What about RESULTS??

This will be short. Vice President Joe Biden spoke to a Democratic National Committee fundraiser yesterday and spoke about the need to pass the Administration's budget. According to Politico, Biden included these profound and inspirational words for America in his remarks:

“It will have every single pundit out there, even the ones who are covering this today, saying, ‘You know, these guys not only came up with an idea, whether we like it or not, they moved and they passed it,’” Biden said. “And we are willing to win or lose – win or lose – upon the soundness of our judgment.”

Passing a bill through Congress with a clear majority isn't exactly the same as whether or not it will WORK. You don't get points for accomplishing the obviously easy. You get points for actual success Mr. Vice President.

Sheesh.

Party all the time, party all the time...

So, let's get this straight: the DOW is down below 7000, the deficit is projected to be in the TRILLIONS, God knows what our national debt is, the budget is coming in at 2,3 or 4 trillion dollars, taxes are going up, government intervention in every aspect of our life is increasing daily, defense spending is being cut and the new President is planning to make us a nation of construction workers and volunteers.

Whew! That's a pretty hefty policy load, no? I'm sure implementing these policies can/will take a lot of a person. Fighting to turn a free, democratic country into a socialist one will do that. When you're working that hard you need to blow off some steam and relax. How? Throw a party! Or in President Obama's case, throw A LOT of parties.

According to BreitBart.com, Obama holds to an almost religious schedule of parties, klatches and get-togethers every Wednesday which include expensive steaks, crab, entertainment and conga line dancing. Yes, conga line dancing.

He's had a Super Bowl party, black-tie dinner, cocktail hours, concerts and all sorts of fun times in between spending trillions of our tax dollars. Quite a multi-tasker wouldn't you say?

I'm so thrilled that he's not letting the bad economic numbers affect him. All those people who said they won't have to worry about paying their mortgage or filling up their gas tank are surely comforted knowing the "Party"er-in-Chief is holding it down.

POTUS is a stressful job, I understand that. But, how on Earth can Obama look himself in the mirror after chowing down on the best steaks and listening (LIVE) to Stevie Wonder or Earth, Wind and Fire then tell small business owners that they aren't paying enough in taxes? How can he (or his minions) complain about the need for a new fleet of helicopters then deride corporate CEOs who use private jets? How can he tell us to tighten our belts and do more for the good of the country, when he's spending more time toasting and stomping his feet to some funky rhythm than holding true to the standard of liberty and economic freedom that makes this country great?

He sure didn't waste any time getting into Imperial Mode did he? I'm sure he and Michelle were salivating over the chance to move into the White House. "Think of the party's we can have with our (elitist) friends! It'll be just like old times!"

Are you getting the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't just the simple "community organizer" he was made out to be?

Back to School

Well, after 20 years, I've decided it's time to go back to school. Yep, back to books and classrooms and teachers (professors) and notebooks and backpacks. ugh! Honestly, it's not all bad. I actually enjoy saying that I'm a "college student". It really rolls off the tongue quite nicely.

Anyway, I figured it was time to finish what I've started many times, taking classes here and there and dreaming about one day walking down the aisle of a crowded auditorium wearing a funny hat and feeling a sense of real accomplishment.

I didn't want to start with too much on my plate, so I'm taking a US History class (I love history) and an African-American Literature class. Both subjects are interesting and I've been motivated by the motivated instructors. Like many colleges and the courses they offer, I find the instruction and the required reading to be, well, left-leaning. SURPRISE! I guess I naively thought that it would be different for me and I would get some politically-neutral, if not politically-balanced professors, but to no avail.

In the first three weeks of class, I've heard the names of Bush and Palin used in disparaging fashion more than once. I've seen Obama t-shirts and even had a fellow student give a short talk on his experiences at the Inauguration.

I'm not whining, I'm just, well, I guess I am whining. I would just like to learn some interesting subjects which will help achieve my ultimate goal: a bachelor's degree. Is it too much to ask to not have to hear how much Bush sucked? Or that Palin was/is an idiot? Or that Obama is going to bring rainbows and sunshine to all of us by merely wishing it?

I guess it is. So anyway, I've got some homework to do before class tonight. Talk soon.

Here We Go!

I guess I'm a little late for this, but there's no time like the present.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to Super Bowl 43! I must admit, looking at their schedule for this season I saw a lot of problems. This was going to be the toughest schedule any team faced in many, many years. The Steelers played the Ravens twice, all the teams in the NFC East, the Chargers, Titans and Patriots. All of these times have either given the Steelers trouble in the past or are perennial playoff teams.

As the season progressed, I, and many other fans grew more and more confident. However, the Super Bowl wasn't something I was banking on. Playoffs, yes, SB, probably not.

Now having gone through that tough schedule, including beating the Ravens three times, the Steelers are going to face the surprising Arizona Cardinals.

Another admission: their offense scares me. Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Kurt Warner can be deadly to any defense. Look what they did to the Eagles. Granted the Eagles' defense is not as good as the Steelers', but they were ranked 3rd overall.

