Where Do We Stand , "poor-wise"

Very interesting post here re where the country stands as far as the status of the poor is concerned compared to their status in past years.

"the Queen"

Let's see, you and I are hurting, pinching pennies and cutting back every way that we can to try and make ends meet. It sure would be nice if those in Washington would lead by example for a change. However, check out these numbers:

Says the Canada Free Press:

No, Michele Obama does not get paid to serve as the First Lady and she doesn’t perform any official duties. But this hasn’t deterred her from hiring an unprecedented number of staffers to cater to her every whim and to satisfy her every request in the midst of the Great Recession. Just think Mary Lincoln was taken to task for purchasing china for the White House during the Civil War. And Mamie Eisenhower had to shell out the salary for her personal secretary.

How things have changed! If you’re one of the tens of millions of Americans facing certain destitution, earning less than subsistence wages stocking the shelves at Wal-Mart or serving up McDonald cheeseburgers, prepare to scream and then come to realize that the benefit package for these servants of Miz Michele are the same as members of the national security and defense departments and the bill for these assorted lackeys is paid by John Q. Public:

1. $172,2000 – Sher, Susan (CHIEF OF STAFF)
2. $140,000 – Frye, Jocelyn C. (DEPUTY ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
3. $113,000 – Rogers, Desiree G. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY)
4. $102,000 – Johnston, Camille Y. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
5. Winter, Melissa E. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
6. $90,000 – Medina, David S. (DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
7. $84,000 – Lelyveld, Catherine M. (DIRECTOR AND PRESS SECRETARY TO THE FIRST LADY)
8. $75,000 – Starkey, Frances M. (DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING AND ADVANCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)
9. $70,000 – Sanders, Trooper (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND PROJECTS FOR THE FIRST LADY)
10. $65,000 – Burnough, Erinn J. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY SOCIAL SECRETARY)
11. Reinstein, Joseph B. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY SOCIAL SECRETARY)
12. $62,000 – Goodman, Jennifer R. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING AND EVENTS COORDINATOR FOR THE FIRST LADY)
13. $60,000 – Fitts, Alan O. (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADVANCE AND TRIP DIRECTOR FOR THE FIRST LADY)
14. Lewis, Dana M. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT AND PERSONAL AIDE TO THE FIRST LADY)
15. $52,500 – Mustaphi, Semonti M. (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY TO THE FIRST LADY)
16. $50,000 – Jarvis, Kristen E. (SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR SCHEDULING AND TRAVELING AIDE TO THE FIRST LADY)
17. $45,000 – Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)
18. Tubman, Samantha (DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR,SOCIAL OFFICE)
19. $40,000 – Boswell, Joseph J. (EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE FIRST LADY)
20. $36,000 – Armbruster, Sally M. (STAFF ASSISTANT TO THE SOCIAL SECRETARY)
21. Bookey, Natalie (STAFF ASSISTANT)
22. Jackson, Deilia A. (DEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE FIRST LADY)

It sure would be nice if Washington really REALLY understood what us "commoners" really had to face day to day, primarily because of what these "leaders" have shackled us with.

Thanksgiving

Every day, but especially on this day, I must stop and give thanks for all of the gifts that have been bestowed on me, on this country, and on the world.

I cannot list all of the wondrous gifts that I have received, but acknowledge all of them nonetheless. I especially thank God for the freedom that I have experienced, for the love of and for family and friends, and for the countless gifts He has sent my way, in spite of my failures and shortcomings. To all, a happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.

Hard To Believe

Take the few minutes to listen to this speech from Judge Napolitano. If you aren't scared by what he tells you has happened, you should be!!! This is the US of A. This sort of thing is not supposed to be happening in this country.

Unemployment #'s

We all have heard much about the unemployment numbers over the past months.
Maybe it's just me, but numbers can be hard to visualize. Here's a more visual approach to those numbers, on a county by county approach

Said Better Than I Could Have Done

Regarding the decision to try the terrorists in NYC under civil law, I strongly suggest that you read this.

Theirs was an act of war, NOT a civil crime. They should be tried in a military court, as were the leaders of the Axis powers after WWII.

It Is Really Hard

Ok, so I don't like our president's policies. And try as I might, I find it harder and harder to find any respect for him as well.



Maybe someone should have told hm that it is a sign of respect to salute the flag during the playing of our country's National Anthem. And hasn't this been an issue in the past as well? One could almost come to believe that he REALLY just doesn't respect this country after all.

Pelosi_care #2

More on Pelosi-Care

At a recent post passage news conference, someone asked Pelosi if it was true that jail time could be imposed for those not signed up for the gummint health plan. And she DID NOT deny it.

Think long and hard on this. She is saying that she feels it acceptable to put people in jail for not buying into her health plan. IN JAIL!!!! For the love of all that is holy, they did that in Russia; we don't do that in the US of A!! Going to jail for not buying insurance, simply because this woman decides it should be so.

Think about this. From the Ace of Spades
Read the whole article if you have a chance.

"The left says: You are crazy to claim your so-called freedoms are being taken away, and you are a lunatic to scream about an overly powerful state which will use violent coercion (no one goes to jail without the threat of violence if he doesn't, after all) to enforce its notions of the "economic good

And with the next breath the left says: By the way, you shall either buy health care insurance or we will throw you in prison for two or three years.

