BoghieOnYourSix

A Quick Update on the Deficit Destroyer...

2011-11-23T08:37:00.000-08:00

It might seem impossible.

I'm not talking about our deficit hawk President blowing up the deficit, but this:

This Administration and Congress has actually increased the annual deficit EVERY YEAR.

We should all have more confidence in our politicians.

President Bush		President Obama
Year	Deficit	Year	Deficit
2001/02/01 - 2001/09/30	$ -53,129	2009/02/01 - 2009/09/30	$ 1,019,780
2002/09/30	$ 158,520	2010/09/30	$ 1,294,204
2003/09/30	$ 374,219	2011/09/30	$ 1,298,614
2004/09/30	$ 412,553	2012/09/30
2005/09/30	$ 318,615	2013/09/30
2006/09/30	$ 247,698	2014/09/30
2007/09/30	$ 162,833	2015/09/30
2008/09/30	$ 454,806	2016/09/30
2008/10/01 - 2009/02/01	$ 395,943	2016/10/01 - 2017/02/01

Totals:	$ 2,472,058	Totals:	$ 3,612,598

Black Swan President - Beware the Bunny!!!

2011-08-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement', The U.S. Department of Treasury

Our accomplished Presidential Black Swan is still on a roll!!!

But, President Carter's Killer Bunny is back in the water. Watch out President!!!

I was going to post the fact that the Federal Gubmint Leviathan actually cut spending (on the sly. This President cannot state that fact openly;-}) in May and June. But, I had confidence our Presidential Spender would not mend his ways! And, I was right! His administration securitized assets from Federal retirement accounts - and, had to borrow over $240 Billion to pay it back. Oh well, I didn't have much hope.

But, he is doing something even the biggest spenders in history could not do.

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President Bush		President Obama
Year	Deficit	Year	Deficit
2001/02/01 - 2001/09/30	$ -53,129	2009/02/01 - 2009/09/30	$ 1,019,780
2002/09/30	$ 158,520	2010/09/30	$ 1,294,204
2003/09/30	$ 374,219	2011/07/31	$ 1,099,901
2004/09/30	$ 412,553	2012/09/30
2005/09/30	$ 318,615	2013/09/30
2006/09/30	$ 247,698	2014/09/30
2007/09/30	$ 162,833	2015/09/30
2008/09/30	$ 454,806	2016/09/30
2008/10/01 - 2009/02/01	$ 395,943	2016/10/01 - 2017/02/01

Totals:	$ 2,472,058	Totals:	$ 3,413,885

Jimmy Carter had his Bunny Moment.

Our current President is waiting for his!

4th Turning Choices...

2011-08-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'The Long-Term Stakes of the Debt-Ceiling Fracas', Forbes, Brink Lindsey
Re(2): 'The Fourth Turning', William Strauss and Neil Howe
HT: RealClearMarkets

The referenced article is probably the best I have read on the debt ceiling and debt management topic.Basically, it comes down to Boomers not paying for their stuff. So, we have a range of options.

Pay for the stuff

Cut the stuff

A Mix

Now, it might be important to remember that all you Boomers are asking the GenXers to pay the bill.

On the positive side, GenXers are pragmatic, self-sufficient, practical, perceptive, and savvy.

On the negative side, GenXers are tough, uncultured, amoral, and unfeeling.

In a '4th Turning' the Boomers will promote culture changing ideas, the GenXers will fight. We are watching that now.

In my opinion, we will watch much of the welfare state fat get wiped away in the next ten years. Remember, Boomers are of two minds. The Burlap Sack and Birkenstock archetype and the Gingrich archetype. You know where I stand. And, who has been winning the fight these last twenty years?

If I were to guess, this is in the wings:

Balanced Budget - not an Amendment, just the hard choices

A Flatter, less 'Progressive' Tax System - Everybody Pays for Stuff

An increase in Medicare Taxes - Anyone think 2% pays for Medical Stuff

A Cut in Social Security - With the Bush Option of investing part in the Market

A Cut in Welfare Benefits - Leading off with Wiping out Benefits for Citizens of another Country

A Cut in Defense Spending - But, with a Hard Headed Approach to Benefits, Strategy, and Material

A Decimation of Federal Departments that Came into Existence During the 1970s 'Doing What Feels Right' Mood

In affect, the contraction of the Nanny State.I know there are other opinions, but how do you fight for a continuation of not funding your largess? Look back at the GenXers. Do you see hope there? Where are your knife fighters?

Outrunning the Radio - Not So Fast

2011-05-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Ping', The Belmont Club, Richard Fernandez (Wretchard)
Re(2): 'Delete from TbPerp Where...', The Belmont Club, Richard Fernandez (Wretchard)

The old adage that you can't outrun a radio proved true once again this past weekend.

While folks are justifiably huzzahing our special forces and our intelligence services, a more basic axiom has presented itself.

The value of information, the speed of information, and the exploitation of information.

What Wretchard is postulating is that our military and intelligence services now process data into actionable information faster than the enemy can adjust. We are often inside the enemies OODA Loop. We will be hearing of a rollup soon enough.

And, for those who will soon decry the death of innocent victims at bin Laden’s house, a simple message:

'Don’t Dine With Terror Turds.'

We might be nearing the end of our 4th Turning. One that starts with a war and ends with a financial collapse.

I hope we can say ‘Been there, Done that…’

Hope, Change - Bring Out the Pretorian Guard!!!

2011-01-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'The Crusade of Innocents', The Belmont Club, Richard Fernandez (Wretchard)
Re(2): 'Anarchy is Back', Instapundit, Glenn Reynolds

So, the Left is dissatisfied...
And, their messaging dupes are hollering...

The Left places their hope for change in a man and the state. Inevitably, they fail to produce. Then either/both the man and the state are castigated. So much hope for so much change - and what is done never works. Thus, since what was wanted obviously works, the fault must lie with the man. Out with the old man, time for a new man. But, never a time for new ideas.

Bring out the Red Guard.
But, the Old Man suppresses the Red Guard.
In the end, all one can say with any accuracy is ‘Oh, well’.

Obama is a Miracle Man, a Miracle...

2010-12-13T18:03:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement', The U.S. Department of Treasury

Note: These are actual numbers.

The One accomplished in 22 months what it took Bush the Chimp eight years. Less than two years from his immaculation, President Obama has created more debt than BusHitler's entire two terms. And, we have another six years to go!!!

President Bush		President Obama
Year	Deficit	Year	Deficit
2001/02/01 - 2001/09/30	$ -53,129	2009/02/01 - 2009/09/30	$ 1,019,780
2002/09/30	$ 158,520	2010/09/30	$ 1,294,204
2003/09/30	$ 374,219	2011/11/30	$ 290,826
2004/09/30	$ 412,553	2012/09/30
2005/09/30	$ 318,615	2013/09/30
2006/09/30	$ 247,698	2014/09/30
2007/09/30	$ 162,833	2015/09/30
2008/09/30	$ 454,806	2016/09/30
2008/10/01 - 2009/02/01	$ 395,943	2016/10/01 - 2017/02/01

Totals:	$ 2,472,058	Totals:	$ 2,604,810

He did it with Elan...

With Gusto...

Proud...

And, just think Libs, he could be around for another 74 months. Imagine the greatness.

He could even exceed Jimmy Carter...

Obama's Economic Miracle - FY2010

2010-12-13T17:56:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement', The U.S. Department of Treasury

Note: These are actual numbers.

President Bush		President Obama
Year	Deficit	Year	Deficit
2001/02/01 - 2001/09/30	$ -53,129	2009/02/01 - 2009/09/30	$ 1,019,780
2002/09/30	$ 158,520	2010/09/30	$ 1,294,204
2003/09/30	$ 374,219	2011/09/30
2004/09/30	$ 412,553	2012/09/30
2005/09/30	$ 318,615	2013/09/30
2006/09/30	$ 247,698	2014/09/30
2007/09/30	$ 162,833	2015/09/30
2008/09/30	$ 454,806	2016/09/30
2008/10/01 - 2009/02/01	$ 395,943	2016/10/01 - 2017/02/01

Totals:	$ 2,472,058	Totals:	$ 2,313,984

As of the completion of FY2010 (just 20 months into Obama's Presidency) 'The One' is just $158 Billion away from BusHitlers 96 months of unforgivable deficit.

I have confidence.

It will be a stretch, but he should accomplish this feat in less than 1/2 of his first term.

Truely amazing...

The United Nations...

2010-11-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'A Second Point of View', The Belmont Club, John Fernandez (Wretchard)

When the 'United Nations' had teeth of steel and skin of armour...

It is truly amazing to hear the term 'United Nations' describing a victorious war machine forcing the surrender of a warrior culture.

Today the 'United Nations' is a toothless hag trying to capture the carbon footprint of warships built and sunk during that 'pointless' war.

Oh well...

He Gave it 'The College Try!'

2010-11-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement', The U.S. Department of Treasury

Note: These are actual numbers.

President Bush		President Obama
Year	Deficit	Year	Deficit
2001/02/01 - 2001/09/30	$ -53,129	2009/02/01 - 2009/09/30	$ 1,019,780
2002/09/30	$ 158,520	2010/08/31	$ 1,294,090
2003/09/30	$ 374,219	2011/09/30
2004/09/30	$ 412,553	2012/09/30
2005/09/30	$ 318,615	2013/09/30
2006/09/30	$ 247,698	2014/09/30
2007/09/30	$ 162,833	2015/09/30
2008/09/30	$ 454,806	2016/09/30
2008/10/01 - 2009/02/01	$ 395,943	2016/10/01 - 2017/02/01

Totals:	$ 2,472,058	Totals:	$ 2,313,870

Probably missed his milestone by just a month!

How could Congress get wiped out when they were so close!!

Only $158 Billion till President Obama equals BusHitlers eight years of effort!!!

He's Going to Do It!!!

2010-09-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement', The U.S. Department of Treasury

Note: These are actual numbers.

President Bush		President Obama
Year	Deficit	Year	Deficit
2001/02/01 - 2001/09/30	$ -53,129	2009/02/01 - 2009/09/30	$ 1,019,780
2002/09/30	$ 158,520	2010/08/31	$ 1,259,597
2003/09/30	$ 374,219	2011/09/30
2004/09/30	$ 412,553	2012/09/30
2005/09/30	$ 318,615	2013/09/30
2006/09/30	$ 247,698	2014/09/30
2007/09/30	$ 162,833	2015/09/30
2008/09/30	$ 454,806	2016/09/30
2008/10/01 - 2009/02/01	$ 395,943	2016/10/01 - 2017/02/01

Totals:	$ 2,472,058	Totals:	$ 2,279,377

Can President Obama do the impossible!!!

He has just one month to spend $192,681 Billion more than his administration brings in. And, he is hampered by the fact that September is normally a revenue month.

It will take 'The Black Swan Event' (President Obama) 21 or 22 months to accomplish what it took the Chimp (President Bush) 96 months to accomplish.

The era of fiscal responsability is here!!!

LibTard Ideas and Ideology Aren’t Bad, But Morons Implement Them...

2010-09-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

LibTard Ideas and Ideology Aren’t Bad,

Its just that we always have incompetent boobs implementing them…

Now comes the very predictable recriminations from the ideological Left:

1938 In 2010, NYT, Paul Krugman
One Nation, Two Deficits, NYT, Peter Orszag
Obama's Foreign Policy Has Failed, The Daily Beast, Peter Beinart
Democrats Fleeing Obamacare, The Weekly Standard, Jeffery H. Anderson
Right Response to Unemployment Is Smart Stimulus Spending, The Nation, John Nichols

And, that's not all. However, I only have 30 seconds to sell you the Clapper, Ginsu Knives, and two days of Liberals blaming Obama for the failures of their ideology. All this for three low, low payments of $19.99.

In summary:
LibTards always have faith in socialist ideals, but those ideas always seem to have dipshits implementing them.

That is why they fail.

Every time.

Yup

The Grandson of Porkulus

2010-09-06T08:42:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Obama wants $50 billion to beef up infrastructure 'as soon as possible'', The Hill, Darren Goode and Bridget Johnson
Re(2): 'Obama to propose $50 billion in infrastructure spending for stimulus', Hot Air, Ed Morrissey

To allow we Americans to blissfully avoid the coming debt repayment crunch our glorious Baby Boomers have inflicted upon us, our Fearless Baby Boom Leader proposes another splurge of infrastructure spending.

He wants to borrow $50 Billion to cover additional shovel ready infrastructure projects.

Just 18 months ago he pushed through $787 Billion in borrowed Porkulus spending – which he promised toward infrastructure shovel ready projects.

After his Democratic Congress got through with it there was about $105 Billion committed to ‘infrastructure’. Actually, not even that:

“The original Porkulus had $105 billion in so-called “infrastructure investments,” and none of it produced any economic growth. Transportation accounted for $48 billion; energy infrastructure and R&D got the same amount of money. Housing got $10 billion.”

So, the “Black Swan Event” President has just found another dump load of shovel ready Porkulus. A new and bold approach to solving our economic problems. Straight out of the 1930s. And, if I may comment, how many workers does an infrastructure project require. Answer: far fewer than required in the 1930s. What a goober.

My statement to the “Black Swan”:

I don't want this guy - or this Congress - touching another borrowed dollar.

The Era of Fiscal Responsibility!!!

2010-08-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement', The U.S. Department of Treasury

Note: These are actual numbers.

President Bush		President Obama
Year	Deficit	Year	Deficit
2001/02/01 - 2001/09/30	$ -53,129	2009/02/01 - 2009/09/30	$ 1,019,780
2002/09/30	$ 158,520	2010/07/30	$ 1,169,071
2003/09/30	$ 374,219	2011/09/30
2004/09/30	$ 412,553	2012/09/30
2005/09/30	$ 318,615	2013/09/30
2006/09/30	$ 247,698	2014/09/30
2007/09/30	$ 162,833	2015/09/30
2008/09/30	$ 454,806	2016/09/30
2008/10/01 - 2009/02/01	$ 395,943	2016/10/01 - 2017/02/01

Totals:	$ 2,472,058	Totals:	$ 2,188,851

August is normally a deficit month. The normal deficit for August is somewhere around $70 Billion (inflation adjusted). My guess is that our fiscally responsible President and his Congress will dramatically 'improve' on that normal - making it 'The New Normal'...

Where does that leave our Responsible President and Congress?

With a deficit of a mere 283,207 Billion for the month of August they will match in 19 months what took that piker Bush 96 months.

Amazing!!!

That is Change We Can Believe In!!!

See those specks, up in the air, a Black Swan?

2010-04-23T20:20:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Fire and Ice', The Belmont Club, Wretchard
Re(2): 'Engagement Queue', The Belmont Club, Wretchard

There is a difference between Risk and Uncertainty...

University of Chicago Professor Frank Knight described the distinction between risk and uncertainty in these words. “Uncertainty must be taken in a sense radically distinct from the familiar notion of Risk, from which it has never been properly separated…. The essential fact is that ‘risk’ means in some cases a quantity susceptible of measurement, while at other times it is something distinctly not of this character … It will appear that a measurable uncertainty, or ‘risk’ proper, as we shall use the term, is so far different from an unmeasurable one that it is not in effect an uncertainty at all.” In other words, Knight wanted to differentiate between risks we could measure and those which we could not estimate. Donald Rumsfeld conveyed the same idea much more eloquently and comprehensively.

As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know there are known unknowns.
That is to say, we know there are some things we do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don’t know we don’t know.

The Black Swan event is not a risk, it is an unmeasurable uncertainty. We have lived through a few Black Swans in the last decade. This stock market - which actually feels rather like a standard growth market - is with high probability measurable, and thus has risk. We may get a 10% contraction - a correction - but, that is normal and measurable and acceptable. A market move like that is NOT uncertain. It will happen. It is not the Black Swan of new crash.The Black Swan event that is setting up will be the 'leaker' that gets through the defense. I don't think the next Black Swan will be the same one we just saw. We have multiple inbounds, multiple adversaries, and discordant directors. As Wretchard states:

Yet with events coming at a fast and furious pace it will always be problematic whether the response will be quick enough; or whether a “leaker” will get through to change the game even faster than is happening now. Emergence tends to throw curve balls. They also tend to speed up the ball-throwing machine. In some things people must trust to luck, not just to avoid dangers but to seize opportunities.

But luck favors the ready.

Things seem to be moving rapidly.

Keep your head on a swivel.

Look, talk on defense.

Be ready...

Looking Forward to 2011 Already...

2010-01-01T14:52:00.000-08:00

The evil BusHitler's great tax giveaway to the corpulant wealthy of Nazi America is about to sunset...

On this very day next year the pathetic slugs that stole so much over the past decade will be taxed at the same rates as they were during 'The One' administration prior to "The One's administration". Here is a comparison for folks filing as Married Filing Jointly:

I know this looks like everybody is getting jobbed, but that just ain't so. Those rich bastards (and their families) making a hundred G's will get whacked for $3,464 more per year. So what if you get knocked up for an additional $2,560 a year. You can handle it. It's just $215 less take home pay for the month. What is that - gas, electricity, food. Just cut the fat and enjoy the schadenfreude.

This example of justice is inflation adjusted (uses 2009 dollars), uses the 2009 tax schedule, and uses a 2000 inflation adjusted tax schedule to demonstrate this power to the people moment.

And, lookie here everybody.

That Moronic BushChimp sunsetted his tax giveaway just after folks vote in November 2010. Just after the vote. Nobody will be talking about it before it happens. And, nobody will be adjusting their taxable income either till after it hits em.

What a waste of air!!

What an idiot!!!

Chimp!!!

Single Plier Health Care...

2009-07-07T20:19:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'A Land Fit For Heroes', The Belmont Club, Richard Fernandez

Re(2): 'Man pulls out 13 of his own teeth with pliers 'because he couldn't find an NHS dentist'', The Daily Mail

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Each word Free

Priceless

That Pesky Obama Deficit Chart Thany

2009-06-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

Re(1) 'Let it come down', Obsidian Wings, Von
RE(3): Monthly Treasury Statement

To All,

The standard argument against:

is being fought again by libs in the comments section of Obsidian Wings. Von is 100% correct. The numbers from Bush's years are ACTUAL numbers and come from the 'Monthly Treasury Statement'. These numbers are actual expenditures - not budget projections. In fact BusHitlers budgeted deficits were generally FAR HIGHER than the actual deficts. Regardless, the Monthly Treasury Statement includes the annual war supplimental. That site is an exceptional resource. It is located at:

http://www.fms.treas.gov/mts

Use the September reports to get full Fiscal Year data.

