America's President just lauded Communist Red China's investments in technology and their superior education system while holding up Communist Russia's successes with Sputnik (even though he has basically defunded NASA) during his State of the Union "massage" of his Socialist followers. What he didn't talk about was this week's bombing of a Russian airport by Muslims nor the Hezbollah takeover of Lebanon nor the radical Muslim's attempt to overthrow our US friendly Egyptian allies. On constant is his solutions don’t change. Just tell bigger lies and continue to overload key American systems until they collapse (economy, health care, transportation, energy, real estate, banking, immigration, military, etc.). Lies? In 2010 Obama called for a 3 year freeze of spending and then increased spending by 20%. And to top it off, he and Pelosi/Reid never even submitted a budget. This year he doubled up on the big lie by calling for a 5 year freeze. And of course he made the big move to the center by saying he would "talk" about medical malpractice.
Meanwhile a new book, "Courting Disaster", How the CIA Kept America Safe (Regnery), has been recently published. The author is President George W. Bush's top speechwriter, Marc Thiessen, who was provided unique access to the CIA program used in interrogating top Al Qaeda terrorists, including the mastermind of the 9/11 attack, Khalid Sheikh Mohammad (KSM).
The book covers in great detail how on March 1, 2003, two dozen heavily armed Pakistani tactical assault forces move in and surround a safe house in Rawalpindi . A few hours earlier they had received a text message from an informant inside the house. It read: "I am with KSM."
Bursting in, they find the disheveled mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, in his bedroom. He is taken into custody. In the safe house, they find a treasure trove of computers, documents, cell phones and other valuable "pocket litter."
And now pay close attention because this part of the story is what is so relevant to our safety and the free world's future. Once in custody, KSM is defiant. He refuses to answer questions, informing his captors that he will tell them everything when he gets to America and sees his lawyer. But KSM is not taken to America to see a lawyer Instead he is taken to a secret CIA "black site" in an undisclosed location.
Upon arrival, KSM finds himself in the complete control of Americans. He does not know where he is, how long he will be there, or what his fate will be.
Despite his circumstances, KSM still refuses to talk. He spews contempt at his interrogators, telling them Americans are weak, lack resilience, and are unable to do what is necessary to prevent the terrorists from succeeding in their goals. He has trained to resist interrogation. When he is asked for information about future attacks, he tells his questioners scornfully: "Soon, you will know."
It becomes clear he will not reveal the information using traditional interrogation techniques. So he undergoes a series of "enhanced interrogation techniques" approved for use only on the most high-value detainees. The techniques include waterboarding.
His resistance is described by one senior American official as "superhuman." Eventually, however, the techniques work, and KSM becomes cooperative.
He begins telling his CIA de-briefers about active al Qaeda plots to launch attacks against the United States and other Western targets. He holds classes for CIA officials, using a chalkboard to draw a picture of al Qaeda's operating structure, financing, communications, and logistics. He identifies al Qaeda travel routes and safe havens, and helps intelligence officers make sense of documents and computer records seized in terrorist raids. He identifies voices in intercepted telephone calls, and helps officials understand the meaning of coded terrorist communications. He provides information that helps our intelligence community capture other high-ranking terrorists, KSM's questioning, and that of other captured terrorists, produces more than 6,000 intelligence reports, which are shared across the intelligence community, as well as with our allies across the world.
In one of these reports, KSM describes in detail the revisions he made to his failed 1994-1995 plan known as the "Bojinka plot" to blow up a dozen airplanes carrying some 4,000 passengers over the Pacific Ocean.
Years later, an observant CIA officer notices the activities of a cell being followed by British authorities appear to match KSM's description of his plans for a Bojinka-style attack.
In an operation that involves unprecedented intelligence cooperation between our countries, British officials proceed to unravel the plot. On the night of Aug.9, 2006 they launch a series of raids in a northeast London suburb that lead to the arrest of two dozen al Qaeda terrorist suspects. They find a USB thumb-drive in the pocket of one of the men with security details for Heathrow airport, and information on seven trans-Atlantic flights that were scheduled to take off within hours of each other. They seize bomb-making equipment and hydrogen peroxide to make liquid explosives. And they find the chilling martyrdom videos the suicide bombers had prepared.
In addition to helping break up these specific terrorist cells and plots, CIA questioning provided our intelligence community with an unparalleled body of information about al Qaeda Until the program was temporarily suspended in 2006, intelligence officials say, well over half of the information our government had about al Qaeda-how it operates, how it moves money, how it communicates, how it recruits operatives, how it picks targets, how it plans and carries out attacks-came from the interrogation of terrorists in CIA custody.
Former CIA Director George Tenet and former CIA Director Mike Hayden have said: "The facts of the case are that the use of these techniques against these terrorists made us safer. It really did work."
Even Barack Obama's Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, has acknowledged: "High-value information came from interrogations in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al Qaeda organization that was attacking this country. Leon Panetta, Obama's CIA Director, has said: "Important information was gathered from these detainees. It provided information that was acted upon."
Despite the facts on Jan. 22, 2009, President Obama issued Executive Order 13491, closing the CIA program and directing that, henceforth, all interrogations by U.S personnel must follow the techniques contained in the Army Field Manual.
The morning of the announcement, Mike Hayden was still in his post as CIA Director, He called White House Counsel Greg Craig and told him bluntly: "You didn't ask, but this is the CIA officially nonconcurring". The president went ahead anyway, over ruling the objections of the agency.
A few months later, on April 16, 2009, President Obama ordered the release of four Justice Department memos that described in detail the techniques used to interrogate KSM and other high-value terrorists. This time, not just Hayden (who was now retired) but five CIA directors -including Obama's own director, Leon Panetta -- objected. George Tenet called to urge against the memos' release. So did Porter Goss. So did John Deutch. Hayden says: "You had CIA directors in a continuous unbroken stream to 1995 calling saying, 'Don't do this.'"
