No Newsbites This Weekend

Busy weekend... plus... what's there to say?

Once again the American People are betrayed by the Dempublicans and the Republicrats.

No doubt when the final shameful deal is reached between Boehner, Obama, Reid, McConnell, and Pelosi it'll put a band-aid over the pieced artery of our economic lifeblood that will have to do till...

(*SIGH*)

...you guessed it...

(*PAUSE*)

...after the 2012 Elections.

See, folks, this way both sides can keep on talking about what they're supposedly going to do while muddying the waters about what they've actually done in such a way as to (they hope) distract blame away from incumbents of both rancid parties.

Will it work?

Well... to paraphrase intern-banger and creditably accused rapist as well as presidential pardon seller William Jefferson Clinton, it all depends upon what the meaning of "work" is.

(*SHRUG*)

You folks understand that our credit rating has already been formally downgraded by China, right? Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Western raters follow China's lead - prior to the November 2012 U.S. elections that is. (Perhaps the politicians can bribe or threaten the biggest players to hold the line... to keep up the charade... but I wouldn't count on it.)

Republicans are so damned stupid...

(*SIGH*)

They had Obama and the Dems just where they wanted them... and then... they threw it all away.

They could have kept pushing the fact that the federal government borrows 42 cents out of every dollar spent. People understand that figure. It's transferable in terms of comparison... a family bringing in $58,000 a year and spending $100,000 a year... year after year... no balancing of the family finances - let alone repaying principle on the ever growing debt - in sight.

But, no... the Republican establishment - the elites - couldn't trust that the American People would reward them for telling the truth and acting upon it.

These pieces of garbage could have called the media and the Dems on the "default" lie rather than play along and thus confuse the American People into believing the federal government doesn't take in many times the amount of revenues needed to keep current on all debt and on top of that continue sending out Social Security checks and pay for our active military and veterans.

Lie after lie after lie told by the Dems and the media and by and large... the Republicans not only didn't expose the lies, but indeed, more often than not bought into the false premise by accepting the Democrat's and media's false definition of "default."

No one called for straightening out U.S. government finances over one fiscal year, but Republicans could have insisted - with just the House in their control - on a level of spending restraint that would have over the course of four or six or eight years put our country to rights with regard to spending no more than comes in as revenues while at the same time beginning to pay down the debt.

Anyway, folks... I spent all afternoon food shopping... it's off to the pool now!

God bless...

...and tomorrow we'll pick up where we left off!

Did Peggy Noonan Visit Usually Right...?

Hey, folks... here's an interesting mystery...

Yesterday I commented - on the WSJ comment pages - on Peggy Noonan's latest inane column.

Along with my comment I left this website's address/link so that Noonan/WSJ readers could avail themselves of the opportunity to... er... learn stuff.

(*WINK*)

Funny enough, I did get one reply - a reply from an unhappy camper it seems!

Justin said...

Hey, I just read your comment on Peggy Noonan's column. Tell me...what good does it do being right if you're a smarmy jerk in the process? How do you expect to convince people? HEY EVERYBODY, I'M AN OBNOXIOUS ASSHOLE, NOW LISTEN TO HOW WRONG PEGGY NOONAN IS!!!

Come on. Do a better job with all this, or you're part of the problem.

July 29, 2011 2:35 PM

Hmm... I can't help but wonder... could "Justin" have actually been good ol' Peggy herself?

Here's why I ask: Upon checking to see if "Justin" (or anyone else) had replied to my WSJ comment page commentary concerning Ms. Noonan's Friday column I found...

(*PAUSE*)

...the comment gone!

Not only was my comment gone, but...

(*ANOTHER PAUSE*)

...there were no "Justin" comments anywhere on that particular page or indeed anywhere after the point where I had posted my comment.

I mean... you'd think that if someone was going to take the time to head on over to my blog to comment on something I had written on another site that before doing so they would initially reply to me on the site in question... wouldn't you...?

Anyway... just to further respond to "Justin's" (Peggy's?) shot...

Yep. I can be obnoxious! Damn straight...!!!

I prefer to think of it as "caustic wit," but, hey... "obnoxious" is fair enough. Guilty as charged!

(*HUGE FRIGG'N GRIN*)

As to Peggy's (er... I mean "Justin's") question of "What good does it do to be right..."

Well... for me... being right is its own reward - indeed "being right" is my purpose in hosting this blog and indeed in my commentary whenever and wherever!

As to "convincing" people...

(*SMIRK*) (*SNORT*) (*LAUGHING OUT LOUD*)

Most people are fools - incapable of being "convinced."

And, hey... even if this weren't the case... "convincing" isn't my strong suit - being right is!

Listen... in my own "character" defense... you folks who know me (either in person or just via my writings) know that 9 times out of 10, if I'm actually being nasty... being "mean"... it's not simply because someone is disagreeing with me or not "getting" my point. Nope. I have plenty of patience with sincere and reasonable disagreement.

What sets me off is if someone snarks first; and I'll really go nuclear when someone tries to lie his or her way through a debate.

Folks... whether you agree with my philosophy or not... whether you enjoy my "style" or not... the one thing no one can ever accuse me of is lying in order to "win" a debate.

If only everyone played by such rules we might have a chance of saving this country. Unfortunately... entire generations of Americans have been taught that their "views" are as sacrosanct as any mere "facts."

God help this once great nation..

Yet Another Car Rant...

Folks... it's not so much that I think I'm the smartest guy in the world as it is I know that most people - including many uber-successful people - are morons.

The latest example...

I love our new (o.k., Mary's new) Hyundai Sonata 2.0T.

(Sammie the Sonata; "Sammie T." for twin-scroll turbo!)

So Sammie's due for her first oil change - the key oil changeover from factory-filled to full synthetic.

Now I don't know about you, guys, but one of the first things I do when I buy a new car is check out the grade of oil recommended. Interestingly enough, for "Sammie T." it's recommended by Hyundai (right there in the frigg'n owner's manual - page 8/4!) that, quote:

Engine Oil (2.0 TGDI) -- For improved vehicle performance, it is recommended to use the engine of a viscosity grade SAE 5W-40.

* However... (for 2.0 TGDI)... if the engine oil is not available in your country... [SAE 5W-30 may substituted.]

So... folks... here I go to the frigg'n dealership where I bought the car... a Hyundai dealership... and along with me I bring my very own new, unopened 5-quart container of SAE 5W-40 full synthetic oil which I instruct the service advisor to tell the service technician to use.

(See, folks... that $22 worth of my own synthetic oil that I brought... they would have probably charged me an extra $60 to use "their" synthetic oil.)

Anyway... time passes... I have a couple cups of coffee and read a few newspapers... and before too long I'm told my car is all set.

As I was following the young lady to the cashiers she let me know that what I thought was a (standard) 5-quart container of oil had in fact been a 4-quart container (frigg'n product shrinkage...!!!) but of course they had supplied the remaining (near) quart of oil.

Fine! Or so I initially thought...

