You wonder why gas is $3.19 / gal?

Obama can't even issue permits to drill in the gulf.......even after his "ban" has been lifted.

Obama is intentionally manipulating oil prices by limiting supply, deliberately hurting the oil business and the price of oil if spiking.

Wall Street Journal Story here

Where's the outrage now? Apparently outrage is only in vogue when a Republican is in the White House.

Charlie Wilson strikes again

Here a Dispatch story about the rising cost of health care. The increased cost to Ohio tax payers (this is just the first quantifiable hit we are going to see) is $1,450,000,000.

This is due to our new socialized medicine bill that Comrade Charlie Wilson voted for.

Great book on Socialism

More issues with so called minimum wage laws

The hidden Costs of a Minimum Wage

"Advocates of higher minimum wages are often motivated by the purest of concerns for the poor. However, the minimum wage has been described as a "maximum folly" by many economists for many years because it hurts precisely the people who most desperately need help. Self-styled friends of the poor are unrelenting in their advocacy of a higher minimum wage, but with friends like these, the poor do not need enemies."

To the right is a book written by two gentlemen from Southeastern Ohio about Unemployment and Government. This is a great book.

House Committee Again Fails to Deny Illegal-Alien Access to Healthcare Benefits

Zach Space has completely left the reservation. Now he works to allow illegal aliens access to tax payer funded health care!

Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee endorsed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Zack Space (D-Ohio) that was designed to provide political cover for Representatives who want to give illegal aliens benefits under the healthcare reform bill (H.R. 3200). The amendment’s language reaffirms current law, which prohibits illegal aliens from applying for state Medicaid and child health insurance programs, but does not require states to verify whether applicants are actually eligible to apply. Therefore, H.R. 3200 will continue to allow states to require little more than an attestation of citizenship in benefit applications.

Under the health care bill, states would be required to automatically enroll non-traditional Medicaid individuals to the proposed government-run option. An amendment offered yesterday by Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) would have required states to verify an individual's citizenship status before automatically enrolling them. That amendment was defeated by one vote. Rep. Space, the sponsor of today’s amendment, was one of those who opposed the Deal amendment.

The Committee passed its portion of the bill tonight by a 31-28 margin. Before passage, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) noted that that the remaining amendments not considered tonight will be placed in a separate bill. When Congress returns from recess, the committee will mark up and pass that bill. The Rules Committee, he said, would deem it to be an accepted amendment for floor debate on H.R. 3200.

Don't be fooled, Space is no moderate...neither is Wilson

“The Blue Dog caucus represents a significant and effective check against the dangers of extremism when it comes to party politics,” said Blue Dog Rep. Zack Space (D-OH). “We understand that the left wing of our party doesn’t have it right all of the time. We understand that the Republican party doesn’t have it wrong all the time.”

Speaking of extremism....what is voting for the cap and tax bill if not extreme. The largest tax increase in US history is moderation?

Space is no moderate and neither is Comrade Wilson.

Apparently they are taking turns pretending to be conservatives. Space voted for the cap and tax bill while Bolshevik Charlie opposed it. Now Wilson supports the health care / taxpayer funding of abortions bill and Space is beating his chest like he's really standing up for his constituents....after the cap and tax vote, of course.

These two are lunatics that don't represent the values of southeastern Ohio.

local "Tea Party" members demonstrate outside Congressman Charlie Wilson's office

"They're throwing everything at us at once. It's not a dictatorship, but that's what they're making it," member Jane Gambos of Richmond complained.

Congressmen Demand Full Disclosure On Plan for Delphi Pensions

"Angry salaried retirees protesting Delphi Corps plan to dump responsibility for their pensions on the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. are gaining the support of political leaders.
The representatives state their concern with the inequitable decision to default the Delphi Corp.s salaried retiree pension plan to the Pension Benefit Guarantee [sic] Corp., while General Motors agreed to assume the auto parts suppliers hourly retiree pension obligations, and ask that Geithner direct the Auto Task Force to make public all documents concerning how this decision was reached."

Business Journal Daily story.

Let's see here. Unions support democrats with union member dues. UAW gets bailed out with taxpayer's money and salaried employees don't. Makes perfect sense in a democrat run Treasury department with a Socialist President.