In addition to objections from the men who led the agency for a collective 14 years, the President also heard objections from the agency's covert field operatives. A few weeks earlier, Panetta had arranged for the eight top officials of the Clandestine Service to meet with the President. It was highly unusual for these clandestine officers to visit the Oval Office, and they used the opportunity to warn the President that releasing the memos would put agency operatives at risk. The President reportedly listened respectfully-and then ignored their advice.
With these actions, Barack Obama arguably did more damage to America and the Free World's security in his first 100 days of office than any enemy of the free world has the power nor will to do. We can and will argue "why" Obama has chosen to harm our nation to such an extent. Is it because of a desire to "transform" us to become more like other weaker global nations? Does he desire to overthrow our capitalist nation? Is he just so incompetent as a leader that "he knows not what he does"? No matter how we answer the "why", no sane person can argue the damage of the "what". For whatever his reasons he has put our families, loved ones, and soldiers at great and unnecessary risk.
Think about it,
Jim
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
If It Quakes Like a Socialist, Don't Sit Next to Them
Butch Jackson stormed the Cafe after watching week end news shows, "Two months after the voters routed the Socialist Dems the media has launched a gigantic counter attack aided and abetted by RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). Old John McCain, after calling Obama a patriot, now says 'he has already changed'. And then, of all people, they drag Collin Powell out and he says the Republicans should not make cuts across the board, like returning to 2006 spending levels, but should itemize every program they want cut and by what amount. Any idiot knows this plays right into the Socialist's hands so that they can claim Republicans hate the elderly, the young, the poor and downtrodden, women, minorities, and of course gays. This is exactly what Powell, who supported Obama in 2008, wants to happen."
"And what are the Republicans in Congress doing? They are trying to decide which Socialist they will sit by at the State of the Union speech? Any idiot knows this is a ploy by the Dems to disguise the number of losses they had in November from the TV audience in an attempt to spread their small number across the screen. And Obama has already tipped his hand with this quote, 'I want to make America competitive and create jobs, not just now, but into the future. How, by investing in education and green energy for the jobs of tomorrow'. This is code for 'don't hold me to create jobs now or in the short term as I continue to cripple America's energy industry and the economy even more'. I will continue to send tax payer money to Algore, GE, and the Chinese who are stashing it away for Michelle and my retirement'. God help us if American voters and RINOs believe this crap.Has anyone noticed that gasoline prices have risen from a national average of $1.65 to $3.15 since big O took office. Donald Trump says we are going to over $5.00. "
Billy Roy strolled into the conversation like John Wayne in the real True Grit movie, "Well the folks are not falling for it. Did you see the road sign in Waco with a picture of Obama calling him a 'Socialist by Conduct'? This weekend letters to the editor in the Waco Tribune answered those who thought the sign was 'disrespectful' to our President. Here is what they said:
'I looked up the definition of a Socialist as one who advocates collective government ownership and administration of production and distribution of goods rather than private or corporate ownership. Listening to our President I have learned that all big business and rich people are bad and that it is fair and right for the government to take money away from these bad guys and spread it around. Of course not included in that list of bad people are folks like George Soros, book writers like he and Clinton,and selected crony-capitalism companies like Goldman Sachs, GE, and now Wal-Mart. Can you believe with all the real problems in our large cities with crime, drugs, abortions, welfare, hip-hop, illegal immigration,and parent less children that Michelle and Wal-Mart are going to save the ghetto with inexpensive healthy meals.'
'Liberals and Socialists advocate for the unlimited powers of the Federal Government in violation of our Constitution the following ways: income redistribution, rich versus poor class warfare, micro-managing the economy, and a takeover of certain industries such as health care, student loans, real estate banking, energy, and Wall Street. These are socialists themes and policies and are un-American. If liberals and progressives don't want to be called socialists they should quit advocating socialist policies.'
'We need to get rid of this guy in 2012. I have yet to see another liar like him in politics. He is nothing but a socialist at heart and wants to enslave the U.S. population.
'Why would Progressives object so profusely to us calling Obama a socialist by observing his conduct? As I recall Socialism is supposed to be an internationally accepted respectable set of political beliefs. Why do socialists have to always hide their attempts at political takeovers?'
'Regarding the billboard, I am reminded of that old saying, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck.'
'Surely there has never been a President more vilified than George Bush. There are many avowed socialists in this administration and Congress. We all know who their leader is.'
'On my way to Killeen on Sunday this road sign made my day. It proves that I am not the only one that knows Obama is a socialist'."
BM then close things down, "The RINOs say we should treat Obama like a patriot and not question his motives. They might as well tell us to just be deaf, dumb, and blind while leaving things to Washington. Ain't no way! And, sit with your own folks!"
Think about it,
Jim
"And what are the Republicans in Congress doing? They are trying to decide which Socialist they will sit by at the State of the Union speech? Any idiot knows this is a ploy by the Dems to disguise the number of losses they had in November from the TV audience in an attempt to spread their small number across the screen. And Obama has already tipped his hand with this quote, 'I want to make America competitive and create jobs, not just now, but into the future. How, by investing in education and green energy for the jobs of tomorrow'. This is code for 'don't hold me to create jobs now or in the short term as I continue to cripple America's energy industry and the economy even more'. I will continue to send tax payer money to Algore, GE, and the Chinese who are stashing it away for Michelle and my retirement'. God help us if American voters and RINOs believe this crap.Has anyone noticed that gasoline prices have risen from a national average of $1.65 to $3.15 since big O took office. Donald Trump says we are going to over $5.00. "
Billy Roy strolled into the conversation like John Wayne in the real True Grit movie, "Well the folks are not falling for it. Did you see the road sign in Waco with a picture of Obama calling him a 'Socialist by Conduct'? This weekend letters to the editor in the Waco Tribune answered those who thought the sign was 'disrespectful' to our President. Here is what they said:
'I looked up the definition of a Socialist as one who advocates collective government ownership and administration of production and distribution of goods rather than private or corporate ownership. Listening to our President I have learned that all big business and rich people are bad and that it is fair and right for the government to take money away from these bad guys and spread it around. Of course not included in that list of bad people are folks like George Soros, book writers like he and Clinton,and selected crony-capitalism companies like Goldman Sachs, GE, and now Wal-Mart. Can you believe with all the real problems in our large cities with crime, drugs, abortions, welfare, hip-hop, illegal immigration,and parent less children that Michelle and Wal-Mart are going to save the ghetto with inexpensive healthy meals.'
