Monthly Archive for October, 2009

Cap And Trade – And Why It’s A Load Of Crap

Published by Mockarena on October 31, 2009 in Really?. 7 Comments Tags: , , , .

2009-10-31_192843

Karl Rove wrote a really great article about the cap and tax legislation – it’s one of the best summaries I’ve seen about what the passing of that legislation would mean for every American.

It’s all pretty simple, really. This absurd legislation will cost every one of us a ton of money, and the results will not even make a tiny dent in global emissions. Let’s review. 

 The price of energy that’s derived from natural gas, coal and oil will jump (or “necessarily skyrocket” as Obama said previously). The CBO estimates that the average household will see at least a $1600 increase in energy costs annually. Midwestern states like ours, which depend more on coal than others, will see a slowdown of job creation and growth, which, you know, is precisely what we need (snort).

And, this legislation is going to move jobs overseas. All this nonsense about it creating new green jobs is just ridiculous, considering that companies who want to avoid the cap and tax penalties will be enticed to simply move to countries where they don’t have government breathing down their necks. Why stay here, and pay huge taxes on carbon emissions, when you can just hightail it to China and emit to your heart’s content? China already produces more emissions than we do, even with an economy half our size.

And all the penalties and fees levied against companies with high emissions will be used to then subsidize “green” technology firms, which simply can’t and won’t compete well in the marketplace. Like Rove points out, we oughta be working on cleaning up our existing energy sources.

So, even if the $100-200 billion price tag for this legislation is fully spent, what do we get? A whopping 15% cut in US emissions, and less than 4% on a global scale, which is essentially meaningless in terms of worldwide impact.

None of this should be surprising anymore, as this administration seems to love spending huge amounts of money on stuff that will do more harm than good.

Ugh.

Yeah. This Seems Fair.

Published by Mockarena on October 31, 2009 in Really?. 4 Comments Tags: , .

According to this, the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are going to get H1N1 vaccines.

That’s just fabulous. I mean, Junior Mock, who suffers from severe cerebral palsy and is about as medically compromised as you can get, can’t even get the vaccine, because our county hasn’t received a shipment of it in weeks. But by golly, let’s make sure the Gitmo detainees have it.

Aren’t they, by definition, already quarantined?

Petitions Are Apparently Considered A Safety Threat Now.

Published by Mockarena on October 31, 2009 in Really?. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

I mean, COME ON. Anthrax? Really?

This is how pathetic it’s gotten, you guys. In order to avoid having to hear from us pesky townspeople, the Capitol security team has been instructed to disallow PEITITIONS from being delivered to the very representatives whose JOBS are to listen to us.

Pathetic.

The Perpetually-Offended And Victimized Politically Correct Police Strike Again

Published by Daisy on October 31, 2009 in General Political Mockery. 4 Comments Tags: , , , .

Does anyone remember when Halloween was all about watching those stupid thrasher movies and going to haunted houses and saying “BOO!” and you know – SCARY THINGS? Yeah. Not so much anymore, because that would be offensive, you guys.

Is nothing sacred?

According to this article, it seems that the only politically correct things to dress as for Halloween are things like angels and bunnies and soft, warm kittens – oh yeah – and “delicious food items.”

I’m sorry, but what in the holy hell? Delicious food items?

Guns, daggers and other toy weapons have long been excised from costumes at many school celebrations on Halloween. But in some classrooms across the country, the interpretation of what is too scary — or offensive, gross or saddening — is now also leading to an abundance of caution and some prohibitions.

Because people are SOOO in love these days with being offended victims, of course.

And then the article went on to say a bunch of crap to attempt to back up all the politically correct B.S., which I in turn tuned out because I think it’s all a bunch of horse crap.

At the rate this country is going with its extreme political-correctness slope, I’m assuming that by the time my unborn child is in elementary school, Halloween will no longer be celebrated. Along with Christmas – which has already taken a major beating – and Thanksgiving (you know how those animal activists are about turkey rights, folks) and Labor Day (with the Dems in office and unemployment and the deficit soaring, there’ll be no NEED to take a day off from work, as the majority of the country will more than likely already be unemployed).

GAWD.

Happy Halloween, Clever And Competent Readers!

Published by Daisy on October 31, 2009 in General Political Mockery. 2 Comments

treat

ATTENTION FLORIDIAN TOWNSPEOPLE: You Miiight Want To Know What A Freaking Coward Your Congressman Is.

