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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi) has an extended history of saber rattling and overstating situations in the Middle East. Now he is clearly attempting to influence American foreign policy in regards to the ongoing situation in Iran. Bibi represents the right of center in Israeli politics and has been considered a proponent of an aggressive policy towards his less than friendly neighbors and even those of some distance such as Iran.
The first obligation Bibi has is to the security of Israel. I wonder why he fears the potential of Iran? Iran may or may not be on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon. Iran has also been fairly open to inspections but has resisted total access to U.N. inspectors for certain sites. Iran also has had a Shahad-3 missile since 2003 when it went on display. The Shahad has a range of about 1,000 miles or enough to reach Israel. Iran military has also bragged that they have an ICBM so what would they use it for? Iran has discussed a satellite program so maybe that is why? Or maybe it will just be a flower planter? Now Iran has also signed the NPT so is that reason enough to believe they would not use nuclear weapons? To some a Fatwa prevents possible war but I have far more faith in a Mitzvah. For their part Israel claims they have no nuclear weapons yet multiple sources claim they may have between 25-400.
Arab states - of which Iran is not since they are Persian - have repeatedly called for the extermination of Israel. Apologist for the looney Tune Ahmadinejad has done such - unless, of course, you are an apologist who claims it was "translation errors." Now does Iran supply weapons to Hezbollah and Hamas? I think you have to be an occupant of fantasy land not to realize they do. That has been well document by sources outside Mossad. Does Iran have relationships with other counties of questionable character? Let me toss out a name - North Korea. Does Iran receive military advice and technical assistance of nuclear and military hardware from other countries? It most certainly does especially China and N. Korea. Does Iran support internal and external export of terrorist training? No doubt about that. Would Iran use H&H to use a dirty bomb?
Now there is hard evidence and circumstantial evidence regarding Iran and just exactly what they are doing. Bibi is certainly one who beats the drums of war and if polls mean in Israel anything has luke warm support for actions against Iran. Bibi has also attempted to direct American foreign policy to ensure as much support for Israeli actions or to encourage American to cover their back. If Israel takes action there will be repercussions from other Arab states and another war will most certainly happen. I doubt Israel continues to have conventional superiority as in the past. So - once again - America is placed in an uncomfortable position.
American administrations have faced this issue for decades. Now we have to balance our previous support with new interests in the area that are economic an military. A rock and a hard place for sure. The more I read from the left of center the more I question their true intentions. Anti-Semitism should not be bandied about lightly but I do see an undercurrent of it and question just how infected the Democratic Party is in regards to Israel.
But Israel has the same obligation any nation does and that is for the safety and well being of its citizens. The country is the size of Massachusetts with a population of 8M of which about 20% are Arab. No one should be unaware of the circumstances surrounding the formation of the state of Israel. With that historical background of persecution dating back thousands of years I would certainly be wary. To be blunt much of the support against Israel is simple Anti-Semitic attitudes that have been prevalent in Western society for centuries. To some America's support of Israel is a reflection of the "Jewish Lobby" in the U.S. that exerts influence that runs counter to what our real objectives should be.
If Israel takes action they will be or continue to be a rogue nation in the eyes of the rest of the world. If there is nothing to a development of a nuclear weapons program Israel will face serious consequences. If they are right those consequences will continue since they are in a lose-lose situation.
IMO if Israel is threatened by their "neighbors" the response by Israel will be nuclear. I also feel that the current administration is giving the perception - especially in Israel - of being pro Muslim.
Now for those with no comprehension of history I present to you The Cuban Missile Crisis. Nuclear missiles a short hop from the U.S. How did we respond? Historical records now show we were possibly 24 hours away from a high probability of a nuclear exchange. Israel is in a similar position and I seriously doubt the current occupant of the WH gives a sweet s!!t about Israel.
