Saturday, February 17, 2007

Internal Intrigue/External Failure...

Re(1): 'The Truce is Over', The Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.
Re(2): '"Supporting the Troops" Means... Supporting the Troops', My Sandmen, Major Mike

Internal intrigues are not the true equal to external dangers.

Intrigue simply paves the way for externally driven destruction. When internal conflict seems more at hand than the external enemy we focus on the internal. However, it is the outside threat that destroys a state, a culture, a civilization.

Ask these questions:

Why is the Hagia Sofia a mosque?
Do you respect the Greek Navy?
Why is Latin a dead language?

So, a vocal minority and the silly masses in America compete ever more belligerently in a forty year long culture war while various external threats smolder. Many discount – or prejudge as inconsequential and ineffective – the external threats we face to our state, our culture, and our civilization. But, the threat of rolling back ‘the Great Leap Forward’ brings out the battle standards.

So, think this through. Our culture can internally shift more traditional – but progressives can continue to agitate for goals in-line with that value structure. Our culture values that agitation. Our culture requires that agitation. However, enemies outside our cultural umbrella do not respect and do not value much of anything fought over in the Culture War. They want to see it end.

Why is an Illini not an Indian?
Where is the Christmas Pageant?
Is there anything worth fighting for?

Friday, February 16, 2007

Thermopylae/Herdonia- And Choices Made...

Re(1): '17 Republicans Join the White Flag Caucus ', Victory Caucus, NZ Bear
Re(2): 'Battle of Thermopylae', Wikipedia
Re(3): 'Battle of Herdonia', Wikipedia

When sending men off to battle Spartan women told their men to come home with your shield or on it. The men were to fight and return with dignity or die trying.

However, You never drop your shield…

Simply put, you die when you drop your shield.

You die an inglorious death. A death without dignity or meaning. You do not face the enemy with your armor. You have nobody protecting your flanks. You get stabbed in the back – by an unforgiving victor. That enemy then moves onward – ever closer to your home and hearth. Dropping shields and fleeing fields resulted in the greatest massacres in military history. And, each coward's last thought is this truth.

The Libs have for years whined about the martial apect of American sports. They hate the reality that while on the court you can win, you can lose, but you do not quit…

The following Republicans dropped their shields today:

Representative James T. Walsh
Phone: 202-225-3701
Fax: 202-225-4042
Web Email

Representative Walter Jones
Phone: 202-225-3415
Fax: 202-225-3286
Web Email

Representative Wayne Gilchrest
Phone: 202-225-5311
Fax: 202-225-0254
Web Email

Representative Michael Castle
Phone: 202-225-4165
Fax: 202-225-2291
Web Email

Representative Richard (Ric) Keller
Phone: 202-225-2176
Fax: 202-225-0999
Web Email

Representative Philip Sheridan English
Phone: 202-225-5406
Fax: 202-225-3103
Web Email

Representative Ronald Ernest Paul
Phone: 202-225-2831
Web Email

Representative Frederick Stephen Upton
Phone: 202-225-3761
Fax: 202-225-4986
Web Email

Representative Thomas M. Davis
Phone: 202-225-1492
Fax: 202-225-3071
Web Email

Representative Mark Kirk
Phone: 202-225-4835
Fax: 202-225-0837
Web Email

Representative Howard Coble
Phone: 202-225-3065
Fax: 202-225-8611
Web Email

Representative John J. Duncan Jr.
Phone: 202-225-5435
Fax: 202-225-6440
Web Email

Representative James Ramstad
Phone: 202-225-2871
Fax: 202-225-6351
Web Email

Representative Steven C. LaTOURETTE
Phone: 202-225-5731
Fax: 202-225-3307
Web Email

Representative Robert Inglis
Phone: 202-225-6030
Fax: 202-226-1177
Web Email

Representative Timothy V. Johnson
Phone: 202-225-2371
Fax: 202-226-0791
Web Email

Representative Thomas Petri
Phone: 202-225-2476
Fax: 202-225-2356
Web Email
They shall only be remembered because they will never be forgiven…

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Sorry Libs, the Federal Budget is Balancing!!!

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement numbers for the first four months of FY2007'
Re(2): 'Federal Budget Slashing in Progress', Me
Re(3): 'Watching the Deficit', Me
Re(4): 'Brad and Other Libs Miss Deficit by Just 39%!!!' Me
Re(5): 'Budget Deficit Estimation' (FY2006), Me

Here comes another Monthly Treasury Statement - and, yes Randi Rhodent listeners, the Monthly Treasury Statement includes all the 'Emergency Supplimentals' for the War or whatever. Please, dear Rhodents, don't send me estimated budgets that still project a $423 Billion deficit for FY2006 - those numbers are all in and you lost...

So the MTS balance sheet will magically appear at 0900 EST on February 12 - the eighth working day after the end of the month. If you are reading this prior to that date/time Do Not Click. It ain't there. This is a premonition.

