I read 18 blogs daily. Some may find that excessive, or light. For the most part, they are conservative oriented. I try the liberal side regularly but I can't deal with the raving lunatics in the comments every day.
One blogger has an excellent piece in which he complains that Democrats are all Ahabs. Democrats can only see the world through a Bush hating looking glass. But all the conservatives see when looking at liberals is Bush hating. Is it really any different?
We are in a 'civil' war. No one is shooting guns at the otherside, but it has all the characteristics of a war. Verbal assaults are launched, from the MSM or blogsphere. Damage is assessed, skirmishes deemed won or lost. Neither side has the high ground, though both can and do claim it. (I purposely left out the word moral from that sentence and if you don't immediately understand why...you may be a combatant).
Anyone caught even suggesting there might be some underlying truth to the position of the otherside is considered treasonous. Doubts among the faithful are quashed by a need to utterly defend their side from the overwhelming assault from opposition at any sign of weakness.
Frankly, I would have been blissfully unaware but for the bankruptcy law passage last year. Everything about the effort to pass that law was wrong. Hell, I agreed with and quoted TED KENNEDY. How many other laws and bills before the various democratic institutions in this country THAT DO NOT AFFECT ME IN ANYWAY, are flat out wrong? Are bad for the very people our representatives are sworn to protect?
In every war we have our Lt Calleys. Our Cindy Sheehans. They are nothing to be proud of or to dismiss as aberrations. War brings out the best, and worst of us. This 'civil' war we are in, blame it on Bush. Not because he is causing the war, but because he is like most moral people, a lightning rod for everyone that sees only shades of grey. Unfortunately for some, fortunately for most, he is the President. He would not gather such storms in a lesser position.
The few people that try to avoid the conflict, to engage in dialogue, are quickly marginalized or overwhelmed with verbal artillery. From my position safe far from the battlegrounds (the ten or so people that read this blog have been a quiet bunch), I can observe and comment. But further away, across oceans, others observe more closely and with less good will. 'Civil' war in the US is good for them and as long as we are distracted by each other, they will continue to wage their own not so civil wars.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Friday, January 20, 2006
The left and Iran
You have got to be kidding?!
The Left (lead by Sen Clinton) is accusing Bush of fumbling Iran....(wait for it)...by letting diplomacy by the UN and EU to run for two years, thereby allowing Iran to get that much closer to WMD.
Elenor Cliff in 2002: "They elected a wuss but got a cowboy."
Elenor Cliff in 2006: "They elected a cowboy but got a wuss."
Or was that a movie?
Where the hell are all the protest marches calling for unilateral action against Iran? Where is all the clamoring for a draft to protect us?
Where the hell is the EU? France, FRANCE for god sake has said it will respond with it's own nuclear weapons if provoked...
If this is deja vu, I want NEO.
The Left (lead by Sen Clinton) is accusing Bush of fumbling Iran....(wait for it)...by letting diplomacy by the UN and EU to run for two years, thereby allowing Iran to get that much closer to WMD.
Elenor Cliff in 2002: "They elected a wuss but got a cowboy."
Elenor Cliff in 2006: "They elected a cowboy but got a wuss."
Or was that a movie?
Where the hell are all the protest marches calling for unilateral action against Iran? Where is all the clamoring for a draft to protect us?
Where the hell is the EU? France, FRANCE for god sake has said it will respond with it's own nuclear weapons if provoked...
If this is deja vu, I want NEO.
Self esteem and the education system
One of our favorite TV shows is American Idol. The three of us pick who we like and don't like and pit ourselves against the judges. On Wednesday, on contestant just couldn't believe that the judges did not like her....she thought she was good...a 6 out of 10 - for a couple of mistakes. Simon gave her a .5 out of 10. Another, Zachary was, also disappointed because the judges were prejudice that a man couldn't sing with the same range as a woman on a "woman's song". None of the judges could get a handle on whether it was a man pretending to be a woman being a man or what. The vocal effort was well below any possibility of moving on (Paula's comment).
Ladies and gentlemen: In this ring, 16-25 year olds with no clue they suck. Why you might ask do they not know they suck? Well, no one told them! That would hurt their self esteem. Better they think they are great so that when they are faced with the REAL WORLD, they can stare dumbfounded at the unfairness of it.
And, as I was contemplating this little missive, I heard a story on the radio. A woman was complaining about the school system her children were in. Her second grader came home with a report card and in the comments section were these two gems:
[childs name] is having problems in sciance. (not my misspelling....the teachers)
and..
She is also having a difficult time communicating, both orally and writtenly.
It is a wonder we have any students capable of college work.
Ladies and gentlemen: In this ring, 16-25 year olds with no clue they suck. Why you might ask do they not know they suck? Well, no one told them! That would hurt their self esteem. Better they think they are great so that when they are faced with the REAL WORLD, they can stare dumbfounded at the unfairness of it.
And, as I was contemplating this little missive, I heard a story on the radio. A woman was complaining about the school system her children were in. Her second grader came home with a report card and in the comments section were these two gems:
[childs name] is having problems in sciance. (not my misspelling....the teachers)
and..
She is also having a difficult time communicating, both orally and writtenly.
It is a wonder we have any students capable of college work.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Ya gotta laugh...
Throughout my life I have suggested that the only real response people should have towards others so wrong in their positions or outlook is to laugh at them.
In all earnestness, we speak to the UN, to the EU, to the democrats, attempting to get our point of view across while accepting the validity of their point of view. Yet, they make no such attempt to respect our point of view....dismissing it is the best they do, denigration being the usual response.