And, yes, without the FY2007 war supplimental we were looking at a deficit of about $70 Billion. You can see the DOD splurge on receiving the supplimental.

And, the total cost of the war has been about $100 Billion/year. A cost President Obama has elected to continue.

And, Bush had a role in the FY2009 bloat. But had nothing to do with the 'Emergency Stimulus Bill ($860 Billion) nor any of the other 'emergency' spending that occured after January 19th (more auto and bank bailouts). He is responsible for TARP - which never was completely obligated (and will not be) and is now being paid back (at least in part). Will President Obama's 'Stimulus' be paid back. Nope. Splitting the blame will actually be fairly simple. Bush - TARP. Obama - Everything else. We will, however, have to wait till someone breaks it down. We have to wait to see if the banks are stupid enough to keep enslaving themselves via TARP bailout cash. I think it is clear they are staying far far away from the TARP Baby.

And, at what point in the Bush Presidency was there ANY talk of defaulting on Treasury debt or inflating our way out of paying it?

And, the evil BusHitler warned us in 2000 and 2004 that Social Security was heading into the red by 2008/09. And, yup, it shore is bubbas.

Son of Spendulus is the Master Spender

2009-03-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement', The U.S. Department of Treasury

Just a note, just a note...

The numbers for President Bush are actual. The numbers for President Obama are projected. The Bush numbers include any money spent during his administration for the war and TARP.

President Bush		President Obama
Year	Deficit	Year	Deficit
2001/09/30	$ -127,165	2009/09/30	$ 1,750,000
2002/09/30	$ 158,520	2010/09/30
2003/09/30	$ 374,219	2011/09/30
2004/09/30	$ 412,553	2012/09/30
2005/09/30	$ 318,615	2013/09/30
2006/09/30	$ 247,698	2014/09/30
2007/09/30	$ 162,833	2015/09/30
2008/09/30	$ 454,806	2016/09/30

Totals:	$ 2,002,079	Totals:		$ 1,750,000

President Obama has just authorized running a single year deficit that is 82% of President Bush's entire deficit accrued over eight years as President. President Bush did not play a part in the $840 Billion dollar Spendulus bill. President Bush did not play a part in the $410 Billion dollar Son of Spenulus. President Bush has not played a part in spending anything since President Obama gained control of the government.

Who is a better steward of the citizens contributions toward our Federal government???

President Obama, this thing is yours...

Social Security - Rolling Over...

2009-02-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

Re(1): Monthly Treasury Statement FY2008
Re(2): Monthly Treasury Statement FY2009

I hate to break this to everybody, but BusHitler was right regarding Social Security. He campaigned on changing it in 2000 and 2004. He stated that FY2009 would be the year Social Secuirity revenue would be exceeded by Social Security expenditures.

That moron hit it on the mark.

Last fiscal year Social Security revenue/expenses were about even:

Revenue: 658,045
Expenditures: 657,799

This years projection, not so good:

Revenue: 682,373
Expenditures: 699,976

Folks, this is the first year that the government doesn't get to incorporate a Social Security surplus into its revenue stream to buy 'Bridges to Nowhere'!!!

Obviously, with unemployment being 7.6% rather than 4.6% the revenue from payroll taxes will reduce - but that was NOT incorporated into the projections!!! So it will be worse!!!

And, now President Obama wants to spend more money - with comments that it is the spending that counts, not judicious spending. Just spending.

Finally, BusHitler was right. The long term benefits of compounding interest investment requires a long term. He figured eight years. Then prayed four years would be enough. Bubbas, we gave him nothing (and, noting todays stock market collapse if you just watched your investments rather than moved them, nothing might have been for the best!!!).

Now, President Obama is six inches into the hole - a hole he probably knew nothing about. He was talking about Hope and Change. The time for small, incremental change is over!!! I Hope he can come up with a new financial Change that is not a killer!!!

Folks, we punched ourselved in the face.

Invest in The New 'Treasury Turd Bonds'

2008-09-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'It's not a bailout; it's the dollar's credibility', The Skeptical Optimist, Steve Canover

Let us postulate that the government funds the purchase of the cookies with Treasuries. If our brilliant government asset managers (maybe borrow some expertise from Fannie Mae or Freddy Mac) can melt, mash, and refine the assets - separating the turds from the chocolate - than you have at least two piles of assets. The pile over here is comprised of quite tasty chocolate chip cookies. Yummy. I think I saw Barney Frank romping and chomping on that pile. But, over here, a nauseating fecal smell permeates the atmosphere. The dogs come by, sniff, and walk away. Children run gagging from that pile of ‘assets’.

However, we know the truth, eh… Nobody will be able to refine these assets into their elemental parts. How are you going to know if grandma Boomer One bought a small, almost imperceptible, turd in her cookie while grandma Boomer Two owns an untainted treat. Anyone think any politician will have the heart tell Grandma One to give her cookie back – tell her she is gobbling on a turd. Upper lip quivering and feeling her pain or something. We all know everything will be dumped at fire sale prices because the government will not be able to sniff out the turds from the chips. Our government won’t even want to get on their knees and initiate the sniff test.

Regardless, assuming our vaunted government sniffers are up to the task, now what do we do?

1. Mix it all back together to hide the power of the stench and mark it down with a known turd to chip ratio. What happens to the Turd Tainted Treasuries? This is the most likely ‘solution’. Yippie, this asset lump has a turd to chip ratio of 5%. We can make a plan or something. However, Grandpa and the Chinese and the Saudi Sheiks will want a bit more of a return to cover their potential medical bills. But, at least they know they have a 5% chance of catching cholera.

2. Keep them separate. Wait till the good assets grow in value enough to cover the cost of the turds under the tarp. All the while paying the rent on the gym where the two piles are stored (the cost of borrowing required to purchase the original pile of tainted assets). Might be a while. Then hire someone to start shoveling the turds into the toilet bowl. Don’t want this to be a SuperDome thang, eh…

Here, however is my solution!

Since the brilliant government flaks are obviously in charge – and worthy of managing a trillion dollars – they obviously have some handle on what they are buying. That is, they must have some idea of how big the pile under the tarp is in relation to the one Barney Frank has been traipsing in. Have confidence. Now, in my opinion the government should fund the ORIGINAL purchase of the asset mix via two different instruments. Something like a Ginnie Mae for the yummy cookies. And, a brand new ‘Treasury for Turds’ bond for the not so good cookies. If someone buys the ‘Treasury for Turds’ bond he/she is speculating that there will still be some chips in the mess. Probably a good bet, eh. Then get to the refining.

Here, is my offer to those who want part of the action via my personal assets:

I’ll buy the second ‘Treasury for Turds’ bond.

You buy the first.

Hopefully, the bond will have a cute design like a Disney stock certificate. Maybe a collector’s item.

Thank You Senator Obama

2008-09-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Obama says no place for Palin daughter story', The Politico, Jonathan Martin

Senator Obama, I cannot vote for you because politically I do not agree with the direction you are taking. To be fair, I can barely lean in wahtever direction McCain wobbles into.

However, I have always thought you a gentleman and a decent person. I gave you a longer look than I have given any Democrat for President in my sensible voting lifetime.

Children and non-politicizing family should not be hassled during an election.

My concern - and the major reason I averted my eyes from your candidacy - are the zealots that track you. Democratic Underground and DailyKOS adherents are not folks I want to be around.

Kinda like Bill Ayers, eh - zing!!!

Choices Made…

2008-08-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'The Fourth Turning', William Strauss and Neil Howe

Senator McCain:

An Artist who got kicked in the teeth chose a GenX Reformer with a background of challenging the establishment while sending her child off to a Fourth Turning war. Governor Palin definitely defines the ‘Nomad’ in Strauss & Howe’s ‘The Fourth Turning’. She is an energetic leader who is unafraid to make the hard call needed to get the job done. She obviously is not a dutifull follower of entrenched 'experts'. So, let me mention some others in that Archetype:

Francis Drake
Nathaniel Bacon
George Washington
Ulysses S. Grant
David Eisenhower
David Petraeus

Yup, many of them are wartime leaders. Another example would be Harry Truman, eh… They are the leaders of men that decide the conflicts of their era. They are not necessarily the Prophets of Ideas – but, as you can see by the list, they are not devoid of game changing punch in that realm either.

If Governor Palin follows the Archetype her traits will be as follows:

Positive Reputation	Negative Reputation
Savvy	Unfeeling
Practical	Uncultured
Perceptive	Amoral

Senator Obama:

A Prophet who lives the life of a Nomad selected an Archetypical Artist from the previous saeculum. This is a generation that seems to get lost in the mix. Some behave like Prophets, others Nomads. This archetype comes to flower AFTER the Fourth Turning conflict and erects the foundations that stabilize the next four generations (United Nations, NATO, Warsaw Pact, Civil Rights Movement, etc.). Biden's archetype is this generations GenX children.

I think Biden, however, will simply get lost in this the crisis era. He has made NO mark yet – so why should he in the time remaining. He is too old, his values too conflicted, and his positives are too dreamy to be useful in a time of conflict. His negative traits overwhelm those positives in a Fourth Turning. To be fair I will document those traits as follows (and invite you to come to your own conclusions on his role in this Fourth Turning):

Positive Reputation	Negative Reputation
Caring	Sentimental
Open-Minded	Complicating
Expert	Indecisive

An interesting dynamic, eh. The patterns became clear while watching reruns of CSPAN and listening to replays of talk radio this weekend. Palin fits the era, Biden does not. McCain flows in and out but is tough and decisive, Obama sits dead center as a Prophet but is weak and indecisive and picks someone elses choice for Vice President.

Interesting times we live in, eh.

Time to Select the Company and Platoon Leaders

2008-08-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

McCain has selected his XO…

I t should be obvious - and the timing is right. Republicans must select their next batch of Senate and Congressional leader. Take the initiative! Place those selections in the public eye. Make those selections reformers – not Joe Biden or Ted Stevens or Robert Byrd Lites. May I STRONGLY suggest you look at some of the folks on McCain’s short list. No more pork barrel pigs or stodgy time servers.

Prove you are on board.

Do not wait till January.

Do it now, elect reformers, and step into power after the November elections.

That is what WE want.

McCain Selects His XO

2008-08-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

Senator McCain picked a challenging, but impressive, XO.

He wanted someone loyal. Not all decisions made in the Oval Office are 100% righteous. Not all are made with 100% certitude. Not all are black or white. All, however, should be made honorably and with concern.

Similarly, he wanted someone who would challenge him if the decision process became a dishonor. If one became flippant.

Anyone out there think Governor Palin will be a toady. This is a two edge sword, but it is obvious that a real leader wanted a real XO.

McCain has picked XOs before.

Character and Leadership
Talent and Promise
Wanted an XO
Got One.

PS. Whatever one may think of the other potential selections (Romney, Pawlenty, Cantor, etc.) it is apparent now that the Republican bench is quite big, quite promising, and quite effective. The Democrats, not so much…

They Call Her Sarah

2008-08-29T18:39:00.000-07:00

And, that is a very good thing...

A very, very good thing.

Think about it.

She is a known MAVERICK
She is a Conservative
She is an Executive
She competes
She wins.

Human Rights...

2008-08-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency', Saddleback Church, Rick Warren

Rick Warren asked pointed questions, permitted answers in depth, and allowed out two candidates for President of the United States to define themselves.

I am not an abortionalutionist or whatever. Most of the time, regretfully, I do not care about the subject. However, the question was succinctly asked:

"At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?"

Think about it.

It is a tougher question, on deeper review, than one thinks - eh…

We are not talking about legal rights.

We are not talking about political rights.

We are not talking about economic rights.

We ARE talking about HUMAN RIGHTS!!!

The most basic set of rights any human holds. The inalienable ones. Not given by man to man. Instead, they are those given by God, god, or gaia.

To deny HUMAN RIGHTS is to perpetrate a CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.

Senator Obama, your answer was an abortion.

Signing Ceremonies…

2008-05-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Cracks in the ground', The Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.
Re(1): 'May 2008 One Of Top Two Least Violent Months Of The Entire Iraq War', The Strata-Sphere, AJ Strata

The Libs have been prattling about trying to figure out how we are to surrender when we lose. They think a rapid retreat is all that is needed to settle the conflict. That militant Islamists will not continue their struggle when we turn around and go home. No signing ceremonies in a torture house or any ceremonial head chopping in some city square in Mecca are needed.

But, name a finished war that never ended officially?

Now, however, with the long term trends being what they are, we have to ask ourselves where and how does the militant Islamist movement surrender?

This is not a snarky question. We civilized people have no desire to kill or destroy.

Who is the guarantor that militant Islam will cease hostilities toward America, Iraq, Israel, and the West in general?

Has President Bush again led the Lawrence Wright, in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, mentioned that the two centers of Islam are Egypt and Iraq. Allowing the civilized element of Iraq to flourish and dominate may prove to re-center Islam to Iraq – the strong horse. A different, but civilized, people and culture – one not wedded to jihad, expansion, and murder.

Pray, hope…

I would love to go to Iraq as a tourist.

Istanbul was stunning.

Baghdad would be amazing.

Babylon anyone. Nineveh. To see the cradle of civilization…

The Left hath no Fury Like an Appeaser Scorned

2008-05-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'It was never OK to carve up Czechoslovakia', Ed Morrissey, HotAir.com
Re(2): 'Bush, and His Use of Appeasement', Bruce Ramsey, The Seattle Times
Re(3): 'Hypocricy on Hamas', James P. Rubin, WashingtonPost.com

1. First the good. Actually the very good. The more I think about it - good enough to be on my permanent 'My Favorite Posts' blogroll. I still use that thing for research. Anyone else find it valuable?

Ed Morrissey's post 'It was never OK to carve up Czechoslovakia' concisely argues the fact that there was absolutely NO justification for allied nations GIVING AWAY a sovereign state during a negotiation with a tyrant.

None.

Nada.

Never.

Morrissey further emphasizes this obvious point (obvious to anyone but the oblivious MoonBat Left) by recalling history anyone with eyes or finger sensation or ears could attain in a few moments of research. The fact that Hitler’s Germany acted in bad faith on the world’s stage for years prior to England and France ceding half a sovereign state to its clutches. They rearmed in violation of treaty. They increased military manpower in violation of treaty. They attacked and took territory in violation of treaty. They built a vast submarine fleet in violation of treaty. And, they acted the part of barbarian hoards for years prior to WWII.

Basically, that era of Krauts behaved like this era of Islamofascists.

Hence the name, eh.

2. Now the bad. Actually, the very bad. Now that I am thinking about it - the completely ignorant and stupid and vapid.

If I only had a blogroll for idiotic MSM ‘journalism’. But I don’t – and won’t. That task would be a full time job.

First, the wizened opinion of an idiot. Namely, Bruce Ramsey and his argument that Hitler’s Germany had some righteous arguments for demanding and accepting part of a sovereign state – just prior to rolling his tanks over the rest a few months later. You see, Hitler’s demands were reasonable because part of the Czechoslovakia Republic spoke German and because the great powers had to avoid war. Dude (I now speak a language he understands), Switzerland's official language is German. Dude, we speak a Germanic language. Dude, we sent black people to Berlin's Olympics to whomp on Aryan Germanic Ass. We Americans oppressed the German Nazis by sending a 'nigga' to show them up on their own racist home turf. The Krauts had basis for negotiating the cession of at least half the American eastern seaboard for that slight. They were oppressed, very oppressed, mightily oppressed, etc...

And to top it off, Bruce just committed a blogospheric injustice by rewriting his trash. Still not much better. Try again bubba. I’ll find the original version for posterity sake.

Moron.

Fool.

And, a fool is forever.

Second, a Clintonoid named James Rubin misquotes his own videotape and transcribed interview with Senator John McCain to make McCain look like an ObamAppeaser. It’s not every day that an MSM moron can – or will – misquote his own interview. But, here we have it!!!

Rubin quotes McCain word for word, nuance for nuance, inflection for inflection, facial expression for facial expression, etc. on the first thirty seconds of a videotaped interview he had with McCain two years ago when Hamas was dutifully elected by the enlightened citizens of Hamasistan. But, whoops, the dog ate the next thirty seconds. Certainly nobody would catch him with only half his homework done. I mean, if the WashedOutPost editors and fact checkers don’t call him on his inadvertent misplacement of an important quote than some slugs in their pajamas never will!!!

Let her ride!!!

You two ignorant turds.

The Web is Forever.

Brave Mam Clinton

2008-03-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Shameless liar on Bosnia: I’m only human', Hot Air, AllahPundit
Re(2): 'HILLARY - OBAMA: Sucking all the cash out of the Democrats?', Instapundit, Reynolds
Re(3): 'The presidential race in perspective', KnoxNews, Michael Silence

Only a Lib would brag about being part of President Clinton's crack Foreign Policy Squad...

I think al-Qaeda operatives saw Mrs. Clinton snorkeling around the docks of Aden harbor after the Cole bombing. Bin Laden and his brave Minutemen ran for the hills.

She was on-site immediately following the Khobar Towers bombing. She single handedly captured an al-Qaeda financier. Guns blazing, Brave Mam Clinton gave fair warning, requested the door be opened, and read the Minuteman his rights. That criminal got off on a technicality by some kinda troglodyte man.

And, she defied the ‘wag the dog’ commentary and personally guided a Tomahawk missile to an Iraqi WMD factory – or maybe an aspirin factory – but, it is the thought that counts. Rode that missile like the brave pilot in ‘Doctor Strangelove’. Gods, she was beautiful.

Finally, in yet another example of leadership in a time of crisis Hillary Clinton braved smoke and mirrors saving victims from the 1st World Trade Center bombing. As a result, there were only six fatalities.

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.

An Easter Look at Killing...

2008-03-23T11:01:00.000-07:00

Re(1): As US Deaths In Iraq Approach 4,000 Over 5 Years, Some Perspective, The Strata-Sphere, AJ Strata
Re(2): 'What is the real death toll in Iraq?', The Guardian, Jonothan Steele and Suzanne Goldenberg

Let us look at some nasty statistics this Easter. Let us see if the SurrenderMedia can find a nugget of crap to chew upon:

A review of recent statistics demonstrates (Using the ICC stats, assuming a 6 month average of 552 wartime fatalities per month which seems to be the current level):

Iraq Civilian Casualties as a result of the war:
24.1/100,000The pre-surge rate was: 74.7/100,000

United States
Murders and Suicides: 16.3/100,000
Murders only: 5.6/100,000

So, Iraq is not the United States. It is not England. It is not Japan. Iraqi’s are not as worried about single payer healthcare or whatever as we are. However, the situation has dramatically improved and that improvement is accelerating.