(*GRITTING MY TEETH*)

As I was walking towards Sammie in order to leave I was going over the receipt/work order. While they didn't charge me for the "extra" quart that they supplied, on the printout it was noted as "SAE 5W-20."

5... W... frigg'n... 20...?!?!

So I head back inside to the service desk. In my calmest, most measured tones I started off by saying, "now I know this is probably just what the computer template spits out, but..." and preceded to inquire into whether their highly trained vehicle technician had actually put the WRONG FRIGG'N OIL in Sammie.

Funny enough, one of those "highly trained vehicle technicians" was up front at the time and upon hearing my questioned popped into the conversation with, "oh... for the Sonata... yeah... we use SAE 5W-20."

Of course my reply to him was, "For the 2.4 GDI... but not for my 2.0 TGDI."

His reply? "Yeah. Sure."

Anyway, the service advisor went on the floor to ask "my" mechanic which grade he had added and he assured her that yes, he had added the same viscosity synthetic oil (SAE 5W-40) which I had myself supplied.

At this point I asked the mechanic who had joined the conversation at the service desk to just come outside with me and check my owner's manual just so he could see I wasn't crazy.

(Folks... you're not gonna believe what we found next...!!!)

Before looking at my owner's manual, the mechanic asked me to pop the hood for him so that he could "check something."

I knew what he was gonna check - the oil fill cap of course!

And GUESS WHAT folks...

You JUST GUESS WHAT that oil cap said...

It said: "SAE 5W-30"

SAE... 5... W... frigg'n 30...!!!

So folks... let's cap off this tale of incompetence...

The owner's manual says SAE 5W-40 should be used...

The factory installed oil fill cap says that SAE 5W-30 should be used...

And the factory trained Hyundai mechanics as a matter of course use 5W-20...

Folks... is it me...? Is it frigg'n me...?!?!

Folks... (*SIGH*)... ya just can't make this frigg'n $hit up!

If Your Member of Congress Isn't On This List...

Here you go, folks - the 22 real Republicans who had the courage to buck John Boehner...

Justin Amash (Michigan)
Michele Bachmann (Minnesota)
Chip Cravaack (Minnesota)
Jason Chaffetz (Utah)
Scott Desjarlais (Tennessee)
Tom Graves (Georgia)
Tim Huelskamp (Kansas)
Steve King (Iowa)
Tim Johnson (Illinois)
Tom McClintock (California)
Mick Mulvaney (South Carolina)
Ron Paul (Texas)
Connie Mack (Florida)
Jim Jordan (Ohio)
Tim Scott (South Carolina)
Paul Broun (Georgia)
Tom Latham (Iowa)
Jeff Duncan (South Carolina)
Trey Gowdy (South Carolina)
Steve Southerland (Florida)
Joe Walsh (Illinois)
Joe Wilson (South Carolina)

Again, folks... if your member of the House isn't on this list, this means your member simply can't be trusted to "walk the walk" when push comes to shove.

The Connie Mack Plan

One Percent Spending Reduction Act of 2011

Congressman Connie Mack (R-FL-14) has proposed the “One Percent Spending Reduction Act of 2011” - H.R. 1848 - which he claims will achieve a balanced federal budget beginning in 2019 by bringing federal spending down to average federal revenue over the past 30 years, which is 18% of GDP.

And from what I see, folks, I support this bill. Indeed, why limit the cuts to one percent? Why not two percent...?!

Oh... I checked the co-sponsors... of course my Congresswoman - Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19) - apparently does not support this bill as her name is absent from the list of sponsors/co-sponsors.

Oh... and just to note... yes, Boehner, Cantor, and McConnell over in the Senate all know of this bill yet none are backing it. (Draw your own conclusions...)

KEY PROVISIONS:

One Percent Spending Reduction per Year:

The Mack One Percent bill cuts total spending – mandatory and discretionary – by 1% each year for six consecutive fiscal years - beginning in fiscal year 2012.

FY 2012 – $3.382 trillion* less 1% = $3.348 trillion cap

FY 2013 – $3.348 trillion less 1% = $3.315 trillion cap

FY 2014 – $3.315 trillion less 1% = $3.282 trillion cap

FY 2015 – $3.282 trillion less 1% = $3.249 trillion cap

FY 2016 – $3.249 trillion less 1% = $3.216 trillion cap

FY 2017 – $3.216 trillion less 1% = $3.184 trillion cap

(*Congressional Budget Office March 2011 Baseline for Total Outlays minus Net Interest)

Overall Spending Cap in FY 2018 -- The bill sets an overall spending cap of 18% of GDP beginning in fiscal year 2018.

The 1% spending cuts would be achieved one of two ways: either:

1) Congress and the President would work together to enact program reforms and cut federal spending by 1% each year; or 2) If Congress and the President fail to do so, the bill triggers automatic, across-the-board spending cuts to ensure the 1% reduction is realized.

Well, folks... what do you think?

Ask yourselves, folks... if this is the first you're hearing of this bill... why is that...? How could this be...?

Just a quick question...

One soundbite that I keep on hearing about the supposed "need" to raise the Federal Debt Limit is that the new borrowing isn't needed to pay for "new" spending, but rather, it's needed to pay for money Congress has already spent.

Huh...?!?!

Folks... think about that for a moment.

If the money wasn't there... and present law says it can't be borrowed...

(Because there's a legal debt limit!)

...then how could Congress "spend" this non-existent money...???

Folks... follow me here... wouldn't doing so equate to you or I writing a bad check - deliberately?

Don't people go to jail for writing bad checks?

I'm just saying, folks...

(*SHRUG*)

The politicians and their media enablers throw out so many lies that even I can't keep them straight.

I'm just posting this as a caution never to take anything you hear, see, or read via media at face value.

Each time you hear a politician (or pundit) open his or her mouth... ask yourself... "did what I just hear make any sense at all...?"

That's it. My two-cents worth.

Barker's Newsbites: Friday, July 29, 2011

More live music last night, gang - this time "Thursday night at the Lycian" which last night featured Beach Boys cover band "Still Surfin'"

As for politics...

Well... Tea Party Republicans have managed to hold off Boehner - at least so far.

Under the leadership of Jim Jordan (R-OH-4) most members of the Republican Study Committee - the "original" House conservative's caucus - have stood firm in support of their ideals, their campaign promises, and Our agenda of cutting the size of government and therefore cutting government spending.

If only Dr. Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19) was willing put country before party...

(*SIGH*)

Here's what I suggest:

Jim Jordan, Jim DeMint, and all of the other stalwart "insider" defenders of Our America must rat out each and every faux conservative - every Boehner and McConnell yes man (or yes woman).

Folks... when you read or hear that Boehner and McConnell are "twisting arms" in order to gain support for the Boehner bill, what they mean by "twisting arms" is that they're making promises... promises to either steer (borrowed!) money into a member's district or on the flip side, deny pork.

Oh, yes, folks... there's still pork coming out of Washington...

