Month: February 2009

Arizona 2010 Citizen Initiatives

I checked to see what initiatives have been started in the hopes of being on the 2010 ballot.

Initiatives gathering signatures (my comment in italics):

  1. Arizona Save Our Secret Ballot (2010) – This initiative is a state constitutional amendment to help protect the Arizona Constitution’s right to work status of the state. In effect, its goal is to protect the right to secret ballot in federal, state, and union representation. Comment: The initiative is obviously a response to union and Federal Government attempts to usurp citizens and state’s rights with the push for Card Check. I wholehearted support this initiative and hope that it gains enough signatures to be on the ballot. If secret ballots are good enough to elect our government officials it’s good enough for unions.
  2. Yes for Arizona Civil Partnerships – This initiative is a state constitutional amendment to grant same-sex couples the right to enter into civil partnerships that convey the legal rights of marriage. Comment: I support this measure, though I suspect the religious bigots will oppose it as a “threat to marriage” even though it clearly states it is for recognition of civil partnerships. Perhaps the only thing I would like them to change is to include civil partnerships for heterosexual couples as the current city of Phoenix civil partnership law does.
  3. Arizona Limit Photo Radar – This initiative intends to limit the use of photo radar for issuing traffic tickets unless vehicles exceed twenty miles per hour above the posted speed limit. Comment: Oppose it simply on the grounds that it denies the accused the right to challenge their accuser in court. While speeding is a problem, subverting the right to face your accuser is not the solution to the problem. If the governing bodies were to have individuals available for court procedures involving these tickets then I would have no problem with ith. The initiative has competition with another initiative, #4.
  4. Arizona Citizens Against Photo Radar (2010) – This initiative would prohibit the issuance of traffic citations for alleged violations that are detected through the use of photo radar. Comment: I would support this initiative except the the wording could be used to encompass a multitude of violations that do need to be cited. Tighten up the legal phrasing and I’d likely support it.
  5. Mandatory Enforcement by the People – A state constitutional amendment that states that Arizona constitution is “the supreme law of the land and the people, by the initiative power, shall the right to enact all laws necessary for the enforcement of this section.” Comment: I’m guess this is in response by recent attempt by the Legislature to override ballots and laws passed by the people of Arizona. I’m undecided on this one due to lack of information/explanations for the measure.
  6. Centennial Committee – A state constitutional amendment that “eliminates state discrimination” relating to “the right of due process for all citizens of this state”. Comment: Seems like a frivolous, unneeded amendment given there are already protections in place for citizens. I’m neutral on this until I learn more.
  7. Concerned Citizens for the Constitution – A recall effort against John McCain for supposedly inciting racial bigotry, approving torture, and opposing the New GI Bill for soldiers. Comment: Against it. Obviously these losers are from a parallel universe as McCain made it clear he’s against racial bigotry, his adamantly opposed to torture (being a victim of torture himself) and is within his right to oppose a bill he feels is not in the best interest of Americans. I suspect the man behind this initiative is the same one arrested in Iraq a number of years ago (sometime in 2005 IIRC) while deployed with the Arizona National Guard on the ground of potentially violating operational security. Said individual ended up demoted to PFC, forfeiture of pay, and some extra duty. Sounds like he’s just grinding an axe over being held responsible for his own actions. You joing the military, you follow military rules and regulations. I know plenty of military personnel who made their anti-war views known without getting themselves brought up on charges.

This weekends event (which I do not support):

Stop the Raids protest march to take place at 9:00 am on 29 Feb 2009 at Steele Indian School Park. The purpose is to protest Sheriff Arpaio’s raids on illegals in Maricopa County and placing illegals in MCSO’s tent city.

Ironically enough, Sheriff Arpaio recently raided a house and discovered illegals that appear to have been tortured. Funny how the protesters ignore that ugly truth about illegal immigration/human trafficking going on in Arizona.

Weapons ban, budget, and a trip out to the fringe

All right I did say I was going to cut back on political posts. Guess what? I can’t. I care too much about what’s happening in this country to let things pass without comment, especially those things that can negatively and unfairly impact the American public. I’ll just try to return to my less venemous and more snarky commentary.

