I post articles because I think they are of interest. Doing so doesn’t mean that I necessarily agree (or disagree) with every—or any—opinion in the posted article. Help your friends and relatives stay informed by passing the digest on.
Blog Removed.
If you log on to the Old Jarhead blog and get this notice, please check back. From time to time, Google’s Spam Filter pulls my blog. They restore it when I appeal, but they don’t seem to have the technical ability to fix the problem. I hate to move to another platform with page views running to 10k a week and over 1,150 followers here.
Resources
For those who want further information about the topics covered in this blog, I recommend the following sites. I will add to this as I find additional good sources.
Occupy Harvard Yard
Good cartoon.
Scum: Occupying St. Paul
Excerpt: British history has been punctuated by stories of turbulent priests more often than by stories of recalcitrant congregations. As Thomas à Becket discovered to his detriment, it is usually the clergy — and not their flock — who find themselves in danger of being ousted. As of October 16, London ’s famous St. Paul London St. Paul ’s even took the unusual step of instructing London St. Paul Atlantic . (You cannot be nice and kind to people with a socialist's respect for property and human rights. they will destroy you, smug in their self-righteousness, believing whatever their “cause” of the moment, it gives them the right to trample others. ~Bob.)
Morici: Obama Mortgage Plan to Spark Credit Crisis
Excerpt: President Barack Obama's plan to allow homeowners owing more than their houses are worth to refinance will create a credit crisis down the road, says Peter Morici, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Business and former chief economist at the U.S. International Trade Commission.
Obama’s Misplaced
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/281118/obama-s-misplaced-mideast-optimism-daniel-pipes
Excerpt: Confidently commenting on the execution of Libya U.S. troops from Iraq in two months’ time, Obama asserted that “in Iraq
But the Middle East teaches caution; much will probably go wrong in Libya and Iraq
State Department Buys $70K Worth Of Obama Books
Excerpt: The U.S. Department of State has bought more than $70,000 worth of books authored by President Obama, sending out copies as Christmas gratuities and stocking “key libraries” around the world with “Dreams from My Father” more than a decade after its release. The U.S. embassy in Egypt American Republic Chicago
Excerpt: Elizabeth Warren is running for office in the most high-profile race in the country not involving Barack Obama. It’s a position that calls for some tact. So what does she think about the Occupy Wall Street protests that are roiling the country? “I created much of the intellectual foundation for what they do,” she says. “I support what they do.” Warren ’s boast isn’t bluster: (…) No one else has Warren Warren Warren likely didn’t calm those fears by attending a fundraiser hosted by George Soros—the billionaire bogeyman of the right—in Manhattan Warren Rhode Island Rhode Island Warren Chicago Warren
Occupy San Diego
Excerpt: I wonder if the Occupy San Diego nutters will come out and claim that this person who used the American flag as a chew toy for his cute dog will claim that this doesn’t “represent” their views. I love dogs, and don’t blame the cute dog in this video, just the nut job “Occupier.” I saw this video over at Gateway Pundit, and can’t say I was surprised. The individual who uploaded this to Youtube was quite proud of the doggie’s new chew toy. He wrote: This is one of the best uses for a U.S.
About that ‘Great Stagnation’ for the median American
Excerpt: Jim Sullivan of Notre Dame and and Bruce Meyer of the University of Chicago just gave a terrific presentation about what has happened to the material well-being of the poor and middle class in the United States over the last three decades. Contrary to much received wisdom, the poor and middle class are significantly better off today. This slide is but one example from their presentation. (Nah, have to be worse off to justify more government programs, taxes, spending and employees. ~Bob.)
It’s libel – except when Mike does it
Excerpt: Mann insisted that Dr. Ball’s little joke was libelous and took him to court. Mann’s legal principal seems to be that libel is fine only when he and Hansen practice the craft, albeit with far less good humor than others display. More importantly, Dr. Ball does not live or work in the United States US Canada Canada Canada
European leaders head for financial summit with no solution in sight
Excerpt: German Chancellor Angela Merkel told her parliament ahead of a key vote on Wednesday that deep changes must be made to Europe ’s economy if the euro is to hold together as currency. But she offered few concrete details about the steps she will take to protect it. The lingering uncertainty underlines the likelihood that a major summit planned in Brussels Europe ’s fiscal solutions, like ours, are now very painful and politicians don’t get elected inflicting pain. Hold on to your IRAs—here we go again. ~Bob.)