(*RUEFUL CHUCKLE*)

I say that Jordan, DeMint, and other patriot insiders use their access to find out exactly what Boehner and McConnell are promising to various wavering members of their caucus' and publicize this information!

I know that I'd like to know if my congresswoman, Dr. Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19) has gotten any concrete... er... "remuneration" from Boehner in return for turning her back upon constituents such as myself who believed in her and supported her campaign.

I'm sure other Americans would like to know what's being promised their representatives...

(*SHRUG*)

Folks... the RINOs are back. John Boehner is a Republicrat - not a Republican. Unfortunately, certain freshmen members of the House who were elected on a platform of fiscal responsibility and constitutionalism have turned on a dime in order to pursue power under the umbrella of "loyalty to the leadership."

Folks... it's disgusting...

Folks... as I noted in an earlier post... either you're going to be part of the solution... or else you're part of the problem.

Fight, people! With your voices if that's all you have... with your money if that's your style and you're able... but fight!

This is a battle for the Soul of America... for the Survival of the Republic. This is not hyperbole, my friends, this is reality... this is the reality I outline daily via newsbites.

If you love your country than in God's name engage! Don't just stand on the sidelines!

As I often impart to my best friend, being upper-middle-class or even "first rung rich" ain't gonna protect you when the $hit hits the fan.

Billionaires... yeah... they'll be fine. Folks with hundreds of millions, even "just" scores of millions... they'll be fine. As for the affluent working class...

(*SHRUG*)

Not so much.

Have you ever heard the term "high value soft target?"

A billionaire can protect his family... a multi-millionaire can protect his family... a relatively successful professional making a few hundred grand year after year with investments and savings... I'm sorry... but that's not the kind of real wealth it takes to "set up" the next generation - let alone the grandkids one day.

I know I'm largely "preaching" to an empty "church," but even so, I'll keep at it. I have a daughter I love. One day I'll have grandchildren and hopefully I'll live long enough to enjoy my great-grandchildren.

I have nieces... I have nephews... I have Godchildren...

Folks... I'm begging you... keep in mind exactly what's at stake... who's at stake...

Barker's Newsbites: Thursday, July 28, 2011

Hey... do you folks remember the Cowsills?

Here... does that help?

Or how'bout this one...?! (By the way... one of my favorite, favorite, favorite songs - "theme" or otherwise - of all time...!)

Well, Mary, Carl, and I saw them perform live at BB King's last night; they were great...!

But, hey... isn't wasn't just them... A Fragile Tomorrow (aka: "The Nephews"; "The Boys") opened for them!

It was a great night out... (expensive... but great...)!

Nor and Ryan showed - along with Ryan's cousin; Paul and Jeannie were there... in all their glory; Cupcake Girl + Sister of Cupcake Girl + Parents of Cupcake Girl made the trip down from... er... scenic Walden, NY.

(*CHUCKLE*)

See, folks... even for Bill it ain't "politics all the time."

That said...

John Boehner is a fool and a traitor. Each and every Republican member of the House who supports Boehner in today's betrayal must be primaried.

* Carl - Get ready to write some hefty checks over the next year!

* Mary - I may be calling upon you and Ted as well.

* John H. - Stand by... I know you've sacrificed a great deal over the years in support of our ideals, but if push comes to shove you're simply going to have to step into the breach yet again.

* Frank - "The Common Sense Party" won't be able to sit this one out. You disappointed me in not challenging (and beating) Eddie... the days when men of goodwill had the luxury of refusing to combat the forces of deceit and self-interest are over. You're a father; the kids... the grandkids... you can't let 'em down, buddy.

* Nan... I can't believe you're this gullible... it's either that or I'm the one who was gullible in having taken your campaign persona as genuine.

WILLIAM R. BARKER

A Response to Dr. Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19)

Today, my friends, Dr. Nan Hayworth, my member of the House representing New York's 19th Congressional District, "spoke" to her constituents via our regional newspaper, The Times Herald Record.

Please allow me to excerpt her statements and reply...

HAYWORTH: We have reached a point at which we must pay the bills our government has accumulated...

BARKER: Nan. Just off the top of my head I believe bond interest payments come to around $40 billion a month while federal revenues are in the neighborhood of $200 billion a month. Default upon debt was never in the cards. Period.

HAYWORTH: To pay the bills, we must raise the Treasury's debt ceiling...

BARKER: Again, Nan, as just demonstrated, that's simply not true. All you'd be voting for is to pile new debt upon unsustainable old debt.

HAYWORTH: I am working with my colleagues in Congress to find a solution that addresses the current debt crisis, reduces wasteful spending and preserves the full faith and credit of the United States.

BARKER: Hmm... now it's "reduces 'wasteful' spending." Not just "spending." Cute. I believe I see where this is going. As for the "full faith and credit of the United States," that's part of the problem. You people in Washington are abusing that credit and refuse to stop. Both the Executive and Legislative branches of government have been totally irresponsible and appear willing to continue dragging the country into the muck of unsustainable and ever-growing debt. By the way, Nan, monetizing the debt is just another way of screwing our international creditors and they know it; the Chinese have already downgraded U.S. credit/debt. (This was noted in a newsbites awhile back.)

HAYWORTH: ...the federal government does not create jobs...

BARKER: That's right, Nan.

HAYWORTH: ...raising taxes at a time like this would be a very bad idea.

BARKER: Depends. Markets crave stability and certainty. What needs to be done is to totally reform the U.S. tax code so as to make it flatter and fairer. By fairer, this means we don't let 51% of American families off the hook when it comes to federal income taxes. If only politicians such as yourself had the guts to echo me on this.

HAYWORTH: We can reform our tax code and close loopholes, as the president has urged, but we must do so without a net increase in the nation's tax burden. It takes time to rewrite thousands of pages of tax code.

BARKER: Again, Nan, any federal income tax which allows large numbers of American families to "ride free" off the income taxes paid by other American families is a tax code which the Founders would decry and one which I decry. Please show some courage and dare to tell people what they may not want to hear, if only because they need to hear it.

HAYWORTH: The plan that Speaker John Boehner has introduced, to allow us to raise the debt ceiling responsibly...

BARKER: Nan. You know this is bullshit. I've laid out the numbers on my blog. Simply refusing to face the math isn't governing, Nan - it's shirking your responsibility.

HAYWORTH: For years, the federal government, Republicans and Democrats alike, has lacked the discipline to stop deficit spending.

BARKER: And the Boehner-Hayworth Plan follows in this shameful pattern. Nan. You're asking for more borrowing authority to funding continuing deficit spending. Some of your statements here are quite frankly Orwellian.

HAYWORTH: We now have a responsibility to make difficult decisions...

BARKER: But that's exactly what you're refusing to do, Nan. You're simply going along to get along - just like most politicians. I am ashamed of you.

HAYWORTH: As the daughter of elderly parents, I understand how much our seniors rely on Social Security and Medicare, and I am working hard with my colleagues in Congress to protect those benefits.

