Buzz Blog

This has been bothering me for the last several days, so I’ll take some time to vent on the Buzz Blog.

The Obama Administration vehemently condemns the military officers that took a Hugo Chavez wannabe out of power and follow the line of succession to install the new President until elections can be held in November. The Obama Administration lauds the U.N. and O.A.S ostracism of Honduras and witholds military assistance.

But the Obama Administration sees the sham election in Iran, the supression of protesters and bloodshed in the streets at the hands of the government police and calmly says NOTHING.

Of course, ” We don’t want to meddle”, “This is an Iranian problem” and ” We have to wait and see how things play out”– These are not the words of the Leader of the Free World. Silence is not a virtue when people yearning for freedom stand up and fight for that freedom and take action to achieve that freedom.

Shame on you Mr. President! And shame on those members of Congress who worry more about their reelection than the fighters for freedom in Iran and Honduras, the REAL Heroes!!

I only wish that I were there fighting alongside them.

Respectfully Submitted,
The Oracle Of Winder, GA

It appears as though the “wizard of words” and “elicitor of eloquence” has either lost his silver tongue or maybe his teleprompter has failed.

Barack Obama claims that the overthrow of the Honduran President was not a “legal coup.”

I can assure the President that, by definition, NO coup is legal. What would they do, legislate it?

I anxiously await the press briefing where Robert Gibbs tells us the President’s words were taken out of context and explains what he really meant to say.

Respectfully Submitted,
The Oracle Of Winder, GA

I realize I’m glossing over the deaths of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Micheal Jackson, but in a way I think the loss of Billy Mays was a bigger one. Love him or hate him, Billy Mays used his infomercials to bring products to the marketplace that people loved and as a result, a lot of inventors got rich.

Inventors and entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy. Salesmen, or ‘pitchmen,’ bring the products to market inventors and entrepreneurs create, and Billy Mays was the king of the pitchmen. Recently I started watching the Discover Channel show Pitchmen about Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan. My respect for Mays grew as the series progressed. Sure, he’s over the top, a bit arrogant, and rubs some people the wrong way, but the story of Billy Mays life is uniquely American. He was a regular guy who through hard work, smarts, and a few breaks along the way, made himself a success.

Mays and Sullivan also have an amazing ability to spot products that would sell and know just how to sell it. They understand their customers and give those customers products they want and need. While Sullivan will no doubt continue bringing products to market, the void left by Billy Mays untimely death will be hard to fill.

Discovery is going to air a “Pitchmen” marathon on Wednesday July 1 leading up to the season finale. My condolences to the friends and family of Billy Mays.

Just as the Carter White House miscalculated the Iran situation in 1979, the Obama White House has miscalculated the Iran situation in 2009.

Jimmy’s miscalculation led to the Iranian Hostage Crisis, we have yet to realize what Barack’s miscalculation will lead to. But be assured that the Iran of 2009 is far more deadly than the Iran of 1979. A long range rocket powered Iran with nuclear capabilities coming soon has changed everything.

If nothing else, Barack should have learned that a timid, wishy-washy and noncomittal response to international events will lead to no good. Jimmy’s response to his error was an ill fated rescue attempt that literally went nowhere. I suppose Barack will be travelling to the Middle East soon to give another eloquent speech that will also go nowhere.

Time is ticking away, President Bush was severely criticized for waiting 7 minutes to leave the classroom on 9/11. What will be said about a President Obama who waits more than 7 days to decide what the right thing to do is?

I’m sure the Liberal Press and the Liberal Media will not answering that question in the near future!

Respectfully Submitted,
The Oracle Of Winder, GA

Many have joined and applauded the rise of the Tea Party Movement as the encroachment of the Government on personal liberty and the free enterprise system increases. The tea bag is used as a symbol for this growing disatisfaction.

I submit that this Movement is bound to fail!

Like its predecessor, the Fair Tax, the Tea Party lacks focus, leadership and a plan of action. What good is an idea, however laudable, that has no legs?

We exhibited our right to assemble and dissent on April 15th but this only served to dispel our fear that we were alone. We needed to know there were others who felt the same way, that cringed at the growth of Big Government, that were fed up with more rules and less freedom and that saw higher taxes to pay for it all.

And now we have the passage of the Cap and Trade Bill in the House of Representatives- Although I am not sure just who they are representing. Under the guise of a “Jobs Bill” and the generous use of smoke, mirrors, deception and deal making, the Democrats along with 8 Republican Clowns allowed it to pass.

Protesters, with their cute costumes and tea bag adornments, are NOT going to stop this lunacy of spending. They are NOT going to decrease the plethora of additional taxes bearing down upon us. They are NOT going to make our ” Representatives” in Washington realize our level of disgust with their actions.

My first idea was to exhort taxpayers to withold taxes by increasing their deductions. But this would just cause problems come next April 15th and, most probably, additional scrutiny from the IRS.

Therefore, I’m suggesting that all those fed up with the direction our government is taking, start on the Fourth of July and swamp our Senator and Representatives email accounts with our grievances. Start with your personal thoughts and then add the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights and appropriate speeches from the Founding Fathers to the body of the email. Maybe when their email accounts slow down, freeze up and crash they will understand the gravity of our frustration. Repeat this daily throughout the summer recess.

For those still counting on the Tea Bag Movement to do some good, you can always add a picture of a tea bag or the Boston Tea Party to your email.

Respectfully Submitted,
The Oracle Of Winder, GA

Hope And Change is coming fast and furious. Fresh off the government takeovers of GM, Chrysler, AIG etc…(started by Bush and perfected by Obama), several other massive government programs are on the fast track.

Apparently the massive program known as Cap and Trade will be voted on this week. Al Gore will be on hand to plead for the bill because as we all know, the planet has a fever and the only prescription is a massive government program (I doubt Gore will display this graph).

The Heritage Foundation says the cost of cap and trade to the average American will be much more than the $175 per family the CBO predicts. Heritage summarizes their analysis of the CBO report:

Regardless of the CBO’s cost estimates of the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade program, the necessary second part of the question–what benefits do the costs generate?–remains unanswered. Americans will get almost nothing in exchange for these higher taxes, and the legislation will provide nothing for future generations except more debt and less economic opportunity. According to climatologist Chip Knappenberger, Waxman-Markey would moderate temperatures by only hundredths of a degree in 2050 and no more than two-tenths of a degree at the end of the century.[8] This does not sound like a great deal for the next generation–millions of lost jobs, trillions of lost income, 50-90 percent higher energy prices, and stunning increases in the national debt, all for undetectable changes in world temperature.

The CBO analysis of Waxman-Markey fails to take into account all the adverse effects that will ripple through the U.S. economy if cap and trade becomes law. CBO’s grossly underestimated costs means Members of Congress will be grossly misinformed when voting on the legislation.

Micheal Williams, candidate for Senate in Texas, is reviewing the bill and you can read about it here.

While cap and trade is working it’s way through the Congress, ABC and Obama spent all day yesterday talking about the massive health care system reform the President desires. The plan will likely cause people to leave their private insurance into a new government insurance plan (Congressmen will of course be exempt from such requirements).

How might this happen? In some cases, it might simply mean that individuals, particularly those currently paying the entire cost of their health-care premiums, would choose to switch to the government plan because they believed it better fit their needs. In other cases, employers might decide to stop offering their current health-insurance options, preferring their employees purchase health insurance elsewhere. How often employers might choose to do this would depend on yet to be determined details of the “pay-or-play” employer mandate, which would require employers to either “play” by providing insurance to employees or “pay” by paying into a system that helps fund public health care. Right now, only two of the three notable bills making their way through Congress have an employer mandate, and on one of those, the details — such as how much employers would have to pay — are blank.

As Mark Steyn pointed out during Monday’s Rush Limbaugh program, the way government run health care programs control costs is by limiting the care given to the patients – that’s the only variable left in the system. Thus things that are routine in the US require long waits, and are oftentimes denied, in Canada and Britain. Obama all but admitted this would be the case last night when he said:

In a nationally televised event at the White House, Obama said families need better information so they don’t unthinkingly approve “additional tests or additional drugs that the evidence shows is not necessarily going to improve care.”

He added: “Maybe you’re better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller.”

Aren’t emotional loved ones of the patient incapable of making such decisions? Will these decisions be made by an independent, government mandated panel? Will see.

The Heritage Foundation has tons of stuff about health care policy right here.

The central problem (again as Steyn pointed out on Monday) is that we’ve allowed too many people to get between us and our Doctor. Whether it’s an insurance company that decides what care a patient gets or some government panel, the cost will be higher than it could or should be. Get insurance companies and government out of the way and let patients deal directly with the doctor of their choice. Let’s stop trying to insure against the common cold and insure people against catastrophic events – like we do with car insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and the like.

Iran media: Obama sent secret letter of support to Khamenei before election
DEBKAfile Special Report

June 24, 2009, 11:05 PM (GMT+02:00)

“Barack Obama purportedly sent a secret letter to Khamenei
US and Iranian sources report that before Iran’s presidential election, the Obama administration sent a secret letter to its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling for “cooperation in regional and bilateral relations” and a resolution of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.

The Iranian media gave great prominence to the disclosure – for which they cited the Washington Times of Wednesday, June 24.

The White House has cancelled invitations to Iranian diplomats to attend July 4 events in world capitals. ”

If true, is this an indication of how we can expect the cries of freedom throughout the world to be answered in the future?

Hot Dog Diplomacy…Sorry, I’ll pass!

Respectfully Submitted,
The Oracle Of Winder, GA

Following on the heels of Sen. John Ensign’s admission, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitted to having an affair with a woman from Argentina. Sanford’s admission concluded a week of frenzy as the press and the blogosphere wondered where he was. Well, know we know and we know what he was really doing.

Reaction has been swift and varied. Michelle Malkin is angry while some of my Twitter friends are making jokes about the sins of various Democrats. To be sure, Democrats are not immune from the sin of adultery, but we Republicans, who claim to be the Party of family values, shouldn’t use the excuse that “they do it too.” We should acknowledge that politicians are human, and entirely capable of committing adultery and all manner of other sins, but we should still elect people to office who endeavor to practice what they preach. The fact that some fall short of what they preach doesn’t mean what they preach should no longer be preached.

Nevertheless I’m mad. Sanford doesn’t owe me an apology. I’m not part of his family and I don’t live on South Carolina, but I’m still mad. I understand that he caved in to temptation and I’m as capable as anyone else of caving in to that or a whole host of other temptations. I’m not going to be the one to cast the first stone but shouldn’t we expect elected officials to have the willpower to keep their plow in their own field so the speak? Shouldn’t we expect more of those who aspire to lead us? I think we should.

As a Christian, I believe in forgiveness, redemption, grace, and second chances. I’ve received plenty of that in my life. My hope is that Sanford get’s his life straightened out and works things out with his wife. I hope his kids forgive him and this doesn’t ruin their relationship with the father.

I also hope others in government, of both parties, take this as a cautionary tale. Sadly I’ve heard plenty of rumors about politicians here in my home State who may or may not be guilty of the same sin as Mark Sanford. I’m loathe to talk about such things because there are wives and kids involved. Wives and kids who didn’t ask to be thrust into the spotlight and don’t want their family’s dirty laundry on the nightly news. For better or worse, the idea these sorts of things can be kept of the public eye is naive at best. As the scripture says:

Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. – Luke 12:3

Jon and Kate of “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ fame are getting a divorce. Oh sure they called it a “separate” and talked about how everything they do it “for the kids” but they’re still getting a divorce. If they really cared about their kids they’d quit the show, get some marriage counseling and try like heck to salvage their marriage. Alas, they aren’t doing that. They’ve called it quits as far as their marriage goes. They’ll apparently swap days taking care of the kids so as to avoid seeing each other as much as possible. They’re not parents, they’re babysitters.

Since they have no desire to save their marriage but still want me to tune in every week (for what? to see Jon meet chicks and Kate marry her bodyguard?) I’ve decided to make an announcement of my own: I will not be watching “Jon and Kate Plus 8″ ever again.

President Obama-

Just as your Vice President predicted, you would be tested within your first six months. In fact, you have been tested twice by international events; first by North Korea and now by Iran.

Unfortunately, you have failed miserably on both counts.

Kim Il Jung openly defies UN sanctions, detonates a nuclear bomb and fires his missiles; you declare a ” swift and severe response.” Mr. President, radar ships and the Navy deployment around Hawaii not only is not “swift and severe” but is more like sticking your head in the sand and crossing your fingers.

And now comes Iran with its sham election results, suppression of peaceful protesters and the resultant deaths. You respond with timid words, not wanting to take sides and not wanting to become involved.

Mr. President, may I remind you, YOU are the Leader of the Free World ! YOU carry the flag of democracy! YOU are the symbol of Freedom!

You MUST not abandoned these freedom fighting protesters risking their lives in the streets. You MUST openly declare your allegience to their cause.

Our prayers are with the Iranian people today, in fact , today we are all Iranians!

Respectfully Submitted,
The Oracle Of Winder, GA

Hat tip @jstrevino via Twitter.

Micheal Clark of the Gwinnett Daily Post is one of my favorite movie reviewers because of lines like this:

Forget worst film of the year; this (”Year One”) is the worst movie of the 21st century. Will Ferrell and everyone else associated with “Land of the Lost” can take solace in the knowledge someone else released a movie this year that makes theirs look good by comparison.

Heh.

Clark gives “Year One” zero stars (out of four). It sounds like it worked hard to receive that rare honor.

Dateline: August, 2010 Washington, DC

Fed Chairman Tim Geithner has declared the pending National Football League Players Strike a ” systemic risk” to the U.S. Economy.

According to Geithner: ” Sunday/ Monday/ Thursday Football is the backbone of economic development and our economic future. Without football thousands of millionaire players will lose everything they have played so hard for. Ticket sellers, concessionaires, program sellers and clean-up people will be on the streets begging for handouts from working citizens. Disaster will be just around the corner and entire cities will dry up and disappear. As the domino effect ensues, other professional teams could follow the same path toward destruction.”

To avert this impending catastrophe Geithner will: Nationalize all NFL teams. Establish three divisions North, Central and South. Mexico and Canada each will be given 6% ownership; U.S. Taxpayers will own 60%; the Players Association will own 18% and the present owners will retain a generous 10%.

Geithner vehemently declares ,” I don’t want to run the NFL, but without this extreme intervention the world, as we know it, will cease to exist.”

Just another example of government run amuck to save us from ourselves.

Respectfully Submitted,
The Oracle Of Winder, GA

Via The Corner at National Review.

On Obama’s response to events in Iran:

The president is also speaking in code. The Pope [John Paul II] spoke in a code which was implicit and understood support for the forces of freedom.

The code the administration is using is implicit support for this repressive, tyrannical regime.

We watched Gibbs say that what’s going on is vigorous debate. The shooting of eight demonstrators is not debate. The knocking of heads, bloodying of demonstrators by the Revolutionary Guards is not debate. The arbitrary arrest of journalists, political opposition, and students is not debate.

And to call it a debate and to use this neutral and denatured language is disgraceful.

Beyond that, the point here is no longer elections. The reason that at least eight have died is not because they wanted a recount of hanging chads in the outer precincts of Esfahan. What they wanted is to no longer live under a tyrannical dictatorship, a misogynistic, repressive, incompetent, and corrupt theocracy.

And that’s what the demonstration and the moment is all about. It’s about the regime. There is an opportunity — revolution is going to happen one way or the other eventually, and this theocracy will fall. It may not happen now, but it ought to be supported, because it might happen now, and it would change the world if it did.

Allahpundit accurately describes this as a “Jedi-like-fly-swat.” Is there anything this man can’t do?

It reminds me of this video.

Now if we could just get the President to stop whining about Bush and Fox News…

I’ve watched with interest on Twitter the post-election developments in Iran. It’s encouraging to see people express their opinion and be willing to risk bodily harm standing up to thugs. There is certainly plenty of evidence pointing to election funny business and indeed the election may have been stolen. I support the Iranian people in their quest for electoral justice and their desire for greater freedom.

Some on Twitter have said they were encouraged to see democracy in action in Iran. While protest is certainly an aspect of democratic governments, it’s foolhardy to assume mere protests will lead to democracy in Iran. Simply replacing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with Mir Hossein Mousavi will have limited impact on the freedom of the average Iranian. Fundamental change is needed in the form of a new Constitution. Simply put, if the Iranian people really want freedom they must remove the shackles of theocracy and embrace a Constitutional Republic. Theocracy, Islamic or otherwise, is antithetical to freedom.

Where the post-election protests in Iran will lead remains to be seen. I’m hopeful they will lead to real reform and real freedom for all the people of Iran.

We finally caught him on tape, the squirrel who keeps drinking the entire contents of my wife’s hummingbird feeder.

Of course you know, this means war.