No Runny Eggs

The repository of one hard-boiled egg from the south suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (and the occassional guest-blogger). The ramblings within may or may not offend, shock and awe you, but they are what I (or my guest-bloggers) think.

Day by Day cartoon

Archive for posts by Shoebox.

June 3, 2011

The Lowest Common Denominator

by @ 7:12. Filed under Miscellaneous.

As Barack Obama prepared to take his oath of office in early 2009, there was a fairly active debate amongst the political elite and bobbleheaded idiot box pundits.  The debate was over what type of President Barack Obama would be.  Would Obama be a lean left President who would continue the country along its leftward walk or, would he feel the gravity of his office and become a centrist once in office.  Ironically, no where in the discussion was the option of “leaping off the most leftward edge” opined on.

Since his arrival in office, it has been clear that Obama is not content in continuing the steady leftward walk or in becoming a centrist.  Every time Obama has had a opportunity to put his stamp on the Presidency and this country, he has chosen an option that is as far left as he could jam or manipulate through.  With the auto industry, banking, energy or foreign relations Obama has implemented policy and programs that are nothing but a run to the left, dare I say, Socialist ideal. 

Socialist?  Yes, I said Socialist!  Can you find any policy or program that Obama has offered or implemented that didn’t have the government taking a bigger role and control of the matter discussed?  Can you find a policy or program that Obama has offered or implemented that wasn’t about giving “workers” or ”the poor” an elevated status in society simply because they were a “worker” or part of “the poor?”

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against helping the poor.  I am against policies and programs that enshrine ”the poor” as perpetually “the poor.”  Obama, on the other hand, not only assumes that “the poor” will always be ”the poor,” he holds them out as that which should be aspired to.   

Yesterday, during arguments over the constitutionality of Placebocare, Obama’s solicitor general defended the government’s position with a new and unique argument: If you don’t like the individual mandate, then become poor!

So it’s a penalty on earning a certain amount of income and self insuring. It’s not just on self insuring on its own. So I guess one could say, just as the restaurant owner could depart the market in Heart of Atlanta Motel, someone doesn’t need to earn that much income.

Now, the solicitor general qucikly attempted to cover his tracks by suggesting that this was “a fanciful” option….Yeah, right.

If Obama had his way, Cap and Trade would be the law and we would be seeing dramatic rises in electric costs. Obama has had his way in the oil industry and we can see the impact of that on gas prices. Obama has had his way with the federal budget and monetary policy and we can see the impact of that on our economy, the value of the dollar, overall inflation.

Example after example of Obama’s policy result in higher costs or lower buying power for all Americans. Obama’s solicitor general may think making people poor or poorer is a fanciful option but I’ll bet most Americans don’t see it as fanciful. As a result of just 2 1/2 years of Obama, being poorer is a reality for most American families.

April 28, 2011

The 3 G’s

by @ 20:41. Filed under 2012 Presidential Contest, Economy, Economy Held Hostage, Politics - National.

If you started grade school around or before, the time that I did, or, if you are a student of history, you are familiar with the 3 R’s.  Readin’, Ritin’ and Rithmetic.  The 3 R’s were the core, the foundation of a public education.  Nearly everything we were taught in grade school was, or was tied to the 3 R’s. 

When I went to school, if you wanted to know if a teacher was a good or poor teacher it was simple process.  If a parent looked at their child and their child knew the 3 R’s, the teacher was good.  If the parent’s child didn’t know the 3 R’s, the teacher wasn’t good.  It wasn’t a very complicated process of evaluation, nuance didn’t play a role.  Parents knew who was responsible for the 3 R’s and they knew if their child was accomplished in them.

Gallup – Obama approval hits 5 month low
New Hampshire - Obama approval rating below “break even” point
Pennsylvania – Obama approval rating at all time low

Renewed combativeness (some would say snippiness), a new spokesperson and even dropping drone bombs in Libya have not helped President Obama’s approval ratings.  In fact, regardless of what he attempts to use to distract his audience, nothing seems to change the trend of his approval polls.

President Obama talks and behaves as if all those who disagree with him and his policies were included in what he calls “the far right fringe.”  In his mind, “the fringe,” is made up of all the people who doubted that he satisfied the Constitutional requirement for being a natural born citizen.  In other words, President Obama believes, or at least communicates, that all those who disagree with him are “birthers.”  I have no doubt that at whatever fundraiser he is attending this evening, he is perplexed by the fact that his approval rating continues to drop even though he has released his birth certificate.

As it was with the link of the 3 R’s with the approval of teachers throughout my education, there is an alphabetical link to explain the falling approval rating for President Obama; the 3 G’s.

Gas, Groceries and GDP are the only items you need to watch to determine whether President Obama’s approval ratings are moving up or down.

Gas and Groceries are fairly obvious.  The average price of gas is now $1.02 more than it was a year ago.  More importantly, those who follow the prices are suggesting that the price may well go over $4.50 before peaking.  At the current price, a family with two cars averaging 15,000 miles a year each, is paying over $125/month more for gas than a year ago.  If it peaks at $4.50/gallon, the average increase will be over $200 per month.

Grocery costs are getting nasty.  Just this week the USDA announced that US food inflation will run 4 to 5.5 times the rate it did just last year. With those averages, and some items like Beef (up 12.2% in a year), Pork (up 11.2% in a year) and Citrus fruits (up 8.5% in a year) running far higher than the average, it’s not hard to see how a family of four will face food cost increases of over $100 per month.

