Delaying Tax Vote Could Crash Stock Market

http://politics.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2010/12/2/delaying-tax-vote-could-crash-stock-market.html

at this point, any number of rationalizations could "crash" the stock market. the market is probably going to crash anyways, based on investors' extreme optimistic sentiment. There are so many bulls already invested that it will be difficult to find new money to drive the market higher. And those already invested have done so with a high degree of leverage that requires higher returns than the market can continue to provide for much longer.

social mood in a downward wave of major degree predisposes politicians (and their political bases) to reject compromises and coincidentally predisposes equities to "crash". moderates will appeal to compromise and blame a "crash" on lack of compromise. true believers will reject a compromise and claim that the crash came because the compromise was a lousy deal.

notice that Obama, not Congress, came out proposing a deal (in principle, no actual legislative language yet). and in his statement he fretted that there are those on both his left and his right that are reluctant to deal. (Obama is playing the moderate triangulator, just like Clinton did after midterm losses in 1994.)

whatever you think of Obama and the supposed deal on extending tax cuts, the overall picture is that Obama is trying to play the moderate, while legislators of both parties are trying to appeal to true believers. moderates' time to shine is in upward trending cycles, while true believers prevail in downward trending cycles. since our EW analysis predicts that 2011-12 will be a downward primary wave 3 of downward cycle degree C of downward supercycle degree A, it is likely that Obama will not successfully endear himself to the electorate as a moderate.

that Obama would attempt this strategy is socionomically understandable as the upward primary degree 2 reaches its climax. but contrary analysts understand that the trend will not continue. and a strong downward wave, favoring confrontation over moderation, will reassert itself from now until his (failed) reelection attempt.




One indicator of Obama's trouble is (and will increasingly be) the prominence of "Miss Me Yet?". Yes, George, we do miss you badly. Now more than ever!!

Debating An Atheist: The Burden of Proof

Debating An Atheist: The Burden of Proof

The entire myth of evolution is simply an attempt by those who hate God to attempt to shift the burden of proof. "They say to wood, thou art my father, and to stone, thou hast brought me forth. They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, come and save us." (Jeremiah 2:27)

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." (Psalm 19:1)

Another disappointing jobs report

"What an ugly report today!" says Tom Keene from Bloomberg Surveillance this morning.

"the headline jobs loss number (-131K) was worse than expected, as was private sector job creation."

www.businessinsider.com/july-employment-data-2010-8

The US lost 131,000 jobs in June,
according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The private sector in the US added 71,000 jobs, weaker than a consensus expectation of 90,000, and weaker than the month before.

June's report was also revised to reflect even greater job losses than previously reported. 221,000 jobs were lost, not just 125,000.

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/08/jobs-decrease-by-131000-rise-by-12000.html

BAD NEWS: The civilian employment population is falling again after a brief uptick. 58% of Americans support the entire population.

http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4c5c1f8c7f8b9adb5e0b0300-590-/bad-news-the-civilian-employment-population-is-falling-again-after-a-brief-uptick-58-of-americans-support-the-entire-population.jpg

The high-paying information industry that produces so many jobs in the U.S.A. "continues to melt away."

http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4c5c1f877f8b9afd6f8d0000-590-/the-information-industry-continues-to-melt-away.jpg

It's not just those out of work for long durations; more people are recently losing their jobs.
http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4c5c1f867f8b9a1b5f130200-590-/bad-news-those-unemployed-five-weeks-or-less-has-jumped-again.jpg

The total number of employees in the US has stagnated during the "recovery", even as the working-age population increases.

http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4c5c1f877f8b9ab25e0e0400-590-/as-you-can-see-the-total-employees-measure-has-totally-stagnated-not-rebounded.jpg

Total civilian participation rate in the workforce is still going down.

http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4c5c1f887f8b9ab94f8d0000-590-/total-civilian-participation-rate-in-the-workforce-still-going-down.jpg

Jobs in the financial sector continue to disappear.

http://static.businessinsider.com/image/4c5c1f897f8b9aaa5d540900-590-/bad-or-good-news-financial-services-jobs-continue-to-go-away.jpg

Canada announced earlier today that it had lost 139,000 full-time jobs.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/139000-full-time-jobs-disappear/article1664046/

It was the first time this year that Canada had lost jobs, further proof that Canada's housing/financial bubble is bursting... at a time when America is slipping into the next wave down ("double dip" depression) and China and Australia are both nursing housing-financial bubbles in varying stages of going bust.

Norway has already slipped into economic contraction again. Today's jobs report (and today's revisions to previous jobs reports) suggest that for the US under Obama it's just a matter of time.

http://english.alrroya.com/content/norway-manufacturing-slumps-back-contraction

The bond market also made it clear that they did not expect economic growth to return. Demand for "risk-free" "safe" investment returns (treasuries) was so strong that the two year treasury fell below .50% for the first time ever. The ten year note sank to 2.84%. The spread between the 10 year and 30 year yields was the widest since 1992.

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/08/two-year-treasury-yields-drop-below-5.html

The currency markets also reflected pessimism. The dollar had slipped to its lowest against the Japanese Yen since the mid 1990s. The dollar index fell. It now takes more than $1.32 to equal a euro.

The weak job reports also raise the probability that the stock markets are inflated and overbought and due for another correction. There is an almost absurd amount of irrational exuberance propping up stock prices, while the bond market more accurately predicts years of anemic growth. Today stock slipped as expectations were punctured by reality.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100806-712323.html

"There wasn't much to celebrate in the July labor market report," says Michael Feroli, economist at JPMorgan Chase, "private employment increased by only 71,000 and, after downward revisions, is rising on average only 51,000 over the past three months, well below what is needed to absorb the flow of new workers into the labor force."

"Normally that would be expected to lift the unemployment rate, Feroli says, but because so many potential workers have been discouraged and dropped out of the labor force, the measured unemployment rate actually dropped over the last three months and held steady at 9.5%." (Forbes.com)

Despite the statistical trick of not counting discouraged workers, it has now been 15 months in a row that the U3 unemployment rate has been reported above 9%, the longest stretch since the early 1980s.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/06/briefing-markets-unemployment-labor-aig-kraft.html

"President" Obama continues to duck his responsibility for creating and prolonging this economic mess. Sarah Palin shares our frustration that Obama continues to lie to the American people without being challenged by the press for his deception and hypocrisy.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=415377263434

2012 can't come fast enough.

Homebuilder admits home building not likely to recover

homebuilder D.R. Horton had their conference call with investors. The homebuilder confirmed what free-market economists had said all along: the tax credit was a failure and we would be better off without another such gimmick.

28% of "buyers" canceled their orders. D.R. Horton's CEO is not surprised by these horrid numbers and expresses relief that the distortion was not actually worse. "I was surprised it only increased to 28%."

Looking forward, "The next 12 to 24 months will be challenging in the homebuilding industry."

