If Chris Christie is preparing to endorse Romney, then here's how I see the 2012 GOP field panning out:
Christie will be the Romney VP choice for the ticket. I believe they cut a deal. Here's why: Christie doesn't want to run for President right now. It means stopping his work in New Jersey which he truly seems to love in order to head to places like Iowa and Nevada and South Carolina which doesn't interest him. Skipping the Presidential primaries, he is "off" until the GOP Convention in July of 2012. That's 9 months of his life.
He can campaign July - November and will raise Romney a ton of money because the conservatives will be totally jazzed he's on the tickets. Hey- trust me on this. I worked McCain 2008. And forget what you think of Sarah Palin NOW. But in July and August of 2008 she gave that campaign energy, life, and voters. Christie can do the same thing for Romney. though I think it will be less important to Romney than it was for McCain. Meaning- Romney can win on his won. Christie just ensures it.
Christie will guarantee New Jersey and possible Pennsylvania, too. He will be popular in places like Arizona, Nevada and Florida where millions of Jerseyites have relocated. A Romney/Christie ticket will lock up Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Now- 8 years of Romney/Christie and the Veep is a shoe in for Christie 2020. He'll still be young enough to run for his own White House and have had the best possible training for the job.
That's a pretty attractive offer...
The Christie endorsement hurts Perry, though not as much as Perry hurts Perry. Bachmann, Gingrich and Huntsman will eventually putter out leaving Santorum to battle Paul, Romney, Perry and Cain to fight it out. But Romney will prevail.
Here's my prediction knowing what I know now... Romney / Christie 2012 will win in a landslide. Unemployment has no chance at improving, Solyndra and "Fast and Furious" are just starting to gather steam, and the stalemate in the Congress will be laid at the feet of the great orator who can't talk his own party into voting for his jobs bill.
Romney / Christie and an electoral landslide.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
On Drones, Prisons and Principles
President Obama has proven to be the biggest supporter of President Bush's War on Terror protocols and policies. So much so, that recently former VP Cheney asked for an apology. President Obama has no need to apologize. But Candidate Obama does. Too bad they are not the same person.
Candidate Obama had many names for the War on Terror: illegitimate, over reaction, shredding the constitution, illegal, etc etc. He blasted the policies of rendition, military tribunals, enhanced interrogation, predator drones, and the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. On his first day in office he signed an executive order to look into closing the prison within the year. And he would pull all troops out of Iraq and Afganistan immediately. Global War on Terror became Overseas Contingency Operations.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize based on his rhetoric. Or branding effort.
And here we are just a few short years (and several dozen rounds of golf) later, and we've escalated war in Afghanistan, continued Bush's time table in Iraq, carried out drone attacks (and one targeted assassination) in Pakistan, bombed Libya with additional troops on the ground, and now killed an American citizen in Yemen for his preaching. Guantanamo is still open and functioning and the military tribunals are ongoing. New Coke was not such a hit.
I wonder if Candidate Obama and President Obama have ever met.
3 years ago the interrogation of KSM was a war crime. Obama claimed he was due a civilian trial in Manhattan with full protection of the rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. By today Al-Awlaki can be blown to pieces in Yemen by a drone.
Confused yet?
So you can't put enemy combatants captured in Afghanistan in Guantanamo because of the Geneva Convention. But if you are an American citizens preaching anti-American rhetoric in Yemen... watch out!!
Candidate Obama's rhetoric of the "good" war and "Bush's" war or "war of choice"- phrases he preached in Berlin and Cairo... it's all so much more meaningless and so much more insulting now. It shows what little principle he has. And just how clueless he was as a candidate.
We are no more safe now than we were under the Bush Administration. But we are much less respected. Makes me wonder if that was the plan all along.
Candidate Obama had many names for the War on Terror: illegitimate, over reaction, shredding the constitution, illegal, etc etc. He blasted the policies of rendition, military tribunals, enhanced interrogation, predator drones, and the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. On his first day in office he signed an executive order to look into closing the prison within the year. And he would pull all troops out of Iraq and Afganistan immediately. Global War on Terror became Overseas Contingency Operations.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize based on his rhetoric. Or branding effort.
And here we are just a few short years (and several dozen rounds of golf) later, and we've escalated war in Afghanistan, continued Bush's time table in Iraq, carried out drone attacks (and one targeted assassination) in Pakistan, bombed Libya with additional troops on the ground, and now killed an American citizen in Yemen for his preaching. Guantanamo is still open and functioning and the military tribunals are ongoing. New Coke was not such a hit.
I wonder if Candidate Obama and President Obama have ever met.
3 years ago the interrogation of KSM was a war crime. Obama claimed he was due a civilian trial in Manhattan with full protection of the rights granted by the U.S. Constitution. By today Al-Awlaki can be blown to pieces in Yemen by a drone.
Confused yet?
So you can't put enemy combatants captured in Afghanistan in Guantanamo because of the Geneva Convention. But if you are an American citizens preaching anti-American rhetoric in Yemen... watch out!!
Candidate Obama's rhetoric of the "good" war and "Bush's" war or "war of choice"- phrases he preached in Berlin and Cairo... it's all so much more meaningless and so much more insulting now. It shows what little principle he has. And just how clueless he was as a candidate.
We are no more safe now than we were under the Bush Administration. But we are much less respected. Makes me wonder if that was the plan all along.
Monday, October 3, 2011
The liberal tautology
I loved logic. My professor was a true aristotelian and we learned all the order of syllogism (hello, Barbara) and symbolic logic with absolute precision. Disecting a logical problem was not whimsy or emotion- it was pure science and mastery.
Liberals lack logic. (I know you appreciate the alliteration).
Two years ago Jeanne Garafolo told us that the tea party's opposition to the Obama agenda was based on racism. They conjured up a story of tea party members spitting at Congressman Cleaver and called him the n-word. Andrew Breitbart offered $100,000 for anyone who could provide video or phot evidence of this. Alas, none was found.
So the tea party is racist.
But the fact that the party candidate is Herman Cain? Racist.
No matter what they do, it's because they are racist. And the definition of pedantic is pedantic.
I anticipate a lot more racism charges as 2012 heats up. Especially if the racist tea party's black candidate is the nominee to defeat the racists tea party's black president.
Liberals lack logic. (I know you appreciate the alliteration).
Two years ago Jeanne Garafolo told us that the tea party's opposition to the Obama agenda was based on racism. They conjured up a story of tea party members spitting at Congressman Cleaver and called him the n-word. Andrew Breitbart offered $100,000 for anyone who could provide video or phot evidence of this. Alas, none was found.
So the tea party is racist.
But the fact that the party candidate is Herman Cain? Racist.
