Obama Amused by Tea Party Protests

"I've been a little amused over the last couple of days where people have been having these rallies about taxes," the president said, noting the numerous tax cuts pushed by his administration. "You would think they'd be saying thank you."

Thank you? First, the tax cuts are a joke. Your spending monstrosities mean higher taxes, now or later, the people will pay. Second, if you'd drop the smug SOB act for a moment, you'd see that the Tea Party movement is about more than just taxes. The movement is also about big government and big spending, particularly TARP, the stimulus package and Obamacare.

No sir, we won't thank you until there is real tax reform, real spending reform and real government reform.

Come Eat at the Government Trough - Food Stamps for Everyone

If you want to get depressed or angry, the New York Times has an article celebrating the effort by politicians at all levels of government to lure more people into the food stamp program. New York City is running ads in foreign languagues asking people to stick their snouts in the public trough. The City is even signing up prisoners when they get out of jail. The state of New York, meanwhile, actually set up quotas for enrolling new recipients. And on the federal level, there apparently is a program that gives states “bonuses” for putting more people on the dole. No wonder one out of every eight Americans is receiving food stamps.

Are there some people that genuinely need food assistance? Of course. Are there some people that would be just fine without it, but use food stamps anyway? Yep. More that once I have seen people use WIC or food stamps, while wearing nice clothes, carrying nice cell phones, etc. The system is abused, it causes dependency, it's used as a tool by politicians, and it needs to be reworked.

Via

It Is Now Mathematically Impossible To Pay Off The U.S. National Debt

It Is Now Mathematically Impossible To Pay Off The U.S. National Debt

A lot of people are very upset about the rapidly increasing U.S. national debt these days and they are demanding a solution. What they don't realize is that there simply is not a solution under the current U.S. financial system. It is now mathematically impossible for the U.S. government to pay off the U.S. national debt. You see, the truth is that the U.S. government now owes more dollars than actually exist. If the U.S. government went out today and took every single penny from every single American bank, business and taxpayer, they still would not be able to pay off the national debt. And if they did that, obviously American society would stop functioning because nobody would have any money to buy or sell anything.

And the U.S. government would still be massively in debt.

So why doesn't the U.S. government just fire up the printing presses and print a bunch of money to pay off the debt?

Well, for one very simple reason.

That is not the way our system works.

You see, for more dollars to enter the system, the U.S. government has to go into more debt.

The U.S. government does not issue U.S. currency - the Federal Reserve does.

The Federal Reserve is a private bank owned and operated for profit by a very powerful group of elite international bankers.

If you will pull a dollar bill out and take a look at it, you will notice that it says "Federal Reserve Note" at the top.

It belongs to the Federal Reserve.

The U.S. government cannot simply go out and create new money whenever it wants under our current system.

Instead, it must get it from the Federal Reserve.

So, when the U.S. government needs to borrow more money (which happens a lot these days) it goes over to the Federal Reserve and asks them for some more green pieces of paper called Federal Reserve Notes.

The Federal Reserve swaps these green pieces of paper for pink pieces of paper called U.S. Treasury bonds. The Federal Reserve either sells these U.S. Treasury bonds or they keep the bonds for themselves (which happens a lot these days).

So that is how the U.S. government gets more green pieces of paper called "U.S. dollars" to put into circulation. But by doing so, they get themselves into even more debt which they will owe even more interest on.

So every time the U.S. government does this, the national debt gets even bigger and the interest on that debt gets even bigger.

Are you starting to get the picture?

As you read this, the U.S. national debt is approximately 12 trillion dollars, although it is going up so rapidly that it is really hard to pin down an exact figure.

So how much money actually exists in the United States today?

Well, there are several ways to measure this.

The "M0" money supply is the total of all physical bills and currency, plus the money on hand in bank vaults and all of the deposits those banks have at reserve banks. As of mid-2009, the Federal Reserve said that this amount was about 908 billion dollars.

The "M1" money supply includes all of the currency in the "M0" money supply, along with all of the money held in checking accounts and other checkable accounts at banks, as well as all money contained in travelers' checks. According to the Federal Reserve, this totaled approximately 1.7 trillion dollars in December 2009, but not all of this money actually "exists" as we will see in a moment.