Polling results are showing a very close presidential race as far as vote totals go and a non blowout but significant electoral advantage to Obama. But - fear not - out of the sunset lurks a hero - skewered polls! To me a legitimately recognized poll with a lengthy history of relative (note that term) accuracy is what I follow. I'm sure some probably look outside for the Easter Bunny and still believe in the Tooth Fairy. Skewered is nothing more than a Linus blanket for those seeking comfort. It is statistical garbage that any legit pollster would be embarrassed to attached their name to.
Is Romney amazingly inept or is it my interpretation?
Now we have an event in Middleboro with a soothsayer who communicates with angels, a series of dueling letters in the Gazette regarding the UU Church and BB asking biblical questions for candidates. Middleboro is now going into the historical past and will soon be a “Burnt Over District” for those who need a historical reference.
Elizabeth Warren is a load of BS. First she is White and then a Native American and back to White when she gets the high profile gig at Harvard. So you have this Okie wishing to vacate the dust bowl for the big stage and she finds a way. Hey…I love science fiction and have read about shape shifters but never about race shifters.
Back in the day law schools were crying for minority representation and - of course - women were classified as such. So why not improve your chances thanks to “family lore.” IMO she benefited from using a race card she was not entitled to use. She is a fraud. Of course all schools “denied” any preference in her hire. Like I want to believe schools that churn out lawyers?
Now the liberals have some wonderful justification - just believe her. This is a ROTFLMAO moment! Can one just begin to grasp the spittle laced venom they would spew forth if this was Brown? Now as far a belief does that entitle all of us to claim some type of preference when the “Minorities are encouraged to apply” line is a help wanted advertisement? I have Black blood….or Hispanic…or oriental…based on “family lore.”
So who lost a job because this fraud got a little extra boost? And how about a release of records? Sure. If Warren wants to prove herself take a DNA test. Call up Professor Gates.
In a contest of idiotic by-laws passed by the outdated quaint custom of Town Meeting we now have Concord outlawing the sale of any water bottle that has contents less than one liter. Does that trump the foolish swearing by-law? Neck and neck is my opinion. But Concord is going to pay legal fees to defend their foolishness and from what I gather Middleboro is going to slink into a mode of either ignoring it or reversing it. With the ACLU involved it will at least give an endless supply of newly minted lawyers something to do.
Just another example of a small cadre of local denizens being able to be dictatorial to those of us foolish enough not to participate in America’s self proclaimed grassroots democracy. In Concord it took several votes and the mystifying maneuvering of procedure to get it passed. Once again TM displays the ability of the self indulgent to carry the banner of self interest.
My running partner is all in a political lather over filibusters and just a cursory exploration of the various left and far left web sites will show you this is clearly a talking points defensive strategy to justify the failures of their “Binky” in the White House. Some of the more ardent pilgrims of supporting failure are now stating that the new and acceptable unemployment rate is 6%. An amazing way of justifying policies that have put the United States firmly behind the fiscal eight ball.
The National Defense Authorization Act is the latest government ploy support by, encouraged by and legally defended by the current failed administration. Like the Patriot Act it appears to have a rather large group of defenders and advocates on both sides of the aisle and represents another glorious attempt to erode more individual freedoms by allowing the government even more control under the guise of “security.”
Nakoula has a right to make a film about a religious leader and critical of a religious leader. That is clearly covered under the First Amendment. Yet the administration seems on it’s typical apologetic offensive right down to having Nakoula questioned. Nakoula volunteered to do it but the intimidation factor is there.
The National Review - the print version of “Faux News” to the left had a scathing article on another illusionary tale of success - the GM bailout. I am sure Michelle Obama has reviewed her husbands adulteress behaviors by his jumping into bed with the UAW.
The Patriot Act is another in a list of legislative options passed by a legislative and executive branch with zero understanding of exactly how foolish the name is. Would Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Franklin and assorted dead and rich white guys from the 1770s actually approve of this abomination?