All the posturing this past week by the Democrats and their supporters against Alito (and his wife) was not respectful, even at the margins. No matter how many pointed out the abject lameness, the "Left" stood proud for its positions. It was so utterly lame, ya gotta laugh...
The EU has had their posturing about our "unilateralism" on Iraq thrown back in their face by Iran. Two years of 'negotiations' and as pointed out here, only the Iranians have moved their agenda forward. Ya gotta laugh at their stupidity.
The UN is a joke. No matter how much John Bolton tries, every time the UN enters the public arena, the result just makes you laugh...
Come on...laugh at them. They were, and are, a joke.
You may suggest that the seriousness of the issues is no laughing matter and I would agree, I am not laughing at the issues. We need serious, thoughtful opposition in all arenas if we as a species are to survive and prosper, it is also quite clear that the Democrats, the UN and the EU do not offer such.
And since I am not left leaning....I can't cry....
In all earnestness, we speak to the UN, to the EU, to the democrats, attempting to get our point of view across while accepting the validity of their point of view. Yet, they make no such attempt to respect our point of view....dismissing it is the best they do, denigration being the usual response.
All the posturing this past week by the Democrats and their supporters against Alito (and his wife) was not respectful, even at the margins. No matter how many pointed out the abject lameness, the "Left" stood proud for its positions. It was so utterly lame, ya gotta laugh...
The EU has had their posturing about our "unilateralism" on Iraq thrown back in their face by Iran. Two years of 'negotiations' and as pointed out here, only the Iranians have moved their agenda forward. Ya gotta laugh at their stupidity.
The UN is a joke. No matter how much John Bolton tries, every time the UN enters the public arena, the result just makes you laugh...
Come on...laugh at them. They were, and are, a joke.
You may suggest that the seriousness of the issues is no laughing matter and I would agree, I am not laughing at the issues. We need serious, thoughtful opposition in all arenas if we as a species are to survive and prosper, it is also quite clear that the Democrats, the UN and the EU do not offer such.
And since I am not left leaning....I can't cry....
Monday, January 09, 2006
Politics as usual
Can it be that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely? Where have I heard that before? If the GOP were out of power right now they would be howling, gnashing teeth and pulling hair out of their heads at the BLATANT crap currently going on in Congress....yet...yet...the best we have seen so far is a hunkering down and hope that it will blow over with minimal impact on fundraising efforts in this, oh so important, election year.
The only reason, THE ONLY REASON, we have not seen a mass exodus from the republican ranks to support Democrats is because the current democrat leadership is staffed with raving lunatics.
Only in an asylum would ANYONE take Dean, Pelosi and Reid seriously.
So those of us with a desire to see minimal government, strong defense and fiscal responsibility are left with nothing.
If we can get 50 million Americans to agree with us that things need fixing so bad that political loyalty can be left on the sacrificial alter of lobbyists, then we can correct things in 4 years. Vote every single incumbent - ALL OF THEM - out of office this November, .and do it again in two years, and again two years later. The result would be an completely knew crop of politicians. Of course we have the problem of the bureaucracy, .the "true" power in Washington. The easiest way to deal with them is to give all legislative and executive branch bureaucratic managers (mid-level and up) 4 year, non-renewable contracts (offset to all elections).
The only reason, THE ONLY REASON, we have not seen a mass exodus from the republican ranks to support Democrats is because the current democrat leadership is staffed with raving lunatics.
Only in an asylum would ANYONE take Dean, Pelosi and Reid seriously.
So those of us with a desire to see minimal government, strong defense and fiscal responsibility are left with nothing.
If we can get 50 million Americans to agree with us that things need fixing so bad that political loyalty can be left on the sacrificial alter of lobbyists, then we can correct things in 4 years. Vote every single incumbent - ALL OF THEM - out of office this November, .and do it again in two years, and again two years later. The result would be an completely knew crop of politicians. Of course we have the problem of the bureaucracy, .the "true" power in Washington. The easiest way to deal with them is to give all legislative and executive branch bureaucratic managers (mid-level and up) 4 year, non-renewable contracts (offset to all elections).
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Consider
Has the effort to 'diversify' teaching by eliminating grading systems, adding 'soft' subjects like 'Analysis of Tom and Jerry in a Bi-Sexual Relationship' contributed to the overall support of intelligent design? Stay with me a sec...
If hard subjects like math and science were replaced with easier, less demanding subjects, might the liberal education community have slit it's own throat by creating an entire generation of people completely incapable of rational thought?
A recent conversation with a very intelligent person resulted in the following comment: "Can anyone really believe we descended from apes? Please..."
Apparently evolution is fine to explain animals...but humans...we just popped into existence and started building pyramids and cities on hills.
If hard subjects like math and science were replaced with easier, less demanding subjects, might the liberal education community have slit it's own throat by creating an entire generation of people completely incapable of rational thought?
A recent conversation with a very intelligent person resulted in the following comment: "Can anyone really believe we descended from apes? Please..."
Apparently evolution is fine to explain animals...but humans...we just popped into existence and started building pyramids and cities on hills.
Bankruptcy fallout
or more correctly, falloff. You know I don't like links, but here is the first story of the expected rash:
http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_3236266
We all expected there would be a fall off of bankruptcy filings, but in MA it is over 95%. Our district, Wisconsin Western, has had a 98% drop from average last year. We have had two calls since the law change. (Our district had about 8,000 cases last year, we are over 13,500 so far this year but will probably finish with less than 14,000. 7,000 of those cases were filed between August 15th and October 16th.)
My guess is there will be less than 10,000 cases filed NATIONWIDE between October 17 and the end of the year. That would be a 97% drop from last years average.