Published by Mockarena on October 30, 2009 in Really?. 46 Comments Tags: , , .

Maybe Bill O’Reilly won’t say it, but I will. In fact, “coward” is too soft of a description for what Alan Grayson is. I love how he tries to act as if there is even a SLIVER of a chance for the reporter to get an Actual Appointment. GAWD.

Florida – you really need to rethink this choice when this clown is up for re-election.

Data Showing That Conservatives Know More About Politics Than Their Liberal Counterparts

Published by Daisy on October 30, 2009 in General Political Mockery. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Did I mention the word data? Why yes, I did. You see, that kooky thing called ‘data’ is something that conservatives happen to love. So as a conservative chick myself, you can only imagine my delight when I saw some actual numbers that coincide with what we’ve been talking about here on COTR over the last day and a half. That whole liberal vs. conservative argument thing.

In a recent poll taken by the Pew Research Center, they took “a Pew Political IQ test conducted over the phone with 1,002 adults from Oct. 1-4. They were asked 12 questions, and answered an average of 5.3 questions correctly.”

What interested me the most about this poll is the section titled “Partisan Knowledge Gap.” Often portrayed as toothless, redneck, racist, slackjawed, homophobe, nutjob, crazy, whitebread, right-wing extremists with no brains in their heads, but really, really big gun racks in their big ol’ rusted-out pickup trucks, it was interesting to see that Republicans actually know more about politics than Democrats.

Huh. Who would’ve thunk it? Our tiny little acorn-sized brains may have gotten lucky here, but the numbers are interesting, nonetheless, so here they are for sh*ts and giggles:

dems versus reps

Summed up nicely by The Weekly Standard:

Under a section called “Partisan Knowledge Gap,” we find Republicans were more knowledgeable by a double-digit factor on four issues. Although the Glenn Beck question is naturally easier for Republicans, the other three issues are basic political knowledge— what “cap-and-trade” means, who’s in control of the House, and who the new Supreme Court Justice is (a question that should perhaps be easier for Democrats). Republicans also led Democrats on identifying the unemployment rate, Fed chairman, Dow level, Max Baucus’ position. Republicans correctly answered an Iran/Israel question and an Afghanistan question more often than Dems. Republicans and Democrats were even on identifying the “public option” as a health-care plan.

But all you Janeane Garofalos out there – take heart. You led the poll on one question, I think, and because I know you will, regardless, you can just keep on pretending that conservatives are just as dumb as a box of rocks. Subsequently, we’ll pass on the emotional arguments that have little to nothing to back it up and keep digging for the real data that actually matters when all is said and done.

It’s Official. Gay People Are More Valuable Than Straight People.

Published by Mockarena on October 30, 2009 in Really? and You Know What I Hate?. 6 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

So remember that video I showed you a few weeks back of Mike Pence criticizing the hate crime legislation that was attached to a defense spending bill? Well, here’s a great write-up about what a huge pile of crap that is, and how inappropriate it was for Democrats to include it in a bill meant for our military.

Obama signed the bill this past Wednesday, you guys. It’s a done deal. Gay and transgendered people are now a specially protected class, which allows the Justice Dept to prosecute any violence against them based on their gayness or transgenderedness. If you’re straight and viciously attacked? Same old same old. But if you’re gay or transgendered, then you’re apparently extra important and warrant extra super double secret prosecution of your attacker.
 
The Family Research Council President, Tony Perkins summarized it well (bolding is mine): “Today, President Obama signed into law the so-called ‘hate crimes’ bill which violates the principle of equal justice under the law and threatens to infringe on the free speech rights of the American people. All violent crimes are hate crimes, and every victim is equally important. President Obama’s decision today fails to recognize that all of our citizens deserve equal justice under the law.” 

The law itself is incredibly offensive, but made even MORE offensive by the fact that it was slipped into a defense authorization bill.  Pence said, “Today, the president of the United States put his liberal social priorities ahead of an unambiguous affirmation of our men and women in uniform. Every day, our armed forces stand in defense of freedom and our cherished way of life. It is deeply offensive to their service and to millions of Americans to pile so-called ‘hate crimes’ legislation onto a bill that authorizes critical resources for our troops. Hate crimes legislation is antithetical to the First Amendment, unnecessary and will have a chilling effect on religious freedom.” 

