tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52687801398447784312024-02-19T18:44:37.470-08:00San Jose Tea Party Patriots Ongoing Events & InfoThis site is the old, and now defunct, site for the San Jose / Silicon Valley Tea Party movement. You can see old posts here, but please visit the new site at www.siliconvalleyteaparty.com for current updates and event information.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-57608521343582148582009-09-19T22:36:00.001-07:002009-09-19T22:39:14.730-07:00PLEASE GO TO SILICON VALLEY TEA PARTY PATRIOTS SITE!<a href="http://siliconvalleyteaparty.com/">CLICK HERE to go to siliconvalleyteaparty.com</a>. The site you're at now is no longer being updated, in favor of the new site with our new name and all the current updates.<br /><br />There will be on-going events and rallies, and we hope all good citizens get or stay involved in their own governance and work hard for the America we all love.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-22051183603616431862009-06-23T16:41:00.000-07:002009-06-23T16:47:48.784-07:00ObamaCare: It's to Die For<a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/06/23/obamacare_kiss_your_access_goodbye_97122.html">ObamaCare: Kiss Your Access Goodbye</a>David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-60832540228976037082009-06-01T12:43:00.000-07:002009-06-23T11:33:08.681-07:00July 5 Rally - Pro US - Anti Government Run Health CareThe San Jose Tea Party Patriots movement is planning a rally on Sunday, July 5, at the corner of Winchester Blvd. and Stevens Creek Blvd. The plan is to line the street with as many patriots and opponents of socialized health care as possible. <br /><br />The rally starts at 1:00 and runs until 3:00 or until we get tired. It will be warm so bring water.<br /><br />Bring flags, signs (both general Tea Party and specific anti-socialized-health-care), and noise-makers. Drums, whistles, etc.<br /><br />We specifically did not have this on July 4 as we respect that this is a day for family and friends to gather to celebrate America.<br /><br />More details to follow.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-31400523450683171962009-04-29T16:13:00.000-07:002009-04-29T16:24:59.177-07:00Props 1A-1E: Excellent Poll Results<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrpCt_aVE5sy05dawUaBzJzZpXDJKthxRiZ3XtXe1nk78Re1ITELvnewobbpSHlHWQUWKT4wjSt2Z2qiqTeIYp14ccMk77Ok6Uc_mJSPYb5KslevNU7bPF7qie_Ddo4rckSPG9fjx4kk/s1600-h/cal-poll.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrpCt_aVE5sy05dawUaBzJzZpXDJKthxRiZ3XtXe1nk78Re1ITELvnewobbpSHlHWQUWKT4wjSt2Z2qiqTeIYp14ccMk77Ok6Uc_mJSPYb5KslevNU7bPF7qie_Ddo4rckSPG9fjx4kk/s320/cal-poll.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330256285863184722" /></a><br />This is a fantastic graphic from the Sacramento Bee. Props 1A through 1E getting blasted in the polls. This is the crap that the legislature is trying to pull on the voters to help them cover the insane budget gap. I am confident that the California Teachers Association will be pouring on every last dollar they have to get these approved by the voters, but with the State Democratic Party officially neutral on A, D & E, and the SEIU opposed 1A(!), it's not looking good for that pack of <span style="font-weight:bold;">baboons*</span> we call the State Legislature. There's room for movement in the undecideds, but it's looking exceptionally grim for A-E.<br /><br />Only the last one, F, which disallows raises for legislators when they can't make a budget (which is pretty much every year), is running ahead, and it's way, waaaaayyyyy ahead. <br /><br />After days of relentlessly bad news, this is the first political good news I've seen. Thank you, good voters of California.<br /><br />* The collective noun for baboons is actually Congress - as in a <span style="font-style:italic;">congress of baboons</span>David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-45251940509198301622009-04-29T13:31:00.000-07:002009-04-29T13:39:50.770-07:00Mortgage Bailout Now Covers 2d Mortgage<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042801766.html">In the Washington Post today</a>. Second mortgages serve two purposes: First, they help people buy the house in the first place when they can't qualify for a big-enough first. By definition, therefore, these borrowers bought more house than they could afford and acted irresponsibly. Second, the house becomes a big ATM for people to buy a cool new car; a boat they use twice a year; a lovely vacation in the Islands; or a snazzy new kitchen with granite, a Sub-Zero and a Viking range - things they could not really afford in the first place, but wanted anyway. Under the Administration's plan, these irresponsible people get bailed out by people who were responsible and didn't do those things. <br /><br />Bailing out first mortgages was bad enough. Bailing out seconds is a travesty of justice. It's just not fair.