If you don’t think everyday food and gas costs are catching up with the average consumer, guess again. Today, Walmart, the largest food retailer in the US, said that they are seeing spending patterns that suggest that many of their customers are expending their budgets before getting to the end of the month.

Wal-Mart’s core shoppers are running out of money much faster than a year ago due to rising gasoline prices, and the retail giant is worried, CEO Mike Duke said Wednesday.

“We’re seeing core consumers under a lot of pressure,” Duke said at an event in New York. “There’s no doubt that rising fuel prices are having an impact.” Wal-Mart shoppers, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, typically shop in bulk at the beginning of the month when their paychecks come in.

Lately, they’re “running out of money” at a faster clip, he said.

“Purchases are really dropping off by the end of the month even more than last year,” Duke said. “This end-of-month [purchases] cycle is growing to be a concern.

So, core costs are increasing but how does GDP impact Obama’s approval ratings?

There is a strong correlation between GDP and real wage growth. GDP has slowed to an annual rate of 1.8%. At the same time, inflation is running at 3.8%. This means that the real incomes are likely not keeping up with the rate of inflation.

Everyday costs are going up but incomes aren’t. That’s a recipe for a very unhappy employee base let alone electorate.

Keep an eye on the 3 G’s. As the 3 G’s get worse, so will Obama’s approval ratings. If they improve, so will the ratings. I believe the relationship between the 3 G’s and Obama’s approval is so strong that I would wager the following: If the 3 G’s do not improve from where they are today, and I don’t think they will, Obama will lose his reelection bid.

As a country, we’re failing the 3 G’s.  I don’t think it’s difficult for most people to figure out who’s in charge of the class.

April 24, 2011

He is Risen!

by @ 5:18. Filed under Miscellaneous.

April 23, 2011

Directive 10-289

by @ 13:17. Filed under Business, Defending the American Dream, Economy, Economy Held Hostage, Law and order, Politics - National.

This week, the NLRB filed a complaint against Boeing in an attempt to prevent them from opening an new manufacturing facility in South Carolina.

Boeing is opening the new facility for two reasons.  First, it wants the ability to manufacture its new airliner in a redundant facility giving it greater capacity.  Second, after several contentious years with the Union at it’s Washington State facility, Boeing was looking to find a location to mitigate the Union’s impact on production.  Enter South Carolina.

South Carolina is a right to work state.  Right to work means many things for employees and employers.  Amongst them is that an employee can not be required to join a union and pay union dues as a condition of employment at a particular business i.e. “closed shop.”  The benefits for Boeing are obvious.  The benefits for Boeing are those that any prudent business would seek given the troubled labor history of Boeing’s Washington State facilities.

In what can only be the missing chapter from Atlas Shrugged, the NLRB’s complaint is based solely on Boeing’s desire to mitigate it’s labor challenges:

The NLRB said its investigation found that the company violated two sections of the National Labor Relations Act in 2009 when it picked Charleston International Airport as the site of its second 787 assembly plant rather than expanding its existing factory in Everett.

Specifically, Boeing officials made “coercive statements” to its unionized employees starting in 2009 that the company would shift or had shifted production work away from the Puget Sound area because of labor walkouts, the agency said.

Wow! “coercive statements,” including their desire to move away from labor disputes are the basis for the NLRB complaint! Can anyone possibly imagine that there may have been some “coercive statements” from the union that may have included threats to shut Boeing plants down which the have done on numerous occasions?

With his desire to “spread the wealth around” and now his NLRB agents attempting to dictate business decisions as basic as where they will do business, I’m beginning to believe that Obama doesn’t view “Atlas Shrugged” as fiction but rather as a road map for full implemention of his socialistic desires. Does anyone really believe Obama would not implement an “Equalization of Opportunity” plan or Directive 10-289?

April 13, 2011

Having Balls

by @ 20:05. Filed under Budget Chop, Politics - National.

When running for the 2010 elections, Republicans attempting to harness the Tea Party enthusiasm promised that they would cut $100 B from the budget.  Barely had they gotten elected and the Republicans backed off their $100 B promise and said they could only get something in the $60 B range.  When it came to actually getting an agreement, they managed to hold on to a cut that was advertised as $38 B, but quickly identified as only $14 B.

Now that folks have had a chance to read the actual legislation, it turns out that none of the previously touted numbers are the real reduction that Boehner was able to negotiate.  According to numerous sources, the actual amount of deficit reductions that Speaker, “We are going to cut $100 billion in discretionary spending next week” Boehner managed to get was only $353 Million…MILLION!

When it became apparent last year that the Republicans would retake the house I had conversations with several people who are much more knowledgeable of Republican leadership than I.  I told them my reservations about Boehner becoming speaker and how everything I had seen from him lead me to believe that he was another Washington lifer who would say or do what he needed to to keep his position.  I was told by several of them that Boehner was the “real deal.”  While now living in Kentucky, I agreed to be from Missouri and be shown that Boehner was a conservative.

No more!

I am now on record as saying that Boehner is the embodiment of everything that is wrong with the Republican party.  Boehner is either a charlatan or ignorant.  Regardless of which, he is not worthy of leading a party’s effort that is overwhelmingly made up of a base that desires, no, DEMANDS reductions in government spending.

This continuing resolution needs to be voted down.  Boehner needs to be personally repudiated by any true House conservative for putting them in a position of having to support this sham of an agreement.

I hate Nancy Pelosi.  I despise everything about the woman.  Even with my level of disdain for her I give her props for one thing; she has a set of balls as big as two moons hung side by side.  Nancy has balls and Boehner is a eunuch!