'Liberals and Socialists advocate for the unlimited powers of the Federal Government in violation of our Constitution the following ways: income redistribution, rich versus poor class warfare, micro-managing the economy, and a takeover of certain industries such as health care, student loans, real estate banking, energy, and Wall Street. These are socialists themes and policies and are un-American. If liberals and progressives don't want to be called socialists they should quit advocating socialist policies.'
'We need to get rid of this guy in 2012. I have yet to see another liar like him in politics. He is nothing but a socialist at heart and wants to enslave the U.S. population.
'Why would Progressives object so profusely to us calling Obama a socialist by observing his conduct? As I recall Socialism is supposed to be an internationally accepted respectable set of political beliefs. Why do socialists have to always hide their attempts at political takeovers?'
'Regarding the billboard, I am reminded of that old saying, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck.'
'Surely there has never been a President more vilified than George Bush. There are many avowed socialists in this administration and Congress. We all know who their leader is.'
'On my way to Killeen on Sunday this road sign made my day. It proves that I am not the only one that knows Obama is a socialist'."
BM then close things down, "The RINOs say we should treat Obama like a patriot and not question his motives. They might as well tell us to just be deaf, dumb, and blind while leaving things to Washington. Ain't no way! And, sit with your own folks!"
Think about it,
Jim
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Politely Vote His Ass Out of Office in 2012
Scott Riddle made his weekly visit to the Cafe, not being a regular since he is big time busy with his cows, insurance, and mostly Texas Holdem poker games, and as usual launched into an assessment of current political strategies and tactics, "Well Obama waits a week after the Arizona shooting to check out the polls and read the wind's direction before he kicks off his 'triangulation' strategy."
"What the heck is triangulation? I never understood it when Clinton was doing it? Does it have anything to do with having sex with young girls?", Butch Jackson engaged with a semi-serious set of questions.
"Don't know about the sex part, Butch, but Obama did meet with Clinton for advice after the November shellacking he took. Triangulation is where the President sits at the top of the triangle with the Conservative Republicans on one vortex and the Progressive/Liberal/Commie Dems at the other vortex. The idea is for Obama to appear moderate for two years and stay above the fray in an attempt to get re-elected in 2012. So Obama comes out with a plea for civility and a plea for us to all get along and work together trying to make both sides look bad and for him to look good. Of course, the whole strategy is based on folks being stupid enough to fall for it because if re-elected, he will gut this Country and Conservatives like a pig before a 4th of July barbecue"
"And how do you think his first triangulation worked?"
"Obama's approval ratings are up about 6 points since his speech, so it did work to some degree with Moderates. A great example is old John McCain. The Arizona senator and Obama's 2008 opponent penned an op-ed in the Washington Post, saying Obama 'comforted and inspired the country' by calling for greater civility in the nation's political discourse. I disagree with many of the president's policies, but I believe he is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country's cause,' McCain wrote. 'I reject accusations that his policies and beliefs make him unworthy to lead America or opposed to its founding ideals.' Now that sounds nice but the last time I looked up the definition of patriot it described someone who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors. Obama defended our country just last night by giving one of his few state dinners sucking up to the Communist President of China who is killing us in trade because they cheat by controlling their currency valuations, and they support every enemy we have (N. Korea, Iran, etc.) in the world. Obama defends us against Islamic Muslim Terrorists by calling them a small radical group of outliers and wants to give captured murderers full US Citizen rights in our courts. The man will not say the word war."
And here came Billy Roy, "Scott, you are right on. First, this is exactly why McCain isn't President. He consistently compromises with the Socialists, particularly when he isn't in an election year. More importantly though, I hear Republicans say we should question Obama's policies and not question Obama's motives. The problem with that is that he and his thugs lie like dogs. They will argue with the Republicans over whether Obamacare will reduce health care costs when the truth is they don't care what is in the legislation as long as the government can take over and run all of the insurance companies out of business. Their motive is not to reduce the costs of health care, but to take it over."
After a sizable deep breath because BM is a big man, "Look what happened when people didn't question Castro's motives, or Stalin's, or Hitler's motives. Many people in those countries tried to have civil debates and could not believe that anyone would take over the government and destroy their freedom and way of life. We damn well better question Obama's motives. He has told us everything we need to know and that is he wants his government to 'transform' American and redistribute our wealth in a manner that he will determine to be fair. Period. What more do we need to know about his motives. Limbaugh has it right. Obama's agenda must be stopped now by the Republican House and by the non-Socialist courts. We need to be civil and polite all right. We need to politely vote his ass out of office in 2012."
Scott actually closed this session, "I just hope folks realize we face a choice between two futures. One is a Socialist future where the federal government claims ever increasing shares of our income and grants itself the authority to make decisions affecting virtually every aspect of our daily lives. The other future is built upon the idea that individual freedom trumps government authority, and that in those rare cases when solving a problem requires government, the government that governs best is the one that is smallest and closest to the people. That is the future that we should fight for – reaffirming our individual liberty, strengthening private markets, shrinking the size of governments, and making decisions wherever possible at the local level rather than in Washington."
Think "civilly" about that,
Jim
"What the heck is triangulation? I never understood it when Clinton was doing it? Does it have anything to do with having sex with young girls?", Butch Jackson engaged with a semi-serious set of questions.
