Nothing Better To Do

So here we are. We have troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. The economy appears to be headed for recession. We have shootings every other week in a school somewhere. We are in the middle of the war against terrorism in the world. And what is your congresman doing? Trying to indict Roger Clemens!! Everything going on and Congress is interfering in baseball??

What ever happened to the concept of limited federal government that the Constitution described? The government has gotten so bad that they now are overseeing Major League Baseball. What's next? Investigate the use of non-USGA golf balls on the PGA? Maybe they could investigate how to get a real playoff in college football.

WAKE UP PEOPLE... This is NOT something that the morons in Washington D.C. should be doing!!!

Interesting Inflation Information

Now mind you I am not a Ron Paul fanatic or anything crazy like that but it does make me wonder how the Chairman of the Fed can watch gold, silver, oil, foreign currencies soar and then with a straight face say inflation is in check. It is because they only watch price indexes not the value of hard assets. For centuries gold was a standard because it's value didn't change. Now amazingly, it's price is skyrocketing but there is no inflation?

Here is an interesting article about the current economic situation:
Confidence Plunges, Inflation Rate Soars

I also find it kind of interesting that it never fails that the economy becomes a huge issue in every Presidential election cycle. Amazing how that cycle works.

Imagine That!

For quite some time I have been extremely skeptical of the global warming theories. I would agree that for a time frame the earth may have been getting warmer. My contention is that there are cycles that cause this to happen. Obviously, there was a pretty large global warming phenomenon after the Ice Age. We have such a small sample of real temperature data and I don't believe that we can accurately predict the temperatures of the past so how can we truly predict what is happening. We can't even predict tomorrow's weather but people contend that they can predict the next 20-100 years.

Anyway, guess what the statistics are now showing... global cooling. Amazing, the ice sheets are falling into the water. Why would that happen? Maybe for the same reason that you put ice in your drink to cool it down. Now, let's say the temperatures of the oceans fall. Being that they cover 75+% of the earth what affect will that have? It would more than likely cool down the earth. Could it possibly be a regulating feature of the earth for the warm/cool periods?

Here are a couple of articles:

Temperature Monitors Report Widescale Global Cooling

Forget global warming: Welcome to the new Ice Age

Now, I am no scientist who is making huge money from the governments of the world (hint...hint) but it sure seems like the gravytrain maybe nearing the station. My recommendation... grants for the science of the disasters that will be caused by the next Ice Age. Sounds like a multi-billion dollar research study and market for the smart scientist.

Politically Homeless: Lack of a Candidate

I am currently in a position where I feel like my principles are making it so that I don't even want to vote. The Republicans are looking like they are going to select a very moderate John McCain (albeit not as "moderate" as Guiliani). The Democrats are fight over who can become more liberal.

I hear tons of people saying that conservatives should support John McCain because he is a Republican. I have also heard that we should vote for McCain to keep Hillary out of office. I am not convinced of this approach to voting.

First of all, I think McCain probably has a better shot against Hillary than Obama. Hillary and McCain are both closer to center than any of the other candidates and there is a lot of people who do not want the Clintons in office again. Due to the fact that Hillary and McCain agree on quite a few issues independent and moderate Democrats could possibly vote for McCain. Many conservatives will hold their nose and vote for McCain to "keep Hillary out".

As for the other, argument that we should vote for the Republican candidate. I have also heard that the conservatives are tearing the party apart by fighting McCain. First of all, I am in principle a libertarian conservative and by current necessity I typically will lean toward Republican candidates. That does NOT imply that I really care that much about the Republican party. As the Republicans continue to move to the left, I will hope that another option presents itself (maybe the conservative or Reagan party). Anyway, my point is that I am a conservative first and a Republican distant second so the argument that I should vote for McCain and that I should fall in line sounds like something the Democrats want - Don't ask questions just fall in line. Above and beyond that should I really throw my principles out the window and support McCain?

I am not quite sure what I will decide. I can honestly say that I won't be voting for Obama or Hillary, but if I vote for McCain it will definitely be with my nose plugged.

First Amendment

I am so tired of hearing how the first amendment says that cross can not be displayed, how prayer isn't allowed, or how religious groups can't use school facilities. In case you are a modern liberal and haven't actually read the First Amendment it says the following about religion:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"

I think that the key point is "Or Prohibit the Free Exercise thereof". To me that would mean that I can exercise my religion and that the government doesn't have the right to tell me that I can't. So if they say I can't pray somewhere, I think that would go against the 1st Amendment not vice versa.

But as usual liberals, activist judges and atheist groups don't actually let the facts get in the way!

Yet another book!

I am going to say that Bush is not my favorite President but I also do not believe that he is the worst. Now that said, on with my thought.

It amazes me how many "former" aides to the President have seized on the current hate Bush market to make some money. Everyone that has ever worked in the Bush White House is either on a speaking circuit or selling a book about how they knew better.

Now, the former Press Secretary is writing a book in which he blames push for the Scooter Libby issue.