<br /><br />That, or I'm just a moron for not spending all of <span style="font-style:italic;">your money</span> on neat stuff <span style="font-style:italic;">for me</span>.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-12055418862402182952009-04-28T12:04:00.000-07:002009-04-28T12:23:16.338-07:00We Don't Want to Run GM - We Want to OWN GMAnyone remember when <a href="http://sanjoseteaparty.blogspot.com/2009/04/we-dont-want-to-run-gm-well-yes-we-do.html">President Obama said the US government had no interest in running GM</a>?<br /><br />A friend of my laughed at me a few weeks ago when I said I thought President Obama was pursuing a <span style="font-weight:bold;">socialist</span> economic program. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/27/AR2009042700872.html"> Now we have word that to "<span style="font-style:italic;">save</span>" GM, the Federal Government has to "<span style="font-style:italic;">own</span>" GM - or at least 50% of GM. <br /></a><br />Oh, and the UAW - the single biggest part of GM (and Chrysler's and Ford's) problem gets 39%. <br /><br />Bond-holders, who have the biggest financial stake in the company get 10% Here's how math works when you're with the government: Bond holders own $27+ Billion in debt and get 10%. The US Government has put in $14.5 Billion and gets 50% The UAW is exchanging $10 Billion in debt to get 39%. <br /><br />Bond holders end up paying $2.7B per 1%. The federal government pays $0.29B per 1%, and the UAW pays 0.26B per 1%. <br /><br />As far as I'm concerned, this is flat-out theft from the private bond-holders.<br /><br />All of this could have just gone to bankruptcy, like other companies, where the UAW contracts could be renegotiated (that'll never happen now), the debt holders would have been better protected, and Barney Frank and Al Gore wouldn't be telling GM what kinds of cars to build. <br /><br />Add to this the explicit intent to nationalize health-care, and nationalize major banks. When can we start saying that the United States is no longer a Capitalist country and is now a Socialist country?<br /><br />The Administration is putting out the word that this government-owned result was just the logical result, not the original intent. Anyone believe that? I've got a bridge in Brooklyn if you're that gullible...<br /><br />p.s. Chrysler: 55% to UAW, 35% to Feds. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Chrysler, R.I.P., 2009.</span><br /><br />p.p.s. I am of the opinion that buying a car from two of the three major American car companies is now flatly un-American.<span style="font-style:italic;"></span>David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-13261837976736642952009-04-26T17:12:00.000-07:002009-04-26T17:24:41.715-07:00Return to Federalism?I meant to link this a few days ago. From the Wall Street Journal, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124044199838345461.html">a Georgetown Law School Professor's ideas on how to carry forward the limited government ideas of the Tea Party movement</a>.<br /><br />We live in a federal system where the states are supposed to be powerful and take care of all their local problems. The federal government is supposed to be limited and really handle only those issues between the states, and between the US and foreign countries. We've moved awfully far away from that in these days of stimulus packages detailing the <a href="http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/view/3246">building of dog parks</a>, <a href="http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/view/9111">more dog parks</a>, and <a href="http://www.stimuluswatch.org/project/view/8982">retrofitting houses with doorbells</a>. <br /><br />This is an interesting read. I commend you to it.<br /><br />Oh, just remember, <a href="http://sanjoseteaparty.blogspot.com/2009/04/homeland-security-thinks-youre.html">believing in federalism might get you branded as a right wing extremist by the Department of Homeland Security</a>.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-38182110603752565392009-04-24T17:20:00.000-07:002009-04-24T17:28:17.147-07:00Plus ça Change...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2RJ_OAKof2mdKB4lcvwLyUGSAyDFtRtocOJ2vO9VGZ0jfVAUL8F3UgNGyHxA22Rs3gfIaemDMzOBB6Udk2sblXraBsT-ypAUoP4V3GFSwBIagNEpdMxFhhrr9yZAkHXduA2esZoLTfs/s1600-h/1934+Cartoon.