Hide The Decline–Climategate

Just a little bit of funny mixed with a whole lot of truth before you spend a day with the family.

The vocation of education, it’s not just for teaching anymore.

Over at Hot Air there is a story from MN titled:   University of Minnesota demanding political allegiance for educators?

Here is an excerpt from the blog: 

 

 

 

The task group is part of the Teacher Education Redesign Initiative, a multiyear project to change the way future teachers are trained at the U’s flagship campus. The initiative is premised, in part, on the conviction that Minnesota teachers’ lack of “cultural competence” contributes to the poor academic performance of the state’s minority students. Last spring, it charged the task group with coming up with recommendations to change this. In January, planners will review the recommendations and decide how to proceed.

The report advocates making race, class and gender politics the “overarching framework” for all teaching courses at the U. It calls for evaluating future teachers in both coursework and practice teaching based on their willingness to fall into ideological lockstep.

The first step toward “cultural competence,” says the task group, is for future teachers to recognize — and confess — their own bigotry. Anyone familiar with the reeducation camps of China’s Cultural Revolution will recognize the modus operandi.

The task group recommends, for example, that prospective teachers be required to prepare an “autoethnography” report. They must describe their own prejudices and stereotypes, question their “cultural” motives for wishing to become teachers, and take a “cultural intelligence” assessment designed to ferret out their latent racism, classism and other “isms.” They “earn points” for “demonstrating the ability to be self-critical.”

The goal of these exercises, in the task group’s words, is to ensure that “future teachers will be able to discuss their own histories and current thinking drawing on notions of white privilege, hegemonic masculinity, heteronormativity, and internalized oppression.”

Future teachers must also recognize and denounce the fundamental injustices at the heart of American society, says the task group. From a historical perspective, they must “understand that … many groups are typically not included” within America’s “celebrated cultural identity,” and that “such exclusion is frequently a result of dissimilarities in power and influence.” In particular, aspiring teachers must be able “to explain how institutional racism works in schools.”

These certainly are important cultural issues that need to be looked into.  Obviously much more important than actually teaching students.  And this part of the article:  “The initiative is premised, in part, on the conviction that Minnesota teachers’ lack of “cultural competence” contributes to the poor academic performance of the state’s minority students.”  I wonder if the actual method of teaching that educators use has anything to do with any of the students with poor academic performance? 

But, that’s a blog for a different day……….

Serving Sarah

Andrea Mitchel stars in this short clip, as a typical, pathetic, (and by pathetic I mean her inadequate and laughable attempt to “ambush” or try to catch Sarah Palin off guard, and fail miserably) liberal media journalist.  She will do anything it takes to try and deliver an embarrassing statement from Sara Palin.  But, nothing in Andrea’s bag of tricks prepares her for the readiness of Sarah. 

She tries the Newsweek cover, asks her about her intention in 2012, and also tries to prompt Sarah into commenting on John McCain’s reaction to her book.  Andrea is arrogant and rude with her elitist attitude and all that it encompasses. It really does nothing more than show how unsuccessful her attempt is to bring down Sara Palin.  Sarah is very polished and sharp with her answers.  Something I think Andrea is not expecting. 

So, in the last week or so, MSNBC has shown their love  (and by love, I mean their fear of her, and the people she ignites) for Sarah Palin.  Whether it is Chris Matthew’s and his comments about the crowds at the book signings, Nora O’Donell’s questions to  a teenager at a Palin book signing, or Andrea Mitchell trying to trip up Sarah Palin in Michigan.  It is all a very calculated and could prove to be very damaging to the liberal media’s agenda. 

Here is a link to a blog that goes into the reasons why the media seem to want to continue to show their love  for her and other conservative women.  It is a must read, and very informative.   

Props to Hot Air for the my initial exposure to the video.

How much is a Trillion Dollars?

