News that the swine flu is spreading and is being considered a potential pandemic is more than a little unsettling. In addition to the obvious health concerns, one can only wonder what such an event would have on our already weakened economy. In the spirit of not letting a good crisis go to waste, the Obama administration would undoubtedly use the situation to bring more of the health care industry under government control. Yeah! widespread illness and incompetent, top down health care rationing!
On a personal level, my history of Guillain-Barre makes it extremely risky for me to take vaccines. It’s starting to look like I should stock up on respirators and hand sanitizer.
From the New York Times:
“High value information came from interrogations in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al Qa’ida organization that was attacking this country,” Adm. Dennis C. Blair, the intelligence director, wrote in a memo to his staff last Thursday.
But, he says he wouldn’t have done it.
Yeah, we’re safer.
You have to love a president who, when spending, thinks a trillion dollars is no big deal. But when saving, thinks $100 million is worth trumpting.
Here’s a look at the federal budget deficit:
One of the silliest critism of the Tea Party protests is that taxes haven’t been raised yet! By that reasoning, no one should have protested the Iraq war until after the first shot was fired.
Also, Obama has raised taxes. Federal cigarette taxes went up by 62 cents per pack on each pack. Federal taxes per pack now total $1.01. So much for his promise:
“I can make a firm pledge,” he said in Dover, N.H., on Sept. 12. “Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.”
He repeatedly vowed “you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime.”
Having a puppy in the house has been quite an experience. One of the best things to have is the dvr. Invariably, she’ll want to go out at the crucial moment in what I’m watching. Being able to pause the show and pick it up when I get back is quite the luxury.
On the down side, she’s learned that if she goes and sits by the door, I’ll take her out. If she pees, or appears to pee, I’ll give her a treat when we get in. So, now, about every 20 minutes, she goes and sits by the door.
President Obama’s tour of expressing embarrasment for his country and simultaneously embarrasing his country continues apace. First, he goes Europe and neighboring countries and trashes his predecessor in front of international audiences, something other international leaders are smart enough not to do and he repeated tells the world how ashamed he is of his country. Then he goes to central america and gets chummy with Venezuela’s socialist thug Hugo Chavez. Obama is a man who does not understand how to be President. He does not understand the importance of lending the credibility of his office. This picture is an embarrassment:
His systematic dismantling of America’s strenth continues apace. He started with the economy and has moved on to international relations.
Update: Then Daniel Ortega spends most of his 50 minute speech at the opening ceremonies of the Summit of Americas trashing the United States and its behavior in Central America for the last century and Obama has nothing to say in response. Hillary Clinton is asked about the speech and instead can only praise the dancers in the program. Can these people not find anything good about their country and its defense of Central American people in the face of expanding socialism and communism? Sad.
Below is a picture of Tennessee Attorney General (and all around great guy (and I’m not just saying that because he’s my boss)) Robert E. Cooper, Jr. cutting and serving cake at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the John Sevier Building in downtown Nashville. JSB houses much of the Attorney General’s office (including my office). The low key event was held just after lunch today.
A bar in London will be pumping vaporized gin and tonic into the air. “Tickets, priced £5, are available for hourly slots and customers must be over 21.”
Wonder what brand. I have a real affinity for Tanquery. Tanquery 10 is the best. As Col. Potter once said, “there aren’t enough Os in smooth” to describe it.
Nashville Tea Party organizers are saying that yesterday’s event on Legislative Plaza was attended by 10,000 people. One email I received from a leader stated that attendance on Legislative Plaza was just under 7500 with about 2,500 spillover on steps, sidewalks, the hill up to the capitol building and in cars circling and honking their horns and who couldn’t find parking.
No way. The Tennessean’s estimate of 3000 is pretty good. Above is a picture taken a 12:35 p.m, pretty much the height of the event. This was taken from the Capitol side of Charlotte and does not show the 150 or so people on that side of the street. If you look carefully, you can see that the back of the Plaza is not full.
To put the 10,000 figure in context, the Nashville Municipal Auditorium holds about 9400. Certainly, the crowd in that picture, plus those driving around the block and standing across the street, etc, is not larger than that.
Addendum: I should add that despite my comments about the turnout, I very much support the over all goals of the Tea Party and those like it held around the country. The Left is twisting itself in knots attempting to mischaracterize, minimize and otherwise dismiss these efforts. It’s not about hating Obama. There’s no lack of recognition that Bush spent far more of our money than he should have or that he was not a fiscal conservative. The issue is the vast expansion of government programs and spending that have occurred recently. Yes, it started under Bush. It’s gotten much worse under Obama and he promises to keep going on this trajectory.
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