Congressman Charlie Wilson's and others "demand" for full disclosure is humorous. They know exactly why the too groups are treated differently.

Don't ever let anyone tell you democrats are against discrimination.

Pravda knows where socialism leads: their warning

Pravda story here about our fall into socialism. Their shock that we are not fighting it....at all.

Here's a story about the end result of Charlie Wilson and Obama's policies. The communist elites living in luxury while the rest starve.

Barry's SA

"President Barack Obama's Listening Tour is rolling into Marietta Thursday evening. A representative from the Columbus branch of Organizing For America will be visiting the area at 7o'clock Thursday evening."

WTAP.com story

In a union hall, no less.

Weren't these types called the SA in the 30's in Germany?

Organizing for America website. This is sort of scary. Am I the only one that finds this rather creepy? How long before one of Barry's "community organizers" report you to the Gestapo for reading your Bible?

Below is a story from historyplace.com on the rise of Hitler. Keeping in mind the 2008 presidential election, if this doesn't give you a jolt, nothing will.

Read this:

Adolf Hitler and the Nazis waged a modern whirlwind campaign in 1930 unlike anything ever seen in Germany. Hitler traveled the country delivering dozens of major speeches, attending meetings, shaking hands, signing autographs, posing for pictures, and even kissing babies.

Joseph Goebbels brilliantly organized thousands of meetings, torchlight parades, plastered posters everywhere and printed millions of copies of special editions of Nazi newspapers.

Germany was in the grip of the Great Depression with a population suffering from poverty, misery, and uncertainty, amid increasing political instability.

For Hitler, the master speech maker, the long awaited opportunity to let loose his talents on the German people had arrived. He would find in this downtrodden people, an audience very willing to listen. In his speeches, Hitler offered the Germans what they needed most, encouragement. He gave them heaps of vague promises while avoiding the details. He used simple catchphrases, repeated over and over.

His campaign appearances were carefully staged events. Audiences were always kept waiting, deliberately letting the tension increase, only to be broken by solemn processions of Brownshirts with golden banners, blaring military music, and finally the appearance of Hitler amid shouts of "Heil!" The effect in a closed in hall with theatrical style lighting and decorations of swastikas was overwhelming and very catching.

Hitler began each speech in low, hesitating tones, gradually raising the pitch and volume of his voice then exploding in a climax of frenzied indignation. He combined this with carefully rehearsed hand gestures for maximum effect. He skillfully played on the emotions of the audience bringing the level of excitement higher and higher until the people wound up a wide-eyed, screaming, frenzied mass that surrendered to his will and looked upon him with pseudo-religious adoration.

Hitler offered something to everyone; work to the unemployed, prosperity to failed business people, profits to industry, expansion to the Army, social harmony and an end of class distinctions to idealistic young students, and restoration of German glory to those in despair. He promised to bring order amid chaos, a feeling of unity to all and the chance to belong. He would make Germany strong again, end payment of war reparations to the Allies, tear up the treaty of Versailles, stamp out corruption, keep down Marxism, and deal harshly with the Jews.

He appealed to all classes of Germans. The name of the Nazi party itself was deliberately all inclusive - the National Socialist German Workers' Party.

All of the Nazis, from Hitler, down to the leader of the smallest city block, worked tirelessly, relentlessly, to pound their message into the minds of the Germans.

On election day September 14, 1930, the Nazis received 6,371,000 votes, over eighteen percent of the total, and were thus entitled to 107 seats in the German Reichstag. It was a stunning victory for Hitler. Overnight, the Nazi party went from the smallest to the second largest party in Germany.

It propelled Hitler to solid national and international prestige and aroused the curiosity of the world press. He was besieged with interview requests. Foreign journalists wanted to know - what did he mean - tear up the Treaty of Versailles and end war reparations? - and that Germany wasn't responsible for the first World War?

Gone was the Charlie Chaplin image of Hitler as the laughable fanatic behind the Beer Hall Putsch. The beer hall revolutionary had been replaced by the skilled manipulator of the masses.