I have come to the conclusion that the majority of people don’t know how much a trillion dollars is. Sure, we can all get around the grasp of a million dollars, maybe a few can envision a billion dollars, but a trillion? For instance, after the Democratic Bill bait and switch tactics, the estimate of new healthcare estimates are that it will cost 1.4 Trillion dollars over 10 years after it starts 2014. (New taxes start immediately, that’s where the deficit reduction spin falsehood comes in) You can see Annoyed’s post more about the healthcare plan.

It’s easy to say that 1 Trillion Dolars is 1,000,000,000,000. That’s twelve zeroes. I couldn’t grasp how much money this is. I couldn’t get my mind around that figure. As a middle class man, I think $1,000 is alot of money. So I turned to graphics to illustrate how much a Trillion Dollars is. The money that equates to about $50000 for every man, woman and child would have to pay to pay off that debt. I found this clip on youtube, there are plenty like it but this one illustrates it the best. Prepared to be amazed:

Death and Taxes… and Healthcare!

According to the bi-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation, Harry Reid’s 2000-page Health Care Debacle (Senate Version) Contains a few interesting goodies therein:

1. 40% excise tax on health coverage in excess of $8,500/$23,000 ($149.1 billion)*

If I read this right, if your individual health care coverage is worth more than $8,500, you’ll pay a 40% tax on the value over $8,500 that the government determines it is.  Ultimately, it’s an attempt to limit the amount of health care coverage an individual would be willing to get (or business for its employees)…   I mean, sure you COULD get that nice health care plan with tons of benefits, but you’re going to have to pay a 40% tax on it.

2. Employer W-2 reporting of value of health (negligible revenue effect)*

No real revenue effect, but this means that employers are going to have to compile numbers and report them to the government so that the government can tax you that extra 40%.  I wonder if accountants would do this research for free?

3. Conform definition of medical expenses ($5.0 billion)*

This would force things like Archer MSA’s, health savings accounts, flex accounts, and medical reimbursements to conform to the same definitions of medical expenses.  By increasing revenues, this means that they expect the government to get more money (and therefore, you would get less money).  In other words: it’s a penalty for being a thrifty consumer.

4. Increase penalty for nonqualified health savings account distributions to 20% ($1.3 billion)*

They expect more folks to be caught using their health savings for things the government doesn’t believe should count.  If only there was someone else who could make such a tough decision about how to spend money that belongs to a consumer!  Say, like a consumer!

5. Limit health flexible spending arrangements in cafeteria plans to $2,500 ($14.6 billion)*

Do you use a cafeteria plan or flex account to cut back on your taxes every year?  Do you have an insurance plan that doesn’t kick in 100% coverage until your out-of-pocket expenses hit $4000, and so you budget that amount every year?  Do you have children and thus have increased medical expenses?  Well, Harry Reid would like to say, “Screw you and the horse you rode in on” while he limits your cafeteria plan to $2,500.  Right now, there is no statutory limit.  It’s all driven by the employer or the Flex Plan administrator company.

6. Require information reporting on payments to corporations ($17.1 billion)

All I know is that they expect to get 17 billion bucks out of this, so someone’s losing money to the government somewhere.

7. Additional requirements for section 501(c)(3) hospitals (negligible revenue effects)

So hospitals that want to file as a 501(c)(3) would have to meet additional requirements.  Apparently, being “non-profit” isn’t enough.

8. Impose annual fee on manufacturers & importers of branded drugs ($22.2 billion)*
9. Impose annual fee on manufacturers & importers of medical devices ($19.3 billion)*

Here’s a lesson in capitalism for you, kids.  If you “impose annual fees” on manufacturers of anything, those manufacturers aren’t just going to write off those expenses in their profit/loss statement.  This is because businesses don’t actually pay taxes….   they pass their costs along to their consumers (aka “you”).  So when these manufacturers have fees imposed on them, who’s going to end up paying those fees?

Hint: It’s “you”.

10. Impose annual fee on health insurance providers ($60.4 billion)*

How dare any company exist that competes against the government’s entry into their industry!  They must be punished!  FEE THEM!!!!!  (And by “them”, I mean “you”).

