worse shape for our kids than our parents left us. We should be ashamed."

"If you work for the federal government your pension funds are invested in stocks and bonds listed on the stock exchange. If you are wrapped in the loving arms of Social Security, your retirement funds cannot be invested in the market. Social Security funds are loaned to the govt. and yields about 2% return, the govt. pension funds invested in the market probably yields between 5% to 10% or more."

The above comments were ones that were more reasnable or articulate. Of course you still have people who are blaming Bush for everything,.... people who believe that the Worldwide Wrestling Federation on television is real,.... and people who believe that Obama was born in Hawaii.

Cal Thomas - Telling It Like It Is

Sent to me by a buddy, his comment....."Cal Thomas has done it again. He should be arrested for trying to tell the truth and be sensible.

Cal Thomas, is a political commentator of a conservative bent and is the co-author (with Bob Beckel - a noted Liberal) of the book, "Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America".

Cal's article:

People who take polls for a living will tell you that depending on the methodology, the sample, how a question is asked and the understanding of the ones being polled, the outcome can pretty much be predetermined.

If you are dependent on a superior for your job and that superior tells you he wants a certain conclusion reached about a policy he wishes to implement, that, too, can affect the outcome.

Such is the case with President Obama, who has told gay rights groups he intends to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military. From the comments by Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, it appears the president's message has placed their job security above what is best for the military and the country. Many lower-ranking officers do not share their opinion about the effects openly gay service members would have on our military.

The Pentagon poll touted by Gates and Mullen was "rigged," said a recent editorial in The Washington Times, which noted, "From the outset, the Pentagon had no interest in eliciting honest responses from the troops about whether the law ... should be preserved or repealed. Instead, soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines were addressed in terms of implying that repeal is inevitable."

Furthermore, said the newspaper, "63 percent of respondents live off-base or in civilian housing and consequently answered that a change in policy might not affect them. Those in combat roles -- where unit cohesion and trust are life-and-death concerns -- gave a different response."

Of all the arguments made by the Obama administration for repealing the law, the one mentioned by Secretary Gates is the least defensible. Gates said Congress had better act before the law was "imposed immediately by judicial fiat." Perhaps Gates should re-read the Constitution, especially the part about the separation of powers. Article 1, Section 8 empowers Congress to make rules for the government and regulate land and naval forces. A National Review Online editorial labeled Gates' comment, "... blackmail via judicial imperialism."

What is more likely to happen if the policy is reversed is that tens of thousands of those currently in service will retire, or quit. During Senate Armed Services Committee hearings last week, Senator John McCain (R-AZ), cited another Pentagon survey, which found that repealing the ban could create an "alarming" troop retention problem at a time when the military is already shorthanded.

McCain said, "If 12.6 percent of the military left earlier, that translates into 264,600 men and women who would leave the military earlier than they had planned." McCain wondered if that is a "good idea in a time of war." The question should answer itself.

Gates and Mullen suggest that the troops can be conditioned into accepting openly gay service members. Would that include chaplains and religious soldiers for whom homosexual behavior is thought to be a sin? Will chaplains be disciplined if they counsel someone who is gay that they can change and be forgiven, just as heterosexuals who engage in sex outside of marriage can also repent and discover a new path? This proposed change in the law has more of a "fundamentalist" tone than fundamentalism. Submit, or else.

Why are we witnessing so many challenges to what used to be considered a shared sense of right and wrong? It is because we no longer regard the Author of what is right. Loosed from that anchor, we drift in a sea of personal "morality," deciding for ourselves what we want and ought to do and defying anyone who shouts "wrong way" as a fascist imposer of their personal beliefs.

The military is one of our primary national underpinnings. So is marriage. No wonder the gay rights movement seeks to undermine both. There are consequences when foundations are destroyed. The Congress has a duty to save us from the pursuit of our lower nature if we won't listen to that other voice. If they care.