As unemployment and lagging income catch up with consumers and businesses, we may see more defaults and bankruptcies. Personal bankruptcies rose again in July, to the highest rate since 2005.

http://calculatedriskimages.blogspot.com/2010/08/personal-bankruptcy-filings-july-2010.html

http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2010/08/dr-horton-conference-call-comments-no.html

http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2010/08/personal-bankruptcy-filings-up-9-in.html

Crime worst on Mexican Border; Democrats attack America instead of defending America

The US judicial districts with the most crime are ALL on the Mexican border. No district has more crime than the five districts on the Mexican border. Doesn't this prove the imperative of securing the border, identifying illegal immigrants, and detaining illegal invaders?

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/70489

Arizona should be praised for offering their assistance to enforce existing federal law. Instead, Obama and the anti-American nutjobs in the Democratic party are actually trying to block Arizona's praiseworthy efforts!?!

Pinal County (AZ) Sheriff Bebau is absolutely correct: the federal government has become our enemy!

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/70324

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement union agrees that the government is much too focused on promoting amnesty for criminal aliens, rather than enforcing the law:

"Senior ICE leadership dedicates more time to campaigning for immigration reforms aimed at large scale amnesty legislation, than advising the American public and Federal lawmakers on the severity of the illegal immigration problem, and the need for more manpower and resources within the ICE ERO to address it. ICE ERO is currently overwhelmed by the massive criminal alien problem in the United States resulting in the large-scale release of criminals back into local communities."

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/immigration-enforcement-union-took-a-no-confidence-vote-in-its-leadership-99976699.html

And not only is the Obama Injustice Department blocking Arizona from actually pursuing justice, but the nutroots of the left are actually attempting to foment a boycott against Arizona. The vindictiveness of the left threatens to destroy the republic and unravel our union. Not since the Civil War has any such effort against a sovereign state been initiated from within our republic. The left is playing a dangerous game... and forcing us to live with the results of their lunacy.

Boycott sets dangerous precedent - violates sovereignty, Sets up war between states.
http://www.boycottwatch.org/misc/Arizona1.htm

Boycott Watch predicted the Arizona boycott would fail, and early results prove we are right!
http://www.boycottwatch.org/misc/Arizona2.htm


All politics aside, President Obaba has wrongly justified the Arizona boycott. The Arizona boycott is dangerous for America.
http://www.boycottwatch.org/misc/Arizona3.htm

Arizona Deserves Better Treatment Than Cuba
http://www.boycottwatch.org/misc/Arizona4.htm

Obama does not deserve reelection. Voters prefer a Republican.

Obama's approvals have fallen to their lowest ever in the July Q poll.

48% disapprove - 44% approve

By 48 - 40 percent, voters say Obama does not deserve reelection in 2012.

39% prefer a Republican in 2012; only 36% prefer Obama.

Independent voters disapprove of Obama 52 - 38 percent
Independents say 37 - 27 percent they would vote for a Republican in 2012.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1478

Our long national nightmare may soon end January 2013

Democrats losing Independents

Republicans are supporting Republicans and Democrats are supporting Democrats, but the Independents who determine elections are breaking decidedly towards the Republicans (even in Democratic polls).

Given the roughly equal numbers of registered Democrats and registered Republicans, independents are the closest measure of the median (center) position of political thought in America. (Since 40% of Americans are conservative and only 20% of Americans are "liberal" or leftist, the remaining 40% that identify as "moderate" do not straddle the center, but rather skew to the left.)

http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/w738nquazegahfq5xajfxa.gif

As Democrats and Republicans have similar proportions nationally, independents are a far more center-based group than left-leaning "moderates".

http://sas-origin.onstreammedia.com/origin/gallupinc/GallupSpaces/Production/Cms/POLL/b8scyp6bruqgez4snjxqdg.gif

On Gallup's generic congressional ballot question, Independents (among registered voters) would prefer to vote for a Republican rather than a Democrat by a margin of 47-34. Among all registered voters, voters would prefer a Republican by a margin of 49-43. This represents the highest preference for Republicans in 48 years of Gallup polling history. Even in 1994 and 2002, the margin was only 5 points in Republicans' favor among registered voters. (Often registered voters skew more Democratic than those who actually show up on election day, especially in non-presidential years. Hence, the preferred method among many pollsters is to screen for LIKELY voters, not simply registered voters. Likely voters tend to lean even more pro-Republican than do registered voters.) Evidence suggests that 2010 may be even a more pro-Republican year than 1994 or 2002 or any other year since Gallup began asking this question in 1962.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/127439/Election-2010-Key-Indicators.aspx

But does the mood favor not just Republicans in general, but specific Republicans in specific races? Congressional polling is harder to find and is not often released publicly this far in advance of election day. But numerous statewide senate polls have been conducted and do confirm a shifting of the general electorate and Independents in particular toward Republicans.

Using the most recent publicly available statewide polling data from one particular Democratic polling firm (Public Policy Polling), we find that Republicans more often than not lead Democrats among independents -- sometimes by commanding double-digit leads.

Among independents:

Ky: Rand Paul (R) leads Conway (D) 44-29

MO: Roy Blunt (R) leads Carnahan (D) 47-35

NC:
Burr (R) leads Cunningham (D) 41-32
Burr (R) leads Marshall (D) 40-38

CO:
Bennet (D) leads Norton (R) 42-40
Buck (R) leads Bennet (D) 40-39
Bennet (D) leads Wiens (R) 39-35
Norton (R) leads Romanoff (D) 40-35
Buck (R) leads Romanoff (D) 36-34
Romanoff (D) leads Wiens (R) 35-33

OH:
Portman (R) leads Fisher (D) 37-25
Portman (R) also led Brunner (D) 37-25

PA:
Sestak (D) leads Toomey (R) 35-34
Toomey (R) led Specter (D) 41-38

IL: Kirk (R) leads Giannoulias (D) 33-30

NV:
Lowden (R) leads Reid 62-27
Tarkanian (R) leads Reid 55-30
Lowden (R) leads Berkley 55-24
Tarkanian (R) leads Berkley 53-27
Lowden (R) leads Goodman 48-30
Tarkanian (R) leads Goodman 50-30
Lowden (R) leads Miller 51-19
Tarkanian (R) leads Miller 50-18

AR:
Boozman (R) leads Lincoln 66-20
Boozman (R) leads Halter 56-18

NH:
Ayotte (R) leads Hodes (D) 49-34
Binnie (R) leads Hodes (D) 46-36
Binder (R) leads Hodes (D) 39-37
Lamontagne (R) ties Hodes 38-38

FL: Crist (I) 35 - Rubio (R) 24 - Meek (D) 22

Based on this sample of polls, top priorities for conservatives, Republicans, and friends of liberty would be Pennsylvania (Pat Toomey) and Illinois (Mark Kirk) and Colorado (nominee yet to be determined). Mark Kirk may not be the ideal candidate, but we are so close to electing a new Republican majority in BOTH houses of Congress that we need to keep our eyes on the prize. As flawed a candidate as Kirk may be, he is so much better than the mob banker Alexi Giannoulias.

http://www.toomeyforsenate.com

Sea Salt – An Indispensable Commodity for Uncertain Times

Far from being the scourge of modern civilization, salt is an indispensable tool for survival and preserving our quality of life.

http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/2010/05/sea-salt-survival.html

Leading economic indicators dropped in April

Leading economic indicators dropped in April for first month in more than a year.