Here are the predictions:

  1. Individual Income Tax Revenue will increase (~10%)...
  2. Social Security Payroll Tax Revenue will increase (~10%)...
  3. Corporate Income Tax Revenue will increase significantly (~20%)...
  4. and, split government will limit the increase of Federal Spending to 2%
How does that affect the deficit. The spending constraint is holding - nobody can figure out how to slice up the yummy pork just sitting there on the table. The tax code changes are still resulting in a massive and reliable rate of growth in corporate income tax revenue (see earlier discussions on the dividend tax code changes). More people are working and thus paying the Social Security tax. And, wages are increasing - resulting in both individual income and social security revenue taxes increasing concurrently. So, I am adjusting the earlier chart to reflect these facets:


GrowthRevenueExpendituresDeficit
FY20062,406,6752,654,873-248,197
FY2007+8%2,599,2092,707,970-108,761
+9%2,623,276-84,694
+10%2,647,343-60,627
+11%2,671,409-36,561
+12%2,695,476-12,494
+13%2,719,543+11,573
+14%2,743,610+35,640
+15%2,767,676+59,706


I think the 2% growth in Federal spending will hold this year. Even the Libs can't spend all the money allocated to their pet projects. And, the military will not be able to spend all that is thrown their way - for the second year in a row!!!

I now think we will have about 11% revenue growth in FY2007.

Please note the sweet spot in the above chart. Recent trends indicate that the Monthly Treasury Statement numbers for the running deficit first four months of FY2007 will be about 1/3rd of the total deficit - no big surprise, eh... However, posting large December/January back to back surpluses portend very good things...

My projections for a $60 Billion deficit imply a $40 Billion dollar surplus for January.
That will match with the $44 Billion surplus for December.
Good things are happening...

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Hamas - 'A Man We Can Deal With'!!!

Re(1): 'Of Course', The Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.
Re(2): 'Hamas Wants West to End Blockade', The Age

Progress It Is!!!

"We have agreed with the Saudis to market this agreement internationally."
Hamas will market New Terror!!! A more overt, state sponsored, and state
protected variant of the barbarism they currently aspire too. Maybe they can use
AP to Photoshop the old 'New Coke' ads to save money!!!

"We will never recognize Israel. There is nothing called Israel"
That is an agreement all Fascists can start with. Actually, not all Fascists.
Many Fascists find other scapegoats - but the real ones can always hearken to
the golden oldie!!! We westerners can dust off the Chamberlain backgrounders on
how to deal with Fascists – especially when we identify ‘a man we can work
with’. Heck, maybe dust off the ‘Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact’ if we are really
adventurous and/or duplicitous!

"We, in the Hamas movement, will not abide by anything."
There always has to be a starting point, eh. The Global Community has to find
the lowest common denominator to initiate a frank and open discussion. I think
this might be the lowest common denominator ever brought into the peace process.
Maybe even a bit lower than ceding a sovereign nation to Nazi Germany.

I don’t know…

Bring on Jimmy…

Only Time will tell!!!

Thursday, February 01, 2007

The Arkin Man and His Poison...

Re(1): ‘The Troops Also Need to Support the American People, Washington Post, A Blitzed William Arkin
Re(2): 'The Arrogant and Intolerant Speak Out', Washington Post, Arkin in the Drunk Tank
Re(3): 'A Note to My Readers', Washington Post, A William Arkin under treatment

I am on a bender too!!!

Not really…

But I am enjoying a glass of ‘Beaulieu Vineyard 2004 Beauzeaux’ that to my pitiful palette is very good. Very good indeed…

But why admit to Boozin’ While Bloggin’?

Because, a Mr. Arkin seems to have the same affliction.

Mr. Arkin posted an ‘Early Warning’ on the WoPo blog while on an end-game drunk. The one question I had (that I attempted to post, but was not permitted to) revolved around a bit too much booze and a whole lotta prune juice. I thought he emptied his shit-bag of an 'id' on the crap paper we know as the Washington Post. Oh, well… I probably should have softened my tone...

So, Arkin sobers up a bit yesterday and writes an apology – sort of… It is I who is arrogant. Not he. While I have never, will never, and can never, have the honor of serving my nation in the military I still take affront to this. He accomplished this feat of excellence one day after a full on slobbering binge – but only sober enough to create complete sentences of acceptable structure. Must have been difficult, though…

And now, our hero – the Arkin Man – has sobered to the point on quasi-apology. But, how do you apologize for stating what you believe? You can’t….

I love it when some brilliant piece of shit - one I could decimate on any topic - informs me to appreciate his betters. Since this blog entry is the first to cuss I will puctuate it with a hearty Fuck You to the Arkin Man...

I hope there is a 12 Step Program for Boozin’ Haters of America…

Yeah, that’s the ticket…