The "M2" money supply includes everything in the "M1" money supply plus most other savings accounts, money market accounts, retail money market mutual funds, and small denomination time deposits (certificates of deposit of under $100,000). According to the Federal Reserve, this totaled approximately 8.5 trillion dollars in December 2009, but once again, not all of this money actually "exists" as we will see in a moment.

The "M3" money supply includes everything in the "M2" money supply plus all other CDs (large time deposits and institutional money market mutual fund balances), deposits of eurodollars and repurchase agreements. The Federal Reserve does not keep track of M3 anymore, but according to ShadowStats.com it is currently somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 trillion dollars. But again, not all of this "money" actually "exists" either.

So why doesn't it exist?

It is because our financial system is based on something called fractional reserve banking.

When you go over to your local bank and deposit $100, they do not keep your $100 in the bank. Instead, they keep only a small fraction of your money there at the bank and they lend out the rest to someone else. Then, if that person deposits the money that was just borrowed at the same bank, that bank can loan out most of that money once again. In this way, the amount of "money" quickly gets multiplied. But in reality, only $100 actually exists. The system works because we do not all run down to the bank and demand all of our money at the same time.

According to the New York Federal Reserve Bank, fractional reserve banking can be explained this way.

"If the reserve requirement is 10%, for example, a bank that receives a $100 deposit may lend out $90 of that deposit. If the borrower then writes a check to someone who deposits the $90, the bank receiving that deposit can lend out $81. As the process continues, the banking system can expand the initial deposit of $100 into a maximum of $1,000 of money ($100+$90+81+$72.90+...=$1,000)."

So much of the "money" out there today is basically made up out of thin air.

In fact, most banks have no reserve requirements at all on savings deposits, CDs and certain kinds of money market accounts. Primarily, reserve requirements apply only to "transactions deposits" – essentially checking accounts.

The truth is that banks are freer today to dramatically "multiply" the amounts deposited with them than ever before. But all of this "multiplied" money is only on paper - it doesn't actually exist.

The point is that the broadest measures of the money supply (M2 and M3) vastly overstate how much "real money" actually exists in the system.

So if the U.S. government went out today and demanded every single dollar from all banks, businesses and individuals in the United States it would not be able to collect 14 trillion dollars (M3) or even 8.5 trillion dollars (M2) because those amounts are based on fractional reserve banking.

So the bottom line is this:

#1) If all money owned by all American banks, businesses and individuals was gathered up today and sent to the U.S. government, there would not be enough to pay off the U.S. national debt.

#2) The only way to create more money is to go into even more debt which makes the problem even worse.

You see, this is what the whole Federal Reserve System was designed to do. It was designed to slowly drain the massive wealth of the American people and transfer it to the elite international bankers.

It is a game that is designed so that the U.S. government cannot win. As soon as they create more money by borrowing it, the U.S. government owes more than what was created because of interest.

If you owe more money than ever was created you can never pay it back.
That means perpetual debt for as long as the system exists.

It is a system designed to force the U.S. government into ever-increasing amounts of debt because there is no escape.

Of course if we had listened to our very wise founding father Thomas Jefferson, we could have avoided this colossal mess in the first place.

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."

But we didn't listen, did we?

We could solve this problem by shutting down the Federal Reserve and restoring the power to issue U.S. currency to the U.S. Congress (which is what the U.S. Constitution calls for). But the politicians in Washington D.C. are not about to do that.

So unless you are willing to fundamentally change the current system, you might as well quit complaining about the U.S. national debt because it is now mathematically impossible to pay it off.

Pelosi Chartering Military Aircraft for Her Family

Doug Ross reports that The Wicked Witch of The West Nancy Pelosi has been commandeering military aircraft for her children and grandchildren, even on flights containing no congressional members.

Ross reports that this is the American taxpayer millions of dollars. It doesn't help that Peloser is only reimbursing the government for the flights at a bare minimum:

Military flights cost between $5-$20 thousand dollars per hour to operate. Pelosi only reimburses the government between $120-$400 per flight. You and I pick up the rest of the tab with our tax dollars.

It's all perfectly legal, of course - or is it? Even if it is, perhaps we should start asking why a politician's children and grandchildren should have their travel subsidized at taxpayer expense?

Here you can find requisition forms and food/beverage receipts that will make you want to puke. We need to get this self important, mad with power, she-witch out of office.