"Six of the index’s 10 components deteriorated in April. The biggest drags on the index: U.S. residents filed fewer applications to build homes, the unemployed filed more claims for jobless aid and consumers’ confidence dropped. A measure of how fast factories got goods signaled their suppliers were not as busy.

Four components improved, including higher stock prices, on average; a sharper difference between overnight and 10-year borrowing costs, historically a positive signal; more hours worked in factories and an increase in manufacturers’ orders for capital goods."

http://blog.taragana.com/business/2010/05/20/leading-economic-indicators-dropped-in-april-for-first-month-in-more-than-a-year-63262/

Higher stock prices, however, are not very helpful for sustaining a recovery. Indeed, higher stock prices in the face of rising joblessness and slowing construction are signs that sentiment is irrationally exuberant in the face of mediocre fundamentals --- and that asset values are inflated by excess liquidity rather than actual utilization of productive capacity.

At the end of April, stock prices were near their peak. Broad indexes have fallen about 10% since then, putting in a LOWER HIGH on a post-plunge rebound, then putting in a LOWER LOW on a second dip downward. Next month's reading on stock prices is likely to be less bullish.

Another supposedly bullish indicator is rising 10-year bond yield spreads. But this indicates that the economy is expected to rebound within a broad timeframe of the next 10 years. Not much comfort for those expecting economic turnaround to come sooner.

Robin Hood is a Tea Party Conservative

What afflicted the people of Nottingham was GOVERNMENT TAXATION and government hunting restrictions. Robin Hood (in the capable hands of Ridley Scott) is protesting oppressive taxation and arrogant government.

"what plagues England in the Robin Hood story is never poverty per se, but taxation. Invasive government taxation and hunting regulations have reduced the English peasants to penury. The King, the Sheriff and other government toadies are the people’s enemies. And Robin Hood, far from trying to redistribute wealth, is merely attempting to get the people’s money back from these bloated tax-and-spenders."

http://www.andrewklavan.com/2010/05/17/robin-hood-anxiety-syndrome/

Once again, government is the CAUSE of poverty. And limiting the power of government is the solution to the problems that government creates.

Government healthcare worsens access to quality healthcare

The Curtain is Closing on Your Health Care Plan

“Consolidated practices and salaried doctors will leave fewer options for patients and longer waiting times for routine appointments. Like the insurers, physicians are responding to the economic burdens of the president's plan in one of the few ways they're permitted to.”

http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=186284

*****
Texas doctors opting out of Medicare at alarming rate

“The only way to provide cost-effective care is outside the Medicare system, a system without constant paperwork and headaches and inadequate reimbursement.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7009807.html

Raising Tax Rates Will NOT Solve Deficits

WSJ has a great editorial and accompanying chart showing that raising tax rates will NOT generate more tax revenue. No matter the tax rate, revenues cannot rise above 20% GDP without becoming intolerably oppressive.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704608104575217870728420184.html?mod=WSJ_newsreel_opinion

Tax increases are NOT the answer. Government spending must be REDUCED. And tax rates must be lowered as well. Lower tax rates grow the economy. We cannot be taxed into solvency. We must GROW and PRODUCE and SAVE and INVEST our way into solvency.

Conservative Economic Reform is key to saving Greece and Europe.

Greece must privatize its government health care system because nationalized health care is unsustainable. So whyis America being pushed to socialize its health care system??

"Of course most of the media have been largely silent about the health care privatization measure for Greece, as it conflicts with their universal, single-payer health care narrative."
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=534021

Spain cut government employee pay 5%.
So why is Obama still pandering to overpaid union cronies?
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Obamas-23-billion-payoff-to-teacher-unions-93852379.html

Boycott Pepsi: Pepsi funds radical homosexual hate group PFLAG

Homosexual group PFLAG trains people to vilify and harass ex-gays

"PepsiCo is one of the nation's major funders of the radical homosexual movement. In particular, they fund PFLAG, which is a hardcore group that organizes across the country in liberal churches and also targets children in public schools attempting to normalize homosexual and transgender behavior through psychological manipulation and activism." (MassResistance.org)

http://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen/10b/pflag_pepsi/index.html

PFLAG's harassment tactics are well-documented
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/06/02/gay-marriage-mob-harasses-petition-signers-in-washington-state/

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)


A better alternative: Jones Soda.

"Jones Soda is the kind of company that would arise if the state would divorce itself from the economy. Unlike the mega-corporations Coke and Pepsi, Jones caters to the individualist spirit of America. Along with continually changing the photographs on its labels, Jones soda allows customers to individualize their own twelve packs with whatever picture or message they choose. Similarly, with over sixty-four flavors, including Caramel Cream and Lemon Drop Dead, Jones embodies the personal nature of free enterprise.
Under a system of tariffs, subsidies, and restrictions, we get companies like Coke and Pepsi producing collectivist drinks for the masses. There is nothing exciting about these products because there is nothing exciting about the system that produces them. Interventionism is restrictive; it confines the innovative human mind, while the laissez-faire economy unleashes it."

Read more: Jonesin' for a Soda -
http://mises.org/daily/2678

Barack Obama's social security number is suspicious

Thanks to diligent research by vigilant patriots, it is already widely suspected that the fraud currently occupying the White House is not a natural-born American citizen, is a radical unrepentant socialist, is a devotee of the racist "Black Liberation Theology" and its "Black Values System", and is using a false name "Barack Obama". Now two private investigators have found that the Social Security Number of "Barack Obama" is a number reserved for a resident of Connecticut (not Hawaii).

Has the occupant of the White House committed Identity Fraud?

Investigators: Obama uses Connecticut Soc. Sec. Number
3 experts insist White House answer new questions about documentation
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=152773

http://www.examiner.com/x-40065-Blogosphere-Buzz-Examiner~y2010m5d13-Barack-Obamas-social-security-number-belonged-to-someone-else

Google Hides Obama's Social Security Number Story
http://sbynews.blogspot.com/2010/05/google-hides-obamas-social-security.html

Obama: Where have all his records gone?
Footprints of president's own history either vanish or remain covered up
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=100613

After the Fall: Stocks Remain Overvalued

Last week's plunge in stocks was the sharpest drop in more than a year. But it still was not enough to correct the precariously overvalued position of the excessively leveraged (inflated) stock market.

82% of stocks on the S&P500 are still above their 200day moving averages, even after last week's plunge. In fact, the overvalued positions are even more extreme than anything seen in 2007-2008.


Stocks are even more overvalued; values are even more inflated; the real economy is even more burdened by excessive debt; the "recovery" is even more phony than the 2007-2008 bubble that preceded it.