11. Study and report of effect on veterans health care (no revenue effect)

Yes.  We must study and report on the effects of our veterans’ health AFTER we’ve imposed this stupid system.

12. Eliminate deduction for expenses allocable to Medicare Part D subsidy ($5.4 billion)*

“Eliminate deduction” = more taxes for you.

13. Raise 7.5% AGI floor on medical expenses deduction to 10% ($15.2 billion)*

This means that to start deducting your medical expenses from your taxes, your medical expenses would have to hit 10% of your adjusted gross income.  In other words, if your household’s AGI is $60,000, you would need to spend $4,500 on medical stuff today in order to begin deducting medical expenses from your taxes.  Under Reid’s plan, that would increase to $6,000.  Keep in mind that the people most likely to hit this amount are families with children and the elderly.

14. $500,000 deduction limitation on taxable year remuneration to health insurance officials ($0.6 billion)*

Most companies can deduct up to $1,000,000 for executive compensation from their taxes.  Under this law, this deduction would be cut in half.  Obviously, these companies must be punished!  Make them pay more!  They certainly won’t pass along their loss of deductions to their consumers!  FEE THEM!  (And by them, I mean “you”.)

15. Additional 0.5% hospital insurance tax on wages > $200,000 ($250,000 joint) ($53.8 billion)

You make more than $200,000 – or have a household that makes more than $250,000?  You get to pay even more taxes for Medicare!  Yay!

16. Modification of section 833 treatment of certain health organizations ($0.4 billion)

Specifically targets Blue Cross / Blue Shield.

17. Impose 5% excise tax on cosmetic surgery ($5.8 billion)*

This seems like a tax on the right, but the sad fact is that most cosmetic surgery is performed on the middle class – and while they claim it’ll only be for “elective” cosmetic surgery, all too often “any” cosmetic surgery is classified as “elective”.  There’s been some recent moves towards covering things like breast implants for mastectomy patients, but that just means that after years and years of implants for mastectomy patients, they’re finally getting around to calling it “non-elective”.

And what about bariatric procedures?  You have someone who’s 200 lbs overweight who decides to get a gastric bypass or band…   will that be called “elective”, despite the fact that it will extend their life, potentially by decades?

Oh – and remember how the Democrats ran on a platform of tax cuts for the middle class?  Remember how Obama’s plan supposedly would not increase taxes, fees, or fines on businesses in exchange for government health care?  Remember BHO trumpeting the “Middle Class Tax Cut”?  See all those asterisks in my list?  Those are items that will, either directly or indirectly, cost the middle class more money.  They’re either a direct tax (like the “cosmetic surgery” tax) or an indirect tax (like the “fees” imposed on companies for the crime of existing in competition to the Federal Government).

And let us not for a moment forget the human cost.  Yep.  Required abortion coverage is back in the bill.

Hat tip to McQ over at QandO and RightWingNews and the Tax Prof over at TaxProfBlog.

MSNBC–knows how to question kids!

Here is a link to a longer version of the same interview over at HotAir.

Read the comments on Youtube and at HotAir to see what the majority of people think about this.  I’m sure you’ll be able to come to your own conclusion on this video.

 

A Tale of Two Women

If there’s one thing that liberals love trumpeting, it’s their love for women.  And by “women”, I mean “female human beings who believe, talk, and act like they agree with the liberal agenda without a second thought of their own”.  If we were to be honest with ourselves – as we always should be, the single worst thing to happen to women in recent history has been liberal feminism’s fascistic stranglehold on the “female agenda”.

And woe be unto they who upset the apple cart.

Let’s start by talking about the woman who’s done more to promote the idea of powerful, confident females in recent memory, who was within a hair’s breadth of the Vice Presidency, and who was the inspiration for tens of millions of Americans – and I’m not talking about Hillary Clinton.