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2RJ_OAKof2mdKB4lcvwLyUGSAyDFtRtocOJ2vO9VGZ0jfVAUL8F3UgNGyHxA22Rs3gfIaemDMzOBB6Udk2sblXraBsT-ypAUoP4V3GFSwBIagNEpdMxFhhrr9yZAkHXduA2esZoLTfs/s320/1934+Cartoon.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328417723806164018" /></a><br />From the Chicago Tribune, 1934. Change the names (Stalin = Chavez today, I think) and it's the same. The guy in the lower left is Leon Trotsky, by the way; Bolshevik revolutionary, assassinated by an NKVD (early version of KGB) thug in Mexico, 1940.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-68251328124148766552009-04-24T15:59:00.000-07:002009-04-24T16:15:11.774-07:00Torture CalculusSorry, this post is not related to the fiscal crisis at the heart of the Tea Party Patriot movement. However, the subject is all over the news and I just feel compelled to ask this question.<br /><br />Given that:<br />1. Waterboarding and other "enhanced interrogation" techniques used by the CIA on Khalid Sheik Mohammad and the other two guys at Guantanamo really do constitute torture, and<br />2. Intelligence gleaned from the use of such techniques <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/us/politics/22blair.html">provided "high value information,"</a> including <a href="http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=46949">information used to prevent a 9/11-style attack on Los Angeles</a>.<br /><br />How many Americans should we let die in a terror attack so that we can feel good about not torturing terrorists? 1? 10? 100? 1,000? <br /><br />If we had captured one of the 9/11 terrorists on 9/9 and knew he was up to something big, should we have been willing to sacrifice those 3,000 Americans to have a clean conscience?<br /><br />I know my answer. What's yours?David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-29922161888222832322009-04-24T15:30:00.000-07:002009-04-24T16:19:07.641-07:00TARP = Nationalizing the Banks = SocialismAs if we needed another reason to think the TARP program was a bad idea, we now can say, with absolute certainty, that "bailing out" banks was really a way to nationalize them. Another link to HotAir with a story <a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2009/04/24/tcf-bank-pays-off-tarp-pays-extra-to-dump-treasury-control/">about a bank in Minnesota</a> that "took" $361 million in TARP money it didn't really want. The bank is in good health, so it wanted to give the money back rather than deal with all the new strings that came with the money (most of which were not announced until <span style="font-style:italic;">after</span> the money was doled out). It paid it all back, plus interest, plus it agreed to a Treasury demand that it cut its dividend from $.25 to $.05 per share in the first quarter. So, in order to <span style="font-style:italic;">allow</span> this bank to give back it's public money, the bank had to screw its private investors. There's no reason for this other than to make it extra difficult to return the money it didn't need or want in the first place. <br /><br />Couple this with the <a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/treasury-convert-tarp-shares-common/">plan to convert TARP holdings of preferred shares</a> into common-stock shares of banks who "fail" the "stress tests" designed and judged by the Treasury Department. So, the government designs the test, gives the test, judges the results of the test, and then assumes a massive voting share in banks that don't measure up to the government's standards. Imagine letting Barney Frank tell Bank of America what to do? <span style="font-style:italic;">Just recall what a bang-up job the government did with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac</span>.<br /><br />There is simply no other way to look at this other than to say that the current administration is pursuing an industrial policy that is <span style="font-weight:bold;">socialist</span> - direct government ownership of significant parts of the economy. <br /><br />America grew to greatness as a capitalist country. We will descend into mediocrity pursuing the current path.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-81193318620533733962009-04-23T09:14:00.000-07:002009-04-23T09:18:37.807-07:001.2 MILLIONThe latest count we have received from the national organizers of the Tax Day Tea Party is that nearly 2,000 Tea Parties were attended by over 1.2 Million Americans! This is an amazing result, especially since, for so many people, this was their very first political demonstration. Congratulations, America! It's going to be awfully hard for Washington to ignore this number and the depth of passion it shows.