Unemployment Rises to 17.1%

"Work would cure almost anything, I believed then and I believe now." -- Ernest Hemingway, "A Moveable Feast"


Once again, not enough jobs were created for those who need jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' "Official" Unemployment Rate (U-3) rose to 9.9% and its "Real" Unemployment (U-6) has risen to 17.1% despite a much touted gain of 290,000 jobs. John Williams' ShadowStats.com finds the real unemployment rate to be 22%. Clearly, these numbers do not represent such an improvement as the administration and their allies in the media would like us to believe.



As the Wall Street Journal explains: "The U-6 figure includes everyone in the official rate plus “marginally attached workers” — those who are neither working nor looking for work, but say they want a job and have looked for work recently; and people who are employed part-time for economic reasons, meaning they want full-time work but took a part-time schedule instead because that’s all they could find.


A U-6 figure that converges toward the official rate could indicate improving confidence in the labor market and the overall economy. This month pushes convergence even further away." http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/05/07/broader-u-6-unemployment-rate-increases-to-171-in-april/




"If the trend holds, it also means that the days of 10% unemployment may not be behind us. That means continuing downward pressure on wages. And it could spell continued trouble for the long-term unemployed. The April report showed that the number of people unemployed for 27 weeks or more rose by 169,000 to 6.7 million — almost half of all unemployed people. The average duration of unemployment: 33 weeks, an increase from last month." http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/05/07/why-did-the-unemployment-rate-rise/

Stocks heading lower

US Stocks show signs of heading lower, and not just for a day or two.

The S+P developed a head-and-shoulders reversal pattern, then broke down through the neck line.
The Dow Industrials show the same complex head-and-shoulders reversal with a breakdown below 11000. The Nasdaq Composite also shows the same head-and-shoulders reversal with a breakdown below 2460. The Russell 2000 also has broken down from a head-and-shoulders with rising volume on the downturn.

Russell 1000 growth has the same breakdown from a head-and-shoulders, as does the Russell 1000 value. Nasdaq high-tech and Nasdaq ex-tech both show the breakdown following a head-and-shoulders.

Dow Transports broke down from a multiple top pattern, with a lower MACD on the downturn showing the capability to go lower.

The Dow Utilities, already a weak sector on anticipation of higher interest rates, broke down from a multiple rising base pattern. Again, the lower MACD shows more ability to go lower.

DJ Wilshire Total Market index has also broken down below a head-and-shoulders top. DJ Wilshire Real Estate Investment Trust also had a breakdown from a rising base climax top. DJ Wilshire International Real Estate has shown even more weakness, breaking support on a gap down May 4 and following with another gap down May 5 (on extremely negative MACD).

The breakdowns are clearly visible on both the DJ Wilshire Large Cap Growth and Small Cap Growth indexes, as well as the Large Cap Value and Small Cap Value Indexes.

SLV also had a significant breakdown from a rounded top, below $17.50.
PALL (Palladium) has also had a significant breakdown.

On daily charts, the indexes have not had so many down days in months. A correction is coming. And tight credit brings down numerous overly inflated assets simultaneously.

Update: As stocks worldwide moved lower, gold has surged to a new high.

Asperger's

Investing and Asperger's

A hopeful story of success for those who struggle with adult autism spectrum disorders. God bless you all.
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/05/investing-and-aspergers.html

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Update: Democrats Divided

After I had noticed that the State of the Union address was largely spent bashing Congress (http://dchrist81.blogspot.com/2010/01/state-of-union.html)......
I have also noticed more columnists and bloggers are also seeing more emerging signs of a divided party.

As America is increasingly dissatisfied with Washington, Congress is increasingly upset with Obama for voicing that frustration (while attempting to minimize his complicity).

See Congressional Dems to Obama — stop bashing Washington!
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/congressional-dems-to-obama--stop-bashing-washington-92690589.html

http://moelane.com/2010/05/03/somebody-tattled-on-the-democratic-whine-party/

Colorado Democrats strangle Internet entrepreneurs

Colorado Democrats strangle Internet entrepreneurs
http://michellemalkin.com/2010/03/11/colorado-democrats-strangle-internet-entrepreneurs/

Amazon Dumps Colorado Sites in Response to Tax
http://www.webcpa.com/news/Amazon-Dumps-Colorado-Sites-in-Response-to-Tax-53541-1.html

Colorado is killing its own businesses with unfair, onerous taxes.
http://www.repealtheamazontax.com/

More problems with Obamacare

Under Obamacare, the federal government and state and local governments would be vulnerable to fines for not providing sufficient insurance to employees.

http://dailycaller.com/2010/04/19/congress-may-get-fined-by-its-own-health-care-law/

Congressional Research Service memo raises fresh constitutional questions about Obamacare

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/05/02/crs-memo-raises-fresh-constitutional-questions-about-obamacare/

http://dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/crs-on-health-care-fines.pdf

Obamacare to drive up insurance premiums and cost employees their insurance plans

If you like your healthcare plan, Obamacare means you could lose it

"the documents (House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Henry) Waxman obtained included embarrassing evidence that the health-care law could drive up insurance premiums and force employers to dump employees from their health plans.

“Turns out Obamacare means if you like your health plan you can lose it. The president didn’t have to actually strong-arm companies into dumping their employee health insurance because his bill carried financial incentives to virtually guarantee that result,” Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Rep. Joe Barton, Texas Republican, said.

Most significantly, documents unearthed by the investigation highlight companies that are considering dumping employees from their current health-care plans in the face of new costs from the health-care law. President Obama repeatedly promised his health-care law would let Americans keep their current insurance if they’re happy with it."

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/04/28/why-waxman-really-canceled-his-health-care-%e2%80%98show-trial%e2%80%99/

Don't know much about political candidates

Public Policy Polling released a poll today showing (deploring?) that voters know little about political candidates. While it may be true, this observation really misses the point.

Ideally, we wouldn't have to know much about our political candidates... or care about them in the least. Ideally, our politicians would be so powerless as to be inconsequential to our own lives.

"My idea of a great president is one who acts in accordance with his oath of office to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." Not since the presidency of Grover Cleveland has any president achieved greatness by this standard. Worse, the most admired have been those who failed most miserably." (Robert Higgs)



It is only because our politicians are so arrogant and insist on having so much arbitrary power over us that any of these things matter.

The best politicians would do NOTHING about healthcare or any other economic issue other than REPEAL existing government restrictions and mandates and subsidies... and enforce the few statutes that make sense fairly and evenly.

The free market does anything and everything better than government could ever hope to. It is the government that causes our economic problems and the free market that is always the solution. The best political platform is this: "My aim is not to pass laws, but to repeal them." (Barry Goldwater)


It is merely because politicians in Washington and Raleigh and state capitals are so tyrannical that knowledge of them becomes important. But the political class has managed to make government so complicated that many feel they cannot understand it. But if you ask those same people what they want out of government, the answer would be very simple: LEAVE US ALONE. STOP SPENDING OUR MONEY. STOP TAXING US TO DEATH. STOP STEALING OUR LIBERTY. LEAVE US ALONE.