To be sure, Hillary’s rise to power is as admirable as the rise of anyone who rides her lecherous husband’s coattails to further her own agenda, but Sarah Palin is far different.  She’s a woman who didn’t ride any coattails, who got elected on her own merits and beliefs, and who has risen, stumbled, and moved along on her own merits.  She’s been a mayor, a governor, and a Vice-Presidential candidate who’s inspired millions and ignited a conservative base thought long dead under the ashes of the Bush-McCain Republican Party – all while being the mother of a gaggle of kids (including one special needs child) and gracefully guiding her wayward daughter through her late-adolescent pregnancy.   All this while helping her husband run a fishing company.

Now – to me, anyway, all this would scream “successful woman who should be a model for all people, not because of her gender, but because she is a successful human being”.  But not to liberals.  Sarah’s opposition to things like “murdering your baby because you’d rather not be inconvenienced” made her a target for the agenda-worshipping members of the liberal establishment.  She’d committed the cardinal sin in the religion of Liberalism: she disagreed with Liberalism.  On everything.  And, being good members of a fascistic, control-hungry religious order, the left did the one thing they’d do to anyone who’d oppose a fascistic, control-hungry religious order: they held an inquisition.

If they could’ve used thumbscrews, they would have.  Fortunately, they had photoshops and pictures of dolls instead.

And yet, Sarah remains Sarah.  In comparison to her critics’ frothing meltdowns, her new book is, in my ever-lovin’-not-even-remotely humble opinion, an honest (if singular-perspective) autobiography.  And despite the AP’s assignment of 11 reporters to fine-tooth-comb the book for “errors” (something they have yet to do with Barack “Jimmy Carter, Jr.” Obama’s 2 Bill-Ayers-scribed tomes), the books are classy – if folksy – tales from the inside that everyone should give ear to.

Naturally, the left is in a lather.  Perhaps she should’ve made contact with The Taliban or Al Qaeda first.  Then they’d love her!

Is it just women this happens to?  Absolutely not.  Is Sarah the only woman who’s suffered their wrath?  Absolutely not.  And this brings us to our second woman: Carrie Prejean.

Carrie Prejean, for those of you who’ve been residing under a rock, is the Miss USA runner up who dared to give her real opinion during an interview by celebrity pervert Perez “I’m Not Actually Creative and Can’t Think for Myself, So I’ll Steal Someone Else’s Name” Hilton.  Being a naive 21-year-old, she actually believed that saying that it was great that our country had the choice, but that her personal opinion was that marriage was a sacred institution that should be between a man and a woman was a way to be respected as a free-thinking individual who has her own opinions.

Unfortunately for her, those who would label her “free thinkers” would declare war on her for not thinking exactly like them.  This is because liberals confuse “free” with “liberal”.  They’re also bad at math, but that’s beside the point.

So, Ms. Prejean spends the better part of her time now defending her answer.  She was stripped of her title as Miss California USA, purportedly after refusing to take the Levi Johnston “let’s pose for a naked people magazine” Route dú Famé.  Still.  In the meantime, her liberal opponents are busily digging up as many semi-naked pictures of her as they can to “prove” her hypocrisy (never quite grasping their own hypocrisy).

And now, we’re receiving news that Ms. Prejean may have made more than just a few semi-naked pics.  Like so many stupid American adolescents, she may have made some videos for her boyfriend that involved her doing things that shouldn’t be done in front of a camera.  The hypocrisy!  The horror!

OK, first…  teenagers?  Here’s a few pointers from your good friend, Uncle Elephant:

1.  Don’t take naked pictures of yourself.  They’re never as funny or awesome as you think they are and they WILL end up on the internet.

2.  If it’s on the internet, everyone on the planet will know exactly what your hoo-hah or ding-dong looks like.

3.  You will be forever judged by your hoo-hah or your ding-dong.  That guy selling you french fries?  He’s seen your ding dong.  That creepy old lady with the cigarette hanging out of her mouth and breath that smells too much like Wild Turkey?  She’s seen your hoo-hah.

4.  Your mom and dad will be so proud!  Seriously…   no, they won’t.  Neither will your siblings, your grandparents, or your children.  There’s a reason they’re called “private” parts.