It will take several months to see if the numbers stay that low (not likely). My guess back in March was a drop to 100,000 filings per year after 2 years of the new law. I would suggest that number is going to be pretty good. A 95% drop. Anyone want to speak up and suggest that 95% of the people filing bankruptcy didn't need to? Go ahead...speak up...
http://www.lowellsun.com/business/ci_3236266
We all expected there would be a fall off of bankruptcy filings, but in MA it is over 95%. Our district, Wisconsin Western, has had a 98% drop from average last year. We have had two calls since the law change. (Our district had about 8,000 cases last year, we are over 13,500 so far this year but will probably finish with less than 14,000. 7,000 of those cases were filed between August 15th and October 16th.)
My guess is there will be less than 10,000 cases filed NATIONWIDE between October 17 and the end of the year. That would be a 97% drop from last years average.
It will take several months to see if the numbers stay that low (not likely). My guess back in March was a drop to 100,000 filings per year after 2 years of the new law. I would suggest that number is going to be pretty good. A 95% drop. Anyone want to speak up and suggest that 95% of the people filing bankruptcy didn't need to? Go ahead...speak up...
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Leaks in a bucket
Come on! We have a 2 year investigation into the leaking of a CIA operatives name (which by the way seems to have ignored the person that actually published the name) and no one is charged with leaking the name...
NOW, we have a leak about super-secret CIA prisons in foreign countries and no one is calling for investigations about the leak....noooo....we want investigations into why there are these super-secret prisons.....
What are we....France-lite?
NOW, we have a leak about super-secret CIA prisons in foreign countries and no one is calling for investigations about the leak....noooo....we want investigations into why there are these super-secret prisons.....
What are we....France-lite?
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Politically Incorrect
The form of government currently in place in the United States is fundamentally SUPERIOR to that found anywhere else.
The form of economic system currently in place in the United States is fundamentally SUPERIOR to that found anywhere else.
The ideals, goals, and culture of the United States are fundamentally SUPERIOR to that found anywhere else.
That the United States lacks perfection does not in anyway diminish the standings.
And this IS a moderate position.
The form of economic system currently in place in the United States is fundamentally SUPERIOR to that found anywhere else.
The ideals, goals, and culture of the United States are fundamentally SUPERIOR to that found anywhere else.
That the United States lacks perfection does not in anyway diminish the standings.
And this IS a moderate position.
Time to be a moderate?
I heard this morning on the radio (it might have been Fox because I have XM) that a woman that was pro-choice, a self declared feminist, was considered conservative because she supported Bush in the war on terror. Welcome to the moderate base.
Yesterday, the commission on tax reform released it's report. It made some suggestions, one of which was the elimination of the tax deductibility of mortgage interest. Now many people like that deduction because all by itself it can make itemizing deductions better than the standard deduction. The other suggestion was the elimination of deductions for state and local taxes. Let us take one at a time.
Mortgage deduction. Get over it. Come on people! If your income is $100,000, tax rate is 35% and your mortgage of $250,000 has an interest rate is 5%, taking nothing else into consideration, you will save about $4375 in taxes...but if we reduce the rate to 30% and eliminate the deduction, you would save $5000 in taxes. And that is just this year. Next year your interest deduction will be smaller, your income higher and your tax bill greater. The reduction in the tax rate means less taxes paid on the higher income.
A lower overall tax rate generally speaking is better than just about ANY deduction. With an emphasis on deductibility, the only way to continue to benefit is to take ever larger mortgages (or higher interest rates)....does anyone else see the stupidity in THAT? Removing the deductibility does something else much harder to quantify: it removes the leverage of some special interest groups in tax policy, and that should be very welcome.
State and local taxes. One argument local officials make in raising taxes is that it will hurt less because of deductibility. Of course the problem is that state and local tax increases hurt the lowest income people most and they are less likely to be able to get any relief from deductibility. This argument needs to be ignored, getting local and state taxes lowered is the place to fight.
Simplifying the tax code reduces the dependence on tax accountants, improves tax collections and allows the economy to act with less bias.
Alito. It looks like Bush did find a moderate conservative. Yea!
Yesterday, the commission on tax reform released it's report. It made some suggestions, one of which was the elimination of the tax deductibility of mortgage interest. Now many people like that deduction because all by itself it can make itemizing deductions better than the standard deduction. The other suggestion was the elimination of deductions for state and local taxes. Let us take one at a time.
Mortgage deduction. Get over it. Come on people! If your income is $100,000, tax rate is 35% and your mortgage of $250,000 has an interest rate is 5%, taking nothing else into consideration, you will save about $4375 in taxes...but if we reduce the rate to 30% and eliminate the deduction, you would save $5000 in taxes. And that is just this year. Next year your interest deduction will be smaller, your income higher and your tax bill greater. The reduction in the tax rate means less taxes paid on the higher income.
A lower overall tax rate generally speaking is better than just about ANY deduction. With an emphasis on deductibility, the only way to continue to benefit is to take ever larger mortgages (or higher interest rates)....does anyone else see the stupidity in THAT? Removing the deductibility does something else much harder to quantify: it removes the leverage of some special interest groups in tax policy, and that should be very welcome.
State and local taxes. One argument local officials make in raising taxes is that it will hurt less because of deductibility. Of course the problem is that state and local tax increases hurt the lowest income people most and they are less likely to be able to get any relief from deductibility. This argument needs to be ignored, getting local and state taxes lowered is the place to fight.
Simplifying the tax code reduces the dependence on tax accountants, improves tax collections and allows the economy to act with less bias.
Alito. It looks like Bush did find a moderate conservative. Yea!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
What now? Meirs and the next option...