When I see the various acts passed to “protect” us and their eventually justification when a terrorists - domestic or imported - is captured/killed I have things such as Seven Days In May rolling around in my head. At one time I always considered the conspiracy loonies on the far left and right to be just the tin foil hat crowd. But I have aged with a cynical perspective I am now thing of purchasing my own size 10 and 3/8ths.
Julie Ni Zhu an economic researcher has written an interesting article showing that since WWII raising taxes has had negligible or no real impact on addressing deficits. The Democrats love to talk taxes as a solution but in Ms. Zhu’s opinion it is a spending issue.
Historically any sitting president with the immense record of failure as Obama and the attendant economic baggage that now exists would be quickly shown the door and maybe even have a party revolt and attempt to offer a more palatable alternative as Kennedy attempted to offer in 1980. But Obama is the clear favorite and it is certainly not a reflection of performance reward but of the weak candidate the Republicans have put forward.
Bob Woodward has written an interesting book called “The Price Of Politics” which is about Obama. One of the great fallacies that is ripped apart is that the Republicans scuttled a budget compromise (The grand bargain) when in fact it was Obama. Obama is not exactly cast in a favorable light by Woodward
George Will had an excellent article on tolerance becoming tyrannical
Why is it that the WH flacks seem to always be saying things like “What the president meant” and “What the president said was misconstrued.”
I fully expect Obama to win and not necessarily because he is the best but the most presentable. Sometimes you buy a bad product that is in a nice package. Romney just cannot connect and that is important. Reagan had that incredible skill and likeability even if you hated his politics. Reagan Democrats was a valid term. The Walter Cronkite of politics. Got my vote twice.
23,000,000 are unemployed or underemployed. A dismal failure of economic policy with virtually zero interests rates and a boat load of stimulus. But when the base of your party is the something for nothing crowd what do you expect in poll numbers?
SAT. GMAT. LSAT. Which majors in college reflect the highest scores? Number one is Philosophy which means with your degree you can contemplate that latte at Starbucks you are serving is half full or empty. Then comes political science, engineering and various sciences. Business is in the middle and education is way down - the old “Those that can do and those that can’t teach.” Journalism is also rather low on the list but English is much higher.
Keiko Orrall should be given a full term in office. She was a fiscal tightwad, took no expenses, took no pension and showed up. I’m sure if Roger got that plumb he’d be down at the union hall prior to every vote getting directions on how to vote. Maybe he can co-op Adam’s old slogan? Now about “Union before party and party before people?”
The special TM or whatever they choose to call it is set for November, I believe. The CPC has two items on the agenda and both should be passed.
Nice to see the BOS finally saying enough with the frauds over at Edgewood. That place is an excuse machine that rivals Pats fans excuse machine after the Giants mauled them in not one but in two Super Bowls.
Federal Trade Commission is another government agency that simply is incapable of consumer protection. If you get calls from “Heather” or “Rachel” from the bogus Credit Card Services you know what I mean. Requesting to be terminated from their list either electronically or verbally is useless. Being on a no call list is ignored. Filing multiple complaints with the FTC does nothing.
Now the FTC has clamped down on CCS with a huge fine and a spanking but guess what? I got two calls after that happened. Frankly they just need Seal Team Six to handle this.
Is Middleboro the center of strangeness? Is it environmental? The latest is a Christmas tree or Veterans tree or whatever tree it is and it is all about lights. So the BOS gets bogged down in a controversy about to light or not to light. Great decisions to be made - lights! Swearing! Does it get any better? If this was Iran and Israel at the BOS about lights we’d have a nuclear exchange
Why I didn’t vote for Adam Bond in the primary - I’m no longer in that precinct. Yep…..I thought I was moved from two to four but it is in six that I belong and thus a no go. I was switched last year and voted but for some reason I thought I was in four. So my excuse will be let’s get this town into one or even two rep situation. So Straus is now my rep. So if this was a baseball box score there would be a line that reads: Errors: Bogo.
