A couple of AP headlines from today's news for all of my democratic friends back in Michigan:
"Obama keeps low profile in auto rescue talks."
"Dingell's ouster as committee chair a sea change in Michigan's clout."
This is the change you voted for. The change that all of your UAW bosses demanded you to support.
Barack Hussein running for cover, and Nancy Pelosi tossing out the best thing you ever had in Washington, in favor of her buddy Waxman, who is no friend of automakers.
You probably thought that you would be top priority. Well, you deserve exactly what you get.
These were your overwhelming choices to run the country. Get used to disappointment.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Those Racist Al-Qaida
I guarantee you that Barack Hussein Obama is feeling pretty darn good about the latest message received from Al-Qaida No. 2 man, Ayman al-Zawahri.
Believe me, there are a lot of worse things to be called than "house negro". Because imagine if al-Zawahri had instead used terms like "friend" or "hope" or even "change". And I half-expected that to happen. But now I'm even more convinced that these Al-Qaida guys really are out of touch. Right now, they can't even see the gift that American voters have given them.
But maybe, just maybe, this is all a conspiracy! I mean if George Bush can arrange for the attacks of 9/11, so conspiracy-theorists have said, then certainly Obama can have already be in secret talks with Al-Qaida, and had given them the script for yesterday's message. Come on now, is has to work both ways, doesn't it? Well. maybe not.
Believe me, there are a lot of worse things to be called than "house negro". Because imagine if al-Zawahri had instead used terms like "friend" or "hope" or even "change". And I half-expected that to happen. But now I'm even more convinced that these Al-Qaida guys really are out of touch. Right now, they can't even see the gift that American voters have given them.
But maybe, just maybe, this is all a conspiracy! I mean if George Bush can arrange for the attacks of 9/11, so conspiracy-theorists have said, then certainly Obama can have already be in secret talks with Al-Qaida, and had given them the script for yesterday's message. Come on now, is has to work both ways, doesn't it? Well. maybe not.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Special Ed.
For now, it appears that the opening of a new “gay” high school in the Chicago public system has been put on hold. But probably not for the reason you would think, or that I would have hoped for.
I first heard about the gay high school proposal in late September. I don’t know enough about it to say who first proposed it, and who’s been promoting it. Suffice to say that (of course) our honorable Mayor Daly had OK’d it. But for the rest, I’m not sure. I intend to find out more though.
Let me interrupt this blog for one moment to say a few words about Mayor Daly. First, he comes across as a total idiot. The guy cannot put a sentence together. (I’d really like the same media and Hollywood types who like to portray President Bush as a bumbling fool, to come listen to Daly and then work on him for awhile!). But beyond his incoherent speech, I really don’t know what kind of smarts he has. Could be very intelligent. But, my take on him with this issue, the gay high school, and other typically liberal items, is that he really doesn’t believe in them in his heart, but he takes the party line very time; never daring to say no to any liberal agenda item. And the reason that I can paint him this way is because of his speech. If he was slicker and smoother with his talk, he could fool people. But every time he opens his mouth, he betrays himself by fumbling through it. Kind of fun to watch in that regard.
Anyway, back to the gay high school thing.
Earlier this week, it was announced that the school would be approved and opening soon. Although now, it was being called the “Social Justice School”. A “place of refuge for all who feel threatened by society” for their lifestyles, beliefs or whatever. For those who are bullied or feel discriminated against (picture me trying to hold my lunch down as I’m hearing this). Obviously, the Social Justice tag was nothing but a smokescreen to help ram this through, with the backers thinking that it had a better chance at life than something called “gay”.
But now, it’s been announced that the whole idea has been tabled, at least for the time being. And the reason given, is that the Chicago gay organizations who evidently were the original proponents, are now offended that other groups may be able to take advantage of this. It seems they don’t want to share their refuge with anyone else. They want pure gay. No victims of bullies. No odd religious practitioners who feel threatened. No blacks or other minorities who might come there with discrimination concerns. Nope, just gay please!