Ok – so we got that down?  No more taking naked pictures of yourself with your cell phone.  The “cool” kids who are doing that are retards, and unless you want to be just like the retards, you’ll keep your freakin’ clothes on whenever there’s a camera nearby.  Got it?  Are we clear?

Good.

Now, Ms. Prejean has indeed admitted that she’s done that exact stupid thing we’ve just been talking about.  She, too, thought it was cool, and now she’s fighting against a corporation with expensive lawyers and her waning credibility to keep those pictures and videos off the open market.  And now, today… a few years later and a bit more mature, she’s stating that she thinks it’s wrong.  Is she a hypocrite?  Maybe.  More likely, she’s a maturing woman who’s growing in her Christian faith and coming to the realization that she did some stupid things in her past that she’s now having to pay the price for.

If having liberals in charge should teach you anything, it’s that stupidity always costs.

But her own change of heart isn’t enough for liberals.  They want blood.  She dared to stand up for her own thoughts and beliefs and for this, she must be destroyed.  Disagreement with the agenda must not be tolerated, on pain of having Perez Hilton act like a complete jackass on his website whenever your name flitters through his tiny little brain, right in between his latest pervert session with anonymous lovers and wondering whether he should’ve gotten extra napkins with his Nacho Bellgrande®.

Carrie’s reaction has been, frankly, unfortunate.  She’s run away from softball interviews with Larry King and hasn’t quite learned the grace it takes to survive public exposure and criticism.  On the other hand, she’s twenty-freaking-two years old.  I have belly button lint older than Carrie Prejean.  I am fully confident that she will learn, grow, and continue to mature into an adult.

In the meantime, she could learn a lot from Sarah.  She could learn about the grace and confidence it takes to handle the idiotic, hypocritical, inquisitorial splatter-screaming criticism of the idjut left.  She could learn about what it takes to be a free-thinking woman who’s comfortable enough in her own skin to own up to her own shortcomings in a way that disarms her critics.  She could learn about the confidence that faith and family instill in her.

Frankly, I think we could replace the “She” with “I” in that above sentence.

It’s all Global Warming’s fault

Here is a list of 100 things that are being blamed on global warming.  As the end of the post says, some of these things are indeed the results of climate change. 

But,  it also states this:

the earth’s average temperature has been increasing and decreasing since the beginning of time.  Temperatures have risen and fallen many times before and the earth was cooling as recently as the period from the 1940s to the 1970s giving rise to fears of a coming ice age:

This article has over 1oo links to choose from.  Being green isn’t all bad, I’m all for being environmentally conscious and willing to do things that are beneficial for the environment.  That being said, let’s not get all crazy and irrational like the tree hippies.   Also, let’s not wreak havoc on our economy because Al Gore makes a movie that has been shown to have at least nine errors in it by a judge in a British High Court ruling.  In addition to the Court ruling, the Science and Public Policy institute has found 35 errors in Al Gore’s movie. 

If you want to know what the economic impact of cap-and-trade will be, here is  an Analysis of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.  According to Hot Air, Harry Reid will postpone the debate on cap-and-trade until spring.  This is good news, Congress will have to start over in 2010, possibly without a majority.

Just in case you breeze through the 100 links, under the comment section there is a link to around 600 more global warming news articles.  The author of this page is Dr. John Brignell.

I would also like to provide a link to the other side of the argument.  As found in the comments for the Heritage Foundation link.  Skeptical Science has an article on Global warming and natural climate change in the past.

This certainly is not an exhaustive list of all of the information available on climate change, but it should shed some light on the irrational side of Global warming and everything it is being blamed for.

“saved” and “created” jobs in places that don’t exist.

An ABC report by Jonathan Karl is stating that the $18 million government-run website “Recovery.gov” has some job number’s that don’t quite add up.  The website provides data on jobs saved and created, and the amount of money that has gone to each district to achieve this.  There is a problem though, some of the districts don’t exist.

A few quick pics:  According to the ABC report:

 In Arizona’s 15th congressional district, 30 jobs have been saved or created with just $761,420 in federal stimulus spending.  In Arizona’s 86th district, $34 million was used to create new jobs. 