The primaries are the show of party loyalist and Independents like myself are usually out numbered. Most of the races have already been predetermined but races did exist such as Keating-Sutter and Bond - Brunelle. For the most part over the years I have grabbed a Democrat ballot since that is where the occasional battle does surface. In party politics a unique custom has long existed and that is to switch parties and vote for the candidate that you feel will present less of a challenge in a general election. Looking At the results from Lakeville - home base of Orrall - the 12th Bristol may have seen such an activity. Brunelle easily took Lakeville. Who turned? Twenty voters? Fifty? In a close election it makes the difference and in this case Orrall supporters may have presented their candidate with a far less competent opponent.
Roger Brunelle - the scion of a local hack family - has “won” the 12th by less than 0.05% of the vote and claims that a recount is “A waste of taxpayer dollars.” I’ sure if that total was flipped Roger would feel exactly the same - sure he would.
In a very close election every vote counts and the 12th was about as close as it gets. Another slam dunk for why a voter ID is necessary.
The Eurozone has a population of 330M and a 10T debt. The United States has a population of 312M and a 16T debt. Maybe the EU needs Bush and Obama to fix their malaise.
The Republican Convention recently ended and - as usual - I did not watch except for YouTube vids on the moonbat and wingnut sites. With conventions you have a political reward system where delegates and alternate delegates are rewarded for being loyal party functionaries. The conventions themselves are platitude driven with little sense of reality especially for the incumbent party. Occasionally there is an attraction such as 2008 with all the hope and change mantra and this usually results in an “if we only knew then what we know now” moment.
The Democrats will attempt to warp reality and somehow defend a miserable four year performance. Their control of the legislative and executive branch should have set the stage for recovery. It did not. Of course failings are always the result of a previous administration or the current opposition parties entrenched rejection of any proposed legislation no matter how bizarre it may be. The current administration has made a living off deflection.
Now the one thing that is a guarantee to get the Republicans all in a frenzy is hot button social issues and you can see some of that foolishness in a variety of political advertisements about anything but the key issue - the economy. Get them off kilter. Get them off the economic message. Get them frothing over abortion, gun control, voter ID and if Mary Ann is hotter than Ginger.
The unemployment rate is abysmal. The U6 is abysmal. The rate of poverty, the number of folks on food stamps, and on we go - an administration that seems geared not to a program of recovery but a program of entitlement. Bread and circus. If this was 1980 Obama would be heading for the speaking circuit. If it was 1992 Obama would be heading for setting up his own Cayman Island accounts but it is 2012 and the alternative - to quote Charlton Heston from true lies “Is nothing to raise my skirt about.”
I found some interesting connections in the Democratic Convention where you had one confirmed liar - Elizabeth Warren - speaking prior to another confirmed liar - Bill Clinton.
With fact checkers both conventions provide of treasure trove of questionable information but the one that no fact checker has dismissed is Condoleeza Rice and her scathing indictment of Obama foreign policy.
So now we will be able to relax for the next few months listening to warped interpretations of job reports, poorly defined past voting histories, sloganeering, class warfare, birth certificates and an attempt to link you opponent as a combination of Hitler and Attila - I believe several at the DNC already made the Hitler linkage. What a sad state of affairs.
I was watching a show on TV regarding the structure of the universe and the process of creating elements and gold was mentioned. The host stated that all the gold ever mined would fill three Olympic size swimming pools. I found that quite difficult to believe and researched it. The host was correct. The other analogy was all the gold would represent about one third of the Washington Monument.
Now the other one I decided to check out is more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the beaches and deserts of earth. Enough math evidence to say it is true. In fact several actually stated there may be ten to one hundred times stars as grains of sand. Amazing.
I have no idea why Bobby Valentine is still employed. He has obviously lost all confidence of his players, has done everything possible to deface the Red Sox brand, irritated the media including even physical threats and sounds like Captain Queeg in interviews.