March 13, 2011

Kicking the Can

by @ 21:54. Filed under Budget Chop, Politics - National.

At the federal and state levels, from the east coast to the west coast, in traditionally conservative and even traditionally liberal jurisdictions, the 2010 elections had one message: fix the fiscal problems!  It seems that jurisdictions that saw the biggest shifts in political ideology have taken their mandate on acted on it. 

The State of Wisconsin which ousted long time liberal Senator Russ Feingold and equally liberal Governor Jim Doyle, wasted little time in responding to voter expectations.  Governor Scott Walker and the Republican led Assembly and Senate have delivered budget changes that will benefit taxpayers not only today but into the future.

Michigan, under the new leadership of Governor Rick Snyder, is also taking steps to restore fiscal sanity to a state long led by Democrats who thought that Washington would fund them in perpetuity regardless of the outcome.  If you thought the screaming and ballyhooing in Wisconsin was entertaining, Governor Snyder has a plan that allows the State to take over failing counties and municipalities under emergency decrees.

Yes, there are signs across the country that adults are finally in charge of the checkbook.  Across the country but not in Washington, D.C.

The same “fix the fiscal mess” message that changed leadership in Wisconsin, Michigan and other states elected 6 incremental Senate seats and 63 incremental House seats.  These increases came with an expectation that a host of fiscal issues including defunding Obamacare, reducing the deficit, reigning in government mandates, fixing entitlements etc., etc., etc., would be fixed.

To date, the newly elected Congress, especially the House, has been nothing but a disappointment.  They have provided a show legislation for reversing the Obamacare mandate.  However, they have tacitly or purposely avoided all opportunities to date of defunding the mandate.  This in spite of finding a surprise $105 B implementation mandate in the Obamacare legislation!  With all that we know now, it is hard to understand why every effort and every method is not being used to starve Obamacare of every dollar it needs for implementation and management.

There seems to be no recognition by this Congress of the need to shrink the size of government.  Even though the GAO has issued a report showing massive duplication of authority of government agencies, the elimination of which has been estimated to save $100B annually, the current budget proposals show no desire to address this low hanging fruit of spending reduction.

Perhaps the most disappointing action of the short life of this Congress is their action, or rather, inaction of dealing with a budget. 

As part of their campaign promises, the House Republican leadership comitted to a $100 B spending reduction for the current fiscal year.  However, each time they go to the microphone, that number seems to slip.  At this point, the House budget has $60 B in cuts with concerns being raised that this amount is “draconian.”

Draconian?  Really?  We had a deficit of $222 B in February ALONE and someone has the audacity to think $60 B is a problem?

The House is expected to pass ANOTHER continuing resolution on Tuesday.  The Senate is expected to agree to that resoltution to keep the government running past Thursday.  WHY?

With a $222 B shortfall in February (that’s one single month if you went to Wisconsin public schools) and the House budget fighting to get a reduction of $60 B for the rest of the year, what’s the point?  Even if they got the House plan adopted, should we really be congratulating them and doing high fives?  NO and HELL NO!

Wisconsin, Michigan and other states finally got some adults to deal with their fiscal situations.  Where are the adults we thought we elected to the House and the Senate?  McConnell has been a known RINO and inside the beltway guy.  Second only to Obama, he decides his principals by what he believes the personal political impact to be.  While it’s only been a few months, I’m ready to throw the towel in on Boehner as well.  Rather than force the issue of really addressing a spending reduction, Boenher is allowing Congress to continue to kick the can down the road.  For what?

We have a spending problem in Washington.  We elected men and women to address this spending problem.  Every day we allow the current administration to continue to function without forcing the issue is a day that the American people say “see, you’re no different than the Democrats” and another day that spending continues without abatement.

Like Governors Scott Walker and Rick Snyder, it’s time to address the spending problem head on.  We should have no more continuing resolutions.  Let the government “shut down.” Let’s see who notices.  Let’s have the debate.

February 23, 2011

Just Wonderin’

by @ 20:03. Filed under Budget Chop, Politics - Wisconsin.

Boy, it’s been a week of non stop fun hasn’t it?  Employees have been threatening their employers to the point of physical harm and the President sides with the employees.  Have we gone through the looking glass and I didn’t notice?

The employees have backed down from their “hell no we want mo’…money” to “can’t we compromise?”

So you want to compromise huh?  Well, let’s see….

  • They claim to be fighting for worker’s rights.  Would that include the right to fail?
  • They claim to be fighting to protect teachers’ rights.  What to they think about parents’ rights to educational choices.  Would they support vouchers?
  • They claim to be fighting for a voice for students and schools.  Aren’t they they same group who complain when parents aren’t involved with students and schools?  Don’t parents and taxpayers get a say about the students and schools?
  • They claim that rallies and demonstrations prove support for them.  I can only assume that they believe the passage of Obamacare was an abuse of power based on even larger rallies and demonstrations?

I wouldn’t compromise a lick with this group.  Through their actions they’ve shown that they are either thugs or condone thuggery.  It’s time to put parents and school boards back in charge of education. 

Keep on Governor Walker!

February 21, 2011

It’s Monday

by @ 8:31. Filed under Budget Chop, Miscellaneous, Politics - Wisconsin, Taxes, Tea Party Movement.

Do you know where your State Senator is?

Mike, a reader of NRE, sent me the following aides to assist us in the location and safe return of the Madistan 14. Maybe this could become a collectors series? Get all 14!

