October 14th, 2013
Enough gun news popped up this weekend to justify a roundup:
California Governor Jerry Brown vetoes an assault weapons ban. “We’re through the looking glass here, people!”
But before you celebrate this unexpected outbreak of common sense on Brown’s part, consider that he signed a bunch of other gun control bills, including a lead ammo ban.
Gun Owners 1, Groupon 0.
Police officers three times more likely to commit murder than concealed carry holders? (Hat tip (last two): Ace of Spades.)
Gun control has becomes so toxic that Colorado’s Democratic governor John Hickenlooper is asking gun control groups to stay out of the latest recall election against Democratic state Sen. Evie Hudak.
ATF tried to tries to block Fast and Furious whistle-blower’s book. (Hat tip: Shall Not Be Questioned.
Did an ATF agent get the IRS to target a Texas pastor? (Hat tip: Sipsey Street.)
As a member of the Ft. Worth City Council, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis tried to imposed background checks on gun shows, presumably in violation of state preemption law first passed in 1987, and even after Houston got it’s ass handed to them in court for trying something similar. (Hat tip: Cahnman’s Musings.)
Meanwhile, various gun grabber petitions slouch toward the ballot in Washington State. (Hat tip: Shall Not Be Questioned.)
Tags: BATFE, California, Colorado, Colorado Recall, Elections, Evie Hudak, Fast and Furious, gun control, Guns, IRS, Jerry Brown, John Hickenlooper, Washington, Wendy Davis
Posted in Democrats, Elections, Guns, Obama Scandals | No Comments »
October 11th, 2013
A LinkSwarm heavy on shutdown-related news:
For epitomizing what Democrats have done to Detroit, Kwame Kirkpatrick gets 28 years.
Hey Venezuela, how’s that Socialism working out for you? Inflation hits 49.4%. (Hat tip: Prairie Pundit.)
Victor Davis Hanson thinks Republicans are winning.
ObamaCare, or food?
Steyn on the shutdown. “The conventional wisdom of the U.S. media is that Republicans are being grossly irresponsible not just to wave through another couple trillion or so on Washington’s overdraft facility.”
Catholic priests prohibited from giving Mass.
The revolving door between the Democratic Party and the IRS.
How the GOP establishment tried to seize control of Freedomworks.
The Magic of Obama: White House gift shop goes bankrupt.
Department of Fish & Wildlife lift ban minutes before North Dakota files lawsuit.
Le Pen poised to win European Parliament elections? That’s Marine Le Pen, or Le Pen: The Next Generation.
Five years after the meltdown, families still hoarding cash.
Kent Hance to retire as Texas Tech Chancellor. Hance’s political career is in many ways emblematic of the evolution of Texas politics, starting out as a conservative Democrat, elected to the state Senate in 1974, defeating George W. Bush for a U.S. congressional seat in 1978, played key roll in backing the Kemp-Roth tax cuts in 1981, narrowly losing the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate to Lloyd Doggett (who would then get stomped by Phil Gramm in the general election) in 1984, followed Gramm by switching to the Republican Party in 1985, losing the GOP Gubernatorial nomination to an un-retired Bill Clements in 1986, getting appointed to the Railroad Commission in 1987, winning re-election to it in 1988, and losing to Clayton Williams in the 1990 Republican Gubernatorial primary. He had a long, long career as a bridesmaid…
Raising the debt limit means bankrupting your children.
“This 20 year old has discovered Sex Is Awesome!!! and just wants us all to know that. Yeah Sugar-Tits we sort of know. We’ve been enjoying it for years, but without quite as much Noob Squeeing about it.”
Tags: Bill Clements, Catholics, Crime, Democrats, France, George W. Bush, IRS, Kent Hance, Kwame Kilpatrick, Lloyd Doggett, Marine Le Pen, Mark Steyn, North Dakota, Obama, ObamaCare, Phil Gramm, Republicans, shutdown, socialism, Venuzuala, Victor Davis Hanson, War on Catholics
Posted in Crime, Democrats, ObamaCare | 1 Comment »
October 10th, 2013
Busy working on a book catalog, so here’s some low calorie Content Substitute in the form of M1A2 tanks blowing things up:
Also provides a distinct contrast in music, rap vs. (I think) Hans Zimmer…
Tags: M1A2, Military, tanks, video
Posted in Military, video | No Comments »
October 9th, 2013
Via Borepatch comes news of some super geniuses in Greenpeace who can’t understand why they’re sitting in a Russian jail. They illegally boarded a state-owned oilrig as part of a protest and were promptly arrested for piracy.
