Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Release of California Prisoners is Shortsighted - Yahoo! News
Release of California Prisoners is Shortsighted - Yahoo! NewsJake terrorizes his parents, and anyone who gives him news he doesn't want to hear. The list of news he doesn't want to hear is lengthy: get and keep a job, stop alcohol and drug abuse, stop menacing your parents, and get a life.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Opinion: Unlike Congress, Irish ministers willing to take their licks - Yahoo! News
Opinion: Unlike Congress, Irish ministers willing to take their licks - Yahoo! NewsSo Dublin was lots different and lots more fun than I thought it would be.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
TSA Under Fire by Left and Right - Yahoo! News
TSA Under Fire by Left and Right - Yahoo! NewsRadiation is cumulative, and by the time you hit middle age, you've been radiated more than the vegetables in the supermarket. I don't need any more x-rays, but I'm boarding a plane on Saturday, headed for Ireland.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
TSA Under Fire by Left and Right - Yahoo! News
TSA Under Fire by Left and Right - Yahoo! NewsThe issue of personal space touches not only on our psychological underpinnings, but also on our religious forbearance. My religion can be as extreme as any other, but I'm not yet ready for everlasting life especially if it's provided me by some mindless robotic creep with PETN in his heel.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
General Motors Goes Public, Raising Share Price to $32 - Yahoo! News
General Motors Goes Public, Raising Share Price to $32 - Yahoo! NewsThe Government Motors/GM IPO offers the opportunity for the well-heeled to make quick money on the "pop" associated with new offerings. Of course, too much "pop" would make the White House nervous, giving the appearance of another Wall Street handout to institutional investors, hedge funds, mutual funds, and sovereign funds. For this reason, it was announced today that the price of one GM share was revised upward from $26-$29 to $32 to $33. But why are small "retail" investors frozen out of the process?
Matthew Hoffman Arrested in Connection with Ohio Kidnapping and Disappearances - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
Matthew Hoffman Arrested in Connection with Ohio Kidnapping and Disappearances - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.comMatthew Hoffman Arrested in Connection with Ohio Kidnapping and Disappearances
13 Year Old Hostage Sarah Maynard Described as Hero by Police
Anthony Ventre, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Nov 16, 2010 "Contribute content like this. Start Here." More: cam newton Obama john boehner macbook Brett Favre The discovery of thirteen year old Sarah Maynard in a home in Mount Vernon, Ohio was a mixed blessing. Still missing are the thirteen-year old's brother Kody Maynard, her mother Tina Hermann, and her mother's friend, Stephanie Sprang.
13 Year Old Hostage Sarah Maynard Described as Hero by Police
Anthony Ventre, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Nov 16, 2010 "Contribute content like this. Start Here." More: cam newton Obama john boehner macbook Brett Favre The discovery of thirteen year old Sarah Maynard in a home in Mount Vernon, Ohio was a mixed blessing. Still missing are the thirteen-year old's brother Kody Maynard, her mother Tina Hermann, and her mother's friend, Stephanie Sprang.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Lame-Duck 111th Congress and the Big Bang Theory - Yahoo! News#buzzed=ac/20101115/7195434_lameduck_111th_congress_and_the_big_bang_theory#buzzed=ac/20101115/7195434_lameduck_111th_congress_and_the_big_bang_theory
Lame-Duck 111th Congress and the Big Bang Theory - Yahoo! News#buzzed=ac/20101115/7195434_lameduck_111th_congress_and_the_big_bang_theory#buzzed=ac/20101115/7195434_lameduck_111th_congress_and_the_big_bang_theoryRepublicans are also split on whether Earmarks Inc. will be liquidated or whether it will be bailed out in the lame-duck session. One can easily imagine the entire political establishment coming together to rule Earmarks Inc. as "too big to fail."
Cut Congressional Perks Before You Cut Anything
It's fiscal gluttony. Why on earth would we pay Senator Byrd's salary to his family after he's dead? That's what happening according to a poster on a Yahoo news site:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20101112/cm_ac/7177592_dont_cut_federal_salaries_cut_the_total_federal_work_force
The only good news I've heard is that we're getting rid of Nancy Pelosi's private jet which costs about 100,000 an hour. Boehner says he's going to travel commercial--expensive enough, but not nearly like the Empress Pelosi:
" 2 users liked this comment
Vote for this comment
Vote for this comment
0 users disliked this commentPam 11 hours ago Report Abuse How Are the Benefits? For Members of Congress
In a down economy, a good benefits package can be hard to find.
But on Capitol Hill, a 401(k) and health plan is just the beginning. The
Hundreds of candidates vying for a coveted congressional seat this November will
Earn more than a chance at shaping the nation's legislative priorities if
Elected -- they'll tap into a mountain of perks that most Fortune 500 companies
Couldn’t begin to rival.