Obama running scared

Obama is running away from his constituents, refusing to answer tough questions about the enormous bills he is pushing.

http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2010/04/obama-runs-away-in-quincy.html

"Social Justice" is code for socialism

"Social Justice" is a code word for socialism. And socialism is indeed evil.Socialism is nothing more than coveting what is not yours and asking the government to steal it for you.
Socialism is the theft of what belongs to others... so that the state can redistribute the stolen plunder... in order to buy power and votes with others' property.

http://michellemalkin.com/2010/04/16/when-social-justice-is-a-code-phrase/
http://www.redstate.com/erick/2010/04/16/social-justice-and-glenn-beck/

Red State Uprising: How to Take Back America
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2010/04/what_glenn_beck_meant_about_social_justice.html

Repeal of Obamacare: Why does it bother progressives so much?

Why does the thought of the impending repeal of Obamacare anger "progressives" so much? Is it simply the horror at seeing so much hard work and lobbying going to waste? the bitter taste of an issue that once favored Democrats turning into ashes in their mouth (and an albatross on their necks)?

No, it's more than that. It's something more profound and philosophical. The impending repeal of Obamacare (and the popularity of the repeal issue among independents) is so jarring to "progressives" for a deeper reason that challenges the fundamental core of the progressive ideology.

It is, as Henry Hazlitt so intelligently said, "because by implication it challenges the present smugly fashionable assumption that every change means progress, and that whatever political or economic trend is latest in time must be best."

Obamacare makes healthcare WORSE. The majority of independent voters and voters likely to vote in 2010 already recognize this. The sooner "progressives" admit that Health Care Deform made matters WORSE and get on board with repeal, the better. The first step is admitting that "progressives" have a problem. The first step is admitting that "progressivism" IS the problem.

Still the greatest health care reform measure ever implemented by the Federal Government

Health Savings Accounts
http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/

No amount of government spending or regulatory gimmicks can compare to the simple power of savings and consumer empowerment.

Private savings and private decision making are the keys to correcting the damage that government spending and centralized planning have caused.

God is Not a Socialist

"God is Not a Socialist"
from The War on Success
by Tommy Newberry
www.TheWaronSuccess.com



"Socialization is always accompanied by secularization—the smaller God becomes, the larger government grows. Of course, that’s a human perspective; God doesn’t shrink at all. But as God fades from our attention, so does liberty. Evil in all its varieties is just the natural outgrowth of freedom without God. Review the whole history of godless Communism and fascism—did anything good come of it?

No doubt about it, America’s system of free enterprise, like our founding documents, is inspired by the timeless truths revealed throughout the Old and New Testaments. But today, the diminishing of God has led Americans to feel lonely, confused, and isolated like never before. Disconnected from traditional and proven sources of value and love, more and more people now seek solace in government programs. The result has been a decline in individual freedom and the diminishing of our range of lifetime opportunities.

This is the inevitable result when a country moves toward socialism. The socialist deplores biblical absolutes or fixed truths of any kind, for they restrict his ability to manipulate feelings and influence the masses. Communist godfather Karl Marx was a philosophical materialist, meaning he didn’t believe in God or any spiritual realm. To Marx, if you couldn’t see it, it didn’t exist: the material world is all there is. This warped atheism is a crucial component of the socialist mindset, justifying their attempts to create a utopian "workers’ paradise" on earth.

Nevertheless, today’s socialists deceptively weave biblical quotes and
spiritual-sounding platitudes into their rhetoric to help win over the "innocently ignorant" people of faith. American socialists are particularly prone to selling their ideology in religious terms. After all, our nation was founded on biblical principles, and according to recent polls, 80 percent of Americans claim to believe in God, and 77 percent profess to be either Christian or Jewish. Socialists can’t explicitly reject God and expect to win election, so instead they try to co-opt Him as a salesman for their atheistic cause.

Because they don’t really believe in God, many socialists are biblically illiterate, despite their biblical sales pitch. They twist God’s instructions and the values He extols, extracting collectivist lessons where none exist. Unfortunately, many religious people, congregants and leaders alike, who recognize these distortions are reluctant to challenge them, either because they’re intimidated by political correctness or because they don’t fully understand the harsh reality of socialism.

Although the socialist claims to be doing God’s work, the big, cold hand of the federal government is no match for the warm, loving hands of God. Socialism does not produce spiritual fulfillment anywhere, and it never brings man closer to God."

http://www.billboardsagainstobama.com/pdf/SURPRISEchapter.pdf

TheWarOnSuccess.com

How the left distorts the bible

Rabbi Aryeh Spero debunks the leftist delusions and distortions of Jim Wallis and "social justice" Marxists:

"The social justice that God expects of us is handled not through statist redistribution of wealth but through acts of charity. In the Old Testament, there are constant calls for giving charity but none for statist redistribution of wealth, nor calls for an economic leveling of society or for a lack of distinctiveness and differences among individuals. Doing so runs contrary to the notion of the individual as a unique and distinctive being, which is the meaning behind “human created in the image of God”, i.e., singular beings.

The Bible calls for acts of charity from the individual, for in being direct and personal, charity has the ability to elevate and ennoble the giver and provider. The direct act of giving changes the person and involves and partners him with God. Unlike Marxism, the Bible emphasizes the individual, not the state, the personal and not the masses."

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36269

162,000 jobs???

So the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the Department of Labor reports a gain of 162,000 (down from an estimated 190,000 expected). And it's only the second monthly job gain since late 2007. The "gain" is not enough to lower the headline unemployment rate (9.7%).

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

But government statistics are often manipulated and overly bullish. Gallup finds an underemployment rate of 20.3% (http://www.gallup.com/poll/127091/Underemployment-Rises-March.aspx) and John Williams' shadowstats unemployment is 22%. (http://www.shadowstats.com/)

ADP's report on private payrolls showed that employers slashed 23,000 jobs (when the consensus prediction was a gain of 40,000). (http://www.adpemploymentreport.com/pdf/FINAL_Report_March_10.pdf)

There is still considerable weakness among private employment (and full-time positions in particular). And now that Obamacare burdens employers with employees working over 30 hours a week, fewer positions will be full-time positions. http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/how-the-health-care-law-affects-your-business/

An additional 200,000 Americans are called "marginally attached to the labor force" by the BLS. "They were not counted as unemployed because they had not searched for work in the 4 weeks preceding the survey."

"Among the marginally attached, there were 1.0 million discouraged workers in March, up by 309,000 from a year earlier."

48,000 of the jobs "gained" were temporary positions for the US Census.
40,000 of the jobs "gained" were for temporary help services.
These 88,000 temporary positions are more than half of the "gains".

Another 27,000 jobs were in healthcare.

So if you want a full-time position in a field other than healthcare or government, the pickings are still rather slim. And the competition is growing as more graduates and immigrants enter the labor force.