The problem is Arizona only has 8 districts.

In nearly all 50 states, there is some claim of jobs created by fictional districts.  The video report goes on to say that some U.S. territories also created jobs in districts that don’t exist.

Don’t worry though, the current administration is offering this as an excuse:  It appears that human error is to blame.  The recipients apparently didn’t know what districts they were living in.  Ok, thanks a bunch, that explains everything.  Just be sure to educate the recipients in which district they live next time, and we’ll call it good.  It can’t be part of their job to know this.

The White House claims the over all number’s given about job creation are still accurate.  How can they be?  Are these fictional districts included in the over all job creation stats?  No reason at all to question these claims.    

Chalk this up to reason number 1001 why we don’t want or need the second stimulus the Democrats are talking about.  I want to know where the millions of dollars are that went to these fairy land districts.  Is it simply a case of the recipients not knowing what district they live in, and they just happen to report it wrong to the administration?  If this is the case, then maybe their job claim number’s would be a little more accurate and the money would be at least some what accounted for.  Some how I seriously doubt this to be the case, it all sounds a little too fishy.  Can anyone of reasonable intelligence think they live in 86th district when there are only 8 to begin with? 

With all of the non-existent district’s falsehoods added to numerous exaggerations and falsely stated claims of job creation and saving in legitimate districts, is it any wonder why some of us are questioning the Obama Aministration’s Stimulus claims.  There shouldn’t be.

Republican Party First Principles.

Newt Gingrich, love him or hate him, has teamed up with GOP Chairman Michael Steele to create a First Principle Theme for the Republican Party going into 2010. You can hear Newt Talk about it right here:

While it does sound like there is a possibility of another Contract With America brewing in the works, and while some of these ideas of jobs, energy and repealing Democratic agenda items sound good, a few key items struck me as a bit odd in his talking points.

1st Item. Newt and Michael Steele want to offer key points to help PARTY Republicans get elected. When you mention Party Republicans, I think of those Republicans that are still in office that have been around for a long time. Those same Republicans that lost their conservative way and were indoctrinated with High Spending and Big Government under President Clinton and W. Bush that WE DONT WANT. Anyone remember that the Republican Party is supposed to be for limited government and fiscal responsibility? Sure Newt’s speech talks about those very things, but when you talk about Party Republicans, very few, in my humble opinion, have yet to prove to me that they are back on the conservative wagon. With a few exceptions in the House and Senate, I have my doubts. What about all those Grass Root Republicans running out in fly over country, Newt? Is your First Principles going to help them elected, or is it only going to support “official” party candidates like Dede in the NY-23?

2nd Item. Newt wants to work with REV Al Sharpton and The Big O to shape our country’s educational future? Uh WHAT? One of the most irrelevant people in America, Al Sharpton, is suppose to be an expert in shaping America? Sorry Newt, you lost me on that one. Have the Democrats evenly remotely tried to work with Republicans in the past year in reforming Health Care Reform or creating new means of Energy, without taxes? Uh that’s a big fat NO. Why is it that Party Republicans are always willing to reach across the table, while Party Democrats, while talking a big game, never do?

Don’t get me wrong, I like Newt. He did an excellent thing in 1994, overthrowing 50 years of Democratic House rule. However, it seems to me today, that he is more and more a Republican Party man and is no longer part of the grass-roots conservative movement. Sure, grass-roots conservatives have to work with Party Republicans and in some case vote for them because even Party Republicans are a far cry better than Liberals that are running the country today. However grass-root conservatives don’t have to forgo their own principles and we can keep the Party Republicans in line. They are already listening to the people, by voting against Liberal Health Care form and Liberal Tax and Cap Energy Policies. And if they happen to return to their old ways, we can find someone to replace them, easily.

I am convinced the only way to take back this country is to return to old school Reagan conservatism. If Newt and Michael Steele refuse to hede the Reagan principles that got them where they are today, they will become the next John McCain for the Republican Party. And we all know what happened to McCain last November.