ABC News: Obama to Seek New Assault Weapons Ban

So the MSM suddenly feels the need to report on a story they’ve been ignoring. But then they continue to ignore the even more insidious HR45 which in effect treats law abiding gun owners worse than sexual predators.

Of course I love all the new excuses used by the unelected wanna-be dictators of D.C. (like Holder) to justify their attempt to strip away rights of Americans. Now it’s to “protect” the incompetent and rampantly corrupt military, police, and government in Mexico. Mexico can’t have it both ways: wanting El Norte (the United States) to stay out of their affairs but then expect El Norte to help them deal with their internal problems.

Probably most amusing, and not mentioned once in the article, is that gun sales are skyrocketing across the country. Take that however you will. Pendejos.

Obama Budget

I’m not too impressed with what admittedly little amount I’ve read about. I’m sure there’s things in there I’ll like. Somewhere. Out there. Maybe.

In some cases, I’m just shaking my head at the ridiculousness of it all, especially the questionable way in which Obama & Co come up with numbers based on equally questionable and highly unlikely assumptions. It’s tax-and-spend, baby!

Among the things I shake my head at:

  • Raise income taxes to on couples making more than $250,000 a year starting in 2011. You know, the “rich”. Better get “rich” beforehand or suffer the consequences of daring to work hard and be successful.
  • The so called “reserve fund” for health care that doesn’t actually have any recognizable source of funding aside from, you guessed it, taxes. Well Bush Sr brought us “Voodoo Economics”, I guess Obama will bring us “Voodoo Healthcare”.
  • Energy tax hike. Right. Just cripple American energy and productivity. Nice job.
  • Cost of living increase for troops. Normally I would say that’s great except that the increase this time around is actually less than pevious ones given. Screwing over the troops as I see it.
  • An increased fee for air travel for each leg of a trip. Why slam the struggling airline (and indirectly aerospace) industry(-ies) while they are already struggling. Why slam the consumer for that matter? Oh, that’s right, only the plaebians need suffer economic harship in America.
  • Great. The Cap-and-Trade mumbo jumbo. Auctioning carbon to polluters. Actually auctioning of people’s health and quality of life and the health and quality of life of future generations to greedy profiteers that are hijacking the true environmentalist movement. Way to ignore and promote the destruction of the environment rather than actually, I don’t know, work on a genuine solution to environmental problems. Look at cap-and-trade failures in Europe.
  • Fiscal irresponsibility by anticipating spending at 22% of GDP after the recession is over. Hardly reducing government spending that.

Trippin’ the Fringe

This gets put into the strange and puzzling category for me. Sure all political parties have their razy supports but this one…? Well, read on.

Ran across chilling goings on reminiscent of Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, and McCarthyist America: Obama Forum: The Scary Tactics to Quash Obama Dissent « Just Americans Making Ethical Statements Weblog

Honestly I thought the site was a joke or parody of some sort at first, but it seems serious. Hard to say given the content. If it’s not then it’s a group of seriously disturbed individuals that feel it’s appropriate to montinor “anti-Obama sentiment” of co-workers, peers, and to encourage children, yes children, to report their parents.

If nothing else they get my nod as one of the oddest political forums.

Interesting

Just a useless post. I was bored and unable to sleep so decided to check out the blog stats to get a laugh at how low the stats should be. I don’t really care about numbers of views, clicks, et. al., given the blogs more about throwing out my opinions and half formed thoughts. Still it was interesting, a a little surprising, to see the numbers. Not surprisingly the height of the Presidential election season was also the largest spike in the stats.

Anyway, I think I’ll get back to writing more about space, science, tech and stuff.

Space News 24 Feb 2009

Nearly 9 out of 10 Americans See Value in America’s Space Program

It’s actually refreshing to see that most Americans value the space program in some manner. It bodes well for space exploration in that regards. Not so great is teh fact that so many people still overestimate NASA’s budget. But another plus is hpw many support the U.S. trying to retain being the world leader in space exploration. The article is slightly misleading in presenting the aerospace industry as thriving, which in some aspects it is. The problem is the article ignores the fact that aerospace job losses and reduction have been high since the economy started to turn sour.