George Bush can pick the most radical right wing ideologue and demand that the right stand up and fight every inch of the process for confirmation. A candidate without the slightest hint of moderation would be an open invitation to the base to put up or shut up.
Unfortunately, Bush has never seen fit to rub anyone's nose in their own crap, so expect a moderate conservative (is that possible?).
The person whose opinion I would most like to have for a recommendation to the Court is Judge Roberts.
Unfortunately, Bush has never seen fit to rub anyone's nose in their own crap, so expect a moderate conservative (is that possible?).
The person whose opinion I would most like to have for a recommendation to the Court is Judge Roberts.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
On Bankruptcy....
Newcomers, my partner is a bankruptcy attorney, I work in the office. The last three weeks have been....busy. Some interesting news.
The US Trustee has reported that over 205,000 bankruptcy cases were filed LAST WEEK. The number of filings for October appears to be easily over 250,000 and it may approach 500,000 since mid September....we filed the equivalent of 4-5 months worth of cases last week. Amazingly, the electronic case filing system seems to have held up under the onslaught...however, one thing has fallen apart. Each bankruptcy case is assigned to a trustee that reviews and administers the case. Most trustees hand 75-150 cases per cycle. Right now, their load is closer to 500 (guessing based on our experience in our two districts and reports from other districts). The law requires that a hearing on the case be held no earlier than 20 days after filing but no later than 45 days after filing. Due to the load, hearings are being set WELL outside that time frame. Some districts are setting hearings as late as MARCH 2006. This is probably ok as there will be very few filings over the next three months.
There have been several rulings dealing with the new law provisions already active, among the most interesting is that Arizona and Minnesota homesteaders are not bound by the $125,000 equity caps...primarily because the law says that if you choose state exemptions, the bk law can limit the exemption to $125,000. In Arizona and Minnesota, no choice is possible, therefore, the limit is not applicable. On Monday a ruling in Georgia came down that said that attorneys admitted to the bankruptcy bar are NOT Debt Relief Agencies under the bk law. One provision in particular was cited as damning - attorney regulation is a STATE responsibility...any attempt by the bk law to regulate attorneys would be a federal intrusion into state domain and as no one seems to have brought that up before, it must mean that the law was not intending to regulate attorneys. This law is going to be such fun...
Some interesting anacdotes: an attorney mailed petitions to the court on Friday...they got sent back - there is no mailbox rule. Cases are not filed until they hit the clerks desk. We had a potential client slip a small retainer fee with a note under our door asking for an emergency filing, sometime after 2pm Saturday when I left the office but before 11am Monday when I returned. Needless to say, no emergency filing. They had been in our office on 10/4 and were informed that all fees and paperwork had to be in by 10/12....too late. And given the need for a lot of preparation for filing under the new law, we could not prepare a petition before their home would be sold at foreclosure auction next week.
If 500,000 cases were filed in the last 30 days leading up to the law change, AND each case had at least $10,000 in unsecured debt (our average was closer to $40k), then $5,000,000,000 (billion) in unsecured debt was cleared away from consumers.
UPDATE: Victoria attended CLE on Friday and the clerks from the BK Court said that as of last Friday, 19 cases had been submitted after the law change, all were mailed on Friday 10/14 and all were wrong and returned.
The US Trustee has reported that over 205,000 bankruptcy cases were filed LAST WEEK. The number of filings for October appears to be easily over 250,000 and it may approach 500,000 since mid September....we filed the equivalent of 4-5 months worth of cases last week. Amazingly, the electronic case filing system seems to have held up under the onslaught...however, one thing has fallen apart. Each bankruptcy case is assigned to a trustee that reviews and administers the case. Most trustees hand 75-150 cases per cycle. Right now, their load is closer to 500 (guessing based on our experience in our two districts and reports from other districts). The law requires that a hearing on the case be held no earlier than 20 days after filing but no later than 45 days after filing. Due to the load, hearings are being set WELL outside that time frame. Some districts are setting hearings as late as MARCH 2006. This is probably ok as there will be very few filings over the next three months.
There have been several rulings dealing with the new law provisions already active, among the most interesting is that Arizona and Minnesota homesteaders are not bound by the $125,000 equity caps...primarily because the law says that if you choose state exemptions, the bk law can limit the exemption to $125,000. In Arizona and Minnesota, no choice is possible, therefore, the limit is not applicable. On Monday a ruling in Georgia came down that said that attorneys admitted to the bankruptcy bar are NOT Debt Relief Agencies under the bk law. One provision in particular was cited as damning - attorney regulation is a STATE responsibility...any attempt by the bk law to regulate attorneys would be a federal intrusion into state domain and as no one seems to have brought that up before, it must mean that the law was not intending to regulate attorneys. This law is going to be such fun...
Some interesting anacdotes: an attorney mailed petitions to the court on Friday...they got sent back - there is no mailbox rule. Cases are not filed until they hit the clerks desk. We had a potential client slip a small retainer fee with a note under our door asking for an emergency filing, sometime after 2pm Saturday when I left the office but before 11am Monday when I returned. Needless to say, no emergency filing. They had been in our office on 10/4 and were informed that all fees and paperwork had to be in by 10/12....too late. And given the need for a lot of preparation for filing under the new law, we could not prepare a petition before their home would be sold at foreclosure auction next week.
If 500,000 cases were filed in the last 30 days leading up to the law change, AND each case had at least $10,000 in unsecured debt (our average was closer to $40k), then $5,000,000,000 (billion) in unsecured debt was cleared away from consumers.