The key for the Steelers is the brilliance of Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau. If he can contain the Cardinals' receivers and force Warner into throwing before he's ready, I am confident the Steelers' crew of linebackers and front three can contain the running game.

Probably the only similar offense they've faced was the Dallas Cowboys with T.O., Witten and Williams and we all know what happened then (smile).

So, it's on to Tampa for an intriguing match up that, I am confident, will lead to a 6th Lombardi Trophy for the Pittsburgh Steelers and their stamp on NFL immortality!

Here we go Steelers, here we go!

Stop the Racial Rhetoric

Despite the flat and uninspiring Inaugural Address by now-President Barack Hussein Obama, there was a memorable moment that caught me by surprise: Reverend Joseph Lowery's benediction. He said:

'Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen'...

On a day that we are supposed to be post-partisan and post-racial, the Rev. Lowery's racist "prayer" is truly disturbing. President Obama has spoken about new beginnings, hope and other glowing images throughout the campaign and since his election. We are supposed to believe that his election brought a new era of societal advancement where content meant more than color.

I wrote in an earlier post - soon after Obama's election - that the Civil Rights Industry should be shutting its doors and moving on to other issues. Our racial problems have been solved right? I mean, we've elected a black/white man to the highest office in the land. What more can Jackson, Sharpton, Lowery, Lewis, et al do? The promised land has been reached. MLK's vision has been achieved.

Unfortunately, people like Lowery do a great disservice to this country's ability to move on. His comments about "whites embracing what's right" is a slap in the face to thousands of white people who have done good things to improve race relations. Why can't we just move on with the hard work that we have ahead of us? Why must we continue to stoke the flames of racism (yes, black people can be racist)?

I'm really uncomfortable with the fawning treatment given to a man before he's been tested, but I will try to give him a chance. However, if this type of racial rhetoric is going to be the order of the day, the only change we can expect is more racial turbulence in our cities and throughout the country.

Speechless...

So let me get this straight: the Treasury Secretary-designate is on the hook for $34,000 in unpaid taxes on self-employment income and for an undocumented housekeeper...

Hmmm.

Timothy Geithner will be the lead dog to come after citizens who make similar "mistakes" and he's going to breeze through confirmation?

How...what the...oh, forget it.

Brass Ones...

If you add hubris, hypocrisy, arrogance and gall together, what do you get?

Congress.

Amid all of the financial woes that are beating this country to its knees, the Congress of the United States of America thinks its doing such a bang-up job, that they approved a $4,700 per year pay increase for themselves.

I'm at a loss for words for once. Well, maybe not.

The $2.5 million that this increase will cost could be much better spent on many things. Tax cuts, paying down our ever-increasing debt, etc. How they could look the Big 3 automakers CEOs in the face and demand that they not take a salary when at the same time they INCREASE theirs is beyond me. All we've heard over the past few years is how corporate executives have been overcompensated. Do you have any idea what a CEO of a major corporation does in a day?

• Manage thousands of employees
• Answer to a board of directors
• Develop new concepts to increase production and profit
• Compete with other companies that would love to see them out of business
• Expand their products/services into new markets
• Create thousands of jobs
• Pay millions of dollars in personal and corporate taxes
• Testify before Congress

That's just scratching the surface. The responsibilities of these CEOs to keep their companies afloat so average people will have a job to go to everyday is staggering. Now, let's take a look at what an average Congressman/Senator does:

• Makes a speech to a Rotary Club
• Makes calls for fundraiser for re-election
• Makes a speech on the floor of the House or Senate
• Makes calls for fundraiser for re-election
• Attends fundraiser for re-election
• Manages staff of 15-20
• Makes calls for fundraiser for re-election
• Brings "home" taxpayer money for roads, bridges, fire houses, etc.
• Makes calls for fundraiser for re-election
• Asks grandstanding questions of CEOs at committee hearings

Whew! That's some hard work huh? Honestly, at approximately $170,000 per year, your average Congressman is seriously overpaid. I wonder which House member or Senator will do the right thing and not accept the increase? How long should I wait?

A Classic Case

Bedbugs. Yes, the thought of bedbugs makes one's skin crawl. Actually, not only the thought, but the actual little buggers themselves. So we all can agree that bedbugs are icky. I've never had them, so I don't know what it's like, but I do know that GOVERNMENT should NOT be in the business of thinking or doing ANYTHING about bedbugs.

Why do I bring up government? Well, I live in the great state of New Jersey and here, government sticks its nose in pretty much everything. Case in point: Bedbugs.

Two members of the New Jersey General Assembly have taken the time to research and write a piece of legislation, confer with their Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee colleagues and convince them to vote 5-0 to push a bill that would punish landlords if there is an outbreak of bedbugs in a multi-unit dwelling anywhere in the state.

