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STIMULATE ME!

I won't spend a lot of time on this because it is all over the Internet. It's pretty clear the stimulus package is no such thing. It is really a pork laden liberal wish list.

Here are a couple Items listed by Congressman Forbes from VA.

50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, which recently spent $95,000 for the American Ballet Theatre in New York City; $300,000 to restore an outdoor sculpture collection in Miami, Florida; and $190,000 for various artistic endeavors in San Francisco, CA; $335 million for STD Education and Prevention, such as the CDC's transgender beauty pageant to advertised HIV testing, and an STD awareness event that taught participants how "to flirt with greater finesse;" $600 million to buy new cars for government workers, on top of the $3.5 billion already spent each year on government passenger cars; $150 million for repairs to the Smithsonian Institution, which recently spent $31,000 for designer upholstery, and $4,000 for a heater for the lap pool of their most recent Director.

Thats just from one website. We could go on for days showing waste.

So here is my take on saving the economy. The first bailout program was a panic attack that flushed a bunch money down the toilet. Yes it stopped some large financial institutions from failing but it did not loosen credit and those financial institutions have not changed their ways. A better solution would have been to buy the bad debt at a steep discount and we could have recovered some of the money we shelled out and have made more credit available. However we should have also demanded large cuts in operating expenses if tax dollars where going to be used to buy a "banks" bad debt.

This would have restored some discipline to the financial markets and we would have emerged from the crisis in better shape.

Now we are going to give more money away and this will not do what it is supposed to do either.

All this government spending is not going to stimulate the economy out of this recession. It did not work in the 1930's it will not work now. It is however going to hurt us in the long run. Some strategic spending in reasonable amounts might have been a good idea. Such as on transportation infrastructure BUT only with cuts is non essential areas. The Republicans failed to properly respond to the economic crisis and now the Democrats are making it worse.

The picture above is more stimulating then anything the Government has done so far and I don't know about you but I could use some stimulus to get my mind off the economy.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.

Alexander Hamilton

IMAGINE

Imagine it is August 30th 2001. You are a Special Agent for a government agency working on anti-terrorism

You have an Al Qaeda Terrorist is custody. The chatter is that something big is going down soon. You know this guy knows what it is. You have tried all the classic interrogation techniques. Good Cop bad Cop, trying to relate to the guy even bribery. He ain't talking.

The next step is to get rough with him, real rough. What do you do?

Hair of the Dog

I believe that government does not have much of an impact on the economic cycle in the short term although some things like low interest rates can help. Even tax cuts are more of a long term benefit to the economy then a short term benefit. More important are the long term policies.

Things like encouraging savings and investments. Most people do not understand this and want the government to do something anything to end an "economic crisis". P oliticians generally get more blame and more credit then they are entitled to when it comes to the economy. So the government does something whether it actually has an effect nobody really knows. Does the recession end because of government programs or does the bad cycle just end because the economy has readjusted? All FDR's spending didn't seem to end the depression.

The current economic downturn is a massive hangover caused by too much debt. Everybody has too much debt consumers , businesses and government.

The government (both the one that just left and the one that just arrived) felt the need to do something. Their remedy for the hangover is hair of the dog that bit us. More Debt.

Now as many of you know hair of the dog is one of the few hangover remedies that actually works. The only problem is that you have to keep it up or the hangover will come back. If you run out of booze it will come back with a vengeance. In the long run you are worse off. The best thing to do for a hangover is too tough it out and you will gradually feel better. Then try to remember how bad you felt the next time you want to over-indulge.

Investing in infrastructure is a good thing. I agree with Obama on that. But we are not going to spend our way out of this economic downturn (which by the way is not the worse since the depression, anyone who lived through the 70's can attest to that). What is really required is a readjustment of spending priority's, a leaner government, getting control of entitlement programs. What is not needed is more debt.

This hangover may go away faster then we all think. The next one, when the money runs out and we can not borrow anymore, that will be one hell of a hangover.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.

James Madison

as reported in Annals of Congress, House of Representatives, 3rd Congress, 1st Session, page 170 (1794-01-10)

Closing Club GITMO

President Obama has announced he will close Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp (GITMO). One of his first official acts was to request a halt of all prosecutions of GITMO prisoners. Eric Holder our new A.G. (pending confirmation) confirms water boarding is torture. It looks like terrorists are going to get the Full Monte of constitutional niceties.

Who are these terrorists? A new report from liberal leaning Brookings Institute report finds that the government alleges the following about the remaining 248 inmates;

"81 detainees traveled to Afghanistan for jihad, 130 stayed in Al Qaeda, Taliban, or other guest- or safehouses, 169 detainees took military or terrorist training in Afghanistan, 84 actually fought for the Taliban, many of them on the front lines against the NorthernAlliance, 88 were at Tora Bora, 71 detainees’ names or aliases were found on computers, hard drives, physical lists of Al Qaeda operatives, or other material seized in raids on Al Qaeda safehouses and facilities. 64 detainees were captured under circumstances—military surrenders, live combat actions, traveling in a large pack of Mujahideen, or in the company of senior Al Qaeda figures, for example—that strongly suggest belligerency and 28 detainees served on Osama Bin Laden’s security detail."

Pentagon officials say that about 110 detainees should never be released because of the potential danger they pose to U.S. interests.

What has happened to those already released.

The Pentagon said on Tuesday that "61 former detainees from its military prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, appear to have returned to terrorism since their release from custody."
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said 18 former detainees are confirmed as "returning to the fight" and 43 are suspected of having done so in a report issued late in December by the Defense Intelligence Agency.

In the first public comment by any CIA officer involved in handling high-value al Qaeda targets, John Kiriakou, now retired, said the technique (water boarding) broke (terrorist) Zubaydah in less than 35 seconds.
“The next day, he told his interrogator that Allah had visited him in his cell during the night and told him to cooperate,” said Kiriakou in an interview to be broadcast tonight on ABC News’ “World News With Charles Gibson” and “Nightline.”

His "cooperation" led directly to information which saved American lives.

These terrorists are not US citizens, They are not covered under the Geneva Conference. They are not legally entitled to the rights they are about to be given. In fact by their violations of the very same rights of others that they now seek, they have forfeited any claim to be treated as well as they have been. These people want to kill your Mothers, your Sons and Daughters all your family as well as you. Better yet they do not want to do it cleanly. They want it to be in as horrifying a manner as is possible. The way they have been treated to date is legit mate self defense. It is legally and morally justified.

But hey lets treat them like a run of the mill miscreant say a bank robber instead of what they really are. Then pray we don't live to regret it. Pray real hard!

UPDATE 1/25/09 Two ex-Guantanamo inmates appear in Al-Qaeda video

Thank You Rev. King

No one did more to end segregation and discrimination and for that the USA owes its eternal gratitude To Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

See his I have a Dream speech at More Monmouth Musings

Thank You Mr. President

I have disagreed with the president Bush on many issues, No Child Left Behind is a disaster, Serious miscalculations where made in prosecuting the Iraq and Afghanistan wars early on. He did not do enough to try to control spending. On other things like katrina and the economy I think he has been given more blame for then is his due. All in all though I understand why so many are relieved he is leaving office.

I am however disturbed by the invective and hate that has been directed at President Bush by those who disagree with him.

At the opening of the Frost Nixon movie the Hollywood elites compared George Bush to Nixon saying Nixons crimes pale in comparison to what Bush did. Luckily Journalist Chris Wallace had the guts to stand up to them. He said;

“Richard Nixon's crimes were committed purely in the interest of his own political gain,"… I think to compare what Nixon did, and the abuses of power for pure political self preservation, to George W. Bush trying to protect this country — even if you disagree with rendition or waterboarding — it seems to me is both a gross misreading of history both then and now,"

I also find it interesting that the incoming administration is paying so much homage to Abraham Lincoln at the inaugural. Yet Lincoln (probably unconstitutionally) suspended the writ of Habeas Corpus at the beginning of the Civil War. Lincoln did it for the same reasons Bush did what he did, to protect the United States of America. I am not saying you can not disagree with them. I am saying their motives where pure and neither deserves to be vilified for their actions.

The fact of the matter is that since September 11th 2001 there has not been a terrorist attack on US soil. Looking back did you on September 12th did you think that would be the case today? I hope we can say the same thing over the next eight years.
He also deserves credit for removing a vicious sadistic and dangerous dictator and giving the Iraqi people the opportunity for freedom. I admit the final outcome is not yet clear but let me ask the critics. Four years from now if I Iraq is at peace and has a democratically elected government will you give Bush credit for that?

Yes the Bush administration has made mistakes but the unrivalled hate that has been directed at him is disgraceful. George Bush is a good, honest, decent man who did what he believed was right rather then what was politically expedient. He did the best that he could in what has been one of our countries most trying times.

To President Bush I say thank you for your service to your country, Thank you for keeping us safe and God Bless You.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

I've lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth — That God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that except the Lord build the House they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this, — and I also believe that without his concurring Aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our Projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a Reproach and Bye word down to future Ages.
Benjamin Franklin Speech to the Constitutional Convention (1787-06-28)

Simple examples

Question: Name two things that consistently year after year increase in cost more then the rate of inflation?

Answer: College Tuition and Medical Care.

Question: Name two things that the government has decided everybody has to afford?

Answer: College Education and Medical Care.

Government interference in these two markets has driven the cost up. As more people can afford it regardless of the cost, cost becomes less and less of an issue.
Providers have no reason to control prices and consumers get it no matter the cost with the governments help. The laws of supply and demand are skewed.

What happens next is the items becomes so expensive government can’t afford it anymore. They then will institute price controls.

What do you think price controls will do to the quality of the product provided?

Richard John Neuhaus, RIP

A Christian Soldier who sought justice and a great theologian and philosopher has passed.

Father John Neuhaus has gone to the Lord at age 72

He was a writer for First Things a Journal of religion Culture and Public Life and a co-founder of Evangelicals and Catholics Together.

May he Rest in Peace.

Only One is True

In a post a while back I discussed why the atheist view does not work for me.
Recently I was castigated by some commentators on another blog for suggesting that one religion had a monopoly on the truth. While I am not the worlds greatest apologist lets discuss which religion is true.(1 )

After we say God exists the next obvious question is which God do I believe in. Most of us practice the religion we were raised in without critical analysis and call it faith. That’s not faith that’s lazy. God gave us the ability to think rationally and he expects us to use that gift even when thinking about him. To me belief requires faith and intellect its not simply believing because that’s what my Mommy and Daddy believed.

What I really can not stand are the people that say all religions are true or they all have truth in them. I have more respect for atheists because even though they came to the wrong conclusion they actually thought it through. All Religions can not all be true when the essential doctrines of the major religions are in conflict. Let me express it mathematically. If G is constant and x and y are NOT equivalent, when X+ G = A then Y+ G ≠ A. A represents Truth.
Plus if your position is they are all true does that mean that worshipping Thor or Zeus or Ishtar or any other dead mythology is to be intellectually taken serious? I don’t think so.
What about the religions that engaged in human sacrifice do they get the seal of approval from the Society of Everything is True?

Quite frankly if it were not for the reasons set forth below I might be a Deist or I might give certain aspects of Buddhism a look.

But to anyone who reads this blog it is obvious I am a Christian. So if I have as I said examined the faith of my fathers why did I decide to stick with it over the other choices?

Well to put it simply if I go to the Tomb of Buddha I will find Buddha.
If I go to the tomb of Mohamed I will find Mohamed. If I go to the tomb of Jesus it is empty. Jesus conquered Death. He is the only founder of a religion that proved he was what he said he was.
All the others, well they had some interesting ideas and great stories but it was all based on their mere say so. “God” revealed this to me. Buddha, Mohamed, Joseph Smith, L. Ron Hubbard. Take your pick. Name any prophetic founder of any religion you want to.
To which I say: “I should believe you why?” Most of them (followers of Buddha excepted)) don’t even claim to have performed any Miracles. I mean why should I believe on their say so. At least show me something.
I am especially suspicious of the ones who accrued wealth and or power because of their prophecies.

Jesus talked the talk and walked the walk. You want Miracles he has tons of them. OK you skeptics are saying lots of witch doctors and shamans can do slight of hand.
True but no mere mortal, no confirmed historical figure, has ever been scourged, crucified, stabbed with a spear, tightly wrapped in heavy burial linens put in a cave had a huge stone rolled in front of it and walked out like nothing happened three days later.

Next you will say oh yeah how you know you weren’t there. Got me there I have to rely on writings of people who either saw it or talked to the people who saw it.

The skeptic says well maybe they were lying. To what end? Even if one Disciple was delusional why would so many claim to have seen the risen Christ. It’s not like it got them wealth or power. Tradition has it that all the Apostles were martyred except John who was exiled to the Island of Patmos. Their does not seem to be a credible motive for lying. Especially for so many. The Bible claims over 500 saw Christ after his death. Wouldn’t some of those people come forth and say hey stop making stuff up. Wouldn’t that show up somewhere in the historical record.

Next theory, the body was stolen. By who? It would have been a terrible sacrilege for the Jewish authorities to do it, plus it accomplished the exact opposite of what the Jews and the Romans wanted. That is kill the story that Jesus was the Messiah. When it was claimed that Jesus had risen wouldn’t they have made sure that the body somehow turned up if they had it. Well then maybe his followers did it. Once again the motive is what? Claim that a guy who isn’t God is God and get stoned to death for no reason? And not just one person in on it but a whole slew.

Now maybe some of you people smarter then me can poke some holes in this but you have to admit that even if it is not conclusive there is more evidence here then anyone else has.

So that’s why I am putting my money on Christianity and I am all in and betting the ranch.

Coming soon Christianity: The Historical Outcome Good or Bad?

(1) To read some really good Christian apologetics I recommend Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

WARNING!

Well I promised /threatened I would do it. WARNING, tomorrow it starts. A series on religion. I was told I shouldn't’t but it appears to engender lively responses and quite frankly that’s what gets me up in the morning. BUT BE WARNED. If you are easily offended by discussions on religion DON”T read this blog tomorrow. If you hate to have your politically correct pre / mis-conceptions challenged STAY AWAY.
DISCLAIMER the views I will express do not mean I want a State mandated religion, theocracy or that I think infidels and heretics should be burned at the stake. I strongly support the right to practice any religion you want, respect the religious practices of others and respect them as human beings… even if they are wrong .

You have been warned!

Its enough to make me stop

I have got to plug this website. I have recently started reading the American Thinker. The writers are so dead on so often it is scary. The writing is clear concise and flows logically.

For instance todays article on Healthcare.

Absolutly the best Political Internet Magazine out there.

They are so good I am tempted to stop blogging. Its like somebody who does paint by numbers watching Rembrandt.

I highly recomend you add them to your daily reading list!

Double Oh! Panetta

Ohh and Obama was doing sooo well with his appointments (well at least as well as can be expected for a Democrat) and then he had to ruin it by appointing a political hack, Leon Panetta to head the CIA. Its a bad move in these troubled times.
Even Senate Democrats like Fienstien are pissed. She said she might oppose it. Of course my own congressman Rush "Rocket Scientist" Holt chimed in that he thought it was a great pick. We know where his head is at. That guy is such an embarrassement .

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

We have no government armed with the power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion.… Our Constitution was made only for a moral and a religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other

John Adams

A MUST READ!!!!

The Diamond Anniversary of Dehumanization

In the American Thinker.

Read it and remember those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.

Burning Leaves and Low Taxes

Just before the holidays I was looking out my window as the municipal leaf vacuum and some municipal workers stopped in front of my neighbors house for the last leaf pickup of the year.

t made me think about the halcyon days of my youth where rather then the sound of leaf blowers on a Autumn weekend there would be the pungent aroma of burning leaves wafting through the air. While this practice was banned for good reasons I do miss it.

Then I realized we used to take care of our leaves ourselves now we must depend on the municipal government to do it. How much of our taxes go towards the man hours and equipment needed to pick up leaves?

The worse part is we do not have to. We could do it ourselves. I shred my leaves and either compost them or use them as free mulch.

So you want to save tax dollars take care of your own leafs. Form a neighborhood cooperative and buy a shared leaf vacuum or have your lawn guy suck them up and shred them instead of blowing them around. It really would not take a longer and the resulting compost is free fertilizer.

Then start thinking. What else could I do for myself instead of relying on the government to do it for me. That is the first step to smaller government and smaller government means less taxes!

Space Wars and Kudos to Obama?

Wow I can not believe I am doing this but I just read this ARTICLE which indicates that President elect Obama is going to be taking the threat that China poses to us seriously and I have to give him kudos for it.

His incoming administration seems to think that the Chinese space program is a military threat and we have to prepare to defend against it. They have suggested combining Pentagon and NASA know how to speed up our space capabilities. Sounds like a good idea.

If this keeps up my whole world view may come crashing down causing a mental breakdown and my commitment to an insane asylum.

Salt the Earth

The New Year once again starts with massive violence in the Middle East.

Sorry to say the Palestinians have not yet learned their lesson. They continue to kill innocent Israeli citizens. Of course when Israel responds they are condemned. We should encourage Israel to once and for all purge this terrorist scum from the Earth. There are no innocents. Most of the people in the Gaza strip support Hamas. The Israels need to go Old Testament on them. Let civilians out if they want out through a controlled checkpoint kill all the terrorists and "Salt the Earth." Make Gaza an uninhabitable wasteland. With a warning that the same will happen to the West Bank if they start in. Maybe then the Palestinians will see that terrorism is not the way.

Is this harsh? Yes it is but history teaches us that your enemies must be totally crushed or they will keep coming back at you.

The sad thing is it did not have to come to this. The Palestinians could have achieved so much if they had followed the path of Martin Luther King and Ghandi. They would have had all the sympathy. Israel as a righteous nation would have caved in and the Palestinians could have had the West bank and the Gaza strip all to themselves and had a thriving nation. All without the massive amount of death and Misery. The Arab people and the Palestinians in particular seem culturally incapable of grasping this.

They have to either change or be crushed. It saddens me to say all this but 40 years of on and of violence needs to finally end, one way or another.