UPDATE: Victoria attended CLE on Friday and the clerks from the BK Court said that as of last Friday, 19 cases had been submitted after the law change, all were mailed on Friday 10/14 and all were wrong and returned.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Lost their minds
In thinking about the unbelievable screeching going on about Meirs FROM THE REPUBLICANS I can only be reminded about two things:
Howard Dean yyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Al Gore "HE BETRAYED US, HE BETRAYED US"
Many of those from the right opposed to Meirs have lost their minds....
Howard Dean yyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Al Gore "HE BETRAYED US, HE BETRAYED US"
Many of those from the right opposed to Meirs have lost their minds....
Thursday, October 06, 2005
I got to thinking tonight...
I know, dangerous...but I have it covered...
Bush. Interesting read today on some characteristics of Bush and something struck me. He is a born-again Christian. Now we know many of them that give that a bad name and further, many more that scare the bejezus out of less religious folk. But: turn the other cheek; do what is right, not popular; stand up for your principles; associate with people of good character; do not speak badly of your neighbor. In general, I see that Bush has lived up to those. I have come to a decision on Meirs...
I have read George Will and Ann Coulter. I have read the debates (such that they are) on a dozen blogs and listened to the talking heads for the last 36 hours. Two things have been of interest.
Bork. A legal genius. Very conservative. Big fight. Lost. Got Stevens.
Thomas. A legal lightweight. Conservative. Big fight. Won? Got Thomas.
Souter. Got Souter, lost.
Roberts. A legal genius. Conservative (?). Minor fight. Won.
After the last 20 years, all the wonderful legal minds we have on the current court, we get Kelo. Also, for those completely normal people, there was a ruling a couple years ago In re Seminole Tribe that is just terrible. We recently lost a case against the State because of that case, the state ignored the bankruptcy court and we couldn't do a damn thing about it....couple lost their home.
Ann Coulter thinks we need the best legal minds possible on the court. Rush makes the point that we don't want "touchy-feely" types making decisions. It seems to me that the result is Kelo. Law without compassion is not JUSTICE. Was it the best legal minds that found privacy in the constitution? Does ANYONE think that privacy is bad? You know, the Founders probably never envisioned that someone standing on a hill could not only hear what was being said in the house over the hill IN THE NEXT COUNTY, but could READ what was being written at the same time. Our Constitution is designed to change, to be changed, we just don't want judges doing it. It doesn't seem to me that it takes the best legal mind possible to understand that.
I don't think Bush is beholden to his base. I think he cares more about this COUNTRY than just about anything else and his actions are designed to promote that. Seems to me that those that voted for Bush in the first place (and the second place) did so BECAUSE he cared more about the Country than polls or being liked. Seems to me that the nomination of Meirs is exactly in keeping with HIS goals. That he chooses people based on his faith and trust in them should be considered a POSITIVE. Maybe Meirs is NOT the best LEGAL mind available, but if Bush looked around and said this is the person I most trust NOT to legislate from the Bench, then he picked exactly the right nominee for his goals for the country.
I for one (and there are damn few of us) am willing to accept the nomination and pending any information that suggests she is unfit to serve - being Christian, woman, lawyer, not a judge, not the best legal mind are all not issues - she should be confirmed.
Update: How many people now complaining about Bush's pick were stating that he had the right to have his choice approved absent any evidence that he was unfit?
Bush. Interesting read today on some characteristics of Bush and something struck me. He is a born-again Christian. Now we know many of them that give that a bad name and further, many more that scare the bejezus out of less religious folk. But: turn the other cheek; do what is right, not popular; stand up for your principles; associate with people of good character; do not speak badly of your neighbor. In general, I see that Bush has lived up to those. I have come to a decision on Meirs...
I have read George Will and Ann Coulter. I have read the debates (such that they are) on a dozen blogs and listened to the talking heads for the last 36 hours. Two things have been of interest.
Bork. A legal genius. Very conservative. Big fight. Lost. Got Stevens.
Thomas. A legal lightweight. Conservative. Big fight. Won? Got Thomas.
Souter. Got Souter, lost.
Roberts. A legal genius. Conservative (?). Minor fight. Won.
After the last 20 years, all the wonderful legal minds we have on the current court, we get Kelo. Also, for those completely normal people, there was a ruling a couple years ago In re Seminole Tribe that is just terrible. We recently lost a case against the State because of that case, the state ignored the bankruptcy court and we couldn't do a damn thing about it....couple lost their home.
Ann Coulter thinks we need the best legal minds possible on the court. Rush makes the point that we don't want "touchy-feely" types making decisions. It seems to me that the result is Kelo. Law without compassion is not JUSTICE. Was it the best legal minds that found privacy in the constitution? Does ANYONE think that privacy is bad? You know, the Founders probably never envisioned that someone standing on a hill could not only hear what was being said in the house over the hill IN THE NEXT COUNTY, but could READ what was being written at the same time. Our Constitution is designed to change, to be changed, we just don't want judges doing it. It doesn't seem to me that it takes the best legal mind possible to understand that.
I don't think Bush is beholden to his base. I think he cares more about this COUNTRY than just about anything else and his actions are designed to promote that. Seems to me that those that voted for Bush in the first place (and the second place) did so BECAUSE he cared more about the Country than polls or being liked. Seems to me that the nomination of Meirs is exactly in keeping with HIS goals. That he chooses people based on his faith and trust in them should be considered a POSITIVE. Maybe Meirs is NOT the best LEGAL mind available, but if Bush looked around and said this is the person I most trust NOT to legislate from the Bench, then he picked exactly the right nominee for his goals for the country.