There are now more "discouraged workers" and Americans "marginally attached to the labor force" despite the optimistic spin surrounding the latest employment report. This is not time for Democrats to be declaring "mission accomplished."

Challenge to Obamacare

Bill Clinton's Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Of 1995 Could Pose Significant Problems For ObamaCare

"Under this act, any new legislation that proposes a mandate on state and local governments estimated to cost more than $50 million dollars must have a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate and provide the funding to pay for the mandates.

How many states are going to have to deal with unfunded mandates that far exceed $50 million dollars and into the tens of billions of dollars each year and pertain to a host of services that will have to be funded by the federal gov't under ObamaCare?

If the unfunded mandates are funded, that would skyrocket the actual cost of ObamaCare."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2481520/posts

The chances of challenging Obamacare look even better now.

And there is still the unconstitutionality of forcing someone to purchase an insurance policy. The Commerce Clause cannot be used to force anyone to engage in Commerce. Even the CBO stated that this is an unprecedented reach of legislative power.

Nullification: How to Resist Federal Tyranny in the 21st Century

Massachusetts' Universal Health Care has been a Fiscal Train Wreck

"The universal insurance coverage we adopted in 2006 was projected to cost taxpayers $88 million a year. However, since this program was adopted in 2006, our health-care costs have in total exceeded $4 billion. The cost of Massachusetts' plan has blown a hole in the Commonwealth's budget. Just last Thursday, Gov. Deval Patrick's office announced a $294 million shortfall related to health-care costs.

If not for federal Medicaid reimbursements and commitments from Washington to prop up this plan, Massachusetts would be broke. The only reason MassCare has survived is that we have been repeatedly bailed out by the federal government. But that raises the question: Who will bail America out if we implement a similar program?"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704094104575144372942933394.html

MSNBC, left-wing "journalists" owe James O'Keefe an apology

Watergate Jr. Comes to Lackluster End: OKeefe, Cohorts Charges Lessened to Single Misdemeanor
bigjournalism.com/fross/2010/03/26/watergate-jr-comes-to-lackluster-end-okeefe-cohorts-charges-lessened-to-single-misdemeanor/

O'Keefe Deserves an Apology From MSNBC At the Very Least
bigjournalism.com/sright/2010/03/26/okeefe-deserves-an-apology-from-msnbc-at-the-very-least

Unions Want to Take Over Your 401(k)

"a plan that will centralize all retirement plans for American workers, including private 401(k) plans, under one new retirement system for the United States...

With the uncertainty in today's global economy, creating a whole new federal entitlement for American workers may not be easy to accomplish for these groups or their allies on Capitol Hill and in the Obama administration, as America's creditors are already getting nervous."

http://moneynews.com/StreetTalk/unions-401k-pensions/2009/03/17/id/328862

Obama risks alienating Jewish voters

Barack Hussein Obama II's War Against Israel
http://bigjournalism.com/pgeller/2010/03/25/barack-hussein-obama-iis-war-against-israel/

Stupid Is As Stupid Does; Obama and Co. Moves To Alienate Israel
http://bigjournalism.com/rtrzupek/2010/03/25/stupid-is-as-stupid-does-obama-and-co-moves-to-alienate-israel/


Obama risks alienating Jewish voters
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gtowfFjiFD 4HYdHuYgxydKNwVRDwD9ELDRG00

Obama fools (only) nine percent of Israeli Jews‎
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2010/03/025928.php

JEWS AGAINST OBAMA
http://jewagainstobama.wordpress.com/

Obamacare would FORCE taxpayers to pay for elective abortions

"The bill requires that at least one health care plan be promoted across the country that pays for abortions, more abortion funding would come via the affordability credits, and many of the so-called limits on abortion funding in the Senate bill are temporary and could expire or be overturned at a later date.

The Senate health care bill also pays for abortions under the Indian Health Service program.

And it contains the Mikulski amendment that would allow the Obama administration to define abortion as preventative care and force insurance plans to pay for abortions.

Finally, the Senate bill does not contain language needed to offer full conscience protection for pro-life medical workers and facilities."

http://www.lifenews.com/nat6155.html

Democrats are lawless thugs with no respect for the American people

Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings (Fla.) just said this in the most powerful committee of the United States House of Representatives. The people's house:

"There ain't no rules here, we're trying to accomplish something. . . .All this talk about rules. . . .When the deal goes down . . . we make 'em up as we go along."

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OGM0ZjlhMDRkMzBmM2ZhMmY4MmExOTNhMWM5NDUyMTk=

Obama's approval matches record low

23% strongly approve; 44% strongly disapprove

"Each time the President leads a big push for his health care plan, his job approval ratings suffer. While some portions of the plan are popular, others are not. Most voters oppose the proposed Medicare savings (cuts) and the taxes involved. As a result, most voters continue to oppose the legislation. Just 20% of voters believe that most Members of Congress will understand the proposed health care bill before they vote on it. From a political perspective, 50% are less likely to vote for a Member of Congress who supports the health care reform plan proposed by the President and Congressional Democrats."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Vive le Resistance

I liked this story so much, I just had to repost it.

"As he prepped to take Paris, Hitler sent a very special team straight to the Louvre when he’d secured the capital. They burst into the museum ready to loot it, with cameras in tow recording what Hitler expected to be his greatest triumph, the capture of all that art and treasure. Instead, Hitler’s goons found room after empty room, completely cleared of all contents. As the government of France dithered in the leadup to invasion, private citizens took it upon themselves to organize a nascent Resistance, and they removed all that art to underground tunnels, caves, farmhouses, and the like, to deny Hitler his prize. The Resistance formed before Hitler had even overthrown the Republic. And the Resistance remained strong and worked hard every day until both Hitler and the Vichy government were overthrown, and the Republic restored to glory.

THAT is precisely what Americans need to do.

We need to resist the Leftists at every turn."

http://hillbuzz.org/2010/03/19/our-promise-to-america/

So what's your game-plan to defeat the Left and restore America?

Abandoning the Democrats

Lifelong Democrats Abandon the Party over Obamacare

"If it truly happens, if Democrats truly do ram through Healthcare Rationing this weekend, that will be it for us and the Democrat party. We will, as of the moment they enact their takedown of America, become officially not only Independents, but we'll brand ourselves firmly as Resistance.

It will become our solid, daily goal to take down the DNC, destroy it, and do unto it what Rome did to Carthage.

We will do this by committing to three primary goals:

(1) Exposing and destroying ACORN in all its forms.

(2) Investigating and exposing every corrupt bargain and backroom deal Democrats engaged in to ram through Healthcare Rationing

(3) Taking down the Democrats' fundraising machine and making life an absolute living Hell for all wealthy people who fund the DNC and its Leftist candidates. We will feature a different Leftist every day, and encourage as many people as possible to direct their ire at the wealthy men, women, and firms who fundraise to keep these Marxists in office.

