The Occasional Observer

If unemployment rates are still hovering near 10% near the end of this year (which I believe most economists predict 8-10% levels), and the deficit truly hits $1.6 T this year as projected by the White House, it's hard to see how the Republicans don't have a major sweep in the midterms.

Now, while I certainly look forward to a Republican sweep to halt Democratic plans for socialist expansions, I hope the Republicans learned their lesson from earlier this decade about true fiscal responsibility. What happened during Bush's tenure cannot be allowed to happen again - Congress must exert fiscal responsibility and start seriously addressing our ballooning debt and trade deficits. If not, I might start voting libertarian or other party.

My friend "Wombat" shared this article with me. Some very good points to make that will open your eyes to just how far out of control our government has gotten.

The Good
Obama says he wants modern nuclear (nukular?) power and to open up more drilling for oil and gas.
Wants to expand exports.
Wants to freeze discretionary spending.
Suggested all earmark requests be posted on the web.

The Bad
Nuclear policy includes cap & trade
Almost everything he suggested will result in huge expansion of government and redistribute wealth.

The Ugly
The mockery of the people who think we shouldn't spend trillions on supposed climate change.
Trying to create another stimulus bill to put us in an even deeper hole despite the fact that the first one didn't work.

The Ridiculous
Criticism of Republicans for holding up nominations.
No mention of Gitmo after all the posturing about it.
Claims that he excluded lobbyists from government positions.
Claims about operating government in a transparent fashion.
Blaming economic problems on tax cuts and medicare drug program without even a thought of Fanny/Freddie.
Continuing claims of saved jobs with no way to prove or disprove.

One of my favorite all-time Chappelle skits, hilarious "training" video. Right up there with Samuel Jackson beer. Warning: some language NSFW.

Chappelle's Show
PopCopy
www.comedycentral.com
Buy Chappelle's Show DVDs Black Comedy True Hollywood Story

This may be the most satisfying story I've read in some time. After years of Newsday abandoning all sense of neutrality and jamming their agenda down my throat, it appears that no one values their product. No one.

Great video--definitely NSFW for language (actually subtitles, but you get the drift)

Fantastic article (as usual) from George Will. You Want To Read It.

Oops, we goofed. So says the UN's IPCC in apologizing for erroneously overstating the rate of glacial ice melting in the Himalayan mountains.

At least, much like the Dems after last night's Boston Massacre, they openly accepted responsibility for their mistakes and vowed to move forward in a less one-sided fashion. Except that they didn't. They basically went on to say something along the lines of "just because we used inaccurate and unsubstantiated estimates, and just because we completely failed to use universally-accepted scientific standards in analyzing data, and just because we were WAY off, doesn't mean anything changes."

Of course not, why should it? Much like with healthcare, right Pelosi/Obama?

I was just commenting to my father last night that I really like John Bolton, the U.N. Ambassador who never got confirmed. Then, I just this article and almost choked. A liberal complaining that Republicans are holding up nominations. Unbelievable.

I just wanted to see that written out. I never thought I'd ever hear the words "the Republican Senator from Massachusetts" and have it be true.

I've heard talking heads throw some outrageous statements out there over the years, but I can't think of anything that even comes close to this slanderous rant by Olbermann. If this doesn't get him fired from MSNBC and sued, I don't know what would.

In describing Scott Brown, Olbermann called him "...an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against woman and against politicians with whom he disagrees."

Telling clip in NYT about Dems voting for Brown:

In North Andover, Katie Zezima interviewed a mother-daughter team, both of whom have long histories of voting for Democratic candidates but who switched allegiances in this hotly contested race. The views below are telling, in a way, because they perhaps underscore the shifts to State Senator Scott Brown that pollsters and the campaigns have picked up on in recent days among independent voters and some Democrats in a race that a month ago looked like a shoo-in for Martha Coakley, the Democratic candidate.

From Ms. Zezima: Marlene Connolly, 73, of North Andover, says she cast her first vote for a Republican today, forced to return to her polling place after waiting 45 minutes initially when the lines were long. She left to pick up her grandson from school, and then waited another 20 minutes before finally getting her opportunity to be heard in the voting booth.

“I voiced my opinion and voted for a Republican, and the roof did not cave in,” Ms. Connolly said. “I can’t believe I’m saying this and if my husband were alive you’d hear a roar, but I think I am now a Republican. I’m just devastated by what Obama’s doing. I don’t think he cares enough about anything other than his own personal agenda or this foolish health care bill.”

It did give her pause to consider putting a Republican in to fill the seat of the late Senator Kennedy, she said. “It bothered me very much that it’s Kennedy’s seat, that did bother me. But the health bill totally upsets me. First of all, do we really know what’s going on with it? It’s always evasive when they’re talking about it.”

Most upsetting to her was the proposed deal made for unions recently on the excise tax. “My daughter and her husband work for companies that are not unionized and they would get slammed,” she explained.