From 'What is the real death toll in Iraq?’
Maximum Accepted Saddam-Era state sponsored mortality
1 million killings over 35 years, rate: 105.45/100,000

Accepted count of 380,000 Saddam state sponsored killings over those 35 years - not including Iran/Iraq war: 41.1/100,000.

Thus, Saddam killed about 11,300 per year every year. And these were state murders – not illnesses, accidents, old age, etc. And, should we not include Saddam’s unjust wars? And, the ratio seemed to accelerate through the years!!!

Surge era killings by ‘militants’ and coalition troops will result in about 6,600 per year at the current ratio. And, this ratio has a solid chance to decline as al-Qaeda weakens. Thus, the norm in Iraq under Saddam was almost double that of the current ICC stats and the differential will likely widen.

Anyone want to claim that Saddam and his lovely children and sycophants would have worked hard on behalf of the Iraqi people to reduce the state sponsored murder rate?

Or, would that pathetic genocidal murderer simply assume he had a god given mandate to murder citizens since they voted for him at a 95+% rate?

On the Conservative Message

2008-01-05T08:12:00.000-08:00

I, too, think the ‘Reagan Coalition’ is no longer the standard under which conservative politics can be marketed…

Why?

Because there is little left to fight for.

Taxes: Bush’s tax code is dead center for me and most folks in America. I am middle class. My 25% bracket just seems fair. I no longer pour over deductions – looking for every edge. I just pay ‘my fair share’. Under Bush my first $15,000+ is untaxed, the next $48,000+ is taxed at 15%, and anything over at 25%. Under Clinton my first $54,000 was taxed at 15%, and the rest at 28%. Why should a married couple making less than $15,000 pay tax. Why should a middle class chap almost pay 1/3 of his income in federal tax? The tax code is fair. We just pay. The corporate tax is much the same. The tax treatment of dividends wiped out ENRON style fraud. What is left – the 28% bracket. Small stuff…

Defense: Bush came into office with the DOD funded at about 2/3rd’s of requirement. Remember, we ran out of Tomahawk missiles when dealing with Afghanistan. Remember the flood of senior SNCOs leaving the military. Remember the officer corps exiting stage wherever. Remember the ammo shortages. Remember a 162 ship Navy. An 8 Division Army. A depleted Air Force. That was the Clinton Legacy. We are now a much more modern and effective military. We just need a bit more numbers – and, both the Army and Marine Corps are growing in a sustainable fashion. Clintons last budget appropriated $344 Billion (inflation adjusted). Bush’s last budget appropriated $450 Billion – excluding supplementals for the war. That is on target. And, it didn’t come with an unmanaged splurge.

Social Values: Tried ‘Faith Based Initiatives’ – public didn’t rally. Appointed quality judges – got no credit. Demonstrated healthy Judeo-Christian values in public – decried as a theocrat, an ignoramus, and/or a liar. How many 40 year old issues will move tens of millions? Abortion – not for me.

Those were the old issues. The new ones are:

Spending Responsibility: Bush had to fight a war. The Libs wanted bribes and the ‘Fiscal Conservatives’ wanted a big piece of the growing pie. I put ‘Fiscal Conservative’ in quotes because they proved not to be. They figured that since the pie (tax revenue) was growing so rapidly they could take bigger bites and still shrink the deficit in a timely manner. Well they misjudged. The folks in America figured that the $250 million dollar bridge in Alaska could have partially funded the supplemental. The folks figured out that income does not always go up in America. Sometimes there is an economic downturn. The credit card does come due. We are actually in a great position for a politician to remind the voter that we can run in the black for decades – and, do so with no pain.

Social Security: Bush fought the good fight – but powerful trust funders in the Senate squelched and mangled the message. On purpose – some. Out of complete ignorance – most. I mean, if you have $10 million earning 4% I think you can live off of $450,000 a year especially when you have a salary of $220,000 a year. So these ignorant louts think that a 30 year old ‘investing’ 12% of his/her income can do the same with the same interest. Safe and sound. The morons cannot do basic math. The results are about $11,000 in annual benefits. Now, we watch as the Rangel $1 Trillion dollar tax hike affects the way corporations and individuals account for their assets. Surprise. Oh, well. I think this is a solid angle with all the 401(k) investors out there.

American Values: Classic WASP values can be proposed and lived by Americans. Who cares about which faith he/she believes in. We really don’t need a ‘Baptist Based Initiatives’ project – but a ‘Faith Based Initiative’ or a ‘Values Based Initiative’. Yup. Good idea. Where would you rather send your money – the Salvation Army or the Federal Department of Education?

So, the message is still there. But we don’t have to surround the walls of Jericho anymore. We already have that city.

4th Generation Musings...

2007-12-16T10:26:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'The Implosion Of The Leftward Fever Swamps, Dems Mob Out Of Control', The Strata-Sphere, AJ Strata

A Disconcerning Thought.

Are Lefty Boomers looking inward?

The time to watch is when the GenXers start acting on the influence of the Boomers.

Those latch-key kids who spent their childhood during an era of dissolving family and social structure tend to see things in a practical manner. They get things done – and in some cases break the eggs used in the omelets.

For example. Is it the Boomers wailing about the GWOT or the GenXers? Yup, the Boomers are awailing and the GenXers are adoing. Look at the difference between Petraeus and Wesley Clark in the way a military campaign is run. Petraeus knows casualties are coming but still fights to win. Clark accepted no pain and gave himself no chance to win. Look at the Boomers like Pelosi and Reid and Malloy (Air America) and Sheehan wailing that only oldsters and children are showing up at their rallies. The GenXers may not like the war – who does – but, they realize that unpleasant things must be completed and a war decisively won. The life of a GenXer revolves around making tough decisions and acting on them toward completion.

But, what happens internally. When Boomers influence pragmatic – and in some cases violent – GenXers. The clown (Leeland Eisenberg) with flares in his jacket at the Clinton campaign headquarters was a Boomer. Timothy Mcveigh was a GenXer. Boomer Leeland wanted to make a Kerryesque senatorial protest point, GenX Mcveigh decided he hated the government apparatus and moved to kill it. We have Boomers with dangerous ideas all over the spectrum. If/when they focus internally – and, I think the left is starting to – we are in for some rough times. Even if they want to fight it out with cultural wars rhetoric they will influence GenXers to fight it out on the streets. I think the Wingnuts can be controlled, but I can’t see anyone controlling the Moonbats.

We do live in interesting times.

Adding and Subtracting...

2007-11-24T09:58:00.000-08:00

Re(1): The Strata-Sphere, AJ Strata
Re(2): The Skeptical Optimist, Steve Conover

Well Adding

Not Subtracting

You absolutely have to add AJ Strata to any viable blogroll – he is a rocket scientist or something or whatever after all… And, he is a center right kindof guy. Well worth listening too.

And, for optimistic (and fair) economic analysis one can do no better than Steve at the Skeptical Optimist. He and Jayson (of pre-immigration debate self-immolation) were the still small voices of economic reason piercing the doom and gloom of Sauron’s Eonomy. Steve is an honest broker who keeps tabs on things even when the budget and economy aren’t leaning in the right direction – like now.

Out of the cacophony I am starting to hear that 'still small voice'...

The past six months or so have been in flux. No trends of note could be studied or reviewed or written on with confidence. Now, many long term trends are starting to build.

al-Qaeda is losing it's 'base'.

They put everything on the line in Iraq thinking that democracies are the weak horses. That hasn't worked out well for them. The libs were - and are - weak horses, but their weakness didn't completely infect our culture. Regardless, there still is a transnational conflict with militant Islam. Will we continue to press our hand without being able to focus on a singularity?

The American voter is seeking leadership.

The body politic is deeply split right now - but, there is starting to be movement toward the center. To me, the overarching quality the American voter is looking for is leadership. Is there any other reason for Giuliani leading in the Republican polls? For Romney? For Thompson? Then, again, there are the Democrats. Will they go the way of the dodo bird as a result of their ‘leadership’ in Congress? I would not want to be a Presidential candidate in a Democratic Party that is ineffectively ranting and raving to satisfy its financial and ideological base. Conversely, the Republican Party is recentering.

Iran is being dealt with as a valued member of the Axis of Evil.

And, all out war will not be necessary. Will the next president be able to deal with the chaos of an Iranian collapse? President Bush Sr. dealt with the fall of the Soviet Union. I have confidence in Giuliani, Romney, Thompson – but what about Clinton or Obama. See above.

The Federal tax revenue stream is no longer promising.

Is this because corporations and individuals like me are adjusting to the new reality of a Congressman Rangel defined tax code? Financial decisions have to be made now - before one is actually affected by the various proposals. Remember, the most recent tax increase was retroactive - as was the most recent tax cut. Do I really want to be in dividend producting securities if/when dividends become taxable as income? Do the oil companies want to show profit now that their investors no longer desire dividends?

It is now time to raise ones voice!!!

Time for a New Entry in the 'My Favorites Posts' List

2007-11-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

Re(1): ‘The Real Surge’, The Belmont Club, Wretchard TC
Re(2): 'The Race is On', Me
Re(3): 'Keep Your Eyes on the Prize', Me
Re(4): 'Red/Blue in the Middle East', Me

So, Iran is in a commanding position this Thanksgiving…

Me thinks not.

As stated here, here, and especially here there seems to be a strategic effort to deal with the second leg of the Axis of Evil.

Wretchard, the esteemed purveyor of The Belmont Club, naturally describes this better than others in ‘The Real Surge’…

Well written, concise, and now part of my research post list...

Arround and Around we go!!!

2007-11-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

Are we heading backward towards 2001/09/10 - the last day of the roaring 90's...

Or forward towards 2001/09/12, the first day of the end of the Islamofascist movement...

The Hard Left has been smoking cancer sticks for so long I can't remember a moment when one wasn't poking from their ever scowling grill.

The Center Left moved away from them.

Recently, however, the media provided the means for the Hard Left contagion to stream into the center.

If we have the anti-bodies remaining to fight this internal struggle than the Left in America will be destroyed.

Is this a good thing?

Not always…

And, that comes from a conservative neocon.

But, it is a thing.

It is a fact.

Both Parties will have to rebuild. One from the ground up – cursing the idealists and power brokers who cannot see the good in our society, who cannot see the good in our efforts, who run the show completely and without remorse, The other from the center out – picking off those who have no backbone, no morals, no guiding stricture.

Back to the culture wars, eh…

This is a test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test...

2007-10-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a weird thought:

Americans are blithely trooping about listening to music on their radios. The latest tunes. Songs of love, dogs, cats, killing cops, or whatever turns each individual on… In the background we hear of auto crashes and traffic snarls…

Every week or so we experience the aggravating sound of the ‘Emergency Alert System’ test:

Squawk..
Squawk..
Squawk..
"This is a test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test."
Squawk..
"This is a coordinated monthly test of the broadcast stations in your area. Equipment that can quickly warn you during emergencies is being tested. If this had been an actual emergency such as (insert types of messages that may occur in the geographic area) , official messages would have followed the alert tone. This concludes this test of the Emergency Alert System."
Squawk..
Squawk..
Squawk..
‘This concludes this test of the Emergency Alert System.”.

Music and joy or cop killing or whatever fills the air again.

Here is the skinny…

We accept that test. Most respect that test. We know we need that test.

Six years into the GWOT we accept the war, most respect the warfighter, and we know we have to be engaged in the region. We don’t like it. But we accept it. We are very happy that most of the sounds are ‘tests’ of the system and not Katrinas with thousands or hundreds of thousands of casualties. We feel prepared.

When a Katrina is forming or blows in most will heed the warning and act. Some will ignore the Emergency Alert System and switch to their iPod or whatever. But, in full, there will be major action. There have already been major adjustments.

Maybe someone with an iPod stuck in his/her ear-hole will be elected. That would be a shame. Both for us and our enemy. But, we are large and still in charge. And we have mobilized our economy (which is perking along just fine), our infrastructure (which is very robust and getting more so), our military (which is in the region and gaining experience), and pushing to ‘close the gap’ (which will help any leader focus on a smaller and smaller region for full retaliation). It would be a shame to lose thousands more and to be forced into sowing a land with salt – but, that might be the end result.

Bush’s War Machine by the Numbers…

2007-09-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Joe Sixpack on Taxes', The Fly Bottle, Will Wilkinson
Re(2): 'The July 2007 Monthly Treasury Statement', Department of the Treasury
Re(3): 'Monthly Treasury Statement', Department of the Treasury
Re(4): Bureau of Labor Inflation Calculator

Some poor Lefty (Alphie) posted the usual blather at Will Wilkinso’s ‘The Fly Bottle’ blog stating:

And the $400+ billion the U.S. government paid in interest last year(mostly to foreigners) on the money it borrowed in the past instead of rasing through taxes?

Even Joe Sixpack realizes that if he runs off to Vegas and blows his mortgage money on a good time…there will be a cost.

When he sobers up, that is.

(Spelling errors his)

The poor sod.

He is off by $29 Billion on the interest payment – in his favor!!!

And:

Off by a massive $161 Billion on his DOD spending. That is a 30% error.

So, I got to thinking…

Just how big is Bush’s War Machine…

Some facts first:

The GDP in 2000 was 9.8 Trillion
The GDP estimate for 2007 is $13.5 Trillion.
Thus, GDP in 2007 in 2000 dollars is 11.2 Trillion

DOD spending in FY2000 was $281 Billion
The DOD FY2007 spending estimate is $539 Billion
Thus, DOD FY2007 spending in 2000 dollars is $445 Billion

Some opinion:

Very few associated with the military found the DOD spending acceptable. Anyone remember running out of Tomahawk missiles in October 2001? Anyone remember any new military technology that was developed in the Clinton era? Anything we did not have in 1992? Anything at all? Maybe some up-armored HMMVEs?
So my opinion is that we had to spend a bit more in the DOD to compensate for Clinton Era cutbacks. We all know the military ‘survived the Clinton Era!!!’. But, just barely

Now the Math (in 2000 dollars):

Bush has grown the DOD budget by:
$445 Billion - $281 Billion = $164 Billion.
In that time, Health and Human Services grew by:
$561 Billion - $390 Billion = $171 Billion

With Tax Revenue Growth of:
$2,127 Billion - $2,025 Billion = $102 Billion
And, a FY2007 deficit of probably $120 Billion ($99 Billion in 2000 dollars). With a balanced budget – or even a surplus – in FY2008!!!

Thus, under Bush,
The DOD expenditures are 3.7% of GDP
The Health and Human Services expenditures are 5.0% of GDP
The DOD expenditures are 20.9% of Tax Revenue.
The Health and Human Services expenditures are 26.4% of Tax Revenue

Thus, under Clinton,
The DOD expenditures are 2.9% of GDP
The Health and Human Services expenditures are 4.0% of GDP
The DOD expenditures are 13.9% of Tax Revenue.
The Health and Human Services expenditures are 19.3% of Tax Revenue.

That War Machine is costing 0.8% of GDP and 7% of Tax Revenue. There are no serious experts who think we should spend less than 4% of GDP on our military. Only folks like Alphie I guess.

So, here is my deal with the Lefty’s:
Let’s cut DOD expenditures by $25 Billion and HSS expenditures by $35 Billion. That is, shave 5% off of each budget!!! Then, with the tax revenue growth President Bush has initiated we shall see a large surplus next year.

Let’s shake on that!!!
The Grand Bargain!!!

I flushed once…

2007-09-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'As 9/11 Draws Near, a Debate Rises: How Much Tribute Is Enough? ', NYT, N.R. Klienfiled

No, not a Larry Craig joke.

Instead, yet another miserable article by the NYT…

The basic jist of Klienfield's article is: 9/11 – Get over it!!!

Some quotes:

Few Americans give much thought anymore on Dec. 7 that Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941 (the date to live in infamy). Similar subdued attention is paid to other scarring tragedies: the Kennedy assassination (Nov. 22, 1963), Kent State (May 4, 1970), the Oklahoma City bombing (April 19, 1995).
Generations, of course, turn over. Few are alive anymore who can recall June 15, 1904, when 1,021 people died in the burning of the steamer General Slocum, the deadliest New York City disaster until Sept. 11, 2001. Also, the weight of new wrenching events crowds the national memory. Already since Sept. 11, there have been Katrina and Virginia Tech. And people have their own more circumscribed agonies.
What might happen on Sept. 11 a hundred years from now? “It’s conceivable that it could be virtually forgotten,” said Dr. Bodnar, the history professor. “Does anyone go out on the streets of New York and commemorate the firing on Fort Sumter?”

To answer Klienfield’s questions as well as that of the good doctor’s:

Klienfield, we Americans remember World War II. Have you visited the monument? Do you go shopping on Veterans Day? Memorial Day? You may not remember the start of World War II – but that only proves you are an ignorant lout. Personally, if you do not remember ‘the day that lives in infamy’ I can’t help you. Why are you qualified the write about epoch changing events?

Klienfield, I do not commemorate the Kennedy assassination, Kent State shooting, the Katrina hurricane, or the Oklahoma City bombing because those events did not upend America the way the Revolution, the Civil War, World War II, and 9/11 have. The Kennedy assassination is remembered – but what has it changed. The other events were tragic – but why are they on your list.

A natural disaster?

A steamship fire?

A mass killing?

Why not put Contra Gate on that list? Watergate? Did some Christianist Wing-Nut editor at the NYT scandalously excise those references from your screed? How about the 1977 San Diego State beating of Florida State? Are all tragedies equal. Can you define the Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II as tragedies and still tell the world that you are a man of letters? Spend a second and think of 9/11. Was it a 'tragedy'?

I live over three thousand miles away.

I will allow my memory of 9/11 to fade when I find myself living in an era of PAX Americana. I will remember ‘Victory over Barbarism Day’. If you ignorant troglodytes will allow a victory than that will be the day I celebrate. Is that a fair bargain? Let us shake on that.

To make my point a bit clearer. To cut though the fog of BDS infliction. If you cannot separate a steamship fire from the initiation of a hot war than I am sorry.

You and yours are turds still floating aimlessly in the bowl.

Looks like I have to flush that damn toilet again.

It Didn't Happen

2007-08-25T08:52:00.001-07:00

Re(1): "It Didn't Happen", The OpinionJournal, James Taranto
Re(2): “History Proves Vietnam Victors Wrong”, Wall Street Journal, Senator James Webb
Re(3): “The Approach Of The Arab Pol Pot”, HughHewitt.com, Hugh Hewitt
Re(4): “Vietnam Analogies”, HughHewitt.com, Dean Barnett

Because of articles like these - and the long memories of an educated citizenry - I think it will be impossible to bail from a conflict without addressing the consequences.