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-69235953593186209342009-04-18T11:38:00.000-07:002009-04-18T11:42:44.596-07:00Plenty of Blame to Go AroundOne last post today. We need to remember that the problem in Washington is not partisan - both parties have Congressmen and Senators who voted for TARP, the Stimulus, and the rest of this nonsense. I am proud to say that the Tea Party movement is happy to abuse them all - here's a Republican congressman in South Carolina getting it from the crowd:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1QsY2r7HbTM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1QsY2r7HbTM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="340"></embed></object><br />The Chairman of the California Republican Party was roundly (and deservedly) booed in Sacramento when he was introduced. Sorry I don't have video...David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-35983381831677709732009-04-18T11:27:00.001-07:002009-04-18T11:32:50.641-07:00The Rattlesnake Flags<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp2kRxfUoWS3k0-k2UMhtJaWlIOmo71q8jYBBJXV9jGoyGTh3gxeNy5MVBSn9dfbthL8mFa82yjc47hHg_n_J1oIiyjfjr5GFDu8ioGNoxi2i6E_RYkPSJ9j7rjPXU8D6Yx3SSZOnQNE/s1600-h/gdhs_2044_15473809.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGp2kRxfUoWS3k0-k2UMhtJaWlIOmo71q8jYBBJXV9jGoyGTh3gxeNy5MVBSn9dfbthL8mFa82yjc47hHg_n_J1oIiyjfjr5GFDu8ioGNoxi2i6E_RYkPSJ9j7rjPXU8D6Yx3SSZOnQNE/s320/gdhs_2044_15473809.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326099820521088690" /></a> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-10AWw4g0_C_dpcEqFNEZoTuFQi0EERmrXKDVdEApmPZMnywWdYo6jfU7I_0B1gpdf7ALkLjFa-bR9c_Cc2Q8EZSYu9gBHyv94x4BrLs1CN6CRLSEqUXcOWAHKMbdvX0Szko2X6wiivQ/s1600-h/gdhs_2050_12632623.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-10AWw4g0_C_dpcEqFNEZoTuFQi0EERmrXKDVdEApmPZMnywWdYo6jfU7I_0B1gpdf7ALkLjFa-bR9c_Cc2Q8EZSYu9gBHyv94x4BrLs1CN6CRLSEqUXcOWAHKMbdvX0Szko2X6wiivQ/s320/gdhs_2050_12632623.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326099974906977426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuJ4xM8NVzhh1MhvipmgEdTFGVmk4Ngc4G-VQfnz_WsTwPEDYrfOyrEYLR5hNeMTW0AgV2zUa1mJhcyvj1oxbpD3sq0Au8dwGxKQh97udzUWC25BwDbBElIaxEcIHBx7Mo6tw_hJVqV4/s1600-h/gdhs_2050_11735974.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 142px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUuJ4xM8NVzhh1MhvipmgEdTFGVmk4Ngc4G-VQfnz_WsTwPEDYrfOyrEYLR5hNeMTW0AgV2zUa1mJhcyvj1oxbpD3sq0Au8dwGxKQh97udzUWC25BwDbBElIaxEcIHBx7Mo6tw_hJVqV4/s320/gdhs_2050_11735974.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326099892538407074" /></a><br />Many of you saw lots of these flags at the Tea Parties, both here in San Jose and around the country. They are all Revolutionary War flags. These are, in order, the Gadsden Flag, the Culpepper Minute Men Flag, and the First Navy Jack. If you want to know where to get your own, you can order merchandise (flags, shirts, stickers, patches, hats, etc.) with these designs at <a href="http://www.gadsdenandculpeper.com/">gadsdenandculpepper.com</a>. Their prices are reasonable and I've purchased from them.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-67168465879171684122009-04-18T10:16:00.000-07:002009-04-18T10:28:21.350-07:00The Preamble to the Declaration of IndepedenceWhen reading the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, most people stop at the first sentence - which is easily one of the most famous in the English language. However, there's more to it. I offer it for your reading pleasure:<br /><br /><blockquote>We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.</blockquote><br />Analysis of these 202 words fills more than that number of volumes. I won't bore you with my thoughts, but remember that our rights derive not from our government, but exist <span style="font-style:italic;">beyond and before government</span>. No government can take away these rights, nor the ability of the people to exercise them.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-79483590078071644442009-04-17T21:41:00.001-07:002009-04-17T21:47:59.651-07:00Embarrassing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9K2AdWMmSTrKsrvQ3FQeQ0aM5OYhsIVHnYshqXWG9rkW2rmQTxMByrVityqCj9YvYCYqqTu3rNd_4paSrMx9vshmRjB4vW06E6yo4C9VDufDDKuLa_2CEeMcGX6dboCLzAuAq_NKWYBk/s1600-h/capt.368723d1657541a68a27f0f6ff5e1a1c.aptopix_cb_trinidad_americas_summit_xrm253.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9K2AdWMmSTrKsrvQ3FQeQ0aM5OYhsIVHnYshqXWG9rkW2rmQTxMByrVityqCj9YvYCYqqTu3rNd_4paSrMx9vshmRjB4vW06E6yo4C9VDufDDKuLa_2CEeMcGX6dboCLzAuAq_NKWYBk/s320/capt.368723d1657541a68a27f0f6ff5e1a1c.aptopix_cb_trinidad_americas_summit_xrm253.