BARKER: Nan. Are you familiar with the concept of... er... math? Do you know what the term "underfunding" refers to? Here's an assignment for you: Research the ratio between "contributions" made by Americans of various ages and incomes to the [looted] "lock box" and compare and contrast to the anticipated payouts. Nan... this isn't Hillary Clinton and cattle futures; in the real word - yes... even with the power of compound interest - when enough people "contribute" one-third... one-quarter... one-fifth of what they can be expected to reap from the program.. (*PAUSE*)... the math says the program will sooner or later collapse under it's own weight (dragging general government down in the process) no matter how "well intentioned" the program is.

HAYWORTH: Our most pressing obligation is to ensure that the benefits that have been promised to those receiving them today, and that are anticipated by those who will soon be eligible, will be reliably funded. As we explore common-sense reforms so that Social Security and Medicare can fulfill its mission for future generations, we know that we must preserve what our seniors rely on.

BARKER: You don't hear a word I'm saying, do you? You just mouth these same platitudes mouthed by politicians over the past seventy-something years.

HAYWORTH: While it's likely that the final plan congressional leaders will agree upon will not go as far to cut spending as I would like...

BARKER: Oh, there we go! It's not your fault... it's "their" fault. You have no choice... (*SMIRK*) Nan. Your plan doesn't cut spending at all. It simply allows further debt to be piled upon the shoulders of children without trust funds.

HAYWORTH: Our nation didn't get into this fiscal mess overnight, and we aren't going to get out of it overnight, either...

BARKER: Nan. This plan envisions deficits as far as the eye can see and something like an additional $9 trillion is debt piled on over the next decade. Again... I'm ashamed of you.

Barker's Newsbites: Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Well, folks, after a flurry of postings yesterday... nada.

Obviously no response from Nan Hayworth herself.

As for the rest of you... well... except for my buddy John Hicks I've received no emails, no phone calls, no comments. Par for the course unfortunately.

That's people for ya! People suck. (*SHRUG*) I try not to let it get me down.

If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem - and as far as I can tell, most of you are part of the problem.

Short-sighted. Selfish. Oblivious. Lazy. That's most people.

Don't get me wrong! I'm not talking about the lack of direct response to me or this blog!

No!

I'm talking about knowing that few of you will actually push for what's right; those of you involved in politics are far more interested in the "game" aspect ("your team" vs. "their team") than in trying to prevent the filthy scumbag politicians of both parties from destroying our country.

I'm not naming names... but you each know who you are.

Those of you who have children... you should be ashamed of yourselves. But I know you're not. That's what gets to me.

Listen... it would be one thing is I thought you believed I was wrong... that I thought you believed all is well and that America is moving in the right direction... but I know you don't.

I know you folks get exactly what I'm saying! And yet... you won't do anything about it.

Oh, well... human nature is what it is. I know my "chiding" ain't gonna change that.

Hopefully the tiny minority of us who speak out, who contact our politicians directly, who attend rallies and make our voices heard will against all odds create an opportunity for the rest of you to wake up and do more than exist as pawns. (Yes... many of you very comfortable pawns... but pawns nevertheless.)

Anyway... (*SIGH*)... on to today's newsbites...

Perhaps Congresswoman Dr. Nan Hayworth Will Listen to Heritage...

Today, The Heritage Foundation’s sister organization - Heritage Action for America - issued a letter to all Members of Congress regarding the debt limit impasse.

Originally I planned to utilize the following as a newsbite, but it seems more appropriate to post it here as a "stand alone" newsbite.

Our nation is in the midst of a fiscal crisis, but it is one that has nothing to do with an August 2 “deadline” for a deal or President Obama and Secretary Geithner’s fear mongering over recent days and weeks. The crisis is one of over $62 trillion in unfunded obligations that are the loudest warning bell possible of the systemic problems plaguing our nation.

* FOLKS... $62 TRILLION IS JUST A MID-RANGE ESTIMATE OF UNFUNDED OBLIGATIONS. IT ALL DEPENDS UPON HOW FAR OUT YOU GO. BOTTOM LINE, EVERY EXTRA DOLLAR SQUANDERED IS ANOTHER STRAW ON THE CAMEL'S BACK.

Washington should not ignore or postpone dealing with this problem once again.

* WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE ABOUT TO DO. FOLKS... THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE "REAL" CUTS THAT I'M AWARE OF. THE "BOEHNER PLAN" IS OVER 10 YEARS. THE "RYAN PLAN" IS OVER SOMETHING LIKE 60 YEARS. THIS IS INSANITY!

The entire purpose of the debt limit is to put an end to borrowing when it reaches a point that our nation finds unacceptable. There is no point in having a debt limit if the option of using it to address over-spending and over-borrowing is so intimidating that it is unilaterally taken off the table.

* DOES ANYONE DISAGREE...? SERIOUSLY... ANYONE...???

Speaker Boehner’s most recent proposal to raise the debt limit is regrettably insufficient to our times.

* YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN! (INDEED, THE WORD "FRAUDULENT" COMES IMMEDIATELY TO MIND!)

Step one of the Speaker’s proposal would cut $1.2 trillion in discretionary spending.

* ACTUALLY $850 MILLION ACCORDING TO THE LATEST ANALYSIS. (*SIGH*)

Assuming all of these cuts materialized...

* A BIG "IF" - AND NOTE, THEY'RE NOT EVEN BEING PUBLICLY LAID OUT SO THAT CITIZENS CAN SEE WHAT THEY ARE! (AGAIN... THE WORD "FRAUDULENT" COMES TO MIND...)

...this would reduce our nation’s projected debt at the end of the decade from $24.9 trillion to $23.7 trillion.

* UNDERSTAND, FOLKS...?!?! THE DEBT IS NOW $14.3 TRILLION. THE "BOEHNER PLAN" WILL GIVE US DEBT TOTALING $23.7 TRILLION BY THE END OF THE DECADE! THIS IS INCREASED DEBT - NOT DECREASED DEBT! THIS IS INSANITY...!!!

Step two would create a special committee, which has three major problems: (1) The “deficit reduction” of $1.8 trillion remains insufficient for our times; (2) “Deficit reduction” is a well-known codeword for “tax increases”; and (3) Seventeen blue-ribbon panels, commissions and the like since 1982 have gotten our nation into the mess we are in and there is no obvious reason as to why the 18th will get us out.

(*BLOOD SHOOTING OUT OF MY EYES*)

Further, this proposal would outline a fast track proposal that unduly limits the rights of the congressional minority.

* IN ENGLISH: THE WHOLE DAMN CONCEPT IS AT BEST EXTRACONSTITUTIONAL - AT WORST UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

All in all, under a best case scenario where all of the cuts envisioned in the Boehner plan come to fruition, they would only reduce our nation’s projected debt-to-GDP ratio from 104% to 92% - a ratio far higher than its current 62%, which Moody's has already said must come down to maintain our nation’s stable outlook.

