BloggeRhythms 4/16/2013

My thought for today was to simply express my sympathies for all those harmed by the cowardly miscreants in Boston and then sign off. Waiting till later on, when the actual details were learned, before making any kind of further comment seemed the proper approach whereas at this point, there’s nothing of value I could possibly add to the massive coverage already taking place. 

 

Then, although I intended to go no further than the preceding today, I scanned the Drudge site, simply to catch up on current updates and found one of the most disgusting items I’ve seen in many, many years now from none other than that trash barrel Barney Frank.

 

Using the tragedy to push his party's tax and spend agenda, which is breaking the financial back of the nation, he told an Interviewer on CNN, via The Weekly Standard, that: "I'm glad you raised that, because it gives me a chance to make a point I've felt strongly about. In this terrible situation, let's be very grateful that we had a well-funded, functioning government. It is very fashionable in America, and has been for some time to criticize government, belittle public employees, talk about their pensions, talk about what people think ... of [their] health care. Here we saw government in two ways perform very well. ... I never was as a member of Congress one of the cheerleaders for less government, lower taxes. No tax cut would have helped us deal with this or will help us recover. This is very expensive."

 

So, here we are on the day after this horrible tragedy, still not knowing what actually took place. Nor do we know who perpetrated the crimes. We also saw government workers do the jobs they’re supposed to, along with citizens who did their best as well. Yet, this windbag Frank jumped right in with both feet to promote more government and higher taxes, using the victims in Boston to bolster his case. Now, I obviously don’t know what you think, but to me this poor excuse for a human is lower than dirt.

 

In conclusion, as I said at the start, I had no intention of doing anything other than expressing my grief today, but Frank’s politicizing this tragedy obviously angered me into typing. However, there is one small thing we can be thankful for, which is that the voters know who this guy is too, and that’s why he’s now ex-congressman Frank.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/15/2013

By now, I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that commodity markets are plunging everywhere on the globe. Panic’s set in and that’s likely because, although you can find “expert” opinions all over the place, nobody really has a handle on the cause for the plummeting prices. Gold, the safety standard for investors dropped to a 30 year low. 

 

Most interesting to me is that there seems to be some real agreement that China’s economy may have peaked, many also believing that Cyprus will wind up falling short of reaching the investment guarantee floor needed to support its loans from the EU.

 

There’s also the thought that Cyprus may sell off gold to meet the required loan guarantee, which some perceive as a move toward flooding the market.

 

I find this all noteworthy because it typifies some very big flaws in the efforts toward economic globalization, where nations and businesses invest enormous sums in locations they really know nothing about, likely will never learn very much either, due to vast cultural differences, and have little to no recourse when things turn for the worse in foreign lands.

 

Add to that the incumbent’s desires to have our nation look more like Europe, where most economies have more holes than Swiss cheese, and it becomes clearer as to why all we do lately is pile up insurmountable debt and have no clear path of any kind to recovery, growth or financial stability. All of which seems the probable cause of the following:

 

According to a new survey by Pew Research Center: “Overall, 63% [polled] say they have a favorable opinion of their local government, virtually unchanged over recent years. And 57% express a favorable view of their state government – a five-point uptick from last year. By contrast, just 28% rate the federal government in Washington favorably. That is down five points from a year ago and the lowest percentage ever in a Pew Research Center poll.

 

So, it seems that folks are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and finally realizing that it really is another train. Because there’s just about nothing this administration does that helps anyone economically other than the locations where the First Family goes on it’s frequent trips, a huge portion of which are paid for by those very same taxpayers who are getting ripped off tax-wise everywhere they look.

 

Thus, when you combine the administration’s ineptitude here at home with the increasingly dismal international news overseas, realizing that the incumbent has a seemingly insatiable need to travel, I have to wonder where on the globe he can go and feel welcome at all.