"Don't know about the sex part, Butch, but Obama did meet with Clinton for advice after the November shellacking he took. Triangulation is where the President sits at the top of the triangle with the Conservative Republicans on one vortex and the Progressive/Liberal/Commie Dems at the other vortex. The idea is for Obama to appear moderate for two years and stay above the fray in an attempt to get re-elected in 2012. So Obama comes out with a plea for civility and a plea for us to all get along and work together trying to make both sides look bad and for him to look good. Of course, the whole strategy is based on folks being stupid enough to fall for it because if re-elected, he will gut this Country and Conservatives like a pig before a 4th of July barbecue"
"And how do you think his first triangulation worked?"
"Obama's approval ratings are up about 6 points since his speech, so it did work to some degree with Moderates. A great example is old John McCain. The Arizona senator and Obama's 2008 opponent penned an op-ed in the Washington Post, saying Obama 'comforted and inspired the country' by calling for greater civility in the nation's political discourse. I disagree with many of the president's policies, but I believe he is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country's cause,' McCain wrote. 'I reject accusations that his policies and beliefs make him unworthy to lead America or opposed to its founding ideals.' Now that sounds nice but the last time I looked up the definition of patriot it described someone who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors. Obama defended our country just last night by giving one of his few state dinners sucking up to the Communist President of China who is killing us in trade because they cheat by controlling their currency valuations, and they support every enemy we have (N. Korea, Iran, etc.) in the world. Obama defends us against Islamic Muslim Terrorists by calling them a small radical group of outliers and wants to give captured murderers full US Citizen rights in our courts. The man will not say the word war."
And here came Billy Roy, "Scott, you are right on. First, this is exactly why McCain isn't President. He consistently compromises with the Socialists, particularly when he isn't in an election year. More importantly though, I hear Republicans say we should question Obama's policies and not question Obama's motives. The problem with that is that he and his thugs lie like dogs. They will argue with the Republicans over whether Obamacare will reduce health care costs when the truth is they don't care what is in the legislation as long as the government can take over and run all of the insurance companies out of business. Their motive is not to reduce the costs of health care, but to take it over."
After a sizable deep breath because BM is a big man, "Look what happened when people didn't question Castro's motives, or Stalin's, or Hitler's motives. Many people in those countries tried to have civil debates and could not believe that anyone would take over the government and destroy their freedom and way of life. We damn well better question Obama's motives. He has told us everything we need to know and that is he wants his government to 'transform' American and redistribute our wealth in a manner that he will determine to be fair. Period. What more do we need to know about his motives. Limbaugh has it right. Obama's agenda must be stopped now by the Republican House and by the non-Socialist courts. We need to be civil and polite all right. We need to politely vote his ass out of office in 2012."
Scott actually closed this session, "I just hope folks realize we face a choice between two futures. One is a Socialist future where the federal government claims ever increasing shares of our income and grants itself the authority to make decisions affecting virtually every aspect of our daily lives. The other future is built upon the idea that individual freedom trumps government authority, and that in those rare cases when solving a problem requires government, the government that governs best is the one that is smallest and closest to the people. That is the future that we should fight for – reaffirming our individual liberty, strengthening private markets, shrinking the size of governments, and making decisions wherever possible at the local level rather than in Washington."
Think "civilly" about that,
Jim
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Washington "Made Off" With Our Money and Now They Want to Manage Our Health
Semi-unofficial Chairman of the Hubbard City Cafe, Billy Roy Mitchum, loves Ronald Reagan, and it all started when he heard someone ask Reagan how the government was going to solve a particular problem. He answered, "The government doesn't solve problems, the government is the problem." In a rare show of domination, BM seized the Cafe's stage on this particular day in a show of passion. "With huge arguments just around the bend on how the government is going to solve our entitlement problems, which have bankrupted the country, we need to be careful about compromising with Socialists. They will agree to anything as long as they can get control. I saw a comparison that everyone needs to understand. Here it is:
Why did Bernie Madoff go to prison? To make it simple, he talked people into investing with him. Trouble was, he didn't invest their money. As time rolled on he simply took the money from the new investors to pay off the old investors. Finally there were too many old investors and not enough money from new investors coming in to keep the payments going. Next thing you know, Madoff is one of the most hated men in America, and he is off to jail. Not enough of the folks know that the government has been screwing tax payers, Madoff style, for years.
Yep, I repeat, Madoff screwed his investors just like the Congress has been screwing us for over 70 years with Social Security. There is no meaningful difference between the two schemes, except that one was operated by a private individual who is now in jail, and the other is operated by politicians who enjoy perks and privileges, fly in tax paid jets, and lie to the public like dogs.
Do you need a direct comparison? Well, here it is:
BERNIE MADOFF
Takes money from investors with the promise that the money will be invested and made available to them later.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Takes money from wage earners with the promise that the money will be invested in a 'Trust Fund' and made available later.
BERNIE MADOFF
Instead of investing the money Madoff spends it on nice homes in the Hampton's and yachts.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Instead of depositing money in a Trust Fund the politicians use it for general spending and vote buying for their own re-elections.
BERNIE MADOFF
When the time comes to pay the investors back Madoff simply uses some of the new funds from newer investors to pay back the older investors.
SOCIAL SECURITY
When benefits for older investors become due the politicians pay them with money taken from younger and newer wage earners to pay the geezers leaving future problems to future generations.
BERNIE MADOFF
When Madoff's scheme is discovered all hell breaks loose. New investors won't give him any more cash.
SOCIAL SECURITY
When Social Security runs out of money they simply force the taxpayers to send them more while blaming 'the other party'.
BERNIE MADOFF
Bernie Madoff is in jail.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Politicians remain in Washington arguing the government should be working in a bi-partisan way to 'solve' all of our other problems like energy, global warming, wall street, local school curriculum and menus, marriage, gun ownership, conservative talk shows, and of course enabling illegals to vote while they continue to leave our borders open for drug dealers and the entry of more illegals.