Yes, we are in the midst of a financial crisis. Yes, we are one of the highest taxed states in the nation. Yes, people are leaving the state in droves. Yes, yes, yes. New Jersey is a mess.

But what do Assemblywoman Joan Quigley and Assemblyman Harvey Smith (both from Hudson County) feel is the biggest issue facing the state and its taxpayers? Say it with me: Bedbugs.

Now landlords will have to make sure there are no bedbugs in their units. If they slip up and someone starts scratching, they'll have to fork over $300 per apartment or $1000 per common area. I thought the security screens that State Senator Ron Rice mandated for high-rise apartments was the worst piece of legislation they could come up with.

I was wrong.

This is just another classic case of government run amok. I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. We can't talk on cell phones and drive, everyone has to wear a helmet when riding a bike at a blistering 5 miles per hour, they are looking to ban smoking EVERYWHERE, including your car and home, good old fashioned Jersey road rage is frowned upon and heaven forbid if you decide to open a business in this state, you may as well just send your right arm and right leg to Trenton.

When will it all end? Unfortunately, it won't. The citizens of New Jersey have become too comfortable with this style of governance. If you take away those "protections", then people will be exposed to the rough elements of life and be expected to take care of themselves. Government can't have that. Where would their power come from then?

Russian Analyst may be on to something...

A Russian analyst predicted that due to the economic troubles we're facing here in the United States, we will see a breakup of our country into "regions".

Professor Igor Panarin predicted over ten years ago that the United States could soon be comprised of a Pacific, Northern, Southern, Atlantic, Texas and Alaska regions.

Hmm. Maybe that could work here in New Jersey.

Every New Jerseyan from whatever region of the state looks down on every other New Jerseyan from another part of the state. Let's face facts.

If you're from Union County (North Jersey to some, Central Jersey to others), then anyone from Gloucester County is a hick right? A Bergen Countian is tied to the mafia as far as someone from Burlington County is concerned yes?

Well, let's break the whole thing up and start over. This also may be a great way for Corzine to ensure his election. Just run in North Jersey and you're in like flynn Bearded One!

Here's the potential breakdown (or breakup): The Great State of South Jersey, with its Eagles fans, philly accents and mobile homes would have the attraction of the Jersey shore. Tourism and retail shops galore!

The Grand State of Central Jersey (yes, there IS a Central Jersey) would be the home of one of the most corrupt capital cities in the country so maybe they would have to move it to, oh, I don't know, somewhere in Monmouth County, no, wait...

The Colossal State of North Jersey, home of the Sopranos could continue their, uh, unique ways of doing things and continue to be the home of the New York Giants and Jets. Maybe then they would change the name to actually match their home.

And finally, the good old Tremendous State of Northwest Jersey. Home of the mountain men, brown bears and...yeah, that's about it.

Make four new states and our economic problems would be over.

I say go for it. Give those who want to continue to live under Nanny State rules (North Jersey, Central Jersey) their chance. Northwest and Southern New Jersey would see a massive influx of people, but be warned. That's where all the gun owners are!

The Southern folks tried to secede from the state many years back. It didn't work, but maybe, with all of the grim economic news beating us about the head and shoulders everyday, now's the time. Thanks Igor!

Uh Oh!

Iran is steadily increasing its uranium processing.

If that doesn't send chills down your spine, I don't know what will. It seems they have almost doubled their current yield since August and some say they could have a crude bomb ready as early as next year. It wasn't long ago that the experts predicted it would take 5, 10 or 15 years before Iran became a member of the Nuclear Club.

At this time last year, many people, led by the media, were howling that the National Intelligence Estimate showed that Iran had halted its uranium enrichment program in 2003. Oops.

Where are they now? Where are the people that pummelled the President and his national security team about saber-rattling? What happened to the cries of woe against confronting Iran?

They are silent because they were fighting tooth and nail to get what they wanted. They wanted the President and his party hobbled leading up to the 2008 elections. They wanted every American to associate all the bad in this world with the word "Bush". Well, they got their wish.

I hope Obama is ready.

Iranian President Ahmedinejad is a nut. We all know that. Is he a nut willing to use nuclear weapons against Israel or Europe or America? I think so. He is willing, but I don't think he would actually go through with it. Granted, I haven't sat down with him over a bowl of dates and a cup of tea, but he has to know that our response would be devastating.

However, the threat of using them may be enough to get what he wants. What does he want? Israel obliterated. Maybe favorable trading conditions. The West out of the Middle East. To be ruler of "Greater Persia". I have no idea (well, the Israel thing is a definite).

This is a time that we all need to be paying attention to what is going on in the world. We have to hold our leaders to a tremendously high standard when they tell us what they think should be done and how they plan to do it. This is not a game anymore (it never was). All of the campaign speeches, screaming and fainting are over.

Big boy rules are in effect now.

We have a few months until we open the morning paper and read:

"Iran test fires first nuclear-tipped missile with an effective range that encompasses Israel and most of Europe."

I REALLY hope Obama is ready. *sigh*