Via

Obama: "We Won’t Be Able to Bring Down This Deficit Overnight"

Fox News: President Obama sent Congress a $3.8 trillion budget Monday for fiscal year 2011, pushing a plan that includes new jobs-creation programs but is projected to add nearly $1.3 trillion in deficit spending on top of the current year's projected $1.6 trillion deficit. According to the plan, the 2011 deficit of $1.267 trillion would fund nearly the entirety of the year's discretionary spending, which is $1.415 trillion or 37 percent of the government's total outlays. Mandatory spending on items such as entitlements and interest payments make up the rest.

Pelosi Spends $100,000+ Tax Dollars on Booze

Are you freaking kidding me? I can only imagine this expenditure necessary, if her husband was with her, so he could drink enough to make her pretty, or at least, tolerable. This sort of spending should have her run out of town with a pitch fork. This is your money she is spending. Politicians are not royalty, they are public servants, and they should start living that way. Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz sleeps on a cot in his office to save his family money, Pelosi spends six figures on booze. I hope you are as mad as I am.

By Bob Unruh© 2010 WorldNetDaily

It reads like a dream order for a wild frat party: Maker's Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey's Irish Crème, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewars scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey … and Corona beer. (not even an American beer)

But that single receipt makes up just part of the more than $101,000 taxpayers paid for "in-flight services" – including food and liquor, for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trips on Air Force jets over the last two years. That's almost $1,000 per week.

Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Judicial Watch, which investigates and prosecutes government corruption, show Pelosi incurred expenses of some $2.1 million for her use of Air Force jets for travel over that time.

How Many Tax Dollars Were Spent on Copenhagen?

Remember the hopenchangen summit in Copenhagen? Remember how nothing came of it because global warming is a scam? Well, that's not entirely true, something did come of it, in the way of a large bill for the American tax payer.

From CBS:

(CBS) Thanks to recently filed Congressional expense reports there's new light shed on the Copenhagen Climate Summit in Denmark and how much it cost taxpayers.

CBS News Investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports official filings and our own investigation show at least 106 people from the House and Senate attended - spouses, a doctor, a protocol expert and even a photographer. For 15 Democratic and 6 Republican Congressmen, food and rooms for two nights cost $4,406 tax dollars each. That's $2,200 a day - more than most Americans spend on their monthly mortgage payment.

CBS investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports that cameras spotted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the summit. She called the shots on who got to go. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and embattled Chairman of the Tax Committee Charles Rangel were also there.

CBS goes on to report:

They were joined by 18 colleagues: Democrats: Waxman, Miller, Markey, Gordon, Levin, Blumenauer, DeGette, Inslee, Ryan, Butterfield, Cleaver, Giffords, and Republicans: Barton, Upton, Moore Capito, Sullivan, Blackburn and Sensenbrenner.

(...)

Senator Inhofe (R-OK) is one of the few who provided us any detail. He attended the summit on his own for just a few hours, to give an "opposing view."

"They're going because it's the biggest party of the year," Sen. Inhofe said. "The worst thing that happened there is they ran out of caviar."

Our investigation found that the congressional delegation was so large, it needed three military jets: two 737's and a Gulfstream Five -- up to 64 passengers -- traveling in luxurious comfort.

Along with those who flew commercial, we counted at least 101 Congress-related attendees. All for a summit that failed to deliver a global climate deal.

As a perk, some took spouses, since they could snag an open seat on a military jet or share a room at no extra cost to taxpayers. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was there with her husband. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) was also there with her husband. Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) took his wife, as did Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI). Congressman Barton -- a climate change skeptic -- even brought along his daughter.

Until required filings are made in the coming weeks, we can only figure bits and pieces of the cost to you.

Three military jets at $9,900 per hour - $168,000 just in flight time.

Dozens flew commercial at up to $2,000 each.

321 hotel nights booked - the bulk at Copenhagen's five-star Marriott.

Meals add tens of thousands more.

Read the Congressional Expense Report



Public servants. Has that term lost all meaning? These are elected public servants, elected to represent us. Is this an accurate representation? Are you a jet setter flying all over the world for free in complete luxury? When did politicians start believing they were entitled to luxurious lifestyles? Do they believe they are royalty? I say if you need to fly anywhere on government business it's in coach or on a military cargo plane. If you need to stay somewhere on government business, it's at a Motel 8, they'll keep the light on for you. Need to eat? Pack a lunch. Start representing the people by living like the people. If you can't practice smart spending in your own lives, how can we expect you to practice it in office.