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325888139702223890" /></a> Photo from AP<br /><br /><br />Here's the President of the United States warmly greeting Hugo Chavez, Socialist/Marxist dictator-for-life of Venezuela, who has crushed dissent, destroyed his economy with redistributive economic and social policies (sound familiar?), and financially supported the FARC terrorists in Colombia and Hezbollah in Lebanon. After bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia, our President is positively chummy with this scumbag dictator who actively undermines our close allies. This is embarrassing and beneath the dignity of the United States.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-75956435133095399542009-04-17T18:49:00.000-07:002009-04-17T19:04:11.468-07:00You're Just Racists.To those of you who support the Tea Party movement, here's what your moral betters think of you.<br /><br /><div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/30255102#30255102" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div><br />Admittedly, Jeananne Garafolo (a D-list actress and itinerant Air America host), is about as nuts as they get on the Left, but even so her calumny against the good Americans who supported the Tea Parties is breathtaking. Lou Dobbs, whom Garafolo specifically attacks, has this to say about her:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kOycxiaBcGI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kOycxiaBcGI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />Indeed: take your meds.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-49156953889823326982009-04-17T14:08:00.001-07:002009-04-17T14:10:58.416-07:00Really Unscientific Poll ResultsI've taken down the poll question: "Is Obama's Spending Plan Good for America?" and replaced it with polls on what people would like to do for a next event. Here are the results (which are, of course, totally unscientific and biased, but fun):<br /><br />Absolutely: 16 votes (4%)<br />Jury's Out: 4 votes (1%)<br />Don't think so: 32 votes (8%)<br />Worst idea ever: 306 votes (85%)<br /><br />Thanks for voting and please vote in the 'what's next' polls.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-57985993254561778872009-04-17T08:51:00.000-07:002009-04-17T09:09:32.119-07:00Obama's Got Too Much Free Time, I Guess...President Obama is now pushing "high speed rail" as a solution to traffic jams. Remember when Jimmy Carter personally set the schedule for the White House tennis courts? Since when are traffic jams the problem of the <span style="font-style:italic;">President of the United States</span>? Let's review the important topics on the President's agenda: Banking crisis. GM/Chrysler/UAW collapse. Unemployment. Pakistan. Iran. Iraq. Afghanistan. Somali piracy. Health care "reform." Cap-and-trade. Type of, and name for, Presidential puppy. <span style="font-style:italic;">Traffic jams</span>. <br /><br />Never mind that high speed rail only makes sense between cities, not within cities, so it really does nothing for traffic jams. What's worse is that TRAINS SUCK. In the United States, the distances to be traveled are just too far for trains, no matter how fast they go.<br /><br />As it is, on many long-distance routes, it would be cheaper for the public to buy passengers a plane ticket than to run the trains (see below). <br /><br />But, the real reason for building "high speed rail" is the opportunity to create highly-paid union jobs which in turn create substantial political contributions for Obama and the Democratic party, not to mention the massive contracts with industry who will climb on board (!) with more donations to make sure the decades-long building (read: spending) spree keeps going.<br /><br />But then, who cares? What's another $500 Billion between friends?<br /><br />From the <a href="http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/bg2072.cfm">Heritage Foundation</a>:<br /><blockquote>1. Amtrak's costliest route is the Sunset Limited, which connects Los Angeles and Orlando in a grueling cross-country trip. In FY 2006, it served only 51,860 passengers and generated $6.5 million in revenue but ran at an annual operating loss of $27.2 million ($524.49 per passenger). In FY 2005, the route generated $10.8 million in revenue but lost $35.2 million (compared to $29.3 million in 2004), yielding a loss of $433 per passenger. Amtrak could save money by shutting down the line and buying each passenger an airline ticket.<br /><br />2. The Silver Service (Silver Meteor and Silver Star) between New York and Florida lost $132.6 million in FY 2006 ($226.90 per passenger). In FY 2005, it lost $105.3 million (compared to $87.9 million in 2004), yielding a loss of $146 per passenger.