DogJ's Blog

I'm a recent transplant from KC, so forgive me if this has been discussed in the past, but...

Remember Joe "The Plumber" calling out Obama on his 'wealth redistribution' beliefs?

Remember the 'Left' labeling Joe as a fraud because he had a back-tax lien on his home for $1,800?

And now, Obama's appointee to the Secretary of Treasury is by the Left's account, "the right man for the job" - despite being the King Kong of "plumbers?"

I invite any Lefty to rationalize this one! Is this your "change" or was Joe just too small to be part of your "redistribution" plans?

 

The Geithner nomination has now entered the realm of the surreal.  Geithner nomination in question due to the Leno Factor:  any nominee that gets made fun of by the comedian is in trouble.  Republicans finally standing up to the Geithner cram down with 5 on the finance committee voting against him.  Reid says he'll pass next week, but this nomination will be kicked hard in the weekend political talk shows. 
 
Here's a toughie for Democrats:  If you criticized TARP, how can you vote for Geithner?  If you vote for him you'll run the risk that if things don't go so well, the Republicans will light you up in 2010.  Already, the Obama/Geithner comment on China (right before their big holidays) is either a huge shift in tactics or a huge blunder.  Bond yields have risen on the news and reports are already out that China is going to shift their bond portfolio out of long term US Treasuries.

08:25 22Jan09 REUTERS: - GEITHNER SAYS OBAMA BELIEVES CHINA IS MANIPULATING ITS CURRENCY.

This is a situation where the US has known for a very long period of time that China has managed it's currency.  The US chooses not to name China as a manipulator for two reasons.  One, China doesn't meet the Treasury's narrowly defined criteria.  Two, China owns a lot of US Treasury, Agency, and overall debt securities.  To engage in any action that would lead the Chinese to misunderstand actions by the US and therefore sell these holdings would be dangerous.  But rookies do what rookies do:  they make mistakes. If China reacts as expected, they will significantly reduce their participation in our next Treasury auction and rates will begin to rise!

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

 

by: DogJ - 2008

 

 

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the land

 

Not a person was working, not a woman or man;

 

 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

 

In “Hopes” that Uncle Sam soon would be there;

 

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

 

While visions of I-pods played in their heads;

 

 

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap.

 

Had just settled down for a UAW mandated nap.

 

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

 

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

 

 

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

 

Tore open the shutters and prayed to see cash.

 

 

The light on the breast of the woman next door,

 

Gave lust to the night, like never before.

 

 

When, what to my greedy eyes should appear,

 

But an armour truck and eight tiny reindeer.

 

 

With an ethic driver, so promising and slick

 

I knew in a moment it was the President-elect.

 

 

More rapid than rabbits his followers they came,

 

And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

 

 

“Now Joe! now, Rod! now, Rahm and Barney!

 

On, Chris! on Ted! On Hillary and Nancy!

 

 

To the top of the leadership, to the top of the wall!

 

Now give away, give away, give away to all!

 

 

As ink dries, before the presses are done,

 

Not an obstacle before us, can more cash not overcome.

 

 

So, up to the banks the coursers to save,

 

With a bag full of money, to regulation they said ney.

 

 

And then, in a sound-bite, I heard on the TV

 

The the promises and guarantees were all for me.

 

 

As I drew my gun and was turning around,

 

Down the chimney Uncle Sam came with abound.

 

 

He was dreessed to the 10’s, from his head to his foot,

 

And his Pension was safe, and a pay raise to boot.

 

 

A bundle of “Change” he had flung on his back,

 

And he looked like a politician just opening his PAC.

 

 

His eyes – how they twinkled! His “Change” so merry!

 

His “Hope”was like roses, his “Promises” like a cherry!

 

 

His droll little words wrapped up in a bow,

 

His pockets full of money, for everyone you know!

 

 

The butt of a cig held tight in his teeth;

 

And the smoke and mirrors encircled us with belief.

 

 

He had a broad re-distribution plan, but no money,

 

So he shook and he laughed, “the presses must print honey”!

 

 

He was typical and biblical, a right jolly young man,

 

And I laughed when I saw his economic Plan.

 

 

A wink of his eye and a twist of his promises,

 

Soon gave me to know, I would suffer great losses.

 

 

He spoke too many words, and performed little work,

 

But, plundered the hard working, like a real live jerk.

 

 

And laying his “Vision” ahead of all reason,

 

He stole my hard work! is this not treason?

 

 

He sprang to his throne, to his team gave a whistle,

 

And away they all flew with the greed of a politician.

