BloggeRhythms

The AP reports that on Monday, the Senate “approved President Obama's nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy to serve as U.S. surgeon general."

 

He’s worth mentioning because his approval is one of the last chances Democrats have for pushing their agenda before the Republicans take control of the Senate month.

 

The doctor’s most well known for co-founding Doctors for America, a group that has pushed for affordable health care and supports Obama's health care law as well as his support for gun control and past statements that gun violence is a public health issue.

 

That caused Senator John Barrasso, R-Wyo., to say that “most of Murthy's career has been spent as an activist focused on gun control and other political issues, rather than on treating patients. "Americans don't want a surgeon general who might use this position of trust to promote his own personal campaign against the Second Amendment of the Constitution."

 

Therefore, it seems very likely that his tenure will be one of the shortest on record. Because when Republicans gain the Senate majority, this guy will probably be tossed out in a heartbeat.

 

On another issue, it seems that Jeb Bush has decided to run for president in 2016. Today, he announced formation of an exploratory committee organized to assess his chances of success.

 

What's most interesting, however, is the immediate knee-jerk reaction of many who feel he isn’t “conservative” enough, making them clamor for someone else more in line with their beliefs. 

 

In that regard, one Republican whose name I didn’t catch, told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News this morning that when conservatives actually review Jeb’s record in Florida, and how well he performed as governor, they'll soon realize that if they truly want the White House, he’s an excellent choice.

 

Nonetheless, the comments following an article on Drudge were quite solidly against Jeb, many calling him a RINO, and grumbling that they wouldn’t cast votes for him or would rather support a third-party candidate should he eventually win the presidential nomination. Which led me to research the following information.

 

While the unquestioned idol of conservatives that ran for president, whereas William F. Buckley never did, was Ronald Reagan by far. And even today he is recognized by them as the paramount leader, lionized by Rush almost daily. However, President Reagan clearly knew what was called for to get his job done realistically above all else.

 

That point is proven in an article by Amy Gutmann, President and Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania who write about the “Tax Reform Act of 1986  a bipartisan compromise, forged with the support of President Reagan, Democratic House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, and later with the help of Republican Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Bob Packwood and Democrat Bill Bradley.”

 

So, what these hard-line conservatives ought to consider is that in order to gain ground toward fulfilling their hopes and ideals, they first have to find a candidate who’s electable to begin with. And the firmer they stand in demanding that their every wish be met by a presidential candidate, the more they insure victory for whichever Democrat runs for the office.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

Much press attention is still directed toward Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren, and whether or not the hard-line leftist will disrupt the anointment of Bill Clinton’s wife’s run for the presidency by running herself. At this point, chances are quite high that she will.

 

What’s more, the way that undercurrents of support from those feeling that a new face is needed, including the incumbent president, Bill’s wife current lead in most polls will likely shrink quite rapidly once another contender enters the contest.

 

Another story getting headlines is the rapidly declining price of oil, mainly due to US production and fracking technology. Among the benefits is more consumer spending on other items, driving sales on food, clothing, entertainment, and even rent.

 

On the other hand, there are losers as well such as OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, Venezuela and perhaps, even the Keystone pipeline which may no longer be critically needed.

 

The UK too, is seeing benefits, as noted by Tom Bawden, Environment Editor of the independent.co.uk, who writes that, “The collapsing oil price that is reshaping the global economy could derail the green energy revolution by making renewable power sources prohibitively bad value, experts have warned.

 

“A new “era of cheap oil” would be good news for consumers and motorists – but analysts say the consequences for politics, industry and the climate could be even more radical.”

 

What was most interesting, however, were comments following the article in which well-informed readers illustrated serious negative side-affects of alternative energy that the mainstream press never, ever, talks about, as follows:  

 

HappyCamper  writes, “Wonderful! All those windmills are slowing average wind speeds and contributing to solar soil heating, killing microorganisms in the soil while spurring vertical air currents which toss dust and heat far into the atmosphere. Meanwhile solar panels shield other parts of the surface, causing catastrophic changes to microclimate that threaten fauna beneath them.”

 

And then, Maud St James pointed something out that also never gets mentioned, but makes far more sense than any negativity I’ve ever read, regarding the viability of alternative energy.

 

“Good! It's about time. Green energy has been nothing but a boondoggle that kills birds by the thousands (and where are the environmentalists?), steals from the taxpayers and enriches the political elite and their cronies. If green energy were good and viable, private enterprise would have perfected it long ago.”