<br /><br />3. The Coast Starlight from Seattle to Los Angeles sold $31.8 million in tickets in FY 2006 but lost $43.9 million, or $132.25 per passenger, compared to a loss of $97.50 per passenger in FY 2005.</blockquote>David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-23117572848070069662009-04-16T12:56:00.000-07:002009-04-16T12:58:41.572-07:00Thank You San Jose!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRxPV0pwETQiD-o_CU6azGd0N8CSa72U7LTvoO6pGohIfaOxo2ciXaDgNLgDuUq0Kay1tXiH_dzaYXkfZaPIEnelKja9Cu4tBietuHYUsxIitObuRBlVAp1LGHusTe1K_9hOjUEeBFwM/s1600-h/Crowd1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRxPV0pwETQiD-o_CU6azGd0N8CSa72U7LTvoO6pGohIfaOxo2ciXaDgNLgDuUq0Kay1tXiH_dzaYXkfZaPIEnelKja9Cu4tBietuHYUsxIitObuRBlVAp1LGHusTe1K_9hOjUEeBFwM/s320/Crowd1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325380871020822786" /></a><br />More posts to come, but I just wanted to thank the thousands of people who came out to the San Jose Tax Day Tea Party to show their concern for America's future. Hooray!David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-68393225452760924862009-04-13T21:44:00.000-07:002009-04-13T22:28:12.848-07:00Homeland Security Thinks You're "Extremists"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU78GtKXUaDA7PxDTH_usqoMWV3scmdppTr5SG1P2VqIizT3-gUInwTAQZHQC3_ZYoTLbMgGx7IKsKId2UQpH6hMobOm7jIuxYtiuYVqKhs5YvNEAvTx9bxJiL3VjTO-OoNwvZ2-AOhI4/s1600-h/rightwing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 231px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU78GtKXUaDA7PxDTH_usqoMWV3scmdppTr5SG1P2VqIizT3-gUInwTAQZHQC3_ZYoTLbMgGx7IKsKId2UQpH6hMobOm7jIuxYtiuYVqKhs5YvNEAvTx9bxJiL3VjTO-OoNwvZ2-AOhI4/s320/rightwing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324404648187648306" /></a><br />The Department of Homeland Security is alarmed by the rise of "right wing extremist" groups following the election of President Obama. If you attend a Tea Party, it's a pretty fair bet you're a suspect.<br /><br />Here's a quote from this report. If you believe in Federalism, which is to say that the state and local governments should have more power relative to the federal government (or precisely what the Constitution was designed to achieve), <span style="font-weight:bold;">you</span> are a "rightwing extremist." <br /><br /><blockquote>Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), <span style="font-weight:bold;">and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority</span>, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.</blockquote><br />I saw reports about this document, and I assumed someone had put up an elaborate hoax. Well played, I thought. <a href="http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/14/confirme-the-obama-dhs-hit-job-on-conservatives-is-real/">Then Michelle Malkin confirmed it's real</a>. <br /><br />So that makes George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and all of our Founding Fathers "rightwing extremists." <br /><br />Anyone who believes that the United States Constitution means what it says, is a "rightwing extremist." Here is the entire text of the Tenth Amendment:<br /><br /><blockquote>The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.</blockquote><br />I keep saying I'm not a conspiracy theory guy, and I mean it, but, <span style="font-style:italic;">damn</span>, what the h*ll is going on in this country!?David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-19022578502130942052009-04-13T11:14:00.000-07:002009-04-13T11:23:07.406-07:00How About Everyone Pay At Least Some TaxesMaybe I should be embarrassed by stealing so many posts from HotAir, but then they get paid to blog. <a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2009/04/13/fleischer-define-fair-share/">Here is a report about an op-ed by Ari Fleischer,</a> who used to work as communications director in the Bush administration. The simple idea he presents (not new to him, but the one printed today) is that all taxpayers should actually pay some income tax. Remembering that there is plenty of blame to go around, in 2005, after Bush tax law changes, the bottom 60% of earners, representing over 25% of income, paid less than 1% of income taxes. The top 10% paid 72%. How is this fair?