February 17, 2011

Who’s That Man in the Black Fedora?

by @ 7:44. Filed under Envirowhackos.

Oh, as an added bonus, an envirowacko gets their own hypocrisy exposed and in turn, their head handed to them!

H/T Redstate.com

February 8, 2011

That Was Then, This is Now

by @ 9:23. Filed under Miscellaneous.

In February, 2009, in an attempt to be the blue collar POTUS, Barack Obama said:

You can’t get corporate jets. You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime

At the time, Obama was in the middle of justifying bailouts for Wall Street and Detroit. Numerous “tin ear” incidents by CEOs such as the infamous private jet transportation of Detroit CEOs to a DC hearing where they were asking for bailouts, had created a level of outrage amongst US taxpayers.

The result of Obama’s comments were to make an already challenging situation for the Las Vegas economy and make it impossible. As companies cancelled existing reservations and avoided new Vegas reservations, unemployment in Vegas grew to a point where it is amongst the worst hit of American cities.

That was so “yesterday!”

CBS Chicago is reporting that at least 14 Chicago public school employees went on an all expenses paid trip to a Las Vegas resort and spa. This while the school district is facing a $700M budget shortfall. Admittedly, the $15,000 spent on the trip won’t be a rounding error in the shortfall. However, the school at which the 14 employees are employed, is the same school that had sex acts being performed in class rooms!

“For the children” is the retort we hear from any teacher’s union when budget reductions are contemplated. I’m hard pressed to figure out how massages whether at a spa in Vegas or in the school classroom, benefit any children!

February 7, 2011

Cause and Effect

by @ 20:48. Filed under Miscellaneous.

A new studyclaims that there is a link between diminished IQs and eating a junk food laden diet.  According to the British study:

Toddlers who have a diet high in processed foods may have a slightly lower IQ in later life

Wow, who’d of thunk it! Have these folks never done the grade school experiment of nutrition using two rats? In case you haven’t seen it, you take two rats. You feed one a healthy, vegetables and water diet and the other, potato chips and Coke diet.

After about two weeks you will see that the rat that is eating healthy food is still healthy. You’ll also see that the rat who has been fed a poor diet is losing hair, has yellow eyes and other notable physical effects of the poor diet. Once placed backed on the good diet, the unhealthy rat returns to health within a couple of weeks.

The study claims that it went to great links to make sure that there were not other contributing factors that could explain the difference in IQ:

“We have controlled for maternal education, for maternal social class, age, whether they live in council housing, life events, anything going wrong, the home environment, with books and use of television and things like that.”

It sure looks like they covered everything, or maybe not:

While it is possible that diets impacted the children’s IQ I think I see one factor that the researchers missed. It doesn’t require Michelle Obama screaming at parents for them to know it isn’t good to feed their children a preponderance of junk food. I’m not so sure the children’s IQ is a result, it may well have been genetic!

February 1, 2011

Speaking of Demon Snow…

by @ 18:57. Filed under Global "Warming".

The second greatest job in the world is to be a media weather forecaster. All you do is spend a few minutes a day getting a forecast from the national weather service and spend a few minutes more repeating that forecast. The best thing about being a media weather forecaster is that you never have to be right. After all, if you’re wrong you just say “Weather can be unpredictable.”

The best job in the world has to be a global warming evangelist. With this job, you don’t have to do any analysis. You just take any weather oddity and explain it as caused by global warming. Doubt me?

Here’s a video of global warming evangelists telling us how the lack of snow is sure proof of global warming:

Oh, and that “Governor” that Amy Klobuchar was referring to is my former Governor Tim Pawlenty. Yes, he was a global warmist which is a key reason why I could never see him as a viable Presidential contender.

And…….here is Al Gore telling us that snomageddon is a sure sign of global warming.

It’s hard to wrong if your central theory is based on change.  Then again, it appears pretty hard to be right as well.

H/T:  Instapundit

January 24, 2011

A Preview

by @ 18:53. Filed under Budget Chop, Politics - National.

Tomorrow evening, President Obama will address a joint session of Congress and present the annual State of the Union Address.  We here at NRE will be joining the festivities and Drunkblog the event live, or as close to “live” as several Tanqueray martinis will allow me to be.

You can watch the SOTU address and determine for yourself, whether Obama has become the centrist that the MSM claims he has been reincarnated as or whether he remains the hard leftist that brought us Placebocare, stimulus and bail outs for all of his leftist friends.

As a public service, NRE brings you the following preview of the SOTU address:

Do you remember the Godzilla movies? Do you remember how the sound tracks were never in sync with the video?

Exactly two weeks prior to the SOTU address, President Obama went to Arizona to address the memorial for those killed in the assassination attempt on Representative Giffords. In that address, Obama lectured us about civility. He did so even though he himself, and those advisers like Rahm Emanuel, who have been closest to him, have rarely had a second thought about using graphic, violent language to describe a political opponent or policy they don’t agree with.

It was as I watched the Arizona address that the visual of the old Godzilla films hit me. Like them, the words that come from Obama’s mouth rarely match the actions of his administration or himself.

Tuesday night you will hear Obama talk about our need for fiscal responsibility. You’ll hear Obama give a nod to things like smart and efficient oversight that is somehow intended to be different than the ever increasing excesses that all administration agencies have lorded over their subjects. You may also hear Obama talk about corporate tax reform but don’t be fooled. Regardless of what you hear from his lips that may have you saying “Clintonesque,” ignore it. There is no “center” or “movement to the center” with Obama.