A little-known benefit drew some attention Wednesday after it was reported that
The family of the late West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd will be paid his $193,000
salary next year. That's just the tip of the benefits iceberg that comes with
being a venerable member of Congress.
For those entering any of the 535 seats in Congress next year, here's a glance
at the world of juicy perks coming their way:
Fun Money: The base salary for a member of Congress is $174,000. But all members
enjoy access to a separate piggy bank known as their "allowance." This funding
generally goes toward maintaining their offices and building up a legislative
entourage. In the House, representatives are allowed to spend more than $900,000
on salaries for up to 18 permanent employees. They get about a quarter-million
dollars more for office expenses, including travel, and additional funding for a
well-known congressional perk known as "franking." Franking is the term for the
mass constituent mail sent out by members of Congress and paid for courtesy of
the taxpayer.
Senators enjoy the same privilege but get a much bigger allowance for their
office expenses. According to a Congressional Research Service report, the
average allocation for fiscal 2010 was more than $3.3 million. Personnel money
varies depending on how big of a state a senator represents -- a senator from
New York is going to get more than a senator from Montana. But for starters,
each senator is given a $500,000 budget to hire up to three legislative
assistants.
Nice Digs: A seat in Congress comes with office space -- lots of it. Not only do
members move into an office on Capitol Hill, they maintain space in their home
districts and states too. For senators, this benefit has a pretty high cap - up
to 8,200 square feet. The CRS report said there is "no restriction" on the
number of offices they can open in federal buildings in their home states. Plus
senators get to shop at the equivalent of Congress' IKEA -- furniture supplied
through the Architect of the Capitol. Every senator gets $40,000 -- and
potentially more -- for furniture in their home-state offices.
Bonus Tax Deduction: Members of Congress can deduct up to $3,000 for expenses
while outside their home districts or states.
Insurance/Retirement: All members of Congress can sign up for the same health
plan and life insurance policy available to other federal workers. But there's
more. In an age when the 401(k) often becomes a substitute for a pension,
representatives and senators enjoy access to both. First, members of Congress
can sign up for a 401(k)-style "Thrift Savings Plan," a tax-deferred investment
in which members' contributions are matched up to 5 percent.
Then there's Social Security. Then there's the pension plan. The pension
payments and eligibility vary -- in a nutshell, members are eligible for an
immediate, full pension at age 62 if they've served five years or more; they're
eligible at age 50 if they've served 20 years; and they're eligible at any time
after they've served 25 years. The annual amount of the pension depends on a
lawmaker's salary and the number of years he or she served -- typically the
amount is considerably less than a lawmaker's outgoing salary. "
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20101112/cm_ac/7177592_dont_cut_federal_salaries_cut_the_total_federal_work_force
The only good news I've heard is that we're getting rid of Nancy Pelosi's private jet which costs about 100,000 an hour. Boehner says he's going to travel commercial--expensive enough, but not nearly like the Empress Pelosi:
" 2 users liked this comment
Vote for this comment
Vote for this comment
0 users disliked this commentPam 11 hours ago Report Abuse How Are the Benefits? For Members of Congress
In a down economy, a good benefits package can be hard to find.
But on Capitol Hill, a 401(k) and health plan is just the beginning. The
Hundreds of candidates vying for a coveted congressional seat this November will
Earn more than a chance at shaping the nation's legislative priorities if
Elected -- they'll tap into a mountain of perks that most Fortune 500 companies
Couldn’t begin to rival.
A little-known benefit drew some attention Wednesday after it was reported that
The family of the late West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd will be paid his $193,000
salary next year. That's just the tip of the benefits iceberg that comes with
being a venerable member of Congress.
For those entering any of the 535 seats in Congress next year, here's a glance
at the world of juicy perks coming their way:
Fun Money: The base salary for a member of Congress is $174,000. But all members
enjoy access to a separate piggy bank known as their "allowance." This funding
generally goes toward maintaining their offices and building up a legislative
entourage. In the House, representatives are allowed to spend more than $900,000
on salaries for up to 18 permanent employees. They get about a quarter-million
dollars more for office expenses, including travel, and additional funding for a
well-known congressional perk known as "franking." Franking is the term for the
mass constituent mail sent out by members of Congress and paid for courtesy of
the taxpayer.
Senators enjoy the same privilege but get a much bigger allowance for their
office expenses. According to a Congressional Research Service report, the
average allocation for fiscal 2010 was more than $3.3 million. Personnel money
varies depending on how big of a state a senator represents -- a senator from
New York is going to get more than a senator from Montana. But for starters,
each senator is given a $500,000 budget to hire up to three legislative
assistants.