“They had never expected that they would face such consequences for their peaceful protest in a democratic state.”
There are two tiny little problems with that statement:
- Illegally trespassing on someone else’s property is not exactly “peaceful.”
- Russia is not a democratic state, it’s dictatorial state with a thin veneer of democratic trappings. Did they not notice all the people that Putin has had bumped off over the years?
Now they’re sitting in jail awaiting trail, wonder why they haven’t received the slap on the wrist they regularly get from other countries.
Real activists should expect to do time in jail. Vaclav Havel spent plenty of time in jail, as did Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King. And they were pushing for real social change, not pie-in-the-sky trust fund environmentalism.
Actions have consequences. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time…
Tags: Borepatch, environmentalism, Greenpeace, Russia, Vladimir Putin
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
October 8th, 2013
With budget issues occupying the nation, now’s time yet again to compare Texas’ successful Red State model with California’s failing Blue State model:
Like Detroit’s retirement fund (or Greek public servants), some retired Sacramento government employees were evidently used to receiving thirteen monthly checks a year. Now a federal judge has said enough.
People Stockton’s bankruptcy plan screws: creditors and taxpayers. And who won’t be required to take a haircut? CalPERS retirees.
Vallejo took much the same tack during their bankruptcy (higher taxes and no pension reform). Well, guess what? They’re broke again.
CalPERS isn’t the only underfunded California retirement system. There’s also CalSTRS, the teacher’s retirement system. “CalSTRS’ funding ratio falling to 67% in 2012 from 98% in 2001, well below the 80% considered fiscally sound.”
That might have something to do with the fact that 6,609 retirees receive more than $100,000 from CalSTARS annually.
CalPERS? 12,1999 receive more than $100,000 annually. Topped by Bruce Malkenhorst, of the corrupt city of Vernon, who pulled in more than a half-million annually, until the pension review board cut it back to a “mere” $115,000.
Big problems still loom for CalPERS.
“Regardless of what happens in bankruptcy court, California’s local governments, especially cities, are facing years, or even decades, of fiscal distress from rapidly rising pension costs.”
Marian County’s pension debt clocks in at a hefty $2.3 billion.
The California State Auditor’s own report can be read here:
We believe the State continues to face eight other significant high-risk issues: the state budget, funding for the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, funding retiree health benefits for state employees, funding for deteriorating infrastructure, ensuring a stable supply of electricity, workforce and succession planning, strengthening emergency preparedness, and providing effective oversight of the State’s information technology.
California’s new feudalism. “Like medieval serfs, increasing numbers of Californians are downwardly mobile, and doing worse than their parents.”
The 10 year anniversary of the Gray Davis recall. “We learned that the problem wasn’t just Davis and that simply changing who is governor wasn’t enough to make California government work. Schwarzenegger wasn’t a bad governor, but he failed to solve the state’s basic budget problems.”
With a wave of people signing up for ObamaCare, what is California to do? Why, obviously, cut Medicaid payouts!
Attention illegal aliens: Go to California if you want a driver’s license.
Al Jazeera headline: Tea party makes California inroads. Actual story: “For the first time, the tea party’s California caucus has a table at the state’s Republican fall convention.” That’s less an “inroad” than an “in-driveway”…
Rick Perry to California: “We don’t judge success on the number of people we have on public assistance.”
“Texas’ unemployment rate has now been lower than the national average, and California’s, for 80 consecutive months.”
Texas now has the best credit rating in the world.
“The Rainy Day Funds of Texas and Alaska alone are now larger than the stabilization funds of all other states combined.”
USAA is expanding in Plano.
