The End of Cronyism in Detroit...

The Obama Administration, Democrats in general, and some Republicans have repeatedly and vociferously expressed their disgust at huge executive compensation packages.

Remember when President Obama dismissed Rick Waggoner from his position as CEO at General Motors?  That was shortly after the federal government and UAW takeover of the company.  They installed in his place Fritz Henderson.  Fritz had tons of experience, but was forced out only 8 months into his term of service.

Well, he's back. 

Is there no end to the gall of these people?  I have NOTHING AGAINST a person making $3,000 per hour!  It's the hypocrisy I can't stand.  How can the President, his Pay Czar, and his appointed patsy at GM let this happen?  Don't they remember that they're for the "little guy"?

Fritz Henderson is back at GM, for $3,000 an hour

Democrats Explain Senate Rules...

Democrats have recently threatened to pass Health Care Reform v. 2.0 with a 51-vote majority in the Senate.  This has been called the "nuclear option" because it prevents the "extended debate" that the senate is famous for. 

The Founders had in mind a sort of House of Commons (Representatives) that would give voice to the people.  The House of Lords (Senate) would balance the often impulsive vox populi with deliberate consideration of the issues.  The two Houses would then serve to check the power of the Executive. 

Anyway, watch this video where several Democrat leaders articulate the matter much better than I could.  Then remember that it is this same group of people advocating for and threatening to use the "nuclear option" against the current Republican minority and their less liberal Democrat party mates. 

The Fruits of The Obama "Open Hand" Doctrine...

Remember when Candidate Obama chided Candidate Clinton because she was too tough on our enemies?  He lectured everyone in his patent condescending way that if we extended an open hand and engaged in dialogue without conditions our enemies would see we meant them no harm and would abandon their intentions to destroy us and our allies. 

Here's a short story from Reuters that ought to illustrate exactly how naive Mr. Obama's statement and world view are.

Ahmadinejad not taking Clinton comments "seriously"


Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:29am EST

TEHRAN, Feb 16 (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed on Tuesday U.S. accusations that Iran was moving toward a military dictatorship, saying the U.S. military budget was 80 times larger than that of the Islamic Republic.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Monday that the United States believed Iran's Revolutionary Guards were driving the country towards military dictatorship and should be targeted in any new U.N. sanctions.

"We don't take her comments seriously," Ahmadinejad told a televised news conference, adding that the entire Iranian population of more than 70 million were protecting Iran's independence and its Islamic revolution.

He said the United States had some 300,000 troops stationed in the Middle East and was involved in wars in the region.

"These comments she (Clinton) is making are not wise," Ahmadinejad added.

(Reporting by Reza Derakhshi; writing by Fredrik Dahl; editing by David Stamp)

Dr. Jones Should Go To See The Principal...

Imagine being confronted by your professor and asked for the sources you used to write a research paper on the health benefits of drinking small doses of the industrial herbicide know as Agent Orange. 

Now imagine that you couldn't find the base data or your sources any more. 

Imagine further that you admit some of your data was fabricated by you in order to strengthen your case.

Imagine also that you admit that you ignored other data that did not support your case.

Now imagine what happens to your grade on that paper, your grade in the class, and your standing at the university you're attending.  Academic probation would be the best case scenario.  In all likelihood you'd be expelled from school.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1250872/Climategate-U-turn-Astonishment-scientist-centre-global-warming-email-row-admits-data-organised.html

Now Dr. Jones Admits He Was Wrong...

Follow the link below to read about Dr. Phil Jones' admission that he and others misled the world about global warming.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1250813/MAIL-ON-SUNDAY-COMMENT-The-professors-amazing-climate-change-retreat.html

Backdoor Taxes To Hit Middle Class ...

Mon Feb 1, 4:09 PM
By Terri Cullen

NEW YORK (Reuters.com) --The Obama administration's plan to cut more than $1 trillion from the deficit over the next decade relies heavily on so-called backdoor tax increases that will result in a bigger tax bill for middle-class families.

In the 2010 budget tabled by President Barack Obama on Monday, the White House wants to let billions of dollars in tax breaks expire by the end of the year -- effectively a tax hike by stealth.

While the administration is focusing its proposal on eliminating tax breaks for individuals who earn $250,000 a year or more, middle-class families will face a slew of these backdoor increases.

The targeted tax provisions were enacted under the Bush administration's Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. Among other things, the law lowered individual tax rates, slashed taxes on capital gains and dividends, and steadily scaled back the estate tax to zero in 2010.

If the provisions are allowed to expire on December 31, the top-tier personal income tax rate will rise to 39.6 percent from 35 percent. But lower-income families will pay more as well: the 25 percent tax bracket will revert back to 28 percent; the 28 percent bracket will increase to 31 percent; and the 33 percent bracket will increase to 36 percent. The special 10 percent bracket is eliminated.

Investors will pay more on their earnings next year as well, with the tax on dividends jumping to 39.6 percent from 15 percent and the capital-gains tax increasing to 20 percent from 15 percent. The estate tax is eliminated this year, but it will return in 2011 -- though there has been talk about reinstating the death tax sooner.

Millions of middle-class households already may be facing higher taxes in 2010 because Congress has failed to extend tax breaks that expired on January 1, most notably a "patch" that limited the impact of the alternative minimum tax. The AMT, initially designed to prevent the very rich from avoiding income taxes, was never indexed for inflation. Now the tax is affecting millions of middle-income households, but lawmakers have been reluctant to repeal it because it has become a key source of revenue.

Without annual legislation to renew the patch this year, the AMT could affect an estimated 25 million taxpayers with incomes as low as $33,750 (or $45,000 for joint filers). Even if the patch is extended to last year's levels, the tax will hit American families that can hardly be considered wealthy -- the AMT exemption for 2009 was $46,700 for singles and $70,950 for married couples filing jointly.

Middle-class families also will find fewer tax breaks available to them in 2010 if other popular tax provisions are allowed to expire. Among them:

* Taxpayers who itemize will lose the option to deduct state sales-tax payments instead of state and local income taxes;

* The $250 teacher tax credit for classroom supplies;

* The tax deduction for up to $4,000 of college tuition and expenses;

* Individuals who don't itemize will no longer be able to increase their standard deduction by up to $1,000 for property taxes paid;

* The first $2,400 of unemployment benefits are taxable, in 2009 that amount was tax-free.

An Open Letter to John McCain...

I sent this letter to John McCain via his website earlier today.

Senator McCain:

I want to let you know that I was disappointed to hear your negative radio ad attacking JD Hayworth.

I'm not disappointed because it was a negative ad. I expect a certain balance in any campaign of ads exposing one's opponent's weaknesses and ads extoling one's own virtues and strengths.

The disappointment - even the anger - I feel is because, when the Country's future was literally on the line, you refused to say anything negative about your then-opponent, Barack H. Obama!

I am seriously troubled by the inconsistency. You were unwilling to even point out Candidate Obama's legitimate red flags and you censured those associated with you who did. Yet you are willing to make misleading assertions about JD Hayworth, a conservative who is intent on putting the country back on the right and constitutional course.

I have previously been an active voter who did not affiliate himself with any party. I want you to know that I have registered "Republican" so that I can participate in the primary election and work to get you off the ballot in November.

I appreciate the service you've given the country for years. And I offer you all the gratitude and honor that is appropriate.

I think it is time for you to step aside, now.

Respectfully,

John N. Ellis