I'm paranoid? Really? I am not fretting here about some remote and unlikely possibility. We are not speaking here of "slippery slopes" or in terms of "what comes next?"

We are instead objecting to a black-letter law spelled out for all to see in the very first piece of legislation you're proposing."

Right out of the box. The state here -- Pelosi, Reid, Obama -- are claiming that they can imprison people for behavior that has never before even been hinted as being a crime, on the theory that such behavior constitutes unpatriotic economic behavior which is detrimental to the state's balance sheets.

Think about what a broad, all-encompassing term "economics" is. 80% of our waking hours are spent in economic activity of one sort or another. The state here is asserting the right to imprison people for behavior they consider not actually morally reprehensible or harmful as other crimes are, but instead merely detrimental to the Great Push Forward, the state's master plan of economic health and well-being."

Going to jail because you didn't buy an insurance plan approved by the government. Can you even conceive of that? Can you imagine any of the Founding Fathers tolerating such a law, let alone passing it? Can imagine any of those who fought for our independence obeying such a law? In your wildest fantasies, could you conceive of any of our so-called representatives daring to propose such a frightening law? But there it is, compliments of Pelosi and all the spineless zombies in the House who just blindly signed off on this piece of totalitarianism masquerading as a health-care bill. Now all those who voted for this bill either agree with this bull***t, or else didn't know that it was in there. Either way, they should be thrown out. If they didn't know, then they are incompetent; if they did know and voted for it anyway, then they are supporting a bill which is a direct violation of the Constitution and should be impeached. They are willing to put you or your family in jail if you don't agree with their bill and buy their insurance.

Well said

Every once in a while, someone says it so well that it just has to be repeated.

Major Nidal Hasan

As everyone argues back and forth whether or not he is a terrorist, a simple fact is overlooked. He is a traitor. As a member of the US Army, he took action directly against other members of the Armed Services. Therefore he is a traitor.

Aside from that, I have to almost laugh at how the Left is bending over backward to try and find any justification for his actions so as to avoid his obvious terrorist bend. A simple mind game for you to try.....instead of Muslim, replace with Methodist; instead of Army personnel, replace with abortion clinic workers. Does anyone, ANYONE, think for a single moment, that these same people would even consider justifying or explaining the shooter's activities under those simple changes. Of course we know the answer. But somehow it is "different" with those 2 simple changes. And I am so very sick of the discussion about how we have to worry about the good Muslims. Last time I checked, the only ones dead were dead because of Muslims, not because they were Muslims. And I don't know anyone of sound mind who is condemning all Muslims for the action of this man or those of his ilk. So spare me the histrionics, please and face the fact that he was trying to contact a sworn enemy of this country, had preached Jihad, and killed innocent people.

9-11 and terorist trials

I've seen nothing about this in the mainstream media (SURPRISE- SURPRISE)

link

Another "unintended consequence" or another attempt to undermine the desire for justice for all of the victims of 9/11? You decide.

Veterans' Day

To all the veterans, living and dead
To all who served in the past, or are serving now
My heartfelt thanks to you all
For all that you did and are doing
For the risks that you take to protect us
Thank you and God bless you all!

Random Thoughts

Some thoughts, more or less random, that have crossed my mind over the past few days:

Pelosi Care: I am absolutely in awe over the unmitigated gall of this woman and her ilk.

Poll after poll show that the majority of the public does NOT want this bill. Last I saw said that 55+/- oppose it. Rallies across the country join in opposition of it. But who are we to even dare to think that we know better what is good for us and our country than the fantastic geniuses in DC who are going to shove this through no matter what.

It is going to break the economy of the country. I am no financial genius, but even I know that if you try to expand coverage to 40 million more people, it IS GOING TO COST MORE! To tell us that it is budget neutral and expect us to believe it shows quite well just how stupid you think we are. And of course, there is no discussion at all about the fact that virtually every government program will cost many times more than what is projected, and that revenue starts to be collected now but expenditures don't start for 5 more years.

It specifically EXCLUDES the same idiots who are forcing it on us. If this is such a great and wonderful program, shouldn't our great leaders be first in line to participate? Shouldn't it be mandatory for them, just as they make it mandatory for us? And if they can opt out, then damn if I shouldn't be able to opt out also!

It openly and directly violates the Constitution. Now I realize that the Constitution is not held in a whole lot of respect in DC any more, but can someone, ANYONE, show me where the gummint is given power to order me to buy health insurance? Doesn't it bother anyone else when this bunch of power freaks starts with the "must" and "shall" and "will"'s? Who the hell are they to be ordering me, you, and all other law-abiding citizens around like a bunch of little tyrants? Our government no where gives them, or any other politician, such power over the citizenry. They are supposed to be our representatives in DC, NOT our bosses.

It isn't going to work. Perhaps the most basic reason to oppose this plan. It simply is not going to work. How can a bunch of bureaucrats who know exactly nothing about health care or its delivery put together a plan that will work? They obviously know nothing about balancing a budget, and nothing about what the citizenship wants or needs, but because they sit in a lofty chamber so far above us commoners, they will come up with a foolproof plan that will be within budget, cover more people with less money and fewer doctors, without taking away any services from anyone. Good lord, how stupid do they think I am?

It is much more bipartisan in the opposition than in those supporting it. With a huge majority in Congress, they had more of their own party voting against it than they had opposition party voting for it.