 

So, perhaps this’ll be the first First Family to visit the International Space Station and like astronaut Allan Shepard did on the moon, maybe the incumbent can hit a golf ball miles and miles and miles and make believe he finally did something to be proud of.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/14/2013

Browsing on a very dull day for news, I came across an article from CBS St. Louis/AP via Drudge, headed “Study Reveals Global Warming Not To Blame For Last Year’s Crippling Drought.”

 

I found the information interesting because the study was conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Drought Task Force, a federal unit and not some fringe anti-global warming group seeking headlines.

 

As far as the drought itself was concerned “Researchers focused on six states – Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri and Iowa – but the drought spread much farther and eventually included nearly two-thirds of the Lower 48 states. For the six states, the drought was the worst four-month period for lack of rainfall since records started being kept in 1895.”

 

To me, however, the most important comment came from Martin Hoerling, a research meteorologist at NOAA, who said “This is one of those events that comes along once every couple hundreds of years. Climate change was not a significant part, if any, of the event.”

 

So, here we have one more proof that the weather’s been fluctuating in cycles as it's done for millennium's and it’s “global warming” advocates that are continually full of hot air, not the climate.

 

While I have no real expectation of any change of direction from the administration that’s been bought and paid for by global warming frauds and phonies, perhaps now the voting public will take notice of the truth and begin to accept the factual data.

 

And if they do, then the costs of food, fuel, clothing and even vehicles themselves will finally reduce to levels where they actually belong. Because all of us are presently paying through the nose for a total climate fabrication that doesn't exist now and never, ever, did at all before.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/13/2013

The good news for the left is that so few of their constituents seem to ever digest and/or analyze hard information or facts, accepting instead the constant stream of patently false information, political hype and pure verbal smoke foisted upon them by charlatans, fabricators, and glib empty suits holding office.

 

Now perhaps that’s because those constituents have better things to do with their time than deal with reality. Or maybe, the political fiction sounds better to them than truth’s, making them feel good about themselves. Or perhaps, it’s simply due to the current state of U.S. education where very few read very well, or aren’t taught to grasp data presented that takes reasonable knowledge, analytical capability or understanding of even the most basic math. 

 

However, despite their grandiose rhetoric, one of the problems leftist politico’s have, is that whether their constituency takes them to task or not, reality most often refutes and discloses the huge double-standard employed by those at the Dem party’s top, as evidenced today as follows:

 

According to Susan Crabtree, of The Washington Times, “Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, took in $26,400 in 2012 by renting a cottage on the property of their Delaware home to the Secret Service, tax records released by the White House revealed, netting $17,944 of that rental money.”

 

Then, much like the Clinton’s who took every personal advantage imaginable of tax law, the Biden’s “also donated $2,000 worth of household items to Goodwill and the Ministry of Caring, a Wilmington-based nonprofit serving the poor and homeless. [they] listed donations of clothing, boots, kitchenware, glassware, bicycles, toys, pottery and kitchenware to Goodwill and furniture and exercise equipment to The Ministry of Caring.”

 

As far as the incumbent and spouse go, Corey Boyles of The Wall Street Journal on-line reports that “President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama paid $112,214 in federal income taxes in 2012 on adjusted gross income of $608,611, an effective rate of 18.4%, the White House said Friday. 

 

The first family's income declined from the $789,674 in adjusted gross income they reported in 2011. That year they paid total federal taxes of $162,074, an effective rate of 20.5%.

 

So, here we have this pair of “leaders" screaming daily about how the “rich” need to contribute more in  taxes to make things fair, while they themselves are in the top tier income-wise and use the very same tax laws to minimize exposure.

 

Now, don’t get me wrong here. Because I’m certainly not saying these folks shouldn’t take every lawful advantage that’s open to them tax-wise. I couldn’t care less about how or what they report. But, at the same time, I think these hypocrites should leave everyone else alone who makes a few bucks and just shut up and move on to another subject. 