The Godzilla movies were fairly formulaic: monster arrives, monster destroys everything in sight, monster is subdued by a resilient people. Our national Godzilla movie has seen the first two acts. Will we see the resilient people subdue Godzilla?

Revisions/extensions (6:54 am 1/25/2011, steveegg) - I’m just adding a little reminder widget from Cover It Live so you guys will know where to head tonight.

January 10, 2011

Can’t We Do With One Less?

by @ 20:22. Filed under Politics - National.

I think it goes without saying that the events of this weekend were tragic.  Steve and Kevin have done a good job of laying out some of the double speak and self service that some on the left have used the events of this weekend for.  There is however, one reactive action that NRE hasn’t covered.

Rep. Bob Brady (D-PA) has introduced a bill that would criminalize the use of “threatening imagery” against lawmakers and judges. Rep. Brady is reacting to Sarah Palin’s website that had a cross hair shown over certain jurisdictions which had incumbent Democrat representatives that could be targeted for defeat.

Certainly, it is easy to agree that no one cares to see physical harm come to any elected official, regardless of their party affiliation. However, a move to ban “threatening imagery,” especially against politicians seems to allow entirely too much latitude for courts to interpret. After all, as you may have heard in last week’s reading of the Constitution, the First Amendment states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech…

A couple of things to note about that amendment. First, the free speech issue was not geared towards our day to day speech as to whether we liked or disliked Oprah’s latest guest. The free speech reference was geared specifically towards political free speech. The Founder’s wanted the public to be able to express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their government. The latter was particularly important as one of the checks against a run away, out of touch, political elite.

The second thing to note is that the amendment doesn’t say “Congress can make some laws…” or “Congress can’t completely eliminate free speech.” No, it says “Congress shall make no laws.” Zero, zilch, nada, none.

Imagery, especially political imagery, should be jealously guarded. Like hate crime legislation, treading into what imagery is “right” or “wrong” requires the enforcer to know the mind of the “artist” and that just isn’t possible.

“War,” “Battle” and “Target” wording and imagery have been a part of political campaigns and imagery since before the nation was founded. If enacted, which of these images would the legislation limit?

The first known US political editorial cartoon?

This editorial at the start of the Civil War?

Or this editorial of President Bush?

I guess when you consider all the amendments we have to the Constitution we should be able to get by with at least one, or part of one less!

January 5, 2011

Was That a Tingle I Just Felt?

by @ 7:05. Filed under Health Care Reform, Politics - National.

On Monday, Harry Reid and some of his bestest Senate comrades, sent a letter to new House Speaker John Boehner.  In it, they warned him against proceeding with any action that would attempt to repeal Placebocare.  Shortly thereafter, it was announced that the House will vote January 12th, on a bill to repeal Placebocare in its entirety.

An aside:

I have had strong reservations about Boehner.  What I have seen from him in the past has me concerned that he talks a tough game but that in the end, he works the “let’s all get along” deals that move this country on a continual path left.  That said, while I live in Kentucky now, call me from Missouri.  I’m willing to give Boehner the benefit of the doubt and see where his actions lead.  Along with “from Missouri”, I guess you could say I’ll be “doing the Reagan” as I trust but verify.

Yesterday, in response to Harry Reid’s letter to him, Boehner sent the following response:

Senators Reid, Durbin, Schumer, Murray and Stabenow:

Thank you for reminding us – and the American people – of the backroom deal that you struck behind closed doors with ‘Big Pharma,’ resulting in bigger profits for the drug companies, and higher prescription drug costs for 33 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D, at a cost to the taxpayers of $42.6 billion.

The House is going to pass legislation to repeal that now. You’re welcome.

- Speaker-Designate John Boehner’s Press Office

I’m not the type that has physical responses to events but, I could have sworn I just had a tingle run up my leg!

January 4, 2011

My Old Kentucky Home – No More!

by @ 21:10. Filed under Immigration, Politics - Kentucky.

As many of you know, after spending my entire life in Minnesota, (except for the year that all Minnesotans are required to spend in Iowa for penance) Mrs. Shoe, the Things and I loaded up the Beverly Hillbillies truck and moved to Kentucky.  As attuned to Minnesota politics as I had become, I am nearly as untuned to the political scene in Kentucky.

Reading a few web news stories I came across this from my own new backyard:

Ky. Republicans file immigration bill as promised

Kentucky Republicans are attempting to pass an immigration enforcement law ala Arizona. The Kentucky version would allow law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants for trespassing if they are found on
“any public or private land in this state.” As the article notes, that should cover all property in Kentucky. Even though the Democrats here tend to be of the blue dog variety, I’m not placing a lot of money on the final passage of this bill given the Senate (where the bill was introduced) is controlled by the Republicans and the House is controlled by the Democrats.

Regardless of whether the bill passes, I find some of the comments and arguments against the bill illuminating.

The local representative of the Catholic Church, similar to how this issue is handled everywhere by the Catholic Church says this about the bill:

“It’s much broader and much more harmful than the Arizona law,” said the Rev. Patrick Delahanty, head of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, which is opposing the bill. “This bill does nothing but turn people who are generally hard-working and law-abiding into criminals and drains resources from local governments and police departments that ought to be put into protecting citizens from serious criminals.”

(emphasis mine)

Um, Rev. Patrick, doesn’t the fact that they broke they law to get here and continue to break the law to stay here, fly in the face of your assertion that they are “generally…law-abiding?” Haven’t they turned themselves into criminals but not following our immigration laws?