Hat tip to Hot Air.

2009: Obama Campaigns Against Spending Freeze - 2010: Proposes Spending Freeze

ABC News: In his budget for Fiscal Year 2011, to be presented on Monday, February 1, President Obama will propose a three-year hard freeze on non-security discretionary spending, to last from 2011 through 2013.



My how the harsh realities of reality can change a person's mind and force them to break silly promises. I tired telling people this during the election but they didn't listen, words don't make the President, actions do. Next time, don't vote for the man in the shiny suit, vote for the man with a good track record.

Quit Increasing the Debt Limit - Morons

VERONIQUE DE RUGY: The Government’s Endless Appetite for Spending: It’s time for Congress to go cold turkey. “Democrats proposed allowing the federal government to borrow an additional $1.9 trillion to pay its bills, a record increase that would permit the national debt to reach $14.3 trillion (roughly the size of our GDP) to support the federal government’s borrowing through 2010. Since they have been in full control of the federal purse strings, Democrats have spent a lot of money and got the country into a lot of debt. Hence the two consecutive increases of the debt limit in 3 months. And they aren’t the only ones. According to the Office of Management and Budget, the federal debt limit has been increased 98 times since 1940—more than once a year on average.”

Via Instapundit

Explain this logic to me, because I just don't get it. "Spend our way out of debt." Has this ever worked before? Dunno? Me neither. Well then explain this one. "Increased taxes will save the economy." Dunno? Me neither.

Consider this: Two of the major reasons the Roman Empire fell, were taxes, and inflation due to the devaluation of fiat money through hyperinflation. Their money was worthless, and they had very little of it. This meant people quit their jobs as tradesmen, and instead turned to sustenance farming, just to survive. Let's not let that happen to America.

Quit Feeding the Damn Birds

Jane bought a bird feeder, and hung it on her back porch, filling it with seed. What a beauty of a bird feeder it was, filled lovingly with seed. Within a week she had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food.

But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue.

Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table; everywhere!

Then some of the birds turned mean. They would dive bomb Jane and try to peck her even though she had fed them out of her own pocket.

Other birds grew boisterous and loud. They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that she fill it when it got low on food.

After a while, Jane couldn't even sit on her own back porch anymore. So she took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone. She cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio.

Soon, the back yard was like it used to be; quiet, serene and no one demanding their
rights to a free meal.

Cute story, right? But obviously there is an analogy here. The government is a giant bird feeder; they give out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, free education, etc.

When they put out the feeder, many hungry and less fortunate Americans came to feed. That's great right? The needy got help. Well sure it's great, the only problem is, a lot of those birds are still there, feeding, not taking care of themselves. On top of that, they had baby birds, and now they are feeding there as well, because they don't know any better.

To further compound the problem, little birdies from other countries are flying in by the millions, demanding some of that free seed as well. Someone has to pay for the handout, which means taxes go up, as does our ever growing debt.

Am I suggesting we don't help the poor? Absolutely not. What I am suggesting, is limits and perhaps education. We shouldn't allow people to be welfare-for-lifers. Instead, assist those suffering hard times, while offering community classes to develop job and application skills, so they can earn for themselves. What do you think the cost difference would be between a few classes and a lifetime of providing for a capable individual?

If someone is physically unable to work, that's one thing, but if they are perfectly capable, that is quite another. There is truth to the adage that giving a man a fish will feed him for a day, but teaching a man to fish will stock his freezer with delicious fish sticks for life.

America is a country of opportunity, a place where if you work hard, you can accomplish anything. When did this change? When did America say, stop trying so hard, give us your money, and we will provide you, and others, with everything they need. When did this lead to a feeling of entitlement? Which inevitably led to the demand for more. It's a vicious cycle, and it has to stop.

Take down the damn bird feeder, and teach the birdies to catch a worm.

Spending Money Like it's Going Out of Style

D.C. hands out $15M in bonuses despite recession, budget...

City officials have doled out nearly $15 million in bonuses and awards since Mayor Adrian Fenty took office in January 2007, records obtained by The Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act show.

