Showing posts with label senate plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label senate plan. Show all posts

Monday, April 27, 2009

545 PEOPLE


By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red .

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people

Saturday, February 21, 2009

DIPLOMACY Or CAPITULATION??

China expresses relief over Clinton visit:
1 hour ago

BEIJING (AFP) — Hillary Clinton's trip to Beijing has come as a relief to China after the US secretary of state steered clear of human rights and other sensitive issues to focus on cooperation between the world powers.

Just before arriving in the Chinese capital, Clinton told reporters that while she would press concerns over human rights: “Those issues can’t interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis.”

Hillary Clinton is redefining herself to some extent (again?). After going to Beijing in 1995 as first lady to deliver an impassioned speech on women’s rights, Mrs. Clinton has sidelined human rights on this trip, saying she does not want the topic to interfere with central issues like climate change or the economic crisis.

Here are the words of U.S. Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton in April of 2008 less than one year ago. "These events underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China. ...

But this year we get this:

Clinton: Chinese 'human rights can't interfere' with other crises

Dissidents held during Clinton Beijing visit

Clinton focusses on selling US treasury bills to China

China still sure of US bonds: Clinton

Clinton says America and China must work together

Clinton: US to 'deepen and broaden relationship' with China


Ahhh, the Fresh Face of Diplomacy!



Thursday, February 19, 2009

TORONTO PRESS CONFERENCE

TORONTO PRESS CONFERENCE

The Associated Press - 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama's first foreign trip as president - a down-to-business visit with an essential economic ally, Canada - is light on time but loaded with touchy matters.

Mr. President! Mr. President! “I have a question!”
“Uh, Uh, oh very well, what is your name, newspaper and your question sir?” I don’t believe you are on my posed question list!”
“Joe Schmoo from the Northern Plains Dealer, Mr. President.
In light of the following world news stories, the American people would like to know who is tracking these items in the Administration
and what the plans are to act on them?”

COLOMBO (AFP) — The United Nations humanitarian chief John Holmes held talks with leaders in Sri Lanka on Thursday over the fate of thousands of civilians trapped in the island's war zone.

CNN International - 55 minutes ago
(CNN) -- Kyrgyzstan parliament has voted to close a base the US military uses as a route for troops and supplies heading into Afghanistan, a government spokesman said Thursday.

Aljazeera.net - 44 minutes ago
The United States says it plans to press Nato allies to deploy more troops in Afghanistan for securing the troubled country. Speaking ahead of a Nato meeting in Poland starting on Thursday, Robert Gates, the US secretary of defence, said Washington was ...

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited a development program in a working-class Jakarta neighborhood and spoke about her decision to work for the man who defeated her for the presidential nomination, on her second day in Indonesia before flying to Seoul. Mrs. Clinton said she put aside the disappointment of the election to take Mr. Obama’s job offer because, she said, “We have so many of the same views of what we should do in the world.”

The Associated Press - 2 hours ago
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea stepped up its war rhetoric Thursday, saying its troops are "fully ready for an all-out confrontation" with South Korea ahead of a visit to Seoul by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

GAZA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli forces on Thursday wounded and arrested a Palestinian near the border in southeast Gaza Strip, Israeli sources said.

BBC News - 1 hour ago
The leader of the far-right Israeli Yisrael Beiteinu party has said he backs Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next Israeli government.

“Joe, I appreciate your question. Of course this is being watched at all levels of this Administration. While Secretary Clinton, Speaker Pelosi, others, including myself are out of the country at the moment, we are not out of communication. All world situations are being monitored. Having said that, I have to spend the rest of this month curing the problems we have in this country. We have to act now and without hesitation. Once we have these problems solved, we will move onto the rest of the world next month. I hope that answers your question Joe.“ “Thank you!

(Robert, Let’s make sure this guy never gets inside the press room again. Now I have to change)

Monday, February 9, 2009

Obama sets executive pay limits

Obama Lays Out Limits on Executive Pay

"For top executives to award themselves these kinds of compensation packages in the midst of this economic crisis is not only in bad taste — it’s a bad strategy — and I will not tolerate it as President. We’re going to be demanding some restraint in exchange for federal aid — so that when firms seek new federal dollars, we won’t find them up to the same old tricks".
--Barack Obama

The plan, which represents the most aggressive assault on executive pay by federal officials, includes salary caps of $500,000 for top executives at firms that accept "extraordinary assistance" from the government.

Sounds good doesn’t it? Let’s punish those bad boys and make ‘em
Hurt! But is there any teeth to this pay cap or is it just empty rhetoric?

Let’s look at how the new plan will affect James Owens, one of the members of President Obama’s Economic Recovery Team.

"The board will be chaired by former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker. Its members include Jeffrey Immelt, chief executive of General Electric, and James Owens, chief executive of Caterpillar. Both companies have strong sales around the world, though both are coping with hard times amid the slowing global economy; Caterpillar said last month that it would cut 20,000 jobs".