 

And there you have it. Because while environmentalists tend to make lots of waves, the vast majority seem dedicated to their cause out of personal belief and genuine concern about their surroundings, whether valid or not. 

 

At the same time, a few, such as AlGore and Tom Steyer have found ways to enrich themselves via the issue itself. 

 

But where reader, Maud St James, truly confirms that there’s little truth to the subject for just about all the others is that, if there was any value at all to green energy production whatsoever, private market entrepreneurs would have already built those businesses a long time ago.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

Senator Diane Feinstein’s broadside attack on the CIA and its methods for questioning terrorist captives continues to fester. Rebuttals illustrate, however, that her recent release of a report claiming prisoner abuse was not only a reversal of her former acquiescence to the methods employed, but the tactic was also well known to other high-profile Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi and Jay Rockefeller.

 

In that regard, on December 5th Jose A. Rodriguez Jr a 31-year veteran of the CIA, and author of “Hard Measures: How Aggressive CIA Actions After 9/11 Saved American Lives,” wrote a column in the Washington Post which included his noting that, “The men and women of my former organization, the CIA, are accustomed to frequent and sudden reversals of direction from their political leaders. But the latest twists and turns are especially dramatic.”

 

The article reveals some very interesting information about what the CIA has to deal with from Congressional members, so here’s a link: 

  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/todays-cia-critics-once-urged-the-agency-to-do-anything-to-fight-al-qaeda/2014/12/05/ac418da2-7bda-11e4-84d4-7c896b90abdc_story.html

 

Which brings us to Senator Elizabeth Warren, who threatened blocking passage of the just passed spending bill whereas she and many other liberal Democrats expressed deep reservations about the legislation. Largely over a provision in the measure reversing a rule in the “Dodd-Frank” financial regulation law.

 

She led the charge against the bill, telling reporters Wednesday “there are some things that are so reckless and fundamentally wrong that we have to stand up and say no.”

In this case, her positions noteworthy because of the history of the law, and why it was drafted to begin with.

The US financial crisis began when the housing market boomed due to laxing of credit criteria for people seeking home mortgages. Funds became so easily available that lenders ran out of credit-worthy people to buy homes or take out a third mortgage or home equity loan. 

 

Credit-easing produced mega-profits for small banks, mortgage originators, real estate companies, investment banks and hedge funds. But when those markets began to fizzle out, thanks to U.S. taxpayer’s guarantee on all Freddie and Fannie mortgages, the world’s banks and super-rich concocted a scheme to keep the record profits coming in: sub-prime lending.

Which brings us to Senator Warren who either forgets, or overlooks, that the financial market and eventually, entire US economy collapse was not only caused by Democrats to begin with, but even involved the incumbent president himself. 

His association with the financial debacle began in 1991, 23 years ago when he took time off from his law firm to run a voter-registration drive for Project Vote, an Acorn partner that was soon fully absorbed under the Acorn umbrella.

By registering 135,000 voters, it was considered a major factor in the upset victory of Democrat Carol Moseley Braun over incumbent Democratic Senator Alan Dixon in the 1992 Democratic Senate primary. 

The key point, though, was Acorn’s reputation because they were most well-known for thug tactics, fraudulent voter registrations, and its role in popularizing risky subprime lending which is why Dodd Frank regulation was needed in the first place.

Therefore, what today’s items illustrate clearly is that while Democrat politicians claim to be on the virtuous side of all issues, while Republican rivals are painted as despicable, self-serving, elitist mercenaries, most of the nation’s problems, including the CIA’s prisoner treatment and banking debacle, involve Democrat leadership up to its eyeballs.

That’s it for today folks.

Adios  

BloggeRhythms

People on both sides of the soon to be passed “Cromnibus” $1.1 trillion spending bill are beside themselves. Upset because they believe their party’s have sold out to the other side. 

 

Liberal Democrats, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren are incensed whereas they feel their party has acquiesced to Wall Street, abandoning basic anti-capitalist leftist tenets. Conservative Republicans think that funding of the health care tax should be curtailed, even if that forces a government shutdown.

 

The situation became so intense that John Boehner was forced to align with the president to garner enough votes for passage in the House. And, as a result, Speaker Boehner may very  well prove to be the most level-headed individual in this situation, and in the long run attain most, if not all, of his party’s objectives calmly, coolly and highly professionally.

