Disgusting Management of a National Shrine

Combine incompetence and outright fraud with nepotism and preferential contracting, and you get the shocking desecration of one of the most revered sites in American history.   In sum, the location of more than 6,000 soldiers remains buried at Arlington National Cemetery are in question because two morons were allowed to run Arlington for more than a decade without any supervision or accountability.

Both the deputy director in charge of operations, Thurman Higginbotham, and the director, John Metzler, have resigned in light of a congressional inquiry.   Metzler in testimony today gave a  conflicting and confusing account of the debacle, and, frankly, just made thing worse for himself.

Higginbotham (pictured here irreverently sitting on someone's grave), on the other hand, has taken the Fifth.  Back in 2006, however, he offered this little tidbit to Government Computer News, "My goal is ... so people can look up a grave from home and print out a map that will show exactly where the grave site is.”
 
Just don't expect the right body to be under that headstone.

"Friended" by a Politician?

So why would a 66 year old retired Marine have more friends than a goofy19 year old sorority girl?  Answer - he's a running for state senate.

Dick Black has 498 "friends" at last count.  OMG, Dick!  Who iz ur bff?

The Official End of Obamarketing

Sure, you can look at Rasmussen or Gallup, but for my money a president's popularity is best indicated by the t-shirts sold in DC airport gift shops.  And, to that end, you won't see any of the Obama logo'd t-shirts or cardboard cutouts of Barry and Michelle.  Believe it or not, they've been replaced by shirts reading, "Don't Blame Me - I Didn't Vote for This Kind of Change!"  Not an "O" in sight.
The times they are a changin'.

Dateline Reno: Angle in Self-Destruction Mode

Your intrepid reporter is on the scene in northern Nevada where the morning talk shows are running political ad after political ad.  Harry Reid v. Sharron Angle in the Senate race, and Reid's son Rory (aka The Undertaker) v. Brian Sandoval in the governor's race.  Not surprisingly, the elder Reid is hammering Angle as an extremist, quoting snippets from her speeches in which she says it's not a senators job to create jobs.  Reid, in another expected move, touts his ability to spend your tax money on Nevadans including a VA hospital in Las Vegas for the huge number of Agent Orange sufferers there (note snark)

While huge media blitzes are nothing unusual, a candidate shunning the media like an indicted Lindsay Lohan in a perp walk is something different.  Angle, at her own media event, quickly walked away from local TV reporters seeking to ask questions not answered in the press conference.   And, of course, the station would not let that one go away.

Republicans had a golden chance to oust Reid, but extremism has gotten the better of them.. After nominating a horrible candidate like Angle with misstep after misstep, you can expect the Tea Party to take a huge loss here - and, as a result,  we all get six more years of Harry Reid.

No Home for You

Embolden by the passage of legislation that will crush the banking industry, the Obama administration is moving further into state control of individual credit decisions.

The level of paternalism is simply amazing. As the Post writes, the Administration is taking it upon itself to decide “who should own a home and what the government should to do to support them.” What is even more surprising is that the people arguing for barriers are the same ones who just a few years ago were pounding on lenders to loosen underwriting standards.

Each borrower has a unique financial profile, and no government-mandated lending standards could ever address those adequately. People, as well as banks, must be allowed to seek credit and make credit decisions in accordance with their own situations, and, yes, allowed to fail in the event they make the wrong decision. This latest initiative is, like so many of these financial “reform” initiatives, nothing more than an attempt by politicians to appear responsive to the credit meltdown when, in fact, the market long ago corrected itself and will adequately balance credit risks and benefits going forward.

Unemployment Benefits and Tax Breaks: No and Yes

The unemployed already get 99 weeks - almost two years - of unemployment benefits and yet the Administration and the Democrats pound on the Republicans who say only that the $34 billion price tag on such extension should not add to a budget deficit that's already spiralling out of control.  Obama, once again, ignores those concerns, an beats his chest with threats of  "strong words" for those who would dare disagree with him.

No matter how much you may sympathize with the plight of the unemployed, being paid for sitting around for more than two years is simply ridiculous.  Well, ridiculous unless you're unemployed and not paying taxes in any event.

Here's the zinger, though.  In his weekly address, President Teleprompter had this to say, "[Republicans]have got no problem spending money on tax breaks for folks at the top who don't need them and didn't even ask for them; but they object to helping folks laid off in this recession who really do need help."

For the record I DO need a tax break and I AM asking for one!  Had I known that all I had to do was ask for a tax break, I would have done it long ago.

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Why I Won't Vote for Frank Wolf

I like Frank Wolf. He’s represented well Virginia’s 10th District and Republican causes in general. By virtually all objective measures, I should vote for him.  That is, all objective measures but one – term in office. 