Obama: From hope and change to change and hope for the best
Excerpt: President Obama’s campaign has gone from hope and change to change and hope. He wants to change the conversation to what the Republicans are saying and hope voters find him to be the lesser of two evils. David Axelrod and Obama’s Chicago
Obama decision to send troops to Uganda
Excerpt: President Obama’s decision to send 100 troops to Uganda is coming under new scrutiny now that soldiers are on their way to Africa . Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle at a Tuesday hearing questioned the decision, with some suggesting it could draw the United Statesss into a long conflict.
In the Wake of the Bubble
Excerpt: Plenty of consumers around the world seem content to ignore a prevalent fact: though the financial collapse of 2008 is over, the fallout has not concluded. Even now, the largest players in the financial crisis continue to negotiate as the world's most notable economists, politicians and businessmen and women seek new solutions. Yet their strategies and public pronouncements ignore the lessons of Pollock's Law of Finance: loans that cannot be paid will not be paid. Through this lens, it becomes clear that current negotiations do not revolve around eliminating the baggage of the financial crisis, but rather passing off its burden to other actors. The losers in this situation, as is so often the case, are the taxpayers, says Alex J. Pollock, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Depositors in highly liquid holdings such as savings accounts and certificates of deposit, though ostensibly protected by the financial system, are actually among its current victims. Depositors benefit from an unmatched degree of security through federal deposit insurance, which offers a government-backed guarantee their savings. However, despite this notable benefit, depositors are among the greatest losers in the realm of public policy. The Federal Reserve Bank has pegged interest rates at near-zero levels in order to stimulate investment and encourage business expansion. However, this only allows businesses to prosper at the expense of consumers (particularly the retired), who are not receiving the rate of return on their savings that they expected. In a similar way, borrowers of fixed-rate, 30-year mortgages are also being made losers by current public policy. Though fixed-rate mortgages have been touted as a financing breakthrough that protects consumers from upward inflationary pressures, this view is myopic. In truth, the net benefit changes based on the economic climate. And in the current economic climate, fixed-rate mortgages have locked borrowers into rates that are no longer dictated by the market and payment levels that are leaving them underwater. The final loser of the economic crisis, though not made so by public policy, are economists and national planners. Though their knowledge of and power to manipulate the national economy has often been claimed, their ineptitude in alleviating the effects of the current crisis suggests otherwise. (Pollock’s Law applies to government debt as well. ~Bob.)
College Has Been Oversold
Excerpt: Over the past 25 years the total number of students in college has increased by about 50%. But the number of students graduating with degrees in science, technology, engineering and math (the so-called STEM fields) has been flat. Moreover, many of today's STEM graduates are foreign-born and taking their knowledge and skills back to their native countries. Consider computer technology. In 2009 the U.S. United States
Islam makes inroads through U.S.
Excerpt: Among the cases cited was one from New Jersey Morocco and both resided in New Jersey New Jersey New Jersey appellate court stated that the trial court erroneously allowed the husband's religious beliefs to excuse him from New Jersey America
Excerpt: Three items in the recent news reveal a great deal about what is wrong with the labor market: Employers are hiring temporary workers, not permanent workers: Since 2007 there has been a net loss of 9.8 million full-time jobs, but a gain of 2.3 million part time jobs. Wal-Mart will no longer provide health insurance for part-time workers: None for those who work less than 24 hours a week and no dependent coverage for those who work from 24 to 33 hours a week. The federal government is cracking down on independent contract work: “20 to 35 percent of all employers have mistakenly or intentionally classified people as independent contractors when they really should be on staff.” If none of this sounds strange to you it’s only because you have been living for so long with labor market regulation that you have probably never bothered to ask what the world would look like without it. So let’s stop and imagine. In a free labor market:
Stupidity on Parade by Colonel Donald J. Myers USMC (Ret)
Excerpt: The latest demonstrations are being embraced by the left as an example of the true feelings on the population. In many cases, they are being portrayed as the Tea Party of the left. If I recall, the Tea Party held demonstrations on weekends when working people could assemble and not lose time from their jobs. They had a specific message about limited government, lower taxes, and fewer regulations. When the demonstrations were over, they policed up the area. The current demonstrations much like other demonstrations from the left leave the areas in total disarray and require taxpayers to fund the bill to clean them up. There are messages, but they are confusing since just about every leftist group participates. (Col. Myers is the author of the excellent book, Leadership Defined. ~Bob.)