 

If nothing else, the Speaker understands better than most that any government shutdown, even if it’s clearly the right thing to do for the nation, will be employed by the media as a tool to incite a significant percentage of voters against Republicans. 

 

On the other hand, when Elizabeth Warren expressed deep reservations about the bill, largely over a provision reversing a rule in the “Dodd-Frank” financial regulation law, she was actually threatening a government shutdown if needed. She even told reporters Wednesday “there are some things that are so reckless and fundamentally wrong that we have to stand up and say no.”

 

But, since in her case the press would have fully supported her anti-capitalist actions, Speaker Boehner understands that you have to play the hand you’ve been dealt. Which means that for now, he has to curtail many of his plans for the future, whether its defunding the health care tax, sealing the border, or trimming the power of the EPA for starters. 

 

However, in January , only six weeks away, the whole ballgame changes. Which is when Republicans will really find out what Speaker Boehner’s all about. 

 

Along the same lines, Chris Stirewalt posted an item on Thursday illustrating an example of what the Congressional power shift means, as follows:

 

“As Obama’s time winds down, it’s obvious the members of his party are thinking about the future.

 

“And it comes as we watch Senate Republicans debate whether to undo the “nuclear option” rule change Democrats enacted this year to allow the president to pack courts and federal agencies with simple-majority confirmations. Every indication is that Republicans will not turn back and restore clout to the party in minority. The lesson about the next presidency is clear, giving liberals lots to worry about. What would the next president do with a precedent such as this? What could President Hillary Clinton do for Wall Street? What could President Ted Cruz do to the tax code?”

 

And then, Mr. Stirewalt’s conclusion really slammed the point home. 

 

“As his time comes to an end, Obama Democrats should remember how they built so many excuses for so many years on the basis of “But Bush did…” They ought to get ready to hear a million times more “but Obama did…”

 

Which goes to illustrate clearly the axiom that what goes comes round, sooner or later. And that in good time there will be numerous cases of legislative reversal. But what Speaker Boehner obviously understands more clearly than many others in his party is that well thought out remedies are far more effective and sensible than knee-jerk, childish reactions.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

A variety of articles today illustrate that the upcoming year should be quite interesting in politics, and especially for resurging Republicans.

 

One came from Rush, wherein the subject was immigration but the verbiage shows that the incumbent president is acutely aware of all that goes on around him. Although he usually claims to know nothing about anything even remotely negative, thereby dodging responsibility and confrontation, as follows:  

 

“During a town hall event in Nashville to discuss immigration reform, Obama admitted that there are many Americans were angry about his actions."

 

Therefore, Rush explained, “Obama admitted that there were 'good people who actually believe in immigration' but were 'concerned about rewarding somebody who broke American laws,'" and yada yada yada.

 

However, there was more to the incumbent’s comment than simply an admission of awareness regarding citizen’s opinions. Because most often when talking about immigration he talks about amnesty for people he believes deserve it. But he never discusses specifics of the law itself, and the fact that illegals are blatantly breaking it.

 

Nonetheless, his comment proves he’s obviously fully aware of his abetting criminal activity and simply doesn’t care about the legalities involved. 

 

On another matter, Senator Feinstein’s attack on the CIA is getting considerable blowback from many who believe the agency has been critically valuable in the nation’s fight against terrorism, including former Vice President, Dick Cheney.

 

Many perceive the damning report as a personal reaction to her perception of being slighted by the agency’s directorship, even though those directors might have taken proper actions. Yet, they cannot really respond sufficiently in their own defense, because doing so might disclose information critical to the defense of the nation.    

 

However, there’s a reason we haven’t been seriously attacked again since 9/11, while several attempts have been foiled. Which means that perhaps the Senator ought to have taken the nation’s safety further into consideration before politicizing her personal animosities toward those involved in protecting our population, and the damage that might very well result.

 

And then there’s this item from the climate meetings in Peru where, US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Thursday of climate "tragedy" if quarrelling derails a global pact against global warming.

 

Kerry said, “But the fact is we simply don't have time to sit around, going back and forth about whose responsibility it is to act.

 

And, from Kerry’s position, he’s absolutely right. Because, in less than two months there’s going to be a new Congress in the US which will take a totally different view on climate change.