I tell you, it’s just laughable at times to observe this stuff.…at least between the waves of nausea it gives me . Now the gays want to discriminate, and they want the tax payers to fund it. I guess that means we need a whole new school system structure, where every group can have their own special school of choice. Where will it all end? Probably with a special school just for straight, well adjusted, God-fearing, respectful, loving kids….but who would go there?
I first heard about the gay high school proposal in late September. I don’t know enough about it to say who first proposed it, and who’s been promoting it. Suffice to say that (of course) our honorable Mayor Daly had OK’d it. But for the rest, I’m not sure. I intend to find out more though.
Let me interrupt this blog for one moment to say a few words about Mayor Daly. First, he comes across as a total idiot. The guy cannot put a sentence together. (I’d really like the same media and Hollywood types who like to portray President Bush as a bumbling fool, to come listen to Daly and then work on him for awhile!). But beyond his incoherent speech, I really don’t know what kind of smarts he has. Could be very intelligent. But, my take on him with this issue, the gay high school, and other typically liberal items, is that he really doesn’t believe in them in his heart, but he takes the party line very time; never daring to say no to any liberal agenda item. And the reason that I can paint him this way is because of his speech. If he was slicker and smoother with his talk, he could fool people. But every time he opens his mouth, he betrays himself by fumbling through it. Kind of fun to watch in that regard.
Anyway, back to the gay high school thing.
Earlier this week, it was announced that the school would be approved and opening soon. Although now, it was being called the “Social Justice School”. A “place of refuge for all who feel threatened by society” for their lifestyles, beliefs or whatever. For those who are bullied or feel discriminated against (picture me trying to hold my lunch down as I’m hearing this). Obviously, the Social Justice tag was nothing but a smokescreen to help ram this through, with the backers thinking that it had a better chance at life than something called “gay”.
But now, it’s been announced that the whole idea has been tabled, at least for the time being. And the reason given, is that the Chicago gay organizations who evidently were the original proponents, are now offended that other groups may be able to take advantage of this. It seems they don’t want to share their refuge with anyone else. They want pure gay. No victims of bullies. No odd religious practitioners who feel threatened. No blacks or other minorities who might come there with discrimination concerns. Nope, just gay please!
I tell you, it’s just laughable at times to observe this stuff.…at least between the waves of nausea it gives me . Now the gays want to discriminate, and they want the tax payers to fund it. I guess that means we need a whole new school system structure, where every group can have their own special school of choice. Where will it all end? Probably with a special school just for straight, well adjusted, God-fearing, respectful, loving kids….but who would go there?
Monday, November 17, 2008
Facing The Inevitable
The American auto industry is in literally dying in front of our eyes. Now, there is a potential for a government life-line, or bailout, as the process is now fashionably called. This may be the last chance of survival for at least Chrysler and GM. Ford is currently leaner and meaner, and may be able to outlast the others for awhile.
For whatever shot at life the government loan can give them, it will come at very high expense. The conditions applied to such a loan could kill them just as surely, but over a longer span.
As the Feds drop in these dollars, they will demand that their specific agendas be met, and I guess there could be a legitimate argument to that right. Mileage goals, emissions restrictions and labor considerations will be some of the most significant, regardless of what the market dictates. But is there anyone out there who truly believes that the government can run these car companies any better than their own management teams have been able to do? Nancy Pelosi and Barack Hussein Obama might think so, and that should give zero-comfort to any of us.
The problem is that the domestic Big-3 are failing under so many pressures which no ownership or management can control. First, they are in a global recession like everyone else, where even mighty Toyota is publishing sales losses in the 25%-30% range. Next, apply the problems of big labor that are costing them premiums today, and the legacy costs of the best retirement and healthcare any human workers have ever enjoyed. Next, throw in the global pressures of so many manufacturers coming on-stream from low-cost countries like China, Korea, India and eastern Europe. Finally, the costs of gasoline (although temporarily relieved) are forcing people away from profitable Big-3 products that just a year ago they couldn’t build enough of. One could refer to all of this as a “Perfect Storm”.