(*BLOOD SHOOTING OUT OF EVERY ORIFICE OF MY BODY*)

Harry Reid’s proposal to raise the debt ceiling is equally unacceptable. It appears to be the latest in a line of proposals that began with the McConnell Proposal, morphed into the McConnell-Reid Proposal, further deteriorated into the Gang of Six Proposal, and has now resurfaced as the Reid Proposal. Each of these insufficiently bold ideas would lead to an increase in the debt limit in exchange for few, if any, actual cuts off existing spending levels.

(*GROWING FAINT WITH THE LOSS OF BLOOD*)

All in all, Heritage Action remains where we were at the start of the summer: absolutely convinced our nation is in fiscal crisis and certain that bold political leadership is necessary to save the American dream.

Congress should drive down federal spending on the way to a balanced budget, while protecting America, and without raising taxes. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be what we will get from Washington, which has irresponsibly turned its back on the only real plans out there: The House Budget and the Cut, Cap and Balance Act.

Washington should be forced to live under the current debt limit until it’s ready to make tough choices - choices that it should make, and has time to make, this week.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Needham
Chief Executive Officer

* AMEN!

If Nan Hayworth Won't Listen To Me...

Then perhaps she'll listen to Senator Jim DeMint...

I just received the following and am passing it on for Congresswoman Dr. Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19) to consider and also for my other readers to consider:

Fellow Conservatives:

I have troubling news. I'm very careful about criticizing my party's leaders, but what is happening in Washington right now cannot be ignored.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has abandoned the Cut-Cap-Balance Act and is now pushing a new plan that is nearly identical to the one proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).

The Boehner-Reid plan gives the President an immediate increase in the debt limit and only promises to cut spending in the future. It violates all three principles of the Cut-Cap-Balance Pledge because it does not substantially cut current spending, it does not truly cap future spending, and it does not require the passage of a strong Balanced Budget Amendment before raising the debt limit.

In short, I oppose the Boehner-Reid plan because it won't balance the budget and stop the debt that is destroying our country.

You will hear many claims about this plan over the next few days as it is pushed through the House and Senate. Some of these claims will be true, but many will be false. Here are the facts. The Boehner-Reid plan:

* Provides two increases in the debt limit - $900 billion and $1.6 trillion - totaling $2.5 trillion. It gives the President an immediate $900 billion increase given that Congress does not vote to disapprove it. It gives the President another $1.6 trillion increase next year if a bill written by a new Super Committee passes both houses and becomes law.

* Reduces spending by only $1.2 trillion over the next ten years. This amount won't even come close to balancing the budget, as the debt is expected to grow by as much as $10 trillion over the next decade. The plan also reduces spending by only $6 billion in 2012. Considering that our government currently spends $10 billion a day, $6 billion is far too little to cut over the first year of the plan.

* Calls for a vote on the Balanced Budget Amendment but does not require its passage. Without passage of a strong Balanced Budget Amendment, Congress will never break its addiction to spending.

* Makes it virtually impossible to stop the debt limit from going up. The debt ceiling increases can only be stopped if Congress passes a resolution of disapproval and then votes to override the President's veto with two-thirds support in the House and Senate.

* Creates a new, 12-member Super Committee to write another "grand bargain" to reduce the deficit by at least $1.6 trillion. It does not, however, prohibit the Super Committee from writing a bill to raise taxes and destroy jobs. The bill can then be fast-tracked through the House and Senate with no amendments.

After reviewing the details of Boehner-Reid plan, I cannot support it.

* It won't balance the budget and stop the debt. Even if the cuts called for in the plan were real, the debt will still increase by $7 trillion over the next ten years.

* It won't protect our AAA bond rating. According to financial reports, this plan will not reduce long-term spending by enough to prevent a downgrade. If we lose our AAA rating, it will create higher interest rates and cause our debt to grow even faster.

* It will likely result in higher taxes that will destroy even more jobs. The unemployment rate is over 9%. We cannot afford to lose more jobs when so many Americans are struggling to find work.

There are some in my party who think I should ignore the flaws of the Boehner-Reid plan, bite my tongue, and support my party's leaders. If I thought this were a political game, that might make sense. But the future of our country is at stake, I don't believe this plan will save it, and I have a moral obligation to say so.

[T]here is a much better solution.

The Cut-Cap-Balance Act would balance the budget, stop the debt, and protect our AAA bond rating. This legislation passed the House with bipartisan support but was blocked by Democrats in the Senate.

The votes in the Senate for Cut-Cap-Balance are there if Republicans stand firm. Twenty-three Democrats in the Senate have expressed support for the Balanced Budget Amendment at some point in their careers. They're blocking it now because they believe Republicans will blink and agree to something much less.

And... that's exactly what will happen if the Boehner-Reid plan is passed.

It gives the big spenders in Washington everything they wanted - an increase in the debt limit, phony spending cuts, and a mechanism to pass tax increases.

Please call your senators today and urge them to oppose the Boehner-Reid plan and to demand passage of the Cut, Cap, Balance Act.

Respectfully,

Jim DeMint
United States Senator

Folks... great minds think alike.
(Or perhaps Senator DeMint is simply a Usually Right reader...)

I Fear Boehner, Cantor, and Even Dr. Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19) Will Betray Us

Yes, folks, I'm well aware that below this post is one titled "(CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)" which basically celebrates John Boehner's "response" to President Obama's lying hyperbole presented to a national/worldwide television audience last night.

Praise for Boehner's rhetorical firmness last night aside, what I'm worried about today is that John Boehner and "his people" just don't understand that the time for lying to the American People and kicking the can down the road once again is over.

While being interviewed by Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday two days ago, Boehner noted, "We have got a budget deficit of $1.5 trillion. We're borrowing 42 cents on every dollar we spend, we have $14.5 trillion national debt. It is time to get serious about stopping the spending here in Washington, D.C."

My question: Was the Speaker being serious about stopping the spending?

I fear the answer is "no."

Will Boehner's deputy, Eric Cantor (R-VA-7), stick with Boehner come what may out of political loyalty while turning his back upon the loyalty he owes his constituents and the nation?

Unfortunately, I fear the answer is "yes."

And what of my own Congresswoman - Dr. Nan Hayworth (R-NY-19); she supported Boehner against the People on the Continuing Budget Resolution back in April - will she do so again now?

To this I have no answer - only the hope that Dr. Hayworth will remain firm in her convictions and abide by the promises of 2010 "Candidate" Hayworth.

Folks... it's not this promised $1.2 trillion promised "cut" that's the problem; it's that fact that except through Constitutional Amendment no two-year Congress can bind any single (let alone the next five) successor Congress(es) to any "deal" made.

Folks... these clowns are trying to sell us on a 10-year "plan" - a "Grand Bargain" - that they lose the authority to enforce come January 2013... let alone January 2015... January 2017... January 2019... January 2021... January 2023...

Folks... here are the questions to be raised - and I strongly suggest you contact your individual member of the House and each of your two U.S. Senators:

1) What was the federal deficit for fiscal year 2006 - the last year George W. Bush and a Republican Congress "ran" Washington.

2) What was the federal debt at the end of fiscal year 2006 - the last year George W. Bush and a Republican Congress "ran" Washington.