 

First and foremost, Republicans understand that climate hasn’t changed in the past eighteen years. They also know that man has little, or nothing at all, to do with climatic trends or events. And, most importantly, they grasp the fact that the EPA is a major factor in the entire economy's stagnation. 

 

But even worse for Kerry and AlGore, oil now costs less than $60 a barrel and will sink lower, eliminating the need for the Keystone pipeline. Meanwhile, advancing technology will drive prices lower. And in the meantime, Mitch McConnell who’s from coal country’s heartland is going to have a major voice in the Senate as its leader.

 

Which means that all the environmentalist whacko’s can scream all they want to against dangers to the nation wrought by carbon. But the combination of rational legislation, reduced regulation, a growing economy and Mother Nature aren’t going to induce many rational people to listen to them.

 

And finally. According to Daniel Halper on weeklystandard.com, “A group of more than 300 hundred former Obama staffers have written an open letter urging Elizabeth Warren to run for president of the United States. "We helped elect Barack Obama — now we’re calling on Elizabeth Warren to run in 2016," the letter is titled.”

 

So, once again, it looks like the best laid plans of the Clinton’s may have just had another monkey wrench tossed into their path. 

 

Yet, even though Ms Warren is the beneficiary of the staffer’s actions, the real winner is whoever the Republican candidate turns out to be. Because while Bill Clinton’s aging wife and the leftist extremist duke it out for their party’s presidential nomination, shredding its unity, any Republican will win the presidential election quite handily from either of them.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

Yesterday, Senator Diane Feinstein of California demonstrated clearly why politicians should not be allowed to make decisions on situations beyond their acumen, capabilities and intellect.

 

In a fit of personal animosity toward the CIA, which she apparently believes slights her, she released information potentially damaging to the nation and its future safety from attack by enemies. As head of the senate intelligence panel, she ordered the release of a report that the CIA employed techniques that, in some cases, amounted to "torture."

 

What was most interesting is that the senator doesn’t seem to understand that things changed dramatically on September 11, 2001 when terrorists flew hijacked planes into the World Trade Center towers in NYC, killing more than 3000 U.S. citizens. Furthermore, had it not been for the passengers and crew of Flight 93, who stopped the terrorists on board from reaching their target, that aircraft was likely bound for destroying the White House.

 

In retort, former Vice President, Dick Cheney, appeared on Fox News' “Special Report with Bret Baier last evening to provide his input on dealing with terrorists which was extremely insightful, whereas he was the one making the most serious decisions during the attack.

 

Mr. Cheney “slammed the recently released Senate report on CIA interrogation techniques Wednesday, calling it “full of crap,” and a “terrible piece of work” that was “deeply flawed.” What’s was more, he said some of the controversial techniques used on militants had been previously tested and the interrogations produced results.

 

While, “Cheney acknowledged he had not read the entire 500-page report summary. He strongly defended the tactics, including waterboarding and rectal hydration.” And then asked the most important question: “What are you prepared to do to get the truth against future attacks against the United States?” 

 

It would be interesting, although probably worthless, to hear Senator Feinstein’s answer to that one.

 

On another issue, dailycaller.com posted an article by Myron Ebell, Director of Global Warming and International Environmental Policy, CEI regarding AlGore’s arrival at COP-20 (The 20th session of the Conference of the Parties) hosted by the Government of Peru, in Lima. 

 

According to Mr. Ebell, Gore presented one of the opening speeches at an all-day conference put on by the Chinese delegation on Making the Future of Cities Green. 

 

“The former U. S. Vice President arrived early, but did not start speaking until 1:30. That may be because there weren’t many people in the very large room.  By the time he began to speak, perhaps half the seats were occupied. More people came as he continued talking. At the end, he got a polite round of applause. Such are the indignities of being a former movie star.”

 

So, what this indicates is that people everywhere are likely tiring of hearing about climate change that’s been predicted for the past eighteen years, but hasn’t happened yet and most likely won’t according to many top-rung scientists.

 

But, even more importantly, with the price of fossil fuel falling through the floor, nobody with an IQ higher than their shoe size will now have an iota of interest in any kind of alternative energy. Because it doesn’t work effectively and its costs are prohibitive, making it significantly undesirable.

 

That's it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms

Several news items today, when put together, form a very clear picture of an administration falling apart at the seams. Because, no matter the issue, just about every belief, decision, and step taken has been absolutely incorrect.