No matter what they do, it's because they are racist. And the definition of pedantic is pedantic.
I anticipate a lot more racism charges as 2012 heats up. Especially if the racist tea party's black candidate is the nominee to defeat the racists tea party's black president.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Not Surprised
Lot of talk on the blogs and in the media about the new cover of Newsweek Magazine.
Get it? Michele Bachmann is crazy!! She's the "Queen of Rage"... according to the lefty editors at the bankrupt tabloid.
This, the same magazine, that gave us this cover two years ago. How convenient that the prelude to the White House's 2010 theme of "recovery summer" was a favorable seed planted by this rag magazine.
By the way- how did that recovery summer go? Did the "God" Obama command the seasons to bloom economic growth and jobs? Or did that seed just die in the dust?
I don't dub Obama "God". No- that would be the editor in chief of said rag magazine, Evan Thomas, who in 2009 reminded us of his inordinate affection for Barry.
My favorite part of this interview is Chris Matthew's hard-hitting retort "yeah". Here is the editor in chief of a rag magazine, a theoretically non-partisan magazine, who just compared the President to GOD and the journalist in Matthews responds with "yeah". Wow... talk about kool-aid drinking. OH YEAH!!!
So- as I mentioned in the title- I'm not surprised by the current cover of the rag magazine. I'm sure Bachmann isn't either.
Can't wait to see what Newsweek has in store for Rick Perry. Or if Evan Thomas has chosen a new religion.
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Shifty Left
The left's biggest weapon in the battle of ideas is their plasticity. The left is anything it wants to be- and anything they want you to be.
Think of "hope" and "change" from the 2008 campaign. It meant... nothing. And everything. It was every desire you held and squashed every fear in your heart. For the greens it meant lowering the tides and healing the planet. For the pro-choice it meant unrestricted rights to abortion on demand. For the big government socialists it meant single payer healthcare. Cindy Sheehan took it as an immediate withdrawal of troops and race mongers took it as enhanced affirmative actions policies.
The left is plastic. If the polls say X, they become X. They are were against the war before they were for it. They embody any whim, any policy, any idea when it is convenient and when it could lead to further political power gains.
Where is Cindy Sheehan these days? We've all read of NATO ground troops getting ready to deploy after almost 4 months of air strikes in Libya. I've yet to see a protest on the Mall- and trust me, I live right there. In fact the only Code Pink protester to interrupt the House was a young pinky shouting down Benjamin Natanyahu. No one has interrupted hearings. No one has painted and blood red and waived them in front of Secretary Clinton.
General "Betray-us" was just picked to head the CIA. Where's that "willing suspension of disbelief"? I guess it too was plastic.
What prompts my ponderings is today's press conference by Anthony Weiner. He came clean. Those cries of hacks and right wingers framing him? All lies. All untrue. All... plastic.
Where are the women's groups? Where are the mother's groups? Where is the outrage about internet preying and sexual abuse by men in power on young college coeds?
Plastic.
Plastic outrage. Plastic indignation. Plastic protests. Plastic beliefs. The left stands for nothing but themselves. They believe in nothing but power. They want nothing but political gains.
How else to explain the fact that our President spent 2 years fighting for a healthcare bill while watching the dollar plunge, inflation rise, food prices soar, home prices plummet... they don't care. Plastic.
If Anthony Weiner was comfortable lying for days- blaming others- accusing others, what else is he comfortable doing? What other cover-ups are so cavalier? What else is convenient to lie about?
Congressmen Weiner will sit down again, behind a microphone, leading discussions about serious issues that will compel and force us to live certain laws he deigns to pass. How anyone can take him serious, I don't know. How anyone can listen to his opinion again, I don't know.
But then again- who cares? It's just plastic. I'll feel different tomorrow.
Think of "hope" and "change" from the 2008 campaign. It meant... nothing. And everything. It was every desire you held and squashed every fear in your heart. For the greens it meant lowering the tides and healing the planet. For the pro-choice it meant unrestricted rights to abortion on demand. For the big government socialists it meant single payer healthcare. Cindy Sheehan took it as an immediate withdrawal of troops and race mongers took it as enhanced affirmative actions policies.
The left is plastic. If the polls say X, they become X. They are were against the war before they were for it. They embody any whim, any policy, any idea when it is convenient and when it could lead to further political power gains.
Where is Cindy Sheehan these days? We've all read of NATO ground troops getting ready to deploy after almost 4 months of air strikes in Libya. I've yet to see a protest on the Mall- and trust me, I live right there. In fact the only Code Pink protester to interrupt the House was a young pinky shouting down Benjamin Natanyahu. No one has interrupted hearings. No one has painted and blood red and waived them in front of Secretary Clinton.
General "Betray-us" was just picked to head the CIA. Where's that "willing suspension of disbelief"? I guess it too was plastic.
What prompts my ponderings is today's press conference by Anthony Weiner. He came clean. Those cries of hacks and right wingers framing him? All lies. All untrue. All... plastic.
Where are the women's groups? Where are the mother's groups? Where is the outrage about internet preying and sexual abuse by men in power on young college coeds?
Plastic.
Plastic outrage. Plastic indignation. Plastic protests. Plastic beliefs. The left stands for nothing but themselves. They believe in nothing but power. They want nothing but political gains.
How else to explain the fact that our President spent 2 years fighting for a healthcare bill while watching the dollar plunge, inflation rise, food prices soar, home prices plummet... they don't care. Plastic.
If Anthony Weiner was comfortable lying for days- blaming others- accusing others, what else is he comfortable doing? What other cover-ups are so cavalier? What else is convenient to lie about?
Congressmen Weiner will sit down again, behind a microphone, leading discussions about serious issues that will compel and force us to live certain laws he deigns to pass. How anyone can take him serious, I don't know. How anyone can listen to his opinion again, I don't know.
But then again- who cares? It's just plastic. I'll feel different tomorrow.
Monday, May 16, 2011
The 11th Commandment
The vast and ever changing field of 2012 GOP Presidential Candidates loves to quote Reagan but, so far, the emulation ends there.
Reagan attributed this rule to the head of the California GOP, Gaylor Parkinson, the year he ran for the Governor's seat, 1966. Reagan wrote: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican. It's a rule I followed during that campaign and have ever since."
Reagan looked at the state of California, and indeed the nation, in 1966, and knew that he need not attack his colleagues but rather run on the facts of their principles and positions. Their ideas contrasted to his own were losing ideas. His truth would win per ipsum. It needed only telling. And what a master teller the Great Communicator was.
Looking at the halflings of his legacy, we see Santorum attacking Romney, Newt attacking Paul Ryan's budget (Ryan must be wondering why he's suddenly the enemy...), Ron Paul attacking everybody who is not shrugging with Atlas, and a whole slew of trolls, goblins and circus freaks attacking Michelle Bachman and Sarah Palin. They would all gang up on Tim Pawlenty if it seemed worth it.
Why few are taking the position that the attacks will and should come from we the people is beyond me. We will, in good time, destroy them all in turn for that is what Americans love to do in politics. Bush, Clinton, Bush and even Obama have felt the love turned rage that is the sceptical and fickle American voter.
So my advice to the candidates- not that they would take it because, of course, they know better, is to shut up. Tell your story, stake your claim in the ground and let us decide. 2012 is so winnable. Barack Obama is so beatable- he knows it, the media knows it, the people know it. Why waste energy and resources attacking each other when even the worst candidate amongst you, yes even Gary Johnson the baby killing pot smoking hippie would still be better than the liberation theologian, marxist who currently sits at the Resolute desk, feet up and coat off.
Reagan never took his coat off in the Oval. He thought the room and the Office were both worthy of such etiquette. That's another lesson any President could learn from Reagan.
Reagan attributed this rule to the head of the California GOP, Gaylor Parkinson, the year he ran for the Governor's seat, 1966. Reagan wrote: "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican. It's a rule I followed during that campaign and have ever since."
Reagan looked at the state of California, and indeed the nation, in 1966, and knew that he need not attack his colleagues but rather run on the facts of their principles and positions. Their ideas contrasted to his own were losing ideas. His truth would win per ipsum. It needed only telling. And what a master teller the Great Communicator was.
Looking at the halflings of his legacy, we see Santorum attacking Romney, Newt attacking Paul Ryan's budget (Ryan must be wondering why he's suddenly the enemy...), Ron Paul attacking everybody who is not shrugging with Atlas, and a whole slew of trolls, goblins and circus freaks attacking Michelle Bachman and Sarah Palin. They would all gang up on Tim Pawlenty if it seemed worth it.
Why few are taking the position that the attacks will and should come from we the people is beyond me. We will, in good time, destroy them all in turn for that is what Americans love to do in politics. Bush, Clinton, Bush and even Obama have felt the love turned rage that is the sceptical and fickle American voter.
So my advice to the candidates- not that they would take it because, of course, they know better, is to shut up. Tell your story, stake your claim in the ground and let us decide. 2012 is so winnable. Barack Obama is so beatable- he knows it, the media knows it, the people know it. Why waste energy and resources attacking each other when even the worst candidate amongst you, yes even Gary Johnson the baby killing pot smoking hippie would still be better than the liberation theologian, marxist who currently sits at the Resolute desk, feet up and coat off.
Reagan never took his coat off in the Oval. He thought the room and the Office were both worthy of such etiquette. That's another lesson any President could learn from Reagan.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Big Numbers
Republicans claim victory over some odd $38 billion in spending cuts for the remainder of FY '11. And relatively speaking, $38 billion is a lot of money. In Congressional terms, especially the way the GOP elephants spend money, $38 billion is peanuts.
I'm looking at my expenses for this month. My budget for rent, food, restaurants, concerts, expenses, etc. is $4,200. I realized that was a bit steep... so I looked for ways to cut out some of the fat. Did I really need to eat out as much? Do I need to go to 930 Club again?
So I stayed up all night looking at the details of my $4,200 monthly budget... and at the end of dramatic, detailed study and statements to the press, I managed to cut out $38 dollars. I'm down to $4,162. Who's patting me on the back for the great work...eh? Who's the man?!?!
And this juvenile analogy doesn't even include the debt. Nor does it mention that I only make about $3,300 a month and that I'm still going in the hole for this month. "Savings"?? Can I really talk about saving anything?
Seriously? How can we look honestly at Republicans for savings or at Democrats for complaining about these cuts? The whole thing is a joke.
Show me $400 billion for FY '11 and $1.3 trillion for FY '12... then I'll cheer. Until then it's all a joke and lies. And I don't see anyone honest enough to tell the truth.
Except Michelle Bachman and Jim Jordan. And I thank them for their honesty.
I'm looking at my expenses for this month. My budget for rent, food, restaurants, concerts, expenses, etc. is $4,200. I realized that was a bit steep... so I looked for ways to cut out some of the fat. Did I really need to eat out as much? Do I need to go to 930 Club again?
So I stayed up all night looking at the details of my $4,200 monthly budget... and at the end of dramatic, detailed study and statements to the press, I managed to cut out $38 dollars. I'm down to $4,162. Who's patting me on the back for the great work...eh? Who's the man?!?!
And this juvenile analogy doesn't even include the debt. Nor does it mention that I only make about $3,300 a month and that I'm still going in the hole for this month. "Savings"?? Can I really talk about saving anything?
Seriously? How can we look honestly at Republicans for savings or at Democrats for complaining about these cuts? The whole thing is a joke.
Show me $400 billion for FY '11 and $1.3 trillion for FY '12... then I'll cheer. Until then it's all a joke and lies. And I don't see anyone honest enough to tell the truth.
Except Michelle Bachman and Jim Jordan. And I thank them for their honesty.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
What's the difference between a "shut down" and a "snow day"?
A paycheck.
It's not supposed to be funny because it's not a joke. Last year when DC was walloped by "snowmageddon", the Federal Government shut down for 4 consecutive days. I wrote about it here.
Yet, satellites did not fall from the sky. Doctors delivered babies. Chickens laid eggs. We survived. Despite the fact that millions of people did nothing for 4 straight days, we survived. (I'd even argue that we prospered! 4 days of a bunch of morons not sticking their noses into our business or watching online porn).
So now we face this looming "shut down" of the government and everyone, left, right and Obama, is blaming someone else for the impending doom. What's going to happen?
Nothing. Except they will not get paid for doing nothing- unlike the snowstorms of yesteryear. Well... unlike most days of the year. This time the bloated federal government, union protected, step increase assured, pension guaranteed with health benefits for life loafers... this time they don't get paid.
That's probably not a bad thing.
It's not supposed to be funny because it's not a joke. Last year when DC was walloped by "snowmageddon", the Federal Government shut down for 4 consecutive days. I wrote about it here.
Yet, satellites did not fall from the sky. Doctors delivered babies. Chickens laid eggs. We survived. Despite the fact that millions of people did nothing for 4 straight days, we survived. (I'd even argue that we prospered! 4 days of a bunch of morons not sticking their noses into our business or watching online porn).
So now we face this looming "shut down" of the government and everyone, left, right and Obama, is blaming someone else for the impending doom. What's going to happen?
Nothing. Except they will not get paid for doing nothing- unlike the snowstorms of yesteryear. Well... unlike most days of the year. This time the bloated federal government, union protected, step increase assured, pension guaranteed with health benefits for life loafers... this time they don't get paid.
That's probably not a bad thing.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
My Cognitive Ethnic Pachyderm
I have the memory of a sicilian elephant.
The relentless, scathing attacks on President Bush have lingered like the taste of bile after a night of vomiting. I admit- I haven't moved on. For 8 years President Bush was attacked without thought or reason. It was an emotional and illogical motivation, a frenzy whipped up without much substance.
Substance never really mattered. What ruled was passion and rage.
I remember the disrespect they showed in the 2005 inaugural parade. There was no desire to "come together as Americans". There was no unity. It was too much fun to be righteously opposed.
From 2005 - 2008 endless parades of protests marched up and down DC's main Avenues- aged hippies and self proclaimed activists with signs and masks and American flags emblazoned with the swastika over the blue field of stars.
I remember the blood stained hands waved in Condi Rice's face as she tried to testify on the Hill.
Code Pink. Cindy Sheehan. Farenheit 9-11. Cries of war criminals, illigimatcy, Bush's War, war of choice. It become a ringtone.
The 2008 Democrat candidates capitalized on this mood. I was more against the war than you were. Why Barack Obama was always opposed to the war... as a community organizer. He voted against it... in his head. But that's how he ran.
Patriot Act. Renditions. Predator drones. Wire tapping. These were all evils of a shameful Presidency and needed to be abolished. AQI was using Gunatanamo as a recruiting tool... it all needed to go "to restore our image around the world".
I remember all these speeches and promises and subtle (and not so subtle) condescensions towards the then sitting President.- and the way the media whipped this frenzy till it overflowed with sanctimony and feigned indignation. My sicilian elephant remembers it all.
And here we are. Here we friggin are... in what should be an end of innocence for the once gushing lefties, there is silence. In what should be hilighted contradiction after broken promise after hypocracy the media is quiet. In what should be a Code Pink frenzy of war crime photos there is a collection head-in-sand.
Where have the activists and hippies gone? Where is the anger? Where is the cry over an open guantanamo and an expanded Patriot Act? The withdrawl deadlines predicated with surges, the coalition of unwilling now attacking Libya... it's as if Oscar Wilde and Christopher Buckley teamed up to write a satire.
Cindy Sheehan must not have cared THAT much about the war. Or her son. And the peace activists who hated war must now be too busy with underwater mortgages to read the newspaper. That must be the reason for the painful silence the last few weeks have wrought on my sicilian elephant in search of equanimity of outrage.
Surely those activists believed in their cause from 2005 - 2008. Surely their cause lives on.
It does. In my memory alone.
The relentless, scathing attacks on President Bush have lingered like the taste of bile after a night of vomiting. I admit- I haven't moved on. For 8 years President Bush was attacked without thought or reason. It was an emotional and illogical motivation, a frenzy whipped up without much substance.
Substance never really mattered. What ruled was passion and rage.
I remember the disrespect they showed in the 2005 inaugural parade. There was no desire to "come together as Americans". There was no unity. It was too much fun to be righteously opposed.
From 2005 - 2008 endless parades of protests marched up and down DC's main Avenues- aged hippies and self proclaimed activists with signs and masks and American flags emblazoned with the swastika over the blue field of stars.
I remember the blood stained hands waved in Condi Rice's face as she tried to testify on the Hill.
Code Pink. Cindy Sheehan. Farenheit 9-11. Cries of war criminals, illigimatcy, Bush's War, war of choice. It become a ringtone.
The 2008 Democrat candidates capitalized on this mood. I was more against the war than you were. Why Barack Obama was always opposed to the war... as a community organizer. He voted against it... in his head. But that's how he ran.
Patriot Act. Renditions. Predator drones. Wire tapping. These were all evils of a shameful Presidency and needed to be abolished. AQI was using Gunatanamo as a recruiting tool... it all needed to go "to restore our image around the world".
I remember all these speeches and promises and subtle (and not so subtle) condescensions towards the then sitting President.- and the way the media whipped this frenzy till it overflowed with sanctimony and feigned indignation. My sicilian elephant remembers it all.
And here we are. Here we friggin are... in what should be an end of innocence for the once gushing lefties, there is silence. In what should be hilighted contradiction after broken promise after hypocracy the media is quiet. In what should be a Code Pink frenzy of war crime photos there is a collection head-in-sand.
Where have the activists and hippies gone? Where is the anger? Where is the cry over an open guantanamo and an expanded Patriot Act? The withdrawl deadlines predicated with surges, the coalition of unwilling now attacking Libya... it's as if Oscar Wilde and Christopher Buckley teamed up to write a satire.
Cindy Sheehan must not have cared THAT much about the war. Or her son. And the peace activists who hated war must now be too busy with underwater mortgages to read the newspaper. That must be the reason for the painful silence the last few weeks have wrought on my sicilian elephant in search of equanimity of outrage.
Surely those activists believed in their cause from 2005 - 2008. Surely their cause lives on.
It does. In my memory alone.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Middle East Mess
A middle east dictator with a history of persecuting his own people has been faced with protests and uproar. The response of the dictator has been one of unmeasured violence, open murder and genocide. The world community knows this dictator has mustard gas, sarin gas and a heavily enforced military.
The result of this uproar and choas is mass migration of peoples to the borders looking to flee the reign of terror and fear. Because it's an oil rich nation and supply chains have been directly hit and adversely impacted, the international oil market is in constant flux and prices are reaching over $100 a barrel.
The U.N. has condemned these actions but lacks the political will and authority to impose any order or control. Stern warnings and resolutions do not stop the bleeding and killings. On the contrary, the more the U.N. and the world community condemns the actions of the dictator, the more erratic his behavior has become.
What is the President to do? Does he committ U.S. troops to a mission of removing a dictator and helping to restore peace? Does it engage in nation building? Does it attack from afar as the 5th Fleet moves into the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal?
We could go to the U.N. for support and written confirmation of the humanitarian nature of the mission. We could unleash out diplomats around the world engaging our allies to become involved knowing the rogue regimes likes Russia and Iran and North Korea and Venezuela will likely profit from our actions.
Boy oh boy.... does this Libyian situation sound a lot like Iraq. I just wonder if code pink will march with red stained hands and "No Blood for Oil" signs. Will the peace movement disrupt Congressional Hearings and live events with their screaming and chanting...
Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for not being President Bush. Now, faced with a problem that threatens international stability and economies, he must make a decision. And his decision today was "I'll take a few questions on this tomorrow".
The 3AM phone call came in. And Obama pretended he left his phone in his coat pocket.
The result of this uproar and choas is mass migration of peoples to the borders looking to flee the reign of terror and fear. Because it's an oil rich nation and supply chains have been directly hit and adversely impacted, the international oil market is in constant flux and prices are reaching over $100 a barrel.
The U.N. has condemned these actions but lacks the political will and authority to impose any order or control. Stern warnings and resolutions do not stop the bleeding and killings. On the contrary, the more the U.N. and the world community condemns the actions of the dictator, the more erratic his behavior has become.
What is the President to do? Does he committ U.S. troops to a mission of removing a dictator and helping to restore peace? Does it engage in nation building? Does it attack from afar as the 5th Fleet moves into the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal?
We could go to the U.N. for support and written confirmation of the humanitarian nature of the mission. We could unleash out diplomats around the world engaging our allies to become involved knowing the rogue regimes likes Russia and Iran and North Korea and Venezuela will likely profit from our actions.
Boy oh boy.... does this Libyian situation sound a lot like Iraq. I just wonder if code pink will march with red stained hands and "No Blood for Oil" signs. Will the peace movement disrupt Congressional Hearings and live events with their screaming and chanting...
Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for not being President Bush. Now, faced with a problem that threatens international stability and economies, he must make a decision. And his decision today was "I'll take a few questions on this tomorrow".
The 3AM phone call came in. And Obama pretended he left his phone in his coat pocket.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
A Call for Civility
Praise to the Wisconsin GOP for their quick turn around of one of the most telling videos I've seen in years.
Notice how the media has yet to talk about the violent rhetoric coming from these union protestors. Obama has called the Governor's actions an "assault" on their liberties. Obama has harsher words for Governor Walker than he does for Ahmadinejad.
He's one odd man...
Let's hope it doesn't turn physically violent. If so, just like Tuscon, we'll have to pin the violence on Bill Maher and Eugene Robinson and Keith Olbermann...
Notice how the media has yet to talk about the violent rhetoric coming from these union protestors. Obama has called the Governor's actions an "assault" on their liberties. Obama has harsher words for Governor Walker than he does for Ahmadinejad.
He's one odd man...
Let's hope it doesn't turn physically violent. If so, just like Tuscon, we'll have to pin the violence on Bill Maher and Eugene Robinson and Keith Olbermann...
Monday, February 14, 2011
Capital Stupidity
The Washington, DC City Council has finally given permission to Wal-Mart allowing the retail behemoth to do business within the city. Funny that someone like Marion Barry can stop economic growth and expansion- but that's the joy of urban liberalism. Look at cities like Detroit, Cleveland, New York and Baltimore for further evidence of liberals with power destroying economies...
But that's not my point. What got my attention was this hysterical article in the Washington Post where local yokels express their concerns about Wal-Mart's impending arrival. Let's looks at some of what keeps Washingtonians up at night:
1. "would a new Wal-Mart there really stock the same quality of food and products as its stores do in better-off, suburban communities? "I'll believe it when I see it," Mya Harris, 24, said skeptically. "Sure, you can put the store here, but what are they going to put inside it?"
Ah, yes Ms. Harris. I can see you are not a business major. Just tell me- in your 24 years of life and some, say, 14 of buying products: what store have you ever seen that puts things on their shelves that people don't want to buy? Maybe YOU don't buy those things. But someone does. Or... guess what, Ms. Harris? You know what happens? That store goes out of business (or gets a government bailout, depending on what President Obama's magic ball says).
What does she think will be on the shelves? Saddles? Microscopes? or things that people need. I think, one can safely say, that Wal-mart has a pretty good reputation on stocking their shelves with things that people buy. You know, success didn't come because of a government subsidy. This isn't General Motors.
2. "Brenda Speaks, a Ward 4 ANC commissioner, actually urged blocking construction of the planned store in her ward at Georgia and Missouri avenues NW partly because of that risk. Addressing a small, anti-Wal-Mart rally at City Hall on Monday, Speaks said young people would get criminal records when they couldn't resist the temptation to steal."
I have no words for this gibberish. I only suffer knowing that my tax dollars pay for this woman's salary.
3. "the Respect DC coalition of nonprofit groups, unions and churches that organized the demonstration... demand was that the company sign a citywide Community Benefits Agreement that would promise in writing to do things such as invest in local communities and treat its workers well."
What gaul. What absolute gaul. A company that hasn't even arrived yet but plans to bring retail, low prices, enormous tax revenue and hundreds of full time job being issued a list of demands by a "coalition". I'd love to know what the hell this coalition has done for DC, what jobs they have created, what revenue they have contributed to the city coffers. They risk no capital, they invest no time nor treasure into this venture. It's not their money, their vision, their entrepreneurship yet they want to issue demands.
You know how Wal-Mart can "invest in local communities"? By BUILDING A FRIGGIN WAL-MART IN THE COMMUNITY. You know how Wal-Mart can "treat its workers well"? By giving them jobs. Jobs that DO NOT exist now. I don't know, Hippie Coalition, I think that's a pretty nice way to treat someone.
I'm always amazed groups that have no background, experience or knowledge in business feel entitled to dictate business rules to corporations that are taking enormous financial risks. This isn't rewarding entrepreneurship- it is stifling it.
Typical of my beloved Washington. A city where old men in wingback, leather chairs want to dictate rules on baseball, foreign policy in Iran, oil policy, transfats and automotive futures. Knowledge and experience and vested interest account for nothing.
But that's not my point. What got my attention was this hysterical article in the Washington Post where local yokels express their concerns about Wal-Mart's impending arrival. Let's looks at some of what keeps Washingtonians up at night:
1. "would a new Wal-Mart there really stock the same quality of food and products as its stores do in better-off, suburban communities? "I'll believe it when I see it," Mya Harris, 24, said skeptically. "Sure, you can put the store here, but what are they going to put inside it?"
Ah, yes Ms. Harris. I can see you are not a business major. Just tell me- in your 24 years of life and some, say, 14 of buying products: what store have you ever seen that puts things on their shelves that people don't want to buy? Maybe YOU don't buy those things. But someone does. Or... guess what, Ms. Harris? You know what happens? That store goes out of business (or gets a government bailout, depending on what President Obama's magic ball says).
What does she think will be on the shelves? Saddles? Microscopes? or things that people need. I think, one can safely say, that Wal-mart has a pretty good reputation on stocking their shelves with things that people buy. You know, success didn't come because of a government subsidy. This isn't General Motors.
2. "Brenda Speaks, a Ward 4 ANC commissioner, actually urged blocking construction of the planned store in her ward at Georgia and Missouri avenues NW partly because of that risk. Addressing a small, anti-Wal-Mart rally at City Hall on Monday, Speaks said young people would get criminal records when they couldn't resist the temptation to steal."
I have no words for this gibberish. I only suffer knowing that my tax dollars pay for this woman's salary.
3. "the Respect DC coalition of nonprofit groups, unions and churches that organized the demonstration... demand was that the company sign a citywide Community Benefits Agreement that would promise in writing to do things such as invest in local communities and treat its workers well."
What gaul. What absolute gaul. A company that hasn't even arrived yet but plans to bring retail, low prices, enormous tax revenue and hundreds of full time job being issued a list of demands by a "coalition". I'd love to know what the hell this coalition has done for DC, what jobs they have created, what revenue they have contributed to the city coffers. They risk no capital, they invest no time nor treasure into this venture. It's not their money, their vision, their entrepreneurship yet they want to issue demands.
You know how Wal-Mart can "invest in local communities"? By BUILDING A FRIGGIN WAL-MART IN THE COMMUNITY. You know how Wal-Mart can "treat its workers well"? By giving them jobs. Jobs that DO NOT exist now. I don't know, Hippie Coalition, I think that's a pretty nice way to treat someone.
I'm always amazed groups that have no background, experience or knowledge in business feel entitled to dictate business rules to corporations that are taking enormous financial risks. This isn't rewarding entrepreneurship- it is stifling it.
Typical of my beloved Washington. A city where old men in wingback, leather chairs want to dictate rules on baseball, foreign policy in Iran, oil policy, transfats and automotive futures. Knowledge and experience and vested interest account for nothing.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
An SNL Boycott
I have few personal boycotts. Sean Penn movies mostly... but this weekend I am going to add to the list.
This Saturday the musical guest on Saturday Night Live is Chris Brown. Chris Brown the guy who sent his girlfriend Rihanna to the hospital with black eyes he beat her so bad... you can still see the pictures of her bruised face online.
In 1990 Andrew Dice Clay was supposed to host SNL and cast member Nora Dunn and musical guest Sinead O'Connor boycotted the show because of Dice's language against women. As far as I know- Dice never was arrested or accused of hitting anyone. Still, people boycotted.
Yet here we are 21 years later with a legitimate abuser.. and I don't see any outcry. He sent his girlfriend to the hospital he beat her so bad... no outcry. What if Mel Gibson were to host next week? Would he get a pass?? Where is NOW??? Where is Maureen Dowd??
This Saturday the musical guest on Saturday Night Live is Chris Brown. Chris Brown the guy who sent his girlfriend Rihanna to the hospital with black eyes he beat her so bad... you can still see the pictures of her bruised face online.
In 1990 Andrew Dice Clay was supposed to host SNL and cast member Nora Dunn and musical guest Sinead O'Connor boycotted the show because of Dice's language against women. As far as I know- Dice never was arrested or accused of hitting anyone. Still, people boycotted.
Yet here we are 21 years later with a legitimate abuser.. and I don't see any outcry. He sent his girlfriend to the hospital he beat her so bad... no outcry. What if Mel Gibson were to host next week? Would he get a pass?? Where is NOW??? Where is Maureen Dowd??
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Make smoking illegal
Mayor Bloomberg is a champion of the nanny state's duty to care for its people. The government has your best interest at heart and knows better. It started with those pesky crimes like sitting on milk crates. Then car idling. Transfats. Salt. Smoking has always been on the radar screen as the most egregiously unhealthy activity and once he got rid of smoking section for total smoking bans, one would think he would stop.
But no. He need to levy stiff taxes against smokers with $2 and now almost $4 taxes per pack (wasn't the increased tax revenue to go to education or children's healthcare or something?) Estimates run in the $20's of millions in lost tax revenue due to a thriving black market. But that wasn't enough for Mayor Mike.
New York City Council with Mike's enthusiastic support has determined you can't smoke in certain outdoors sections like... the outdoors. And this is good... because smoking is bad. So bad we need to tax and deter and punish and inconvenience smokers into submission. (you reading this Obama?) Congrats, New York. Your 8 million children are safe. Will you wipe their chins and feed them their bottle next?
I suggest being truly radical. If we are going to care for the health of the citizenry... if we really want to protect them... we will just make smoking illegal. Drugs are illegal. Why not smoking?
Just ask the smoking Nazis about the "dangers of second hand smoke". Scientific evidence shows that anyone breathing within 1000 feet of a smoker will die instantly. Each year millions of people die from second hand smoke... just ask the Nazis.
So why not just make it illegal- completely and utterly illegal? Is it because thousands of people are employed in the tobacco industry? Is it because we export billions in cigarette sales around the world and need the money? Is it because New York needs the tax revenue? What could be more noble than just eliminating the entire industry once and for all?
We stopped slavery. We prohibit prostitution. Mayor Mike- if smoking is so dangerous and deadly- just make it completely illegal. It's the right thing to do for your people. It will be a moral victory and make New York a leader in world health. It will be your victory- Mayor Mike- the healthiest mayor in America. No, in the world. What a victory!
And we'll celebrate that victory with fine Cuban cigars. We can still smoke cigars, right?
But no. He need to levy stiff taxes against smokers with $2 and now almost $4 taxes per pack (wasn't the increased tax revenue to go to education or children's healthcare or something?) Estimates run in the $20's of millions in lost tax revenue due to a thriving black market. But that wasn't enough for Mayor Mike.
New York City Council with Mike's enthusiastic support has determined you can't smoke in certain outdoors sections like... the outdoors. And this is good... because smoking is bad. So bad we need to tax and deter and punish and inconvenience smokers into submission. (you reading this Obama?) Congrats, New York. Your 8 million children are safe. Will you wipe their chins and feed them their bottle next?
I suggest being truly radical. If we are going to care for the health of the citizenry... if we really want to protect them... we will just make smoking illegal. Drugs are illegal. Why not smoking?
Just ask the smoking Nazis about the "dangers of second hand smoke". Scientific evidence shows that anyone breathing within 1000 feet of a smoker will die instantly. Each year millions of people die from second hand smoke... just ask the Nazis.
So why not just make it illegal- completely and utterly illegal? Is it because thousands of people are employed in the tobacco industry? Is it because we export billions in cigarette sales around the world and need the money? Is it because New York needs the tax revenue? What could be more noble than just eliminating the entire industry once and for all?
We stopped slavery. We prohibit prostitution. Mayor Mike- if smoking is so dangerous and deadly- just make it completely illegal. It's the right thing to do for your people. It will be a moral victory and make New York a leader in world health. It will be your victory- Mayor Mike- the healthiest mayor in America. No, in the world. What a victory!
And we'll celebrate that victory with fine Cuban cigars. We can still smoke cigars, right?
We did trains already
Today President Obama announced his plan to spend $53 billion on high speed rail. Nate Taggart he is not.
As luck would have it, whenever the folly of the administration needs further emphasis Joe Biden is not far behind. His being an Amtrak alumnus someone makes him an expert in the railroad industry. Just ask him. He will tell you about logging some 7,900+ trips between Wilmington, Delaware and Union State on Acela Express as if sitting in business class reading Highlights Magazine somehow imparted industry knowledge.
What if we don't spend this fortune on railroad? "If we do not, you tell me how America is going to be able to lead the world in the 21st century," asks the Veep. Leadership- especially leadership in the future- is somehow intimately tied to railroads. At least in this Administration's mind.
China plans to spend $500 billion on their railroads in the next 5 years. And you see, that is 10x more than we plan to spend. Which means China's railroads must be 10x something more than us- faster, better, healthier- I don't know. But neither does Obama nor Biden (who in my mind is wearing a blue and white train conductor's hat). So to stay competitive with China, we have to spend more money, too.
I think Biden fails to realize that China is, basically, a third world country with some big cities. The vast majority of China is illiterate and has no running water and electricity. China has no infrastructure- in fact the last infrastructure project in China was the Great Wall. They are building from scratch.
We did trains already. We did trains over 100 years ago- ask the Vanderbilts. Shouldn't Anderson Cooper- when not getting beaten up in Cairo- ask the Veep "Didn't my great grandfather do this already?" We can't compare what China needs to do to be civilized and what America did in the days of Cowboys and Indians. It's silly.
If Joe Biden is so concerned about China spending billions of dollars on it's interiors, maybe he should stop giving them more money. Borrowing $53 billion on trains no one wants to use is typical of this Administration's cluelessness. Maybe next we can borrow $50 billion from China to improve typewriters.
Funny- light bulbs are an old technology America invented and exported, too. And yet now we are forced to buy them from China thanks to this same liberal philosophy. Trains, light bulbs... what's next?
As luck would have it, whenever the folly of the administration needs further emphasis Joe Biden is not far behind. His being an Amtrak alumnus someone makes him an expert in the railroad industry. Just ask him. He will tell you about logging some 7,900+ trips between Wilmington, Delaware and Union State on Acela Express as if sitting in business class reading Highlights Magazine somehow imparted industry knowledge.
What if we don't spend this fortune on railroad? "If we do not, you tell me how America is going to be able to lead the world in the 21st century," asks the Veep. Leadership- especially leadership in the future- is somehow intimately tied to railroads. At least in this Administration's mind.
China plans to spend $500 billion on their railroads in the next 5 years. And you see, that is 10x more than we plan to spend. Which means China's railroads must be 10x something more than us- faster, better, healthier- I don't know. But neither does Obama nor Biden (who in my mind is wearing a blue and white train conductor's hat). So to stay competitive with China, we have to spend more money, too.
I think Biden fails to realize that China is, basically, a third world country with some big cities. The vast majority of China is illiterate and has no running water and electricity. China has no infrastructure- in fact the last infrastructure project in China was the Great Wall. They are building from scratch.
We did trains already. We did trains over 100 years ago- ask the Vanderbilts. Shouldn't Anderson Cooper- when not getting beaten up in Cairo- ask the Veep "Didn't my great grandfather do this already?" We can't compare what China needs to do to be civilized and what America did in the days of Cowboys and Indians. It's silly.
If Joe Biden is so concerned about China spending billions of dollars on it's interiors, maybe he should stop giving them more money. Borrowing $53 billion on trains no one wants to use is typical of this Administration's cluelessness. Maybe next we can borrow $50 billion from China to improve typewriters.
Funny- light bulbs are an old technology America invented and exported, too. And yet now we are forced to buy them from China thanks to this same liberal philosophy. Trains, light bulbs... what's next?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Holding a City Hostage
I spent an extra three days in New York City for my Christmas vacation. Not willingly, however. My car was snowed in.
As a native New York, I used to laugh at DC’s response to snow. Even the slightest dusting still triggers mass panic, early closures of schools and business and a rush to the local grocery for bottled water, milk and toilet paper. (I guess for Washingtonians, snow necessarily means a desire for hot chocolate, a fear of pipes freezing and chronic diarrhea.) Last year’s major back-to-back blizzards which closed the federal government for 4 days was a national headline and northeasterner’s punch line. But they laughed too soon.
New York was crippled for three days. New York City… not Calcutta, not Mogadishu, not even DC. New York City. And no one could understand why. 24 inches, though certainly a lot of snow, is not unheard of in the City that never sleeps… so why the sudden shut down? Why was New York City suddenly incapable of responding to a snowstorm.
We thought all along it was a union plot. And by “we”, I mean my conservative, politically savvy family with whom I was snowbound sans internet or TV (thanks, Time Warner Cable. Glad Comcast doesn’t have the monopoly on crap cable companies). We witnessed snow plows driving along the streets with plows raised. We saw sanitation trucks parked with engines off and workers sitting inside the truck. For three days, they didn’t pick up garbage and they didn’t plow snow. So what did they do?
They protested.
Sanitation workers make an average of $67k per year. Now starting salary is low- $30 or 31k. But that jumps to over $44 in just one year with some overtime. Managers can make well into 6-figures. And as a protected class, they all retire with full benefits and pension in 20 years. I’ve been working for over 15 years and don’t see retirement in the near future… but high school classmates of mine are only 3 years away from a retired pension of close to $80k… for life. Pick up a few hours working at blockbuster video and you are making over $100k at the ripe old age of 41.
You know… suddenly being a garbage man doesn’t sound so bad.
Sanitation workers union is mad at the Mayor. First off, join the club. Everyone is mad at Bloomberg because he’s a terrible mayor, nanny state leader, bike lane fascist, chronic tax increaser, manipulative big dog who uses his vast fortunes to rule others. But the sanitation union is not mad at any of that. No, they are mad that he is cutting sanitation workers. And this was their revenge.
Sadly, Bloomberg is letting himself take the blame and not holding the union accountable for their deliberately orchestrated show down. Instead, Mayor Mike should “put his boot on the neck” on the union bosses and remind the workers that their loyalty is to the city (whose 8 million residents pay their salaries) and not to the union. He didn’t do this. And the union won.
Unions are holding New York City (and most major cities) hostage. New York transit just announced a series of fare increases. Now the subway is $2.50 per ride up from $2.25. And that additional quarter is going to union pensions. That’s right- not one cent of that is for track improvement, the 2nd Avenue expansion, maintenance, clean-up… no. The entire amount is for retired transit workers, who, like the sanitation union, have retired after 20 years with full benefits and handsome pensions. Another hostage situation.
The snow slow down and financial crippling are direct consequences of unions that have become too powerful and spineless government officials who sign their contracts. Where is their sense of duty to the citizens? Who protects the 8 million from the tyranny of 6300 sanitation workers? It’s shameful and prevalent enough to drive this conservative bonkers. But it is also reflective in the 2010 U.S. census results. Those union-rich states are losing population and the red states, right to work states are growing. New York will lose 2 districts. Texas will gain 4. That’s voting with your feet.
I love New York. I love DC. And I don’t feel like I have to move to escape the tyranny of the unions and their death grip on city services, schools, roads and construction. And I’m sure Utah and Wyoming are great states but I want to live here. Changing a city as liberal as New York or DC is near impossible. But the solution to the union power is simple. And, I think, inevitable: Bankruptcy.
New York will be forced to declare bankruptcy. Not just the city but the entire state (as will California and several others.) To sound awfully cliché it’s not a matter of “if” but “when”. The math is as certain and unstoppable as the Titanic’s sinking. The city is overpaying its underperforming employees and allowing them to retire extremely young. Ironically, the Nation considers raising the retirement age to 67… a good 26 later than the first retirees of New York’s stellar sanitation department. People and business are migrating out of New York- not in waves but in a constant drip drip drip of exodus. Once declared bankrupt, the city can cancel every one of their hoodwinked union contracts and renegotiate sane, sound ones that don’t exploit the taxpayers. Novel concepts like work performance and accountability can be addressed and the blanket “get paid no matter what you do/don’t do” approach (that has, surprisingly, not worked) can be abolished.
It does start with the people and the elections. On the one hand, New York did just vote in another Cuomo who will undoubtedly take the unions into his bedroom for some intimate moments. And we here in DC did elect Vince Grey who was endorsed by Marion Barry. So I guess, we both get what we vote for.
Maybe, then, Utah is my only option. Because being held hostage by half retired, unqualified, unskilled, heavily compensated, glorified bus boys cannot be my reality. Not if I want to stay sane and keep my wallet out of the union’s reach.
As a native New York, I used to laugh at DC’s response to snow. Even the slightest dusting still triggers mass panic, early closures of schools and business and a rush to the local grocery for bottled water, milk and toilet paper. (I guess for Washingtonians, snow necessarily means a desire for hot chocolate, a fear of pipes freezing and chronic diarrhea.) Last year’s major back-to-back blizzards which closed the federal government for 4 days was a national headline and northeasterner’s punch line. But they laughed too soon.
New York was crippled for three days. New York City… not Calcutta, not Mogadishu, not even DC. New York City. And no one could understand why. 24 inches, though certainly a lot of snow, is not unheard of in the City that never sleeps… so why the sudden shut down? Why was New York City suddenly incapable of responding to a snowstorm.
We thought all along it was a union plot. And by “we”, I mean my conservative, politically savvy family with whom I was snowbound sans internet or TV (thanks, Time Warner Cable. Glad Comcast doesn’t have the monopoly on crap cable companies). We witnessed snow plows driving along the streets with plows raised. We saw sanitation trucks parked with engines off and workers sitting inside the truck. For three days, they didn’t pick up garbage and they didn’t plow snow. So what did they do?
They protested.
Sanitation workers make an average of $67k per year. Now starting salary is low- $30 or 31k. But that jumps to over $44 in just one year with some overtime. Managers can make well into 6-figures. And as a protected class, they all retire with full benefits and pension in 20 years. I’ve been working for over 15 years and don’t see retirement in the near future… but high school classmates of mine are only 3 years away from a retired pension of close to $80k… for life. Pick up a few hours working at blockbuster video and you are making over $100k at the ripe old age of 41.
You know… suddenly being a garbage man doesn’t sound so bad.
Sanitation workers union is mad at the Mayor. First off, join the club. Everyone is mad at Bloomberg because he’s a terrible mayor, nanny state leader, bike lane fascist, chronic tax increaser, manipulative big dog who uses his vast fortunes to rule others. But the sanitation union is not mad at any of that. No, they are mad that he is cutting sanitation workers. And this was their revenge.
Sadly, Bloomberg is letting himself take the blame and not holding the union accountable for their deliberately orchestrated show down. Instead, Mayor Mike should “put his boot on the neck” on the union bosses and remind the workers that their loyalty is to the city (whose 8 million residents pay their salaries) and not to the union. He didn’t do this. And the union won.
Unions are holding New York City (and most major cities) hostage. New York transit just announced a series of fare increases. Now the subway is $2.50 per ride up from $2.25. And that additional quarter is going to union pensions. That’s right- not one cent of that is for track improvement, the 2nd Avenue expansion, maintenance, clean-up… no. The entire amount is for retired transit workers, who, like the sanitation union, have retired after 20 years with full benefits and handsome pensions. Another hostage situation.
The snow slow down and financial crippling are direct consequences of unions that have become too powerful and spineless government officials who sign their contracts. Where is their sense of duty to the citizens? Who protects the 8 million from the tyranny of 6300 sanitation workers? It’s shameful and prevalent enough to drive this conservative bonkers. But it is also reflective in the 2010 U.S. census results. Those union-rich states are losing population and the red states, right to work states are growing. New York will lose 2 districts. Texas will gain 4. That’s voting with your feet.
I love New York. I love DC. And I don’t feel like I have to move to escape the tyranny of the unions and their death grip on city services, schools, roads and construction. And I’m sure Utah and Wyoming are great states but I want to live here. Changing a city as liberal as New York or DC is near impossible. But the solution to the union power is simple. And, I think, inevitable: Bankruptcy.
New York will be forced to declare bankruptcy. Not just the city but the entire state (as will California and several others.) To sound awfully cliché it’s not a matter of “if” but “when”. The math is as certain and unstoppable as the Titanic’s sinking. The city is overpaying its underperforming employees and allowing them to retire extremely young. Ironically, the Nation considers raising the retirement age to 67… a good 26 later than the first retirees of New York’s stellar sanitation department. People and business are migrating out of New York- not in waves but in a constant drip drip drip of exodus. Once declared bankrupt, the city can cancel every one of their hoodwinked union contracts and renegotiate sane, sound ones that don’t exploit the taxpayers. Novel concepts like work performance and accountability can be addressed and the blanket “get paid no matter what you do/don’t do” approach (that has, surprisingly, not worked) can be abolished.
It does start with the people and the elections. On the one hand, New York did just vote in another Cuomo who will undoubtedly take the unions into his bedroom for some intimate moments. And we here in DC did elect Vince Grey who was endorsed by Marion Barry. So I guess, we both get what we vote for.
Maybe, then, Utah is my only option. Because being held hostage by half retired, unqualified, unskilled, heavily compensated, glorified bus boys cannot be my reality. Not if I want to stay sane and keep my wallet out of the union’s reach.
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