On October 13, 1930, dressed in their brown shirts, the elected Nazi deputies marched in unison into the Reichstag and took their seats. When the roll call was taken, each one shouted, "Present! Heil Hitler!"

They had no intention of cooperating with the democratic government, knowing it was to their advantage to let things get worse in Germany, thus increasing the appeal of Hitler to an ever more miserable people.

Nazi storm troopers dressed in civilian clothes celebrated their electoral victory by smashing in the windows of Jewish shops, restaurants and department stores, an indication of things to come.

Now, for the floundering German democracy, the clock was ticking and time was on Hitler's side.

The Social Security Ponzi Scheme derails

Socialism never works.

Forbes.com story

The biggest bottle of snake oil ever sold is running out of medicine. You really didn't think it would be there for you did you?

Social "Security" is nothing more than a long term dependency program who's funding is about to run out or more of your money will be confiscated from you and your children to finance the retirements of the elderly.

Obama the socialist

Did you know that there were banks that were forced to take bailout money?

Did you know that some banks are not allowed to repay the bailout money?

Read this!

Just when you thought there was a glimmer of common sense in Athens.....

They just make all landlords subject to a dumb law instead of a limited amount.

Grim upholds landlord/tenant law

"Athens County Municipal Judge William Grim has upheld an Athens law dealing with landlord/tenant education forms.

The law, which was passed in 2005, requires every landlord with rentals in the city to provide educational information to each of his or her tenants, and file a form with the Code Enforcement Office listing the tenants and certifying that those tenants have received the information. The forms provide tenants with information regarding issues such as trash pickup, parking, animal control and noise regulations.

Judge Grim had previously suggested that he might dismiss misdemeanor charges against three local landlords – James Coady, David Sturbois and Penelope Plesset – who were cited for not handing in educational forms filled out by their tenants. The three had filed a motion to dismiss the charges, alleging that the city’s law violated the Constitution. Grim denied the motion Monday, and trial is now set for March 31.

Grim ruled Feb. 20 that the city of Athens’ landlord-tenant form ordinance is constitutional as written, though the city’s mode of enforcing it was not, and the law must be applied evenly to all landlords in the city. Prior to this ruling, the Code Enforcement Office only applied the law to properties with 10 or fewer occupants. The court had given the city until Monday to demonstrate that it was applying the law to all properties in the city regardless of the number of occupants.

Athens Law Director Patrick Lang’s office said Grim determined Monday that the city had taken substantial steps toward enforcing the regulations against all properties in the city, and the law was therefore constitutional both as written and as applied.

“All three branches of local government have now had their say,” Lang said. “The law was passed by City Council, signed by the mayor and upheld by the Municipal Court.”

Lang said the city has a duty to enforce the law, and that’s what they will continue to do. Lang’s office said the law requires that landlords have a current form on file with the Code Enforcement Office. Failure, to file a current form is a minor misdemeanor, he said, punishable by a fine of up to $150 for each violation. Failure to file a form for multiple properties constitutes multiple violations, Lang said."

This is a dumb statist type of law who's intent could have been accomplished in a less totalitarian manner....one that Lang could choose to ignore, like his predecessor.

Previous posts, here, here, here and here

Charlie Wilson's Red Herring

TARP Wage Accountability Act

I'd love to post on other items, but Congressman Charlie Wilson won't stop acting like a socialist for even one day.

First he votes to allow AIG type bonuses, then he says he's outraged at the actual bonuses when they happen, then he submits a bill to stop companies from "significantly increase salaries rather than have to deal with scrutiny of bonuses."

He's definitely against these bonuses now that everyone knows he voted to allow them in the first place.

So, apparently, Charlie Wilson would rather a Wal-Mart greeter run this country's largest insurance company than people that are trained and experienced in it.

The taxpayers have 80% (that's what I've read in the media, so take that for what it's worth) stake in AIG now. Why in the world wouldn't the taxpayer want the best to run a business we have such a huge stake in? We won't have the best and the brightest if we keep cutting their pay. (yes, taking bonuses from people that earned them is cutting their pay) We'll have a third string government team running this show and you know how that will end. The same folks that ran the Social Security fund bankrupt when they had a guaranteed incoming flow of confiscated cash from workers. Now we think the government will run AIG better than that?

