October 17th, 2014
Obama has finally twigged to the seriousness of the Ebola crisis and nominated Ron Klain, a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases and taught at Johns Hopkins, as “Ebola Czar.”
Ha, just kidding! He’s a lawyer and longtime Democratic political operative.
A few more facts about Klain:
He helped approve the loan to Solyndra.
He met his environmental activist wife while both were undergraduates at Georgetown.
Kevin Spacey (who looks nothing like him) played him in a movie about the Florida recount.
He used to be a columnist for Bloomberg View. Really, what screams “I’m an Ebola expert” more than “Keeping Working-Class Voters for Obama” or “How Democrats Can Make Their Case for Raising Revenue”?
He has a Twitter feed. You have to go back to October 2 to find a mention of Ebola: a retweet.
Did George W. Bush ever attempt such a tone-deaf nomination? Once, when he tried to nominate Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Except: 1. He quickly withdrew it, and 2. Miers was at least a lawyer. This is like Bush nominating Miers to be Surgeon General.
As Instapundit is wont to say, “the country is in the very best of hands.”
Tags: Democrats, Ebola, Obama, Obama Scandals, Ron Klain
Posted in Democrats, Obama Scandals | 1 Comment »
October 16th, 2014
Pat Condell offers some pungent thoughts on the connection between mass Muslim immigration and rising rape statistics in Sweden:
Is Sweden the rape capital of Europe? Indeed, this BBC report confirms it, though they claim that it’s an artifact of how the statistics are kept.
However, I’m finding a hard time finding official statistics to verify what percentage of rapes are committed by immigrants or by the children of immigrants. (I have seen these statistics referred to in some discussions, but have not been able to locate them directly.) There does seem to be evidence that immigrants are “five times more likely to be investigated for sex crimes.” But that’s from 2005. Are Muslims committing the majority of rapes in Sweden? It seems entirely possible, but I don’t want to fall prey to my own confirmation bias.
Of course, since Sweden has fined Michael Hess for making a connection between Islam and rape, one can understand why published statistics could be hard to come by. Especially since “the question of whether Michael Hess’s statement is true, or at least for Michael Hess appeared to be true, is irrelevant to the proceedings.”
Anyone have any better sources?
Tags: Crime, Islam, Muslim, Pat Condell, rape, Sweden, video
Posted in Crime, Jihad, video | No Comments »
October 15th, 2014
Via Dwight comes word that alternative weekly the San Francisco Bay Guardian has ceased publication. Alternative weeklies used to have a market niche as carrier mediums of left-wing opinion, music gig listings and porn ads. The Internet has taken over the music and porn listings, and the left-wing opinion market is glutted not only online, but with MSNBC, New York Times, CNN, NBC, CBS, Washington Post, NPR, etc.
But if you can’t make money with an alternative weekly in San Francisco, where can you? (And keep in mind that this was after they received a settlement from rival SF Weekly.)
Well, probably Austin. At least as long as you have an enormous, money-making music festival attached to it…
(Flashback: “I missed the Bay Guardian’s coverage of their investor’s indictment on child prostitution charges.”)
Tags: California, Democrats, Media Watch, San Francisco, San Francisco Bay Guardian
Posted in Austin, Democrats, Media Watch | 2 Comments »
October 15th, 2014
Since they linked to me yesterday, I’ve finally done what I’ve meant to do for a long time, namely get up off my ass and add Pension Tsunami to the Blogroll. They offer a great daily news roundup on the looming unionized public sector pension crisis that threatens to bankrupt cities and states across the country (especially California).
I’ve also added the new “California/Pensions/Unions/Etc.” link category and moved Kausfiles there as well.
Expect more additions to that blog category Real Soon Now.
Tags: Budget, California, Democrats, links, pension crisis, Site Administration, unions, Welfare State
Posted in Budget, Democrats, unions, Welfare State | No Comments »
October 14th, 2014
Once again, the Wendy Davis campaign is the gift that keeps giving to conservative pundits. It’s all over but the voting at this point, but Davis’ thrashing, flailing campaign is so ham-handed and tone-deaf that she keeps staying in the news for all the wrong reasons.
First came this amazingly stupid ad:
Reaction was swift and pretty much universally negative.
Fox: “Absolute desperation…catastrophic.”
Even ultra-lefty Mother Jones was appalled: “Wendy Davis just released an ad attacking Greg Abbott, her opponent for governor in Texas, which is, to be blunt, bullshit. It’s offensive and nasty and it shouldn’t exist. She’s basically calling Abbott a cripple.”
MSNBC? “A huge blunder.” “Every Democrat I met down there was appalled.” “She’s gonna get creamed.”
Indeed, the ad is so ill-considered and offensive that it may derail what I thought would be her next gig: a position at MSNBC.
As Hot Air noted: “Perhaps Wendy Davis isn’t familiar with what an Attorney General does.”