500 Republicans moving to Texas every day?
In non-political, Halloween-related California news, it’s tarantula mating season in California. Just in case you needed another reason to leave California…
Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Budget, California, CalPERs, CalSTARS, Gray Davis, ObamaCare, pension crisis, Rick Perry, Texas, unions, welfare, Welfare State
Posted in Budget, ObamaCare, Texas, unions, Welfare State | 1 Comment »
October 7th, 2013
And that’s for someone making $45-55 a year.
At least says one person who’s actually made it through the system:
If I put that in an anti-ObamaCare parody, no one would believe me…
Tags: ObamaCare
Posted in ObamaCare | No Comments »
October 7th, 2013
In the myriad actions the Obama Administration has undertaken in the wake of the government shutdown triggered by Harry Reid’s refusal to consider legislation duly and constitutionally passed by the house, it should now be obvious that it is the most spiteful, petty and vindictive presidential administration in history. It is one thing to play political hardball as part of the shutdown, it is quite another for Obama’s minions to go out of their way to inflict harm on innocent Americans because Obama isn’t getting his way.
Consider:
Obama had the Park Service block off access to World War II and other veterans memorials despite the fact they’re normally open to the public. By erecting barricades that are not normally there, Democrats have insulted America’s veterans as a petulant political ploy.
After that happened, many joked that they would drape Mt. Rushmore to prevent people from viewing it. Well guess what? They’re actually blocking off observation road views to preventing people from photographing it.
They’re ordered private businesses to shut down because they’re on public land, and even forced people out of homes on public land.
They’ve actually tried to have state parks shut down, just to spite people for not giving Obama everything he wants.
They disabled the Amber Alert website, despite the fact that it takes more effort to put up a notice than to leave the website up and running (if not updated). However, they left Michelle Obama’s wesbsite up, because that’s so much more important than kidnapped children.
Plus dozens of other petty, unnecessary actions that are blatantly geared toward inflicting as much pain on innocent Americans as possible:
These actions do not befit the President of the United State of America. Indeed, they do not befit a small town city councilman, much less the leader of the free world. He’s like a co-worker who didn’t get their way and who thenceforth makes life difficult for everyone in the office who disagreed with them out of sheer spite.
Further, when you consider that Obama didn’t let the shutdown close the golf course on federal land he wanted to use, it’s obvious that he believes that sacrifice is for other people. It’s impossible to imagine Ronald Reagan or either George Bush attempting to inflict pain on innocent Americans merely because they didn’t get their way, much less any of them insulting America’s veterans.
By his actions, Obama has proven himself a petty, spiteful, vindictive little creep who is unworthy being being President of the United States. All his mean-spirited attacks on common Americans should do is stiffen the spines of Republicans in congress, and convince them never to give in to his petty tyranny.
Tags: Budget, Lou Dobbs, Obama, ObamaCare, video
Posted in Budget, ObamaCare, video | 1 Comment »
October 4th, 2013
Harry Reid and Obama declare war on World War II Vets and cancer patients. Next up: Reid explaining why the shutdown requires them to euthanize kittens.
Obama deserves the blame for the shutdown.
Thomas Sowell: “There is really nothing complicated about the facts. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted all the money required to keep all government activities going — except for Obamacare…You cannot blame other people for not giving you everything you want. And it is a fraud to blame them when you refuse to use the money they did vote for, even when it is ample to pay for everything else in the government…When Barack Obama keeps claiming that it is some new outrage for those who control the money to try to change government policy by granting or withholding money, that is simply a bald-faced lie.”
The “only man to enroll in Obamacare” is an OFA shill. Also a liar. “Bill Henderson told me that both he and his son were interested in getting coverage, but that he had not enrolled in any plan yet, and to his knowledge, neither had his son.” Ace has the blow-by-blow dissection of Henderson’s story coming part.
The White House has 436 essential employees and 1,265 non-essential? Where do they fit???
You can probably tell what the Obama Administration thinks of you when you realize the number for ObamaCare information is 1-800-FUCKYO.
The people composing California’s elementary school math questions are evidently illiterate.
Pedophile pleads guilty, receives prison sentence.
Obama tried to have Wisconsin state parks shut down. Response: Get stuffed!
Park Rangers are actually being told to make life difficult for visitors.
Five reasons Ted Cruz deserves our respect.