It is extremely difficult for me to discuss what should or shouldn’t be done. The problems that these companies are dealing with impacted my family and me directly and profoundly earlier this year. I have modified my dependency on the industry somewhat, but certainly not in total. I am still vulnerable to the state of the automotive industry in this country like millions of others. It would be easy to say to Washington, “give us the money”, but that adds so many problems of it’s own, for what is probably just a band-aid that would soon wash away.
It’s probably best to continue to let the market decide what ultimately happens to these companies. I think that will mean bankruptcies and a whole lot of pain for many, maybe including myself. But in the long run, that is probably for the best. $25 billion now, will only last a few months, and the perfect storm is set to last much longer than that I’m afraid. In the meantime, taxpayers will have thrown away just that much more in this year of bailouts.
The American auto industry has been headed in this direction for at least 30 years. The globalization of the engineering and manufacturing of autos has eliminated a near-monopoly where the Big-3 could sell (and pay) at almost any level they wanted to, and so now they reach the end of the line. No one knows if even a much smaller and less affluent industry can even survive here anymore. It’s really doubtful. Electronics couldn’t. Appliances couldn’t. No large, labor-intensive products can be built here at $30 or even $15 per hour when they can be built in other places for $2.00 per labor hour. Companies like Toyota and Honda who make cars here now, at $25 per hour, will outlast the Big-3 only because they don’t have the legacy costs, but even they will eventually have to move on unless someone wants to work the factory line for minimum wage and very limited benefits.
Eventually, the new world order and global economy will start to equalize everything, so that every autoworker in the world, whether in Germany, Mexico, or India, will make the same wage, maybe $10 per hour. Only then will it become possible for Americans to get back into the game. This is what we really need to consider before we hand out these billions. And when we do, the band-aid doesn’t really make much sense.
For whatever shot at life the government loan can give them, it will come at very high expense. The conditions applied to such a loan could kill them just as surely, but over a longer span.
As the Feds drop in these dollars, they will demand that their specific agendas be met, and I guess there could be a legitimate argument to that right. Mileage goals, emissions restrictions and labor considerations will be some of the most significant, regardless of what the market dictates. But is there anyone out there who truly believes that the government can run these car companies any better than their own management teams have been able to do? Nancy Pelosi and Barack Hussein Obama might think so, and that should give zero-comfort to any of us.
The problem is that the domestic Big-3 are failing under so many pressures which no ownership or management can control. First, they are in a global recession like everyone else, where even mighty Toyota is publishing sales losses in the 25%-30% range. Next, apply the problems of big labor that are costing them premiums today, and the legacy costs of the best retirement and healthcare any human workers have ever enjoyed. Next, throw in the global pressures of so many manufacturers coming on-stream from low-cost countries like China, Korea, India and eastern Europe. Finally, the costs of gasoline (although temporarily relieved) are forcing people away from profitable Big-3 products that just a year ago they couldn’t build enough of. One could refer to all of this as a “Perfect Storm”.
It is extremely difficult for me to discuss what should or shouldn’t be done. The problems that these companies are dealing with impacted my family and me directly and profoundly earlier this year. I have modified my dependency on the industry somewhat, but certainly not in total. I am still vulnerable to the state of the automotive industry in this country like millions of others. It would be easy to say to Washington, “give us the money”, but that adds so many problems of it’s own, for what is probably just a band-aid that would soon wash away.
It’s probably best to continue to let the market decide what ultimately happens to these companies. I think that will mean bankruptcies and a whole lot of pain for many, maybe including myself. But in the long run, that is probably for the best. $25 billion now, will only last a few months, and the perfect storm is set to last much longer than that I’m afraid. In the meantime, taxpayers will have thrown away just that much more in this year of bailouts.