It was possible in 1975:

To run and hide.
To cut and run and redeploy.
To have a compliant media ignore the facts.

There is simply too much information, too much history, and too many sources to ignore the circumstances of a run and hide strategy.

I am including Taranto's article on the 'My Favorite Posts' link list.

I would have included Webb's as well - but, me thinks politics may add, shall we say, nuance to his writings in the near future. I want to keep the 'My Flameouts' link list as clean as possible. What Webb writes in 2000 is now open to interpretation by Webb in 2007 and beyond!!!

Measurement and Change...

2007-08-25T08:20:00.000-07:00

Re(1): ‘Process’, The Belmont Club, Wretchard

Process and initiative are both basic cogs in an ever improving and competitive enterprise. There is a balance. You need both.

The Clinton Legacy was one that neither respected the military nor the intelligence services. Hence, they would not accept failure and could not accept results unless ‘process was followed’ and ‘accountability could be ascertained’. Both the military and the intelligence services were not critically important assets since they were not immediately aligned to Liberal goals. Basically, these entities never adapted to the peace dividend!!!

Therefore, the view was that they must change incrementally. Thus, process improvement techniques where implemented (TQL) to build a ‘stronger’ military and ‘revamped’ intelligence service. However, under Clinton ‘stronger’ was ‘more streamlined’ and cheaper - and ‘revamped’ was a re-tasking to economic and social research. We were, of course, talking about ‘Peace in Our Time!!!’.

Conversely, after 9/11 we went straight to change and initiative without much regard to process. To me, this was necessary. The processes were not set up to redevelop and restructure the entity. They were there to make it manageable and cheaper in peacetime. However, we are now dealing with the excesses and failures of initiative without measurement. America is now restructuring its processes to match its reality. Hence, the hue and cry about surveillance and counter insurgency surges. The Left is still unconvinced that the military and intelligence services have adapted to the modern world, and the Right cannot prove that they have. We are now readdressing process. It is ugly, but it is necessary.

Here is a very strong positive of the Clinton starvation by process and the ‘W’ process be damned just give me progress initiatives. Now, the military has a much lighter support footprint and understands process improvement techniques. The best example is Rumsfeld’s water spiquet references. Even during wartime he wanted to measure effectiveness and make incremental changes based on those facts. Another example is the recent review of NSA surveillance techniques – and, the reasonable adjustment to the wild-wild west changes that occurred in October of 2001. Why is that important? It is important because we can now change tactics and equipment and training and recruiting and retention – and still measure how the changes affect the whole.

We have changed, We are changing, And, we are improving.

I would hate to be the other guy!!!

Some Reletively Unsubstantiated Thoughts...

2007-07-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

1. bin Laden is dead or weak.
2. The tide has turned against al-Qaeda.
3. al-Qaeda's strategic actions seem to take place in Iran and Pakistan.

I have a feeling inside, can't explain...
I have a feeling inside, I can't explain...

But, I can state a few things:
1. We don't want to get beat by Islamists ANYWHERE
2. This conflict is not over when al-Qaeda is wiped out; it is a wider conflict.
3. Iran and Islamist elements of Pakistan will not enjoy Sunni Islamists inside their borders

and, lest we forget some earlier commentary...

We will not definitively know when we have won the conflict...

This 4th of July

2007-07-04T16:25:00.000-07:00

Re(1): ‘Harry Jaffe’, The Hugh Hewitt Show
RE(2): 'The Dennis Prager Show', Dennis Pragwer

Listening to Harry Joffrey and Dennis Prager this July 4^th - while debating yet another Conflicted Leftist on ‘Back Talk’ - moved one synapse in my vague and beer addled mind to connect with another…

What do I love and respect about my country – the good old United States of America!!!

I love my nation because we:

accept imperfection,

know we are imperfect,

can act on our imperfections,

and have the freedom to strive for perfection.

Where else in this fine and diverse abode on which we all live is this true. We accept our imperfections, but have confidence we can challenge and overcome them. Slavery is a perfect example. For the greater good, slavery was actually written into existence - written into the Constitution. But, that Constitution can be, must be, and will be changed. Over 600,000 fellow Americans died to change that central mores – but, we did the right thing.

Additionally, and here I might be on thin beer bleary thin ice, where else on this marble of ours does a nation celebrate its birth as being the date of legal separation. Not a battle won or a war started. But, instead, when a document that defines a belief and presents a grievance is presented to the general populace. Who really remembers the first or last battle in the Revolution?

We remember a perfection written by the naturally imperfect.

The most perfect understanding of humanity yet.

May we always move forward.

God Bless America

Larry's Other Brother Larry - CIA Expert

2007-07-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Larry Johnson: So wrong so often that he’s actually becoming a nearly-pitch perfect predictor of what’s right', Protein Wisdom, Jeff Goldstein

MessNBC's Terrorism Expert, Larry Johnson...

The best 'byline description' of CIA Master Spy Larry Johnson yet!!!

Once again, Johnson’s wannabe-hipster pessimism — which is temperamentally tied to the grand conspiracy scenarios he and his acolytes like Olbermann cling to like Lindsay Graham might a victory sombrero — has led him to look like an utter “denialist” (hi, Commissar!), one who, if his track record is any indication, wouldn’t be able to spot imminent Islamic terrorism were it wearing a “Hi, I’m a Jihadist” name tag and galloping towards him on a camel wrapped in explosives and sporting a riding blanket made entirely from roofing nails and the severed heads of western journalists.

A target of scorn and humor...

That has to hurt...

Talkin' Tax Code...

2007-06-24T08:38:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Trick question: "Did the tax cuts pay for themselves?"', The Skeptical Optimist, Steve Conover
Re(2): '2000 Tax Rate Schedules', IRS
Re(3): '2006 Tax Rate Schedules', IRS
Re(4): '2006 Alternative Minimum Tax Schedule', IRS

I am not rich. I am in the 25% tax bracket. Solidly middle class!!!

I am using 2006 inflation adjusted numbers and am increasing the 2000 tax brackets by the inflation adjustment. Adjusted the brackets look like the following:

2000 Federal Tax Schedule for Married Filing Jointly (Inflation adjusted to 2006) :

If taxable income is over-	But not over-	The tax is-
$0	$51,336	$7,700
$51,336	$124,039	$7,700 + 28% of the amout over $51,336
$124,039	$189,014.63	$20,356 + 31% of the amount over $124,039

2006 Federal Tax Schedule for Married Filing Jointly:

If taxable income is over-	But not over-	The tax is-
$0	$15,100	$1,510
$15,100	$61,300	$1,510 + 25% of the amount over $15,100
$61,300	$123,700	$8,440 + 25% of the amount over $61,300
$123,700	$188,450	$24,040 + 28% of the amount over $123,700

(Note: Higher brackets will end up in the AMT. A flat tax!!! Income is flat taxed at 26% or 28% with very restricted deductions - and, no, that hasn't been changed. Thus, higher income earners really don't get a 'tax break' and can't play with their taxes - but, inflation will soon bring the AMT flat tax to you!!!).

If the taxes revert to the pre-2003 code I will be in the 28% tax bracket. That difference does not sound like much, but the fact is that income from $0 - $51,336 is taxed at a higher effective tax rate of 15% rather than 13% (as a side note: why should we all want the bottom two brackets to pay more income tax?).

So, under pre-2003 tax code I would pay the Feds $14,045 for exactly the same service I currently pay the Feds $11,615. Thus, from a married chap firmly in the middle class, the BusHitler tax code nets little old me $2,430 in take home pay - or a little more than $200 bucks a month. Half a car payment, or perhaps paying down the old credit cards a bit faster, maybe investing more into my retirement fund, eh… Lots of options and the government is not there to tell me how to best deal with it. And, to top everything off, the Federal annual budget will be in surplus next year – while looking at $300 - $500 billion dollar annual surpluses for as long as the eye can see if the economy doesn’t tank

Now, more pertinent to the current post by Steve. Will I simply pay the $200 each month and be happy about it?

Nope…

I will act aggressively, as I did in 2000, to reduce my tax burden. I will ‘hide’ more income from the tax man!!! I will be more aggressive in my deductions. I will stop funding a Roth IRA and increase my 401(k) contributions. And, RIGHT NOW, I will take my capital gains from investment growth and move to cash. (and, yes, Marmico that is what I am doing at the present. I want to beat the big time investors to the safety of cash and low tax rates before they act).

So, the increase in personal income tax rates will net the government $0 or maybe even a negative return as I start playing the tax game again. And, what happens to the economy as I move my resources from active assets to tax shelters?

Why should the Feds make me play the game?
Since I feel the taxes are fair I no longer play. I just pay!!!

Memorial Day...

2007-05-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'The Call of Cthulhu', The Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.
Re(2): 'Americans will die for liberty', The Telegraph, Andrew Gimson

I fear that many confuse the sound of Spartan piping at Thermopylae with the signed or whispered or shouted orders at Diyala and Auschwitz and Andersonville. On this Memorial Day, I think we should take a moment to redefine the difference.

On this day I voice my deep appreciation for the soldiers who have fought - and who are now fighting - men who don the livery of evil. I honor those who have paid the ultimate cost for the ultimate endeavor.

May good always triumph!!!

Sorry Libs, The Federal Deficit will not balloon this year :-&

2007-05-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

The one grand hope you have regarding ‘Deficits as Far as the Eye Can See!!!’ is that the spineless Democrat acceptance of the $100 Billion in ‘off-budget’ Iraq Occupation supplemental will bust the budget. It will not. You will have to hope for more al-Qaeda murders (whoops, I forgot. The freedom fighting group that calls itself ‘Al-Qaeda In Iraq’ is not in Iraq) and Biblical natural disasters to blow the improving budget outlook.

Why? Three reasons:

The Defense Department is currently spending as if the supplemental was passed
And, even the DOD cannot spend that kind of money that quickly
And, the stock market is boiling…

Thus, there will be no marked increase in monthly spending. The DOD will simply backfill other budget line items. And, folks are still making tons of taxable money in the stock market - even if the market crashes!!!.

I expect an FY2007 deficit (for you Lib ignits October 2006 to September 2007) to be about $70 Billion. That is, less than 0.6% of GDP. Yup, rounding error - or the equivalent of a six pack of cheap beer per month for Americans at the poverty level.

There is always hope. Maybe you all could create al-Qaeda influenced cells here in America and prove that playing offense in the Middle East is not making Americans safer here. What will you call your organization – ‘Ignit Lefty al-Qaeda Supplicants in America’. Has a nice ring to it!!!

Deficit News You Won't Hear on MessNBC!!!

2007-05-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Montly Budget Review, May 2007', Congressional Budget Office
Re(2): 'Monthly Treasury Statement, April 2007', United States Treasury

Carnac must retire from the Federal Budget prognostication business...

I mentioned in an earlier post that BusHitler, the 'Great Monkey Ape', seemed to be streamlining the budget process. I even mentioned the whole TQM approach of measuring and managing processes. The fact that the woefully incompetent - and slow - Congressional Budget Office is quickly reviewing and posting information based on the Monthly Treasury Statement is testament to that fact that the budget process is now more manageable.

The CBO actually crunched and posted an adjustment to their estimates four days after the end of April. This is very good, and a very positive thang. But, if they did it right it does make predicting tax receipts and government expenditures a bit boring.

Oh well...

Here are the numbers:

	April	to Date	Change	Annual Projection
Revenues:	$385	$1,506	+11.3%	$2,677,533
Expenditures:	$209	$1,589	+2.9%	$2,731,353
Deficit:	$176 surplus	$83	-54.9%	$53,831

However, things are far bleaker if one uses the ratios from the remaining months as the determinant factors:

	April	to Date	Change	Annual Projection
Revenues:	$385	$1,506	+12.1%	$2,697,449
Expenditures:	$209	$1,589	+6.3%	$2,822,886
Deficit:	$176 surplus	$83	-49.6%	$125,437

This would incorporate the $100 Billion dollar Defense Supplimental. Even the DOD can only spend so much money a month on gold plated screwdrivers!!!

But, and this is a rather large sized but...

There is no additional Katrina money being spent!!!

Thus, I still lean toward my preseason pick of $68 Billion as the FY2007 deficit...

Oh, the humanity...

My guess is that we will hear nothing of this. I mean the gnashing of teeth over a deficit of 0.51% of GDP should be audible from the moon.

The end is near...

The end of annual deficits, I mean!!!

Implicitly Included...

2007-04-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Russian Muslims Seething Over Beslan Memorial', LGF
Re(2): 'Beslan memorial plan angers Russian Muslim leader', Reuters, Christian Lowe

To me the key paragraph is:

"It is not acceptable to present this tragedy as the tragedy of followers of only one religion," Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, chairman of the Council of Russian Muftis, said in a statement.

"We need a monument on this site that symbolises a national tragedy, without any religious undertones, where everyone can come and shed their tears."

My response to the concerns expressed by Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin, chairman of the Council of Russian Muftis, is that his religion is included in the proposed document...

It wouldn't be their but for Radical Islamism!!!

Carnac the Magnificent: Deficits as Far as the Ey Can See!!!

2007-03-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement - February'

Tomorrow, Paul Krugman will explode in almost sexual release.

He will have to dry clean his shorts because the annual running total of the US Deficit will again exceed $100 Billion. It might be as much as $150 Billion. Only five months into BusHitler's proliferate budgetary wastage. Oh the joy for Paul Krugman et. al. If only we could also incorporate a recession he could kill his column knowing he was right in the end!!!

A horror…

A Tragedy…

That damn monkey of a President took surpluses as far as the eye could see and turned them into Halliburton profits. What he will neglect to tell his honored readers (actually, patients) is that February is normally a miserable month for tax receipts – and usually a boon for government bloat. For example, one can watch the effects of the ‘War for Oil and the Subjugation of Brown People’ Supplementals on expenditures over the past few years.

February revenues are fairly easy to SWAG. My guess is that it will come in at about $126 Billion – which, by the way, is $24 Billion higher than FY1997’s February revenue stream inflation adjusted.

February expenditures are all over the map. If you model your numbers on the mid-1990’s than you expect expenditure numbers for February to be about 4% higher than January. If you use war-time number you expect a growth of 7% - 8%. I am actually going to run for safety and assume a growth rate of February over January of about 4%. That’s right Randy Rhodent listeners – I am going to assume February numbers roughly equivalent to Clinton’s era PAX Americana when we were not killing people who declared war on us.

Oh my god, how can one be so naïve. Here is one good reason. After studying the numbers it has become apparent that our ignorant fool of a President is normalizing the budget process. That is, he is lucking into a process that is more predictable. To summarize:

	February	to Date	Change	Annual Projection
Revenues:	$126	$961	+10.0%	$2,646,249
Expenditures:	$231	$1,108	+1.5%	$2,707,464
Deficit:	$105	$147	-32.5%	-81%

Now here is a very odd thought.It is very conceivable that expenditures will be in the $218 Billion range and revenues in the $128 Billion range. That will result in: Revenue:

	February	to Date	Change	Annual Projection
Revenues:	$128	$962	+10.2%	$2,719,543
Expenditures:	$218	$1,094	-2.0%	$2,707,464
Deficit:	$90	$132	-39.5%	-104%

Folks, at those numbers we are looking at a surplus in September 2007.

Me still thinks we will run a small deficit. There will be a supplemental for our egregious war on civilization – one that occurs later this year than in years past. But, the deficit will be so minimal as to be rounding error. However, one can hope that Byrd and Stevens can’t get it together to carve up the pork on their serving plate. So far, the split leadership can’t agree on who gets which cuts. Maybe the big eaters will starve for a year, eh…

Internal Intrigue/External Failure...

2007-02-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

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?

Thermopylae/Herdonia- And Choices Made...

2007-02-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

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…

Sorry Libs, the Federal Budget is Balancing!!!

2007-02-11T12:31:00.000-08:00

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:

Individual Income Tax Revenue will increase (~10%)...
Social Security Payroll Tax Revenue will increase (~10%)...
Corporate Income Tax Revenue will increase significantly (~20%)...
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:

	Growth	Revenue	Expenditures	Deficit
FY2006		2,406,675	2,654,873	-248,197
FY2007	+8%	2,599,209	2,707,970	-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...

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

2007-02-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

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!!!

The Arkin Man and His Poison...

2007-02-01T17:56:00.000-08:00

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…

Adding and Deleting...

2007-01-15T18:34:00.000-08:00

To All 5 Readers (or maybe just myself on five different machines, eh):

The Good:

The blog 'Back Talk' is now linked permanently in my blog roll. It has become one of the few I roll through (see below) when I have some time. His analysis using objective data is impressive. I think he has influenced my style without me knowing it. That style differs, but complements, the more subjective observations of Wretchard, MM, Atos, and the Anchoress. Obviously it differs from the on-site efforts of Roggio and Yon. Like Wretchard and Atos and Roggio he has a strategic overview sense of things. Always worth reviewing.

The Bad:

I hope this is not the case but it appears that SecurityWatchTower fell off the map. I don't know if C.S. Scott and the rest are just changing hosts or what. Regardless, their site is now mapped to an open domain. I regret this far more than most will ever know. SecurityWatchtower was one of the first three sites I would visit whenever I started a blog surf. The others being 'The Belmont Club', and Instapundit. That is not bad company. I know the folks at SecurityWatchtower peruse this site every once in a while - please point me to the new domain!!!

The Ugly:

But, rather funny... I am still banned from Brave Sir DeLong's (the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton) slightly errant web-site. While not a brain surgeon, I can look at ratios and trends. Brad, if those ratios and trends do not change than your system is in stasis. The economy, and the federal budgets are at least in stasis. Maybe you are coming to that realization because you now have very few posts on the federal deficit. I value your vaunted opinion as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under
President Clinton. Are you waiting for a terrorist hit to wipe out a city to bitch and whine about Bush's Budget Follies again!!! Come on Brad, give me a shot at the sycophants that post on your site - and don't delete the comments when they are objective, factual, and sourced - eh... Apparently Mr. DeLong - the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton - deleted
ALL of my comments on the post in question. It looks like your brain surgeon sycophants are arguing with a rock. Even Arianna Huffington was more honest with her readers than thee - she relinked the entire thread she was hammered in...

Federal Budget Slashing in Progress…

2007-01-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

Re(1): ‘U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations – Continuing Resolution’

Oh, Dear God…

Death and Dismemberment…

How can we survive the budget cuts of FY2007?

