GAO: Federal Government On Unsustainable Long-Term Fiscal Path

By William Teach December 13, 2012 – 9:24 am

One of the big Memeorandum pulls is a report from Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, which has made Leftist supporters of (NMP) Obama’s policies ecstatic

Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in October suggests that economic activity and employment have continued to expand at a moderate pace in recent months, apart from weather-related disruptions. Although the unemployment rate has declined somewhat since the summer, it remains elevated. Household spending has continued to advance, and the housing sector has shown further signs of improvement, but growth in business fixed investment has slowed. Inflation has been running somewhat below the Committee’s longer-run objective, apart from temporary variations that largely reflect fluctuations in energy prices. Longer-term inflation expectations have remained stable.

Let’s look at another release, this one from the GAO

(Daily Caller) The Government Accountability Office warned in a report Monday that if cuts are not made to mandatory spending — including Social Security and Medicare — there will be a fundamental gap between spending and revenue as more baby boomers retire.

“Significant actions to change the long-term fiscal path must be taken,” the GAO warned.

The first line of the report warns

GAO’s simulations continue to illustrate that the federal government is on an unsustainable long-term fiscal path

Continuing the Daily Caller write-up

The GAO warned that discretionary spending is not the crux of the problem. “Discretionary spending limits [which includes defense spending] alone do not address the fundamental imbalance between estimated revenue and spending, which is driven largely by the aging of the population and rising health care costs.” (snip)

“[S]pending for the major health and retirement programs will increase in coming decades, putting greater pressure on the rest of the federal budget,” the GAO study pointed out, attributing this trend to an aging population.

While we certainly need to make cuts in discretionary spending (and, yes, the military needs to see some cuts, as well. We can start with closing bases that are remnants of the Cold War, particularly overseas, and reduce their waste and antiquated weapons systems), it is the big safety net programs that are the danger. Welfare, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, ObamaCare, and massive government pensions eat up more and more of the federal budget. These are promises that lawmakers have made that cannot be sustained and will drive this country further into bankruptcy.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: GAO: Federal Government On Unsustainable Long-Term Fiscal Path »

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Democrats Recommend Delay For Job Killing ObamaCare Taxes

By William Teach December 12, 2012 – 4:10 pm

Perhaps they should have read the bill before voting for it. Byron York reports

Sixteen Democratic senators who voted for the Affordable Care Act are asking that one of its fundraising mechanisms, a 2.3 percent tax on medical devices scheduled to take effect January 1, be delayed.  Echoing arguments made by Republicans against Obamacare, the Democratic senators say the levy will cost jobs — in a statement Monday, Sen. Al Franken called it a “job-killing tax” — and also impair American competitiveness in the medical device field.

The senators, who made the request in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, are Franken, Richard Durbin, Charles Schumer, Patty Murray, John Kerry, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar, Joseph Lieberman, Ben Nelson, Robert Casey, Debbie Stabenow, Barbara Mikulski, Kay Hagan, Herb Kohl, Jeanne Shaheen, and Richard Blumenthal.  All voted for Obamacare.

Now that the reality of the situation is coming true, they realize that parts of Obamacare are bad. If only they could do something like introduce legislation…..

The Lonely Conservative has more.

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Posted in Barking Moonbats, Democrats, Healthcare | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach December 12, 2012 – 1:00 pm

…is a desert created because someone else used their ice maker, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Eye Of Polyphemus, and wishing Jamie a big 36th birthday!

I left this picture full size, in the hopes that it makes Jamie feel better.

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Army Field Manual For Afghanistan Goes Dhimmi

By William Teach December 12, 2012 – 12:11 pm

This is life in the military under Obama and liberal apologists

(WSJ) American soldiers should brace for a “social-cultural shock” when meeting Afghan soldiers and avoid potentially fatal confrontations by steering clear of subjects including women’s rights, religion and Taliban misdeeds, according to a controversial draft of a military handbook being prepared for troops heading to the region.

The proposed Army handbook suggests that Western ignorance of Afghan culture, not Taliban infiltration, has helped drive the recent spike in deadly attacks by Afghan soldiers against the coalition forces.

“Many of the confrontations occur because of [coalition] ignorance of, or lack of empathy for, Muslim and/or Afghan cultural norms, resulting in a violent reaction from the [Afghan security force] member,” according to the draft handbook prepared by Army researchers.

The 75-page manual, reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, is part of a continuing effort by the U.S. military to combat a rise in attacks by Afghan security forces aimed at coalition troops.

A perfect storm of leftism: excusing pedophilia, excusing mistreatment of women, bowing to Islamists, and blaming America. Fortunately, the top military commander in Afghanistan, Marine Gen. John Allen, won’t endorse the manual, won’t write a forward for it, and outright disapproves of it. Expect him to be quietly replaced within a few months.

Read: Army Field Manual For Afghanistan Goes Dhimmi »

Posted in Dhimmitude, Liberal World, War On Terrorism | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

Schoolkids Won’t Know What A Train’s Lavatory Looks Like

By William Teach December 12, 2012 – 11:19 am

Won’t someone think of the kids?

(NY Daily News) It’s Frosty the Toilet.

A passenger on a Polish train who attempted to answer nature’s call found a snow drift in the lavatory and 3 inches of solid ice separating her from the seat.

The rider, identified only as Agnieszka, quickly took her business to another car. But before splitting, she took a photo that became an Internet sensation and that amused Poles have dubbed “Throne of the Snow Queen.”

You can see that photo over at The Telegraph.

Read: Schoolkids Won’t Know What A Train’s Lavatory Looks Like »

Posted in Global Warming | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

Babs Boxer (D-Long Fossil Fueled Flights) To Form “Hotcoldwetdry Caucus”

By William Teach December 12, 2012 – 8:58 am

Of course, The Hill doesn’t use my term, but the completely un-scientific phrase “climate change”, meant to denote that Mankind’s use of fossil fuels, such as lots of long fossil fueled flights from the People’s Republic of Brokeifornia to D.C., causes all weather events. And the Democratic Senator from the PRB (which is having a wee bit of problem with their carbon permits revenue) wants to spread awareness

(The Hill) Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said Tuesday that she’s forming a “climate change caucus,” and argues that Hurricane Sandy “changed a lot of minds” on the topic.

The move signals that Democrats might again be ready to aggressively promote bills to curb greenhouse gas emissions, even as the political prospects for global warming legislation remain remote in Congress.

“I am going to form a climate change caucus, because people are coming up to me, they really want to get into this. I think Sandy changed a lot of minds,” Boxer told reporters in the Capitol.

So, will Boxer now start riding a bicycle to get from California to D.C.? I wonder if she would be willing to give up her McMansion and move into a tiny apartment to save the planet from overheating?

“It is going to work with all the committees and all the committee chairmen to make sure we can move forward legislation that reduces carbon pollution and also works on mitigation and all of the other elements,” she said.

Yes, that nasty pollution necessary for life on earth. Perhaps she could convince Harry Reid to turn the lights off in the Senate and heavily reduce the heating as we approach winter? Has she replaced all the bulbs in her office with CFLs? And turned down the thermostat?

“I think you are going to see a lot of bills on climate change,” Boxer told reporters. “I don’t know whether [they will include] cap-and-trade, but there will be a lot of different bills. I have already spoken to three colleagues that have bills in the works,” she said.

Go for it. I’m sure American’s would love to see even more legislation passed that would increase their cost of living in order to “prevent bad weather”, which never happened before the combustion engine /sic

Read: Babs Boxer (D-Long Fossil Fueled Flights) To Form “Hotcoldwetdry Caucus” »

Posted in AGW Idiocy, Democrats, Global Warming | 8 Comments | Trackback URL

Team Obama Refuses To Condemn Union Violence Threats In Michigan

By William Teach December 12, 2012 – 8:21 am

So glad that Team Obama cares about a civil society after he whipped up the crowd during an appearance in Michigan on Monday

(Daily Caller) White House spokesman Jay Carney declined to condemn the increasing violence and threats by union members in Michigan, merely telling reporters Tuesday that “the president believes in debate that’s civil.”

When asked by a reporter about a claim by Michigan state Democrat that “there will be blood” should Republicans pass a union-choice law in Michigan, Carney professed ignorance and then downplayed the comment.

“I haven’t see those comments, and I’m not sure they mean what someone interprets them to mean,” he said.

This came before all the threats of violence from Democrats and union members became real violence. And now you have Jimmy Hoffa threatening “civil war“.

Of course, the loony tunes on the Left are pushing a “false flag” narrative

When I saw this video–claiming that a “violent mob” destroyed the tent the Koch brothers had paid for in front of the Michigan Capitol–I knew right away it was likely a false flag. After all, Stranahan, James O’Keefe’s buddy, first posted it. Within minutes it was up at Drudge.

So, those weren’t union goons violently assaulting people? In fact, two of the union thugs have been identified. And every time we see this kind of violence it comes from Democrat voters.

Now we await to see what Jay Carney and/or Obama will say regarding the violence today, if any White House reporter is willing to ask.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: Team Obama Refuses To Condemn Union Violence Threats In Michigan »

Posted in Barry Obama, Current Affairs, Democrats | 4 Comments | Trackback URL

Green School Failure

By William Teach December 11, 2012 – 3:59 pm

Surprise!

(USA Today) Thompson Elementary ranked 205th out of 239 Houston schools in a report last year that showed each school’s energy cost per student. Walnut Bend Elementary ranked 155th. A third “green” school, built in 2010, ranked 46th in the report, which a local utility did for the district to find ways of cutting energy costs.

Poor equipment maintenance plagued the schools built in 2007, a problem that districtwide improvements are now addressing, said Gavin Dillingham, the district’s energy manager until August.

“People have the mistaken impression that once buildings are LEED-certified, they’re always going to run energy-efficiently,” Dillingham said. “They don’t.”

The problems in Houston illustrate the little-discussed uncertainty of “green schools,” which promise huge energy savings and rising student performance, but do not always deliver, despite their extra cost.

Not all “green” schools fail to promise what they deliver, however, their costs, such as in construction and maintenance, tend to exceed savings. I’m all for doing what’s right for the environment, but this gets absurd.

Read: Green School Failure »

Posted in Energy, Environment | 4 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach December 11, 2012 – 1:00 pm

…is an evil fossil fueled vehicle causing the seas to rise and islands to tip over, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The First Street Journal, with a post on Economics 101.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

Steve Israel (D-LaLa Land) Wants To Ban Guns That Don’t Exist

By William Teach December 11, 2012 – 11:24 am

I guess Israel is too scared to actually file legislation that attacks real guns

(Daily Caller) New York Democratic Rep. Steve Israel is calling for legislation to renew the federal ban on plastic guns, according to his official congressional website.

“Recent reports have pointed to the new possibility of building guns at home using a 3-D printer,” Israel’s website states. “Right now, plastic guns are illegal under the Undetectable Firearms Act, but this law is set to expire next year.”

The only problem is that these guns don’t actually, you know, exist.

Read: Steve Israel (D-LaLa Land) Wants To Ban Guns That Don’t Exist »

Posted in 2nd Amendment, Democrats | 5 Comments | Trackback URL
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