 

 

But I heard him exclaim, ere he went out of sight,

 

“Merry Chrismas to all, and to all a good-life”

 

Yesterday, in an editorial in the USA Today,  President elect Obama reiterated many of his "promises" that propelled him to his historic victory. So that all of us can reflect back in four years, to see where this great orator has taken our country, I have listed his promises. Please Cut, Paste and Save.

1.    I'll give a tax break to 95% of workers and their families, and eliminate income taxes for seniors making under $50,000 a year. If you work, pay taxes and make less than $250,000, you won't see your taxes increase by a single dime.  2.    I'll end tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas, and give them to companies that create jobs in America. 3.    I'll eliminate capital gains taxes for start-ups and small businesses, the engines of our job creation. 4.    We'll create 2 million jobs by rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and laying broadband lines that reach every corner of the country. 5.    I'll invest $15 billion a year over the next decade in renewable energy, creating 5 million new green jobs that pay well, can't be outsourced, and can help end our dependence on Middle East oil. 6.    My plan will make health care affordable and accessible for every American. If you already have health insurance, the only change you'll see under my plan is lower premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of plan that members of Congress get for themselves. 7.    To guarantee every child a world-class education, I'll invest in early childhood education and recruit an army of new teachers. But I'll also demand higher standards and more accountability. And we'll make a deal with every young American: If you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford your tuition. 8.    When it comes to keeping this country safe, I'll end the Iraq war responsibly so we stop spending $10 billion a month in Iraq while it sits on a huge surplus. 9.    I'll finally finish the fight against Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda terrorists who attacked us on 9/11, build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century, and restore our moral standing so that America remains the last, best hope on earth. Have a great day.

I don't care if you are a Republican, Democrat, Communist, Libertarian, Conservative, Liberal or Centralist/Moderate, PLEASE read the details of what the U.S. Senate passed last night. It contains an additional $150 BILLION in PORK to persuade members of Congress to vote for it.

I don't care who anyone votes for in the Prseidential election, but if you vote to re-elect ONE current member of Congress I HATE YOU! (tongue and cheek people, tongue and cheek).

I urge EVERYONE to contact their Congressperson and say HECK NO to this package (real LOUD please).

Is it possible for Congress's approval rating drop to negative numbers?

I am gratified by the numerous people who have articulated the many causes and solutions to the current financial crisis facing our country. If nothing else is gained from this exercise, at least we have people reading and talking.

To simplify this crisis, and I stress simplify,  the simple fact facing us today is that there is no money available to be borrowed. Forget about blaming Reagan, Clinton, Bush or Pelosi.

I am a devote fiscal conservative, my Bio has said that from day one. But when a country finds itsself with NO money to lend/borrow, the wheels of the economy grind to a halt. Yes, banks, brokerages, insurance companies and mortgage lenders went on a rampage for the almighty INCOME, and are clearly at fault for creating this crisis, but what now?

To contain and/or rectify this situation, our Gov't, (the White House, Congress, Fed & Treassury) have to work with one simple end in mind. Find a way to provide $$$ for borrowing. The simplest way to do that is to buy the failing assets currently held by the aforementioned guilty parties, which will (in theory) supply the money that would be available for lending.

Perthaps, the majority of people do not realize how many legitimate companies have to borrow money to keep a plant running, to buy the inventory to sell it later. The vast majority of these companies make good money and pay taxes. Choke off their blood supply and the worker gets laid off. See where this is going? Want to buy a house? Want to increase your credit card limit? Go ahead, call your bank and see what they say.

Solution: The Gov't needs to provide a financial rescue/ bailout that addresses ONE single issue - creating money available for lending. I'll stick my foot out a little beyond that and add, any financial firm that wishes for the Gov't to buy their bad assets subjects itsself to Senior Management Compensation alteration, and a stiff one at that. Anything, and I mean anything beyond that is nothing but D.C. wrangling for political votes. I call it DC bribery.

If Washington screws this up, it won't matter.

Today, I complimented a blogger for expressing a "fundamental" reason for not voting for a certain candidate, which in turn led me to writting this:

I don't care if Obama said Pig. Actually, he present the long known analogy correctly. It was Palin that created a euphemism.

I don't care whether Obama said 50 or 57 States.

I dont' care if Palin took credit for killing the "Bridge to Nowhere" - it didn't get built. She did hammer the final nail.

I don't care if Palin spoke at a AIP convention.

I don't care if Quayle can't spell potato(e).

I don't care if Clinton did or didn't inhaled.

I don't care if Ford stumbles/falls all the time.