We will, in fact, build a coast to coast operation to achieve this, making it our mission to cripple the DNC's revenue stream."

http://hillbuzz.org/2010/03/19/our-promise-to-america/

******
Howard Stern: The Dems Are Communists I Will Never Vote For Them Again
http://newsyoucanbelieve.com/2010/03/18/howard-stern-the-dems-are-communists-i-will-never-vote-for-them-again/

Pennsylvania update: Altmire to vote NO

KDKA reports:

Congressman Jason Altmire will vote against the latest version of health care reform when the U.S. House of Representatives votes on the bill this weekend.

Altmire confirmed that he has decided to vote no in a telephone conversation with KDKA Political Editor Jon Delano.

http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=demrescue.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fkdka.com%2Fpolitics%2FJason.Altmire.healthcare.2.1575875.html

Pennsylvania: Keystone State will be Bellwether State in 2010

Ohio got a lot of press in 2004 because Democrats made unfounded claims of voter fraud. What we forget is that Bush's narrow loss in PA was even closer than Kerry's loss in OH.

So let's look at PA, which could cost Democrats more congressional seats than any other state in 2010. Toomey leads Specter by a healthy margin. Corbett also leads statewide. Corbett's election would really signal a warning sign to the supporters of a government healthcare takeover.

What we should find is that a Republican Attorney General who promotes suing the federal government to BLOCK implementation of Obamacare is highly favorable and popular in a blue state... and the favorite to become governor. Corbett can ride opposition to Obamacare to victory every bit as much as Scott Brown rode to victory by openly declaring that I WILL BE THE 41st vote AGAINST Obamacre!!

Come to think of it, is there any state in the Big Ten in which Republicans can't win the governor seat? Democrats' tax-and-spend schemes have failed. And Democrats' cap-and-tax schemes would cause even more damage to the "Rust Belt". For that matter, it was Democrats' slavishness to unions and bureaucrats and environmental extremists and high taxes and oppressive government regulation that turned the Great Lakes into the great Rust Belt.

But Pennsylvania should be a great test case.

Opposition to Obamacare is very strong

New Poll Finds Americans Really, Really Don’t Like Obamacare

http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/03/new-poll-finds-americans-really-really-dont-like-obamacare/

· Most Americans oppose (81%) health care reforms that would increase insurance premiums for healthy people to offset premiums of people who wait until they are diagnosed with an illness to purchase insurance.

· Eight Americans in ten (81%) oppose allowing the government to decide what kind of health care coverage Americans are able to purchase.

· Most Americans (87%) oppose having a government panel recommend or decide what medical procedures or medical advances your doctor or health plan can or cannot use. (ed: this would include the "death panels" that the left likes to PRETEND don't exist in the bill --- but they do!!)

· More than eight Americans in ten (84%) support reforms that would allow people to buy health insurance where it is the least expensive, such as across state lines.

---) Government healthcare is extremely unpopular. And it is unpopular because the government goes too far in abridging the liberty of the American people, NOT because (like some on the left claim) it doesn't goo "far enough".

-----------

OPPOSITION to the Democrats' healthScare bill is rising faster than support. As many as 38 states may sue the federal government to block implementation of the insurance mandate.

Idaho: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0LSHNfmnWDnZ_JylqiFxeT5GKEQD9EGLNDO0

Virginia:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/03/cuccinellis_office_confirms_vi.html

Arizona:
http://www.azhealthcarefreedom.com/article/arizona-legislature-passes-important-bill-to-protect

developing....

---------------

Health care isn't even popular in Obama's adopted home, deep-blue Illinois. "Illinois voters, by a 52 percent to 39 percent margin, oppose the massive health care reform bill in its current form, preferring Congress pass smaller bills that address individual problems in a step-by-step approach."

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/18/gop-uses-people-strategy-in-bid-to-grab-obama-seat/

Mandating Health Insurance is Wrong for America

Hazards of the Individual Health Care Mandate
http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/v29n5/cpr29n5-1.html

Mandatory Health Insurance:Wrong for Massachusetts, Wrong for America
http://www.rememberourconstitution.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Mandatory-Health-Insurance1.pdf

The Failure of RomneyCare
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703625304575115691871093652.html

Obama bribes congressmen with water?

California's central valley is being allowed more water by the federal government as its congressmen announce their votes for Obamacare.

http://nrcc.org/blog/blogitem.aspx?id=261

Obama's disapproval higher than approval

Disapprove 48, Approve 47
http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx

Strongly disapprove 42, Strongly Approve 24
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

1984: A Review

While 1984 is now considered a cautionary tale about totalitarianism, it should be remembered that Orwell was an ardent socialist. Perhaps the most important (and least discussed) element of the story of 1984 is the doublethink of its author: Orwell's ability to condemn an outcome, while advocating its cause. Even as Orwell portrayed the corruption of socialist government in Animal Farm and the cruelty of totalitarian government in 1984, he insisted that these are perversions of socialism, rather than the inevitable fruit of socialism.

This is the same foolish idea as Marx had; that human nature is malleable and can be forced to adapt to a socialist zeitgeist. Sadly, many people suffer the same delusion today: believing that government has the right to mold human nature rather than the responsibility to yield to human nature and respect our natural rights. Socialists do not like that human nature opposes slavery (i.e. socialism) and insist that with enough socialist indoctrination and through the force of socialist government, human nature can be remade to love subjugation.

When we look to the troubling conclusion, it appears to be a break from the tradition of a successful resolution for the hero of the novel. Just as Brave New World ended with the State purging its misfits from its midst, 1984 ends with the arrest and reeducation of its misfit. Could it be that this was a successful conclusion in the mind of a socialist? Could it be that socialists are so wedded to their ideology that they have lost the ability to sympathize with human rights to liberty and freedom of conscience and would rather sympathize with the State? What if the ending reveals that the hero of a socialist novel was never meant to be the individual; is the hero in fact the State?

Understanding the Nature of "Rights"

The left's dependence on government to "provide" their "rights" proves that they don't understand the nature of liberty and rights at all.

read: Health Care and the Left’s Perverted Definition of ‘Rights’
http://biggovernment.com/kbyrne/2010/03/06/health-care-and-the-lefts-perverted-definition-of-rights/

Republicans in a "Political Bull Market"

Republicans are clearly in a "Political Bull Market"


Republicans can clearly tell that they are in a "political bull market." So many Republicans are eager to run because the wind is clearly at their back. Republicans did not appear this strong in 1994 until July and did not appear this strong in 1980 until October. I dare say voters have never been so eager to vote against Democrats. Not since 1946 at least has the political climate been so anti-Democrat/pro-Republican.

Charlie Cook says it is difficult to see any scenario in which the Democrats do not lose the house. Numerous Congressional Democrats have announced retirement rather than run in 2010 (whereas most Republican open seats are open because the incumbents are seeking higher office statewide).

Just to quantify where we are: Intrade puts the 50/50 at Republicans gaining at least 35 seats in the House and holding at least 48 seats in the Senate. The contracts for Republicans holding at least 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, and 51 senate seats have all seen appreciation recently. (and this is before the filing deadlines in most states. many strong candidates may be yet to announce or at least yet to be nominated by a united party.)