Former Aide Blames Bush for Leak Deceit

I am not sure if any of this information that all of the former aides is releasing is true or not. I would really question motives when each one of them is set to make a pretty decent amount of money for selling the books or giving the speeches.

Also, what ever happened to the stateman's honor and dignity where former aides and politicians showed each other respect? It has become a complete free for all. Unfortunately, I don't see it getting better any time soon.

Sarkozy stays in the fight

Normally, I am not all that interested in politics in France or much of Europe (yeah I'm the typical uninformed American). That said this fight that Sarkozy is fighting is very interesting to me.

I am an unabashed capitalist. I believe that the free markets for the most part are better than government at almost everything. So to me it is an education on Socialism's effects to look at France. Now, Sarkozy is attempting to fight many of the problems with Socialism with the cure - Capitalism. It appears that the Socialists are going to attempt to fight back.

I was just reading an article on the BBC website that is discussing the current state of affairs and it seems like the first real battle is going to be hard fought.

I really hope that Sarkozy is successful but I think that he is in for a long fight and will probably get a few bruises.

France's Current Issues

It looks like Nicolas Sarkozy may really be in for a battle in France. He is attempting to bring back some market sanity into a very socialized country. Of course, reform is not going to be easy and some people are going to find it extremely difficult because they are going to be expected to change.

The country currently has regulations that completely protect employees from losing their jobs. They have craddle to grave protections on pretty much everything. They also have serious economic problems. I think that most economists would say that deregulation would drastically help their economic problems. With all of the regulations, the companies can't be competitive which is causing a lot of their issues.

I believe that many of the battles Sarkozy is facing are some of the same battles that the Iron Lady - Margaret Thatcher faced in the UK in the 1980's. Many of her reforms were aren't all that popular at the time but history shows that it has been good for the country in the longer term.

Will history reflect as kindly on Sarkozy or will he just get derailed and get thrown out? It will be interesting to see Socialism fight Capitalism.

They admitted it!!

I was amazed when I recently read an article about the U.N. announcing that they have drastically overestimated the number of AIDS cases in the world. They cut the number by 40%!!!

Anyway that's not what amazed me. What did amaze me was two statements that were made in the article with very little emphasis.

1. "Having millions fewer people with a lethal contagious disease is good news. Some researchers, however, contend that persistent overestimates in the widely quoted U.N. reports have long skewed funding decisions and obscured potential lessons about how to slow the spread of HIV. Critics have also said that U.N. officials overstated the extent of the epidemic to help gather political and financial support for combating AIDS."

2. "There was a tendency toward alarmism, and that fit perhaps a certain fundraising agenda," said Helen Epstein

Both statements amazed me because they are so true. The U.N. has really only been concerned about fundraising not about actually solving the problem. This is the very nature of government.

There are so many "crisises" in the world that follow this same approach. First, the "scientists" yell that the sky is falling. They ask for funding to research the problem. They ask for funding to find the solution. When the funding and interest dwindle, they either yell that it is much worse than orignally thought or they find something else to yell about (i.e. get money for) .

Global Warming, AIDS crisis, world hunger, endangered species, avian flu, SARS, etc. Not that any of these items don't have a seed of truth but everyone is blown out of proportion in order to gain funding without doing the necessary research.

To best understand the issue... Follow the money!

So many experts

Why is it that every one who leaves the White House immediately has to go on a speaking circuit and disagree with the current policies?

I was just reading Colin Powell's statements about not attacking Iran. He said that Iran is a long way from a nuclear weapon and that the U.S. doesn't have the support to attack Iran.

Powell: Iran far from nuclear weapon

While I respect Mr. Powell's opinion, doesn't it seem convienent that after a few years of being out of office now he has the answers? The media believed he didn't know anything when the Iraq conflict came up. Now after he hasn't had access to current intelligence, we are going to publish how much he knows.

Or could it be that he is being published because he has an opposing view? Or could it be he has an opposing view because they will publish it? Running for VP?

I think it is definitely open to speculation.

2nd Ammendment

In the current political environment and with the Supreme Court considering discussing the 2nd ammendment case I think that many people need to really consider what our founding fathers were thinking. I found this article about the 2nd Ammendment and I really think that it outlines the real meaning of the Second Ammendment and the genius of what the founding fathers created.

The right of the people to keep and bear arms

Politics of Personal Destruction

I am hoping that a time comes that the politics of personal destruction at least calms down. I can understand Republicans attacking Democrats but attacking people in your own party isn't going to help win the Presidency in my opinion.

Apparently ads are being run attacking Romney's religion.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1107/AntiRomney_antiMormon_calls_being_made_in_Iowa.html

Pretty pathetic turn of events in the primaries. Unfortunately not surprising.

The Making of Queen Hillary 2: Thanks Wolf

From Drudge:

"CNN debate moderator Wolf Blitzer did an 'outstanding' job in Vegas, a senior adviser to the Hillary campaign said early Friday. 'He was outstanding, and did not gang up like Russert did in Philadelphia. He avoided the personal attacks, remained professional and ran the best debate so far. Voters were the big winners last night.'