Justice Dept. proposes lying, hiding existence of records under new FOIA rule
Excerpt: A proposed revision to Freedom of Information Act rules would allow federal agencies to lie to citizens and reporters seeking certain records, telling them the records don’t exist. The Justice Department has proposed the change as part of a large revision of FOIA rules for federal agencies. Specifically, the rule would direct government agencies who are denying a request under an established FOIA exemption to “respond to the request as if the excluded records did not exist,” rather than citing the relevant exemption. The proposed rule has alarmed government transparency advocates across the political spectrum, who’ve called it “Orwellian” and say it will “twist” public access to government. The draft FOIA revisions were first published in March, but the Justice Department re-opened comment submissions in September after several open-government groups raised objections. (…) Upon taking office, President Obama released a memorandum declaring his administration was “committed to operating with an unprecedented level of openness. Specifically, he pledged to bolster the strength of the FOIA act, calling it “the most prominent expression of a profound national commitment to ensuring an open government.” (No doubt the administration is shocked by the level of criticism it’s getting over this proposal. After all, it worked for the FCC who just want to ensure fair and equal access to the internet by regulating its content. It has worked for the NLRB who just want to protect worker’s rights by voiding their right to a secret ballot to unionize or not. No, it appears we can’t trust them about anything. Fortunately, the courts will have a say in this, too. Ron P.)
Newt and the Next-in-Line Problem by Steve McCann
Excerpt: The Republican presidential nominating process must break out of its "next-in-line" syndrome. The party establishment, unable to comprehend the depth of voter angst, the desire for genuine change, and the true extent of America's current dire predicament, is still stuck in that rut as it continues its unenthusiastic but overt support for Mitt Romney, the current "next-in-line" candidate. This is not the United States
Profits Are for People by Walter E. Williams
Excerpt: The Occupy Wall Street demonstrators are demanding "people before profits" -- as if profit motivation were the source of mankind's troubles -- when it's often the absence of profit motivation that's the true villain. First, let's get both the definition and magnitude of profits out of the way. Profits represent the residual claim earned by entrepreneurs. They're what are left after other production costs -- such as wages, rent and interest -- have been paid. Profits are the payment for risk taking, innovation and decision-making. As such, they are a cost of business just as are wages, rent and interest. If those payments are not made, labor, land and capital will not offer their services. Similarly, if profit is not paid, entrepreneurs won't offer theirs. Historically, corporate profits range between 5 and 8 cents of each dollar, and wages range between 50 and 60 cents of each dollar. Far more important than simple statistics about the magnitude of profits is the role played by profits, namely that of forcing producers to cater to the wants and desires of the common man. When's the last time we've heard widespread complaints about our clothing stores, supermarkets, computer stores or appliance stores? We are far likelier to hear people complaining about services they receive from the post office, motor vehicle and police departments, boards of education and other government agencies. The fundamental difference between the areas of general satisfaction and dissatisfaction is the pursuit of profits is present in one and not the other.
Greek Pensions Insolvent by Mike Shedlock
Excerpt: I am attempting to figure out just how deep in the hole Greek pension plans are. I have not had any luck finding plans or asset holdings but there are a few things we know and some assumptions we can make. One of the things we do know is that Greek pension plans are one of the largest holders of Greek bonds. For the sake of argument, let's assume a 60% haircut on the value of those bonds although I believe that haircut will increase over time. The critical question is what percentage the pension plans hold Greek bonds, other sovereign bonds, Greek equities, and other equities. (Think of Greece
Saudi cleric offers $100,000 to anyone who kidnaps Israeli soldiers
Excerpt: In 2004, Awad al-Qarni was one of 26 Islamic scholars who signed a statement encouraging jihadist attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq
Again! Americans gagged from talking about this
Excerpt: For the second time in less than a week, a major U.S. hotel has canceled an agreement to host an event on radical Islam's threat to America Denver
The Libyan Rebels’ Massacre by Arnold Ahlert
Excerpt: Barack Obama and his supporters are no doubt hoping the lion’s share of the credit for the deposing and killing of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi will go to the president, who himself expressed praise for the rebels back in September. “Today, the Libyan people are writing a new chapter in the life of their nation. After four decades of darkness, they can walk the streets, free from a tyrant,” Mr. Obama said at the time. They are indeed free from a tyrant. Whether they are free from tyranny is another matter. The final days of the fighting in and around the city of Sirte resulted in a massacre, with 53 people methodically executed at a hotel — apparently by a faction of the same rebels who have assumed control of the country. “We found 53 decomposing bodies, apparently Gaddafi supporters, at an abandoned hotel in Sirte, and some had their hands bound behind their backs when they were shot,” said Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director at Human Rights Watch (HRW). “This requires the immediate attention of the Libyan authorities to investigate what happened and hold accountable those responsible.” The Libyan authority at the moment is the National Transitional Council (NTC) chaired by Mustafa Abdel-Jalil, and the likelihood of a competent investigation taking place is slim: on Monday volunteers were busy scrubbing the garden of the Mahari Hotel, where the alleged atrocity appears to have taken place.