The homeless… The children… Our Education… The military… Health Insurance... Science… Temple Construction… Monument Design… Wars of Imperialism… The Fourth Reich… My Mental State of Being…

Hear the howls of protest and derision?

No, neither do I.

Quietly, the inability of the Oinkers from the Right to agree with the Swine from the Left resulted in budgetary gridlock through at least February!!! Dear God, most of the Federal Government must cinch its belt and survive on last year’s budget.

Oh, the humanity.

But, there is a silver lining in every cloud. If our nation’s governmental apparatus does not collapse into the very dust of its own substance as a result of these severe cutbacks (one year’s inflation – ie. about 2%) we might be looking at a budget surplus for FY2007. Here is how the numbers work out:

	Growth	Revenue	Expenditures	Deficit
FY2006		2406675	2654873	-248197
FY2007	+8%	2599209	2740529*	-141320
	+9%	2623276		-117253
	+10%	2647343		-93187
	+11%	2671409		-69120
	+12%	2695476		-45053
	+13%	2719543		-20968
	+14%	2743610		3080
	+15%	2767676		27141

The revenue numbers are the actual revenues for FY2006 and projections derived from expected growth - and, no, these are not silly CBO and OMB numbers that project a decrease in tax revenue. It ain't going to happen Lefties so get over it. Personally, I think the growth noted with the grey background is most likely - but things are starting to look even better as the month of January has moved on... Thus, it is not silly to start looking at the +13% - +15% numbers.

Actually, it might be a bit better. I am using projected growth for the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services to generate the expenditure number. These seem to be the only Departments that are still complaining about their belly ‘dunlapping’ over their belts. Unbelievably, however, the expenditures are almost flat this quarter. But, lets not hope for the best and get slammed in the face. We can be certain that big chunks of both political American Parties can agree on one thing - and one thing only. Even a blind sow can find an acorn in the trough, eh...

I don’t know how we are going to survive.

I will have to feed, water, clothe, house, and transport myself.

Oh, the humanity!!!

A Letter to the Press Corps

2007-01-15T09:16:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'Et Tu, Press Corps?', Extreme Mortman

A post at Extreme Mortman provided access to a petulant letter submitted by the print media regarding the exemption of still photographer access to the President during the January 10, 2007 Presidential Speech. My God, the still photographers were unable to snap three thousand photos and pick a chimpy image of our President during a wartime speech on wartime strategy. Here is a response to Tom - who seems to be a decent and professional still photographer for the media:

Tom,

Tell me again, why as a citizen of the United States of America - during wartime (and I know most of your profession does not think we are at war) - I am forced to place into history another photo selected by a childish press corps that tries to outdo each other in the picking of smirks and pursed lips of a leader at war.

This was a serious speech at a serious time.

While the still photographers might be serious people - but, that seems to be in question as well - your editors are not serious people.

Would the WWII press corps select an especially weak and powerless image of President Roosevelt after Rommel crushed the United States at the Kasserine Pass? The press corps at that time was mature enough not too. Please claim they did not have those photos. How about those photos of Nimitz, Stimson, or Roosevelt after Pearl Harbor. Where are the peoples’ photos during the months of stalemate following D-Day – or maybe even some doubting and worried images in the NYT during D-Day? Not on the cover of the NYT or the Left Angeles Times.

Regretfully, your profession has lost the confidence of the American people.

That, by the way, is a very bad thing.

I do not like or enjoy it.

But, it is true.

Deal with it… I was hoping the embed process would initiate younger journalist into the fog of war and into the righteousness of this conflict. I was hoping the young embeds, as they migrated back into the stateside newsrooms, would add balance, common sense, and an understanding that we are doing the right thing. That they could battle the old War Horse Vietnam Cadre Press Corps that denigrates anything they touch. Regretfully, the American people lost that battle. But, as you can see, the American people are not losing the war. We are ignoring you. We are seeking information from other sources. We no longer care about your privileges and pompous demands. It is not you that is being denigrated; it
is the other 90% of your profession that is being trashed. Your profession is seen as no better than biased bloggers – but at least the bloggers note their biases.

You still have time to turn this around, can you see what you have to do.

Sorry.

Lib Martial Music: Over Here!!!, Over There, Over Where???

2007-01-13T08:55:00.000-08:00

Re(1): Congressman John Murtha's Redeployment 'Plan'

Ok Libs, I Give – Tell Me Where to Redeploy…

I have heard Democratic CongressCritters holler about a ‘Redeployment Plan’ for our fighting forces in Iraq. This implies a few things:

That they know where to redeploy the troops
That the troops can redeploy into Iraq if necessary

Given these two axioms, please use the comments to provide the country in which we can redeploy our 150,000 American troops – and still be scary enough to deter Islamofascist aggression.

Here are some factoids to take into consideration:

1. The ‘horizon line’ is 25 miles. Thus, to ‘deploy just over the horizon’ implies redeploying our troops a half hour outside of Baghdad. Here is a map of the Baghdad region for your perusal:

2. Maybe you are talking about the borders of Iraq. Redeploying ‘over the horizon’ of Iraq’s borders means a large military footprint in Iran, Saudi Arabia, or Syria. You could, of course, attempt to force Kuwait to accept a huge military infrastructure on their tiny territory – but that might not be too sensible if there is a threat of WMD attack (and Iran has, and has used, WMD). Jordan is land-locked and moving units through Israel to Jordan will not be popular with the new Caliphate or Terror State. Here is a map of the region you can use as a convenient tool to identify the sovereign state that would, and could, gladly accept our 150,000 troops:

3. Maybe, the horizon line extends to any part of the world reachable by the fastest terrestrial vehicle known to man. I think we have clocked jet cars at about 300 miles/hour on the salt flats. I think, however, that it will take some time to invent and build troop transport capable of 300 miles/hour. And, to do it in an environmentally safe manner might be impossible!
4. Maybe that horizon line is a Blackbird wing away. However, for this brilliant solution to succeed we have to overcome even more problems than noted in point 3.

Thus, I think those who take the challenge seriously must be restricted to the environs of Baghdad, the Anbar Province, or the nation states bordering Iraq. As a secondary challenge, please provide a military and tactical reason to surrender a hill taken – just to attack it again in the near future.

Where are we redeploying to? Your turn:

Culture of Corruption - Big Tuna Lobby buys off Speaker!!!

2007-01-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'GOP hits Pelosi's 'hypocrisy' on wage bill', Washington Times, Charles Hurt
Re(2): 'Clock ticking on Dems' 100-hour agenda', Associated Press, Kasie Hunt

It is true

:-&

At some indeterminate timeslice in

Speaker Pelosi’s Magnificent First 100 Hours (or so)

we have been made aware of the influence of the

Big Tuna lobby.

Watching the Deficit???

2007-01-11T21:43:00.000-08:00

Re(1): Monthly Treasury Statement 2006/12 (FY2007)
Re(2): 'Dubya's New Plan to Balance the U.S. Budget', The Daily Reckoning, Ian Mathias

Howdy Folks - all five readers. The above link doesn't exist yet. It will magically appear tomorrow. Will it tell a story tomorrow that is better or worse than what follows...

Prediction Time...
But, with lots of caveats...

It is rather dumb to predict Federal spending with two months of data. So these numbers shouldn't be used when debating some Lib. Next months numbers will provide enough data to whack-a-mole a Lib or two and win some bets.

However, here is one recent bet I made and won: President Bush promised to cut the deficit in half by FY2009 (his last budget). He made that promise using the CBO FY2004 estimate of a $512 Billion dollar deficit. The media scoffed, the Dems wailed... 1/2 of $512 Billion is $256 Billion. Last years deficit was $247 Billion. He wins, I win. At least I got a decent lunch out of it. What did Bush get for being right and being early. Nada.

Now for this year (FY2007).

Right now we are running a $124 Billion deficit - a 4.31% reduction from last year. Revenues are up 8.75% while spending is up a mere 4.74%.

The interesting factoid is that the Gubmint is running without a budget and cannot exceed last years spending by more than inflation. What does that mean in the greater scheme of things.

We might hold spending to a 4% increase
Even that spending might be reduced because of gridlock
And, we will not be funding Katrina (already paid for last year)
And who knows about the annual $100 Billion military supplemental

Thus, we are looking at FY2007 1st Qtr (2006/12) numbers as follows:

Receipts: $588,533 Million
Outlays: $669,004 Million
Deficit: $ 80,471 Million

With those numbers we are looking at annual FY2007 numbers as follows:

Receipts: $2,671,409 Million
Outlays: $2,734,524 Million
Deficit: $ 63,115 Million

Our GDP will be about $13,000,000 Million
The deficit will consume 0.49% of GDP
The deficit will be 2.3% of spending

And, the budget will be in surplus in FY2008 - just in time for the Presidential Elections!!!

Rosy... Me thinks not. The worse case scenario (not including acts of God and the like) would result in an FY2007 deficit of $145 Billion. Basically, the growing economy and the minimal spending restraint shown by the Pigs in the Trough lop off about $100 Billion a year in the defict. Thus, by FY2009 we are looking at a surplus of between $50 Billion and $130 Billion...

Quite a Legacy, eh...

minnieMeCVN 'The William Jefferson Clinton'

2007-01-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'Loose Lips Name Ships', In From the Cold, Spook86

Spook86 discusses the naming of major command ships in the US Navy. He rightfully decries the politicized process behind naming capital ships. He also expresses a concern about the naming selection that awaits for the sister ships of the Ford CVNs.

He is, alas, too late. A new, and vastly improved capital ship class has already been designed and will wear the moniker of William Jefferson Clinton. She has, in fact, already been spotted at sea trials (August 2005, New Orleans). What follows is a brief synopsis for both of my readers:

Military History Buffs!!!

The U.S.S. William Jefferson Clinton did indeed sail prior to the U.S.S. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Crewed ably by Sean Penn, she sailed dramatically (and peacefully!!!) into the murky waters of New Orleans. However, the rapacious warmongers of Congress increased the military budget so she was redesigned as a three-man ship with provisions for four. This came in handy since an able captain, a legacy photographer, and a noted biographer must man all warships of the Clinton class.

This photo demonstrates the viability of this concept. While there was no space for transporting rescued Americans, America can indeed show concern and immediacy with this warship. Also, this fine vessel stored enough food and water for four stranded citizens for one day. With a flotilla of 7,500 such ships sailing daily we could have dealt with the situation in New Orleans much better and much faster. This proves that posing and posturing are forms of leadership that work. Planning, logistics, and coordinated action are unnecessary in the 21st Century as is proved by Sean Penn and the U.S.S. William Jefferson Clinton.

Note: Minor flaws in preparing the warship for active duty precluded even the appearance of saving children or the feeding of the stranded. However, Captain Penn has described his sortie as a success and President Bush's efforts as inadequate, too slow, and impeachably cheap. In addition, the Superdome was evacuated Friday, September 2 2005. The Convention Center was evacuated Saturday, September 3 2005. Regrettably, the U.S.S. William Jefferson Clinton sailed forth on Sunday, September 4, 2005. Our hope is that future sorties will save thousands!!!

Recruiting poster for the 'U.S.S. William Jefferson Clinton':

'An Army of One'. For all active duty (of any force - we are a bit desperate), we are seeking volunteers to man the U.S.S. William Jefferson Clinton. There are no minimum requirements. There is no minimum rank. There are no physical or mental challenges placed in your way - serving on this peaceship will lead to far greater self-esteem than serving anywhere else in this military. Actually, we don't care if you are actually in the military - as long as we can fit you to some type of uniform or another. By the way, the chain of command of all ships of the Clinton class ultimately lead to either William Jefferson Clinton or Hillary Rodham Clinton. This ensures civilian authority over part of the military and their use of deadly force.

The 'U.S.S. William Jefferson Clinton' is the first of the Clinton class of warship. It embodies all the necessities of being cheap (I mean inexpensive), inexpensive in manpower requirements, inexpensive in negative publicity if sunk, inexpensive in lethality since our goals are humanitarian, and inexpensive in scariness... The second ship, the 'U.S.S. Hillary Rodham Clinton' is currently under construction. Construction of the Rodham Clinton may actually be completed and sea trials finished before the problems with the Jefferson Clinton are worked out. Regardless, the Rodham Clinton will enhance the current Jefferson Clinton class by streamlining the medical insurance of the crew. The third ship, the 'U.S.S. Cohen', is being designed carefully by Mr. Cohen himself. There will be a TV on board to ensure that missions can always be recalled by a careful review of CNN broadcasts. This ship is over budget and way behind schedule. Mr. Cohen is staying up all night every night - right now he is concerned about the paint scheme. In the wings is the 'U.S.S. Albright' which will be the most forward of the peaceships Clinton. She will be the iron fist behind the felt glove. I sure hope the meanies in the world watch out when she sails free. Regretfully, construction of the 'U.S.S Sandy Berger' is now delayed. The schematics and drafting plans seem to have been misplaced.

Back to the --- Past...

2007-01-03T14:49:00.000-08:00

1968 all over again...

But, in a time of war???

Oh, that's right, there is no war...

LBJ, how many children did you kill today!!!

"De-escalate, investigate, troops home now!!!

To my Lefty friends, at least this memorable chant isn't in 'Black and White'! My challenge still stands, however. Please use the comments section to provide links to ANY memorable speech by any liberal President that is in color. And, when I say memorable I actually mean memorable in a good way. Therefore President Carter's brilliant malaise speech really doesn't count.

Pathetic.

Truely Pathetic.

Clear Choices - None Easy...

2007-01-03T09:30:00.000-08:00

Re(1): 'Parthian Shot', The Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.
Re(2): 'Total War', USS Clueless, Steven den Beste
Re(3): 'The Peace Party vs. The Power Party', The Weekly Standard, Matthew Continetti
Re(4): 'The Three Conjectures', The Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.

A still small voice seems to be thundering...

We have decided, as a civilization, to ignore the region, the people, and the culture of the Middle East for more than three decades. In fact, far more than three decades. But, three decades in which we have been the target of aggression by those peoples and that culture.

We must engage that culture culturally. While they do not have the means to destroy our civilization, globalization has provided them the means of disrupting us to the point we may eat our own. One way we destroy our own values and our own culture is to stand by in some form of Sitzkrieg and wait till we can defend ourselves only through the ‘Second Conjecture’ solution of genocide. Any information age total war will be a war of genocide. Imagine a weak President after 9/11. Imagine that Putin was not constrained (he must have been) after Beslan. While some may want a more forceful posture there is a balance – and once that tipping point is met and exceeded (since none know where it is to be found) than future generations will judge our actions.

The Left (the Peace Party) refuses the power of the kinetic influence. The Right (‘The Power Party’) often refuses the influence of soft power. Judgments have to be made and made soon. We are in for a long conflict that requires leadership and vision, or we are in for a short conflict that requires acceptance of genocide. Are we really at the point of promoting and accepting the second option? Is another thirty years of Sitzkrieg going to really change our options? In the end we really do have to dance to the same tune, eh…

That is history.

I pray history finds us informed, just, and victorious.

Bye, Bye Turd...

2006-12-29T19:01:00.000-08:00

If you told me during the reign of Brave Sir Clinton that Saddam Hussein would be hung my mental picture would have been:

Maybe that is the same image floating around my noggin even now!!!

Smile...
We just won a battle!!!

‘Going Roman’ the American Way…

2006-12-17T10:47:00.000-08:00

Re(1): “You've got money. But what do you want to buy?”, The Belmont Club, Wretchard TC
Re(2): “Things are coming to a head”, Works and Days, VDH
Re(3): “Yeah, We Can Win - If We Decide We Want To”, Daily Pundit, Bill Quick
Re(4): “The Three Conjectures”, The Belmont Club, Wretchard TC

Wow, a confluence of articles on really one topic. The topic is summarized best by the following:

In order to win a war, you first have to have the will and intention to wage a war. Nobody, Hanson included, has demonstrated anything like the will needed to defeat our Islamist enemies. Instead, to a lesser or greater degree, none of these people - from the Hansons to the Bushes - are talking about actually waging a war.

I have nothing against Mr. Quick but, and this is a big but, he apparently hasn’t read VDH’s authored works. VDH does, in fact, know what a ‘total war’ is. He does know, and in his referenced article demonstrates that fact, that there is a requirement of civil willpower and drive required for a Democracy to fight. These are things he knows and understands.

If Total War is initiated than it will look like:

At this point, a United States choked with corpses could still not negotiate an end to hostilities or deter further attacks. There would be no one to call on the Red Telephone, even to surrender to. In fact, there exists no competent Islamic authority, no supreme imam who could stop a jihad on behalf of the whole Muslim world. Even if the terror chiefs could somehow be contacted in this apocalyptic scenario and persuaded to bury the hatchet, the lack of command and control imposed by the cell structure would prevent them from reining in their
minions. Due to the fixity of intent, attacks would continue for as long as capability remained. Under these circumstances, any American government would eventually be compelled by public desperation to finish the exchange by entering -1 x 10^9 in the final right hand column: total retaliatory extermination.

Once started, there is no solution other than the final solution. That is why we stay our hand. Our civilization, our culture, our people will change in ways we cannot comprehend if we destroy their civilization, their culture, and their people. As Wretchard notes:

The attempt to establish a democratic Iraq, however disappointing the experience has been so far, is unlikely to be abandoned very easily in the near future -- and perhaps not for as long as a the ghost of a shadow of a chance remains that it may be attained -- not only because the current administration is so invested in it, but because the alternatives of divide and rule and naked power politics, which would have been adopted without a second thought by Empires in the early 20th century, are too cold-blooded and heartless to be easily embraced by an American public which genuinely wishes the Iraqi people well.

‘Going Roman’ is no longer sowing a city with salt. It is obliterating a language, a belief structure, a culture, and killing tens of millions or hundreds of millions.

It may come to pass, but I want history to write
‘It was necessary, and it was just'

on both the first and final lines of any discussion regarding our era.

This is not something to be taken lightly.

It is now discussed openly...

The Long March of the Shitte Islamic Blitzkrieg!!!

2006-12-10T07:56:00.000-08:00

Re(1): "The Spirit of '79", The Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.
Re(2): "Declare War on Iran's Economy", Back Talk, Engram
Re(3): "Saddam Will Rise Again", The Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.

The Long March of the Shitte Islamic Blitzkrieg, aka "The Spirit of '79"

To All (including Wretchard – how presumptuous):

We are witnessing events in a vacuum.

We blame only our leadership. However, Chamberlain did not act alone. He acted on the will of his people – and that will had Churchill ranting and raving in some oak paneled government mental health facility. We Americans and the West were told this would be a long hard slog. We were told that we would not even know when the conflict was won – or conversely, lost. That implies that we do not currently know were we stand. We should, however, admit that as a civilization we are quite at fault for making a bit of a mess of the current situation. Most of us at this site know that the mess in the kitchen will get a bit worse if we let the cat crap on the dinner plates – but America has 40 – 50 million folks thinking the cat lady’s house is just fine!!! A bit of botulism will take care of that, eh!!!
We are viewing the ‘onrush’ of Shiite Aggression as a momentous and monstrous ‘Force of Nature’ that can no longer be pushed against, can no longer be fought. There will be no adjustments as the Shiite Islamic Blitzkrieg marches through the capitals of the middle east and right into your living room. And, there are no problems on the other side of that wall of green and red that hamper their push to doom us. Iran, with its oil wealth and population, will squash us like a bug! We somehow forget that supporting client states and organizations is somewhat expensive in terms of resources, time, and energy.

What we are forgetting is that it is hard to compete against a crappy team. They cannot even get behind their coach – but, apparently we can’t either. They haven’t made a shot for ten minutes – but some of our players are hoopin’ it up for them because they don’t think there is a chance of the game getting even kinda close. Over there Murtha lobs a shot from half court into our defensive bucket while ranting ‘I want off this court, this game is boring’, over here Buchanan chucks a layup into our defensive hoop while demurring about the fallacies of using our military outside America’s borders, and finally some nutjob on the Islamic bench trips his teammate and rants that the ‘Old Coach is Back!!!’.

Yuk, this game is boring, it is long, and we don’t just lose and come back to play again in a month or so. Can I turn it off? Can I turn off a game my team is playing? Can I bitch about the players and coach? What about that game last month? Pre-Season sucked. I think we should restructure our game plan right now for a half-court possession offense and switch to a pressing defense!!! But, my friend wants us to play Laker-Ball!!!

Oh, well… Maybe the other team will lob some three’s and get that magical 5x10^6 and the 'Game will be on!' - again!!!'

Hope Not.

The Race is On!!!

2006-12-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

Re(1): "Declare War on Iran's Economy", BackTalk, Engram

Autocracies fail catastrophically when they fail.

This one is failing. I guess there were smarter people than I reviewing the situation if these reports are to be trusted – and they do match the reports from early spring regarding the reduction in fuel import by the Iranian government. That is another reason our form of economy and government will win out in the long haul – can you imagine if our government was the direct purchaser and owner of our fuel needs?

Now Iran must answer basic questions.

It must answer the question of whether it can support Hezbollah after Hezbollah destroyed southern Lebanon. Can Iran rebuild Lebanon after their very own self-induced Katrina? Can they do so as oil prices fall and oil production plummets? Can they induce Halliburton to rebuild their oil infrastructure under the threat of air strikes that they cannot defend and under the cloud of nationalizing the assets once they are profitable?

Can Iran continue on their Manhattan Project when America doesn’t really seem strategically concerned with the Ill One in North Korea? When we still attacked Iraq even though we ‘knew’ there were WMD capabilities – one of the reasons we did not mass troops and attack WWII style?

And, can Iran continue to hold client states? Unlike North Korea, which is a client state of China, Iran is the 'owner' of many regional states and groups. They are the 'power' that drives the regions terror. Without assets and influence they will lose their clients - and in this part of the world clients that lose their papa are in a very precarious position.

My personal question remains: Will Iran fail before we quit? I think so. Rope-A-Dope will take two years and I don’t think Iran with its meager economy will survive that long (just a guess). If Iran collapses as a revolutionary force than Iraq will be a very interesting place.

Hard Numbers on Military Recruitment/Retention

2006-11-23T08:08:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks,

You want hard numbers to battle the Liberal Intelligencia regarding ground force recruitment/retention/capability...

A CBOStudy: Recruiting, Retention, and Future Levels of Military Personnel

Not all rosey - but initiated to resolve issues during the worst of months (June, July, August 2005).

It proves:

The Army is having recruiting problems to a minor extent
The Marine Corps is not having recruiting problems to any extent
Retention in both the Army and Marine Corps is exceeding any goals
There is no degredation in the quality of recruits entering military service

And, these numbers dramatically improved in FY2006.

A 'Favorite Posts' Blogroll - without den Beste

2006-11-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Uuuuggggghhhhhhh, how can any serious blogger not link permanently to at least one of many seminal den Beste articles...

My first link shall be: Total War

How embarassing :-&

UPDATE:
I guess I'm not quite the idiot I have convinced myself I am. How could I have forgotten about: 'Strategic Overview'. That is another exceptional article by den Beste that is permanently collated in the 'My Favorites' blogroll.

Hard Ball???

2006-11-08T09:43:00.000-08:00

President Bush is going to make 'an 'significant statement' 20 minutes from now...

If it is to dump Rumsfeld than we are in for a lame duck Presidency and a weak stature in the GWOT...

If it is to dump Rumsfeld (or hopefully some other cabinet member) and replace him/her with Senator Joeseph Lieberman than we are playing to win...

If Lieberman accepts a cabinet position Republican Governor Jodi Rell will select the replacement Senator. A Republican will rebalance the Senate to 50(R) / 49(D) + 1(I). And Vice President Cheney will break ties - much like the first two years. Regardless, the media is placing Lieberman squarely in the Democratic Caucus - a change there may be a 'significant statement'.

If we play strong will the Democrats remember Jumpin' Jim?

Time shall tell...

I Would Rather Be 'Stuck in Iraq' Than

2006-11-02T19:14:00.000-08:00

Re(1): John Kerry's 'Education' Speach - uncut, from his site...

... be forced to listen to this kind of unprofessional and uniformed and unprepared presentation by war hero Senator John Forbes Kerry.

But for the switch of 70,000 votes in Ohio (imagine if the vote were held this year, eh) or a mere 4,000,000 votes nation wide we would have two more years of a President John Forbes Kerry.

Wow, could there have been any more miserable political rally than one featuring Senator John Forbes Kerry and Phil Angelides.

Can there...

I would rather spend the hour answering automated phone calls from political action groups.

Yup, that would be more entertaining.

Much more inspirational.

And more educational.

I Would Rather Be 'Stuck in Iraq' Than

2006-10-31T21:08:00.000-08:00

Stuck on Stupid...

Democratic Leader John F. Kerry Trashes the Military (Again)

Nahanni said...

“You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do
your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If
you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.

"There are "worse" things to be stuck doing, John.

One could always be a vapid, venal old gigolo like you.

I honestly don't know if anything else can be said about Senator John Forbes Kerry.

Be proud Massachusetts, very proud...

From the Northeast???

2006-10-28T08:17:00.002-07:00

Re(1): 'War, Punditry, and Farming', Works and Days, VDH

Salvation from the bastion of common sense - the Northeast???

Presidential hopefuls

The Hoover Institution has been hosting Presidential hopefuls. The latest visitor was Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney who spoke to, and received questions from, the Senior Fellows yesterday. For about one hour, he heard some tough inquiries, answered without notes, kept his cool, and talked analytically rather than in platitudes. I was impressed, and came away thinking that being a conservative governor in Massachusetts must have sharpened his debating skills and given him insights about dealing with the therapeutic mindset. I don’t know what he thought of us, but most of us thought him quite impressive.

When VDH speaks, I listen...

A recommendation: When VDH speaks, people should listen...

Bored by Lefty Brain Surgeons...

2006-10-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'CNN Poll Says Bush Failed: America Not Completely Fascist Yet', Confederate Yankee

So Americans (other than the Moonbats and Idiotarians) feel that we aren't quite fascist yet...

That was a suprise to CNN and their Idiotarian viewership...

So much so that one of theirs (TD Larkin) commented as follows:

... what am I supposed to 'die' from? Al Qaeda?

Please, they are essentially a video production company these days. I don't lie awake at night worrying about those clowns

Well, yeah. Like President Clinton you should have been concerned for your safety when they demonstrate the capability to murder civilians on your streets. Are you more worried about Hezbollah? How about Hmmas? Islamic Jihad? Muslim Brotherhood? The Iranian Revolutionary Guards or whatever?

By the way September 2006 was a milestone of sorts. It was the month that military fatalities in the GWOT (from October 2001 onward - almost 5 years) exceeded the civilian fatalities of 9/11 (almost two hours). It is a nice way of remembering that our adversaries do not seek military targets - they seek you, TD.

Two thousand, zero, zero party over oops out of time...
So tonight let's party like its 9/10...
Can I vote for you...

From Barbary Coast to Barbary Coast…

2006-10-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Barbary Wars', Time Magazine, Christopher Hitchens

We have been fighting ‘Moslem’ Barbarians for 250 years.

When will we tire of it?

Answer: First Conjecture

What will happen when we do?

Answer: Second Conjecture, then Third Conjecture

These are not good times. These are interesting times. These are times that will change our culture - to our acclaim or to our contempt.

Peace In Our Time!!!

2006-10-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Peace at Last! *clink*', BlameBush!, Liberal Larry

In 1938 an honorable peace was signed in Munich...
In 1994 we celebrated peace with champagne!!!

Award winning photos of each:

A 'Valued' Link...

2006-10-05T21:25:00.001-07:00

Yuk, yuk...

Got a blogroll link at 'The Iraq War Was Wrong Blog'. My intrepid site warrants a blogroll entry in the 'Bad People Wrong About Iraq War Being Right' group. I guess I made the cut in July 2004. Something to be proud of, eh...

But come on folks - am I really a bad guy???

Brad and Other Libs Miss Deficit by just 39%!!!

2006-10-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Edmund Andrews on the Bush Budget Submission', Brad DeLong's Semi-Daily Journal
Re(2): 'And, now banned :-{', Me
Re(3): 'Budget Deficit Estimation', Me
Re(4): 'Federal Budget Deficit - MoveOn Libs, nothing to see here', Me

Still not permitted to post on Brave Brad DeLong’s (the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton) Lefty web site, but I can post here regarding his FY2006 budget premonitions:

------------------------------------------------

Well Brad,

You have your answer regarding the truly brilliant FY2006 deficit estimate of $423 Billion.

Missed it by that ($163 Billion) much...

Get Smart...

But that wasn't your real question was it...

Here is a question (given that this post isn't dead and that I am permitted to post again): What will the higher income middle class going to do with a clearer tax burden. That is, they can compute their taxes without the AMT surprise...

Brad, are you going to keep on trusting Krugman et. al.?

-------------------------------------------------

Let's see...

In February I estimated a deficit of $287 Billion.

Missed it by that ($27 Billion) much...

I guess presenting and missing an economic target by a mere 39% is good enough for government work - Brad DeLong, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton. Vote these guys back in!!!

Oil Prices - NYT Suprised at Oil Price Decline

2006-09-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe not. At least not yet. At least not in public - yet...

A Question: Has the US Government completed its replenishment of the Strategic Reserve?

This factor has many implications:

A full reserve can be used to stabilize prices.
A full reserve is one preparation for war in the Middle East.
A full reserve means that the US Government is not competing in the market.

Economic factors:

What is India’s current economic status?
What is China’s current economic status?
What is the economic matrix of a barrel of oil costing $70 and a gallon of gasoline costing $2.50 (refined cost estimate). We know a barrel (55 gallons) cannot all be refined to gasoline so I am guessing the math sucks for Iran. They sell 55 gallons of oil at $70, Exxon or Shell or TotalFinaElf refines the oil to gasoline and other fuels, and sells it back to Iran at let’s say $2/gal. That is, export at $70, repurchase at $110. Very unsustainable. And, very difficult to remedy without internal refining capability.

Political factors:

Is Iran being slowly subsumed by another great power – thus following a pattern of weak ME pashas becoming clients of major powers? Is this a bad thing? Can we deal with China on a civilized basis, Iran? In my very humble and unlearned opinion I would greatly prefer Libysque ‘Frank Diplomatic Discussions’ with China to similar talks with Iran.

And, one market factor:

How many times can Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cry wolf before the markets ‘discount’ him? This may not be the smart thing to do, but it is the natural thing to do. Very coy regarding the August 22 thang – but also dumb long term. When he is discounted he will cease to affect the market price.

The Western Way...

2006-09-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

Re(1): ‘Not a sparrow falls to earth’, The Belmont Club, Wretchard TC
Re(2): 'Planet X in Washington', The Belmont Club, Wretchard TC
Re(3): 'Storm Warning...', My Sandmen, Mr. Atos

Wretchard asks the question:

Our human problem is more prosaic: who actually killed Mohammed Al-Dura? But for those looking for a larger answer, try this: the camera killed the little boy. A man and a boy cringing in a crossfire at no great distance from two groups of armed men was the obvious target of neither: no side's marksmanship could be that bad. But they became the center of a second drama within the first. Anyone present would sense the obvious question and the camera kept on Al-Dura -- hoping? Is that too much of a word to use? -- for the "shot". It was a sentence waiting for the punctuation. And it came when eventually someone, or some ricochet, or some unaimed shot provided the clinching scene. I have often wondered whether 60 men would take the trouble to kill an unknown election worker on Haifa street without the assurance of front page coverage. If looks could kill? Oh, but they can.

Another question must be asked - in the light of the Plame-Neptune planetary wobble.

Is this a form of Western Terror?

A terror that subsumes terror. A guiding light.

Would Islamic Terror be as malevolent and as prevalent and as encompassing without the unseen hand? A hand holding to dreams that can’t be attained through democratic process. A hand with a voice.

Believing An Unaccepted ideal?
Accepting An Underappreciated social structure?

A Western Terror need not be directly violent to force change on the great unwashed. When Islamic or Irish or Bolivian terrorists require the camera, and the camera comes, who is the terrorist?

Are there not other theaters in the Global War on Terror?

Hooverville...

2006-09-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'August Monthly Treasury Statement', Federal Government

ALERT: THIS IS SMACK.

WARNING: Do not click on these links till tomorrow. These links will point to the August 2006 Monthly Treasury Statement if they follow their consistent naming conventions. Right now, they point to nothing. The report is published on the eighth working day of the month. Smack has no value when the game is over, eh...

Obviously, America is a giant Hooverville...

Prediction: Tomorrow's August Federal Deficit will come in at around 10 Billion dollars - potentially less...

Meaning: We will be looking at an annual Federal Budget Deficit of less than 200 Billion dollars.

This means that this years annual deficit will be 118 Billion less than last year.

This includes all DOD spending - to include the 2006 suplimental.

This includes all expected Katrina spending.

This is < 1.5% of our growing GDP.

This is < 7.5% of our shrinking spending growth.

Next year the DOD suplimental will be significantly reduced and there will be no new Katrina spending. Libs, the economy is expanding in a sustainable fashion. The tax base is growing in a rapid fashion. And, there is pressure on the Republican Congress to reign in spending.

DO NOT PLACE YOUR BETS AGAINST A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS BALANCING THE BUDGET BY NEXT YEAR.

Hitchens Redux!!!

2006-09-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'How not to hunt a tiger', The Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.
Re(2): 'Tony Jones speaks with author and commentator Christopher Hitchens', LateLine, Terry Jones
Re(3): 'From the Archives: The Public Destruction of Moonbats...', Me

A warning from Wretchard of The Belmont Club regarding debates against folks who know the topic at hand:

... no one who doesn't command the topic or the language should try such a
high wire interviewing style.

Hear and see the bones crunch!!!

And, for your further entertainment please review my archives!!!

From the Archives: The Public Destruction of Moonbats...

For those reluctant to click here are some debates that absolutely must be seen and heard:

The Dean/Pearle drubbing...
Or the VDH/Huffington destruction...
Or, oh my God, the Great Hitchens/Galloway mauling...

Thats right, Hitchens has taken down two (minimum) 9/10ers.

Watch and enjoy - the Libs even think they win these things.

Bring it On

The Silky Path to 9/11

2006-09-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

Re(): "This is it: crunch time for getting the slanderous ABC television docudrama 'The Path to 9/11' yanked off the air.", www.Althouse.blogspot.com, Ann Althouse
Re(): 'The Kerry Cabinet', National Journal, Carl M. Cannon

When one gets right down to it the controversy over ‘The Path to 9/11’ comes down to who is/was more serious with regards to defending the country. To that end, let us review the 2000 election:

Emphasis on National Defense:

Part of the 'W' election discussion centered on the military was becoming a 'hollow force' under the Clinton Administration - and that hollowing out would continue under Gore. A vote for 'W' in 2000 was a vote for increased emphasis on defense. A vote for Gore in 2000 was a vote for status quo regarding defense of our nation. Both potential Presidents could only affect the budget with their first Fiscal Year in office - ie. 2001/10/01 onward.

Which of these policies – ‘W’ or Gore – were more prescient to our times?

Vice President:

‘W’ chose a former Secretary of Defense for his Vice President. Al Gore selected
a Senator.

Which of these selections was more clearheaded given the issues of our times?

Secretary of Defense:

‘W’ chose a former Secretary of Defense as his Secretary of Defense. Al Gore kept is choices close to the vest, but was apparently thinking of keeping Cohen on the job or maybe selecting another Senator for the position.

Which of these choices has more gravitas?

Secretary of State:

‘W’ selected the former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff as his Secretary of State. Al Gore was apparently looking at Senator Sam Nunn or Ambassador Holbrooke.

In a war on terror, your selection can be a Senator or a General.

Who was more serious and farsighted in the run-up to his election? Why did Al Gore ‘keep his selections close to the vest’, while ‘W’ presented his choices to the voting public prior to the November 2000 election?

Now, let us get more current - that is, after 9/11:

Does anyone want a rundown of the potential cabinet positions of Senator John Kerry to determine the focus of a Kerry Presidency during a time of war. Apparently, here were his choices from the National Journal:

"Earlier this year, Kerry himself mentioned four names. Two of them, John Warner of Virginia and John McCain of Arizona, are Republican senators. The other two are Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and former Clinton administration Pentagon chief William Perry."

Kerry wanted two Republican Senators, a Democratic Senator, or the wizard of Somolia William Perry.

The article also places the ever so serious Congressman John Murtha on a very long list...

The list is so long it is obvious that the position is a political one - not based on ability.

Who is still more serious about the 'Great War for Democracy’?

2006/09/07 - An Unrecorded Milestone

2006-09-07T18:51:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Better Late Than Never', RealVerse, Bethany
Re(2): 'The 2,996 Project', D.Challener Roe

HT: 'Bethanymania: RealVerse returns', www.HotAir.com, AllahPundit

IMPORTANT ADDENDUM 2006/09/07 1855

Bethany reminded me of of the 2,996 Project - a project to memorialize each and every one of the murder victims of the 9/11 terror attacks...

She reminded me of something I felt must be posted...

American (and Coallition) Fatalities in OIF: http://icasualties.org/oif
American (and Coallition) Fatalities in OEF: http://www.icasualties.org/oef

On 2006/09/07 Military Fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan equaled the murder count of 9/11.

Within one week of the five year anniversary of the attack...

Question Libs: Do you want to fight them over there, or over here?

ADDENDUM 2006/09/07 1855

Good God, Bethany is stunning!
As a comparison, here is a 'stunning' Lefty:

Pax Americana Into its Second Century...

2006-09-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'The Nation That Fell To Earth', Time Magazine, Niall Ferguson
Re(2): 'NYT Surprised by 2nd Annual Jump In Revenues since Tax Cuts...', Me
Re(3): 'The Aftermath: Hezbollah's Looming Loss', StrategyPage, Austin Bay
Re(4): 'Is Britain tired of its multiculturalist mantra?', The Daily Star, Muhammad Zamir
Re(5): 'New violence erupts near Chechnya', al-Reuters

As my post title illustrates I don't see things exactly as Ferguson sees them, but his long view is intriguing - and correct.

At the edge, how do we know when we win 'The Great War for Democracy'?
And, will the West accept losing this 'The Great War for Democracy'?

We know we are winning the 'Great War for Democracy' when we can use that term unabashedly. When will that occur?

When we no longer run deficits – even though we are still actively dealing with global terrorism. When the proxies of global terrorism are unmasked for what they are – weak pawns of weak horses. When global terrorism involves all major civilizations in the conflict.

All these markers are coming to bare.

Our (United States) annual deficit is receding rapidly. It will zero out within two years – my guess is next year. That is not a positive datapoint for Islamic Terror. bin Laden attempted to destroy our economy. He failed miserably.
Hezbollah and Hamas are facing their Katrina test this year - and for years to come. Are the sponsors of terror going to be able to martial the men and material and knowledge and organizational skill to rebuild their proxy polities after wars they started and lost? Do they have the resources to fight democracy at home, deal with massive military might on their borders, steam along on complex and expensive Manhattan Projects, and rebuild regions decimated by wars they initiated? I think not. It shall be demonstrated that they can fight and lose, but not that they can govern and prosper.
While China and Russia are playing great power games, they are playing them at the edge. Another Beslan changes things for Russia. In fact, in 2006 just how are the Chechen Islamic terrorist doing in their struggle against Russia. A major Islamic terrorist attack in China opens another front. It will happen. Sooner rather than later. Then Militant Islam will have enemies on all sides.

Soon, within President Bush’s tenure, we will be able to call this conflict ‘The Great War for Democracy’. Maybe this year.

We will know we have won when we can repeatedly elect representatives on an 'It's the economy stupid' platform. Not yet, not for quite a while. Good people like Mark Warner cannot run on this platform, and they will face an uphill battle in dealing with the still undefeated extremes in their Party.

On accepting a loss in the ‘Great War for Democracy’ I can say without reservation that the long range answer will be a resounding NO.

There may be blips in the short term – but the enemy will reinforce our will to fight. Take for example a takeover of Congress by silly isolationists and conversationalist. It may be peaches and cream for a short time, but what happens when it is viciously demonstrated that there is nobody to talk to. Our civilization, our culture, our nation can deal with millions of casualties – but we will be enraged by the murder of thousands. Can militant Islam fight us toe to toe, can they control their decentralized goon squad organizations enough to hold a winning strategy against the West? Again, I think not.
I would not want to be on the side of deep discussion with Iran, Syria, North Korea, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or Osama bin Laden. When those turds strike Paris or attempt to launch a missile at, or over, Japan or detonate some huge bomb in Toronto or machine gun a gay parade in San Francisco it will show the voters just how ineffective group therapy sessions are when dealing with ideological murderers. In fact, my biggest concern revolves around the destruction of the Democratic Party as an entity worth listening to – and voting for. A One-Party republic is not a stable democracy.
On Niall's belief that we will win this conflict outside military means I accept and deny his conjecture. How absolutely presumptuous of me. I accept that victory will be measured by non-military datapoints. However, the application of military might enhances and illustrates and aggravates those datapoints. Without active military capability on the borders of Iran and Syria and Saudi Arabia (and Pakistan) we would have to wait much longer for natural degradation to occur. Our military forces these sponsors of terror to expend resources they could have used elsewhere. Fighting this conflict without the use of military force is like playing a basketball game on your defensive court. You could (and in this case would) with, but the game will be close and consume many extra overtime periods to break the tie – do we have the time against a suicidal, aggressive, ideological foe?

The Left on Iraq or Iran or Whatever :-&

2006-09-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

The Left on Iraq:

Caesar Clinton’s targeted bombing of Iraq’s WMD facilities – along with the intrepid actions of the expelled UN inspectors - destroyed Iraq’s capability to ever develop, produce, and use those weapons!

The Left On Iran:

BusHitler’s incompetent regime can’t seem to figure out that bombing Iran’s WMD facilities will do nothing - it is guaranteed to fail. We must win a 'war of words' with Iran!

Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Small Minds...

The World at War…

2006-09-03T07:12:00.000-07:00

The French are in the fight!

However, on which side do they find themselves?

What I mean is, um, oh, uuuggghhh, I can’t really put this diplomatically. I have to ask the question. I have to get the truth out. Is America at war against France? Are we involved in another illegal and immoral war of conquest and enslavement?

This should shut Victor Davis Hanson up!
This proves democracies do fight each other!

Working to Put More Teeth in that Marine Corps Mouth...

2006-08-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

Yup, spending my time building software systems for the Corps.
Always with the goal to put more POGs to the front.

In actuality, the optimization in rear guard support staff was the only positive from the Clinton Legacy Era. The Marine Corps did get leaner - and thanks to General Krulak meaner and better. The Corps is more in-sync with the military and political and social realities of the world than it was in 1992. This occurred because of strong Marine Corps leadership.

I offer no props to the Clinton Legacy Minders. I lived that dream and I aint talkin' it up as some Diamond Dude in front of some ignorant throng of Libs (Thong, or whatever they wear under their burlap sacks). The props go to the Corps and their ability to survive the Clinton Legacy. Imagine a Corps of the mid-90's with a Shenseki as Commandant.

As proof, note the Army of 2001.
They were not ready to fight.
45% Reservist, 55% Acitve
Sorry, but true.

Now, however, the Army is ready and does fight!!!

Go Rumsfeld.
Go Shoomaker

As an aside to the depressed out there. Remember one thing. While you might dwell on the problems you know - or think you know - the other side of the battlefield has problems of their own. And, personally, I would not want to be in their shoes. While I am not overly positive on Israel's Clintonesque action in Lebanon remember that for Iran and Syria and Hezbollah to succeed they will have to be viewed as the benefactors of the rebuilding process. This will draw increasing resources from each point in this terror triangle. It will not be good enough for Hezbollah (and, thus, Iran and Syria) to wander around the neighborhood spreading petrol dollars. They are going to have to provide labor, organization, and competence toward a rapid rebuild of damage incurred during fighting for their cause. Every misstep will aggravate the populace.

Hezbollah, enjoy your very own Katrina affect!!!

How much heavy machinery does Hezbollah have on site???

American Political Trends - Where are we going...

2006-08-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'National Journal's 2005 Congressional Vote Ratings', National Journal
Re(2): 'American Conservative Union Ratings of Congress', American Conservative Union

Howling from the left, howling from the right. The Republicans are going to lose seats. They will lose control of the House and Senate. There will be investigations of a President during wartime. The end is near.

The Eye of Sauron gazes upon us!!!

Get that damn ring off and have a beer or two. Mellow out dude. Its August...

Think of it this way:

When you are on the basketball court and the other team has to change its lineup and game plan who do you think is winning. The radio announcers may claim to respect the coaches ability to change up and adjust, but who is winning the game
In the context of this report, what are the long term political trends, and what does it mean to us?

I reviewed Senatorial voting patterns using two fact sets. First, the lifetime voting rating provided by the American Conservative Union. Then the 2005 voting rating provided by the National Journal. The obvious weakness in this review is the fact that I am using National Journal numbers for one year - not a lifetime rating. That said, the numbers from National Journal gel with those of the ACU. Additionally, I don't even play a statistician on the radio - so any advice is well appreciated.

Republican Senators by Initial Election Year:

Election Year	ACU	NJ Economics	NJ Social	NJ Foreign	NJ Conservative%
1968-76	69.00	65.50	57.50	74.00	70.60
1976-80	82.75	69.50	62.00	65.50	70.15
1980-92	81.78	74.89	66.11	62.67	72.27
1992-00	83.73	72.50	63.45	61.77	70.16
2000-06	90.83	69.06	70.33	68.61	75.53
Average	84.77	71.49	65.47	64.64	72.03

Democrat Senators by Initial Election Year:

Election Year	ACU	NJ Economics	NJ Social	NJ Foreign	NJ Conservative%
1968-76	5.00	17.50	13.50	14.00	16.90
1976-80	7.00	21.33	22.67	15.00	25.33
1980-92	12.17	19.00	19.83	23.35	22.43
1992-00	12.43	21.14	19.57	17.00	21.09
2000-06	19.73	25.91	20.45	29.36	27.12
Average	11.26	20.98	19.20	19.74	22.57

The simple implication is that the newest Democratic Senators are - in a significant way - transitioning conservative from their long term mean. New Democratic Senators are:

8.5 points higher on the American Conservative Unions lifetime voting record
And, a whopping 14.26 points higher than the Liberal Ancient Regime!

And, in 2005 Democratic Senators elected from 2000 onward were:

4.93% more conservative on Economic votes than previous classes
1.25% more liberal on Social votes
9.62% more conservative on Foreign Affairs votes
4.53% more conservative overall.
and, a whopping 15% more conservative on Foreign Affairs votes than the Ancients

In the meantime, the Republicans seem more at ease with their deals. Republican Senators elected for the first time in 2000 or later are:

6 points higher on the American Conservative Unions lifetime voting record

And, in 2005 Republican Senators elected from 2000 onward were:

2.43% less conservative on Economic votes than previous classes
4.86% more conservative on Social votes
3.97% more conservative on Foreign Affairs votes
and, 3.50% more conservative overall.

Folks, for all the hue and cry, it is not the growing Republican majority that is changing its principles and game plan - it is the Democrats. We are about to see that Party fragment. The younger, more conservative studs will want - ney, need - to take control of that Party. Listen to the screaming about voting Pelosi out if she doesn't gain a majority. Reid will be gone. The American public - taken as a whole - does not respond well electorally to someone that has a single digit ACU rating. They are unelectable - and getting more so. These bubbas can be elected locally, but who wants them running a national effort. By their very nature they are out of the mainstream.

This recent conservative shift started in 2000 and will continue through at least 2012. It will take years for the Democrats to sort themselves out - and the little Lamont temper tantrum ain't helping things. Right now, the only folks who could save the Democratic Party (Bill Nelson, Ben Nelson, Mark Pryor, and Ken Salazar) will not clear the Idiotarian Party primaries. There is nobody in the wings palatable to the general public.

Finally, I think this explains the consternation regarding President Bush. If I were to put him on the ACU scale (by twitching my nose somewhat scientifically) he would be right around Senator Norm Coleman of Minisota. The American public is now demanding someone in the Frist to Allen range. It is not President Bush that is changing, it is us...

That is a very good thing...

Democrats Voting Power over Principle!

2006-08-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Re(1): ‘Connecticut Feels Strain of a Rematch at the Polls’, NYT, Nicholas Confessore
Re(2): www.ElectionProjection.com

Can anything express the values difference between Conservative thought and Liberal thought than this graph from the NYT:

Peter Gray wrestled long and hard over how to vote in Tuesday’s Democratic
primary in Connecticut before deciding to go with Senator Joseph I. Lieberman over his challenger, Ned Lamont. And he is not exactly looking forward to doing it all over again.
“I’m very conflicted,” said Mr. Gray, 32, of Stamford. “I feel like he turned his back on the party, but I don’t like a brand-new senator who doesn’t have power.”
But like most of the Lieberman supporters interviewed during the past two days, Mr. Gray said he would probably stick with Mr. Lieberman in the general election on Nov. 7, when the senator will be on his own ballot line as he tries to keep his seat.
“Joe’s still the man for the job,” Mr. Gray said. “He’s used his power to do a lot of positive things.”

A thought: Where does that desire for naked political power find itself within the conservative election time thought process?

It is there – but is it job 1 for Conservatives.

It appears so for Liberals.

Some Stats on the US Senate:

Both Parties now are actually about as radical:

The average rating for a Democratic Senator is 14.
The average rating for a Republican Senator 85

That is, both Parties average scores are centered 15 points off their extremes

There is very little difference in average age of Senators by Party.

The average date of birth for a Democratic Senator is 9/16/1943.
The average date of birth for a Republican Senator 10/20/1944

Here is a more substantial difference:

The average election year for a Democratic Senator is 1989.
The average election year for a Republican Senator 1994

In contrast, here are juicy tidbits:

Newer Senators in the Democratic Party are more conservative
58% of the Democratic Party is of the pre-Baby Boom generation
There is a growing divide between the aging bulls and the new Senators
Newer Senators in the Republican Party are a bit more conservative
51% of the Republican Party is of the pre-Baby Boom generation
There is minimal cultural divide between the aging bulls and the new Senators
Out of the septuagenarians in the Senate, two of the Democrats are leaving public service while a third wanted to. None of the Republicans of that age group elected to leave public service.
Another interesting tidbit, Joseph Lieberman falls dead center with liberal rating of 17. The fact that he was deposed means that the Party activists are shifting hard to the left. With the above trends, this does not bode well in general elections – how could Lamont possibly move to the center of an ever more conservative Democratic Party. His survival requires Connecticut to be an island in a sea of change – and it might be, see the ElectionProjection web site.

So, where is the country headed?

Do you want to hitch your wagon to Lamont’s star?

What are the odds that we will have a more cohesive Senate soon?

The Sound and Fury of Idiots :-&

2006-08-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

Re(1): ‘What Is Being Left - The Ugly Ass With Attitude...’, MySandmen, Mr. Atos

Mr. Atos, in the comments to his post ‘What Is Being Left - The Ugly Ass With Attitude...’, added within the comments section:

The Democrats have ensured themselves irrelevence. They are the Macbeth party.....

"that struts and frets [its] hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: [Theirs] is a tale [now] told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

He links to the front page of the DailyKOS – confident in their continuing idiocy.

Get this, he links to the starting page of a daily blog.

So confident is he!!!

Little did Mr. Atos know, but the ‘idiots’ in question posted the following the very next day. On a day when the civilized world beat back terrorism. On a day when the very tools these idiots rail against on a daily basis played the major factor in denying Osama his joy.

Playing politics with terror
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 05:23:16 PM PDT
This brilliant post culls unnamed anonymous sources from the world over to denigrate the President and to slight the take down of terror. Intercepting a terror plot is all about calling Democrats Ninnies or something. Well, that shoe looks like it might just fit - give it another try!

CT-Sen: Lieberman election-day traffic spike
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 05:18:58 PM PDT
Wow, the DailyKOS had a traffic spike. Is it a slow news day?

First post-Tuesday congressional poll
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 04:35:29 PM PDT
Wow, some poll in early August is showing gains for Libs. Is it a slow news day?

Terror Plot Thwarted By British
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 02:18:40 PM PDT
We caught the Terror Turds before they crapped on the civilized world again, but Hunter has this to say:
At the same time, our human intelligence efforts are nearly nil, port security continues to be ignored, our military services are tossing out fluent Arabic translators for the transgression of being gay, and the funding of meaningful "homeland security" efforts is being treated like it was a carnival game by the Republican congress, which cannot fundamentally distinguish between security efforts and required "pork" patronage.
I don't feel safer, today. And I didn't need the color-coded Rainbow of Terror, which has been even further debased by being hauled out like the world's most transparent political fear-o-meter during every election season, to tell me that.
I think Hunter would be more comfortable with the 'Rainbow Coalition' fighting the good fight, eh...
Run from Bush, run far, far away!
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 12:32:31 PM PDT
Obviously, a slow news day!
2006: Sabato's latest predictions
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 12:32:31 PM PDT
So what, obviously, a slow news day!
That old GOP playbook ain't working no more
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 11:47:40 AM PDT
Yup thats right, a culture of fear and corruption or something...
Republican Party puts Hitler mustache on Dean
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:58:41 AM PDT
So subtle, I can’t even see the supposed mustache.
MO-Sen: Why is Talent (R) afraid to say he's a Republican?
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:10:35 AM PDT
Yup, most certainly. Is there anything else to talk about.
CT-Sen: Joe's hometown paper wants him out
Thu Aug 10, 2006 at 10:06:41 AM PDT
Oooo, weee, the Tuckwilla Times want Lieberman to acquiesce to the NedRoots.

Mr. Atos, The Prognosticator

Such Talent

Then, again, maybe he could count on the DailyKOS. They are idiots after all...

Are there any 9/11 Republicans out there...

2006-08-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Time for a Divorce', The Irish Trojan Blog, Brandon Loy
Re(2): 'My Mom is Quitting the Democratic Party Too', The Irish Trojan Blog, Brandon Loy
Re(3): 'Let's See if I got this Right', InstaLawyer, Douglas C. Weinstein

HT: InstaPundit, Glenn Reynolds

UPDATED 2006/08/1921

Pink Floyd:

Is there anybody out there?
Is there anybody out there?
Is there anybody out there? Anybody at all…

For the six folks who read my blog, I want to admit something...

I voted for Jesse Jackson in 1992. I don't even want to tell you who I voted for in 1988. That tells you something, eh… Hint, I voted for the person in the last political ad I watched – and he was in the slam. It wasn’t till 1996 that I voted for a Republican as President. Reading this site – who would have known. But, that should tell the Democratic Party something. Folks like me have only switched over the last ten years – and millions more switched on a certain Tuesday on a certain September day on a certain day this millennium.

However, I am asking the question: Are there any 9/11 Republicans out there…

I just found a couple more 9/11 Democrats:

Brandon Loy – All excited about getting InstaLaunched…
Brandon Loy's Mom - She is liberal, but not a nut single issue nut...
Douglas Weinstein – the InstaLawyer… He just got Instalaunched – and his server is still up…

I can’t say it isn’t a bit exciting getting launched. Michelle Malkin found a post on my site and launched hundreds of readers to view my pap. Louri Byrd (then of PoliPundit) launched hundreds more on two different entries.