Apparently the federal cash cows extravagent ways have rubbed off on local city officals. Will there be a federal investigation into this? Or a call for these bonuses to be taxed? Doubtful.

Federal Employees Owe Uncle Sam $3 Billion in Unpaid Taxes...

At a time when the White House is projecting the largest deficit in the nation's history, Uncle Sam is trying to recover billions of dollars in unpaid taxes from its own employees.

Federal workers owe more than $3 billion in income taxes they failed to pay in 2008. According to Internal Revenue Service documents, 276,300 federal employees and retirees owe $3,042,200,000.

I'm sorry what? Three billion dollars in unpaid taxes? If Joe Shmoe is a dollar behind in his taxes, he is hounded to his grave. What makes federal workers different? Plus, I thought it was patriotic to pay taxes. Biden: "It's time to be patriotic ... time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut."

UPDATE: Democrats plan nearly $2 trillion debt limit hike...

Democrats plan to allow the government's debt to swell by nearly $2 trillion as part of a bill next week to pay for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The amount pretty much equals the total of a year-end spending spree by lawmakers and is
big enough to ensure that Congress doesn't have to vote again on going further
into debt until after the 2010 elections.

Yep, the Democrats are taking the defense spending bill, which is usually bipartisan, and adding a provision that would increase the government's debt cieling to increase by another two trillion dollars.

Does this not make you angry? These idiots are spending us to death. Are they so out of touch that they have forgotten the value of money. Is a trillion really nothing to them? Have they forgotten the time in their lives when paying their mortgage seemed like a lot of money? When politicans become so jaded to reality, it's time for them to be replaced.

Video: Medicare Fraud

Thanks Casalbuono

Via

SNL Rips Obama a New One on Economy

In this clip, SNL takes a crack at the stimulus, Cash for Clunkers, the administration's exponentially increasing debt, and Obamacare’s bogus accounting numbers. Notice though, they aren't supporting conservative ideas in any way, simply mocking Obama. Still, it's good watchin'.

Obama's Contradiction on Health Care and Spending

What would the word be, ironic? Coincidental? I don't know how to describe Obama's claim yesterday that more government spending would lead to a double dip recession, followed closely by the senate health bill being released at a price tag of $849 billion, followed by Obama praising the bill. Wait, I thought more spending was bad, but now it's good? That was a quick turn around Mr. Obama. The only good news here? Several states say that they will sue the federal government if the health care bill is passed, because it is a violation of their state constitutions.

WWII Veteran Flies Flag Upside Down in Protest

A friend of a friend in Midland, Texas is protesting the federal government's spending and push for nationalized healthcare. Thomas Flournoy, a WWII veteran, is flying his flag upside down, as a sign of distress. From KWES:

One Midlander says enough is enough with the federal government. He says outragous spending and a push for Nationalized healthcare has put him over the top. Now, he's not only protesting, but sending out a sign of distress. On Tuesday, NewsWest 9 spoke with the World War II Veteran who is telling everyone to fly their flags upside down.

"We've got to concentrate on saving our Constitution, and I'm out here trying to get people to realize they've got to devote some time to this project to saving our Constitution," 85-year-old Thomas Flournoy, said. "Otherwise, we are going to lose our soverignity."

Midlanders driving in the neighborhood near Kansas and Midkiff may not even notice it at first glance. However, on second look, one can spot the U.S. flag flying upside down. Flournoy said he's sending out a distress for America.

"And that's exactly what I am doing is defending, and letting everybody else know that they should be defending the Constitution," Flournoy explained. "And that's the reason I'm flying that flag up there upside down. Come on America, let's pay attention."

Flournoy said the problems with the federal government started with Woodrow Wilson and span decades. Now, he said President Obama's postion on healthcare and stimulus spending are damaging to the Country.

"Everything he proposes is unconstitutional. In fact, Obama before he became President, made a statement that our Constitution was outdated because it did not have provisions in there for redistributing of the wealth," Flournoy said.

Here is a letter he sent to the editor of the MidlandReporter-Telegram:

Fact: Displaying the flag of the United States of America in an upside down manner is known as a distress signal. Distress is defined as “great danger of difficulty with immediate assistance needed.”

Fact: On the 17th day of September 2009, the first day of Constitution Week, I raised my 3-foot-by-5-foot made-in-America, American Flag to full staff of my flag pole.

Fact: All elected and non-elected citizens of government are required to take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution.

Fact: As a candidate they work ever so hard to convince us they are one with greatest integrity ever. However when they get a little authority as they assume, they begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. They do not honor their oath. Their constituency never calls them down because they are ignorant about the Constitution. Example: Obama’s “Czar” is not authorized by the Constitution.

Fact: Consequently, this blatant disregard for their integrity and oath, the Constitution of the United States of America, is on the brink of total destruction and is in great need of immediate assistance.

Fact: I have dedicated myself to flying our flag upside down 24/7 until every member of all three branches honor their oath 100 percent of the time.

Fact: Myself alone flying my flag upside down will have very little effect in accomplishing my goal.

Fact: This should be our goal. I invite all individual’s lapels, homes, schools, banks, businesses, city, county and federal buildings across America to display our flag upside down. Do not have a flag? Get one that is made in the USA. Do it for the Constitution.

Show your love for our Constitution and Jesus Christ who gave it to us and remember without our Constitution there would be no flag to wave, display and love.

Thank you. WWII veteran and native Midlander.

Thomas Flournoy

If you agree with Mr. Flournoy, perhaps you could fly your flag in distress as well. But whatever you do, make your voice heard, and let the people and the government know that we won't, can't, and don't have to stand for it.

Obama Sent From God? Then Why Can't he Fix Anything?

The new health care bill is out. It's over 1900 pages of socialist garbage. It's estimated to cost $1.055 trillion, TRILLION dollars. That's a lot of dollars. That's $2.2 million per word in the proposed legislation. PER WORD. That's just ridonculous. Also, we all know that estimates always turn out to be way too low. Stupid freaking liberals and their spend away America's future attirtude.

I don't know if it's good news, but Liberman plans on supporting GOP congressional candidates in 2010.

Yahoo is reporting that the recession is over... Sweet just in time for November elections. Only, I didn't find their report very convincing. Also, if it's over, why are so many people out of the job? Yahoo claims that the recession is over because of the stimulus and other Government programs, liek "Cash for Clunkers," but I don't buy it.

Also, in who gives a flying freak news, Sting thinks that Obama was sent from God.

Lee Iacocca on the Status Quo

Remember Lee Iacocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from its death throes? He's now 82 years old and has a new book, Where Have All The Leaders Gone?.

Lee Iacocca Says:

Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder! We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, "Stay the course."

Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned, "Titanic." I'll give you a sound bite: "Throw all the bums out!"

You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.

The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq, the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving pom-poms instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the America my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?

I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have. The Biggest 'C' is Crisis! (Iacocca elaborates on nine C's of leadership, with crisis being the first.)

Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.

On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A hell of a mess, so here's where we stand.

We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving.

We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country.

We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia, while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs.

Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy.

Our schools are in trouble.

Our borders are like sieves.

The middle class is being squeezed every which way.

These are times that cry out for leadership.

But when you look around, you've got to ask: "Where have all the leaders gone?" Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.

Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo?

We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.

Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.

Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when "The Big Three" referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debit, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.

I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on NBC news or CNN news will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?

Had Enough? Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope - I believe in America. In my lifetime, I've had the privilege of living through some of America's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: The "Great Depression," "World War II," the "Korean War," the "Kennedy Assassination," the "Vietnam War," the 1970's oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11.

If I've learned one thing, it's this: "You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action." Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a "Call to Action" for people who, like me, believe in America. It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had enough.

Pork Flu

In Michigan, $620 Million in Stimulus Created or Saved 397 Jobs. FAIL

Michigan received $3.7 billion is stimulus money, of which $620 million was to be used to "create and save" jobs, while the remainder will be used by Granholm to backfill the budget deficit that she has created with her overspending so that she doesn't have to make any substantial cuts before she leaves office. When she walks away, she will have lost more than 1,000,000 jobs in a state with a population of only 10 million. A few days ago, Granholm claimed that stimulus money "created or saved" 19,500 jobs. Turns out, the number is an utter fabrication, as I suspected when I wrote that prior post. Fact is, that $620 million "created or saved" 397 jobs.

Read the rest here.

Funny Video: The Government Can!

Thanks Craig!