This is why a real economist, Milton Friedman, said, 'If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there'd be a shortage of sand'. And now Obama and crew have put the government in charge of health care, 1/6 of the economy, giving the government control of our health as well of our economy. Give the government ten years managing health care and they will solve the retirement problem because most folks won't live long enough to retire.
Well my Dad always said good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment. We can't let Obama do the same thing to health care (the greatest system in the world) that they have done to Social Security. Promise to pay for every one's health care with no limitations. Then , when they run out of money, they will increase taxes again on the 'rich' (no harm there, right?). When they run out of the rich's money (which won't take long), they will cut back and ration health care like any other third world socialist country. We will run out of health care just like we'd run out of sand in Friedman's Sahara."
Think about it,
Jim
Why did Bernie Madoff go to prison? To make it simple, he talked people into investing with him. Trouble was, he didn't invest their money. As time rolled on he simply took the money from the new investors to pay off the old investors. Finally there were too many old investors and not enough money from new investors coming in to keep the payments going. Next thing you know, Madoff is one of the most hated men in America, and he is off to jail. Not enough of the folks know that the government has been screwing tax payers, Madoff style, for years.
Yep, I repeat, Madoff screwed his investors just like the Congress has been screwing us for over 70 years with Social Security. There is no meaningful difference between the two schemes, except that one was operated by a private individual who is now in jail, and the other is operated by politicians who enjoy perks and privileges, fly in tax paid jets, and lie to the public like dogs.
Do you need a direct comparison? Well, here it is:
BERNIE MADOFF
Takes money from investors with the promise that the money will be invested and made available to them later.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Takes money from wage earners with the promise that the money will be invested in a 'Trust Fund' and made available later.
BERNIE MADOFF
Instead of investing the money Madoff spends it on nice homes in the Hampton's and yachts.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Instead of depositing money in a Trust Fund the politicians use it for general spending and vote buying for their own re-elections.
BERNIE MADOFF
When the time comes to pay the investors back Madoff simply uses some of the new funds from newer investors to pay back the older investors.
SOCIAL SECURITY
When benefits for older investors become due the politicians pay them with money taken from younger and newer wage earners to pay the geezers leaving future problems to future generations.
BERNIE MADOFF
When Madoff's scheme is discovered all hell breaks loose. New investors won't give him any more cash.
SOCIAL SECURITY
When Social Security runs out of money they simply force the taxpayers to send them more while blaming 'the other party'.
BERNIE MADOFF
Bernie Madoff is in jail.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Politicians remain in Washington arguing the government should be working in a bi-partisan way to 'solve' all of our other problems like energy, global warming, wall street, local school curriculum and menus, marriage, gun ownership, conservative talk shows, and of course enabling illegals to vote while they continue to leave our borders open for drug dealers and the entry of more illegals.
This is why a real economist, Milton Friedman, said, 'If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there'd be a shortage of sand'. And now Obama and crew have put the government in charge of health care, 1/6 of the economy, giving the government control of our health as well of our economy. Give the government ten years managing health care and they will solve the retirement problem because most folks won't live long enough to retire.
Well my Dad always said good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment. We can't let Obama do the same thing to health care (the greatest system in the world) that they have done to Social Security. Promise to pay for every one's health care with no limitations. Then , when they run out of money, they will increase taxes again on the 'rich' (no harm there, right?). When they run out of the rich's money (which won't take long), they will cut back and ration health care like any other third world socialist country. We will run out of health care just like we'd run out of sand in Friedman's Sahara."
Think about it,
Jim
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Try This Rhetoric: No Fight, No Freedom
With the press, talk show hosts, and politicians flailing away frantically over the shooting in Arizona, Butch Jackson, the Cafe's primary researcher of some local renown, decided to dig in and report, "While there have been approximately 20 assassination attempts against U.S. presidents, four of which were successful, attacks on members of Congress and local judges are much more rare. There have been only five recorded attempts against members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including the attack on Gabrielle Giffords. And two of those five attacks resulted from disputes between representatives (one of which was a duel in 1838). But there are also many more threats voiced against public officials, which should never be ignored. The majority are issued by what we call lone wolves — individuals acting on their own rather than with a group according to the Stratfor Research Group in Austin."
"Now, not only are dumb dumbs blaming people like Palin for the shooting, but they are screaming for legislation to protect our legislators. Even people like Bill O'Reilly can't help but join the noise. He says we just don't have enough US Marshalls to do the job, so let's make government bigger. Typical! What is unbelievable, yet typical, most calling for increasing the government;s size and regulation don't even know who is charged with the task of protecting our Congress-folks. Again Stratfor says, 'A little known fact is that the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) is the agency in charge of safeguarding congressional officials not only inside the perimeter of the Capitol grounds, which includes the House and Senate office buildings and the Library of Congress, but also when those officials are traveling. The USCP has its own protection division to analyze and investigate threats against members of Congress. Based on threat assessments, this division can assign teams for countersurveillance and security whenever and wherever a representative or senator travels. The USCP is also responsible for liaison with local law enforcement in order to ensure some level of security even when there is no identifiable threat.'
'In the case of any scheduled public appearance, protocol should require congressional staff members to notify the USCP, whose liaison unit will then alert local law enforcement, including city, county and state police, depending on the event. At this point, we don’t know why there was no police presence at Giffords’ event on Jan. 8. It appears that the event was announced the day before, according to a press release on her website. The Pima County Sheriff’s office has said it was not given prior notification of the event.'
Stratfor thinks there are security methods that can be effective. 'We need not think of a security detail being a scrum of uniformed police officers surrounding a public official. Instead, plainclothes protective intelligence teams assigned to countersurveillance as well as physical protection can be interspersed within crowds and positioned at key vantage points, looking for threatening individuals. They are invisible to the untrained eye and do not hinder a politician’s contact with the public. Moreover, a minimal police presence can deter attackers or make them more identifiable as they become nervous and they can stop individual attackers after the first shots are fired.' So we have the organization and resources to do the job. Now the people making noise should get out of the way, and those responsible should just make the system work and make changes if needed."