Then...

3) Ask the same questions with regard to 2007 (Bush + Pelosi/Reid)

4) Ditto 2008 (Bush + Pelosi/Reid)

5) Ditto 2009 (Obama + Pelosi/Reid)

6) Ditto 2010 (Obama + Pelosi/Reid)

7) Ditto 2011 (Obama + Boehner/Reid)

Then...

Ask your elected representatives what the projections predict for 2012... 2013... 2014... 2015... 2016... 2017... 2018... 2019... 2020... 2021... 2022... 2023... should the so-called "Boehner Plan" be enacted.

Folks... the answer - if you can get a straight one - will tell you all you need to know about whether "cuts" are being agreed to.

(Oh... and then of course if one were to dig deeper no doubt one would find wildly optimistic future revenue projections and phony budget gimmicks galore... but that's for another post.)

Folks... the Dempublicans and Republicrats currently borrow $4 billion a day...

Folks... that's borrowing... that's not total federal spending... that's simply borrowing...

Again, folks... scroll up... re-read Boehner's comment... Dempublicans and Republicrats currently borrow 42 cents of every dollar squandered... and this borrowing isn't going on their tabs - it's going on ours... on our children's... on our grandchildren's...

Here's the question to ask Boehner... and Cantor... and Dr. Nan Hayworth... and President Obama... and each and every member of the House and Senate... and each and every "journalist" in the nation: If Boehner's Plan is passed, what does that mean for deficits and debt over the next 10 years - the supposedly length of this "deal?"

What will be the deficit for 2012 if Boehner's "deal" is agreed to?

How'bout 2013... 2014... 2015... 2016... 2017... 2018... 2019... 2020... 2021... 2022... 2023...?

If Boehner's "deal" is agreed to, what's the National Debt expected to grow to by the end of 2012... 2013... 2014... 2015... 2016... 2016... 2017... 2018... 2019... 2020... 2021... 2022... 2023...?

Folks... notice... the politicians are volunteering this info - not the Boehner Gang... not the Obama Gang... not the Reid Gang... and not the mainstream media.

Folks... the federal government - not to mention Think Tanks, universities, Hedge Funds, Banks, and Investment Companies - have tens of thousands of number crunchers on their payrolls producing exactly the sort of data I'm asking for day in and day out. And yet...

(*SHRUG*)

Funny, isn't it, that we have a 24-hour news cycle and yet not only are we not being bombarded with all sorts of facts and figures regarding the sort of projections I'm begging you all to take an interest in, but to the contrary, the media seems transfixed upon some imaginary specter of "default" even though it's been factually demonstrated again and again that the U.S. Government has plenty of revenues to meet each and every legal commitment upon it?

Folks... please... even if you don't believe it's "worth it" to make a call or send an email on your own behalf... think of the nation's children... think of the generations to come.

Folks... we can not allow the Dempublicans and Republicrats to steer the Ship of State onto the rocks.

And, folks... make no mistake... that's what these bastards are prepared to do.

(*CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)

Good evening. I'm John Boehner. I serve as Speaker of the whole House - of the members of both parties that you elect.

Video...

These are difficult times in the life of our nation. Millions are looking for work and have been for some time... and the spending binge going on in Washington is a big part of the reason why.

Text...

Before I served in Congress, I ran a small business in Ohio. I was amazed at how different Washington DC operated than every business in America. Where most American business make the hard choices to pay their bills and live within their means, in Washington more spending and more debt is business as usual.

I've got news for Washington - those days are over.

President Obama came to Congress in January and requested business as usual - yet another "routine" increase in the national debt limit. We in the House said "not so fast."

Here was the President, asking for the largest debt increase in American history, on the heels of the largest spending binge in American history.

Here's what we got for that spending binge: a massive health care bill that most Americans never asked for. A "stimulus" bill that was more effective in producing material for late-night comedians than it was in producing jobs. And a national debt that has gotten so out of hand it has sparked a crisis without precedent in my lifetime or yours.

The United States cannot default on its debt obligations. The jobs and savings of too many Americans are at stake.

What we told the President in January was this: the American People will not accept an increase in the debt limit without significant spending cuts and reforms. And over the last six months, we've done our best to convince the president to partner with us to do something dramatic to change the fiscal trajectory of our country - something that will boost confidence in our economy, renew a measure of faith in our government, and help small businesses get back on track.

Last week, the House passed such a plan, and with bipartisan support. It's called the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act. It cuts and caps government spending and paves the way for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, which we believe is the best way to stop Washington from spending money it doesn't have.

Before we even passed the bill in the House, the President said he would veto it.

I want you to know I made a sincere effort to work with the President to identify a path forward that would implement the principles of Cut, Cap, and Balance in a manner that could secure bipartisan support and be signed into law. I gave it my all.

Unfortunately, the president would not take yes for an answer.

Even when we thought we might be close on an agreement, the President's demands changed.

The President has often said we need a "balanced" approach - which in Washington means: we spend more and you pay more.

Having run a small business, I know those tax increases will destroy jobs.

The President is adamant that we cannot make fundamental changes to our entitlement programs. As the father of two daughters, I know these programs won't be there for them and their kids unless significant action is taken now.

The sad truth is that the president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today.

That is just not going to happen.

You see, there is no stalemate in Congress. The House has passed a bill to raise the debt limit with bipartisan support. And this week, while the Senate is struggling to pass a bill filled with phony accounting and Washington gimmicks, we will pass another bill - one that was developed with the support of the bipartisan leadership of the U.S. Senate.

Obviously, I expect that bill can and will pass the Senate, and be sent to the President for his signature. If the President signs it, the "crisis" atmosphere he has created will simply disappear.

The debt limit will be raised.

Spending will be cut by more than one trillion dollars, and a serious, bipartisan committee of the Congress will begin the hard but necessary work of dealing with the tough challenges our nation faces.

The individuals doing this work will not be outsiders, but elected representatives of the people, doing the job they were elected to do as outlined in the Constitution. Those decisions should be made based on how they will affect people who are struggling to get a job, not how they affect some politician's chances of getting re-elected.

This debate isn't about President Obama and House Republicans... it isn't about Congress and the White House... it's about what's standing between the American people and the future we seek for ourselves and our families.

You know I've always believed the bigger government, the smaller the people. And right now, we have a government so big and so expensive it's sapping the drive of our people and keeping our economy from running at full capacity.

The solution to this crisis is not complicated: if you're spending more money than you're taking in, you need to spend less of it.

There is no symptom of big government more menacing than our debt. Break its grip, and we begin to liberate our economy and our future.

We are up to the task, and I hope President Obama will join us in this work.

God bless you and your families, and God bless America.

Barker's Newsbites: Tuesday, July 26, 2011

This is America, my friends...

When you access the video make sure you read my comment - it's the first comment posted.

Barker's Newsbites: Monday, July 25, 2011

Because live is always best...

Weekend Newsbites: Sat. & Sun., July 23 & 24, 2011

Bill is a happy man, today, my friends!

