BloggeRhythms

While the presidential campaigns have become more boring than watching a Volkswagen rust, a couple of items in the news today present some critical data that shed important light on core political belief and doctrine. None of it favorable to liberals, socialists nor Democrats in general.

Terence P. Jeffrey writes @cnsnews.com: “Over the course of the 86 full months that President Barack Obama has completed serving in the White House—from February 2009 through March 2016--the U.S. Treasury has collected approximately $18,764,164,000,000 in tax revenues (in non-inflation-adjusted dollars), according to the Monthly Treasury Statements issued during that period. (President Obama was inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2009.)

The taxes collected equal approximately $124,003 for each of the 151,320,000 persons who had either a full- or part-time job during March 2016. 

Over the same 86-month stretch of the Obama presidency, the total debt of the federal government increased from $10,632,005,246,736.97 to $19,264,938,619,643.07, according to the Treasury. An increase in the debt of $8,632,933,372,906.10 or approximately $57,051 for each of the 151,320,000 people with jobs as of March. 

While the size of the nation’s debt is mind-boggling by itself, the underlying cause is even more distressing. Because, the increased borrowing stems from purposeful anti-business policy’s, massive over-regulation on industry, compounded by huge increases in government spending on social programs. 

Although the dismal economic news is certainly something to be expected, due to the failure of socialism in every other place it’s been tried, (except tiny Norway,) additional confirmation appeared today, regarding Venezuela.   

According to Ernesto Tovar and Alexander Martinez @yahoo.com: "Things in Venezuela keep finding ways to get worse. Because of acute shortages, people can't find basics like toilet paper. Now, it will be harder to make overseas calls or watch pay TV. 

“The problem is this: the global drop in oil prices has made dollars much more scarce in Venezuela -- which is dependent almost totally on petroleum for hard currency. So local telecoms companies don't have greenbacks to pay international suppliers.” 

However, beyond the income shortfall: “President Nicolas Maduro's leftist government controls the currency market, and distributes dollars to private companies as it sees fit. 

“The government owes local companies around 700 million dollars, which these firms need to honor obligations with foreign providers, according to the Chamber of Telecommunications Services Companies. 

“So as a result, for instance, the Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica will temporarily suspend this week long distance phone service for calls to countries such as the United States, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, Colombia and Panama.” While: “Mobile phone company Digitel, which is privately owned, has halted long distance calling services and international roaming since April 9 because it cannot reach agreement with providers on new payment timetables.” 

Although the similarities to what can be expected if the U.S. should move farther left than it already is are obvious, two readers offered succinctly accurate summations. 

Will Robinson commented: “The Liberals in the U.S. are actively calling for socialism. We went from "You didn't build that" to Bernie Sander's demonizing wealth and worshipping unions. The crime of liberals is to measure policies by intention rather than outcomes. I hope some of them start to wake up to the fact that socialist economies can't even provide toilet paper to their people. Fools. 

Chuhyona added: “Socialism is like a dream. Sooner or later you wake up to reality.” 

Bringing us to today’s update on Bill Clinton’s wife.

As the email investigation seems to be nearing it’s close, Catherine Herridge and Pamela K. Browne @FoxNews.com, wrote about a “warning” from former agents to FBI Director James Comey “that nothing less than the bureau's "reputation" is on the line as the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email practices enters a critical phase.”

In a March 16 letter obtained by Fox News, former FBI agents who worked the notorious 1970s sting operation known as ABSCAM offered their support for Comey and the agents working the email case. “But the letter cautioned the outcome would have long-lasting implications.

"Decisions must be made on facts alone. Much is at stake here -- people's trust in the Bureau for years to come, as well as the Bureau's reputation among our allies, partners, and friends as the greatest law enforcement agency in the world,” wrote John F. Good, president of the Long Island Chapter of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. 

“Good told Fox News a half-dozen FBI agents who worked the 1978 ABSCAM investigation – which targeted sitting members of Congress -- belong to the chapter. The ABSCAM investigation included more than 30 political figures, with six House members and one U.S. senator ultimately convicted of crimes. The investigation was depicted in the 2013 Golden Globe-winning movie "American Hustle," in which Bradley Cooper played an agent based on Good and others.” 

So, as the investigation continues, it’s apparent that knowledgeable people having a great degree of influence are paying close attention to the proceedings. Which means that, until they are satisfied that every proper step has been taken, they are not going to simply sit back and accept questionable results. Making a White House/Justice Department whitewash all that more difficult. 

Which brings up the ongoing question again: Joe Biden, Mayor Bloomberg, Jerry Brown, and Starbuck’s chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz, are you guys reading this?  

That’s it for today folks.    

Adios