The American auto industry has been headed in this direction for at least 30 years. The globalization of the engineering and manufacturing of autos has eliminated a near-monopoly where the Big-3 could sell (and pay) at almost any level they wanted to, and so now they reach the end of the line. No one knows if even a much smaller and less affluent industry can even survive here anymore. It’s really doubtful. Electronics couldn’t. Appliances couldn’t. No large, labor-intensive products can be built here at $30 or even $15 per hour when they can be built in other places for $2.00 per labor hour. Companies like Toyota and Honda who make cars here now, at $25 per hour, will outlast the Big-3 only because they don’t have the legacy costs, but even they will eventually have to move on unless someone wants to work the factory line for minimum wage and very limited benefits.
Eventually, the new world order and global economy will start to equalize everything, so that every autoworker in the world, whether in Germany, Mexico, or India, will make the same wage, maybe $10 per hour. Only then will it become possible for Americans to get back into the game. This is what we really need to consider before we hand out these billions. And when we do, the band-aid doesn’t really make much sense.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
It's Time
The autumn season here in Chicago has been wonderfully mild. We've also had very little rain. Just enough to keep the lawns green and the colors in the trees. But that has finally come to it's inevitable end with the first serious "front" of good old Canadian weather. Now, snow is in the air and only a few stubborn leaves cling to the trees.
Just a few days ago we trick-or-treated on a 70-degree evening. And last weekend I was still catching fish out of the pond in the backyard. Now their metabolism has slowed in the cold water and they don't feel like playing anymore. Not a single bite today.
The snowblower was assembled and primed today and conversely, the lawnmower was run one last time and stowed for the season. We are ready. Time to find out how winters compare from one side of lake Michigan to the other. I have a feeling that it will be very hard to tell them apart! Both of them too wet, too cold and for too long. Sigh!
Just a few days ago we trick-or-treated on a 70-degree evening. And last weekend I was still catching fish out of the pond in the backyard. Now their metabolism has slowed in the cold water and they don't feel like playing anymore. Not a single bite today.
The snowblower was assembled and primed today and conversely, the lawnmower was run one last time and stowed for the season. We are ready. Time to find out how winters compare from one side of lake Michigan to the other. I have a feeling that it will be very hard to tell them apart! Both of them too wet, too cold and for too long. Sigh!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Veteran's Day 2008
It is the soldier, not the reporter,Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus [or community] organizer,Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag,Who serves beneath the flag,And whose coffin is draped by the flag,Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
-- Father Dennis Ed
ward O'Brian, USMC
It is the soldier, not the poet,Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus [or community] organizer,Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag,Who serves beneath the flag,And whose coffin is draped by the flag,Who allows the protester to burn the flag.
-- Father Dennis Ed
ward O'Brian, USMCMaverick Missing
Regular readers of The Mole Hole know that I have had many issues with John McCain over the course of this election cycle, and actually, even years before that. While he got my vote for being light-years closer to my values and beliefs than the socialist party, he just continues to irritate, even now.
The latest rub with me is this "scandal" surrounding his running mate. It started with the wardrobe expense, then the "advisors" within the campaign who supposedly trash her privately and publicly now, and so forth. And unless I'm missing a whole lot, I've seen maddeningly little from McCain coming to her defense. Have I missed this somehow? I hope so. Because as bad as he was defeated, it could have been worse without her.
I also find it hard to believe because he was bold enough to choose her in the first place. And for that he definitely got my respect. But he seems to have gone underground since his concession speech and he needs to reappear. In fact, every single Republican needs to start right now, to support and promote Sarah Palin, because unless a conservative "messiah" (sorry!) appears on the scene shortly, she might just be our best chance for 2012.
The latest rub with me is this "scandal" surrounding his running mate. It started with the wardrobe expense, then the "advisors" within the campaign who supposedly trash her privately and publicly now, and so forth. And unless I'm missing a whole lot, I've seen maddeningly little from McCain coming to her defense. Have I missed this somehow? I hope so. Because as bad as he was defeated, it could have been worse without her.
