The "War on Women" and other BS

It's Convention time - enthusiastic delegates with colorful hats, hours of tedious votes to elect the nominee, and speeches...and speeches...and speeches. 

The Republicans have it easy; talk about Obama's performance - over 8 % unemployment for 3 ½ years, 23 million unemployed or underemployed,  a federal debt approaching $16 trillion, massive new government regulations, and 100 million receiving some form of government assistance (not including Medicare and Social Security). And...Obamacare; a socialized medical system a majority of Americans do not want. Now the Republican's job is to convince voters how they plan to solve these problems. 

Republicans will be bringing out their top guns for key speeches - John Kasic, Scott Walker, Bob McDonald, Condaleeza Rice, Chris Christy, Marco Rubio, Mrs Romney talking about the personal side of her husband, and of course Paul Ryan, and then Mitt Romney will make his speech introducing himself to the country. This will be politics in full bloom and for those of us that are political junkies, worth watching.

The Democrats don't have it so easy; do they get up and brag about their performance the past 3 1/2 years?  I don't think so. But they don't have to introduce their candidate; everyone knows Barack Obama and his messianic rise to the presidency. He also has a Vice President that has provided more material for talk show hosts and late night comedians than any politician in history. So by now they are both well known to all Americans. 

With such a poor record what can be the theme of their convention? "Smoke and mirrors", diversion, and fear: "Republicans will repeal Obamacare, they will end Medicare, they will 'deregulate' the environment resulting in dirty air and water, they will cut social programs like welfare and food stamps, they will make abortion illegal, they will lower taxes on the rich, etc., etc." We have heard these talking points before, and they DO work for a segment of the voters,

Democrats believe a key voting demographic for Obama are women, and their convention will focus on the Republican's so-called "War on Women". Speakers will include NARAL president Andrea Miller to remind us of women's right to choose, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards to remind everyone how much Republicans hate women.  And then they will bring in the "big guns" - Sandra Fluke, the 30 year old graduate student activist who achieved her 15 minutes of fame by demanding the government pay her $10/month bill for birth control pills. She would have been a 'nobody' had not Rush Limbaugh (with his audience of 23 million), made fun of her and now she speaks at the Democratic Convention. And after her, another heavy weight - Eva Longoria, formally a "Desperate Housewife" and now a stalwart democratic operative. Where do the Democrats get this talent?

So we have two weeks of political posturing, then two months of what will be a tidal wave of television ads, personal attacks, debates and then the election on November 6th. 

When Ronald Reagan ran against Jimmy Carter in 1979 many of us can remember the sad state of affairs due to the socialistic policies of the Carter administration. During the final debate Reagan asked this question: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" Many thought it was the turning point in that election.

And here we are in a similar, and even more serious situation. Maybe in the final debate Romney should ask: "Is this country better off now than it was four years ago?"

I believe we all know the answer to that question.

"The Entitlement Time-Bomb"

For those that follow the situation in Europe, it could be a preview of what the future will look like here in the USA. Last year it was riots in Greece when the government ran out of money and after two bailouts from the European Union, could not borrow any more. So deficits had to be reduced; "entitlements" were cut and citizens rioted by attacking police, destroying property, and even burning down a bank (killing two people that were inside). Many experts believe Greece is still going to need more financial bailouts.


Now it is happening in Spain. The country's banks need a $130 billion dollar bailout and as part of that payment the European Union requires that they make major cuts in their spending to reduce future deficits. So yesterday the Prime Minister announced major cuts in entitlements and tax increases. Here are just a few of the austerity measures:

- The Value Added Tax (VAT) has been increased to 21% (in simple terms; buy a $30,000 car and the sales tax is $6300).

- Government worker's annual salaries will be cut 7%. BUT, here is how absurd the "entitlement" mentality can get. Until now government employees in Spain received 14 monthly paychecks per year - 12 regular paychecks plus an extra monthly paycheck at Christmas and one at vacation time. So they received two "free" monthly paychecks per year.  The 7% "cut" is the Christmas "free check" being eliminated - they will still get the free check at vacation time.

- Now if unemployed in Spain you will only get 60% of your salary for the first 6 months, then it will drop to 50%. I don't know how long you can receive unemployment in Spain, but from my many travels in Europe it can be years.


And so they are rioting in Spain.


If you give a child, or even the family dog, "treats" on a regular basis, once they are used to it, it is almost impossible to walk it back. Grownups are the same. Throughout the world for years politicians have been promising their constituents "treats" just to get votes, without any regard for how the free stuff will be paid for.

This is a world-wide problem from top to bottom:

- USA:  $16 trillion in debt and deficit rising at the rate of $1 trillion per year; 8.2% unemployment and payments increased from 26 to 99 weeks; 42 million on food stamps and the government advertising for more people to apply; in June 85,000 workers left the workforce to collect disability (more than jobs created), and in three years, regardless of age they will all qualify for Medicare. 
- Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Italy and probably France all nearing insolvency.   
- California, a $16 billion deficit this year, almost twice the forecast, and at least 10 other states with similar financial problems.
- Stockton, San Bernardino, Scranton, filing bankruptcy recently and some experts predict upwards of 100 cities in the USA close to insolvency. 

Like Greece, sooner or later there will not be any money to pay these entitlements and no one will lend any more money or buy bonds from these countries, states, or cities.

The fuse on the entitlement time-bomb has been lit. In the words of that great philosopher Reverend Jeremiah Wright: "The chickens have come home to roost".

"The Elephant in the Room"

This week Stockton, a California city of 300,000, will most likely declare bankruptcy. After reducing their budget $90 million the past few years through drastic cuts, the city is still facing a budget deficit for the coming year of $26 million. The situation is hopeless...they are simply out of money. This is after they have eliminated one-fourth of the city's police officers, one-third of the fire staff, and 40 percent of all other employees. And they also cut wages as much as 22%, along with cuts in medical benefits for city workers. The economy, especially the housing crash has had a significant effect, but the major problem is pension and medical commitments for retired workers - in Stockton for every policeman on the beat, there are two receiving large pensions for life.

Stockton is a microcosm of what is happening in the state of California; in many other states; in the USA; and in many countries around the world. This week Spain and the island of Cyprus became the fourth and fifth countries to ask for a bailout from the Euro zone and many believe Italy may be next and then France.  If that happens the European Union will collapse because there simply will not be enough money for bailouts and there will be no buyers for these country's bonds.   

Political leaders around the world blame this massive debt on the economy, which is only partially true.  The "elephant in the room" throughout this debt carnage is the massive entitlements promised by politicians - promises to get votes, but promises that cannot be kept. Incredibly, the new socialist Prime Minister of France was elected because he promised MORE entitlements including reducing the retirement age to 60.

It is frustrating that most people, here and around the world pay little attention to the national debts. They don't understand it, and as long as they get their "entitlement" they simply believe government is an endless supply of money.

Stockton, during their bankruptcy, can void some of their pension and other union contracts and possibly work their way through the problem. But with the USA facing a $16 trillion debt which is rising at a rate of a trillion dollars a year, it may not matter which party is in control. The time is coming when the debt may be in control because "USA bankruptcy" will not be an option.

"The Harbinger"

har·bin·ger :  A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another event.

 All this week we have heard from the liberal media that the Wisconsin recall election was "to close to call".  But it was not. It was a blowout for the governor who took on the union bosses and it looks like he won big. He was polled to be ahead by 3% (within the margin of error) yet he won by close to 10%. Wisconsin spent almost 20 million dollars on this ridiculous recall election and it wasn't even close. Bill "Bubba" Clinton came in at the last minute to try and help pull out a win and Obama even added his support with a "Tweet" supporting the democratic challenger...what a guy.

But the important message here is that the American people are fed up with unions and their ridiculous pensions and benefits breaking the back of state and local budgets.  Keep in mind that after Governor Walker eliminated collective bargaining and gave state employees the choice of union membership, more than 50% dropped out of their union with their "mandated" dues.

This is more than a state election; it is a harbinger of things to come.  I believe Americans both Republican, Independents, and moderate Democrats are fed up with debt and union protected government employees getting preferential pension and benefit treatment compared to private employees; pensions and benefits that are breaking the back of local, state, and federal budgets.

The Obama administration will tell us in the next few days that this was a "local" election and has no national significance. But I bet they are circling the wagons tonight and wondering WTF happened.

"Revenge of the Nerds"

"Revenge of the Nerds" - a silly movie, but in a way it is being played out in real life.

I was an engineering major in college, and anyone who majored in science will tell you it is a lot of work.  In my case, I was also working full time and trying to raise a family, but even full time engineering students will tell you there is little time for partying, especially if trying to get through in four years. Most engineering students were probably "nerds" in high school; bullied by the sports jocks, and shunned by the popular girls.

Today it seems like a lots of kids go to school for the fun, majoring in subjects that are not difficult and having fun (with mom and dad or student loans paying the bill in many cases). But things change when you get into the real world. Unemployment of recent college graduates is at an all time high...except for the "nerds".

There is such a shortage of engineering and science majors graduating, that they are the new "stars" on campus. Not only being offered high salaries, but like sports stars they are being offered signing bonuses, living stipends, meals, and even equity positions in their prospective companies. Some companies are even approaching the brightest students and encouraging them to leave college and join their companies.  "After all, Steve Jobs, Michael dell, and Bill Gates all left college to go into the business world"

Karma...

"Boring and competent"

Now that Mitt Romney is apparently our nominee, most of my Republican/Conservative friends and family members make the same comment: "He is not my choice but I will vote for anyone over Obama". We characterize Romney as boring, no sense of humor, he's rich and doesn't relate, not conservative enough, he's a Mormon, etc.  But I have never heard anyone refer to him as "incompetent" or "not qualified to be president".

On the other hand, we have had almost four years of the "razzle dazzle".  Obama is charismatic, he has an attractive first lady and the White House is a constant stream of parties; celebrity visitors like the Rolling Stones and Opra; and the Obama's can be seen on one talk show visit after another. Obama even sings almost as good as Al Green. He is also the most prolific fundraiser in history. But on the other hand, the comment I  hear the most about his ability as our president is: "incompetent".

So, what do we want, a competent but boring president that may turn out to be a good "manager", and one that might get this country back on track again, or do we want more of the "razzle dazzle" while the "USA Titanic" is sinking.

I have no idea if Romney would be a good president or just another politician that would settle into the Washington bullshit and continue to take us down the same road...but at least we know where Obama and his minions are taking us, and it is a dangerous direction.

The Democrats are good - the federal debt is now $16 trillion, 25 million of our citizens are out of work with many more "underemployed", Europe is going bankrupt, the Mid-East is about to explode and thanks to the complicit liberal media, all we are talking about is Romney playing pranks in high school, and gay marriage. My head is sometimes ready to explode when I see the average American more interested in the "razzle dazzle" than trying to keep the USA Titanic from sinking.   

I'll gamble on "boring and competent".

"Fantasy Politics"

My sons, grandsons, and friends participate in a Fantasy Football league every year.  We get to draft our own team, and then live with the results.

Those that read this blog know that I believe this political team of Obama's is one of the most (maybe the most) incompetent group of people ever assembled to run this country. Most are academics that have never lived in the real world.

The recent EPA bureaucrat  who bragged about "crucifying" oil companies is an example of what I mean. This lightweight is an academic who has never had any real world experience in the oil industry or any other industry, yet he had the power.  But when he was exposed for his vendetta against oil companies, he was forced to resign.

This is typical of so many of the Obama administration...is it any surprise that the economy in this country is in the tank, when the people running it have rarely even run a company or created a job? The bottom line is that our president is an academic who has never had any experience in the real world, and the results are obvious. Few businessmen in their right mind are going to expand in this economic environment, not knowing what the future will bring.

It appears Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee in this important election and even though none of the primary candidates were my choice, I have put together my "Fantasy Political Team".  This prediction means nothing, but compare my group with our present team of so-called leaders:

Chuckie D's Fantasy Political team:

President
Mitt Romney.  Not my choice but 'it is what it is'. For those like me that are not thrilled with Romney;  maybe...just maybe, instead of a "cool and charismatic" leader that is clueless when it comes to the serious financial and economic problems we are facing, we need a pragmatic manager that gets serious about the depth of the hole we are in and takes steps, as painful as they may be, to keep this country from financially going off a cliff.

Vice -President
Marco Rubio. Not just because he is a Latino and would bring in some of that vote.  Have you paid attention to him when he speaks?  This guy is a future Conservative super star and I think would be very capable if he ever had to take over as a President. He is young, but remember, people thought JFK was a "kid" also.

Secretary-of-State and National Security Adviser
John Bolton. I would give both of these responsibilities to the same person.  Bolton is a tough former UN Ambassador and believes in Reagan's philosophy; "Peace through Strength". He would not let our allies or enemies push us around.

Attorney General
Chris Christie.  Governor of New Jersey and former Attorney General of that state.  He is a constitutionalist that will not put up with any BS and is a future major leader of the Conservative movement. He could also be a possible VP choice, but regardless, he should be part of the team to replace the "dinosaurs" we have in Washington.

Treasury Secretary 
 Paul Ryan.  Representative from Wisconsin and the only one who truly realizes the seriousness of this country's financial situation. 

Head of Homeland Security
Rudy Giuliani.  He probably would not take the job, but who is more qualified? He was on the front lines during the worse terrorist attack in history.  He turned around crime in NYC, and would take a much more realistic approach to this country's security compared to the TSA fiasco we are now experiencing.

These are just a few of my Cabinet choices but they are the important ones.

Now, if we are fortunate enough to take control of the Senate and keep control of the House, my "Fantasy Political Team" would clean house of all the establishment politicians and here would be the leaders:

House Majority Leader
Alan West. Representative from Florida, former military leader.  OK he was just a freshman these past two years and would not have a chance to overcome the seniority status of the good old boys but he would completely change the direction of the House, in favor of the people. Paul Ryan would be a better choice but we need him in Treasury.

Senate Majority Leader
Rand Paul. Again, he was just a freshman last term but would completely change the Senate into a body that would follow the Constitution. He is a charismatic and more realistic version of his father Ron Paul.

So this is my Fantasy Political team.  Some of these choices would never happen, but this would be my "draft" - after all we need to have our fantasies. If you don't agree, post your own "Fantasy Political Team" as a comment.