Quote of the Day

Perfectly spot on by Ed Morrissey...

No, but when you can get the rest of the farm chasing Snowball, it certainly provides a distraction from actual misery, doesn’t it?

...in reference, of course, to Mark Halperin's rude awakening that Obama might be in over his head after all.

 Halperin laments:

But Obama has exacerbated his political problems not just by failing to enact policies that would have actually turned the economy around, but also by authorizing a series of tactical moves intended to demonize Republicans and distract from the problems at hand. He has wasted time lambasting his foes when he should have been putting forth his agenda in a clear, optimistic fashion, defending the benefits of his key decisions during the past two years (health care and the Troubled Asset Relief Program, for example) and explaining what he would do with a re-elected Democratic majority to spur growth.

Throughout the year, we have been treated to Obama-led attacks on George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, Congressman Joe Barton (for his odd apology to BP), John Boehner (for seeking the speakership — or was it something about an ant?) and Fox News (for everything). Suitable Democratic targets in some cases, perhaps, but not worth the time of a busy Commander in Chief.

 As Morrissey notes, it's not like we didn't try to tell you.

(More at Memeorandum)

Paul Krugman Laments that Centrist Obama Hasn't Spent Enough

I wish I didn't have to rush off to work this morning and begin the Research Paper project with my sophomores this morning because I'd love to sit here for a bit and eviscerate this Paul Krugman column. 

I thought I was hearing things yesterday when I heard Krugman on This Week say that Obama is a "moderate centrist" president.  WHAT?  What the hell is he talking about?  I mean, I know the far left is unhappy with Obama about a few issues, but "moderate centrist"?  No .... way.

From today's Krugman column:

Here’s what you need to know: The whole story is a myth. There never was a big expansion of government spending. In fact, that has been the key problem with economic policy in the Obama years: we never had the kind of fiscal expansion that might have created the millions of jobs we need.

Ask yourself: What major new federal programs have started up since Mr. Obama took office? Health care reform, for the most part, hasn’t kicked in yet, so that can’t be it. So are there giant infrastructure projects under way? No. Are there huge new benefits for low-income workers or the poor? No. Where’s all that spending we keep hearing about? It never happened.

Oh my.  I wish I had time to put on a pot of coffee and provide list after list, example after example of Obama's expansion of government and wasteful spending.  (And don't throw the errors of the Bush administration in here; I never, EVER said they were perfect either and have argued against the bailouts as much as anyone.)

Read the rest and then feel free to eviscerate Mr. Krugman in the comments.  This one just leaves me aghast and agape that anyone could print such nonsense in a national newspaper, even in an OpEd.  Truly the end of responsible journalism occurred long ago but if you needed more proof, this is it.

Pink Tulips Would be Better...

...but I really like my new vase!

So I Went to Buy a Card Today...

...but I didn't buy this one.

Take Yet Another Trip to Second Hand Rose

Oh what treasures we saw today at Milly's!  Steve and I made a trip to Minden today to visit Milly at Second Hand Rose and once again, new treasures, new stories, and good times!  You know, we only met Milly in March of this year, but it seems like we've known her forever.  She's such an endearing, fun, loving person that you just can't help but be enchanted by her exuberance.  And what a life she's had:  she's been in the antique business for nearly 30 years.  She ministers in prisons and in nursing homes.  She's the daughter of a decorated Air Force veteran.  She sings like an angel and has sung at The White House for...I think she said the first President Bush.  And she has Boston Terriers, and who doesn't love a Boston Terrier?  I mean, look at her babies:
A

That's Heidi and Rosalea; just adorable!

And Oh the treasures we saw today.  Milly had just bought part of the estate of a gentleman who had spent a lot of time in Germany and France.  She had lots of cool handcrafted German tools and other items she was anxious to show us.  In her shop window out front she had a nifty old wooden sled:

She also had some old shoe skates with the key and some his and her wooden cross country skies in the window.

Once inside, of course Steve bolted to the third floor to get Scuba Pig:

Here's the close up of Scuba Pig.  The Teenager has taken a liking to Scuba Pig and wants it to live in his room.  That's fine with me.  And no, we did not get the Chappaquiddick book.

So back to the German stuff ... the tools were cool; there were several vises of various sizes, an old hammer, some ice tongs, shears, bellows, planes, and even a bear trap:

The oval metal thing?  That's an old hot water bottle.  It has two little loops on each side at the top for a string (you can see one near the fruit bowl) and a knob on the top front where you pour in hot water.  Fill 'er up and tie her on and it's a hot water bottle.

This old German barrel had been modified with wheels on the bottom, a wine rack in inside and also had a hole in the front for a spigot in case you wanted to put a keg inside.  It was pretty neat:

Here's Milly holding an old wheel (which prompted her to burst out in a chorus from "Fiddler on the Roof" because she said it reminded her of the movie:

Steve is currently coveting this old German typewriter (if you look closely, it has the symbols on it, too):

See:

It's a beautiful piece and the table it's on is awesome also with two drawers (one with compartments) and a gorgeous ornate key.

These wooden churns were great too, and had all the right interior pieces:

Right in the bottom left corner there is an old laundry wringer.  Thank goodness we don't have to do that anymore!

Look at this cute bunny; it came home with me:

It's Christmas ornament size and will go on my tree along with the others I bought last visit.

A basket of books:

Or a dog in a basket?

A pretty orange vase:

I didn't try, but I'm pretty sure these are too small for me; I liked 'em though:

I'm wondering if this will get me into the Axis of Fedora:

The nerd glasses on a cord might disqualify me.

How about some light reading?

Or a beer:

They're all non-potable, of course.  Just collectible bottles.  Milly had five boxes of these stuffed in a closet which we pulled out for her and put on these shelves; Steve sorted them by country and rarity.

These salt and pepper shakers are cute:

A gift for your liberal friends?:

And these hand-painted Prince Albert tins are cute:

It was a fun day. Here are my little ornaments from last time and this time, the blue broach I bought today and an apple pin:

I also brought home my pretty vase.  As always, if you see something you want or are looking for something, call Milly.  The number for Second Hand Rose is 318.371.9830 and she's at 509 Main Street in Minden.  If you go visit, take a treat for the dogs!

Previously:

A Birthday Trip to Second Hand Rose
Take a Trip to Second Hand Rose in Minden
Take Another Trip to Second Hand Rose in Minden

6-0

Lucky Les pulls out another one!  Totally heart-stopping, once again!

Road Trip

We're headed to Minden tomorrow to see Milly;  I called her last week and had her put up that vase for me that I've been coveting.

We mostly just want to go over and visit with Milly and the dogs, but you know, I just love to take pictures in that place.

Anybody want the scuba pig?  I'll pick him up if the price is right!

Where's the Outrage?

It's Friday!

The usual Friday sift:  Noonan explains how we all have to be accountants now, regardless of our actual profession.  It's the deluge of new forms, rules, and regulations.  Nothing new, she says, just worse.  We know, Peggy, we know.

Krauthammer takes note of our incompetent Congress, citing their failure to pass, or even offer, a budget, the failure to extend the Bush tax cuts leaving all of America in uncertainty as to their tax rates on January 1, and on top of all that, the buffoon who invited Stephen Colbert to speak to Congress.  Fail.

My reading stack (of articles, not books, this time) is pretty full; there's been some great analysis out there lately and I'm going to get caught up on it this weekend.  My blog mojo is coming back after nearly two weeks of Oktoberfesting.

I'm ready to get back to "hand to hand combat" as Obama said yesterday.  Where's the outrage on THAT one?  When Sarah Palin suggested that the Tea Party not retreat, but reload, CNN accused her of "inciting violence."  Where's the outrage?  You can ignore the Joe Biden comment about "strangling" Republicans because, well, it's Joe Biden, and anyone can take a joke, right?  I mean, he was joking, wasn't he?

CNN accused Palin of "inciting violence" with her "don't retreat, reload" comment, but it's okay now to say if Republicans take the majority in November there will be "hand to hand combat" on Captiol Hill?  Okay.  Double standards in the media - alive and well.

I can see November from here!

Obama is Like the Dog That Chased the Car...

...and caught it.

If Obamacare is So Great....Question of the Day

If Obamacare is so great, why has the administration granted waivers to some "30 insurers, employers and union plans, responsible for covering about one million people" not to mention Congressional members themselves and no doubt Obama himself and his family?

If Obamacare is so great, why have small businesses like McDonalds and 3M announced dropping coverage on all or part of their groups?

If Obamacare is so great, why do one in four Democrats want it repealed?  Fifty percent of Americans want the bill gone.

Any answers?

Quote of the Day

"Big oil, big banks, big health insurance: We're going to tattoo you with that, so it's like doggy-doo stuck on your shoe. Wherever you go, people will know."

Nancy Pelosi


I just can't even go with that one!  So many open doors....

Is A Double-Dip Recession In Our Cards?

In yesterday's American Spectator, Peter Ferrera posted a shocking summation of Obama's upcoming tax increases "for every major federal tax."  His article is also intended to publicize his new publication, part of a series of publications, as part of Encounter's Broadside series.  I found both points to be of interest.

First the tax increases:  basically because of Congress's failure to extend the Bush tax cuts and because of Obamacare, every major federal tax is about to skyrocket.  This will inevitably lead to a double dip recession.  Among the increases you can expect:

Among the bonehead increases that beckon to shove the economy back into recession is a nearly 20% increase in the top two income tax rates, counting the phase-out of deductions and exemptions. The top capital gains tax rate is scheduled to soar by nearly 60%, counting the application of Obamacare's new 3.8% tax on investment income. The tax rate on dividends is scheduled to nearly triple, from 15% to 43.4%, counting the new Obamacare tax as well. The Obamacare legislation also increased the Medicare HI payroll tax rate by 62% for the nation's employers and investors. On our current course, the death tax will rise from the grave next year with a 55% top rate.

So much for that promise we heard so often that taxes will not increase on the middle class.  Lies!

The bottom income tax rate of 10% will soar by 50% to 15%, and every other income tax rate will rise by a similar amount. The child tax credit will be slashed by 50% from $1,000 per child to $500 per child. The marriage penalty will also rise from the grave to tax more heavily those who are married rather than those who are just living together.  A family of four earning $50,000 per year will pay more than $2,100 in higher taxes. A single mom earning $36,000 per year will pay over $1,100 more in taxes.  Married senior citizens earning $40,000 per year will pay more than $1,400 in higher taxes.

There's a lot more at the link; you need to read it for yourself.   But the news is not good.  Businesses are not reinvesting profits, they're hanging on to dividend income, banks aren't lending capital as they should....the uncertainty of what lies ahead has everything all knotted up and nothing is moving forward - except taxes.


Ferrera is, in this article, also promoting his new publication with Encounter's Broadside series which I hadn't heard about before, so I was interested in that as well.  There are fifteen or so of these little pamphlets modeled sort of on Thomas Paine's Common Sense; each addresses a specific topic such as national security, Obamacare, Immigration, etc.  You can review the list here.  I ordered four of them.  They're short, inexpensive, and written by respected experts on each subject.


One final bit of information from Ferrera's piece:  the Democrats are often screaming about how the rich don't need the tax cuts extended because they need to pay more to help cover this huge deficit.  Ferrera points out "that the top 1% of income earners pay more federal income taxes than the bottom 95%!"  Seriously.  Going Galt, anyone?


Maybe it's time, after all, to examine the Fair Tax.

More Speculation on an Obama/Clinton Ticket

Fueling longtime speculation about Hillary Clinton's future in the Obama administration, Bob Woodward is hinting now that a job switch is "on the table" between Hillary and VP Joe Biden.

Dig this line from Larry King via Politico:

A lot of people think if the president's a little weak going into 2012, he'll have to do a switch there and run with Hillary Clinton as his running mate,” King said, repeating gossip that’s swirled for several months and appeared from time to time on blogs.

IF?  IF the president's a little weak...???  I'd say he is.  

This one has been tossed about ever since the campaign when she wasn't the selection in the first place;  I'm not sure she actually wanted it then, though.  I'm don't think she had ruled out a second run for President at that time.  I'm not sure she wants it now or has ruled out a presidential run in 2016 (or 2012 for that matter), but I've long thought she has been unhappy in the Secretary of State spot.  She has often contradicted Obama policy and has seemed overshadowed by the aura of Obama - at least initially.  

In fact, I often wondered why she even took the spot and wondered if she had been offered something else in the long term - like VP?   I often wondered about Joe Biden as well; I get the whole power-trip thing, but I never felt like his heart was in being VP either.  He's always seen it as a second-fiddle job.

Nothing in Washington is ever as it seems.

At any rate, Woodward has provided more blog fodder for the left and the right.  Woodward is out there to sell his book and I suppose all this fuels that fire, too.  

Would an Obama/Clinton ticket bring back all those disenchanted Independents?  Would it re-energize the disillusioned Obama base?  Who knows...

...but, it does make for interesting speculation!


(Follow the discussion today at Memeorandum.)

Sweet Home Chicago

Surely he checked this out first, eh?  I mean, c'mon....

Rahm is a lot of things but inept wasn't on my list.  Into the campaign less than a week and two missteps already? 

This ought to be fun.

Anybody want to make odds on what a judge's ruling on this will be?

(HT:  Memeorandum)

Even in Baby Steps The Obama Agenda is Dangerous

In the face of overwhelming defeat in November, the Democrats and Team Obama are considering "a new, more incremental approach" to their power-grabbing, economy-destroying agenda.  As if they have a choice.

According to this story in today's Wall Street Journal, Team Obama is considering "piecemeal" implementation of immigration reform, energy policy, and closure of Guantanamo, rather than the huge, sweeping, in your face legislation we've become accustomed to.

In fact, it was all Rahm's fault they couldn't get it done so far as he had become "mistrusted by the left" so now Obama has "a better chance to repair relations with the party's liberal base." 

Team Obama attempts to hint at an attempt at bipartisanship with regard to immigration reform:

Under the incremental scenario, the White House would embrace Republican proposals to step up immigration law enforcement and border and port security in exchange for measures such as the DREAM Act, which would give illegal immigrant children a path to citizenship through military or public service. White House officials could add an agricultural-workers program to that bill but put off dealing with the bulk of illegal immigrants until later.

But again, when the Dems lose control in November, what choice will they have?

Even piecemeal, the Obama agenda is still a far left liberal agenda, an economic disaster, and thrashing of American principles and values. 

Full Metal Jacket Reach Around: The Oktoberfest 2010 Edition

Now that I've survived Oktoberfest and can concentrate on politics again, I need to get caught up with what's been going on in the world.  What better way than to take a spin through the blogosphere and see what's crackin'. 

Bob Belvedere and The Daley Gator unload on Alan Grayson - hilarious. 

Left Coast Rebel unloads on James O'Keefe.

Legal Insurrection's Saturday Night Card Game takes aim on Gloria Allred.

Obi's Sister has some advice for Obama.

Pundette pronounces Obama "Stuck on Slurpee."

Doug Ross refutes the idea that our southern border is secure.

The Lonely Conservative gets hate mail.

American Power has a great post on today's rally in Washington as does Pirate's Cove.

Wyblog needs a break.

Mind Numbed Robot has a must read post on Progressives in State Governments.

Sister Toldjah is offended by Obama's "slave" quote.

Potluck posts the "most disgraceful enviro ad EVER."

Stacy and Smitty are celebrating birthdays and are trying to recover from blog-flu.

Fishersville Mike's Weekend Watchdog is up.

Reaganite Republican updates the status of the Florida Senate race.

Fenway Nation had a blogiversary! 

Bride of Rove laments the death of the NASA dream.

And with that, I think I'm up to speed.  Continued Oktoberfest recovery tonight (compounded by that crazy-assed LSU finale) and back to regular, non-Oktoberfest blogging tomorrow.

Happy weekend!

Take a Trip to the Third Annual Barksdale Oktoberfest

I have survived Oktoberfest.  I think.

We had a rollicking good time as always.  The crowd was great, the food better than last year, the band awesome and the beer was fine.  One oddity, to me, was the weird plastic cups they were serving beer in:  they turned a different color depending on what you were drinking.  If you had Sam Adams Octoberfest, your cup turned purple.  If you had Coors Light, it turned orange.  If you had water or a soda, it turned pink.  It looked like we were all drinking Kool Aid.

I quickly abandoned the plastic cups for a new souvenir mug for $10.

The band, AlpenMusikanten, was fabulous as they are each year:

The food was good and everyone knows you better eat first at Oktoberfest so you can drink all that beer later!  New this year were the cute little pretzels.  If you didn't want the traditional German fare of brats, sauerkraut, schnitzel, and potato salad, you could pick up a giant turkey leg.  This is Steve's son Josh, and friend Heather.

After dinner the contests began. There was a keg rolling contest which I tried to get pictures of but they all came out blurry.  Go figure.  Later there was a beer drinking contest; the girl in this picture won it last year but this year the guy in the camo Saints jersey won.  He was FAST!

There was also a yodeling contest.  He's a snip:



There was lots of dancing by old and young.  These folks danced a lot and were cute:

And Liz Carpenter, one of the organizers, is a fabulous polka dancer:

Even Steve got out there when they played "Shout!" with his impression of a dying roach (inspired by the scene in Animal House.)

They did the "Hand Jive":



And of course we all did the "Thriller" dance.  

We all sang "The Guacamole Song":

When not dancing, singing, or drinking, we wandered around a little.   We took a picture:

And later watched some beer pong.

Those guys were funny, and very nice.  The band played that military service song, the one where you stand up when they play the theme song for your particular branch.  Steve stood for the Army, although he can actually stand for both Army and Air Force since he served in both:

I loved watching these two dance:

All in all, it was a fine time.  We shut it down about midnight and headed home.  I'm not quite ready for next year yet, but I will be by tomorrow!

Oh, wait....you want to see the costume, don't you.  Heh!  I felt ridiculous because not as many people dressed up this year but it paid off because I nettied a $150 gift certificate to The Vintage restaurant at one of the casinos.  Score!

And so with that, another Oktoberfest is in the books and this blogger can concentrate on politics once again. 

Good times!

The Lowenbrau Lion

When Steve was in Munich a while back, he went to Oktoberfest.  He loved the Lowenbrau Lion; he paid no attention whatsoever to the sexy women in dirndles or the huge steins of beer.  He just stood outside the Lowenbrau tent and watched the lion. 

Well, not exactly, but he did like the lion. 

So here's one last Oktoberfest post before my own good times tonight at BAFB; come join us!  The kickoff is at 4:30.