DAMN THE TRUTH – DENY, DENY, AND THEN DENY IT AGAIN

Posted on December 14, 2011 | Leave a comment

 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a government agency, the unemployment rate for 2008 was 5.6 percent and rising.  Obama said he would keep the oceans of the unemployed from rising, and the economy would start to heal, or something like that.  As anyone in partisan politics knows, unemployment continued its rise to 10.2  percent and only recently retreated below 9 to 8.6 percent.  Unemployment has grown by roughly 50 percent during the nearly three years of Obama’s term in office, two with Democratic control of the House and Senate.  This is the biggest obstacle facing the Democrats for the 2012 election.  They know it; they know it very well.

What do you call the willful suspension of personal integrity, honesty and common civility?  Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  All you need to know to judge who holds the moral high ground is to compare this woman the Democrats have chosen to head the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to anyone the Republicans have ever chosen to head the RNC.  Yes, the Republicans have had their scoundrels too, but none of them raised the needle on the obnoxious meter to the level of DWS, not even Howard Dean.

Watch the video.  Judge for yourself.

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Posted in Political polemics

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STRAITS OF HORMUZ THREATENED WITH CLOSURE — GLOBAL ECONOMY AT PERIL

Posted on December 13, 2011 | Leave a comment

Iran has announced military maneuvers in preparation for a possible closing the Straits of Hormuz.  One third of the world’s supply of crude oil delivered by sea must go through this narrow passage between Iran and The United Arab Republics, at the base of the Persian Gulf, before the ships can reach the open waters of the Arabian Sea.

The crippling effect of a disruption in shipments lasting more than 60 days could rival that of the oil embargo in 1973.  That embargo set up the serious recession of 1974.  Long lines formed at gas stations when they had a delivery as the fuel quickly sold out.  It was difficult to find any station at all that was open on a weekend.  Iran knows the value of a threat, particularly in light of the present fragility of the international economy.  What we have here is a prime example of why stability in the Mid-East is so vital.

Not to worry.  It’s only a threat, and I’m sure our President will ask Iran not to do it.

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Posted in Energy, News

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PAUL KRUGMAN GETS ONE RIGHT

Posted on December 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

Depression and Democracy is the title of Krugman’s column in the New York Times today.  I know little about the Hungarian political party known as Fidesz, but beyond that, what Krugman wrote was dead right as far as it went.  Democracy is under threat.

…the gravity of European political developments isn’t widely understood.

First of all, the crisis of the euro is killing the European dream. The shared currency, which was supposed to bind nations together, has instead created an atmosphere of bitter acrimony.

…a Europe-wide recession now looks likely

Europeans [are] furious at what is perceived, fairly or unfairly (or actually a bit of both), as a heavy-handed exercise of German power.

Nobody familiar with Europe’s history can look at this resurgence of hostility without feeling a shiver.

The ecojournalist doesn’t hesitate to use the H word either.  Krugman never was known for his political correctness, if you will pardon the pun.

…ominous political trends shouldn’t be dismissed just because there’s no Hitler in sight.

Now we must delve into uncertain territory, what the author thinks but doesn’t say.  Just which movement on the current scene does he think a figure like H best represents?  Krugman limits his remarks in the article to political parties in Europe.  Speaking domestically, would it be the Occupy movement or the Tea Party?

Spokesfolks from the left see the problems; they just don’t see the causes so they come to the wrong conclusions about the solutions.  They are looking at the malaise through a window when they should be using a mirror.

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Posted in Opinion, Political philosophy

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GOT TALENT? YUP. THEN NEVER MIND THE MILK.

Posted on December 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

The networks are replete with Reality Shows that are unreal.  When we are shown lone individuals driven to the need to drink muddy water and eat insects and leeches because there is no other means of survival, we forget how big a crew it takes to film such an ordeal and never ask if the crew spends the night in a tent with the hero or are helicoptered back to their hotel.

Here we offer you some reality that is really real and, in reality, just as amazing. And we assure you, the camera crew was not helicoptered back to their hotel.

If this puts you in mind of Dueling Banjos, here is the link.

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WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO, YOU DO WHAT YOU DO KNOW…OR PLAY GOLF

Posted on December 10, 2011 | 1 comment

If President Obama knew how to create jobs he would be creating jobs because it would further his chances for re-election.  If his administration had a record of accomplishment the President would run on his record.  But he can’t because they haven’t.  The Messiah aura is extinguished.  Hope and Change is not a re-usable product.  And so, in such a situation what is a President to do to seek re-election?

A president does what he knows and plays every card he has, even if his best card is no higher than the Jack of Clubs.  Therefore, we are seeing an all out class war and a great deal of chest thumping reminding us that Osama bin Laden was found and executed on the President’s watch.  President Barack Obama may not know that Austrian is not a language or that the U.S. has only 50 states, but he does know how to use class warfare to demagogue his way into winning an election.

With respect to bin Laden, the real kudos, go of course, to the members of the military who actually did the job.  They are our heroes, not the people who ordered or authorized it.  Nevertheless, Obama should be given credit for his contribution to this success.

With no winnable path available on the high ground, the low ground is the only path left to the Democrats.  We yearn for a Reagan but it may be what we really need is a Lincoln.

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Posted in Opinion, Political polemics

$38,500 FOR DINNER WITH BARACK OBAMA

Posted on December 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

At least it wasn’t just lunch.  Yesterday, 20 people tossed in $38,500 apiece to have dinner with Barack.  And to think, I am happy if you just pick up the tab.