You know that Facebook crap that I hate...? Well... it finally came in handy! An ol' buddy of mine from the Smith Hall days just contacted me - and he did it not just by Facebook invite (which I'm ignoring for now since I don't really wanna have "Facebook friends"), but via email... just as I had asked!

(Ahh... beloved email... full sentences... proper punctuation... complete thoughts...)

And, hey... he even visited the blog!

Psyched!

Barker's Newsbites: Friday, July 22, 2011

The "Official" Obama 2012 Campaign Song!

But on a serious note, folks...

Our country is in the shitter.

All that's standing in the way of carrying out a corrupt bargain between Obama and that traitor McConnell are a few true Republican Senators and the House Tea Party Caucus.

I'm still praying... still holding out hope... that Boehner isn't the man I fear he is, but all the "smart money" seems to be on Boehner betraying those of us who love and want to save our country.

Keep reading newsbites, folks. Don't buy the mainstream media spin. "Bipartisan" Congressional action is just another way of saying, "You've been screwed - again!"

Barker's Newsbites: Thursday, July 21, 2011

Party on, Garth!

Barker's Newsbites: Wednesday, July 20, 2011

I couldn't find the Sinatra version... but this will do.

Barker's Newsbites: Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Something for everyone!

Barker's Newsbites: Monday, July 18, 2011

Yabba-dabba-doo!

Barker's Newsbites: Friday July 15th, 2011

See...! Now this is why you wanna be nice!

Barker's Newsbites: Thursday, July 14, 2011

One antidote to Obama...

Barker's Newsbites: Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Wicked Felina....

Barker's Newbites: Tuesday, July 12, 2011

I'm comfortable enough with my studly masculinity (*GRIN*) that I can post the following as today's Newsbites theme song for Tuesday, July 12, 2011!

(Just try... try and tell me that that song don't get ya boppin'... 'cause I know it does...!!!)

Barker's Newsbites: Monday, July 11, 2011

For my buddy Rob!

O.K., folks... now that today's newsbites theme song is set let's talk media and politics.

Bottom line... most of the media is in the tank for Obama and the Dems. This isn't debatable, you all know it's true. (At least those of you who are rational and honest with yourselves...)

My regular readers - and indeed anyone who has stumbled across Usually Right just in the last few days - know I have deep and specific complaints concerning Republicans across the board... from Mitch McConnell to John Boehner... from Paul Ryan to even Jim DeMint...

That said, what I rap Republicans for... say long timelines for reform... are issues the media ignores. (Ironic, isn't it?)

In any case, here's how the mainstream media (and yes, that includes the mainstream news pages of the Wall Street Journal and to a certain extent even Fox News) is portraying the budget debate: Supposedly President Obama wants to "compromise" and get a "big deal," while those nasty Republican Right-wingers are either "walking out on negotiations" or "refusing to take yes for an answer."

(*SNORT*)

What utter nonsense. Anyone with half a brain and a functional grasp of political and economic history over the past three decades knows that every time one year's Congress promises "budget cuts tomorrow" in return for "new taxes today" the cuts have never materialized while the taxes... have.

Folks... keep on reading Newsbites and I'll tell you the truth - in context... with explanations... - and that way you won't be manipulated by the hacks, fools, and toadies who dominate mainstream media.

You can trust me, folks - first... because I know what I'm talking about... second... because I call 'em as I see 'em and let the dust settle where it will. In other words, anyone who has so much as browsed this blog and a few different day's newsbites can see I slam Republicans when they deserve it and give credit to Democrats where and when credit is due.

I know... I know... I posted similar sentiments just the other day.

Folks... understand... the media is waging a full-court press! I'm seeing it across various stories and newswire pieces. And via network TV and CNN... it'll be even worse... the soundbites will be deliberately tailored so as to buttress whatever position Obama takes (on any given day) and make Republicans look like (at best) obstructionists... at worst... fanatics.

In other words, folks... the mainstream media is gonna continue to reflect a "Wonderland" vision of reality where if you assume the opposite of everything being reported is actually the truth you'll end up with a far clearer picture of what's really happening than if you were to take mainstream news "analysis" at face value.

I'm largely preaching to the choir; I get it; but, folks... please... do more than simply nod when you read a post of mine or a newsbite; spread the truth!

People are (by and large) sheep... cattle; they don't know much and so they can easily be stampeded and misdirected by the mainstream media echo chamber's social, political, and economic group-think.

Folks... as regular readers know... I "catch" the mainstream media in lies and distortions constantly. How do I "catch" them? I "catch" them because I have the education, background, and knowledge to pick up on not just the whoppers, but the more subtle distortions and lies of omission.

Please, folks... don't be sheeple yourselves! The country can't take much more of this!

Explain to me one more time...

...how Sarah Palin is "nuts" and Barak Hussein Obama is a "serious" politician.

From Governor Palin's Blog:

Barack Obama’s big government policies continue to fail.

He should put a link to the national debt clock on his BlackBerry.

The gears on that clock have nearly exploded during his administration. Yesterday’s terrible job numbers should not be a surprise because it all goes back to our debt. Our dangerously unsustainable debt is wiping out our jobs, crippling our economic growth, and jeopardizing our position in the global economy as the leader of the free world.

As a governor, I had to deal with facts, even unpleasant ones. I dealt with the world as it is, not as I wished it to be. The “elite” political class in this country with their heads in the sand had better face some unpleasant facts about the world as it is. They’ve run out of money and no amount of accounting gimmicks or happy talk will change this reality. Those of us who live in the real world could see this day coming.

Back in January 2009, as governor of Alaska, I announced: “We also have to be mindful about the effect of the stimulus package on the national debt and the future economic health of the country. We won’t achieve long-term stability if we continue borrowing massive sums from foreign countries and remain dependent on foreign sources of oil and gas.” Then I urged President Obama to veto the stimulus bill because it was loaded with absolutely useless pork and unfunded mandates.

Everyone knows my early and vocal opposition to that mother of all unfunded mandates known as ObamaCare starting back in August 2009, and many recall my objections to the Federal Reserves’ inflationary games with our currency known as QE2 from November 2010.

It’s a matter of public record that I did not go to Harvard Law School... but I can add.

The same “experts” who got us into this mess are now telling us that the only way out of our debt crisis is to “increase revenue” - but not by creating more jobs and therefore a larger tax base; no, they want to “increase revenue” by raising taxes on job creators who are taxed enough already!

As Margaret Thatcher said, “The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.”

That’s where we are now.

Hard working taxpayers have been big government’s Sugar Daddy for far too long, and now we’re out of sugar.

We don’t want big government, we can’t afford it, and we are unwilling to pay for it.

This debt ceiling debate is the perfect time to do what must be done. We must cut.

Yes, I’m for a balanced budget amendment and for enforceable spending caps. But first and foremost we must cut spending, not “strike a deal” that allows politicians to raise more debt!

Washington is addicted to OPM - Other People’s Money. And like any junkie, they will lie, steal, and cheat to fund their addiction. We must cut them off and cut government down to size.