But even those numbers for the senate as a whole understate the danger for incumbent Democrats. When individual races are rated, Republicans are the favorites in 8 races: AR, CO, DE, IL, IN, NV, ND, PA. That's 49. In WI and CA, the Republican is given at least a 45% chance. In NY and WA, the Republican is given a 35% chance. 53 Republican seats in 2010 is not out of the question -- with further gains likely in 2012 and 2014.

In the house, Republicans may reasonably gain 63 seats. http://www.marstonchronicles.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=308&Itemid=1144%20for%20a%20list%20by%20state.

Republicans also stand to gain 15-20 more house seats in 2012 just from the favorable demographic trends that are expected to be revealed in the next census.

The probability of victory for Republican candidates is high and so is the probability that Republicans will have a majority, likely in both houses.

There is still work to be done, but this is a truly prosperous time to be advocating for liberty. I recommend this concise book on persuasion techniques when advocating for liberty: "The Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion". Available at: http://www.theadvocates.org/secrets.html

"Unimaginable Suffering" for Patients "Routinely Neglected" in NHS Hospitals

UK (NHS) HOSPITAL CAUSED UNIMAGINABLE SUFFERING
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article7039285.ece

Patients 'routinely neglected' at NHS hospital where hundreds died in squalor
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1253438/Mid-Staffordshire-NHS-hospital-routinely-neglected-patients.html

"The Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, yesterday described the appalling treatment of patients at Staffordhospital as "ultimately a local failure". This misses the point. For one thing, Stafford is not the only NHS hospital that has put patients' lives at risk in recent years. Basildon and Colchester hospitals were also discovered to have jeopardised safety in 2009."
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-real-lessons-of-this-nhs-disaster-1909596.html

Absurdity of Government Regulation of Industry

"One way to think about the relative efforts of government and business in the safety arena is this: On any given day in America, thousands of local, state, and national safety regulators are inspecting businesses, studying test data, issuing regulations, and adjudicating violations. But on that same day, millions of American workers, managers, designers, and engineers are working to make their workplaces safer, to maximize sales and revenues, minimize losses, and maintain good, long-term relationships with productive employees.

The magnitude of private-sector safety efforts, both in time and money spent, far exceeds that of even today's bloated regulatory bureaucracy. So the (regulatory) fine is best thought of as political theater, not as a deterrent to protect worker safety."

http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=6024

Who gets the blame for the recession?

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/february_2010/bush_still_blamed_for_bad_economy




The lead is misleading. The internals are more intriguing.

Young voters, less likely to vote in the midterms, are most likely to blame Bush. However, the "middle class" who make between $40,000 and $75,000 are more likely to blame Obama.




And any blame that Bush may receive for presiding over the beginning of the downfall does not translate into trusting Obama's intervention in the economy over individual liberties or free markets. Americans are more likely to see Republicans, not Democrats, as more trustworthy on crafting an economic solution.

"while most voters place the blame on his predecessor, they still have more confidence in their own economic judgment than in Obama’s. Only 28% of voters trust the president’s judgment more than their own when it comes to economic issues. Sixty-one percent (61%) trust their own judgment more.. 77% of unaffiliated voters – and 79% of Republicans – trust their own economic judgment more than Obama’s.. Voters are more closely divided over which party to trust more on economic issues: 46% trust Republicans more, while 42% trust Democrats."

Ten Rules for Anti-Government Republican Radicals in D.C.

1) Always try to decentralize power as much as possible.
2) Earmarks are corruption.
3) The louder they scream "emergency," the more suspicious you should be.
4) There's always something to attack in a government program.
5) The grassroots are your friend.
6) Tie everything back to how it helps the people.
7) We will never control spending unless we change the system.
8) You've got to believe in your heart that Americans want responsible government.
9) We don't need new laws; we need reform.
10) It's better to kill a bad bill than improve it.

http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnHawkins/2010/02/09/ten_rules_for_anti-government_republican_radicals_in_dc

Eyewitness Account: Obama's college friend reveals that Obama was in fact a radical SOCIALIST

And yet since their encounter, Obama has never revealed how his political thinking evolved and “what were the logical steps he took to get out of his Marxist world view.”

http://newsmax.com/RonaldKessler/obama-college-marxism-occidental/2010/02/08/id/349329

White House announces televised health meet

Now Obama will finally meet with Republicans to discuss their ideas -- the same ideas that Obama pretended didn't exist for the past year. Now Obama will finally conduct healthcare negotiations on TV. Only after being repudiated by Massachusetts will Obama and the Democrats pretend to care about Republican ideas.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/32646.html

Most turn to FOX News for objective reporting

"Researchers asked respondents which television news organization they turn to most
frequently. The top five... Fox News (28.4% - up from 26.5% in 2007), CNN (14.9% - down from 16.0% in 2007), NBC News (10.6% - down from 11.8% in 2007), ABC News (9.3% - down from 11.0% in 2007), and local news (7.6% - down from 8.5% in 2007)...
Respondents were asked if they selected their favorite because they offer objective reporting or because they view the issues as they did. In results that were nearly three-to-one, 59.0% suggested they made their selection based on objective reporting, while 19.0% chose their favorite because they share the same views on issues."

http://www.sacredheart.edu/download/2951_shu_9_09_report.pdf

Backlash on Excessive Compensation

Next overpaid spoiled brat targeted for excessive compensation: KATIE COURIC

http://www.drudgereport.com/flashkcc.htm

It is deliciously ironic to see the left's class warfare directed on itself. The left=wing "mainstream" media has been using their propaganda outlets, complete with bloated staffs and lavish production budgets, to spread class-warfare envy and hatred toward the successful. Now the liberal media is becoming victim to their own class-envy. CBS is announcing layoffs... and the staff is furious at Couric's excessive compensation. The left is cracking up in record time.

MSNBC reminds Americans that the media hates everything they stand for

The left's favorite slur "teabag" only proves how the left is sadly out of touch with America.

"the phrase teabag is a profound symbol of the disconnect between the elitist jackasses and the rest of America. every time an MSNBC host snickered about teabagging it reminded everyone else that the media won't take you seriously if you reject their liberal assumptions."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIpcdDXSUso

Until the left realizes that the Tea Party is more popular than they are, they will never regain the trust of real Americans.

"Financial Reform" -- Another Sadistic Government Power-Grab

How to Stand Up to Obama's Bureaucratic Takeover of our Finances
-- and Crippling of Small Business Entrepreneurs

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23808095/Language-of-Financial-Reform

"Compromise" on Health Care "Reform"

Dick Morris makes the case for a "consensus" reform plan that would alleviate the partisan tension and "do something" about health care. Is this really a good plan, especially with rabid Marxists in the majority?

http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/dick-morris/78117-obama-and-triangulation

Clearly, Dick Morris is not a consistent Constitutional conservative. His ideas of "consensus" and "triangulation" may be good political science (in the Machiavellian sense) but they are bad political philosophy. His ideas are too much Rawls and not enough Locke. