Thursday, November 8, 2012

Barker's Newsbites: Thursday, November 8, 2012


Well, folks... while I'm still deeply depressed... it's time to go back to... er... work.

No doubt they'll be more "rambling" stand-alone posts in the next few days... but time to get back to newsbiting.

By the way... those who can (meaning no one is gonna tell you you can't) should be listening to Rush as much as possible.

The Heather MacDonald piece I posted (along with commentary) earlier... that was via a head's-up from Rush.

(Usually by the time Rush airs at noon I've already come across almost everything he'd be talking about, but with my computer still "in the shop" and this remote blogging... well... even I, you're beloved blog host, has to rely on other people - like Rush Limbaugh - more than I usually would!)

Folks... I've said it before and I'll repeat myself now: Rush Limbaugh is a brilliant man.

Again... usually I'm not gonna "need" Rush to tell me stuff... because... well... the stuff he shares with his audience is stuff I already know! But, folks... with all due humility (meaning almost none), I'm not your average American when it comes to knowledge base and analytical ability.

What I'm saying here in my own grossly egotistical fashion is that if a brilliant guy like myself looks up to and respects Rush Limbaugh... well... then certainly you folks should too!

Anyway... just throwin' it out there!

(Oh... by the way... sorry about the formatting glitches you may - or may not - have noticed! These library computers I'm working on haven't always gotten the latest updates and patches and so interfacing with blogger has been a bit... umm... of a travail at times!)

8 comments:

William R. Barker said...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204349404578100600454044238.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

It isn't true that liberals don't believe in American exceptionalism. When it comes to the national balance sheet, they think the U.S. levitates fiscally.

For some liberals, the concept of American exceptionalism smacks of a kind of dumb chauvinism. ...Then there is Mr. Obama's famous remark, made at a NATO summit in France in 2009, that he believed in American exceptionalism "just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism."

The president's Sesame Street formulation - we're all special in our own special ways - has since served as a touchstone for critics sure that his long-term agenda is to cut America down to size and turn it into just another social democracy among many.

But maybe the suspicions of Mr. Obama's motives are unfounded. Take his comment from the summer of 2011, after Standard & Poor's cut America's credit rating a notch below AAA. "We've always been and always will be a triple-A country," he said at a press conference.

It's hard to imagine a more vivid statement of American exceptionalism (defined as braggadocio) than that.

It's also a statement that, so far, he's gotten away with, and not just because the media gave him a pass.

Little nations like Guatemala or Bulgaria may tremble in fear of the judgments of a ratings agency. But the usual rules don't apply in the usual way to the U.S., which issues the currency in which its debts are denominated.

China doesn't hold a penny of American debt the U.S. couldn't devalue, so long as we're prepared to beggar ourselves in the bargain.

* WHICH WE'VE BEEN SLOWLY DOING SINCE BUSH BECAME PRESIDENT! AND OBAMA HAS IF ANYTHING DOUBLED-DOWN ON BUSH'S ORIGINAL "CHEAP DOLLAR" POLICY! THIS IS A LARGE PART OF WHY AMERICAN STANDARDS OF LIVING ARE DECLINING.

Nor do the usual rules apply when other possible destinations for capital - Europe, Japan, China, Russia, India, the Middle East - look even riskier than the U.S. economy.

* YEP... (BUT THE DOLLAR FELL ANYWAY AGAINST THE EURO AFTER OUR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS CAME IN! WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU! OUR CURRENCY UNDER OBAMA IS DECLINING AGAINST THE CURRENCY OF A EUROPEAN UNION THAT INCLUDES GREECE AND SPAIN... NOT TO MENTION ITALY, IRELAND, AND PORTUGAL!)

The administration notes that the S&P downgrade had no effect on U.S. Treasury auctions. It's true. The world still sees America as a safe harbor and a safe bet.

* ONLY IN THE SENSE OF THEIR SEEING NO OTHER BETTER CHOICE AT THE MOMENT!

* FOLKS... THINK ABOUT FIVE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DRUNK TEENAGERS AND GIVING THE KEYS TO THE... er... LEAST DRUNK AMONGST THEM!

[A]s Letizia Bonaparte is supposed to have remarked when asked what she thought of her son's military triumphs: Pourvu que ça dure - "Provided it lasts." (Waterloo came later.)