"Good report, Butch," weighed in Billy Roy. "As usual I agree with the Ronald Reagan quote that Sarah Palin used this week, 'We must reject the idea that every time a law is broken, society is guilty instead of the law breaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is responsible for his actions'. Certainly these 'Lone Wolf' situations are not reasons to indict our society and our country. Even Obama, in one of his better speeches since his campaign when he was again going to 'bring us all together', was calling on Americans to change. Why do the acts of a wacko in Arizona call for a change in all of America? Sounds like another one of Obama's 'transformations' to me. You have to hand it to the guy, he never let's up in pushing his agenda that being that America is screwed up and must be transformed by the government."
This report from the Cafe coupled with our sorrow over the loss of the precious nine year old girl in Arizona reminded me of another Reagan quote, “We have the duty to protect the life of an unborn child.” This week it was reported that we did not protect the lives of 1,400,000 children who were aborted in the year 2008 alone. Also, in that number is the fact that up to 60% of all black pregnancies in urban areas end in abortion. It seems to me that if we could get as concerned about our unborn children as we are about our "rhetoric" that we might find more favor from the Man Above.
Again, it was Reagan who said "that freedom is always just one generation away from extinction. We don't pass it to our children in the bloodstream; we have to fight for it and protect it, and then hand it to them so that they shall do the same, or we're going to find ourselves spending our sunset years telling our children and our children's children about a time in America, back in the day, when men and women were free."
Fighting for freedom is repealing Obamacare, reducing the size of government, killing cap and trade, protecting marriage, and defeating terrorism. Mark my word, Obama's idea of 'coming together' is starting next week for the Republican House to fall in behind him and the Democratic Senate and compromise away a Free America.
Think about it,
Jim
"Now, not only are dumb dumbs blaming people like Palin for the shooting, but they are screaming for legislation to protect our legislators. Even people like Bill O'Reilly can't help but join the noise. He says we just don't have enough US Marshalls to do the job, so let's make government bigger. Typical! What is unbelievable, yet typical, most calling for increasing the government;s size and regulation don't even know who is charged with the task of protecting our Congress-folks. Again Stratfor says, 'A little known fact is that the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) is the agency in charge of safeguarding congressional officials not only inside the perimeter of the Capitol grounds, which includes the House and Senate office buildings and the Library of Congress, but also when those officials are traveling. The USCP has its own protection division to analyze and investigate threats against members of Congress. Based on threat assessments, this division can assign teams for countersurveillance and security whenever and wherever a representative or senator travels. The USCP is also responsible for liaison with local law enforcement in order to ensure some level of security even when there is no identifiable threat.'
'In the case of any scheduled public appearance, protocol should require congressional staff members to notify the USCP, whose liaison unit will then alert local law enforcement, including city, county and state police, depending on the event. At this point, we don’t know why there was no police presence at Giffords’ event on Jan. 8. It appears that the event was announced the day before, according to a press release on her website. The Pima County Sheriff’s office has said it was not given prior notification of the event.'
Stratfor thinks there are security methods that can be effective. 'We need not think of a security detail being a scrum of uniformed police officers surrounding a public official. Instead, plainclothes protective intelligence teams assigned to countersurveillance as well as physical protection can be interspersed within crowds and positioned at key vantage points, looking for threatening individuals. They are invisible to the untrained eye and do not hinder a politician’s contact with the public. Moreover, a minimal police presence can deter attackers or make them more identifiable as they become nervous and they can stop individual attackers after the first shots are fired.' So we have the organization and resources to do the job. Now the people making noise should get out of the way, and those responsible should just make the system work and make changes if needed."
"Good report, Butch," weighed in Billy Roy. "As usual I agree with the Ronald Reagan quote that Sarah Palin used this week, 'We must reject the idea that every time a law is broken, society is guilty instead of the law breaker. It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is responsible for his actions'. Certainly these 'Lone Wolf' situations are not reasons to indict our society and our country. Even Obama, in one of his better speeches since his campaign when he was again going to 'bring us all together', was calling on Americans to change. Why do the acts of a wacko in Arizona call for a change in all of America? Sounds like another one of Obama's 'transformations' to me. You have to hand it to the guy, he never let's up in pushing his agenda that being that America is screwed up and must be transformed by the government."
This report from the Cafe coupled with our sorrow over the loss of the precious nine year old girl in Arizona reminded me of another Reagan quote, “We have the duty to protect the life of an unborn child.” This week it was reported that we did not protect the lives of 1,400,000 children who were aborted in the year 2008 alone. Also, in that number is the fact that up to 60% of all black pregnancies in urban areas end in abortion. It seems to me that if we could get as concerned about our unborn children as we are about our "rhetoric" that we might find more favor from the Man Above.
Again, it was Reagan who said "that freedom is always just one generation away from extinction. We don't pass it to our children in the bloodstream; we have to fight for it and protect it, and then hand it to them so that they shall do the same, or we're going to find ourselves spending our sunset years telling our children and our children's children about a time in America, back in the day, when men and women were free."
Fighting for freedom is repealing Obamacare, reducing the size of government, killing cap and trade, protecting marriage, and defeating terrorism. Mark my word, Obama's idea of 'coming together' is starting next week for the Republican House to fall in behind him and the Democratic Senate and compromise away a Free America.