A rival campaign insider charges: 'Wolf turned into a lamb. No follow-up question on Clinton's huge flip on drivers licenses?'"

Isn't it nice that Wolf was so willing to help out Queen Hillary's campaign?

Why I dislike Liberals and Liberalism

I am absolutely disgusted by this article. A troop of Boy Scouts in the People's Republic of Massachusetts, specifically Cambridge, wanted to send care packages to the troops. The city decided they wouldn't allow it because it was "political"

Cambridge Officials Put a Stop to Boy Scout Drive to Aid Troops in Iraq

Have all liberals lost their minds?

Do they wonder why people call them UNPATRIOTIC? Because they ARE UNPATRIOTIC!!!!!!

Ron Paul

I will start off by saying that I like about 60%-70% of what Ron Paul stands for. The other 30-40% would keep me from voting for him. Ron Paul is definitely more Libertarian than he is a Republican. As I stated in an earlier post about Libertarians, I like many of their concepts in principle. He definitely believes in the Libertarian ideals of small government and very little interference in our lives.

My main point of this article is that I really don't believe that he will win the nomination for the Republican party. That being said, don't the Republicans have to open their eyes a little bit when someone with Ron Paul's values has generated the kind of money he has and the buzz that he has created? Isn't it time for the Republicans to realize that most of their base doesn't want larger government every time they turn around?

As long as the Republicans continue to move to the Left I believe that more and more of the base is going to become disgruntled and question the party. I think that if Guiliani wins the primaries it going to cause some serious issues in the Republican party because for many I think it will be the just another indicator of the parties shift to the Left and the loss of it's values.

I hope that the party starts to realize that Ron Paul is gaining support because of his stances on smaller government and less intrusion not on the other 30%.

Hindsight is 20/20

It must be nice to be a Democrat in the U.S. Congress right now. You voted for authorization for the Iraq conflict a few years ago. You did because you were concerned based on the intelligence you were provided. Even Bill Clinton saw Saddam as a serious threat. So the president sends troops into harms way and we find out that the intelligence was either flawed or Saddam utilized the time we rattled our sabre to move the weapons.

Now, here is the beautiful part for the Democrats, you get to completely forget that you voted for the action based on the same information the president saw. You get to say that Bush made a poor decision to go into Iraq (again forgetting that you actually agreed). You tell him to unbreak the vase that got knocked off the counter and say he's sorry.

Unfortunately, over here in reality we realize that you can't unbreak the vase. You need to either repair the vase or build a new vase. That will take some time.

Time?? That is unacceptable, fix the vase now! We will stop supporting the troops by pulling their funding! No, that's not unpatriotic to pull the rug out from under the troops! How dare you say that! We support the troops just not with money and equipment.

Was the war in Iraq the right thing to do? Doesn't matter, the vase is broken now. It must be fixed. It is our responsibility because as in the little shops - You break it, you own it.

Hey Democrats, STOP trying to put our troops in more danger by removing their funding and think about how to fix the vase quickly so they can come home!

Does the UN have a backbone?

I just reading an article about Iran's nuclear centrifuge capabilities being confirmed by the IAEA. They are very obviously pushing the envelope of what should be allowed. A nuclear Iran is unacceptable.

Decision time for US over Iran threat

To me the real question is: Does the UN have a backbone at all? Will they finally stand up and say enough is enough or will they again condemn the behavior and say knock it off PLEASE.

So many people around the world condemn the U.S. for acting unilaterally. If the UN had any spine or any place where they would actually draw a line and not back down, the US might not have to do that. Unfortunately, again it is beginning to look like the UN will shirk it's responsibilities.

Who will again deal with the problem, pay the cost, pay the price, and make the world safer for all? The same people who have been doing it for decades... the U.S. and it's real allies (UK, Australia, etc.). France, Germany, and Russia will wring their hands and then complain about our unilateral nature.

When will the UN or the hand wringers finally show some spine??

Politically Homeless 6: New Book

Well, I really meant to continue writing the series of articles about the lack of a political party that really fits my viewpoints but then some other items came up and took up a lot of time. I do intend to keep working down this path for my own sanity.

Anyway, along the same line of thinking, I started reading Bernard Goldberg's book Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right and I really find it to be interesting. He seems to discuss some of the exact concepts that I have been thinking about.

We'll see what the rest of the book brings.

Value of a Dollar

I am very interested by macro-economics. Not quite to the point of reading many of the books that true economists read such as Friedmann and the like (maybe with some time I might). Anyway the current currency market really interests me. I just found an interesting article on ABC News. Here it is.

Why Is the Dollar Losing Value?

One thing I do find fascinating is that many people are simple minded in their analysis of the issues with the dollar. Why is the dollar so low? Because Bush is moron. Great analysis, thank you, we are all dumber for having read that.

Very interesting dynamics at work with the dollar. Good article.

LinkedIn Joins Google integration

I was just reading an article by Scott Allen on this LinkedIntelligence blog that sounds like a very cool addition to LinkedIn capabilities.

LinkedIn Joins Google OpenSocial API Initiative