As a NY Football Giants (via NJ) fan the season started off on a low note by losing to the one NFL team more disliked than the camera shy Patriots - The “Boyz” of Dallas. As a Giants fan I realize our only path to another championship is the hope that somehow we get to face the Patriots in another Super Bowl and again torment the vastly overrated Brady and his clothing deficient coach.
The Boston Red Sox have had a season that is irrelevant. Teams that once dreaded coming into Fenway now look forward to the opportunity. A nice stay in a city comfortable for walking, fine restaurants, upscale shopping and, of course, the opportunity to win more games than you lose.
IMO the demise is easy to point a finger - middle preferably - and that is Beckett and Lester. In the baseball parlance these are suppose to be your “Aces” meaning that your teams chances of winning when they rest on the bump is about 70%. In this year the returns from the “Aces” has been negligible - at last count I believe the team is 13 games under .500 in which the two “Aces” have appeared. In baseball the old and tired axiom is you win with pitching and the top of their rotation is septic material. If the two well paid “Aces” had just managed to be at a meager .500 the Red Sox would be leaders in the Wild Card hunt for a playoff slot.
The issues for injuries have again surfaced as the Red Sox have had lost more players and performance days to the disabled list than any other team. However most of that is on the regular nine and the Sox are certainly not alone. They have also managed to fill the offensive holes created by an abundance of DL visits rather well. They do score runs - lots of runs - third in AL run production and just five behind the leader located in Texas. Their batting average currently is slotted fourth in the AL.
Meanwhile the vociferous press in Boston smells blood and has not let up. Various “sources” have come forward from the clubhouse with a laundry list of minor complaints that when a team wins are totally ignored. Daily accounts appears that would make TMZ proud of the internal dissension that exists between ownership - manager- players and just about anyone else that can be used as a pawn in the blame game.
To paraphrase WS “Something is rotten in the state of Massachusetts” and that stench is located on Yawkey Way. With an enormous payroll and a performance that is putrid the ownership may actually put a few less hours into NASCAR and their English football club and concentrate on fixing a mess in which they are substantially to blame. A minor or major housecleaning is in order and IMO that would mean the Darth Vader of baseball - Larry Luchino - just goes away. I would urge he take his manager with him - Bobby Valentine. Bobby has done a reasonable job but he does manage to have - as women are prone to say to their significant others - “Communication issue.” Lastly is an evaluation of the cast of characters that they put on the field. A few have obviously lost the support of the locals and best to find another destination.
So the redemption process has started. The Dodgers have decided to take on about 265M in Sox payroll in their acquisition of Gonzalez, Crawford and Beckett. The Sox will get a few prospects of little value in return but they will now have the opportunity to get back to the model that was so successful from 2002-07 - a return to the past. This will be an interesting off season.
Edgeway continues to be in the local news and now it is the fact they are for sale and have no money to fix some of the major problems. The administrator seems focused on sale first and homeowners second. Now just maybe that has some logic to it with fresh green coming in and an absolutely clueless management out. However to me it seems that the focus should be how to get the place up and running properly rather than have the weekly visit by residents to the BOS.
The Gazette has had a series of exchanges by Adam Bond and his detractors. The Democratic Town Committee certainly displayed the fact that you will see none of them at a MENSA meeting and I wonder if they will line up behind Bond - I would not trust any of them on my back - if he gets the win in the primary. Maybe Bond can claim some Native American roots and win over their support?
I had to get my personal license renewed (driver not canine) at the Plymouth RMV. I go to Plymouth since it is far quicker than Taunton or Brockton and the 45 minute wait was right on target for the little ticket they gave me. The only real obstacle is the eye exam and the last time I had a personal visit I had a restriction for eye ware placed on my license. This time I had my glasses on and could not see a thing. Wrong glasses. So I tried without them and surprise of surprises I managed to read the lowest line correctly and quickly. A miracle of aging! My eyesight has improved. Now if only my knee and back will get the hint.
I have not determined who I despise more - Obama or Romney. Neither seem capable of addressing the main concern of the country - the economy. One has already butchered it and the other is sure to continue the process. But I am sure that Elizabeth Warren is one of the most despicable people I have ever seen in politics.
Whenever I think the Republican Party is hopelessly out of touch and corrupt I realize there is actually another major party that can match them. Step right up, Democrats!
The latest is the attempt to register as many welfare recipients as possible on the voter rolls. I guess this is their answer to voter ID? The organization responsible for this is Demos which has some very strong connections to the fraudulent ACORN via New England United For Justice. The board of Demos is littered with far left types and has none other than the daughter of Elizabeth Warren - the current phony Indian attempting to unseat Scott Brown - on their board.
Now Demos filed suit in Federal Court and Massachusetts quickly caved - several other states have not - so mailings have taken place to 477,000 welfare recipients regarding registering to vote. State has no money to notify us our drivers license is expiring but the dough is readily available for this. And what about illegal’s on the rolls? Well, they’ll get a notice, too. I guess voter ID is certainly needless in this state.
Now the left will portray this as a firm desire to just get everyone enrolled to partake in such good citizenship. I wonder if they’ll also ask information to be sent to other groups traditional right of center? IMO if in this day and age you cannot figure out how to even register maybe best to just pass on voting.
Bumpkin had an interesting ask the candidates column. Focus was on Roger Brunelle, Jr. and Adam Bond who are both in the hunt for the Democrats to face Keiko Orrall. After reading the responses I’m not sure if Brunelle is closer to James Madison, Winston Churchill or Thomas Locke (John Locke - thanks, Rigger). So much for the daily dose of sarcasm. I thought I was a lightweight but compared to Roger I’m freaking Steven Hawking or the best of the best in MENSA. Essentially it came down to “I’m a union guy so vote for me.” So maybe Roger will get the great Pacheco endorsement and that will represent the final nail.
Continuing along the bashing trail I am amazed - well…maybe not - that the Democratic Town Committee is behind Brunelle. What are they thinking? Well…not thinking. I also paid an visit to the web sites of both candidates. That tells a lot right there.
Now Roger has passed on a debate with Adam. I’d suggest Adam debate an empty chair - a very old campaign ploy. Now if Roger debated the chair my money is firmly on the chair.
The whole column looked like a political ad for Adam. That was not his doing but more the result of miniscule answers by Roger. And oh those answers. No meat on those bones, folks. Was that on purpose? The less you open your yap the less you get to be hung by. Adam was quite detailed and that’s the patter he has been espousing since I attended a meet and greet for him a few months ago. You know exactly where he stands on some significant issues. Agree or disagree he does have some construct to his responses.
IMO this primary will be quite close. Adam has burned, rebuilt and burned again bridges in Middleboro. I voted for him as a Selectman and was totally ticked when he exited that gig in a huff. I’ve lost count on the casino issue flip flops. In the total that will work against him at least in Middleboro. As far as the other communities party support does have some pull but not as much as it use to and that is the Pacheco effect of the last election. For me my mind was made up a year ago. Roger showed nothing then and even less now. AB will have my primary vote.
I love to do the “I told you so” but I was 100% correct in the fact that Deval Patrick (D-Transparency) should never have been given a second term. Patrick clearly displays his disdain for anyone or anything that does not neatly adhere to his far left mindset.
Recently he managed to reject some rather luke warm reforms to the Industrial Welfare Complex that were subject to a 152-1 override of his veto. This was worse than the beat down MiMi and Marsha got a few years ago. The governor clearly supports the concept of fraud as he stated something ( I was - like the Legislature - partially asleep) about the “most vulnerable” being victims in this. IMO the “most vulnerable” have been the taxpayers.
Now The Herald - the only real newspaper in Boston - is after records to show who came into the State House parking lot and their times coming and going. The “Governor” has refused to release the records with - of course - the big cravat being “Safety.” Of course no one in the administration has come forth with any even slightly reasonable explanation on that topic. Guess we will never know who is really padding the books on travel perks.