I also find it hard to believe because he was bold enough to choose her in the first place. And for that he definitely got my respect. But he seems to have gone underground since his concession speech and he needs to reappear. In fact, every single Republican needs to start right now, to support and promote Sarah Palin, because unless a conservative "messiah" (sorry!) appears on the scene shortly, she might just be our best chance for 2012.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Words of Wisdom
"For now, we have a new president-elect. In the spirit of reaching across the aisle, we owe it to the Democrats to show their president the exact same kind of respect and loyalty that they have shown our recent Republican president." --Ann Coulter
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Want of Wisdom
"I haven't seen this sense of unity since 9/11, really, really, and 9/11 was this tragic experience that brought us all together and now we're all brought together in the name of hope. Not since 9/11 have I experienced anything even kind of close to this."
--Oprah Winfrey
Brought who together Oprah? I don’t remember half the country rooting for the other side on 9/11!
I assume that what she really meant was the broad cross-section of voters Tuesday night who were able to put aside all their differences….. in the name of socialism! Yes, that was something. Even I get teary-eyed thinking about it.
--Oprah Winfrey
Brought who together Oprah? I don’t remember half the country rooting for the other side on 9/11!
I assume that what she really meant was the broad cross-section of voters Tuesday night who were able to put aside all their differences….. in the name of socialism! Yes, that was something. Even I get teary-eyed thinking about it.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
The Morning After-thoughts
Lessons learned:
1. Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight. I wrote many times about McCain’s unwillingness to get tough, and he finally did, but in the last week of the campaign! Too little, too late.
2. “Age and Experience = Establishment”. Remember that word from the 60’s? These factors alone painted McCain as “old school” in a rapidly changing world. For the same reason, Biden would have lost had he been the dem’s candidate. This country’s fickle and superficial expectations, demand youth, vigor, fashion and celebrity. As sad as that is, it is reality.
3. Modernize the campaign. Much was played up on Obama’s efficient use of new technology, specifically the internet, and it was accurate. No one can underestimate the incredible power of this tool. Obama’s younger, and probably “geekier” (if that’s a word), campaign handlers knew better about how to exploit that.
4. Build a better coalition. Thanks to a better campaign organization, Obama had built a broader coalition of supporters, from all walks. And they were vocal. If a similar army exists for the Republican cause, it was certainly not as visible. The scary part of that being, that with the exception of talk-radio, maybe it doesn’t even exist.
Having said all of the above, what the hell was any Republican supposed to do about George Bush? Right or wrong, Bush is currently blamed for every ill in the country. And yet he stands for solid, conservative values that any Republican is going to share with him….for the most part. So how was McCain supposed to express his conservative views and yet distance himself from Bush? Can’t be done (e.g. Gerald Ford). So the truth probably is that no Republican was going to win this year. Still, there are lessons for conservatives in 2012. I’m sure Sarah is taking note!
1. Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight. I wrote many times about McCain’s unwillingness to get tough, and he finally did, but in the last week of the campaign! Too little, too late.
2. “Age and Experience = Establishment”. Remember that word from the 60’s? These factors alone painted McCain as “old school” in a rapidly changing world. For the same reason, Biden would have lost had he been the dem’s candidate. This country’s fickle and superficial expectations, demand youth, vigor, fashion and celebrity. As sad as that is, it is reality.
3. Modernize the campaign. Much was played up on Obama’s efficient use of new technology, specifically the internet, and it was accurate. No one can underestimate the incredible power of this tool. Obama’s younger, and probably “geekier” (if that’s a word), campaign handlers knew better about how to exploit that.
4. Build a better coalition. Thanks to a better campaign organization, Obama had built a broader coalition of supporters, from all walks. And they were vocal. If a similar army exists for the Republican cause, it was certainly not as visible. The scary part of that being, that with the exception of talk-radio, maybe it doesn’t even exist.
