Friday, April 22, 2011

Barker's Newsbites: Friday, April 22, 2011


Getting psyched for the annual "Memorial Day Week" holiday trip to Charleston to see Pat, Vicki, and the boys!
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5 comments:

William R. Barker said...

http://blog.heritage.org/2011/04/21/morning-bell-time-to-make-cuts-in-the-department-of-energy/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Morning%2BBell

Disco, mood rings and bell-bottom pants are relics of the 1970s relegated to the dustbin of cultural history. But one product of the 70s is still going strong and growing at a rapid rate, despite America’s monstrous fiscal crisis. It’s the Department of Energy (DOE), and in the last 10 years it has seen its budget grow by over $11 billion - a staggering 76%!

If Congress wants to cut government spending, the DOE would be a good place to start.

(*NOD*)

The agency has seen its mission evolve from basic research and development to spending billions to commercialize technologies that aren’t yet viable - and might never be.

* NOT TO MENTION THAT IN AMERICA IT'S THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S JOB TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP COMMERCIAL TECHNOLOGIES!

[O]ther programs it undertakes are politically correct pet projects that have little business being supported by taxpayers.

All that spending adds up to a lot of fat - $6 billion worth - that could be cut from the DOE’s budget, according to The Heritage Foundation’s Nicolas Loris.

April 22, 2011 at 11:41 AM
William R. Barker said...

http://detnews.com/article/20110422/METRO/104220381/Critics--$2.3M-Detroit-library-project-a-symbol-of-waste-amid-budget-crisis

Detroit...

* YOU KNOW; THE AMERICAN CITY WHICH MOST RESEMBLES BERLIN IN 1945...

...Public Library officials say finances have grown so bad they could close most neighborhood branches, but in a few weeks plan to unveil a revamped wing of a main library that even administrators say spares few expenses.

* WAIT FOR IT...

The South Wing is stocked with 20 yellow and orange European lounge chairs that cost $1,092 apiece, artistic pendant light fixtures and two alcohol-burning fireplaces.

(*SARCASTIC CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)

The project morphed from a $300,000 furniture update to a $2.3 million overhaul with new floors, study rooms, lighting and built-in, wood-framed book shelves.

It's not the only spending to come under question as the system considers closing up to 18 of 23 branches...

* YEP. YOU READ THAT RIGHT! THEY'RE CONSIDERING CLOSING 18 OUT OF 23 BRANCHES!

...and laying off as many as 191 of 333 workers.

(*SIGH*)

April 22, 2011 at 11:49 AM
William R. Barker said...

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ec0_1303444048

* JUST WATCH, FOLKS... JUST WATCH...

April 22, 2011 at 12:09 PM
William R. Barker said...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53557.html

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) on Thursday announced that he is resigning his Senate seat, effective May 3...

(*SINCERE, HEARTFELT CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)

Ensign has been under investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee over whether he violated Senate rules during his affair with Cindy Hampton, a former campaign aide. Hampton’s husband, Doug Hampton, was Ensign’s deputy chief of staff during most of the extramarital relationship.

* DIRTBAG!

Hours after the Ensign news broke, the two leaders of the Senate Ethics Committee - Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) - issued a short statement saying the panel “has worked diligently for 22 months on this matter and will complete its work in a timely fashion.

* AND SPEAKING OF INCOMPETENTS... 22 MONTHS...?!?! 22 MONTHS AND THEY'RE STILL NOT FINISHED...?!?!

Ensign has become an outcast within his own party since the scandal broke in mid-2009, and many of his colleagues are privately happy to see him go.

* WELL THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR AT LEAST... (*NOD*)

April 22, 2011 at 12:09 PM
William R. Barker said...

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2011/04/22/earth-day-ends-obamas-53300-gallon-trip

President Obama declared today's 41st annual Earth Day proof of America's ecological and conservation spirit—then completed a three-day campaign-style trip logging 10,666 miles on Air Force One, eating up some 53,300 gallons at a cost of about $180,000. (And that doesn't include the fuel consumption of his helicopter, limo, or the 29 other vehicles that travel with that car.)

(*SARCASTIC CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)

During his trip, Obama's 30-car motorcade was used to carry him to events.

(*MORE SARCASTIC CLAPPING*)

In his Earth Day proclamation, Obama said that international and local action is needed to preserve resources and keep the air clean.

(*GUFFAW*)

April 22, 2011 at 6:42 PM

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