<br /><br />Our current President wants everyone to have 'skin in the game.' O.K., I agree. To do that, however, <span style="font-weight:bold;">everyone</span> has to feel a little, just a little, pinch. Now that nearly 50% of income taxpayers owe no taxes, are paying ZERO or even <span style="font-weight:bold;">getting a refund</span> (<span style="font-style:italic;">How do you get a refund when you owe no taxes? It's just a welfare check, pretending to be a tax refund</span>), those people have no concern for the costs of government. If everyone had to pay, at least a little, then maybe everyone would start to understand just how much this Leviathan really costs.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-27559466808815843802009-04-12T09:02:00.000-07:002009-04-12T09:08:40.338-07:00Respecting the Constitution - NotRuth Bader Ginsburg is a fine example of the types of federal judges that the current administration will appoint, and the current Senate will happily confirm. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/us/12ginsburg.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss">In an interview with the New York Times</a>, she openly admits to thinking that foreign jurisprudence has relevance to American courts and that our courts can, and should, cite foreign legal decisions. She says it's like looking to American law review journals. It's not. Law Reviews attempt to interpret American law. By definition, foreign courts are interpreting foreign law. Ginsburg says they don't rely on foreign decisions, but if they rely on foreign reasoning, then it's the same thing. Remember, elections have consequences. Perhaps the single best reason to vote for McCain was to avoid more of the partisan leftist mischief of the sort Ginsburg-style Justices could bring to the Supreme Court. Of course, Bush I brought us David Souter. More reason to throw the bums out!David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-63120874916694270292009-04-11T15:38:00.000-07:002009-04-11T15:44:37.613-07:00Another Dangerous Chinese Import - DrywallThis post is probably the least Tea Party related one I've posted, but it's at least tangentially related - as American companies are less and less able to compete due to regulations, environmental impact taxes, corporate taxes, etc., Chinese goods become more attractive. The problem is that it seems to be common practice in China to cut corners (read: cheat) when making products, and thus make them dangerous. Lead paint on toys. Melamine in pet food. Melamine in baby formula. Now, toxic chemicals in drywall. <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090411/ap_on_bi_ge/chinese_drywall">Read the article from the AP</a>, via Yahoo. <br />American consumers are paying the price in health problems, property value declines, and the Chinese companies who created this junk are laughing all the way to the bank.David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-77512681203991735212009-04-10T17:29:00.000-07:002009-04-10T17:41:50.508-07:00Remember, Paying Taxes is Patriotic!<object width="425" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gv4OeKmWjOI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gv4OeKmWjOI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />From the indispensable <a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2009/04/10/video-the-most-unpatriotic-thing-youll-see-this-year/">HotAir</a> blogDavid Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268780139844778431.post-29681890088178472032009-04-09T21:31:00.000-07:002009-04-10T07:18:34.055-07:00Possible Disruptions - Agents ProvocateurI hesitated to post anything about this as I don't want to seem paranoid. However, the internet has been buzzing about the possibility of counter-demonstrations and, worse, people from hard-core leftist organizations like ACORN showing up to Tea Parties and pretending to be like-minded. I even got a comment to my previous post alleging they will do so at this rally. The agitators will be obvious because they will have the most outrageous signs and make a spectacle of themselves <span style="font-weight:bold;">specifically in order to generate negative press and make everyone else there look like crazies</span>. We can't afford security personnel and we don't want to get in any violence, so all I can ask is to ignore these people and try to understand that they do not represent our movement.<br /><br />It is a fundamental truth of American politics that despite their claims to be open-minded and all in favor of free speech, the present day American left cannot tolerate opposing points of view. "Progressives" will try to shout down, shut down, or undermine opinions that are different from their own. William F. Buckley, in 1959, I think, had this to say about liberals, and it's still true today: "Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views."David Howellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03065226464589998964noreply@blogger.com0