The “Governor” has gone all Sergeant Schultz on the Lt. Governor Tim Murray (D-NASCAR) who had an early morning wreck back in what seems the last century. First came the stonewall in which the “Ticket Monkeys” - AKA state police were quite compliant but soon enough the manure started to hit the fan and drips and drabs of information and story changes came out. Murray made several appearance and did his best Phineas T. Bluster (look it up) to take the - in his mind “high road.” Murray seems to tie into that mindset of having a loud voice and displaying indignation means you are right. I see it as just the opposite.
What the stonewalling on public records regarding the State House coming and goings is really about is it would cause a public embarrassment for public officials.
What Mitt Romney does with his money is the business of no one as long as he does it legally. His taxes are his own and he is under no obligation other than public pressure to release them. Maybe each member of our BOS will release their taxes for the last ten years? I could care less if Romney sends his dough off to some tax shelter since I would do the same if I had that kind of cash flow. In fact last year 1,800 Americans decided to renounce their citizenship primarily for tax reasons.
Now if Romney did anything illegal it would be a matter between him, the IRS and dueling CPA’s. Romney could very well have had “issues” that were “resolved” internally with the IRS. Very, very few cases actually go forward.
Next on the agenda is his stay at Bain. When he came and when he left and their actions. Bain has one of the best reps in what they do and their current leadership is sprinkled with high profile Democrats and Obama supporters but, I guess, that is all meaningless. Why let facts get in the way of a good story? Even former Present Bill Clinton (D-Foxy Lady) had the old “Nothing there, move along - folks.” Venture Capital firms by their very nature will have enough disgruntled folks to really make some good sound bites. Twice in my illustrious business career I was with companies that ended up with a Bain. Both times the companies were subject to massive restructuring and it both cases the eventual outcome was failure.
IMO the current frothing by the left and the Obama minions is pure deflection away from the only issue that matters - the economy. Obama has failed miserably. His economic team projected 5.6% unemployment at this point if the stimulus was put in place. Didn’t happen. The economy is like having your car stuck in snow - just as soon as those rear tires are about to pull you out you slide back in. All the bully pulpit rhetoric will not change the fact things are a real mess.
So what is Romney’s solution? He puts on the table his “Business background” but exactly what does he really offer? You can go to his web site and get talking points which is the usual blah…blah…blah. Bullet points. Obama with a name change IMO. You get the rambling about what a mess Obama has made of things - no kidding, Mitt, thanks for that piece of information. So maybe he’ll offer up some real economic magic rather than the failed “trickle down” of the stimulus but when will this happen?
What amazes me most about Romney is his pathetic pandering to the far right especially the fundamentalist element of the party. As governor he was a moderate. Since Obama has made “flip-flop” a passé term Romney “evolved” with his various positions especially social ones. Now he has back tracked especially on Romneycare. Maybe his “Repeal and revise” will have some meat to it but seems like Romneycare and Obamacare are first cousins. So what it all comes down to is the usual political expediency of saying what folks want to hear just to get the nomination. Saw that four years ago.
Now the latest faux pas from Obama is his statement about not building a business without government help. How amazingly out of touch this proponent of income redistribution is. Doesn't he even comprehend the idea of "residential" and "commercial" tax rates?
Thomas Menino is “Mayor for Life” in Boston but also has his own unique perspective on business operations - that’s what happens when your service in the real world is rather limited. His latest target - after WalMart - is Chick-fil-A since the owner is an outspoken critic of Gay rights. So naturally the Mayor decides that is reason enough to give a big “No” to opening a Boston location. Now from what I have been able to read “Chick” has managed to run a rather pristine operation in regards to the myriad of compliance regarding hiring practices. I guess that is not enough. I also assume that the only businesses allowed to open in Boston will be those who are termed PC. What a strange little man?
The Patriot Way now appears to be a trip over Viagra Falls. Sometimes when males get older and have financial resources they are able to date women who are young enough to be their daughter and some date women young enough to be their grand daughter. Step right up, Bob Kraft! Mr. Kraft has made a rather salty video with his 32 year old squeeze that was finally pulled from YouTube. Mr. Kraft has also been seen about town with the young lady in tow.
The Patriots have a history of stepping into players personal actions (think Gronk) when they exhibit behavior that the team does not consider conducive to their pristine and squeaky clean business model. The aforementioned Gronk was reprimanded for a public exposure to a porn star. But I guess management has a different criteria especially aged management.
Bob Kraft has done nothing wrong except create fodder for the likes of me and - of course - the tens of millions who despise the Patriots. So Kraft can join the ranks of embarrassment of all those aged millionaires - including an increasing number of females - who somehow thing they are soooo physically attentive that young hard bodies are just flinging themselves at them. Money has nothing to do with it.
I guess no fool like an old fool applies.
I hate to give any positive feedback - really hurts since I prefer being a curmudgeon. Our BOS actually displayed some common sense with the recent Hillcrest hearing regarding rents. A three year phase in seemed quite appropriate. The lawyer representing Hillcrest said something about never hearing anything like this. Well - he is a lawyer and the law and common sense are two mutually excluded terms.
If Stockton, California was in New England it would be the second largest city in the area. Stockton has also gone bankrupt thanks to the eventual cost of paying out public service employees an superlative benefit package and compensation. The retirees health benefits finally became the tipping point.
The Enterprise recently had an article showing the health care obligations for various towns and cities and another local tipping point could potentially be in the offing. These are the kinds of situations that should be emblazoned on those who negotiate contracts especially with a vision of what happens down the road. Eventually the bill becomes due and in a bad economy that bill becomes difficult to pay.
Now that Obamacare may be finalize - depending upon elections this year - you could see a health care system that may either be a smooth and efficient operation or a total disaster for both delivery and in the pocketbook. The document of 2,100 pages is mind boggling and buried within it will be many traps. The core issue is the Obama and his minions feel that the government can regulate and regulate efficiently. The government has shown a splendid ability to mandate and an almost total inability to manage. Programs like Social Security and Medicare had good intentions and continue to be of extreme value but the holes are quite apparent especially the fiscal ones.
The Red Sox appear to be lifeless with injuries and severe under performance the contributing factors. The new playoff structure allows glimmers of hope. Too bad - this team needs a serious overhaul.
The regulator issue is one that puzzles me as I see agencies such as the EPA and OSHA that have gone from judicious enforcement into the realm of punitive enforcement.
A brief job description of a paid detail:
1. Have a refreshing beverage handy.
2. Examine your cell phone consistently.
3. Try to keep your back turned to the roadway 75% of the time.
4. Practice rudimentary geometry by determining the volume of the hole being dug.
5. Seek out shade whenever possible.
Once again I witnessed the gauntlet of R105 as three details were in place with heavy traffic. None paid the slightest attention to their prime directive - traffic control.
Deval Patrick has once again to the surprise of no one decided to not support any significant EBT reforms. Patrick firmly checked in on the side supporting fraud.
The con game continues as another stimulus is being discussed - the administrations version of trickle down economics. The last one was suppose to have projected unemployment at 5.6% by now - I think they missed.
The Legislature will be out of session starting 7/31 and that will mean a sigh of taxpayer relief. The longer they are out the less damage can be done.
The garden harvest is starting to come through and as usual the beans lead the parade. Some plants do very well and others have a lackluster performance. The birds did enjoy the blueberries and now a rabbit has decided to make itself a known target. Time for my wife’s 4,365 cats to do their thing.
It was “inevitable.”
Paul Krugman was on TV discussing his philosophy on the recovery. He state he believes in a “free market welfare state.” Krugman has a Nobel in economics.
The Nobel in economics is issued by the Swedish Central Bank.