Nice Digs: A seat in Congress comes with office space -- lots of it. Not only do
members move into an office on Capitol Hill, they maintain space in their home
districts and states too. For senators, this benefit has a pretty high cap - up
to 8,200 square feet. The CRS report said there is "no restriction" on the
number of offices they can open in federal buildings in their home states. Plus
senators get to shop at the equivalent of Congress' IKEA -- furniture supplied
through the Architect of the Capitol. Every senator gets $40,000 -- and
potentially more -- for furniture in their home-state offices.
Bonus Tax Deduction: Members of Congress can deduct up to $3,000 for expenses
while outside their home districts or states.
Insurance/Retirement: All members of Congress can sign up for the same health
plan and life insurance policy available to other federal workers. But there's
more. In an age when the 401(k) often becomes a substitute for a pension,
representatives and senators enjoy access to both. First, members of Congress
can sign up for a 401(k)-style "Thrift Savings Plan," a tax-deferred investment
in which members' contributions are matched up to 5 percent.
Then there's Social Security. Then there's the pension plan. The pension
payments and eligibility vary -- in a nutshell, members are eligible for an
immediate, full pension at age 62 if they've served five years or more; they're
eligible at age 50 if they've served 20 years; and they're eligible at any time
after they've served 25 years. The annual amount of the pension depends on a
lawmaker's salary and the number of years he or she served -- typically the
amount is considerably less than a lawmaker's outgoing salary. "
Friday, November 12, 2010
Don't Cut Federal Salaries; Cut the Total Federal Work Force - Yahoo! News
Don't Cut Federal Salaries; Cut the Total Federal Work Force - Yahoo! Newsthe American Federation of Government Employees and National Treasury Employees Union attorneys will find a work-around which will jump up salaries through other means—revised step scales, for example. The better idea would be to let GS-scale workers alone, efficiently manage and deploy them, and cut down on the total size of the federal bureaucracy.
Obama Bipartisan Commission Recommendations Aimed at Middle America - Yahoo! News#buzzed=ac/20101112/7170818_obama_bipartisan_commission_recommendations_aimed_at_middle_america
Obama Bipartisan Commission Recommendations Aimed at Middle America - Yahoo! News#buzzed=ac/20101112/7170818_obama_bipartisan_commission_recommendations_aimed_at_middle_americaMost of the "savings" recommended by the commission are aimed at working middle income Americans. Eliminating property tax deductions discourages home ownership and encourages a transient, rootless population. Lifting deductions for state and local taxes while disallowing mortgage interest deductions will transport America to the land of unintended consequences.
Meeting the presidents: a superficial view of President Obama and others - Yahoo! News
Meeting the presidents: a superficial view of President Obama and others - Yahoo! NewsMany people describe an Obama who seems remote, detached, a president who perorates. Obama's is not the language that penetrates the heart. There is often a feeling of Panmunjom in it. Being myself dysfunctional in affairs of heart, I relate to the lack of emotionalism. Yet Obama covers it up with an overlay of community-organizer inspired cant. Me, I'm just plain cold sometimes.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
'Debate' for convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal spawns protests in Philadelphia - Yahoo! News
'Debate' for convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal spawns protests in Philadelphia - Yahoo! NewsIn 1981, Philadelphia's Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of killing a police officer and sentenced to die. Eyewitness reports from a cab driver, a prostitute and a motorist told how Abu-Jamal stood over the fallen cop and fired at him. As with many death penalty cases, the families of the victims are worried the killer could outlive them all. Certainly, 56-year-old Mumia Abu-Jamal outlived Judge Albert Sabol who presided over the original case. Sabol died in 2002 at the age of 81.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Janet Napolitano Comments on Air Bombs at Midlands and Dubai
Now the administration is really, really, really, really serious about terrorism. They’ve now ordered that printer ink cartridges full of PETN can no longer be shipped in the cargo bellies of aircraft.Woo-hoo! Janet Napolitano issued a statement saying that the Dubai and Midland bombs bore the “hallmarks of Al Qaeda.” Golly, gee, it is soooooooo comforting to know that numbskull former New Mexico governors like Napolitano can rise to top security positions where their true brilliance can be experienced by all of America. Unable to secure our borders, Napolitano now turns her skills to making air lanes safe for terrorists and insecure for travelers.
.
.
Nancy Pelosi as minority leader is helpful to GOP - Yahoo! News
Nancy Pelosi as minority leader is helpful to GOP - Yahoo! News Conservatives believe that Pelosi is the best campaigner for the republican president they expect to be in the Oval Office after 2012.