Perkins described the bill as a slap in the face to servicepeople, because it forced Congress to choose between EITHER expanding hate crime legislation OR making our military go without needed supplies. And Democrats take no issue with that. They don’t see how absolutely despicable that idea is. It’s outrageous.
 
Ironically, the statement from the Human Rights Campaign president, Joe Solmonese, was as follows: “Today’s signing of the first major piece of civil rights legislation to protect LGBT Americans represents a historic milestone in the inevitable march towards equality.” Um, no, Joe, it doesn’t. It represents LGBT Americans being provided with special treatment. Special treatment does not equal “equality.”
 
I guess there’s truth to that whole, “Everyone is equal, but some people are more equal than others” concept.

A Peek Into Government-Run Healthcare

Published by Daisy on October 30, 2009 in General Political Mockery. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

government doesn't work

This morning, I got up at the butt-crack to wait in line for my H1N1 shot. As noted in a previous post, my disdain for having to wait in line like they do in Communist China has been a source of some tongue-in-cheek sarcasm on my Facebook page in the past few days. I received a lot of crap for this sarcasm – mainly expected empty logic and namecalling (because I mentioned the great Messiah, Obama) – but even after all the liberal “arguing” from a pure emotional standpoint (rather than logical, because that would just be weird to be logical, right?), my mind hasn’t changed one iota.

First of all, I was the first one to arrive. The absolute first of hundreds and hundreds of people. I was very proud of myself in between yawning uncontrollably. I arrived promptly at 5:30 for the 9 am clinic, and I drove around to find an open entrance. Lo and behold – nothing was open this early. So, I drove around some more, saw that there was a minivan snooping around the place and headed back to the main entrance of the fairgrounds. Minivan chick parked in front of the gate, and I followed suit. We sat for about an hour and a half and witnessed a gazillion cars lining up behind us.

When the Sheriff finally arrived, he let us in, and I actually had four different cars cut me off like it was some sort of demolition derby. I’m not kidding. My assessment? When in the face of rationing, people become rabid. Absolutely insane, really.

What I didn’t realize is that people were also parking outside the gates of the fairground and walking to the designated hall. Come to find out – Minivan chick and I were only numbers one and two from a “who got here earliest” standpoint, but we quickly became approximately numbers 50+, as those on foot got in first (even though THEY arrived at 7 am…go figure). Add to that the Demolition Derby jerkoffs, and I was probably bumped down to number 75 when all was said and done. As hormonal as I am, I didn’t fret. I figured 75 isn’t terrible, considering that there are 200 injections. The glass remained half full and I trudged on to my next line.

I got into the line outside the makeshift clinic, and it started to spit rain. This was a pleasant byproduct, indeed, but again, I counted my blessings that it wasn’t a downpour and thanked God for my baseball hat.

Then, the inevitable happened. I’m almost 7 months pregnant, and if you’ve ever dealt with a pregnant woman, we’re either hungry or need to pee approximately every 12 minutes. The latter struck me, and I desperately tried to reason with my bladder. But, it ignored my reasoning. So, I found an angelic being behind me – a mom of two and OBGYN nurse (there is a God) who looked at me and knowingly said, “listen…I’ll hold your place in line. Go to the bathroom.”

She apparently had seen the look of urine-induced desperation on my face. And it was the highlight of my morning, restoring my faith in humanity once again.

I took care of business, got back in line and then the Health Department finally let us in around 7:45. We filed into the building into yet ANOTHER line, which was like those roped-off, livestock-like lines you see at amusement parks. More waiting. And then some more waiting. And then, a little bit more.

Finally, at 9:02, they opened the floodgates for the “clinic.” After waiting for three and a half hours at this point, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. They whisked us through triage and a Q&A table, only to separate us according to mist or injection. I received the injection at around 10 am.

Most of the people in the lines were not immune-compromised looking or pregnant. I’d venture to say that 90% of the people in attendance were parents with healthy kids, which is not a bad thing – but I’m just a little confused as to why they didn’t first hold clinics SPECIFICALLY for high-risk people. I suppose that would be logical, though, and this is the government we’re dealing with. And if there’s one thing I know for sure – the phrase “logical government” is a complete oxymoron.

After four and a half hours of waiting, I received my H1N1 vaccine. Just as reference, back in 2000, I ran the Chicago marathon (that’s 26.2 miles) in just a little bit over that time.