 

Along the same line of political simple-mindedness and taxation, the nation’s contribution to the UN is now just under $7.7 billion dollars. 

 

So, while sequestration issues are cutting budgets, trimming defenses and preventing citizen’s from touring the house they pay for and own at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW in Washington, DC, this worthless organization in Manhattan is draining all those bucks for no valid reason. 

 

Thus, it’s well past the time to drop out of this waste of time and funds and put those dollars where they might actually do some good, like back in taxpayer’s pockets and our own economy. However, deciding to to that would take some administrative intellect and thought, both of which are very seriously lacking in D.C. right now.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/12/2013

The more news and current events I read, the more I’m able to grasp the differences between people who lead “traditional” lives as opposed to pure politicians.

 

I think for most folks having a sense of what’s become known as living the American Dream, there’s a fundamental belief that hard work, dedication, ingenuity, and a continual striving for self-improvement tends to lead to rewarding results, both personally and economically.

 

And then there’s the completely opposite mind-set of office-holder's who do and know absolutely nothing productive, yet feel that they somehow or other are experts on subjects they know less than nothing about. 

 

This morning, watching Fox News, I was reminded again of that great disparity between those who produce the funds and wherewithal that permit our nation to function, as opposed to those who not only add nothing worthwhile, but also muddy the lives of those who do. 

 

The mind jolt came from an item regarding Deborah "Debbie" Wasserman Schultz who’s the U.S. Representative for Florida's 23rd congressional district, a member of the Democratic Party and the Chair of the Democratic National Committee. She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. 

 

She was mentioned because of her whining in Congress last week that due to the high cost of good restaurant food in D.C., her poor “underpaid” staff can’t afford a good meal. And although, I brought her comment up then because it’s so ludicrous, this time I looked her background up whereas I was curious about how someone could be so obtuse about the miserable state our whole economy’s in, primarily due to her party’s fiscal mismanagement.

 

What I found on Wikipedia came as no surprise because although different schools are involved, she has the same background as the incumbent. In both cases, as holds true for many of today’s politicians, neither one has  an iota of real world experience, neither has ever actually earned a quarter, both are up to their elbows in taxpayers pockets, and both continually spout gibberish all day long as if their dribble has some kind of value.

 

In this Wasserman’s case, according to the bio I read, “She received a Bachelor of Arts in 1988 and a Master of Arts with certificate in political campaigning in 1990, both in Political Science, from the University of Florida in Gainesville.

 

At the University of Florida, [she] was active in student government, serving as President of the Student Senate as well as founder and president of the Rawlings Area Council Government. She was also a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, the James C. Grimm chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary, and the union Graduate Assistants United, served as President of the Graduate Student council, and Vice President of the UF College Democrats. She had credited her experience in student politics with developing her "love for politics and the political process.      

 

So, here we have someone holding office and sounding like her staff’s suffering from malnutrition, while I think the discussion should be reversed. Because, first and foremost, what on earth does her “staff” do and why does she need them at all? As I recall, for the Founding Fathers, governance was not only a part time job, they covered the costs themselves.

 

Consequently, maybe the best thing this Wasserman babe ought to do is go out and find a real job, learn how the economy actually works and then come back fifteen or twenty years from now possessing some valid knowledge. Because expressing her opinion right now on things she obviously knows less than nothing about makes her sound like an absolute moron. And for me, until she catches up with the real world, it’s simply too soon to tell if she truly is one or not.

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/11/2013

There's been much talk the last few days about the incumbent finally producing a budget for 2014, although he’s not done that before despite the requirement that he do so by law.

 

I mention it because in keeping with his continued vendetta against the “rich,” the $3.778 trillion spending plan calls for about $1 trillion in tax increases over 10 years and higher spending on programs such as education, transportation and mental-health services.

 

He included an offer to slow entitlement growth by employing an adjusted formula for calculating future increases in Social Security allotments, but that’s conditioned on lawmakers agreeing to higher taxes, such as new limits on tax breaks claimed by wealthier Americans.