NJ Gov. Chris Christie Schools NBC Reporter David Gregory
It was worth a laugh. It bugs me out, too, when reporters in the liberal media frame things in the manner of Democrat talking points.
I'm talking about David Gregory's interview with NJ Gov. Chris Christie. Invariably--that means all the time...:)-- MSM reporters mention that extending the Bush tax cuts must "still be paid for." This little positional phrase implies that Republicans favor passing some new tax cut. No, we favor maintaining the tax status quo.
Christie whupped up on Gregory, who looked a little pale when the Gov. gave him the blunt Jersey Boy treatment. Chris Christie was only pointing out what was obvious. Raising taxes, as the Democrats want to do if they don't extend the cuts, is a counter-stimulus during this Great Recession, something that will march back the Federal Reserve's attempts at stimulating the economy through QE.
It's kind of weird, too, to see Gregory stuck on this track when Obama's supporters have conceded it would be stupid to raise taxes now. Goes to show you how habituated they are to following the Dem Party game plan.
I'm talking about David Gregory's interview with NJ Gov. Chris Christie. Invariably--that means all the time...:)-- MSM reporters mention that extending the Bush tax cuts must "still be paid for." This little positional phrase implies that Republicans favor passing some new tax cut. No, we favor maintaining the tax status quo.
Christie whupped up on Gregory, who looked a little pale when the Gov. gave him the blunt Jersey Boy treatment. Chris Christie was only pointing out what was obvious. Raising taxes, as the Democrats want to do if they don't extend the cuts, is a counter-stimulus during this Great Recession, something that will march back the Federal Reserve's attempts at stimulating the economy through QE.
It's kind of weird, too, to see Gregory stuck on this track when Obama's supporters have conceded it would be stupid to raise taxes now. Goes to show you how habituated they are to following the Dem Party game plan.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Opinion: Pennsylvania governor-elect Tom Corbett wants to put Pa. liquor stores into private hands - Yahoo! News
Opinion: Pennsylvania governor-elect Tom Corbett wants to put Pa. liquor stores into private hands - Yahoo! NewsBalanced against the state's debt and the threat of additional income taxes, the public employee unions should be able to see the logic and necessity of biting the bullet on this one. Instead, Pennsylvania Liquor Control gets bright ideas like promoting a new liquor brand by hip-hop superstar Ludacris. The churches didn't show up for that one, either.
Opinion: Pennsylvania governor-elect Tom Corbett wants to put Pa. liquor stores into private hands - Yahoo! News
Opinion: Pennsylvania governor-elect Tom Corbett wants to put Pa. liquor stores into private hands - Yahoo! NewsBalanced against the state's debt and the threat of additional income taxes, the public employee unions should be able to see the logic and necessity of biting the bullet on this one. Instead, Pennsylvania Liquor Control gets bright ideas like promoting a new liquor brand by hip-hop superstar Ludacris. The churches didn't show up for that one, either.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Opinion: Pleased that Pennsylvania has returned to a multi-party system - Yahoo! News
Opinion: Pleased that Pennsylvania has returned to a multi-party system - Yahoo! NewsHow quickly things move in the age of communication. America voted only two days ago and yet the news of the Democrats' defeat seems already old. If a person made a list of things which went wrong two days ago for Democrats and Progressives, you would have to include one item that appears on the list of things that went right for President Obama in 2008: the mainstream media.
The big push for Republicans came when network and cable news shows like MSNBC and CNN discovered that the Tea Parties were the sine qua non enabling them to paint Republicans as a bunch of wild-eyed, right-wing racists. With the advent of Tea Party demonstrations around the country, the mainstream media's daily bombardment could have flattened a small country. Shortly thereafter, the game was up for Democrats, though it would be a long time before they noticed.
The big push for Republicans came when network and cable news shows like MSNBC and CNN discovered that the Tea Parties were the sine qua non enabling them to paint Republicans as a bunch of wild-eyed, right-wing racists. With the advent of Tea Party demonstrations around the country, the mainstream media's daily bombardment could have flattened a small country. Shortly thereafter, the game was up for Democrats, though it would be a long time before they noticed.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
John Kasich vs. Ted Strickland is tough call for Ohio's governor race - Yahoo! News#buzzed=ac/20101101/7089796_john_kasich_vs_ted_strickland_is_tough_call_for_ohios_governor_race
John Kasich vs. Ted Strickland is tough call for Ohio's governor race - Yahoo! News#buzzed=ac/20101101/7089796_john_kasich_vs_ted_strickland_is_tough_call_for_ohios_governor_raceRepublican Senate leader Mitch McConnell has openly declared his intention of making sure President Obama is a one-term president. Meanwhile, foreign and domestic policy leaders wishing to contact the American president might want to phone Ohio first.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)