But she also said that while it was fair for the president to place blame on the administration of former President George W. Bush for the economic situation, President Obama’s programs would also increase the nation’s debt. “My little grandson and his children will be paying for all these things, these giveaways. I’m a JFK person, and Jack would give you a hand up, not a handout. And that’s the difference. The Democratic party is not Jack Kennedy’s party and, ergo, I voted for Senator Brown. I think he’ll help change our tide. Of course he’s only one person, but he scared the Dickens out of the Democrats,” Ms. Connolly said.

Or as they say, "The SCOTT heard 'round the world."

Cast my vote this morning. Turnout was on the light side of moderate, and it's snowing now. Expect low to moderate turnout, and a Brown victory.

Latest polls all looking VERY favorable for Scott Brown tomorrow. PPP poll (respected Democratic polling firm) now has him up 5 after having him up 1 just a week ago. RCP poll summary looks good. Brown is killing among independents, and has also picked off 19% of Dems according to PPP.

Momentum polls one week before the election generally hold true, let's hope that's the case here. It is hard to screen likely voters from the general population in special elections, but it does seem Brown's supporters are way more energized.

I don't think it is possible to overstate the ramifications of Brown winning this election. Taking over Teddy Kennedy's seat. First Republican senator in MA since 1972. It would be nothing short of CRUSHING to Obama's agenda. Dems nationwide would be on the ropes and fear their own re-elections. I have to believe that House Dems would not be so quick to just approve the Senate health care bill (the latest murmorings about how Obama could circumvent Brown's potential win from halting his health care bill).

This election is a monster.

What a game. What. A. Game.

I'm not going to say I was confident we'd win (although I certainly thought we had a good chance), or even that we'd win more often than not if we played this game multiple times. But I will say that I'm getting sick of "experts" who keep analyzing Jets matchups by starting with "If the Jets get down by a couple of scores..." If there is one thing the Jets have done well all season, it has been to avoid being down by multiple scores. Their D is too good for that, and it's time for analysts to start respecting that.

In the meantime, I'll enjoy the win and reading articles by everyone who said the Chargers were a lock and had too much offense to shut down.

on the hunting trip, it turns out I can now answer the conundrum in this link. It is definitely the latter, not the former.

A good article in the WSJ basically says the Obama & the Dems should not be playing politics with national security like they are with domestic issues.

Based on RCP polling averages, GOP challengers are even or ahead of Democratic incumbents in 7 senate races: NH, PA, CO, AR, ND, DE, and NV.

Additionally, possible GOP candidates are within single digits in three other races: NY, IL, and CA.

A GOP seat is in danger of being lost in MO.

If Brown wins the MA special election, and the GOP can swing three of the 4 close races (NY, IL, CA), and win the 7 races they are currently leading, they would retake the Senate.

Good news - latest Rasmussen and PPP (a Democratic polling firm) both have the MA special election between Coakley and Brown as a dead heat. Low turnout is expected to heavily favor Brown as conservatives and independents - who overwhelmingly favor Brown - are more committed to voting in special elections.

Although he raised $1.4 M in a 24 hour period through online efforts, he could use even more money as major Dems (Clinton, Kerry, etc.) are lining up behind Coakley to help her out. His website is here.

Hat tip to this TerpFan I work with for the title. It neatly summarizes the article below from the WSJ:

President Hugo Chávez said he ordered two F-16 jets to intercept a U.S. military plane that twice violated Venezuelan airspace on Friday in what he called the latest provocation in the South American nation's skies.

Separately, Mr. Chávez announced a currency devaluation for the first time since 2005. The president said Venezuela's currency, the bolivar, will now have two government-set rates depending on the use, either 2.60 to the dollar for transactions deemed priorities by the government or 4.30 to the dollar for other transactions. The currency's official exchange rate has been held by the government at 2.15 bolivars to the dollar. [My emphasis]

Heh. Heh. "Separately."

Guess it's just lucky we gave him a photo op that lined up simultaneously with him dropping the boom on Venezuelan consumers (i.e., "the people"). The WSJ slips in a little opinion on the matter. Guess they don't think it's serendipity:

The perceived threat of U.S. intervention has become a central element of Mr. Chávez's political discourse and a rallying cry for his supporters.

Just saying.

Special thanks to SHK and the missus for hosting me this weekend, as well as to SHK and SingleWing for a great time in beantown.

I seem to remember being around a group of really smart people saying things that made a lot of sense, but it's all a bit hazy. Maybe I'm getting too old for 8:30 AM first call.

Just saying.

Wonder if the AARP will continue to be so quick to endorse the health care legislation going through Congress, now that the Mayo Clinic has decided that it will drop 3,000 Medicare patients at its Glendale, AZ facility.

This is the same Mayo Clinic that Obama uses in his stump speeches to tout the ability to achieve high-quality health care at low costs through efficiency. Interestingly, they are saying it can't be done. They lost almost $1 B (that's billion, with a B) last year on Medicare patients. And yet Obama's health care plan will put more of the country on a Medicare-like program.

Good luck with that whole increasing the number of patients and not decreasing the quality of health care thing, while also not increasing costs.

Chris Dodd to retire.

That is all.

Not if you look at the statistics, according to a piece by Heather McDonald in today's Wall Street Journal.

Worth a read.

Interesting budget policy he's pushing in MN: spending in each budget would be limited to actual revenue received in the previous budget cycle.