Having said all of the above, what the hell was any Republican supposed to do about George Bush? Right or wrong, Bush is currently blamed for every ill in the country. And yet he stands for solid, conservative values that any Republican is going to share with him….for the most part. So how was McCain supposed to express his conservative views and yet distance himself from Bush? Can’t be done (e.g. Gerald Ford). So the truth probably is that no Republican was going to win this year. Still, there are lessons for conservatives in 2012. I’m sure Sarah is taking note!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
No Shock, No Awe
America has chosen. In a very difficult time of dissatisfaction, with so many critical issues facing us, the majority have decided that it's better to elect an ideal, and the promise of words, rather than the known quantity of a man who unfortunately, holds too close of an affiliation to the current power. I believe it's a simple as that. And it was certainly no surprise.
I want to write more, but I'm tired tonight and certainly disappointed. No shock, just disappointment. Better to walk away from the computer and give a chance to time and reflection, before I document anymore thoughts on the whole exhausting process.
More to come.....
I want to write more, but I'm tired tonight and certainly disappointed. No shock, just disappointment. Better to walk away from the computer and give a chance to time and reflection, before I document anymore thoughts on the whole exhausting process.
More to come.....
Monday, November 3, 2008
Party Time
Tomorrow is the day! Voter turnout is expected to be higher than any presidential election in recent memory. The poll numbers are all over the map, and are changing daily.
In the end, despite all of the endless focus on the personal views, values and capabilities of the men (and woman) candidates on both sides, millions will go and vote for the candidate which belongs to the party to which they most identify. The party that most exemplifies their personal beliefs about how to govern the USA and her peoples. That is what we do. We vote for parties….especially at that level.
I have spent too many hours trying to figure out how seemingly bright and patriotic people could vote for one, Barack Hussein Obama. But no matter what else the man is, he’s the democratic nominee, and that’s enough for democrats, period. No reason in their minds to discuss it any further. And I’m sure that people have thought the same of me and John McCain. Maybe they even recall that McCain was near the bottom of my list during the primaries. But that doesn’t matter. They know that I’d vote to elect him, or any of the other eight or nine candidates we had back in the primaries. We’re all voting for parties and platforms really.
Maybe all of this party voting is the proper thing anyway. After all, the president only has so much power. He’s just one part, albeit the most important part, of the overall. What we really want is that he or she is a member of the larger power that is our party ideal.
In any case, it will all be done by Wednesday morning and the country will take whatever it gets. Some will be ecstatic and hopeful, some will miserable and worried, and despite the high turnout, a majority of American’s will still simply shrug their shoulders and think that it’s just more of the same no matter who’s in charge. If only that were true.
In the end, despite all of the endless focus on the personal views, values and capabilities of the men (and woman) candidates on both sides, millions will go and vote for the candidate which belongs to the party to which they most identify. The party that most exemplifies their personal beliefs about how to govern the USA and her peoples. That is what we do. We vote for parties….especially at that level.
I have spent too many hours trying to figure out how seemingly bright and patriotic people could vote for one, Barack Hussein Obama. But no matter what else the man is, he’s the democratic nominee, and that’s enough for democrats, period. No reason in their minds to discuss it any further. And I’m sure that people have thought the same of me and John McCain. Maybe they even recall that McCain was near the bottom of my list during the primaries. But that doesn’t matter. They know that I’d vote to elect him, or any of the other eight or nine candidates we had back in the primaries. We’re all voting for parties and platforms really.
Maybe all of this party voting is the proper thing anyway. After all, the president only has so much power. He’s just one part, albeit the most important part, of the overall. What we really want is that he or she is a member of the larger power that is our party ideal.
In any case, it will all be done by Wednesday morning and the country will take whatever it gets. Some will be ecstatic and hopeful, some will miserable and worried, and despite the high turnout, a majority of American’s will still simply shrug their shoulders and think that it’s just more of the same no matter who’s in charge. If only that were true.
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