The Anti-Semites of Occupy Wall Street
Excerpt: There is a disturbing undercurrent to the current Occupy Wall Street movement. It isn’t merely its passionate denunciations of capitalism and excuses for corporatism. It isn’t merely its perverse love for a president who has received more Wall Street money than any candidate in American history, and its hatred for Wall Street itself. It’s anti-Semitism. Even as President Obama comes out in support of
Occupy Wall StreetNew York
Occupy Wall Street
49% Waste: IG slams Hawaii
It ain’t cheap, being Green. Why did they have these projects? PC pressure from the Greenie above. ~Bob. Excerpt: A damning report by the Inspector General of the US Department of Defense hits wasteful spending on solar energy projects on board Navy and Marine bases in Hawaii and California
Occupy Toronto
Now, before you point, er, fingers, remember all the toe-sniffers at the Tea Party Rallies!. Yeah, me neither. ~Bob. Excerpt: A man is arrested at Occupy Toronto after allegedly smelling a woman's feet and trying to get other protesters to drink urine.
Quote from The Patriot Post
"Wall Street protesters reported that thieves are stealing their cellphones and iPads and laptops and cash as they sit in the park. It was a lesson for the young protesters to learn. They were all for social justice until somebody poorer than them wanted their stuff." --comedian Argus Hamilton
The Serious Risks of the Russian Reset
Excerpt: President Obama may believe that America ’s “reset” policy with Russia United States Washington America put it all on the line by cutting U.S. strategic nuclear forces and engaging in missile defense talks with Russia , in addition to abandoning missile defense deployment in Poland and the Czech Republic and keeping quiet about political freedom violations running rampant throughout Russia America
State-sponsored lawsuits are trial bar's new cash cow
Excerpt: America
A most dubious declaration
Excerpt: Back in the 1960s, during the heated national debate over the Vietnam War, Sen. George Aiken of Vermont suggested that Washington Iraq Vietnam Hanoi Iraq Washington and Baghdad
Euro plunges on reported crisis talk deadlock
Excerpt: The euro is plunging against other currencies after European leaders and banks appeared deadlocked over how much of Greece Brussels Wednesday about efforts to prop up banks, bail out Greece Greece
Time to Cut off NPR
Excerpt: In an era of trillion-dollar deficits, how much longer are we going to pretend that it is an essential function of government to prop up the wholly unnecessary NPR to spew on the air the same warmed-over '60s bilge the OWS rabble spews on the streets? It's time for Congress to cut the umbilical cord and stop bankrolling this rogue political operation. (…) The former NPR news boss Ellen Weiss -- the one that hastily fired Juan Williams for his Fox News appearances -- had a husband who served on President Obama's advisory council on faith-based issues. The notion that NPR is attached at the hip to ultraliberal Democrats isn't just something you hear on the air. It's an attachment that includes marriages, deep friendships and long-standing quiet political alliances.
Record-Low 26% in U.S.
Excerpt: A record-low 26% of Americans favor a legal ban on the possession of handguns in the United States Gallup
Singer’s letter to WaPo on BEST
Excerpt: Before you write off Bachmann, Cain, and Perry as cynical diehards, deniers, idiots, or whatever, [WashPost Oct 24] consider this: Why are you surprised by the results of the Berkeley Climate Project? They used data from the same weather stations as the Climategate people, but reported that one-third showed cooling — not warming. They covered the same land area – less than 30% of the Earth’s surface – with recording stations that are poorly distributed, mainly in US and Western Europe . They state that 70% of US stations are badly sited and don’t meet the standards set by government; the rest of the world is likely worse. Unlike the land surface, the atmosphere showed no warming trend, either over land or over ocean — according to satellites and independent data from weather balloons. This indicates to me that there is something very wrong with the land surface data. And did you know that the climate models, run on super-computers, all show that the atmosphere must warm faster than the surface. What does this tell you? (Quoted from the bottom of the post [not part of the letter]: S. Fred Singer is professor emeritus at the University of Virginia
The Conservative’s Guide to the ‘
Occupy Wall Street ’ Protests
Occupy Wall Street ’ Protests
Excerpt: We decided to examine one such list of demands, and to give readers a sense of the conservative approach on the varied goals of the movement. To that end, we have gathered together a roundup of reactions from a number of Heritage experts on the demands put forth in one document, created by a collection of New York City
Excerpt: “Europe is so close to explosion,” said the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, according to the Italian Corriere della Serra. His Prime Minister, François Fillon, agreed with the President: Europe is close to explosion. This is the mood in the European capitals a day before the European Summit in Brussels Greece
Obama to Donors: Get Me Re-Elected or Face the Horror of Self-Reliance By Doug Powers
Excerpt: There are still a lot of people who believe that the notion of self reliance and limited government is a feature of America America
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