The good Reverend goes on to display his ignorance of all things not theological with his follow up statement:

Delahanty said Republicans are trying to solve a problem with illegal immigrants that doesn’t exist in Kentucky. The Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center estimated last year that Kentucky has about 30,000 illegal immigrants.

I wonder at what level Reverend Delahanty believes the law should be enforced. Should one person speeding be OK but two not? How about drunk drivers? Vandalism; how much should be OK?

More and more I see Catholics at least talking about (I can’t say I’ve actually heard that Pelosi and others have been denied Communion) not conveying Communion to a Communicant who lives in unrepentant sin. I can only assume that Reverend Delahnty follows the Catholic Church in this regard. Isn’t it ironic that when dealing with issues of eternal life the Reverend likely believes that unrepentant sin has consequences but in our momentary, earthly life it shouldn’t?

Budget Chop – Oil and Gas Management

by @ 20:10. Filed under Budget Chop, Energy, Politics - National.

I’ve already highlighted the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for the need of a budget reduction.  My argument at the time was that if they didn’t want to issue any permits for drilling, there wasn’t need for more than one person to be able to answer the phone and say “NO!”

In one of the first acts of the new year, the Obama administration announced that they would now allow 13 companies to resume their deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.  While this doesn’t mean that they will be issuing new permits, I take this as a sign that the Administration is concerned that my suggestions are sure to be implemented.

It’s becoming clearer and clearer that despite Obama’s rhetoric about job creation, there is no desire to create jobs in the oil and gas industry.  The Energy Information Administration now projects that offshore energy production will be nearly 20% below what they had predicted for the year.  That shortfall translates into thousands of lost jobs and the wages associated with them.  Not only does the Administration’s war on fossil fuels cause lost jobs, it also causes lost revenues.

According to this spreadsheet (I’ve verified them to the reported revenue) in FY 2008, the Federal Treasury received over $22 Billion in revenue from all oil and gas leasing activity.  in FY 2009, that number dropped to to under $9 Billion and in FY 2010 it was about $8 Billion. Now admittedly, there was approximately $10 Billion of “bonuses” received in 2008 which inflates that number a bit. However, even when adjusting for that, revenue to the treasury for oil and gas leasing has dropped by 33% in just two years.

Let’s recap:  No new leasing, more drilling area restrictions, lost jobs and wages….Oh, that’s not so bad…..

Former executive predicts gas to hit $5 by 2012

January 3, 2011

The Budget Chop – Federal Headcount

by @ 10:36. Filed under Budget Chop, Politics - National.

I have a riddle for you:

Q.  What do Russia and Cuba have that the United States doesn’t?

No, it’s not a massive federal deficit; they each have that.

No, it’s not a hard core leftist as the leader;they each have that.

Nope, it’s not a government that is more interested in itself than it’s citizens; they each have that.

The correct answer is: Federal employment that is being reduced.

After announcing earlier that they would be reducing the size of their federal government employment, Russian President Medvedev signed a decree  that will reduce the number of people employed by the Russian government by 20% over the next few years.

The civilian federal employment jumped over 10% from 2008 to 2010 and that is after subtracting the temporary census workers.  2011 is slated to grow that number by another 3.5%.  So federal employment has grown by double digit percentages will private employment has decreased by millions.

An area for the new GOP House to focus on for balancing the budget is the number of people employed by the federal government. 

Senator Orrin Hatch introduced a bill last year, that would have reduced federal employment to 2008 levels.  According to Hatch, this would be a reduction of 20% although I don’t think his math is quite right as he’s including the temporary census workers.  Not surprisingly, Senator Hatch’s bill went no where. 

Fewer federal employees would be good for at least three reasons:

1.  Fewer employees means fewer dollars spent today.

2.  Fewer employees should be coupled with privatizing more of the things that the federal government does but doesn’t need to do.

3.  Fewer employees means fewer dollars spent tomorrow in the way of pensions and other retirement benefits.

The next few weeks will be interesting to watch.  By the end of January, we should know whether the message of reducing spending, has been received by Congress.  I know the message hasn’t been received by President Obama but we’ll cross one bridge at a time.

January 2, 2011

If Only Kathleen Sebelius Were Still Here

by @ 16:06. Filed under Miscellaneous.

Four nursing students have reportedly been expelled from a community college nursing program for having a picture of themselves with a placenta placed on Facebook. Details as to whether the girls got specific or implicit approval to take the photo are murky. Regardless, upon finding out about the posting of the photo, the college responded with a “We are not amused,” and expelled the students.

What’s ironic about this story is that it occurred in Kansas. For those who may not remember, Kathleen Sebelius is from Kansas. In fact, Kathleen Sebelius was Governor of Kansas during the time when the notorious Dr. Tiller carried on late term abortions as frequently as President Obama says “let me be clear!”

While Governor, Sebelius vetoed a bill that specifically targeted Tiller’s activities. The bill would have required details to be reported to the state on each late term abortion. The bill was important as Tiller was alleged to be performing abortions on underage and situations of coerced abortions. As I think about it now, isn’t it ironic that Sebelius thought reporting of late term abortions was improper but now wants reporting on all of our health issues sent to the federal government.

While I agree it was classless, I have a hard time agreeing that explusion is the appropriate response for the student’s behavior. I mean, it’s not like they got it by performing an abortion or something!

If “classlessness” were grounds for expulsion, I would have never graduated from Whats-a-matta U. Perhaps the students can be re-enrolled under probation. Unfortunately for them, Kathleen Sebelius has left Kansas. If not, they would have likely received a hearty congratulations and not expulsion!