Also note that this ad didn’t come from an outside group or SuperPAC, this came from the Davis campaign itself. Her fingerprints are all over it and she has no deniability.
So what did Davis do after this nigh-on universal condemnation? She doubled down on stupid.
And this happened:
And Abbott? He’s just shrugging over the whole thing, and why shouldn’t he? Never interrupt your opponent when they’re in the process of committing suicide. Also note that he eschewed the frequent liberal tactic of calling a press conference to talk about how offended he is. When you’re a front-runner with a comfortable lead and a big money advantage, you don’t need such cheap theatrics.
Tags: 2014 Election, 2014 Governor's Race, Democrats, Elections, Greg Abbott, Texas, Texas Gubernatorial Race, video, Wendy Davis
Posted in Democrats, Elections, Texas, video | No Comments »
October 13th, 2014
Evidently I missed the new Kronies action figure when it dropped in September:
Tags: Kronies, ObamaCare, video
Posted in ObamaCare, Regulation | No Comments »
October 10th, 2014
Another Friday, another LinkSwarm. I think i may have to stop watch Houston Texans games for the sake of my health…
The American MSM may be reluctant to tell the truth about Obama’s many manifest failures, but UK’s Telegraph isn’t.
Most Americans see Obama as a failure.
I’m shocked, shocked to discover that the IRS is auditing the producer of an anti-ObamaCare movie.
One in five Americans will have medical bills in collections this year. Thanks, ObamaCare!
How do you know your foreign policy sucks? When even Jimmy Carter is dissing it. And he’s right!
Even Piers Morgan calls Obama’s governance as marked by “lethargy and complacency.”
Why Harry Reid is attacking Koch: Big money Democratic donors will spend more in North Carolina, Colorado and Iowa than all RNC spending across the country combined.
Democrats 2014 = Republicans 2006.
Democrats pull out all the stops to save Kay Hagen’s North Carolina senate seat. If she wins, I’m sure her family will appreciate the opportunity for more graft in the coming years…
Michael Barone says that trends, with so many Democratic incumbents still polling below 45%, indicate the Harry Reid-controlled Senate is still toast. “Rewind back five years: The Obama Democrats expected their major policies to be popular. They expected that most voters would be grateful for the stimulus package, for Obamacare, for raising the tax rate on high earners. They aren’t.”
Obama slams billionaires while attending while attending fundraiser at the home of billionaire Rich Richman. Yes, that’s his real name. If I put that in a novel, editors would reject the symbolism as too heavy-handed…
Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Alison Grimes won’t even admit to voting for Obama.
While the New York Times has gotten around to talking abut American children dying from Enterovirus D68, they’re still refusing to talk about how Obama’s illegal alien influx might have helped bring it here. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)
Michael Totten reports from SE Asia: “Sweden is more socialist than Vietnam.” Except for the stupid propaganda loudspeakers…
Philadelphia’s deeply indebted public school system actually cancels it’s contract with the teacher’s union. “The move, in which the Philadelphia School Reform Commission invokes emergency powers, comes after the teachers’ union spent more than a year resisting concessions that the commission was seeking even though rising personnel costs have crippled the budget.” How crippling? “The schools’ budget projects spending $44,100 a year in benefits for every $68,700 in wages earned by the average teacher.”
NYC School therapist helps handicapped student launch successful Kickstarter. Reward? 30 day suspension.
John Kerry spent Wednesday consulting with allies on ISIS and Ebola. Ha, just kidding! He toured a wind turbine.
Islamic State supporters threaten to behead U.S. soldiers in Iraq. And by “soldiers” I mean “elementary school children” and by “Iraq” I mean “Rhode Island.”
Remember when Bill Clinton ginned up an “epidemic” over a dozen random church burnings? Boko Haram has torched 185.
Brett Easton Ellis on Generation Wuss.
Iranian professor jailed for associating with “known Zionists.” Like Noam Chomsky. To Islamists, not even an actual hatred of Israel is enough to remove the taint of your Jewishness…
“That’s 21st-century U.S. politics in miniature: a half-assed listicle penned by a half-bright celebrity and published by a gang of abortion profiteers.”
Top aide to Al Sharpton and boyfriend of top De Blasio adviser in trouble with the law? Inconceivable!
An inside view of feminist groupthink and #GamerGate from a former social justice warrior.
Random meme pic I made:
Random Twitter exchange with Michael Quinn Sullivan:
BattleSwarm extends best wishes for a speedy recovery to Borepatch, who wiped out on his motorcycle to the tune of “7 broken ribs, a broken collar bone, and a bruised lung.” Ouch…
Tags: #GamerGate, Al Sharpton, Alison Grimes, Bill De Blasio, Brett Easton Ellis, Communism, Enterovirus, feminism, Illegal Aliens, Iran, Israel, Jews, Jihad, Jimmy Carter, John Kerry, Kay Hagan, Kentucky, LinkSwarm, Media Watch, Michael Barone, Michael Quinn Sullivan, Michael Totten, North Carolina, Obama, Philadelphia, Piers Morgan, Rhode Island, Rich Richman, unions, Vietnam
Posted in Border Control, Communism, Democrats, Foreign Policy, Jihad, Media Watch, Obama Scandals, ObamaCare, Uncategorized | No Comments »
October 9th, 2014
Another Texas vs. California roundup:
If Stockton bankruptcy judge’s ruling is upheld, a lot of California cities could actually start working for citizens again, rather than public employee unions.