I for one (and there are damn few of us) am willing to accept the nomination and pending any information that suggests she is unfit to serve - being Christian, woman, lawyer, not a judge, not the best legal mind are all not issues - she should be confirmed.
Update: How many people now complaining about Bush's pick were stating that he had the right to have his choice approved absent any evidence that he was unfit?
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Hello? Government?
From the IRS Website:
> Housing and Utilities Allowable Living Expenses
>
> /*Disclaimer:* IRS Allowable Expenses are intended for use in
> calculating repayment of delinquent taxes. They are not intended for
> use in bankruptcy calculations./
Did anyone check with Congress...because in 12 days we have a law that SPECIFICALLY states those expense tables are to be used for bankruptcy calculations...
> Housing and Utilities Allowable Living Expenses
>
> /*Disclaimer:* IRS Allowable Expenses are intended for use in
> calculating repayment of delinquent taxes. They are not intended for
> use in bankruptcy calculations./
Did anyone check with Congress...because in 12 days we have a law that SPECIFICALLY states those expense tables are to be used for bankruptcy calculations...
What is wrong with me?
I am a reasonably intelligent person. Fairly well read. Educated to a degree.
I read an editorial in the WSJ and find it's arguments compelling. A few days later, a rebuttal makes an equally (and heretofore unconsidered) strong case for exactly the opposite position. I read George Will, whom I admire greatly, and feel like an idiot, not even a honest one.
I am partnered with a very liberal Democrat, I understand implicitly the value of dissenting opinions. I acknowledge that honest people can have equally compelling, but opposing positions on many issues. How many people in this country (forget about considering the rest of the world for a moment) do not build into their daily lives opportunities for competing ideas?
When important decisions are made and respected people hold conflicting opinions on an appropriate choice...how do you decide who is right? This is important. We elect people to make tough decisions because in our analysis, those people most consistently reflect our own positions. But what happens when they do not make decisions we agree with?
I have often said (and did so again yesterday) that when a republican or democrat is elected President, they all seem to come to the understanding that they are no longer a democrat or republican, but the President of ALL OF US. The likelihood that a President will piss off both the opposition AND his own base approaches certainty is inherent in the job.
So, the right is disappointed (to use a term) that Miers is 1) a lightweight, 2) a close and loyal friend, 3) a missed opportunity to have a 'debate'. They complain that Bush has no stomach for a fight...that he is showing weakness.
Point: Less than 50% of the people continue to support the war in Iraq. That means that people that elected Bush are against the war. If the President has a weakness, it is in doing the right thing even when all around him abandon him and not calling them on it.
The same groups/individuals that claimed Roberts was "an inspired choice" now complain that Miers is completely idiotic one. Selections made just a couple of months apart by the same person. I'm confused....what's wrong with me?
I read an editorial in the WSJ and find it's arguments compelling. A few days later, a rebuttal makes an equally (and heretofore unconsidered) strong case for exactly the opposite position. I read George Will, whom I admire greatly, and feel like an idiot, not even a honest one.
I am partnered with a very liberal Democrat, I understand implicitly the value of dissenting opinions. I acknowledge that honest people can have equally compelling, but opposing positions on many issues. How many people in this country (forget about considering the rest of the world for a moment) do not build into their daily lives opportunities for competing ideas?
When important decisions are made and respected people hold conflicting opinions on an appropriate choice...how do you decide who is right? This is important. We elect people to make tough decisions because in our analysis, those people most consistently reflect our own positions. But what happens when they do not make decisions we agree with?
I have often said (and did so again yesterday) that when a republican or democrat is elected President, they all seem to come to the understanding that they are no longer a democrat or republican, but the President of ALL OF US. The likelihood that a President will piss off both the opposition AND his own base approaches certainty is inherent in the job.
So, the right is disappointed (to use a term) that Miers is 1) a lightweight, 2) a close and loyal friend, 3) a missed opportunity to have a 'debate'. They complain that Bush has no stomach for a fight...that he is showing weakness.
Point: Less than 50% of the people continue to support the war in Iraq. That means that people that elected Bush are against the war. If the President has a weakness, it is in doing the right thing even when all around him abandon him and not calling them on it.
The same groups/individuals that claimed Roberts was "an inspired choice" now complain that Miers is completely idiotic one. Selections made just a couple of months apart by the same person. I'm confused....what's wrong with me?
Monday, October 03, 2005
A few minor rants
1. I have turned off anonymous postings, the spam level jumped over the weekend, yes, you commentors over the weekend ARE SPAMMERS, I don't give a damn about your pathetic sites.
2. Bush's selection of Supreme Court. What can I say...I bailed on the Republicans months ago. DeLay should not have been indicted for election violations, HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED FOR "WE HAVE CUT ALL THE FAT POSSIBLE". GIVE ME A BREAK.
3. Bicyclists that complain I don't follow the rules of the road...and then break the rules of the road. The person that complained I didn't signal my turn as he went through the stop sign....asshole...
4. It is less than 14 days until the new bankruptcy law goes into effect. People are coming out of the woodwork and expecting us to jump. I had someone try to get us to file a case with no money...no filing fee, no attorney fee...his complaint...he was broke.
5. Credit card minimum payments are going to 4% this month; gas is $3 a gallon here in Madison, WI; heating oil is over $2 a gallon (3 times what it was two years ago when people SCREAMED); natural gas is double last years price (on this note, our local gas supplier offers commercial accounts a fixed price over the winter, usually about a 15% premium to the current, but usually lower than the expected peak price, we took the deal 3 out of the last 5 years....it only paid off the first year, since then, about 20% more on average....we aren't going to do it this year and take our chances) - can anyone say recession?