Pardon The Interruption…

by @ 12:11. Filed under Politics - National.

I know you’re all enjoying the daily dole of the NRE awards.  Steve, I and others worked hard last week on those so that we could take a little time off over this weekend.  Of course, I could only use that excuse if I actually wrote on a regular basis…but that’s a separate issue.

I’m seeing a bunch of stuff flying around the internet about the RNC chair race.  The “stuff” mostly surrounds Reince Priebus and issues about his law firm and whether they make him a RINO and therefore unfit to serve as RNC chair.

Let me first provide full disclosure:

1.  I think Michael Steele has been the worst chair in some time.  I don’t believe he is a conservative by any definition.  I do suspect he is a closet racist or at the least, carries a huge chip on his shoulder regarding the color his skin happens to be.

2.  While I blog here at NRE, I’m not a Wisconsinite.  I’m from Minnesota Kentucky and am not a homer on this one.

3.  I don’t know, or have even heard of Reince Preibus prior to a couple of weeks ago.  I have no idea what he is about personally.  Heck, I don’t even know how to pronounce his name!

Two issues have been raised against Mr. Preibus, suggesting that these make him unfit for chair:

1.  That his law firm has taken the position that Placebocare is constitutional.

2.  That he personally, and his law firm generally, solicited clients to assist with securing various funding from the stimulus bill.

As to the first issue.  Let’s assume his firm has taken the position that Placebocare is constitutional.  Preibus’ firm has over 200 attorneys.  A firm of that size is not going to serve clients with a singular political ideology,  In fact, it would not be uncommon for that firm to have argued both sides of the same argument in different cases with different attorneys.

Some have argued that because Preibus is a “partner,” that he is involved with determining what cases are taken and must concur with the firm’s stance with regard to Placebocare being constitutional.  I cruised the firm’s website and noted that Preibus is NOT on the management committee.  While he certainly would have latitude in determining cases he was involved with, I can’t see anything on the surface that would suggest he is dictating the firm’s direction.

As I look at the firm’s website, I note that they do patent work for green technologies.  I assume that this would disqualify Preibus also because all green technologies are bad?  Oh, even worse, they have on their site that they have achieved “Green Master Status!”  Well, we know this is just code for being a lefty sympathizer!

Folks, I’ve worked for some companies that were pretty liberal in their ideologies (AT&T and domestic partner rights anyone?).  There was nothing about those engagements that made me a RINO.  Heck, there were a number of folks who moved further right in their beliefs as I worked along side them.  My point is that where a person works and what that company believes does not have to be a reflection of the individual’s belief.

The second issue is even more ludicrous.  Again, let’s assume that Preibus did solicit clients to secure stimulus funds?  So what? 

Mrs. Shoe and I tithe.  While we don’t believe the Bible dictates that we do so, we do believe it to be an appropriate way to recognize that what we have received is a gift from God.  Our tithing and our other charitable contributions, have nothing to do with the fact that we are able to deduct these contributions on our income taxes.  In fact, I prefer a flat tax where no deductions are granted. Would the people who suggest that Preibus shouldn’t solicit work for a legal government program call me a hypocrite for taking a charitable deduction on my taxes?

There is a difference between working within the law to find economic advantages for yourself or your company and advocating for the policy in the first place.  I have no problem with Preibus helping his clients get government money, no different than I have no problem with people taking every legal tax advantage they can; it’s the law.  I would have a problem if Preibus had been lobbying for the passage of the stimulus bill but I don’t see any evidence of that.

In short, I don’t know if Preibus is the right person or not for the RNC chair.  As I said, I don’t know anything about the man’s abilities or ideologies.  The problem is that most of the people making the above accusations about Preibus are in the same boat as I am regarding his abilities and true ideologies.  Unfortunately, that’s not slowing them down.  I wonder why? 

What I do know about Preibus is that he is the GOP chair in Wisconsin.  I also know that Wisconsin just evicted one of the furthest left Senators from the Senate.  Wisconsin also elected a Republican Governor and made substantial GOP strides in both of the State’s legislative bodies.  Of course, it is possible that like his law firm’s support of Placebocare, there is no correlation between Preibus’ involvement and the election results in WI.  If I were looking to vote, I’d want to get the facts on both of those issues. 

The case against Preibus seems to be built on second hand or circumstantial versus first hand knowledge.  Why do you suppose that is?  Is it possible that inuendo rather than truth, better fits the accuser’s agenda?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled NRE awards!

December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas

by @ 5:39. Filed under Miscellaneous.

John 1
The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

I love John’s description of the coming of Christ.

The word “word,” gets roughly translated as “breath” meaning the being or essence of ones being. Read back through this passage using “breath” or “essence” in the place of “Word.” Note how John lays out how personal, how it was from His core that Jesus came for us. A rewrite of the 14th verse might be:

“God’s essence, God’s being, became flesh and dwelt among us.”

May God’s essence, God’s being be the focus of your joy this Christmas!

In Christ,
Shoebox

December 23, 2010

Budget Chop – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

by @ 9:58. Filed under Budget Chop, Economy Held Hostage, Energy, Politics - National.

During his 2010 victory lap yesterday, President Obama laid out his priority for 2011:

Asked about the often-used car in the ditch analogy, Obama said that the “car [the economy in the analogy] is on level ground.” He spoke about a new direction for the government’s economic focus: “We now have to pivot and focus on jobs and growth,” and education, innovation, and R & D.