There are plenty of lessons to be learned from Stockton’s bankruptcy. Too bad Stockton’s officials seem unwilling to learn them:
Pension contributions for public-safety workers now amount to 41 percent of payroll. That would put the total cost of salary, health benefits, and pensions at about $120,000 annually for a fifth-year officer…The long saga of Stockton’s decline dramatizes the inefficiency and illogic of union-dominated, monopolistic, government-labor markets.
But letting cities escape their crushing public sector union pension burdens doesn’t sit well with California’s looter class. Solution: propose eliminating Chapter 9 bankruptcy. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
According to the September labor report, California did manage to add 313,900 jobs between August 2013 and August 2014. But Texas added 395,200. (Hat tip: WILLisms Twitter feed.)
California legislature decides that students don’t need any of that stinking due process.
Hey, remember those “temporary” tax hikes Jerry Brown got voters to approve? Guess what?
California’s roads are among the worst in the country.
Someone should tell that to the city of Stanton, California, which reached for tax hikes rather than cutting the pay of unionized workers.
How San Jose reformed their finances using transparency. (Hat tip: Pension Tsunami.)
How California browbeat Toyota over closing a money-losing plant.
The California-based manufacturing facility of Colorado-based Boulder Electric Vehicle shuts down after receiving a $3 million grant from the California Energy Commission.
How California’s for-profit Thomas Jefferson Law School got itself into serious financial trouble through excessive dependence on loans (both the student type and the tax-exempt bond type).
Americans don’t want their state to secede so much as they want to kick California out of the union. (Hat tip: Karl Rehn of KRTraining.)
A look at PSAT participation rates in Texas. (Also via WILLisms.)
Californian Trip Hawkins, of EA, Apple and 3DO fame, filed for bankruptcy in 2011. This year, the 9th circuit ruled that a profligate life style (for certain values of “profligate”), does not, in fact, constitute a “willful” attempt to avoid bankruptcy. Mr. Hawkins seemed to be living well, but not necessarily living large…
California owner of Akron, Ohio mall abandoned since 2008 declares bankruptcy. And since it’s the Halloween season, and abandoned malls are wonderfully creepy places, here’s a pic:
Tags: Adandoned Malls, California, Democrats, San Jose, Stanton, Stockton, Texas, Thomas Jefferson Law School, Toyota, Trip Hawkins, unions, Welfare State
Posted in Democrats, Texas, unions, Waste and Fraud, Welfare State | 1 Comment »
October 8th, 2014
After his fellow Democrats went down in flames during the recall election, Colorado’s incumbent Senator would probably prefer you forget his own support for gun control,. After all, his own campaign website is silent on the issue, and his Senate website includes the usual insincere blather about supporting the Second Amendment.
Now is a good time to remind voters that Udall has been significantly to the left of even his fellow democratic senators in pushing for gun control:
Colorado’s Mark Udall indicated support for two key proposals of President Obama’s legislative package to reduce gun violence, taking a stand slightly to the left of his fellow Senate Democrats who also are up for re-election in 2014.
The Colorado Democrat told Denver’s FOX affiliate last month he supports a renewal of the assault-weapons bans that lapsed in 2004.
After Obama rolled out his legislative proposals and signed executive orders Wednesday, Udall released a statement that indicates he also supports a ban on magazine clips of more than 10 bullets.
In other words, Udall favors, at the national level, the same legislation that drove Magpul out of the state.
Udall also engages in the deliberately deceptive labeling of modern sporting rifles (AR-15, etc.) as “military-grade weapons”.
Further signs of his gun-grabbing bona fides is the fact that Udall is receiving lots of money from out-of-state gun control groups. Udall has also been endorsed by the latest incarnation of Bloomberg’s anti-gun group.
All of which goes a long way toward explaining why Udall received a D from the NRAPVF.
Any Colorado supporter of the Second Amendment should vote for Cory Gardner over Udall in November.
Tags: 2014 Election, Colorado, Colorado Recall, Cory Gardner, Democrats, Elections, fundraising, gun control, Guns, Mark Udall, Michael Bloomberg, NRA
Posted in Democrats, Elections, Guns | No Comments »
October 7th, 2014
Jimmy Kimmel asks random passersby on Hollywood Boulevard who Joe Biden is. Ignorance ensues.
Tags: Democrats, Jimmy Kimmel, Joe Biden, Media Watch, video
Posted in Democrats, Media Watch, video | No Comments »