6. Speaking of which - the reports that August numbers were down because of the hurricane is frankly a little hard to swallow...come on people, it hit on August 30th.... Everyone in government/politics/economics is going to spin the September numbers as purely hurricane spikes(or troughs) but here is my prediction (and we know how well I did the last time there)...14% drop in retail sales this Christmas over last with 4th quarter growth less than 2%(maybe less than 1.5%). Watch 1st quarter numbers if oil, gas and heating fuels stay where they are now...by the new year we may be filing more bankruptcies than ever.
7. From a long time ago: Rush said that nothing important was ever done by a moderate...I beg to differ. Moderates get up every morning and go to work. They do not lead marches, sit outside a ranch, create billion dollar companies, run for statewide or national office. They do the job they need to do, earn their paycheck, pay their bills, raise their children and if they are really, really lucky, retire and enjoy some years of rest. Moderates are why this country works despite Bush, DeLay, Reid, Kennedy, Kerry, Roberts and Sandra Day O'Connor. Moderates keep Walmart, US Cellular, GM, Charter, Time, AOL, Rush, Monday Night Football and Budweiser alive. Oh yes....moderates are in Iraq right now...serving their country. Rush, next time you complain about moderates, take out your checkbook...it is filled with dollars given to you by moderates.
8. Walter Cronkite and Andy Rooney: both of you just shut up.
2. Bush's selection of Supreme Court. What can I say...I bailed on the Republicans months ago. DeLay should not have been indicted for election violations, HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED FOR "WE HAVE CUT ALL THE FAT POSSIBLE". GIVE ME A BREAK.
3. Bicyclists that complain I don't follow the rules of the road...and then break the rules of the road. The person that complained I didn't signal my turn as he went through the stop sign....asshole...
4. It is less than 14 days until the new bankruptcy law goes into effect. People are coming out of the woodwork and expecting us to jump. I had someone try to get us to file a case with no money...no filing fee, no attorney fee...his complaint...he was broke.
5. Credit card minimum payments are going to 4% this month; gas is $3 a gallon here in Madison, WI; heating oil is over $2 a gallon (3 times what it was two years ago when people SCREAMED); natural gas is double last years price (on this note, our local gas supplier offers commercial accounts a fixed price over the winter, usually about a 15% premium to the current, but usually lower than the expected peak price, we took the deal 3 out of the last 5 years....it only paid off the first year, since then, about 20% more on average....we aren't going to do it this year and take our chances) - can anyone say recession?
6. Speaking of which - the reports that August numbers were down because of the hurricane is frankly a little hard to swallow...come on people, it hit on August 30th.... Everyone in government/politics/economics is going to spin the September numbers as purely hurricane spikes(or troughs) but here is my prediction (and we know how well I did the last time there)...14% drop in retail sales this Christmas over last with 4th quarter growth less than 2%(maybe less than 1.5%). Watch 1st quarter numbers if oil, gas and heating fuels stay where they are now...by the new year we may be filing more bankruptcies than ever.
7. From a long time ago: Rush said that nothing important was ever done by a moderate...I beg to differ. Moderates get up every morning and go to work. They do not lead marches, sit outside a ranch, create billion dollar companies, run for statewide or national office. They do the job they need to do, earn their paycheck, pay their bills, raise their children and if they are really, really lucky, retire and enjoy some years of rest. Moderates are why this country works despite Bush, DeLay, Reid, Kennedy, Kerry, Roberts and Sandra Day O'Connor. Moderates keep Walmart, US Cellular, GM, Charter, Time, AOL, Rush, Monday Night Football and Budweiser alive. Oh yes....moderates are in Iraq right now...serving their country. Rush, next time you complain about moderates, take out your checkbook...it is filled with dollars given to you by moderates.
8. Walter Cronkite and Andy Rooney: both of you just shut up.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Change
DeLay has been indicted, Frist is ineffectual and Republicans are spending like drunken sailors. If it weren't for the absolute conviction that Democrats would actually be worse (but how could they be...), I would support the idea that Congress be dissolved and new elections ordered...oh wait...this is not Europe....sorry...we are stuck with these guys for another year+.
Can't someone please run against these idiots? Who me? No thanks. I have too many skeletons in my closet and some of them are still trying to move around.
Social liberal/fiscal conservative. Stay out of my bedroom and my pocketbook.
We all know really good people that would serve in a heart beat....except they look at the treatment of good people like John Roberts and say, "are you kidding?"
You have to be perfect, and if you are, no one believes it anyway. The first casualty of politics is truth. The second is the loss of good people. I don't like DeLay...frankly, I think he is slimy with a capital S. Frist reminds me of Gomer Pyle...nice guy, but an idiot - I know he is a doctor...but so is Kevorkian.
Blame us...everyone else does...we elect these guys...but we also complain that it is the lesser of two evils. So what happens is that 60% of us stay home and refuse to vote for either evil. In Louisiana, Nagin and Blanco WERE ELECTED. Say what you want about Brown being appointed and Bush being to blame (hey didn't Brown handle 4 hurricanes in 8 weeks in Florida last year....yea....seemed to do ok there...) we (at least the voters in LA and NO) are to blame...not Bush.
My rep is Tammy Baldwin...haven't seen hide nor hair of her this last month. Sen Feingold and Kohl. Feingold...I like but oppose because of his stance on Iraq. Kohl supported the bankruptcy bill and we won't go there (until October 18th when the real screaming will begin). So, I am much to blame as others. But people, something has got to change. We either accept that people are not perfect and look to leadership and passion, or we continue to look for perfection and know it is not possible ignore everything else bad.
What do we change? Is there no one ready, able and willing to step up? I see no evidence....