Great nations may have greater grace periods, but they don't get blank checks. Bills come due. Populations age and become more expensive to support. Interest rates do not remain near-zero forever. Overtaxed people figure out new ways to shelter their income from the government, or they renounce their citizenship. Whenever advocates of an expansive welfare state start talking about "economic patriotism" - a phrase Mr. Obama has lately been trying out on the campaign trail - you know the scoundrels really have found their last refuge.

A second Obama term is going to mean a dismal few years of economic stagnation and political bitterness. It will tarnish not only the lame-duck incumbent but the Democratic brand, much as George W. Bush's second term tarnished the GOP.

William R. Barker said...

http://www.cnbc.com/id/49729998

Boeing announced a major restructuring of its defense division on Wednesday that will cut 30% of management jobs from 2010 levels, close facilities in California and consolidate several business units to cut costs.

* ANNOUNCED... THE DAY AFTER... THE ELECTION...

* I WONDER WHEN THEY KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS?

* I WONDER IF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD STILL BE BEING MADE HAD ROMNEY WON ON TUESDAY?

Boeing said the changes were not a response to the threat of additional, across-the-board U.S. budget cuts due to take effect on Jan. 2, or the outcome of U.S. elections, but represented another step in its continuing drive to "be more competitive while investing in technologies and people."

* AND, YET... THEY ANNOUNCED THE CUTS... ON WEDNESDAY.

A company spokesman declined to say how many jobs had already been cut from the 2010 level.

* OF... COURSE... HE... DID...

* QUESTION: HOW MUCH HAS BOEING INVESTED OVERSEAS SINCE NANCY PELOSI AND HARRY REID TOOK HOLD OF THE REINS OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS IN JANUARY 2007...?

(*PURSED LIPS*)

* OR... HEY... I'LL BE HAPPY WITH AN ANSWER TO: HOW MUCH HAS BOEING INVESTED OVERSEAS SINCE OBAMA TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY OF 2009...?

William R. Barker said...

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/harry-reid-hiking-debt-limit-18794t-we-ll-raise-it

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Wednesday that if the $16.394 trillion current legal limit on the federal government's debt must be raised in the next few months by another $2.4 trillion, “We’ll raise it."

* ELECTIONS... HAVE... CONSEQUENCES...

On Aug. 2, 2011, Congress and President Barack Obama reached a deal to raise the debt ceiling by $2.4 trillion. Now, after only 15 months, almost all of that additional borrowing authority has been exhausted, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

* BOEHNER AND THE RINOs BEING SCUMBAGS HAS CONSEQUENCES.

CNSNews.com reported that Treasury quietly announced a week ago that it expects the federal government to hit its legal debt limit before the end of this year. "Treasury continues to expect the debt limit to be reached near the end of 2012," said the 10th paragraph of the "Quarterly Refunding Statement" put out by Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Markets Matthew Rutherford. "However, Treasury has the authority to take certain extraordinary measures to give Congress more time to act to ensure we are able to meet the legal obligations of the United States of America," the statement said.

(*SARCASTIC CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)

* RIGHT TRACK OR WRONG TRACK, PEOPLE? AND YET... OBAMA WAS JUST REELECTED AND DEMOCRATS KEPT CONTROL OF THE SENATE.

* THIS... COUNTRY... IS... SO... FUCKED...

William R. Barker said...

* FIRST... CLICK ON AND READ THIS:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20121108_Vote_was_astronomical_for_Obama_in_some_Philadelphia_wards.html

* THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT...

In a city where President Obama received more than 85% of the votes, in some places he received almost every one. In 13 Philadelphia wards, Obama received 99% of the vote or more.

* AND NOW... CLICK ON AND READ THIS:

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20121108_Philadelphia_s_school_commission_borrows__300_million_to_pay_its_bills.html

The Philadelphia School Reform Commission moved Wednesday to borrow $300 million - money it needs just to pay teachers, heat buildings, and buy books for the rest of the school year.

The bond sale the SRC unanimously authorized at the Wednesday special meeting comes with a hefty price tag - an additional $22 million in debt service annually for 20 years, beginning in 2014.

* OK. SO THEY CAN'T MEET THEIR OPERATING EXPENSES NOW. MOST PEOPLE - REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS - REACT MORE FAVORABLE TO THE PHRASE "LET'S SPEND MORE ON SCHOOLS... ON OUR CHILDREN" THAN THEY DO TO "LET'S CUT SCHOOL SPENDING." (WITH ME SO FAR?) SO... NOW ADD TO THE ALREADY UNAFFORDABLE SPENDING AN ADDITIONAL $22 MILLION IN DEBT SERVICE ANNUALLY...??? (IS IT JUST ME FOLKS... ANYONE WANNA EXPLAIN HOW THE MATH IS GONNA WORK ON THIS ONE...???)