While Obama’s lips may be saying “yes, yes,” his double crossed fingers are saying, “no, no!”

Gulf oil drilling jobs continue to be decimated as Obama via the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, works to interfere with, delay or halt altogether, permits for drilling. Most people are aware that Obama has denied an expansion of drilling areas and has delayed permits for new deep water rigs. What folks aren’t aware of is that even in areas where drilling is allowed, even in shallow water, the Bureau has implemented a plan that some would interpret as down right hostile towards all drilling efforts.

While you might think the Bureau is taking time advancing permits to ensure that safety comes first, they’re not. They are doing mostly what bureaucracies do, create process for no end result benefit:

Yet regulators have tightened processes so much that permit applications are being returned six and seven times for more information, says Randall Stilley, Seahawk’s chief exec­utive. One operator con­fided its last rejection was because the application contained two font sizes, he said.

(emphasis mine)

I’m a big believer in pay for performance i.e. if you perform well, you get paid more. I think we should use this type of approach to government agencies. Going forward, I would propose that Congress cut the budget for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. After all, how many people should it take to just say “no” to every inquiry of permitting for an ocean drilling rig?

December 20, 2010

The Budget Chop

by @ 19:45. Filed under Budget Chop, Economy Held Hostage, Politics - National.

Reports are circulating that Republicans and someone on the Democrat side (who is in charge there anymore?) have agreed to a clean continuing resolution bill that will extend the current budget levels into sometime in the first quarter of 2011.  All in all, that’s probably good news.  I don’t trust the current set of Republicans to actually have a spine and argue with any Democrats over budget levels.  I certainly don’t have any hope that the current bunch could actually cut the budget.  I lay all of my hopes on the incoming freshman class.  I hope I’m not disappointed.

However, I don’t think it’s fair to toss these freshmen to the wolves.  

As part or our ongoing public service efforts to provide clear, conservative thinking, we here at NRE have decided to start providing crib notes for the freshmen class on where, what and how to cut the federal budget.  This post is the first in the series.

Janet Napolitano announced today that the Department of Homeland Security, along with it being ever vigilant in finding new ways to amuse terrorists and piss off non Muslim air travelers, is taking on a new task.  DHS is making contingency plans in the event that climate change impacts domestic security.  Under the banner of “evironmental justice,” Napolitano has DHS making plans of what to do if oceans rise, glaciers melt or some change in weather occurs. 

As if it wasn’t bad enough that Napolitano wasted DHS time on this nonsense, she also included other executive staff. White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Attorney General Eric Holder, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius were all included as speakers for the event.

Hey Freshmen, if Napolitano has enough people with enough time to worry about such things as “evironmental justice,” regardless of what the real focus is, she has too many people with too much time in her budget! DHS should be the first agency to experience significant budget cuts!

As I said, we’ll be pointing out budget chop items as we find them. My plan is to get a neato graphic that can be added to highlight the budget chop posts. I don’t have it yet. In the meantime, let’s see if this sets the mood:

December 16, 2010

Musings

by @ 19:15. Filed under Miscellaneous.

I haven’t got time for a fully thought through post but here are a few random shots:

  • When will Boehner or McConnell step up to a mic and say, “Read my lips, no new spending!”

 

  • Congress has become nothing more for a social club.  Elected members worry more about what other members think than standing for their own principles.  Each incoming congressional freshman should put a sign on their office door that says, “If you are here to convince me of your position on an issue, please know that I am not here to satisfy your social needs, I am here to hold to my principles on behalf of those I represent.”

 

  • The 111th Congress is dead, it just doesn’t know it.  Where are those death panels when you need them?

 

  • While not scientific, I spoke with several recruitment/temporary agencies in the mid Ohio valley this week.  The consensus is that things are improving…slightly, but improving.  They typically see a lull from Thanksgiving until after the first of the year.  This year, their activity is picking up over the holidays.

December 13, 2010

It’s For the Children’s…..Security

by @ 21:05. Filed under Miscellaneous.

Today, Michelle Obama got her wish and the nanny state expanded.  Congress passed the “Healthy- Hunger free kids act.”  For $4.5 billion we now get an extra $.06 of support for school lunches and federal government support for an after school meal.  Oh, but you also get mandates for school gardens, no doubt to grow arugula, and to “buy local!”  What a waste!

In her comments today, Michelle actually referenced comments from some military folks who attempted to tie obese kids to a military readiness issue.  I wonder if Michelle will be equally concerned about making sure that all school kids get gun training?

In honor of Michelle’s on going quest to ensure that we all eat only what she tells us to, I have penned a song.

To be sung to the tune of the Beatles “Michelle”
Michelle, cow bell
These are words that go together well
Large Michelle

Michelle, cow bell
Can’t we keep our fast food that is swell
Large Michelle?

I love it, I love it, I love it
That’s all I want to say
I wish you’d go away
And leave my food choice up to me and
Not Uncle Sam.

Michelle, cow bell
I’m sure you love French ‘cause they do what
Ever their told

I need to, I need to, I need to.
I need to make you see
Oh what fries mean to me.
Until I do I’m hoping you will
Quit dogging me.

I love food….

I want more, I want more, I want more.
I think you know by now
I’ll get to food somehow
No chide from you will shrink my waist so
Nag on Barack.

Michelle, cow bell
French toast, French bread, French fries, French croissant
All foods that you loathe

Don’t touch any of the food I love
Or you’ll lose your hand, my Michelle.

In case you need a little help with the tune:

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