British lefty: We have to talk about Islamic barbarism. (Hat tip: Ace of Spades.)
What’s so special about John Moses Browning? (Ditto)
Obituary watch: Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, Army of North Vietnam. Like Erwin Rommel or Heinz Guderian, Giap was a brilliant general who fought for an evil government.
Islamists kicked out in Tunisia.
TV reporter asks undercover cop to step up to the microphone.
Via James Lileks, this is pretty funny:
Tags: Budget, Harry Reid, Jihad, LinkSwarm, Michael Totten, Obama, ObamaCare, shutdown, Thomas Sowell, Tunisia, vets, video, Vo Nguyen Giap, Wisconsin
Posted in Budget, Jihad, ObamaCare, video | No Comments »
October 3rd, 2013
Liberals have staged another one of their regular hissy fits over the government shutdown. What they don’t seem to realize is that this is exactly how divided government is supposed to work. The Founding Fathers were tremendously suspicious of investing too much power in any one person, which is exactly why they set up the executive legislative and Judicial branches in opposition to each other. This is why the executive and legislative have to work together to pass laws, and why the House and Senate must agree with each other. If everyone gets a veto on the process, then no one portion of the federal government can seize power over another. By refusing to go to conference, Harry Reid is shirking the legislative branches constitutional duty to pass a budget.
Forcing the White House and the Senate to come together and negotiate is part of the constitutional design. This is why Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill had to negotiate compromises during several shutdowns in the 1980s.
But Obama, as he’s proven time and time again, is no Reagan.
Tags: Budget, Harry Reid, Obama, ObamaCare, shutdown
Posted in Budget | No Comments »
October 2nd, 2013
Time for another (no doubt incomplete) roundup of statewide race news:
Holly Hansen interviews Greg Abbott.
Wendy Davis expresses enthusiasm for gun control, because that will go over so well in Texas. Next up: Wendy David calls for banning BBQ, Tex-Mex, football and Christmas.
Davis is expected to announce for Governor tomorrow.
Politico previews the Abbott-Davis fight as “bruising.” Well, yeah. It’s going to bruise Democratic egos and wallets to accomplish very little. Also contains this gem: “Republicans control more than 60 percent of statewide offices.” Well, yes, 100% is indeed more than 60%…
Left-leaning Texas Monthly just goes ahead and says Abbott will be the next governor. And here’s an excerpt of their cover profile of Abbott.
Unless Debra Medina runs as an Independent. Is she trying to elect Wendy Davis? Also, “I couldn’t raise money for a Comptroller race, so I’m going to run for governor” doesn’t make a lot of sense.
A roundup of Abbott vs. Davis fundraising between June 17 and August 5.
There was a Lt. Governor candidates forum in Houston.
There’s another one in Houston tomorrow, October 3, from 5-8 PM at Grace Community Church, 14505 Gulf Freeway.
PJ TV Interviews Todd Staples:
Also Jerry Patterson:
And David Dewhurst (but I’m not seeing one for Dan Patrick):
Jerry Patterson slams his rivals as soft:
Three Attorney General candidates (Ken Paxton, Barry Smitherman, and Dan Branch) also had a debate.
They also clashed over who had endorsed who.
Paxton unveils a list of 100 important Texas Tea Party supporters.
Smitherman picks up a Right-to-Life endorsement.
George P. Bush visits Seguin and San Angelo.
Jason Gibson, who briefly competed in the 2012 Senate race, is considering running against John Cornyn in 2014, presumably (as in 2012) as a Democrat.
Dem State Rep. Mike Villarreal prefers not to lose a statewide race for Comptroller.
Three Joe Straus allies (Bill Callegari, Rob Orr and Tryon Lewis) decide that now is a good time to retire.
Tags: 2014 Attorney General's Race, 2014 Election, 2014 Governor's Race, 2014 Lt. Governor's Race, 2014 Senate Race, Barry Smitherman, Dan Branch, Dan Patrick, David Dewhurst, Debra Medina, Elections, George P. Bush, Greg Abbott, Jason Gibson, Joe Straus, Ken Paxton, Mike Villarreal, Texas, Todd Staples, Wendy Davis
Posted in Elections, Republicans, Texas | No Comments »