When it comes to running our Government, I care about what the Government does. How much of my hard earned income they take and where they spend it. I care about my Federal Government being involved in things they have no business being involved in. I care about the ecomony, but have an explict understanding of how little effect they can have on it - until they borrow beyond comprehension. I care that my Government won't let my military fight to win.

I care that my Government has gotten so big over the last 50 years that it lacks focus, resolve and ability; not to mention it is backrupt.

Fundamentally, I believe it is high time we "shrink" the Federal Government back to its basic functionality. Turn everything else back over to the States. That is the fundamental belief I hold. Nothing else really matters. 

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtail.

 

For grins, let's look at a real issue - Social Security. If you look at the McCain website you won't find anything for Social Security or Seniors; kind of disappointing:-(

If you look at Obama's website it has a specific "Issues" page that does address his plans for Social Security (SS). In summary, (look it up if you don't believe me), he wants to increase the ceiling where SS taxes terminate from $97,500 to ???. Does this mean he doesn't want to tell us how high, he hasn't decided or the sky's the limit? He states that by doing such it will insure that benefits are available to all Seniors for decades to come.

Okay, I'm all for this sound bite.

But, Obama does not address whether the Gov't will cease, hold current levels or increase its borrowings from the SS trust fund. He neither proposes or mentions limiting the Govt's ability to continue to issues IOU's to SS. Hum!

The volume on this sound bite just went way down!

So, the Gov't gets a massive influx of money to insure that Seniors are taken care of for decades, but retains its voracious appetite to steal and plunder.

This bite is starting to hurt.

So, if I'm supposed to believe in Obama's "Change" platform, were is the change? More taxes and a promise?

This won't hurt, trust me.

Please feel free to blog why this "change" appeals to you.

Yes, yes, I know, McCain's website doesn't even address it, but let's stay on this topic for now. McCain or the Republicna position can be another post.

Okay, for those regular bloggers who I have had the priviledge of debating I think you know that I have declared my endorsement of the Libertarian Party for this election. I have regularly declared my distain for Obama's "change" of making government bigger, and my total uncertainty that McCain was in fact too much of the same old thing. However, after having just watched Palin's speech maybe there is an opportunity for "change" that none of us saw coming!?!?!?

Frankly, when McCain announced Palin as his VP choice, my first reaction wasn't about experience or lack there of, it was "why didn't Obama do something like this? If he was all about "change" why did he go with a 'safe' DC insider for VP?

My reaction after her speech is... the gauntlet has been thrown. Neither Geraldine or Hillary represented woman or America like this. She looked every politician in the face and said "bring it". She spoke like a reformer/changer, not as a woman or a politician. I know that if I vote Libertarian that I have no chance to win, and I can live with that, but suddenly I have reason to pause and re-evaluate. Hopefully, I can get this post written before all the pundits can evaluate and poll her speech.

Suddenly I may be believing in "change", just not the way I thought I would. Wow!

Yes, I know, time will tell, but I wouldn't want to be Biden in a debate with her.

Hope vs Reality:  Michael Boskin writing an Op-Ed in the WSJ, had this disturbing graphic: 
 


I wouldn't mind this if we were trying to pay down the debt, but to add more government run programs is just plain irresponsible.
In theory, Socialism begins when a government takes over 50% of income.
Have a great day.

How many zeros in a billion?

 

 

This is too true to be funny.

The next time you hear a politician use the
word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about
whether you want the 'politicians' spending
YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
but one advertising agency did a good job of
putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it's releases.


A.

A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B.

A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C.

A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.

D.

A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E.

A billion dollars ago was only

8 hours and 20 minutes,

at the rate our government

is spending it.

 

While this thought is still fresh in our brain...

let's take a look at New Orleans ...

 It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.

 

Louisiana Senator,

Mary Landrieu (D)

is presently asking Congress for

250  BILLION DOLLARS

to rebuild New Orleans .  Interesting number...

what does it mean?

A.

Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of  New Orleans

(every man, woman, and child)

you each get $516,528.

B.

Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in
New Orleans , your home gets  $1,329,787.

C.

Or... if you are a family of four...

 your family gets  $2,066,012.

Washington, D. C

 

< HELLO! >

Are all your calculators broken??

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax < BR>Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Fedeal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago...
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt...

We had the largest middle class in the world...

and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened?

Can you spell 'politicians!'

And I still have to

press '1'

for English.

I hope this goes around the

USA

at least 100 times

What the heck happened?????

Wow, who would have thought that JP gets the hook!

Do I know searching too and two time?

I have enough trouble keeping up with one blog, and now I'm a member here too!!!

Lordy, help me.