Can't someone please run against these idiots? Who me? No thanks. I have too many skeletons in my closet and some of them are still trying to move around.
Social liberal/fiscal conservative. Stay out of my bedroom and my pocketbook.
We all know really good people that would serve in a heart beat....except they look at the treatment of good people like John Roberts and say, "are you kidding?"
You have to be perfect, and if you are, no one believes it anyway. The first casualty of politics is truth. The second is the loss of good people. I don't like DeLay...frankly, I think he is slimy with a capital S. Frist reminds me of Gomer Pyle...nice guy, but an idiot - I know he is a doctor...but so is Kevorkian.
Blame us...everyone else does...we elect these guys...but we also complain that it is the lesser of two evils. So what happens is that 60% of us stay home and refuse to vote for either evil. In Louisiana, Nagin and Blanco WERE ELECTED. Say what you want about Brown being appointed and Bush being to blame (hey didn't Brown handle 4 hurricanes in 8 weeks in Florida last year....yea....seemed to do ok there...) we (at least the voters in LA and NO) are to blame...not Bush.
My rep is Tammy Baldwin...haven't seen hide nor hair of her this last month. Sen Feingold and Kohl. Feingold...I like but oppose because of his stance on Iraq. Kohl supported the bankruptcy bill and we won't go there (until October 18th when the real screaming will begin). So, I am much to blame as others. But people, something has got to change. We either accept that people are not perfect and look to leadership and passion, or we continue to look for perfection and know it is not possible ignore everything else bad.
What do we change? Is there no one ready, able and willing to step up? I see no evidence....
Economics of gas
We have two vehicles...one gets around 25mpg, the other about 15mpg...care to guess which has been parked most this month? Right.
Two years ago, people were commenting on the lack of refineries built in the US in the last 25 years. Guess how many have been started in the last 2 years...right, none.
People are commenting again...but of the 250 billion asked for by Louisiana, none is going to refinery building. Refineries are running full tilt and making money hand over fist, but the market isn't building more...why? Well, because we don't want more refineries. The environment would be hurt...it would mean lower prices, more consumption and that is BAD.
A recommendation that oil companies (those vertically integrated monsters) divest themselves of one part (preferably two parts) of the exploration/refining/retailing trifecta is being suggested. I have a different suggestion. How about we get rid of the requirement to blend 50 different types of gas to satisfy local environmental requirements. It would require no new refineries and no long term efforts of divesture...it is a place to start.
Two years ago, people were commenting on the lack of refineries built in the US in the last 25 years. Guess how many have been started in the last 2 years...right, none.
People are commenting again...but of the 250 billion asked for by Louisiana, none is going to refinery building. Refineries are running full tilt and making money hand over fist, but the market isn't building more...why? Well, because we don't want more refineries. The environment would be hurt...it would mean lower prices, more consumption and that is BAD.
A recommendation that oil companies (those vertically integrated monsters) divest themselves of one part (preferably two parts) of the exploration/refining/retailing trifecta is being suggested. I have a different suggestion. How about we get rid of the requirement to blend 50 different types of gas to satisfy local environmental requirements. It would require no new refineries and no long term efforts of divesture...it is a place to start.
Pandering
Over the weekend I had a chance to talk to someone about Iraq. The question she asked, as so many have before her, was "what right did we have to go into Iraq". My answer is, and has been, "who else was going to?"
If it is imperialism when we act and racist indifference (is that possible?) when we don't (Rwanda), exactly where do those that object to the US stand?
What right does a passer-by have in interfering with a parent hitting a child? A husband beating his wife?
When people suggest that other countries have a right to the type of government they have without the US interfering, they give strength to those that abuse their own people.
What makes me think our way of life is better than someone elses? DUH! LOOK AROUND!
Name me a single country, ONE, with greater potential for it's citizens, with greater freedoms for it's citizens...ONE. I will not make it harder by asking that you add the criteria that whatever country you name also invites more immigrants.
The United States has an OBLIGATION to support freedom and democracy around the world, and those incredibly brave men and women of our armed forces know that deep in their souls.
I joined the Air Force in 1977 when it was very much NOT in fashion...but I had only a distant fear that war would break out during my enlistment. My nephew joined during war with the complete knowledge that he was going to be going to an active war zone. His sacrifice stands World Trade Center TALLER than my service.
As was true in the 60's, those that stand in open opposition to our war on terror, give aid and comfort to the enemy. Such pandering only emboldens those that think death (specifically our death) is an honorable calling.
If it is imperialism when we act and racist indifference (is that possible?) when we don't (Rwanda), exactly where do those that object to the US stand?
What right does a passer-by have in interfering with a parent hitting a child? A husband beating his wife?
When people suggest that other countries have a right to the type of government they have without the US interfering, they give strength to those that abuse their own people.
What makes me think our way of life is better than someone elses? DUH! LOOK AROUND!
Name me a single country, ONE, with greater potential for it's citizens, with greater freedoms for it's citizens...ONE. I will not make it harder by asking that you add the criteria that whatever country you name also invites more immigrants.
The United States has an OBLIGATION to support freedom and democracy around the world, and those incredibly brave men and women of our armed forces know that deep in their souls.
I joined the Air Force in 1977 when it was very much NOT in fashion...but I had only a distant fear that war would break out during my enlistment. My nephew joined during war with the complete knowledge that he was going to be going to an active war zone. His sacrifice stands World Trade Center TALLER than my service.
As was true in the 60's, those that stand in open opposition to our war on terror, give aid and comfort to the enemy. Such pandering only emboldens those that think death (specifically our death) is an honorable calling.
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