It is a bit exciting.

Personally, it is the Belmont Club, MySandmen, SecurityWatchTower, CouterTerrorismBlog, and LGF readers that seem to motor over after I comment that excite me. It is neat to have a few readers here and there to get a bit disappointed when I don’t create daily entries.

Kinda ramblin’… But, what can you expect when I am partaking in Adult Libations (very sorry, note the plural) – in this case Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout. A very invigorating libation for we NeoCons, eh…

Oh, well… Does this count as a post… I know it isn’t one of my best… I also know it will probably go into as special link list of its own. Is it really a flameout? Nope. But, it is a drunken sot of a post.

So, to my friends out there…

Sod Off Swampy

UPDATE (2006/08/1921):
I think Jeff Goldstein has been imbibing on a few himself, eh:

“TOCK, baby! The new word is TOCK! ‘Tic’ is through. ‘Tic’ represents capitulation to the Man’s predominant narrative. Whereas TOCK is the advent, brothers and sisters —the dawning of a new age of progressive political and social awakening that begins and ends with the power of the people powered people’s peopling and as such cannot be contained, constrained, or compartmentalized. It just is. Yes, TOCK is here to stay! And those who refuse to heed TOCK will soon be relegated to the ash heap of --”

I think I understand this passage!!!

Questions to the Media...

2006-08-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Know Thy Enemy', Me
Re(2): 'A still small voice', Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.

Why should we trust you?

What have you done that warrants such trust?

Here is an earlier compilation against trusting you and/or your editorial judgment.

Now,

Listen...

Listen...
Listen...

After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after
the fire a still small voice. It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped
his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave.
Behold, a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

That still small voice is asking an important question:

Untrusted, who will act as the distributors of information - the fundamental of truth?

Untrusted, are we a step closer to accepting despotism?

If you are not able to hear the still small voice through the Sturm und Drang of conflict and war and dissention, than hear this clear and loud voice carrying through fire and earthquakes:

Earn your damn trust back!

Score Another Run for Charles Johnson...

2006-08-06T07:58:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Reutergate: "Picture kill", MichellMalkin.com, Michelle Malkin
Re(2): 'Corrupting our sight 2', Belmont Club, Wretchard T.C.
Re(3): 'Know Thy Enemy', Me

HT: The Drudge Report

While BDS inflicted investor Warren Buffet watches billions flow out the door - kinda like the vaunted government watchdogs we call the President, the Senate, and the House - the Anti-Idiotarian Charles Johnson is fitting his cap for another feather...

Here is the unadorned image from the camera REUTERS/Adnan Hajj:

And now, to symbolize the mass murdering, carpet bombing, war crimes committing, gas chamber lighting, Gestapo marching Jooos, we doctor the photo for distribution as such:

The black jackbooted plumes of Halliburton oil fires stream into the air from a mass area bombing.

Carpet Bombing.

Indiscriminate.

Devastation.

So, the sod REUTERS/Adnan Hajj gets 'suspended' from al-Reuters.

But...

He posts another photo with his last gasp of his judgement.

A photo of Halliburton oil fires streaming from an apartment building.

A photo the fine editors of al-Reuters decide to publish. The artistic balance. The news balance. The memories of Haifa Street in Baghdad!

Soon, we shall certainly be able to answer the following:

Where is the Green Helmet Man???

Where is White T-Shirt Man???

Who voted for Hezbollah???

This photo may or may not have been doctored.
However, even an undoctored and an unstaged photo can lie.

Score Another ‘Wolf’ for Warren Buffet!!!

2006-08-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Re(1): ‘Why I'm not buying the U.S. dollar’, Fortune, Warren Buffet, 2003/10/26
Re(2): ‘Giving more than Buffett and Gates combined’, MarketWatch, 2006/07/25
Re(3): ‘Berkshire Profit Rises 62%; Buffett Cuts Currency Bet’, Bloomberg, 2006/08/05

Oh, woest me…

The epitome of value investing loses a cool billion speculating in the currency markets!!!

I was waiting for this. I was flabbergasted in 2003 when I read Warren Buffet was going to short the dollar inside his Berkshire Hathaway investment fund. He was the stable voice in a market of bombastic Dot.Com morons throughout the late 90’s. But, his BDS got the best of him and the drool on his balance sheets smudged the vitality of the American economy. His smoke tarnished glasses glistened at the vigor of the French and German economies…

Let us look at his reasoning and prognostication - oh my, we have had quite a few brilliant psychic seers recently, haven’t we!.

Obviously, one has to simplify a vast, dynamic, and growing economy to really study it – so let us use the Communist zero sum macro-economics model:

A perpetuation of this transfer will lead to major trouble. To understand why, take a wildly fanciful trip with me to two isolated, side-by-side islands of equal size, Squanderville and Thriftville. Land is the only capital asset on these islands, and their communities are primitive, needing only food and producing only food. Working eight hours a day, in fact, each inhabitant can produce enough food to sustain himself or herself. And for a long time that's how things go along. On each island everybody works the prescribed eight hours a day, which means that each society is self-sufficient.

Ah, that simplifies the equation. There are no goods other than land and food. There are no requirements for services such as blacksmithing or oil exploration or software development. We can narrow a 13.5 Trillion dollar economy to land and food!

And, after Thriftville starts selling surplus food to the LOPs (Low Output People) in Squanderville an imbalance occurs – resulting in Thriftville citizens actually owning hard assets in Squanderville! And, now:

At that point, the Squanders are forced to deal with an ugly equation: They must now not only return to working eight hours a day in order to eat -- they have nothing left to trade -- but must also work additional hours to service their debt and pay Thriftville rent on the land so imprudently sold. In effect, Squanderville has been colonized by purchase rather than conquest.

In effect, Mr. Buffet invested in the Euro. He invested in the dynamic French and German economies. He invested billions and billions against America and against the Dollar just when his Value Investment strategy would have netted him billions. Just when the Evil BusHitler’s tax policies revitalized the concept of value investing (see tax treatment of dividends) the key proponent of value investing started dabbling in futures and options. Missed it by t-h-a-t much…

He was right about one thing though:

I will close by reminding you again that I cried wolf once before. In general, the batting average of doomsayers in the U.S. is terrible. Our country has consistently made fools of those who were skeptical about either our economic potential or our resiliency. Many pessimistic seers simply underestimated the dynamism that has allowed us to overcome problems that once seemed ominous. We still have a truly remarkable country and economy.

It was probably wise for him to donate much of his life savings to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donor-advised charity fund. His remaining assets can thus be invested conservatively using value funds and bonds – and, thus, be saved from the grasping claws of a BDS infected currency speculator!!!

But, BDS strikes when he invests other people’s money… He is one citizen of Squanderville who is wisely purchasing assets in Thriftville:

Buffett, the company's 75-year-old chairman and the world's second-richest man after Microsoft Corp.'s Bill Gates, acquired his first company outside the U.S. in July with the $4 billion purchase of an 80 percent stake in Israel-based toolmaker Iscar Metalworking Cos. As Hezbollah fighters launch rockets within range of Iscar's plant in Tefen, Berkshire faces new risks.
"Berkshire is subject to increased risks from unstable political conditions and civil unrest in international markets,'' the company said in the filing. With the Middle East
in new turmoil, "business operations could be adversely affected directly through the loss of human resources and destruction of production facilities.''

At least he knows when to cut his losses:

Berkshire cut its currency contracts by $4.2 billion during the quarter to $1.2
billion even as the U.S. Dollar Index, used to measure its value against six
major currencies, fell the most in 18 months. Buffett, who had as much as $21.8
billion in contracts in 2005, told investors in March he would acquire interests
in companies outside the U.S. instead.

Mr. Buffet, if I may be of some assistance… I am not a doctor of finance but I play one at the workplace! Invest conservatively in value and safety. Stop seeking speculative returns. End your search for greener and safer pastures – cast your eyes instead upon the ground on which you stand. Take off those smokey glasses and mop the sweat off your brow. BusHitler will be gone in less than three years!!! Take the long view.

There is hope.
In the end, it was tidy of Mr. Buffet to cut his losses just before the Billion mark.
We will call that a moral victory of the sort being won by al-Qaeda and Hezbollah!!!

Yuk, yuk…

Schadenfreude…

Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

Now, can we have a peek inside George Sorros’ balance sheets?

Democrat Leadership in Kuwait

2006-08-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'Govt slammed for postponing acceptance of job applications; ‘Write off all consumer loans’ ', Arab Times, 2006/08/05
Re(2): 'Hezb caught in 'quagmire'', Arab Times, 2006/07/27

Yup, the Democratic Party is giving up on America and focusing like a laser beam on the bluest of the blues - Kuwait. Separate the 3rd World pap of MP Ali Al-Deqbasi from the 1st World pap of Senator Ted Kennedy if you can:

KUWAIT CITY (Agencies): “If the government cannot solve the unemployment crisis at a time when there is a huge budgetary surplus and extraordinary revenues, we don’t know when it can find job opportunities for citizens,” says MP Ali Al-Deqbasi. He criticized the government for postponing acceptance of employment applications from August to October 2006, saying: “we were optimistic when the government recently pledged to create new opportunities to lessen the unemployment problem. But after this decision we are very disappointed and wondering when the government can find jobs for citizens.”

Guess what Sherlock al-Deqbasi and Sherlock Kennedy, a real and vibrant economy is not saddled by expansive government jobs programs. Such programs may be necessary to get things done or to spark an economy in the short run - but they are drags on the economy in the long haul. How many government oil tick clerks does Kuwait really need. Open up the economy, free your citizens to think, dream, and confront you and your economy will roar. I know your advisors from the US Democratic Party are telling you otherwise - but please open your eyes (and don't read any more Paul Krugman articles).

By the way, I think many elements of the 'Right Wing Conspiracy' would be willing to hold a fundraiser to permanently station members of the Democratic Party as advisors to Kuwait - kinda like the start of the Vietnam War, eh...

What a quagmire!!!

Seeking the Weave...

2006-07-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

I am compiling a long entry on the 'Unimpeachable Sources' used by the media.

Here is a list of my favorites:

Larry C. Johnson
Paul Pillar
Ray McGovern
Joseph Wilson
Richard Clark
Russell D. Tice
Sibel Edmonds
Mary O’McCarthy
Rand Beers
Sandy Berger
Madeleine Albright
John D. Rockerfeller

They seem to spin and weave on one another. Very complicated. Very odd.

Some seem to have once been reasonable, but are having a hard time of it when the accusing finger of history points in their direction. Some seem to think the intelligence and security and policy organizations they worked for are conspiring to murder Americans. Most seem to want to recast history in a new, more palatable, light. Some are protecting an earlier Administration and a legacy and a belief structure - that is, a religion under siege.

All seem to accuse President Bush of not detecting and destroying al-Qaeda in the 8 months he had as President before 9/11. Most point to assessments from the mid-90's demonstrating the importance of fighting terror - without defending the five years of inaction that ensued under their watch. Most want a kinder, gentler response and interaction with organized terror.

Of all Mrs. Sibel Edmonds is the oddest case in the group. Where does she stand? She is very angry that the FBI dragged its feet before 9/11 regarding Islamic terror activity within the U.S.. In this, she seems to have many facts on her side but she quickly twisted inaction, incompetence, and stupidity into a great and grand conspiracy theory. She is suing everyone. She is a 'whistleblower' extraordinaire.

Odd, very odd…

The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills...

The March of the NeoCons...

2006-07-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

Kinda dumb, but kinda fun!!!

Here is a very odd thought.

The rocket scientists we call Hezbollah are also part of the Iranian/Syrian deterrence force. And, they are blowing their military assets in a kabuki dance while yelling Allah Akhbar at the top of their lungs. And, these rocketeers aren’t even tipping their missiles with WMD.

Time to recall the theater ‘general’ and remind him that there is a real war on. His theater of action was supposed to fix the enemy in place – not bring the enemy closer to the heart of a major combatant. Do you think Syria wants Israel roiling about on its borders until its ready? Do you think Syria wants these violent and useless turds floating around in their cities and population centers – getting bored, getting fanatical, getting frustrated, getting pissed at Assad? And, the battlefield will not be ready till Iran has multiple nuclear weapons – including some that demonstrate their capability with above ground tests…

This is odd, very odd.

I have more confidence in Bush/Blair than Olmert. If the strategy is to force or coerce Hezbollah to blow their assets and capability before they could actually cause damage than we have a very deep strategy – and one that points to a regional escalation of the conflict on our terms sooner rather than later. Don’t forget that mighty Iran will soon be on half rations for their refined fuel requirements. The beauty of subsidies and socialism. They seem to have forgotten that gasoline is far more expensive than oil. Yuk, yuk…

Oooo, aaaaaahhhh that PNAC thang!!!
The Great Right Wing Conspiracy!!!
The shadow government!!!
Skull and Crossbones!!!

Prescient Moonbat - NYT OpEd shows his credentials

2006-07-26T19:13:00.000-07:00

Re(1): 'The Declining Terrorist Threat', NYT OpEd, 2001/07/10, Larry C. Johnson
Re(2): 'The Declining Terrorist Threat', OpEd reprinted in full
Re(3): 'Stay on Guard Against Terrorism', NYT Reader Response, Joseph Muckerman
Re(4): 'Mr. Counterterrorism Guru', National Review, Byron York

HT: 'Your a Dead Man', Confederate Yankee

UPDATED: Oh, dear god!!!

Larry Johnson proved Moonbat Prescient when he put his heart, soul, and reputation on the line writing a NYT OpEd titled ‘The Declining Terrorist Threat’ on July 10, 2001.

If you are silly enough to pay for pap and drivel in the NYT Select read his OpEd here.

Otherwise, here is this fine example of his prescient prognostication

An excerpt:

The greatest risk is clear: if you are drilling for oil in Colombia — or in nations like Ecuador, Nigeria or Indonesia — you should take appropriate precautions; otherwise Americans have little to fear.
Although high-profile incidents have fostered the perception that terrorism is becoming more lethal, the numbers say otherwise, and early signs suggest that the decade beginning in 2000 will continue the downward trend. A major reason for the decline is the current reluctance of countries like Iraq, Syria and Libya, which once eagerly backed terrorist groups, to provide safe havens, funding and training.
...
Larry C. Johnson is a former State Department counterterrorism specialist

In contrast, the famous Mr. Muckerman replied to Mr. Johnson's expert analysis on July 14, 2001 in 'Stay on Guard Against Terrorism'.

To the Editor:

Re ''The Declining Terrorist Threat'' (Op-Ed, July 10):

Larry C. Johnson contends that it is time ''to take a deep breath and reflect on why we are so fearful'' of the terrorist threat. He states that of the 423 terrorist incidents reported last year, only 153 were judged to be ''significant'' and only 17 involved American citizens or businesses.

What he does not say is that weapons of mass destruction and disruption continue to proliferate and continue to be acquired by so-called rogue states and organizations, many of whom have declared war on our nation. They can target our cities and infrastructure with missiles or hand-delivered terror weapons.

The attack on Pearl Harbor was successful because we, as a nation, had not crossed a mental threshold that admitted that our territory could be attacked. Let us not make that mistake again.
JOSEPH E. MUCKERMAN Alexandria, Va., July 10, 2001 The writer was director of emergency planning for the Pentagon from 1986 to 1992.

Can the MSM please offer a talking head position to Mr. Muckerman. This may surprise the editors of the NYT, but Mr. Muckerman was right. He also wrote an article I bet is rather intriguing: “Rethink the Nuclear Threat.” Orbis, Winter 1994, v. 38, no. 1, p. 99-

Personally, I have heard enough from Mr. Johnson.

More from Mr. Muckerman:

‘An Army at the Ready’ – NYT, September 6, 2000
‘Lesson of Pearl Harbor’ – NYT, December 16, 1999
‘Add Civil Defense’ – NYT, January 30, 1997

The fool Larry C. Johnson grabbed a pen and wrote himself into history...

But, at least when not being pumped up by the media as the expert of all terrorism experts he has a streak of honesty:

Of course, he didn’t give an inch, either. “I stand by everything I said in that piece,” Johnson says. “Go through it in detail. Put it into the right context. . . . Nowhere in that article did I say we needed to ignore Islamic terrorism.” Mark that up as another bold statement.
On the issue of his credentials, Johnson says he received commendations for his work at the CIA, but he takes a more modest tone than one might expect. “I don’t represent myself to be Mr. Counterterrorism Guru,” he says. “I get introduced as the deputy director of counterterrorism at the State Department. But my full title was deputy director for transportation security, antiterrorism assistance training, and special operations. In Washington, the longer your title, the less important you are, and I had a really long title.”
As for his connections — how he knows enough to speak about the CIA after 17
years away — well, that’s where the openness ends. “I’m not going to get into
the specifics of how I know what I know,” Johnson says. And that’s that.

Update (2006/07/26 2013 PST)

Dear god, there is a Guckert/Gannon angle to this...
If we get Johnson, Wilson, Plame, Momma Moonbat, Heltzik, Leopold, Greenwald, Frisch and all their assorted sock puppets together we can mix them all up for another 15 minutes of fame.

See You on the Other Side of Hell!!!

2006-07-16T18:50:00.000-07:00

And, perhaps, the isolationist Left shall give us Total War...

We will know in a few weeks…

Gee, thanks...

The Left’s love and concern and correctness and decency in this lawless land leave them - and us - one solution since they cannot stomach the other. Their lack of willpower in standing against the Reich at the Rhineland may lead all of us to stand on the beaches of Normandy. Waiting. Killing. Mechanized. It may yet come to that.

But, we still have a few weeks.

The 2nd Conjecture may yet have some life.

Total War will be fought symmetrically by us and asymmetrically by the other side.

We will lose thousands to millions in shopping malls and sporting events and indefensible gathering places. The main target will be the glorious - and apostate - underbelly of Western Europe. The only thing that will save them is the ruthlessness they still have within them - special note: their police are not like our police. But, so soft, so near, so apostate. Even more so than the Great Satan. To reach out and touch them. A dream. A dream of others before.

They will lose millions to hundreds of millions when the next Bomber Harris takes command. Their infrastructure, their cities, and their military are unprotected. Our culture will forever change. We are still challenged with Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Tokyo, Dresden, and Monte Carlo. Those necessities will be a very distant memory. The only targets they have worth hitting are population centers.

At least we are talking about a 3rd Conjecture solution without 3rd Conjecture weapons.

There were options, there were ifs...

Sturm und Drang..

Time, Still...

After the earthquake a fire passed; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"