It's the second time in a decade the district has had to borrow money to keep schools open - the last deficit financing occurred in 2002 - and officials say the school system's credit card is maxed out.

* FOLKS... (*PAUSE*)... WHO DO YOU SUPPOSE HAS BEEN RUNNING THE PHILLY SCHOOL SYSTEM? WHICH PARTY...??? WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING PHILLY? WHICH PARTY DOMINATES ILLINOIS POLITICS?

* FOLKS... DON'T YOU GET IT? THE INMATES ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM!

Because it represents non-recurring revenue...

* A "LOAN" IS NOT REVENUE! IT'S A LOAN! IT'S A DEBT! IT'S A DEBT THAT CARRIES INTEREST COSTS...!!!

...this [latest] bond sale puts the district hundreds of millions in the hole for the 2013-14 school year just three months into the current school term. The message? The district's current spending is not sustainable; the bond sale is a large and very expensive Band-Aid, but it only buys the district a little time.

* THE MESSAGE...?!?! THE MESSAGE IS THAT THE INMATES ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM!

* FOLKS... THIS PERFECTLY REPRESENTS A MICROCOSM OF DEMOCRATIC MISRULE!

William R. Barker said...

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/11/08/benghazi_documents_available_to_senators_only_when_they_are_out_of_town

Under pressure from senators, the State Department is allowing some lawmakers to look at cables and other documents related to the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, but only today and tomorrow, when most senators are not in Washington.

* ARE... YOU... READING... THIS...?!?!

* FIRST OF ALL, ALL SENATORS - INDEED ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS - SHOULD HAVE FULL ACCESS TO THESE RECORDS. BUT PUTTING THAT ASIDE... LET'S SAY THERE'S SOME JUSTIFICATION FOR ONLY ALLOWING RANKING MEMBERS OF THE PERTINENT SENATE AND HOUSE COMMITTEES FULL ACCESS - HOW DOES THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION GET AWAY WITH SO BLATANT A MOVE AS THIS ONE...?!?!

* FOLKS... AGAIN... WHEN I SAY THIS NATION IS NO LONGER A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC UNDER THE RULE OF LAW (OR COMMON SENSE OR COMMON DECENCY FOR THAT MATTER) I'M NOT JUST RANTING!

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA).has written two letters to the State Department requesting congressional access to information and documents related to the circumstances leading up to and during the attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens. Committee members Bob Corker (R-TN) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) sent Clinton a letter Nov. 2 asking that the documents be sent to the committee, not just made available for viewing on a limited basis.

UPDATE: A spokesperson for Corker told The Cable that after Corker spoke directly with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the State Department agreed to allow staffers for Sens. James Risch (R-ID) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) to view the documents while their bosses are out of town. Corker will be in Washington Friday and will view them himself as well, the spokesperson said.

William R. Barker said...

http://www.suntimes.com/16234631-761/sneed-exclusive-jesse-jackson-jr-in-plea-deal-talks-with-feds-sources.html

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who handily won re-election Tuesday despite a lengthy stay at Mayo Clinic for depression and bipolar disorder, is in the midst of plea discussions with the feds probing his alleged misuse of campaign funds.

* JUST TRY... TRY AND COMPREHEND WHAT YOU'RE READING...

* FOLKS... THESE ARE CHICAGO VOTERS - AND THUS CHICAGO POLITICIANS. DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AND POLITICIANS! THIS IS THE OBAMA/DEMOCRATIC PARTY BASE MY FRIENDS!

Jackson, who returned to Mayo Clinic after undergoing outpatient treatment in the seclusion of his home in Washington, D.C., is not only being investigated for allegedly using campaign funds to decorate his Washington home - but he may also have used campaign funds to buy a $40,000 Rolex watch as a gift for a female friend.

(*SARCASTIC CLAP-CLAP-CLAP*)

Jackson...is also facing a House ethics probe over his alleged involvement in the Blagojevich case.

If Jackson, a 17-year veteran of Congress, opts to plead guilty to a federal felony - or goes to trial and is found guilty - he’d have to resign from the office he just won with a commanding 64% of the vote.