Think about it,
Jim
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Terrorists, Terrorism, and Nut Jobs
Scotty Anderson is the proud father of a football coach at a major university. Father, like son, is a student of strategies, tactics, and competition. The recent tragic shooting in Arizona of a US Congressperson and several other innocent people including a 9 year old girl, has prompted a major debate about terrorists and extreme acts of violence. Scotty came into the Cafe with considerable insight, "It seems to this old country boy that it is good time for folks to look at the big picture of terrorism and terrorists. Seems to me that modern terrorism is really a media event in today's world. Someone or some group with a cause that they would like to advance by drawing attention to this cause design their strategy around gaining access to the huge media outfits that trade on spectacular events of interest. These media companies have 24x7 outlets that can cover an event in a near real time environment. So if I am a terrorist by definition I have a cause and design and implement an event to draw maximum attention. A smart terrorist group will attempt to do this with minimum risks, costs, and maximum effect."
Butch Jackson jumped all over this, "Sounds like real smart talk Scotty but give us an example that we can chew on."
"How about 911, a true terrorist act? A group with a passionate cause, radical Muslim Jihadists with a worldwide intent to wage war and disrupt non-Muslim nations, chose a big operation by hijacking four large planes to bring destruction to the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and probably the White House. They, with the assistance of massive media coverage, can drive fear into all free world citizens, disrupt governments and even world economies (which they did by causing a recession), and even create conditions that lead to our invasion of Afghanistan. A big act of terrorism. Now the strategy can move to smaller incidents with less risks and costs and yet gain massive media coverage advancing the Jihadists cause. Smaller, less costly events like Fort Hood, the shoe bomber, and the NY Times Square incident. Each gaining huge media attention and coverage. Fifty years ago a hostile country would have to attack another nation to gain the media attention and exposure that these guys can gain with several very limited actions."
"So what is the significance of this to us?" came back Butch always probing for significance to the Cafe folks.
"Clearly if we are going to play defense against terrorism, we have to understand their strategy and defend accordingly. For example, if the government paints all terrorists as random acts of unbalanced people and treats them as criminals and a law enforcement problem you do stupid things like reading a terrorist his Miranda rights. I understand the first thing the cops did with the Arizona shooter (I will not dignify nor publicize him by using his name) was to tell him he had the right to remain silent. At the time we didn't know if he was acting alone or a member of a large group in a co-ordinated attack. You don't treat Radical Muslim Jihadists, who have a worldwide movement and strategy, who clearly fit all definitions of the terrorists using terrorism as their weapon the same way you treat a nut job like the guy in Arizona who killed six people. The nut job appears to have no major agenda, movement, nor organization. In fact, Arizona is not a terrorism act in my book," Scotty strived to connect the dots for Butch.
Billy Roy came in late as he is apt to do most of the time, "Scotty, that's good. I think I got it. In fact it helps me understand a group that really drives me crazy. Based on your definitions I would call these groups 'sideline terrorists'. They don't run the risks and costs of creating these media events of terror. They sit on the sidelines and then leap out like Tommie Lewis did in the Cotton Bowl when he tackled Dickie Moegle by coming off the bench on the sidelines and on to the playing field. Example: Gun control activists who wait for a shooting like the one in Arizona and then make every attempt using the media coverage to make the Glock pistol the perpetrator instead of the nut job that plotted the act and pulled the trigger. Same thing with the Socialist haters of Sarah Palin/Rush Limbaugh/Glen Beck/Tea Party who come rushing in from the sidelines to get media attention to their cause which is to control the press by blaming conservative media which they think costs them the November election. In my mind these groups are as sleazy as it gets."
Scotty closed it down, "BM, that summary is better than a Merle Haggard slow dance on a Saturday night. I might add, regarding gun control, the only person I have heard that ran toward the Arizona shooter did it because he was packing. I sure wish a soldier at Fort Hood would have been packing. He would have saved many, many beautiful lives."
Think about it,
Jim
Butch Jackson jumped all over this, "Sounds like real smart talk Scotty but give us an example that we can chew on."
"How about 911, a true terrorist act? A group with a passionate cause, radical Muslim Jihadists with a worldwide intent to wage war and disrupt non-Muslim nations, chose a big operation by hijacking four large planes to bring destruction to the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and probably the White House. They, with the assistance of massive media coverage, can drive fear into all free world citizens, disrupt governments and even world economies (which they did by causing a recession), and even create conditions that lead to our invasion of Afghanistan. A big act of terrorism. Now the strategy can move to smaller incidents with less risks and costs and yet gain massive media coverage advancing the Jihadists cause. Smaller, less costly events like Fort Hood, the shoe bomber, and the NY Times Square incident. Each gaining huge media attention and coverage. Fifty years ago a hostile country would have to attack another nation to gain the media attention and exposure that these guys can gain with several very limited actions."
"So what is the significance of this to us?" came back Butch always probing for significance to the Cafe folks.
"Clearly if we are going to play defense against terrorism, we have to understand their strategy and defend accordingly. For example, if the government paints all terrorists as random acts of unbalanced people and treats them as criminals and a law enforcement problem you do stupid things like reading a terrorist his Miranda rights. I understand the first thing the cops did with the Arizona shooter (I will not dignify nor publicize him by using his name) was to tell him he had the right to remain silent. At the time we didn't know if he was acting alone or a member of a large group in a co-ordinated attack. You don't treat Radical Muslim Jihadists, who have a worldwide movement and strategy, who clearly fit all definitions of the terrorists using terrorism as their weapon the same way you treat a nut job like the guy in Arizona who killed six people. The nut job appears to have no major agenda, movement, nor organization. In fact, Arizona is not a terrorism act in my book," Scotty strived to connect the dots for Butch.
Billy Roy came in late as he is apt to do most of the time, "Scotty, that's good. I think I got it. In fact it helps me understand a group that really drives me crazy. Based on your definitions I would call these groups 'sideline terrorists'. They don't run the risks and costs of creating these media events of terror. They sit on the sidelines and then leap out like Tommie Lewis did in the Cotton Bowl when he tackled Dickie Moegle by coming off the bench on the sidelines and on to the playing field. Example: Gun control activists who wait for a shooting like the one in Arizona and then make every attempt using the media coverage to make the Glock pistol the perpetrator instead of the nut job that plotted the act and pulled the trigger. Same thing with the Socialist haters of Sarah Palin/Rush Limbaugh/Glen Beck/Tea Party who come rushing in from the sidelines to get media attention to their cause which is to control the press by blaming conservative media which they think costs them the November election. In my mind these groups are as sleazy as it gets."