How do you suppose they came up with a number like 38 ½ thousand?  Did they start at 50, were offered 25, then agreed to split the difference?  Perhaps the 500 bucks was for the waitress.  But that’s not even 10%.

I said waitress.  Did I err?  Can you say that any more, or is it too gender specific?  How long has it been since you heard some one say “I’ll be your waitress this evening”?  There are no more waiters or waitresses; there are only server persons.  I don’t know what these people think they are hiding.  I can still tell if my server person is a waiter or a waitress, most of them anyhow.

Excuse me; I must sign off now.  My server person just called my number; my burger and fries are up.  I just need to get some ketchup and fill my soda cup.

ADDENDUM
AP reported the number as 35,800; Drudge puts it at 38,500.  I am going with the Drudge figure.  I can’t see Democrats leaving an 800 dollar tip.

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Posted in Humor

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PUTIN AND THE PROTESTS

Posted on December 7, 2011 | Leave a comment

Thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Moscow to demonstrate against the election of Vladimir Putin.  The Russians were exercising a freedom of which they had long been deprived.  The Russian people know where they have been and do not want to go back there.

The United States is moving toward the place from which the Russian people have come.  The American people don’t know what it is like where they are going but many of them want to go there anyhow.  In the process, our freedoms are being lost bit by bit.

Those of us standing by the wayside shouting bridge out ahead may face difficulties having our voices heard, but heard they will be.  President Reagan was able to put an end to the Soviet Union because communism does not work.  We have the same thing going for us in the upcoming election.  The President’s policies do not work and the voters know it.

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Posted in News, Opinion, Uncategorized, Videos

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ON A PERSONAL NOTE

Posted on December 6, 2011 | 2 comments

You may have notice that my writing has been sparse of late.  I passed my 80th birthday this year and priority had to be given to the management of many changes taking place on the personal front, all good except for the need to sell my airplane.  It is the plane pictured on the banner of the blog.  That photo was taken at the factory on January 4th, 2002.  It has been a very good ten years.

When the plane is sold there will be a new scene on the banner but the theme and content of the blog will not change.  When you are out browsing, I hope you will continue to stop by Random Thots from time to time.  The door is always open and there will be goodies on the table.

Bob B 2PZ

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THE TEA PARTY vs. THE OCCUPIERS and OTHER RANDOM THOTS

Posted on December 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

There is no comparison.
The Tea Party members stand for less federal spending, less federal debt, less government restriction, more personal liberty, more growth and more jobs.  As a group they are peaceful, familial, respectful of private property, employed and proud of their American heritage.

The Occupy movement still hasn’t decided what it stands for as a group.  Members have taken stands against corporate bailouts, unequal wealth, capitalism, Israel, anything military and the notion that there is any reason whatever to be proud of their country.  They have asked for bailouts for individuals, free college tuition, higher taxes on other people, (the demonstrators themselves pay little or none), and redistribution of the wealth of others unto themselves.  Their methods are disruptive, sometimes destructive and occasionally violent and frequently illegal.  They show disrespect for the American flag, private property and the rule of law.  They have been unable to control criminal activity within their own group.

Our president expresses support for the Occupiers and holds Tea Party members in contempt.  Until Barack Obama we had never had a President like this.

Where’s the swamp?
The ripest department for corruption in any town is the housing department.  If you have ever dealt with one you know how involved the permitting and inspection process can be.  It is rich with opportunities for those in power to ‘earn’ a little income on the side.  The big opportunities are in the realm of awards to private contractors for municipal construction and other town services.  This is by no means an indictment of these departments as a whole for malfeasance, but where corruption does exist this is where you are most likely to find it because it’s the most fertile ground.

At the federal level, the equivalent that comes to mind is infrastructure programs.  Think about it.

More Republicans should play chess.
Republicans in Washington fell into a trap because they didn’t anticipate the Democrat’s future moves.

The Republicans were set up when they supported a temporary suspension of the payroll tax.  Now the Democrats want to extend it and the Republicans do not.  Obama has been given ammunition for his class warfare battle.  Now Republicans “want to increase taxes on the working man but never on the rich”.

Continuing the payroll tax suspension also plays into the Presidents plan to spread the wealth.  As it stands, the working man is contributing nothing to fund the Social Security he will collect.  Obama wants to keep it that way.

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Posted in Political philosophy, Political polemics, Randoms

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THATCHER AT HER BEST

Posted on December 3, 2011 | 2 comments

“A common European currency is a preposterous idea and we will have none of it!”  Such was the steadfast position of Margaret Thatcher’s government.  For sheer entertainment the proceedings in the British House of Commons have no peer in government.  The Prime Minister stands up and speaks briefly.  The Sub-Prime Ministers moan loudly.  When the Prime pauses, the Sub-Primes leap from their seats, some of them that is.  They plop down as fast as they pop up, like bubbles in a boiling stew.

One minister refers to another as Right and Honorable and then lambastes him (or Her) with the sharpest sort of insults and both sides have a hearty laugh.  They talk about each other, in front of each other, but not to each other.  Like two kids tattling on one another to their mom, the ministers tell everything to a man wearing a silly looking wig.  A strange lot, the British.

The issues under siege in this clip are, first, the European Union which Thatcher sees as a looming federation robbing the individual nations of their sovereignty bit by bit, and secondly, the specter of outright Socialism.

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Posted in Humor, Political polemics, Videos

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