He was first elected to office more than 29 years ago when Jimmy Carter was in office and the first space shuttle had yet to launch.  In fact, Mr. Wolf has now served 15 years since he signed the Contract with America and voted for a 12-year term limit for members of the House of Representatives.

I could have labeled this post I am an American before I am a Republican, Part II because the rationale is the same. Politicians and political parties have far more power than the founding fathers ever could have envisioned. Incumbents, in particular, simply have far too great an advantage and the power of the office is too intoxicating to allow anyone an unlimited number of terms. Politicians develop a sense of entitlement, and party loyalists look with great disdain on anyone who would challenge a same-party incumbent. The coercive power of incumbency genuinely distorts the democratic process, which is something the draftsmen of the Contract for America understood, and something with which Frank Wolf agreed. Well, at least, at some point.

Mr. Wolf also has shown himself to be more concerned about reelection than conservative government. He recently voted against the majority of his party and in favor of increases in pay for federal employees at a time when government spending already is running out of control. As discussed on BVBL, the 10th District has a great number of federal employees, and in voting for the pay increase, Mr. Wolf has revealed that preserving his own job is a higher priority than controlling government spending.

Sure, it would hurt conservative causes, not to mention the 10th District, if Mr. Wolf were to lose. The compelling need for term limits, however, trumps the qualifications or political beliefs of any particular candidate. A level playing field would be preferable, but Congress has proven over and over it cannot control itself by passing a constitutional amendment to limit terms. Thus, in this situation especially, if you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

I, for one, refuse to be a knowing accomplice to such political aggrandizement.

It's YOUR Fault Obama's Not Popular

Obama apologists, no longer getting any lift from blaming his predecessor for all the country’s ills, have taken a new tack. Now, they’re blaming all Americans.

Responding to a Washington Post poll that 6 in 10 Americans have no faith in the president's abilities, liberal talking-head Bill Press had this to say






The blogosphere has been all over this, prompting many great quips like
Just who do you think spoiled us? George Bush

and

Are you ready to accept your portion of the blame for Obama’s numbers?

and

Change the People!

Indeed, we rightfully should expect our much from our elected officials, particularly those who campaigned on nothing more than vague promises of  “change” and “hope.”  If we are to preserve a viable republican form of government, we must never tolerate ineptitude. We must never suffer through failed, arrogant policies. We must accept nothing less than clearly articulated and promptly executed polices for solving this country's problems.  And if you can’t govern to those expectations, get the Hell out of the way and let someone who can.

One Reason I'm Proud to be a Virginian - A Budget Surplus

Regardless of whom to credit, this is good news.  From the Washington Post:

Va. ends year with budget surplus, McDonnell confirms

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) confirmed in a radio interview Tuesday morning that the state concluded the fiscal year with a budget surplus. He told WNIS listeners in Norfolk on his monthly radio appearance that his administration would announce budget numbers tomorrow, echoing comments made last week to fellow governors during the annual meeting of the National Governors Association.

His administration has been predicting since June that year-end numbers would show that the state had returned to profitability for the year. Still, the official numbers will be comforting for officials that have spent the last year making deep cuts in the state budget to close shortfalls. "We've been able to turn it around in short order," McDonnell said during the radio program. "The good news is we've started to see a ray of sunshine. We've started to turn things around."

Granted, Virginia has some tight rules around balanced budgets, but, at least this year, it didn't involve massive tax hikes or other great gnashing of teeth.
Take that, California.

First Babs and Now the Post!

More eye-opening than the dopio macchiato I ordered at Starbucks was the headline in the newspaper below the register. At the top of the front page of the Washington Post, the headline read, “Six in Ten American Lack Faith in Obama."

The story continued, “Nearly six in 10 voters say they lack faith in the president to make the right decisions for the country, and a clear majority once again disapproves of how he is dealing with the economy.”  (Perhaps realizing it had gone too far, the online headline differed from the print edition, watered down to read, "Confidence in Obama Reaches New Low").

The fact that most Americans have no faith in President Teleprompter comes as no surprise, but that the Washington Post, of all papers, would run such a story above the fold on the front page is particularly telling. If a Democrat can maintain the support of neither Barbara Streisand nor the Washington Post, you know the wheels are really coming off.

UPDATE:  Add political heavyweight Roseanne Barr and ET (aka James Carville) to the list.

Worthless and Weak

Pardon the Animal House reference, but it fits Sen. Centerfold given his recent announcement that he will support the Barney Frank-Chris Dodd banking reform bill.