According to Forbes, this is James Owens compensation package for
2007. Now personally, I don’t care how much any CEO or Executive
Makes. I think that is between them and the shareholders. But, just for the heck of it, let’s see how this ‘salary cap’ will affect him.

$ 1,512,504.00 Salary
$ 300,000.00 Bonus
$ 0.00 Other Annual Compensation
$ 0.00 Long term incentive plan payouts
$ 918,626.00 Restricted stock awards
$ 0.00 Security underlying options
$ 221,307.00 All other compensation
$ 7,136,911.00 Option awards $
$ 4,442,998.00 Non-equity incentive plan compensation
$ 2,575,395.00 Change in pension value and nonqualified deferred
compensation earnings
$17,107,741.00 Total Compensation

So at first glance, it appears that Mr. Owens would lose $1,012,504.00.
Or would he? Might he just put oh, lets say $200,000 into his bonus plan and $800,000
into the item labeled 'Other Annual Compensation'?
Even if he did take the 1 million dollar pay cut, does it really hurt him? Of course not. CEO
salaries are nothing more than 'walking around money, for many of them.
I am all for CHANGE and a better method of doing things,but I firmly believe that I don't appreciate being misled by meaningless DoubleSpeak.

Where's the beef?

Friday, February 6, 2009

Air Force One to Williamsburg??


Obama takes first Air Force One trip to Williamsburg

Let me see if I have this correct. Obama takes his first Air Force One trip to Williamsburg?
Williamsburg, Virginia? The town that is 152 miles from Washington, DC?
Did he just need to take a ride and try out his new 'wheels'?

Are you kidding me?

Has anyone thought to calculate what it cost to fly Marine Corp One to Andrews Air Force Base?
Then load up on a 4,000 square foot flying office and travel to Virginia? (152 miles)
How many military people and staff did this require?
Did the C-141 cargo jet that carries the Presidential Limo and staff cars make the trip as well?
Was the Air Force AWACS plane flying overhead?
Was the military and air traffic control on special alert because the President was in the air?
How many millions did this cost?

Are you kidding me?

Is this the same person who criticized the ‘Big Three’ CEO’s for taking a corporate jet to Washington from Detroit?
Is this the President that is calling for personal responsibility and a ‘new way’ of doing business?
Is this the President who has promised accountability and transparency?

Is this the President who is asking for a Trillion dollar spending plan?

Are you kidding me?

Are you kidding me?

Lets just hope he doesn’t take it to Camp David next week!

...Bill

A plea to Congress and a Fractured Fable

THE SILVER SCREW

Once upon a time, a young lad was born without a belly button. In its place was a silver screw. All the doctors told his mother that there was nothing they could do.
Like it or not, he was stuck with it . . . He was screwed.
All the years of growing up were real tough on him, as all who saw the screw made fun of him. He avoided leaving his house . . . And thus, never mde any friends.
One day, a mysterious stranger saw his belly and told him of a swami in Tibet who could get rid of the screw for him. He was thrilled. The next day, he took all of his life's savings and bought a ticket to Nepal .
After several days of climbing up steep cliffs, he came upon a giant monastery. The swami knew exactly why he had come. The screwy guy was told to sleep in the highest tower of the monastery and the following day when he awoke, the screw would have been removed. The man immediately went to the room and fell asleep.
During the night while he slept, a purple fog floated in an open window. In the mist floated a solid silver screwdriver. In just moments, the screwdriver removed the screw and disappeared out the window.
The next morning when the man awoke, he saw the silver screw laying on the pillow next to him. Reaching down, he felt his navel, and there was no screw there! Jubilant, he leaped out of bed . . . . And his butt fell off.
The moral to this is:
'Don't screw around with things you don't understand -- You could lose your ass.'
---- Congress is noted for screwing around with things they don't understand - like the economy. That's why we are all losing our asses!

....Padroo








Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Personal Tax Stimulus Plan


2009 STIMULUS PLAN

(FAX OR MAIL TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN)


The Honorable ______________________
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Dear Sir/Madam

As an American tax payer of long standing, I would like to apply for
my own personal bail out program.

I request $1,000,000.00 to be spent over the next 10 years to bring
our economy back to life.

I pledge to use this money exclusively in the following manner.

1. Paying off my home mortgage and all personal bills.

2. Buying new cars, and boats as needed.

3. Travel at will to all possible vacation spots in the United States, only.

4. Diner, dancing, generous tipping and events at the above locations.

5. Golfing, fishing and other recreational passtimes as suits me.

6. Investing 10% up front in a long term mutual fund.

If we can do this for every taxpayer in the U.S. we will all retire and let
others who have not been able to find jobs in their lives take over the
work load.

The purchases and investments will get our troubled economy back on
track and solve the unemployment crisis.


ECONOMIC PROBLEMS SOLVED!!

SIMPLE!