I would’ve rather come up with a couple hundred bucks and paid a private entity to give me the damn shot in under 20 minutes, but that’s just me.

Mock and I spoke this morning, and we both think that this healthcare reform monstrosity will more than likely be shoved through the system. My experience this morning opened my eyes to what’s in store. Add to that the fact that my taxes are going to increase and I’ll have less of a say in my health and the health of my family. Add to that the fact that I feel my freedoms are being taken away, chunk by chunk – and oila! We’ve got a recipe for fiscal disaster, not to mention lower quality healthcare in this country. The writing is on the wall. I just don’t understand why people can’t read it.

But, what do I know? I’m just a wacked out, right wing extremist with Stockholm Syndrome. I wonder if there’ll be an eventual line for that.

Get ready to bend over and cough, everyone. Welcome to rationing. It’s alive and well…and it sucks monkey poo.

So, About That Whole Healthcare Thing.

Published by Mockarena on October 29, 2009 in News. 7 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

It’s kiiiiiind of a huge joke, you guys. And I wouldn’t do nearly as good of a job explaining why as these fine folks do. So BEHOLD: The Special Report panel breaking it down.

P.S. I think Steve Hayes is hot.

Anatomy Of A Liberal Argument

Published by Mockarena on October 29, 2009 in Choppy McBotox (Nancy Pelosi) and Really?. 15 Comments Tags: , , .

Daisy’s facebook page was a hotbed of activity today, folks.

As you know from previous posts, Daisy is totally pregtastic, which puts her into the “high risk” category of people who should get the H1N1 vaccine. And as you also know from previous posts, that vaccine is in painfully short supply. She’s going to attempt, tomorrow morning, to go to her local county fairgrounds for a shot clinic, where there are a total of 200 shots, and absolutely no guarantee that she’ll get one, even if she shows up at 4am. So today, on her facebook wall, she wrote the following:

“I have to get up at 4 am tomorrow to go stand in line for a POSSIBLE H1N1 vaccine. Only 200 available at my local county fairgrounds! I’m almost 7 months pregnant and considered “at risk,” but really, I’m just thrilled that Obama’s kids got THEIR vaccines nice and early before me and all those immune-compromised children out there. Yay government-run healthcare!!”

There were lots and lots and lots of comments back, and I won’t post them all here, but DO want to highlight a couple. One person, who for purposes of this post we’ll call Commenter #1, said, “Still better than the last 8 yrs…..” I know. A Bush comparison. The world’s most underused argument against Obama.

So Daisy and her sister both responded to Commenter #1 nicely but incredulously. To which Commenter #1 replied, “ROFL!!! Really? You guys are serious? I prefer this moron to the last moron we had ANY DAY of the week.”

This is when I piped in. And I said this:

“The fact that there is anyone left who isn’t completely insulted by this administration is AMAZING to me. The more this administration treats people as if they desperately need government to run every aspect of their lives, the more liberals respond by nodding their heads like good little robots. This is the typical response from the koolaid drinkers now, “Oh yeah? But what about BUSH?” That’s what happens when people choose to ignore what is happening before their very eyes – they shift blame and put their heads in the sand. After all, Obama will make everything aaall better. He told us so, so it must be true.”

So Commenter #1 responded:

“I don’t recall saying Obama is going to make it all better and I don’t recall saying I am liberal. Now, to avoid a flame war, I said I prefer O to B. I am disappointed on what O is doing. However, like B, I will give him his first term to make a complete and informed decision. I mena, trust me, if O says, “You are either with me or against me” type statement then it is over.”

And my response was this:

“That’s cool. I’m a fan of freedom and liberty and a strong defense, so what Obama is doing now isn’t just “disappointing” to me. It’s the systematic destruction of our republic. But yeah – I can see why Bush saying, “you’re either with me or against me” is waaaaay worse than that. /end sarcasm”

Now this is where it gets really interesting. At this point, Commenter #2, who by the way has been a commenter on this very website in the past, had this to say:

“Commenter #1 is right. Obama isn’t even especially liberal, as just about any real liberal will tell you. He’s a heck of a lot closer to the political center than Bush ever was (which is why he, unlike, Bush won election by a margin of more than a single state). I just don’t get the fury over these macro economic and fiscal policies. Disagreement, sure; but the barely controlled fury, I don’t get. I genuinely don’t know how some of the protesters today would psychologically endure if forced to spend a week in some of our shoes during the Bush years. What would they do if SINGLED OUT for sweeping rights-denials and dehumanizing personal defamations on a daily basis by hate-mongering president? I think some heads would literally explode. Maxing out the fury over broad economic and fiscal decisions? I just don’t get that at all.”

Naturally, I read that, and burst into a fit of giggles. And then wrote this:

“Daisy – please post at COTR that someone Actually Said Obama is close to political center. That might be the most hilarious thing I’ve heard all week! :) And I’m sure it’ll pull in some great comments.”

That’s word for word what I said, folks. I know it’s sarcastic, but I don’t think it’s particularly inflammatory or vicious or hateful. I was simply AMAZED that someone would ever call PRESIDENT OBAMA “close to political center.” So you know what he said back?

“I’m glad to see Mock is still the same complete bitch she’s always been.”

I’ll admit – I was stunned, but only because I was being called a bitch by someone I’ve never met. I wasn’t stunned that the debate deteriorated into namecalling that fast, because it’s so typical of the left to go straight there. This is just what they do.

And I said as much, when I responded, “Huh – a liberal using namecalling as a response. How novel.”

Happily, Daisy admonished him, and some of her other pals spoke out with their support as well. The whole incident made me really appreciate our resident liberals here at COTR, like QC, for example, who know how to debate the issues without getting nasty.

And we’re going to keep on keeping on here at COTR, welcoming civil, spirited debate. And I promise all of you liberals out there, no matter how much you might make me crazy, I will never call you a bitch.* It’s not becoming of a conservative makeover.

*Unless Nancy Pelosi should happen to comment here. Then all bets are off. ;)

Obama Wants To Regulate Vending Machines Now.

Published by Mockarena on October 29, 2009 in Really?. 7 Comments Tags: , .

Check this out – from the newest healthcare legislation:

‘(viii) VENDING MACHINES.—In the case of an
18 article of food sold from a vending machine that—
19 ‘‘(I) does not permit a prospective pur20
chaser to examine the Nutrition Facts Panel
21 before purchasing the article or does not other22
wise provide visible nutrition information at the
23 point of purchase; and
1516
1 ‘‘(II) is operated by a person who is en2
gaged in the business of owning or operating 20
3 or more vending machines,
4 the vending machine operator shall provide a sign in
5 close proximity to each article of food or the selec6
tion button that includes a clear and conspicuous
7 statement disclosing the number of calories con8
tained in the article.

Seriously. Seriously? Now we’re too stupid to make a VENDING MACHINE DECISION without government involvement? I don’t know about you all, but if I’m getting something out of a vending machine, it’s practically a guarantee that whatever it is, it’s unhealthy, AND that I’m fully aware of it.

Creeeeeepy.

Published by Mockarena on October 29, 2009 in You Know What I Love?. 2 Comments Tags: .

LOVE.

In Case You’re Bored…

Published by Mockarena on October 29, 2009 in News. 4 Comments Tags: .

…you can read the House healthcare bill, all 1990 pages of it and dropping as we speak, right here. 

Good times.

No. Say It Isn’t So. The Government Isn’t Accurately Reporting Job Creation? HOW CAN THIS BE???

Published by Mockarena on October 29, 2009 in Really?. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

SP32-20090802-213932

According to this, a progress report from the Obama administration on the success (snort) of the recovery plan apparently overstates the number of jobs created or saved by thousands.   

I know.  I was dumbfounded by this news too.  To think that the GOVERNMENT would be inaccurate about something – why, it’s unimaginable.  I mean, they’re so much smarter than we are!

But yeah.  It turns out they’re screwing up details left and right.  The AP did some checking into the reporting, and found a ton of discrepancies.  In fact, some counts were more than 10 times as high as the Actual Number of jobs.  Some employees were counted more than four times, even.   And other jobs were counted as being created, when in fact they were only 60 days in duration. 

Even though the White House is now acknowledging that there have been errors made in calculating the true number of jobs created with stimulus money, that isn’t stopping them from keeping the inflated 30k + figure on the recovery.org website.  You’d think a website that was created with $18 million would have a way of self-correcting, but apparently it doesn’t.

But hey, there’s a whole bunch of employed czars.  So, you know, we have that.

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