 

After reading the preceding, wondering once again why his deep-seated hatred of the successful exists, I researched the data on who pays most of the taxes now.

 

According to Richard Morrison of the Tax Foundation, “In 2010, the top 1 percent of tax returns included 18.87 percent of all adjusted gross income and 37.38 percent of all federal individual income taxes paid. The top 5 percent earned 33.78 percent of income and paid 59.07 percent of taxes, and the top 10 percent earned 45.17 percent of income and paid 70.62 percent of taxes.”

So, at the moment, before any new regulations are enacted, the top ten percent already carry 70 percent of the burden and will soon be paying even more. All of which makes me wonder what these people ever did to harm the huge portion of the population they already almost fully support.

It also makes me wonder why those who would obviously be in dire financial straits without those who pay their bills take every measure to keep them from being able to continue to do so. The premise is so infantilely moronic it underlines the fact that today’s educational system is worthless. Because folks that believe that punishing their sources of income and benefits are too dumb to walk and chew gum simultaneously.

Along the same lines, I saw a guy on CNBC's Squawk Box this morning whose name I didn’t catch, but he’s an expert in finance. And, according to him, echoed by host Joe Kernen, there are now almost two trillion dollars parked overseas by companies and investors who won’t bring the money back here because of high taxes and penalties imposed when they do.

So, while all that money that’s dearly needed to help stimulate our sagging economy is sitting idle in foreign banks, the reason the government won’t ease their position and try to help bring it back is so economically upside down you have to wonder who in the world could be dumb enough to dream it up. 

However, the reason is: The administration believes that the corporations would use some of those funds for dividends to stockholders and not employ it for the economic benefit of all, which is why they want to take it from those who earned it and redistribute it via taxation. 

Now –as Joe Kernan pointed out- the folks who'd receive those funds aren't stupid. And once the money got back here, even if was distributed as dividends and the like,  it wouldn’t simply be stuffed in mattresses, it would be put to work in our economy so it would grow some more.

But, as I’ve been noting for years now, there’s a reason for our economy being in the miserable shape it’s in. And the major cause stems right from the top, whereas it’s been proven time and time again that socialism simply doesn’t work and can’t.

Which brings me right back to Margaret Thatcher whose words are again well worth repeating: “Eventually, Socialists run out of other peoples' money." And, as we’re seeing every day, right here, right now -her observation was unequivocally correct back then, still holds true today, and always will.

That’s it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/10/2013

As most readers likely already know, 14 people were hurt Tuesday  at Lone Star College in Cypress, Texas, apparently stabbed in a spree carried out by a student.

 

With all due respect for the victims, and heartfelt hopes for full recoveries, I think it’s not too soon to begin contemplating what this bodes for the futures of many others.

 

First and foremost, for example, what will this mean for meat lovers across the nation? Because I‘ve no doubt that Diane Feinstein, Mayor Bloomberg and the incumbent himself, along with brigades of Dem politicos, will now demand a ban on sharp knives.

 

Soon after that, the restaurant business will alter when places like The Palm, Ruth Christ’s and Outback steakhouses close their doors, leaving the market wide open for pasta and pizza joints, or wherever else customers don’t have to cut their food.

 

Along the same lines, new markets will probably open for company’s such as Gerber Baby food, who can then add products liked pre-cut meats, strained adult entrees and even perhaps, pre-chewed filet mignon.

 

Then of course, there are manufacturers and sellers of silver and flatware, who will now offer only sets of forks and spoons once blades become verboten.

 

The list can go and on, but by now, I’m certain you get my drift.

 

And the most tragic part of it all is that what these self-serving pond scum in office have done is create an environment where when almost anything tragic happens at all, the first thing they think of is how it can be used to benefit them and/or their cause regardless of whoever else it harms.

 

That's it for today folks.

 

Adios