TSA Experience - Are You Kidding Me!

Received this from an Army Sergeant Major, who received it from someone else in the service…..Left untouched with the exception of the adult language.

The letter begins,....

As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan , I witnessed the following:

When we were on our way back from Afghanistan , we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards. Our first stop was Shannon , Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis , Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That's where the stupid started.

First, everyone was forced to get off the plane-even though the plane wasn't refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.

It's probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren't loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.

The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our Cargo-just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, reinspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.

This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.

So we're in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they're going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:

TSA Guy: You can't take those on the plane.

Soldier: What? I've had them since we left country.

TSA Guy: You're not suppose to have them.

Soldier: Why?

TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.

Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I'm allowed to take it on.

TSA Guy: Yeah but you can't use it to take over the plane. You don't have bullets.

Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?

TSA Guy: [awkward silence]

Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the F%*# out of here. I'll buy you a new set.

Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security] To top it off, the TSA demanded we all be swabbed for "explosive residue" detection. Everyone failed, [go figure, we just came home from a war zone], because we tested positive for "Gun Powder Residue". Who the F%*# is hiring these people?.

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns-but nothing that could have been used as a weapon. Can someone please tell me What the F%*# happened to OUR country while we were gone?

Regards,

Sgt. Mad Dog Tracy

Interesting Statistics Draw an Unwanted Conclusion

A friend of mine sent me these stats. Pretty interesting. Shows how the U.S. just may be a third world country before long.

Thirty years ago, ten percent of California ’s general fund went to higher education and three percent to prisons. Today, nearly eleven percent goes to prisons and eight percent to higher education.

In 2009, 51 percent of United States patents were awarded to non-United States companies.

The World Economic Forum ranks the United States 48th in quality of mathematics and science education.

Of Wal-Mart’s 6,000 suppliers, 5,000 are in China .

There are sixteen energy companies in the world with larger reserves than the largest United States company.

IBM’s once promising PC business is now owned by a Chinese company.

The legendary Bell Laboratories is now owned by a French company.

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (computer manufacturing) employs more people than the worldwide employment of Apple, Dell, Microsoft, Intel and Sony combined.

No new nuclear plants and no new petroleum refineries have been built in the United States in a third of a century, a period characterized by intermittent energy-related crises.

United States consumers spend significantly more on potato chips than the government devotes to energy R&D.

The world’s largest airport is now in China.

In 2000 the number of foreign students studying the physical sciences and engineering in United States graduate schools for the first time surpassed the number of United States students.

Federal funding of research in the physical sciences as a fraction of GDP fell by 54 percent in the 25 years after 1970. The decline in engineering funding was 51 percent.

GE has now located the majority of its R&D personnel outside the United States. Cowboys Comment - yeah, probably most of them in Iran.

Manufacturing employment in the U.S. computer industry is now lower than when the first personal computer was built in 1975.

In the 2009 rankings of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation the U.S. was in sixth place in global innovation-based competitiveness, but ranked 40th in the rate of change over the past decade.

China has now replaced the United States as the world’s number one high-technology exporter.

In a survey of global firms planning to build new R&D facilities, 77 per-cent say they will build in China or India .

China has a $196 billion positive trade balance. The United States’ balance is negative $379 billion.

Sixty-nine percent of United States public school students in fifth through eighth grade are taught mathematics by a teacher without a degree or certificate in mathematics.

Ninety-three percent of United States public school students in fifth through eighth grade are taught the physical sciences by a teacher without a degree or certificate in the physical sciences.

Of the Big Three American automakers, one is now owned by a firm in Italy (after having been previously sold by a German firm), and another is 60 percent owned by the United States government.

The United States ranks 27th among developed nations in the proportion of college students receiving undergraduate degrees in science or engineering.

Forty-nine percent of United States adults do not know how long it takes for the Earth to revolve around the Sun.Cowboy's Comment: Yeah, and most of them are Democrats.

The total annual federal investment in research in mathematics, the physical sciences and engineering is now equal to the increase in United States healthcare costs every nine weeks.Cowboy's Comment: Wait until Obamacare fully kicks in and that period will be reduced to 3 days.

Bethlehem Steel marked its 100th birthday by declaring bankruptcy.

The United States ranks 20th in high school completion rate among industrialized nations and 16th in college completion rate.

In less than 15 years, China has moved from 14th place to second place in published research articles (behind the United States).

China’s real annual GDP growth over the past thirty years has been 10 percent.

According to OECD data the United States ranks 24th among thirty wealthy countries in life expectancy at birth.Cowboy's Comment: With the crap we eat and drive for self destruction, high obesity and Type II diabetes rate,..you could wonder?

The average American K-12 student spends four hours a day in front of a TV.

China’s Tsinghua and Peking Universities are the two largest suppliers of students who receive PhD’s—in the United States .

Sixty-eight percent of U.S. state prison inmates are high school drop-outs or otherwise did not qualify for a diploma.

Six of the ten best-selling vehicles in the United States are now foreign models.

Since 1995 the United States share of world shipments of photovoltaics has fallen from over 40 percent to well under 10 percent—while the overall market has grown by nearly a factor of one hundred.

Among manufacturers of photovoltaics, wind turbines and advanced batteries, the top ten global firms by market capitalization include two, one and one United States firms, respectively. The other firms are from China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Spain, Taiwan and the U.K.

By 2008, public spending in the United States on energy R&D had declined to less than half what it was three decades ago in real purchasing power. By 2005, private investment had declined to less than one-third of the total.

A single Japanese automobile model constitutes about half of the U.S. hybrid market.

Last year Mitsubishi introduced the world’s first mass-produced all-electric car.

A Japanese company produces over 75 percent of the world’s nickel-metal hydride batteries used in vehicles.

Japan has 1524 miles of high speed rail; France has 1163; and China just passed 742 miles. The United States has 225. China has 5612 miles now under construction and one plant produces 200 trains each year capable of operating at 217 mph. The United States has none under construction.

Roughly half of America ’s outstanding public debt is now foreign-owned—with China the largest holder.

The increase in cost of higher education in America has substantially surpassed the growth in family income in recent decades. United States current and former students have amassed $633 billion in student loan debt.

There are 60 new nuclear power plants currently being built in the world. One of these is in the United States.

All the National Academies Gathering Storm committee’s recommendations could have been fully implemented with the sum America spends on cigarettes each year—with $60 billion left over.

Youths between the ages of 8 and 18 average seven-and-a-half hours a day in front of video games, television and computers—often multi-tasking.

Almost one-third of U.S. manufacturing companies responding to a recent survey say they are suffering from some level of skills shortages.

According to the ACT College Readiness report, 78 percent of high school graduates did not meet the readiness benchmark levels for one or more entry-level college courses in mathematics, science, reading and English.

Message from American Solutions on Obamacare

They still don't get it. "They" meaning the Democrats I reckon.

Earlier this week the U.S. Senate once again voted to reject the will of the American people by blocking legislation to repeal part of ObamaCare. Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) had authored an amendment to repeal a costly reporting requirement for small businesses found in the new health care law, but 35 Senators - all Democrats - dug in their heels and blocked the amendment, deliberately refusing to make their priorities the same as the American people's.

Because it was brought to the floor under a suspension of the rules, the amendment needed at least 67 votes (two-thirds of the Senate) to pass. The measure received bipartisan support from 61 Senators, which means it could easily pass if the Senate considers it again - perhaps next year - as a stand-alone bill.

ObamaCare threatens to hamstring economic recovery by imposing enormous new costs on American taxpayers, costs that even the Obama administration has admitted could lead to employees losing their coverage.

According to a chart compiled by the Center for Health Transformation, ObamaCare already threatens to increase costs for American businesses by more than $4 billion, and the 159 new agencies, offices, and commissions that ObamaCare creates will add even more uncertainty to an already weak economy.

It's stunning that 35 Democrats would ignore this mounting evidence against their health care overhaul - which they promised would reduce costs - but that's exactly what they did on Monday by voting to keep this destructive law intact.

That vote shows just how big of a hill we have to climb, and that's why we're continuing to build a grassroots movement to repeal and replace ObamaCare.

Thanks for all you continue to do.

Sincerely,
Dan Varroney
Chief Operating Officer
American Solutions

http://www.americansolutions.com/

Write, E-mail or call your legislators and tell them Obamacare has to be repealed.

The Government, Taxes and the Debt

If Congress and the President allow the tax rates to go up a married couple, filing jointly and making $80,000 a year would receive $221 per pay check less beginning January 2011.

People, be it Legislators or the public, who are against continuing the existing tax rates are spinning the facts, calling the continuation of the so called Bush Tax Cuts (existing tax rates) as new tax cuts, when in fact if Congress extends these rates it will be the tax status quo. If they do not extend these rates, then starting January 2011 Americans (ALL Americans, not just the so-called rich) will be faced with a massive tax hike as we are in a terrible recession with no relief in site.

The latest stats on the unemployment rate is 9.8%. Yet the Obama Administration thinks the solution is to give corporations more money and the extend unemployment benefits rather than to eliminate obstacles from the private sector where the jobs are created. Unbelievable.

There is no revenue problem with what taxes the Government takes in. Let me say that again. There is no revenue problem with what taxes the government takes in. What there is, is a spending problem. The Government simply spends more money than they have and are spending in ways most of us do not agree with.

Most of us would risk our lives to protect the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. That same "most of us" would find it distasteful that people create "works of art" such as a caricature of Jesus on a Cross with ants and cockroaches crawling around on his body. And however distasteful the "art" is, and no matter how large the scumbag creating it, most of us would recognize his right to do so. BUT, no person in their right mind would buy off on having the tax payer fund this idiot's right to express himself.

The Government has to simply be much better on spending money wisely. Even then it it is going to take entitlement cuts to get our National debt under a manageable level. The consequences are too severe not to.

Tea Party Rise in Great Britian?

Watch this video, where finally someone stands up to EU and the concept of one World Government, which was the intent the whole time. Nigel Farage may not be a name familiar name for many Americans, but his message to the European Union this week echoed the familiar anti-spending slogans of America’s tea party movement.

British humor, especially when cutting into Socialists is worth hearing.

Earlier this week, Farage, the leader of the UK Independence Party and co-president of Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD), spoke out against the EU for allowing member states to get into debt and bailing them out at the expense of the ordinary people of Europe. All this in the name of cohesion, he suggests, marks significant threats to democracy.

Read the full article from The Blaze (which you should book mark and read daily) at http://www.theblaze.com/stories/does-viral-anti-euro-rant-signal-rise-of-british-tea-party/

Don't Let The Left Be Right

You can see the effort in the liberal controlled news media right now,...making claims about the Tea Party running out of steam and becoming extinct before 2012. Or otherwise the Argument is that the Tea Party was (pick one) 1- Obama Haters, 2- Anti-Tax Freaks or 3-"insert you favorite insult here"....and therefore a short duration phenomenon and will never bother America again.

Each and everyone of us have got to stay not only focused on issues but involved in the political process. Get and stay informed,....communicate with your elected reps whether you voted for them or note,..do this at the local to the Federal level,..for the takes are high. If we don't we'll surely lose this great Country of ours.

"One of the penalties for not participating in politics is that you will be governed by your inferiors." - Plato (427-347 B.C.)

"Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all - the apathy of human beings." - Helen Keller (1880-1968)

TSA - Public Relations at it's Best!

 New bumper sticker public relations campaign from TSA.