On a slightly different note:

What is it with conservatives? Are they also falling for the Bolshevik trap of class envy?

Who cares if someone makes more money than you? Do you think if the government caps what others makes, you'll somehow get a pay raise? It doesn't work like that.

Also, who gets to make the decision of how much is OK to earn? If we start down this socialist path, where does it stop?

If you make 40k a year, there are folks that make 20k / year. What makes you so much better that you make 2X what someone else does?

In Bolshevik class warfare, the only winners are the government.

Charlie Wilson is leading us in this direction, he needs to go.

Couldn't have said it any better

The Obama Economy

As the Dow keeps dropping, the President is running out of people to blame.

Judge: landlord-tenant law needs amended

Finally some common sense, instead of Bolshevik laws. Previous posts here.

Athens News story

"Bain added, however, that based on discussions with Mayor Paul Wiehl, she believes the administration may change how the form is handled anyway.
She noted that Wiehl has suggested that rather then requiring tenants to fill out and sign the form, the city require that it be posted on a door at all rentals."

This makes sense, why didn't we do this to begin with? Instead we charge 3 landlords with a crime and make them spend time and money in court.

"As for whether the city would still pursue the charges against the three defendants if the law is changed, Bain noted that this is Lang’s decision, but added that she thought it might have been “premature” to file the charges in the first place."

I wonder if Patrick Lang has learned just how fast these socialists will leave him holding the bag after they encouraged him to enforce this draconian rule.

"Athens County Municipal Judge William A. Grim has suggested that he may dismiss misdemeanor charges against three local landlords – James Coady, David Sturbois and Penelope Plesset – who were cited for not handing in educational forms filled out by their tenants. The forms were meant to inform tenants about their rights and responsibilities.

Last November, the city filed 65 misdemeanor charges against Coady, 19 against Sturbois and two against Plesset, one for each of the rental properties for which they had failed to submit the form. The charge is a minor misdemeanor, with a maximum penalty of a $100 fine. All three defendants pleaded not guilty and asked for a trial."

The heart of the matter

Dispatch story

"We're getting free sidewalks and streetlights. It's going to increase the value of our property."

Free? Really? How? This is how freedoms are slowly given away to the government. The empty promise of getting something for "free".

The thoughts of getting new sidewalks and a wider road are good, an improvement. However, nothing is free.

Did all this (getting something for "free" thinking) start with General Mills putting prizes in the bottom of our cereal boxes when we were kids? You'd think that after all these years of buying our own cereal boxes for our own kids, we'd realized that someone had to pay for the cereal.

Welfare, alive and well on college campuses

Plan recasts state funds for private colleges

"Up to 37,500 students would no longer receive state scholarships to attend private colleges in Ohio under Gov. Ted Strickland's budget proposal."

Why, you ask? You might think that the budget is being cut? Not so.

"Although more money would be allotted for the new block grants -- $70 million, including $30 million for students of for-profit schools"

Here's the reason:

"Three-fourths of the 50,000 Choice Grant students could become ineligible because they or their families earn too much money."

"Eligibility for the Student Choice Grant is not based on need or academic merit." ...well this was the case before Strickland's education plan.

The little help that the "middle class" gets in college financial aid, is now gone, replaced with giving that money to others, based on "needs".

"Instead of requiring a set amount per student, the new program would give private schools the latitude to award different amounts of aid based on students' need, Jones said."

So we've went from a program that was set up to encourage students to stay in Ohio to attend college, to a socialist redistribution of wealth. You didn't know you were wealthy, did you?

Robbin in the Hood

"Democrats argue that the Republican tax-cut approach does nothing to help Americans who don't owe income taxes -- such as low-income workers and Social Security recipients. About 40 million Americans file tax returns but have too little income to pay any taxes."

The Horror!

Finally some clear distinction between the parties.

The democrats want to take money from people that pay taxes and give it to people that don't pay taxes.

The GOP wants to give all taxpayers a tax break. If you don't pay taxes, you don't get a tax break. Well, how could you if you didn't pay taxes to begin with?