Scotty closed it down, "BM, that summary is better than a Merle Haggard slow dance on a Saturday night. I might add, regarding gun control, the only person I have heard that ran toward the Arizona shooter did it because he was packing. I sure wish a soldier at Fort Hood would have been packing. He would have saved many, many beautiful lives."
Think about it,
Jim
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Captain America is a Stud
My Mom, Maxine, loves the Dallas Cowboys. She loves them to the point that she can't watch anymore on a play by play basis. She says she just gets too excited and genuinely believes her watching too closely brings them bad luck. So she flips back and forth between their games and other programs. She recently ran across a letter that she shared with the folks at the Cafe. It follows:
"Recently, my brother was sitting in first class on a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Colorado Springs when a couple boarded and sat in front of him. He immediately recognized the man as Roger Staubach. They exchanged greetings, and Staubach said he was headed to Colorado Springs for the inaugural Warrior Games.
After 60 or 70 percent of the plane was boarded, a female Army soldier who had lost her leg boarded. Staubach insisted she sit in his seat; she said, 'no, thanks,' but he insisted. He took her place in a middle seat way in the back. After a few minutes, the young girl got tears in her eyes and said she wanted to go to her seat and have Staubach return to his.
The flight attendant overheard, and, as the female soldier headed to retrieve Staubach, the attendant said she had a no-show and both could sit in first class.
The flight attendant returned with the female soldier, but Staubach sent a double amputee Army soldier to sit in his seat. Staubach remained in coach the entire flight and disembarked last. My brother waited and asked for an autograph for my birthday; Staubach said certainly. It's a great gift, but the greater gift is knowing Roger Staubach is still Captain America."
Signed,
Drew Werner, Addison, TX
Nothing fires Butch Jackson up more than a good story about heroes, so he immediately took the stump to expand on Captain America, "Roger (the Dodger) Thomas Staubach was born February 5, 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio. To no one's surprise he is a very successful businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was key in developing the Cowboys to become one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys record-setting twenty consecutive winning seasons. Staubach led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl victory and as a result he was named MVP in Super Bowl VI. Staubach was described by legendary coach Tom Landry as 'possibly the best combination of a passer, an athlete, and a leader to ever play in the NFL', and Tom was the master of the understatement.
Staubach first achieved national attention when he was named the starting quarterback of the Navy football team in 1962. He was hailed by Navy coach Wayne Hardin as 'the greatest quarterback Navy ever had.' He led the team for three seasons, leading the Midshipmen to two victories in the Army–Navy Game and an appearance in the 1964 Cotton Bowl Classic. Yep, he came down here and beat up on us. In addition to earning the Heisman trophy by the seventh largest point margin, Staubach was elected to the College Hall of Fame in 1981.
After his required service in the United States Navy, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, Staubach joined the Dallas Cowboys. He led the club to five Super Bowl appearances, with victories in Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII. Staubach was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl VI becoming the first of four players to win the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP. Jim Plunkett, Marcus Allen, and Desmond Howard are the other three. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times during his eleven-year NFL career."
And of course, Billy Roy closed, "In other words, Roger Staubach is a stud."
Where are today's studs?
Jim
"Recently, my brother was sitting in first class on a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Colorado Springs when a couple boarded and sat in front of him. He immediately recognized the man as Roger Staubach. They exchanged greetings, and Staubach said he was headed to Colorado Springs for the inaugural Warrior Games.
After 60 or 70 percent of the plane was boarded, a female Army soldier who had lost her leg boarded. Staubach insisted she sit in his seat; she said, 'no, thanks,' but he insisted. He took her place in a middle seat way in the back. After a few minutes, the young girl got tears in her eyes and said she wanted to go to her seat and have Staubach return to his.
The flight attendant overheard, and, as the female soldier headed to retrieve Staubach, the attendant said she had a no-show and both could sit in first class.
The flight attendant returned with the female soldier, but Staubach sent a double amputee Army soldier to sit in his seat. Staubach remained in coach the entire flight and disembarked last. My brother waited and asked for an autograph for my birthday; Staubach said certainly. It's a great gift, but the greater gift is knowing Roger Staubach is still Captain America."
Signed,
Drew Werner, Addison, TX
Nothing fires Butch Jackson up more than a good story about heroes, so he immediately took the stump to expand on Captain America, "Roger (the Dodger) Thomas Staubach was born February 5, 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio. To no one's surprise he is a very successful businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was key in developing the Cowboys to become one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys record-setting twenty consecutive winning seasons. Staubach led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl victory and as a result he was named MVP in Super Bowl VI. Staubach was described by legendary coach Tom Landry as 'possibly the best combination of a passer, an athlete, and a leader to ever play in the NFL', and Tom was the master of the understatement.
Staubach first achieved national attention when he was named the starting quarterback of the Navy football team in 1962. He was hailed by Navy coach Wayne Hardin as 'the greatest quarterback Navy ever had.' He led the team for three seasons, leading the Midshipmen to two victories in the Army–Navy Game and an appearance in the 1964 Cotton Bowl Classic. Yep, he came down here and beat up on us. In addition to earning the Heisman trophy by the seventh largest point margin, Staubach was elected to the College Hall of Fame in 1981.
After his required service in the United States Navy, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, Staubach joined the Dallas Cowboys. He led the club to five Super Bowl appearances, with victories in Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII. Staubach was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl VI becoming the first of four players to win the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP. Jim Plunkett, Marcus Allen, and Desmond Howard are the other three. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times during his eleven-year NFL career."
And of course, Billy Roy closed, "In other words, Roger Staubach is a stud."
Where are today's studs?
Jim
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