* SIXTY-FOUR PERCENT OF THE VOTE... (*WHISTLING*)... YEP... GOTTA LUV THAT DEMOCRATIC BASE!

* SERIOUSLY, FOLKS... AS I NOTED THE OTHER DAY WITH MY STAND-ALONE "ELECTION DAY RAMBLES: WHAT SORT OF PERSON VOTES FOR OBAMA," THE ANSWER ISN'T ONE ANY OF US SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH.

A new election would then have to be called.

* MEANING A NEW CROOK WOULD BE INSTALLED.

(*SHRUG*)

William R. Barker said...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/us-china-usa-military-idUSBRE8A705720121108

China appears to be within two years of deploying submarine-launched nuclear weapons...

* CHANT IT WITH ME, FOLKS: O-BAM-A! FOUR MORE YEARS! O-BAM-A! FOUR MORE YEARS!

China is alone among the original nuclear weapons states to be expanding its nuclear forces, the report said.

* THIS IS AFTER FOUR YEARS OF OBAMA LED, CLINTON ADMINISTERED FOREIGN POLICY...

(*PURSED LIPS*)

China in the meantime remains "the most threatening" power in cyberspace and presents the largest challenge to U.S. supply chain integrity, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said in a draft of its 2012 report to the U.S. Congress.

* AGAIN... AFTER FOUR YEARS OF OBAMA LED, CLINTON ADMINISTERED FOREIGN POLICY.

China launched its first aircraft carrier, purchased from Ukraine and then refurbished, in September.

* O-BAM-A! FOUR MORE YEARS! O-BAM-A! FOUR MORE YEARS!

The deployment of a hard-to-track, submarine-launched leg of China's nuclear arsenal could have significant consequences in East Asia and beyond.

* YA THINK...?!?!

Any Chinese effort to ensure a retaliatory capability against a U.S. nuclear strike "would necessarily affect Indian and Russian perceptions about the potency of their own deterrent capabilities vis-à-vis China," the report said, for instance.

* YA THINK...?!?!

* FOLKS... SAD TO SAY... BOTH PARTIES HAVE BEEN COMPLICIT IN ALLOWING CHINA TO BECOME THE NATION SHE'S BECOME... AND TO ALLOW AMERICA TO BECOME THE NATION SHE'S BECOME.

(*PURSED LIPS*)

William R. Barker said...

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/11/07/police-issue-community-alert-after-girl-abducted-raped-on-way-to-school/

Police have issued a warning about a serious and disturbing attack on a child in the North Lawndale (i.e. Chicago) neighborhood.

CBS 2’s Brad Edwards reports, around 7:45 a.m. Monday, a 14-year-old girl was walking to school when a group of six men grabbed her off the street, forced her into a car, then drove her to a house, where they raped her.

The girl was abducted near 16th Street and Trumbull Avenue, according to police.

The suspects were all described as African-American men between 20 and 24 years old, between 5-foot-6 and 6-foot-3, and and 130 to 170 pounds.

* WOW! THEY MUST REALLY WANNA GET THESE GUYS OFF THE STREET IN ORDER TO VIOLATE ONE OF THE FOREMOST RULES OF POLITICALLY CORRECT REPORTING: "THOU MUST NO IDENTIFY BLACK OR BROWN CRIMINALS AS BLACK OR BROWN CRIMINALS."

* I'M GUESSING THE VICTIM WAS ALSO BLACK.

Five of the suspects had long dreadlocks; one had brown tips, another had red tips. The sixth offender had a close fade haircut. Three of the suspects had a dark complexion, two had a medium brown complexion, and one had a light complexion. The vehicle they used was described as a gray four-door vehicle with damage on the right front end. One suspect was wearing a black hoodie, another wore a green jacket, another was wearing an Abercrombie jacket, another wore a North Face jacket, another wore a white T-shirt.

* I HOPE THEY CATCH THEM... AND KILL THEM.

* I HAVE TO QUESTION, HOWEVER... COULD THIS BE GANG RELATED... RETALIATION... SOMETHING LIKE THAT? NOT EXCUSING OR DOWNPLAYING ANYTHING... JUST NOTING THAT AS PREVALENT AS SUCH GANG ASSAULTS ARE... AS GANG ROBBERIES ARE... GANG-RAPE OF STRANGERS ISN'T ALL THAT COMMON.