NASA’s global warming satellite falls to Earth – Space.com- msnbc.com

Definitely a blow for mapping carbon dioxide levels especially as it could potentially hinder future satellites intended to study potential climate change, information that could held determine the truth or falsity of climate change.

DPRK prepares to test-fire satellite

Interesting given current tensions on the Korean peninsula and the region in general. Given DPRK’s previous actions I’m more in line with those thinking this is just  a cover for a long range missile test than an actual civilian use space launch.

The Ten Cannots

Found while tag surfing From fashionfinacier’s blog post on Obama’s address to Congress:

The Ten Cannots (attributed to Lincoln, written by a minister)

1) You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
2) You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
3) You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
4) You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
5) You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
6) You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
7) You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
8)You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
9) You cannot build character and courage by taking away men’s initiative and independence.
10) You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

Obama Addresses Congress

I guess I’ll go ahead and make comments as Obama addresses the Congress on his little agenda. That and gag at the adulation of corrupt Congress and complicit MSM. Fair warning that I am extremely cynical and jaded.

Comments:

  • Why doesn’t hug the fruit loop Pelosi while he’s at it? *gag*
  • Michelle Obama is looking nice tonight.
  • Blah blah blah. We’ll rebuild , recover, etc. Empty promises at this point.
  • See? I called it…”pull together”, blah, blah, blah. At least he admitted (however minuscule) the government was part of the problem.
  • Acting boldly? Like not allowing a fair review of the recent recovery act? No thanks.
  • Agenda 1: Jobs. The over bloated piece of crap. And he’s not into big government. Bwahahaha!
  • Ah, there’s another one. The pathetic minuscule paycheck increase in April.
  • Pushing the lame-ass and propaganda website, recovery.gov.
  • Want a way to help end the credit crisis, strip the credit card companies of the astronomical interest rates. Encourage Americans to live within their means. Credit is not genuine money and therefor not a genuine economy. All it leads to is overpriced items.
  • I’ll believe the mortgage help when I see it happen for my mom and her house which devalued over $40,000 this last year even though not a single house in the neighborhood has been foreclosed or sold.
  • Accountability? Responsibility? I’ll believe it when I see it.
  • And here it comes….we need to financially rape Americans for the banks. Again. Using the same bullshit rhetoric said during the election campaign. Always talking about helping people but only banks, corporations,  and corrupt government officials get any benefit.
  • More bullshit “open ended recession” scare tactics.
  • Here comes the blame Bush bit. Guess he forgot he was part of the problem.
  • Pro-big government speech.
  • Obama’s budget: Energy. Health care. Education. Too bad he forgot the rest.
  • At least he seems to support renewable energy. Too bad he’s fallen for the dubious carbon cap and climate change BS which science is still ambiguous on.
  • Bailout the car makers instead of letting the new small companies replace the dinosaurs.
  • Health care reform? I’ll believe it when I see it. What type of reform? Throwing money at it via a government run program won’t accomplish anything but drive up costs even more.
  • Electronic record. Completely against it. That can’t even keep Vet records secure. No way in hell I want my records online for any hacker to get into.
  • Cure for cancer? Pfft. Give me a break, you moron. It’s going to be the scientists who do it, not fucking government.
  • Education. Always easy and crowd pleasing. Problem is they’re over educating the population like Europe, requiring degrees for jobs monkeys can do. This does not counting the propagandizing, revisionist history, and indoctrination that goes on in schools these days.
  • Charter school support. I’ll believe it when I see it.
  • Great. Socialist education. /sarcasm Cradle to career education.
  • Idiots have forgotten that High School was intended for. Require college graduation? Sounds like Europe where you have Doctorates serving coffee in cafes.
  • More national service, which is good but I gag because he plays on the Kennedy name. Blatant suck-up.
  • Don’t want to pass on debt to children? I’ll believe it when I see it.
  • More Bush bashing.
  • Free of ear marks? Bwahahahah!
  • Taking a hit: education, farmers, no-bid cntractors, and reform defense budget, medicair,
  • Ending tax breaks for corporations sending jobs overseas. That I can support.
  • Called it again. Increase tax the “wealthy” (<$250, 000 year). In other words the neo-socialists have decided no one should try to succeed for more than $250,000/yr. Too bad that’s not truly wealthy in America today.
  • Hate to break it to ya Mr. Prez. SOFA already decides what happens to U.S. troops in Iraq: they leave.
  • Support the troops moment. Funny how that seemed to last the longest so far.
  • Increase number of soldier and marines, expand benefits, and increase pay. Sounds good.
  • Guantanamo closing. Notice he didn’t say where the terrorist prisoners go.
  • No torture. Nobody supported that grotesquery anyway.
  • Avoid escalating protectionism and yet he signed a law that encourages exactly that. Yeah. Sure.
  • They’re called philanthropists, Mr. Obama. Something socialism kills for the sake of state run and controlled programs.
  • Closing: We love America. Kind of stating the obvious there.

So that was Obama. Basically a typical speech. A lot of stuff really doesn’t add up. Big government but fiscal responsibility. Whatever. I’ll believe it when he acts in a true bi-partisianship instead of neo-socialist jackboots or Chicago style dealings.

Repub reaction:

  • Apparently Jindal is responding for the Repubs.
  • Finally someone who gets what bipartisianship means.
  • Small government proponent given what happened during Katrina.
  • Don’t raise taxes.
  • Empower American people.
  • Pork projects in Stimulus Law. Heh.
  • Energy prices down through efficiency, oil, nuclear, alternate fuels. A more balanced approach to make use of all resources.
  • Universal access to health care supported. Government run universal healthcare opposed.
  • Charter schools. Well there might be some agreement with Obama and Dems there.
  • Strong ethics laws. Transparency.
  • Oppose cutting military. Which is wrong in a time of war. Duh.
  • Well at least Jindal spoke to the people, not over the people. A lot of previous Repub responses haven’t done that.

Here we go again

So I see President Obama is holding another propaganda media event tonight. I’ll probably end up watching it even though I doubt he’ll cover any new ground, just the same old crap about how the American public has to pull together and sacrifice. Funny how politicians are never willing to sacrifice in their life for the failed ideas, corruption, financial incompetence and complete mismanagement of the government, isn’t it? Nope, just the citizenry that get’s screwed over.

Obviously I don’t expect much. Likely on the program:

  1. He’ll probably blab on about needing to be fiscally responsible while expounding the contrary notion of big government programs and spending.
  2. This of course means higher taxes on everyone to make up for the massive gap which of course he’ll use class warfare to get people to think he’ll only tax businesses and the “wealthy”.
  3. Blame the previous administration for the nation’s economic woes, ignoring the fact that Congress (including himself) did nothing while the economy and financial institutes went to hell under their watch.
  4. Tout the amazing extra $16 dollars (or whatever pitiful amount it is) a week people will get. Yippee. /sarcasm
  5. Tout a mortgage bailot that leaves most out people in the cold.
  6. He’ll also probably talk about revamping healthcare when he really means creating a medical welfare state.
  7. Blame his opponents (i.e. Republicans and other opponents of big government spending) as obstructionists or defeatists or whatever negative monicker he can thow on them in some feeble attempt to prop up his agenda.
  8. He’ll probably also throw in drawing down troop levels in Iraq, which is irrelevant given the recent SOFA (status of forces agreement) with that country’s current leadership.
  9. Declare Americans need to remain hopeful in order for the economy to recover, rebuild, or some other such supposedly inspirational words that down play or ignore the depth of the problem. Same as the morons out there saying people should spend money they don’t have for the “good of the nation”.
  10. Hint at gutting the military under the guise of eliminating weapons systems supposedly no longer needed.
  11. Pathetic Republican counter proposal that’s out of touch with the American people.

In other words it’s going to be all pandering and no commitment. Being eloquent is useless if there is no actions to back up.

The President seriously needs to stop wasting time doing interviews and propaganda media events and get down to governing. He’s acting like a frigging media whore. Hell, if he wants attention so much let’s get everyone to write Harvey Levin so a TMZ cameria crew visits the White House once a week to take pictures and ask inane questions. It would probably be as useful.