 

Fox News.com reports that: “The IRS paid more than $6 billion in child tax credits in 2013 to people who were not eligible to receive them, a government watchdog said Tuesday.

 

“Payments went to families that mistakenly claimed the tax credit or claimed the wrong amount, as well as taxpayers who committed fraud, according to an audit by J. Russell George, the Treasury inspector general for tax administration.”

 

“The 2009 economic stimulus package temporarily expanded the credit to more families that don't make enough money to pay federal income tax.” The credit expires at the end of 2017.

 

While these families receive $1,000-per-child credit in the form of a tax refund, the IRS has said the risk is low for improper payments related to the child tax credit. However, “The report says that assessment is incorrect.”

 

As an excuse, the IRS said, budget cuts are hurting compliance efforts because, "funding limitations severely hamper our efforts on these and other compliance areas. Since 2010, the IRS budget has been reduced by $850 million and we have 13,000 fewer employees."

 

“Earlier this year, the IRS said fewer agents are auditing tax returns than at any time since at least the 1980s,” while, “More than 36 million families claimed about $57 billion in child tax credits in 2013, according to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation.”

 

Another article regarding the IRS reports that, “Aside from overseeing non-tax issues like disbursement of welfare payments and regulating political speech, the agency is doubled over trying to implement the long-delayed but most cumbersome parts of ObamaCare. While the Obama administration has so far successfully blocked efforts to punish those responsible for targeting the president’s political enemies, if Republicans get the presidency in 2016 you can expect a thorough scouring.”

 

Therefore, an understaffed, poorly managed, ill-run agency that managed to misappropriate $6 billion in taxpayer’s money is now also responsible for overseeing the president’s healthcare tax. Which means that future errors will not only reduce the quality of health care but cost untold billions on top of that. 

 

At the same time, according to washingtontimes.com, “Secretary of State, John F. Kerry, told Congress Tuesday that President Obama wants expansive war powers to pursue the Islamic State terrorists wherever and however he deems necessary, stunning lawmakers by requesting a war authorization that would even allow the Pentagon to commit American combat troops to the fight.”

 

Kerry went on, “Though Mr. Obama doesn’t want combat troops, he won’t have Congress tie his hands against unforeseen directions the war could take should the Islamic State evolve, expand its fight to other countries or prove more difficult to rout.

 

The key point, though, is that, “Lawmakers had hoped Mr. Obama, who won the presidency in 2008 in part due to his opposition to the Iraq War, would support strict limits. But Mr. Kerry said they don’t want to see them written into law.”

 

Therefore, after totally mishandling the nation’s hard-fought gains in the Middle-East, abandoning the accomplishments completely for political purposes, the U.S. is not only right back where it started militarily, but now having to pay for it all over again with treasure and, now likely, combat troops.

 

As far as treasure is concerned, telegraph.co.uk’s  Ambrose Evans-Pritchard writes that, “Bank of America said the oil price crash is worth $1 trillion of stimulus for the global economy, equal to a $730bn “tax cut” in 2015.” 

 

What’ more, and hugely beneficial, “If the forecast is correct, the LNG flood could have powerful political effects, giving Europe a source of mass supply that can undercut pipeline gas from Russia. Much of Europe may not need Russian gas at all within a couple of years.”

 

Which means that not only will the U.S. economy benefit, as will the rest of the free world, Russia will sustain considerable losses, weakening their efforts to regain power in Ukraine and elsewhere.

 

Even, the totally misguided environmentalists, who've continually led the POTUS down the wrong path for the nation, ought to be able to see the benefits from that eventuality. 

 

And lastly, an item from Rush, who said:

 

“Well, it turns out that on Friday -- two days before I appeared on Fox -- Obama appeared on Black Entertainment TV and did an interview in which he acknowledged that there has been some progress.  So now the media is saying, "Obama has responded to Limbaugh and buried Limbaugh!" Well, I didn't know what Obama said on Friday, and neither did the press.  He did the interview Friday; it wasn't released until yesterday.”

 

What’s truly amazing about this one is that all El Rushbo does is sit behind his golden microphone and talk for three hours a day, with about a zillion commercial interruptions. And yet, he’s so well-versed and influential that he gets personal attention from the POTUS who’s aided and abetted by the fawning media who didn’t even know what day the Fox show aired or what Rush said.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios