July 31, 2009 • 3:04 pm Comments Off
This was one of the first Rush licks I learned on the geetar many years ago.
When I want to irritate my wife, I either sing The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down or any Geddy Lee vocal line.
I found out yesterday that Cougar Mellencamp stuff work well too.
• 1:27 pm Comments Off
Economist Richard Posner had a nice article deconstructing Paul Krugman earlier this week. As I’ve noted, my major opposition to the current health care proposals put forth by the majority party have to do with deficit spending.
Prudent businessmen and prudent individuals alike have thus been given an additional motive for hoarding cash rather than investing and consuming. No one knows how his financial situation will be affected by health reform, if it is is enacted. There is enormous and I think justified distrust of the government’s ability to design and execute so ambitious a program as the Administration and the congressional leadership envisage.
One might think that this would give a born-again Keynesian macroeconomist like Paul Krugman pause. But not only does he say nothing about the effect of the debate over health reform on uncertainty and through it on the economic situation, even though he is pessimistic about the situation; he provides no analysis of the likely costs of health reform, and the incidence of those costs on particular groups in the society. He does nothing to allay the uncertainty that the debate over health reform has engendered.
More Krugman deconstruction here.
Filed under: National , health care, health care reform, Paul Krugman, Richard Posner
• 1:21 pm Comments Off
During week twenty-six of the North Carolina General Assembly’s 2009-2010 session, Republican leaders once again offered possible spending cuts to balance the state budget without raising taxes on North Carolina families and small businesses.
The Republican proposal includes $280 million in matching funds from using $70 million of money currently being funneled through the Golden Leaf foundation; the 3-1 match could be used to help plug the budget hole. Another proposal would expand charter schools and receive federal grants; the savings for the state would be $100 million. These along with many other items provided a menu of options to raise or save $633 million and allow us to adopt a budget without placing a greater burden on North Carolina taxpayers.
Democrats continue their closed-door meetings on the state budget. They have yet to release a spending plan but have acknowledged that they plan to spend $20.3 billion in the state budget including federal stimulus money. They also plan to hike taxes by $990 million.
Republicans have argued that before Democrats place the burden of $1 billion or more in new taxes on the backs of North Carolina families and small businesses, they should release their spending plan. Taxpayers ought to know how their money will be spent in advance of being asked to foot the bill for new state spending. If Democrats are confident that no waste will be found in their spending plan, then they should be anxious to make their plan public.
On Wednesday, President Obama visited Raleigh in an effort to rally support for a government takeover of health care. Just last week, Democratic Governor Beverly Perdue attended the summer meeting of the National Governor’s Association for a discussion of national health care policy and expressed her concerns that a national health care overhaul will leave states footing the bill. Perdue said in a statement at the time, “We are all hungry for a solution, but the absolute deal breaker for me as governor is a federal plan that shifts costs to the states.” (“Perdue’s stand on health plan: Don’t burden states,” News & Observer, 7/22/09) However, this week she was on hand to cheer for the national Democrats’ plans for nationalized health care.
One may question what Governor Perdue has learned since last week to assuage her concerns that a national health care overhaul would cause further problems to a state budget Democrats have yet to agree on nearly a month past the original deadline.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said, “Like many North Carolinians I am concerned that the national health care overhaul envisioned by the President will result in greater burdens to families, small businesses, and state governments. If Governor Perdue has learned something to convince her that the national Democrats’ health care experiment will lower costs for North Carolinians and not cause further problems to the state budget, she should share that information with the people of North Carolina. We are four weeks into the fiscal year without a state budget; we cannot afford to have state government, meaning state taxpayers, foot more of the bill for health care costs. Governor Perdue and legislative Democrats should focus on adopting a balanced state budget that does not raise taxes on struggling North Carolina families and businesses.”
Filed under: 1
• 1:08 pm Comments Off
I heard recently from a friend in the pharmaceutical industry that his company is thinking of moving its jobs back to New Jersey because of the ever increasing taxes in North Carolina.
This won’t help any. Analysts say the income tax will rise in this state for 87 percent of you under one of the proposals in Raleigh.
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate settled on a plan that would tack a 3 percent surcharge on the income tax liability of North Carolinians who report income of more than $250,000 a year. Taxpayers who report between $100,000 and $250,000 would get hit with a 2 percent surcharge. Those levels are based on the taxable income of married couples filing jointly.
Filed under: North Carolina , business taxes in north carolina, taxes in north carolina
• 11:47 am Comments Off
Raleigh. – Democrats continue closed-door meetings in an attempt to reach a budget deal. Published reports indicate Democrats have agreed among themselves to spend $20.3 billion, a number which includes federal stimulus funds. What the Democrats have not finalized is their plan to raise taxes by $990 million. Most members of the General Assembly, Democrats and Republicans, as well as the news media and the general public are not privy to the details of the plan being worked out. Democratic leaders historically have concealed specifics regarding the budget until a short time, in most instances just hours, before a vote. The result is that items of wasteful spending are found in the conference report that were not part of House or Senate budgets.
An example of proposed spending which may end up in the final budget is the bill introduced by two Democrats that would spend $1.7 million for a “Star Fleet Academy” at North Carolina A&T State University. (“Set phasers to ‘educate’,” Under the Dome, 7/29/09)
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
“What are Democrats hiding? It’s past time for them to release their spending plan. As we have seen on too many occasions wasteful spending and pork barrel projects gain final budget approval because those provisions are inserted during closed-door meetings and there is no time for a thorough review once the budget plan is made public. Democratic legislators could greatly advance the cause of open government by allowing public review of how they plan to spend the public’s money.”
Filed under: 1
• 10:22 am Comments Off
I’ve met the dudes in the Not Dead Yet Blues Band. Curly Mike is a neighbor and friend of mine. These guys are worth the time and put on a great blues show.
Next Friday, August 7, at 8PM please Join the Not Dead Yet Blues Band at Zion Bar & Grille, 5601 Roanne Way, Greensboro, for the benefit of the Susan G Komen for the Cure.
With Mike ‘Curly’ Carter and Rockintom Veltri on Guitars, DJ Mike Caudle on Harp, Jamberg on Drums and T. Case the Bass on obvious. Hey, we are actually a danged decent band! Check us out at www.NotDeadYetBlues.com and www.myspace.com/notdeadyetbluesband.
Come on — boogie with the old dudes! And ya KNOW the food is great at Zion. All proceeds benefit Susan G Komen for the Cure.
Filed under: 1
• 10:19 am 1
I’m interested in the candidacy of Jorge Cornell for Greensboro City Council for a number of personal reasons.
I don’t live in the city so I don’t follow politics there real close, but Cornell is tackling the race head on.
He’s made nice use of a simple web template for his campaign site. There seems to be a lot going on there.
Filed under: North Carolina , Jorge Cornell
• 7:35 am Comments Off
Nancy is doing a great job of employing the demonization play out of the liberal fascism playbook.
After they finish with the insurance companies and making profit an enemy of the people, I wonder who they will tackle next?
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called health insurers “the villains” in the unfolding story of the health care overhaul on Thursday, ratcheting up an anti-insurer theme trotted out by President Obama earlier this month and encouraged by other Democratic leaders in Congress. “It is somewhat immoral what they are doing. Of course, they have been immoral all along how they have treated the people that they insure,” MSNBC’s Luke Russert quoted her as saying. “They are the villains in this.”
Filed under: National , liberal fascism, Nancy Pelosi
July 30, 2009 • 6:29 pm Comments Off
Via NCGOP
NCGOP Chairman Tom Fetzer saturated the airwaves on Wednesday in response to President Obama’s health care push at Broughton High School. Fetzer was a voice of reason as North Carolinians question the President’s effort to overhaul the nation’s health care plan.
“President Obama has hijacked the health care debate and the language being used. Their claims of tens of millions of Americans not having access to health care is just not true. Anyone in this country, not just American citizens, has access to health care,” Fetzer said. “Our hospitals treat anyone who walks through the doors, regardless of their ability to pay. The debate is about health insurance, not health care, as even the poorest among us are never denied proper medical care.”
In recent weeks, the huge costs of the President’s health care plan have led some Democrats to be less than supportive. In fact, Sen. Kay Hagan has yet to take a public position and skipped the President’s town hall meeting on Wednesday. “President Obama is in Raleigh because he needs Kay Hagan’s vote,” said Fetzer. “The question is will Sen. Hagan represent the liberal special interests pushing this bill, or the common-sense perspective of the North Carolinians she was elected to represent.”
“This plan is just another example of the liberal Democrats’ attempts to allow government to further invade the private sector ,” Fetzer noted. “It is hard for me to believe that the average citizen would trade their current health insurance for Medicaid and that is exactly what this plan would force them to do.”
“While we need health insurance reform, this big government plan is not the answer,” stated Fetzer. “After all, I don’t think North Carolinians want the same people who run the DMV and the Post Office to be responsible for their health care.”
You are invited to visit your NCGOP website at www.ncgop.org and view the video clips of Chairman Fetzer’s comments on the News 14 statewide Health Care Forum as well as a portion of his press conference.
Filed under: North Carolina , NCGOP
• 11:25 am Comments Off
No comment necessary.
Gallup tracking poll says all you need to know:
Gallup’s weekly average approval ratings for Obama, each based on more than 3,600 interviews with U.S. national adults, provides strong evidence that the president lost some political steam in July. While approval for the job he is doing remains steadfast among blacks, it has slipped among whites and Hispanics, as well as among independents and members of his party.
This dip in support for Obama contrasts with general stability in public confidence in the U.S. economy this month — thus the economy is not an obvious factor.
Filed under: North Carolina , President Obama
• 11:14 am Comments Off
I really don’t understand why we can’t move forward with ideas like residential pv energy without having to create some incredibly complicated bill like cap and trade.
What’s the hold up?
Filed under: Concepts , photovoltaic, solar electricity
• 10:50 am Comments Off
It’s interesting to me to watch events unfolding that I am certain will be detailed in history books yet to be written:
Because Democrats hold a 13-vote majority on the committee over Republicans, Waxman can afford to lose six votes on any measure. Eight Democrats on the committee are members of the liberal Progressive Caucus, including the chairman and two of his close allies — Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the Energy and the Environment Subcommittee, Alex and Drew wrote.
So, two weeks after Waxman started his quest to send the bill to the floor, he is again at a standstill.
Blue Dogs warned him in advance of his July 16 committee markup that they could frustrate his efforts if he didn’t incorporate their ideas.
But he pushed ahead anyway, perhaps convinced that they would drop their objections when forced to vote. Instead, they used the leverage of their votes on the committee to show the bill couldn’t survive without their support. Waxman was forced to postpone his markup midway through the process so House Democratic leaders and the president could begin the arduous task of negotiating a compromise.
Filed under: 1
July 29, 2009 • 3:24 pm Comments Off
RALEIGH—NCGOP Chairman Tom Fetzer appeared on live television, at a major press conference, and on a popular radio show today to respond to President Obama’s health care push at Broughton High School. Fetzer was a voice of reason as North Carolinians question the President’s effort to overhaul the nation’s health care plan.
“President Obama has hijacked the health care debate and the language being used. Their claims of tens of millions of Americans not having access to health care is just not true. Anyone in this country, not just American citizens, has access to health care,” Fetzer said. “Our hospitals treat anyone who walks through the doors, regardless of their ability to pay. The debate is about health insurance, not health care, as even the poorest among us are never denied proper medical care.”
In recent weeks, the huge costs of the President’s health care plan have led some Democrats to be less than supportive. In fact, Sen. Kay Hagan has yet to take a public position and skipped the President’s town hall meeting on Wednesday. “President Obama is in Raleigh because he needs Kay Hagan’s vote,” said Fetzer. “The question is will Sen. Hagan represent the liberal special interests pushing this bill, or the common-sense perspective of the North Carolinians she was elected to represent.”
“This plan is just another example of the liberal Democrats’ attempts to allow government to further invade the private sector ,” Fetzer noted. “It is hard for me to believe that the average citizen would trade their current health insurance for Medicaid and that is exactly what this plan would force them to do.”
“While we need health insurance reform, this big government plan is not the answer,” stated Fetzer. “After all, I don’t think North Carolinians want the same people who run the DMV and the Post Office to be responsible for their health care.”
Filed under: 1
• 3:23 pm Comments Off
Raleigh – Last week, Governor Beverly Perdue attended the summer meeting of the National Governor’s Association for a discussion of national health care policy and expressed her concerns that a national health care overhaul will leave states footing the bill.
Perdue said in a statement, “We are all hungry for a solution, but the absolute deal breaker for me as governor is a federal plan that shifts costs to the states.” (“Perdue’s stand on health plan: Don’t burden states,” News & Observer, 7/22/09)
One may question what Governor Perdue has learned since last week to assuage her concerns that a national health care overhaul would cause further problems to a state budget Democrats have yet to agree on nearly a month past the original deadline.
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
“Like many North Carolinians I am concerned that the national health care overhaul envisioned by the President will result in greater burdens to families, small businesses, and state governments. If Governor Perdue has learned something to convince her that the national Democrats’ health care experiment will lower costs for North Carolinians and not cause further problems to the state budget, she should share that information with the people of North Carolina. We are four weeks into the fiscal year without a state budget; we cannot afford to have state government, meaning state taxpayers, foot more of the bill for health care costs. Governor Perdue and legislative Democrats should focus on adopting a balanced state budget that does not raise taxes on struggling North Carolina families and businesses.”
Filed under: 1
• 10:14 am Comments Off
These are critical times for the Democrats. They seem to be falling apart. Are they up to the job of governing?
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) blamed now-White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s work as head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), during which he worked to recruit many centrist candidates, resulting in landslide Democratic victories, for difficulties facing House leaders trying to pass reform legislation.
Oh by the way, SARAH PALIN!!!!!!!!!!!! GEORGE BUSH!!!!!!! WHITE REPUBLICANS!!!!!!! OMG!!!!
Filed under: National , Democratic Party
• 9:30 am Comments Off
NC House Republicans have taken to the web with this sharp video featuring GOP Whip Thom Tillis.
Filed under: GOP, North Carolina , NC General Assembly, NCGOP
July 28, 2009 • 1:29 pm Comments Off
From the Republican Legislative Caucus:
The Governor and Democratic leadership of the Senate and House still have not drafted a balanced budget — a full month overdue. The drama being played between Governor Perdue and the Democrats in the Legislature is pointing to ineptitude by those in charge to deal with the real cause of the budget deficit.
Why do Democrats really want to add $1 billion in new taxes to your bill? They will tell you that it is all for the children. But priorities like education, law enforcement and the environment can be met with the first $19 billion that we have available to spend, without raising tax rates.
While Governor Bev Perdue supports a huge regressive sales tax increase, she claimed to be “stunned” by the revelations of the Democratic leaders in the Legislature that the budget draft contained an income tax surcharge. Republican members and most reputable economists remain stunned that massive tax increases are being proposed during a severe recession.
While the following suggested cuts may not be supported by all, they are examples of current spending that can be reduced or eliminated to balance the budget instead of increased taxes. But Democrats have taken these issues completely off the table for discussion.
For an itemized list of proposed spending reductions, view the .pdf file.
Filed under: North Carolina , North Carolina Democratic Party
• 1:25 pm Comments Off
Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:
“Before Democrats place the burden of $1 billion or more in new taxes on the backs of North Carolina families and small businesses, they should release their spending plan. Taxpayers ought to know how their money will be spent before they are asked to foot the bill for new state spending. If Democrats are confident that no waste will be found in their spending plan, then they should be anxious to make their plan public.”
Filed under: North Carolina , North Carolina Democratic Party
• 1:22 pm Comments Off
By all means, liberals should keep harping on Sarah Palin and birthers. Throw in some outdated accusations about Republican racism while you are at it. That will surely distract from the real politics going down in Washington right now.
The Blue Dog revolt against the House leadership’s health care overhaul took a new turn Tuesday morning, when a several members of the centrist faction made overtures to House Republicans about joining forces to slow and reshape the bill.
Republican aides said there was great interest among GOP lawmakers in trying to work with dissidents in the 52-member Blue Dog Coalition to try to stop the legislation. “Blue Dogs will be the main event all week,” said one GOP aide, referring to efforts by Republicans to woo Blue Dogs.
Filed under: National , blue dogs, Democratic Party, health care reform
• 11:25 am Comments Off
The president has lost at least one vote as a result of his calling police in Massachussetts “stupid.”
Stupid is as stupid does, Mr. President.
Filed under: National
• 10:21 am Comments Off
This is for those of you who claim Republicans have no ideas:
[NC] Republican legislative leaders outlined $633 million in cuts and savings Tuesday that they say would help balance the state budget without raising taxes, as Democrats plan.
The list includes: getting $100 million in federal money by allowing more charter schools, saving $14 million by eliminating in-state tuition for out-of-state athletes, cutting $25 million for the state aquarium pier at Nags Head, cutting $5 million in incentives for Apple to locate a new facility in the state and taking $70 million of Golden Leaf Foundation money, which goes to help rural communities, and use it to leverage three times that much in federal matching funds.
Filed under: 1
July 27, 2009 • 4:11 pm Comments Off
I’m bummed because I was for sure I had the Buena Vista Social Club on video. I’ve been listening to the cd in the car for a week now and thought it would be nice to see the movie again.
Alas, I have it on VHS and trashed my VCR about two years ago.
Filed under: Music , Buena Vista Social Club, Dos Gardenias, Ibrahim Ferrer
• 9:52 am Comments Off
Wake GOP is organizing a protest at the presidential appearance in Raleigh on Wednesday. Contact them for details:
POTUS TO RALEIGH ON WEDNESDAY:
Filed under: North Carolina
July 26, 2009 • 7:33 pm Comments Off
If you don’t like the Dead, skip to the 7 minute mark to see why I posted this. (I recommend the 430 mark myself for a starting point.)
Filed under: 1 , Estimated Prophet, Jerry Garcia
July 25, 2009 • 3:38 pm Comments Off
I wanna say for the record that I think it’s silly for people to surmise about the president’s citizenship status. Do you really distrust our system of government that much?
To think that one person can somehow get elected by the people of Illinois to their legislature and to the senate and then by a majority of the people in this country as chief executive and have some dark hidden secret about his real place of birth is just nuts.
Let’s focus on beating back those of his policies that are ill advised and work toward electing some thoughtful conservatives to office.
Surely there are some out there?
Filed under: 1 , birthers, President Obama, president Obama's birth certificate
Of Interest
Talking about it