Even if he liked some provisions of the $18 billion financial reform legislation (he did, in fact vote for the original Dodd version), he had the power to demand that the Democrats remove at least some of the many ridiculous provisions of the bill. But nooo. Instead, he rolled over like puppy who wanted his belly rubbed.

When it comes to these key votes, he's as worthless as an English cookbook and as weak as a casino cocktail.

Now, drop and give me twenty!

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Hillary Lovefest

Curiosity got the better of me, and I clicked on the "Next Blog" tab at the top of the page. This Hillary supporter page is what came up (the "Next Blog" link is not  static, so don't bother trying it at home).

Just had to pass on her majestic Stalinesque pose.  Suitable for framing.

Obama's Arizona Suit is a Loser in the Court of Public Opinion, Too

Half of Americans polled oppose President Teleprompter's suit challenging Arizona's immigration verification law and only 30% support it. (And that 30% ties nicely with the whopping 26% of the country that strongly believe he's doing a good job).

True leaders have the courage to make unpopular decisions and the ability to then convince others of correctness's of the decision. However, repeatedly taking major actions such as this suit and the health care entitlement program that never had, and never will have, popular support is not leadership.

It's arrogance.

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Liars, Damn Liars . . . and Disney Accountants

Remember that situation involving the author of "Forrest Gump" who was denied any royalties by the movie's producer on the basis that the film lost money? Well, here we go again with the fuzzy math of Hollywood accounting. Disney's accountants claim that Disney LOST $73 million in the three year prime-time run of ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" despite the fact that it brought in more than $1.8 billion in advertising revenue and $515 million in merchandising revenue.

Restoring some degree of faith in the justice system, the jury hearing the suit by Disney's partners aggrieved by the accounting practices awarded the partners nearly $260 million in damages.

Evil Mickey.

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Foremost priority?

Pandering to Muslim nations is the NASA leader's "foremost" priority. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e857ZcuIfnI

Actually, it's a perfect fit. The foremost priority of Muslim nations is blowing up NASA's spacecraft.

Debacle in the Desert, Part II

If there’s any suit on shakier legal grounds than Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s suit challenging Obamacare, it would be U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s suit seeking to block the Arizona immigration law.

Oddly enough, Holder does not challenge the law based on any kind of illegal discrimination. Instead, Holder claims that, despite Arizona simply questioning illegal immigrants' status and doing so at its own expense, the law somehow places greater burdens on federal agencies charged with immigration enforcement thus “diverting their resources from high-priority targets.”

If it's not enough that immigration enforcement is not among the Administration’s “high-priority targets," which is in itself a very disturbing admission, Holder adds insult to injury by grossly overstating both the Administration's efforts at border control and the impact of the Arizona law.

Oh, wait, maybe it’s just that Holder didn’t read the law yet.

Press release. http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/July/10-opa-776.html

Complaint. http://www.justice.gov/opa/documents/az-complaint.pdf

Brief in support of prelimary injunction http://www.justice.gov/opa/documents/pi-brief.pdf

Bogus Blustering of a “Brown Bailout”

Succumbing to the omnipresent banner ads warning of a "bailout” for UPS, I finally clicked on the link to learn more. Now, feeling duped and angered, I offer this commentary.

Despite the “bailout” terminology, this has absolutely nothing to do with any kind of direct financial assistance to UPS of the sort we saw with Citi or AIG. In fact, the “bailout” has nothing do with UPS at all. The legislation at issue would simply reclassify certain employees of UPS’ primary competitor, FedEx, such that it would be easier for those FedEx employees to unionize. UPS, by the way, does a great job of rebutting FedEx’s claims and setting the record straight.

I'd like to lay into FedEx for stretching the truth, but I'll focus on its motivation. FedEx’s real problem is not UPS or some kind of legislative favoritism of its competitor. Its real problem, and hence it's real motivation, is the unions. Indeed, desperate to avoid the crippling grip of unionized labor that destroyed the American auto industry, FedEx has engaged in a multimillion-dollar campaign to prevent passage of the law when, really, both UPS and FedEx should join forces and take the unions head on.

Sadly, though, that’s just not going to happen given the Democrats’ maternal protection of the unions. FedEx realized that - and cowered. In making a collateral and wildly confusing attack on UPS, FedEx ignores the economic detriment caused by these unions and, in so doing, becomes part of the problem.

Congratulations to David Ramadan!

David Ramadan, a prominent voice on the Loudoun County Republican Committee, recently was appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell to the George Mason University Board of Visitors. In the words of the Washington Post, board of visitor appointments are "the most prestigious appointments" a governor has to offer.

Congratulations, David!