To paraphrase Hemingway, people go broke slowly and then all at once.

We’ve been slowly going broke for years, but now it’s happening all at once as the world’s capital markets are demanding action from us, yet Obama assumes we'll just go borrow another cup of sugar from some increasingly impatient neighbor.

We cannot knock on anyone’s door anymore.

[W]e don’t have any time to wait for Washington to start behaving responsibly. We’ll be Greece before these D.C. politicians’ false promises are over. We must force government to live within its means, just as every business and household does.

We can’t close our $1.5 trillion deficit overnight, but we must get as close as we can as soon as we can. Little nibbles here and there over 10 years (spun to sound like they’re huge budget cuts) aren’t anywhere near enough.

I know from experience that cutting government spending isn’t easy. As governor, I made the largest veto cuts in my state’s history, and I didn’t make many friends doing it. But we will never recover, we will never get free of devastating debt, unless we make tough choices now.

We don’t hear talk like this from leaders in D.C. or from those running for office because they say what they think we want to hear rather than what must be said.

We are in desperate need of real leadership, but President Obama’s solution to everything is to grow government by borrowing more money, spending more money, printing more money, and taxing our job creators.

[The 45th President of the United States] once said that he “believes in American Exceptionalism…just as the Greeks believe in Greek Exceptionalism.”

Well, the path he has us on will make us just as “exceptional” as Greece - debt crisis, stagnation, permanent high unemployment, and all.

As we approach 2012, there are important lessons we can learn from all of this. First, we should never entrust the White House to a far-Left ideologue who has no appreciation or even understanding of the free market and limited government principles that made this country economically strong.

Second, the office of the presidency is too important for on-the-job training. It requires a strong chief executive who has been entrusted with real authority in the past and has achieved a proven track record of positive measurable accomplishments. Leaders are expected to give good speeches, but leadership is so much more than oratory. Real leadership requires deeds even more than words. It means taking on the problems no one else wants to tackle. It means providing vision and guidance, inspiring people to action, bringing everyone to the table, and with a servant's heart dedicating oneself to striking agreements that keep faith with our Constitution and with the ordinary citizens who entrusted you with power. It means bucking the status quo, fighting the corrupt powers that be, serving the common good, and leaving the country better than you found it.

Most of us don’t see a lot of that real leadership in D.C., and it’s profoundly disappointing.

But let me tell you where real hope lies. It’s not the hopey-changey stuff we heard about in 2008. Real hope comes from realizing how God has blessed our exceptional nation, and then doing something about it. We have been blessed with natural resources, hardworking entrepreneurs, and a Constitution that preserves the greatest form of government ever devised by man. If we develop those natural resources, allow our entrepreneurs to keep and invest more of what they earn, and adhere to the time-tested truths of our Constitution, we will prosper and endure.

But first and foremost we must tackle our debt.

We don’t have the luxury of playing politics as usual.

We need real leaders who will put aside their own political self-interest to do what is right for the nation. And if they don’t emerge… well... America has a do-over in November 2012.

Sarah Palin

Weekend Newsbites: Sat. & Sun., July 9 & 10, 2011

If it's summer, chances are... I'm knee deep in the water somewhere...

The Necessity of Newsbites

Folks... believe me... I know that this blog will never have a "real" audience.

More's the pity.

The average American is rather ignorant. Add to this ignorance generous helpings of intellectual laziness and hubris and we're talking a recipe for disaster.

Heck... Barak Hussein Obama, President of the United States... disaster!

But, folks, you know I'm not simply "picking" on the President nor providing cover for the Republicans vs. the Democrats. Surely anyone browsing through the archives of this blog will notice that my most heartfelt and wounded diatribes against politicians have been leveled not at Democrats (who have behaved as Democrats), but at Republicans who have betrayed the trust of the American People.

I know... I know... talk about hubris... I'm inferring that betraying my trust - going against what I feel is right - is synonymous with acting against the interests of the nation.

(*SHRUG*)

So be it.

The thing is, folks... my personal brand of hubris is based upon demonstrated knowledge and a predictive record pointing to the fact that... yeah... I am usually right.

We've got a long way to go, folks, till the 2012 elections. Consider this though - indeed, take it to the bank: The mainstream media will be pulling out all the stops to get Barak Hussein Obama re-elected.

Where do my newsbites come from? Obviously they come mainly from... well... the news!

Yes... I often reference - post - newsbites coming out of Think Tank reports, academic and government studies and reports, private sector commercial research reports, etc.

Yes... I throw in a fair amount of foreign/international reporting.

I'm not saying "the truth" isn't out there, folks... that it can't be found; I'm just saying that the average American isn't exposed to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Yes... Barker's Newsbites are posted through the prism of William R. Barker's worldview - including my values and prejudices - but the bias this creates is in large part negated by 1) My absolute hatred of being found "wrong" and my equally strong determination never to open myself up to a legitimate charge of hypocrisy... an accusation that I tried to cover something up or misrepresent reality; and 2) My education - my store of factual, contextual knowledge - that guides me so often in my interjections within the bodies of my newsbites.

Folks... I get it... no one is paying me the big bucks to write - let alone edit, manage, publish or produce - a major (or even minor) media organ. That said... I stand by my conviction that I simply know more... that I'm simply right more often... that I'm better able to see the forest for the trees than most gainfully employed journalists and pundits the average American is exposed to.

Folks... think about how much news and opinion you're exposed to each day that just doesn't jibe with information you've gained via Newsbites.

Folks... imagine if the average American were exposed to Newsbites.

Folks... I don't make any money from my efforts here. I rarely get feedback and as for "thanks"... I like to think "thanks" can be inferred every time I get an email or phone call from one of you addressing something I've posted.

Keep reading Newsbites. Cut, paste, and forward specific newsbites. Recommend Usually Right to friends, colleagues, and family.

Folks... I'm not asking this out of ego. I'm asking this because I truly believe the more educated ("educated" as in truly knowledgeable, not simple "credentialed") people are, the more likely they are to do what they can to save this nation for our children, grandchildren, and indeed all our future posterity.

Barker's Newsbites: Friday, July 8, 2011

In a word... poignant.

Barker's Newsbites: Thursday, July 7, 2011

Though the sun was shining bright in the eastern sky, twas a dark and dreary day without YouTube here in the lair of the Barker...

*** YOUTUBE LIVES ***

Barker's Newsbites: Wednesday, July 6, 2011

God Bless John Wayne!

Barker's Newsbites: Tuesday, July 5, 2011

My sentiments exactly!

Happy 4th of July!

Today is Independence Day, my friends...!

God bless America...!

Weekend Newsbites: Sat. & Sun., July 2 & 3, 2011

Ah... the July 4th weekend...

Barker's Newsbites: Friday, July 1, 2011

Welcome to July my friends!

The good news... we're all still alive!

The bad news... Barak Hussein Obama is still President of the United States.

Oh well... (*SIGH*)

The absurdity continues...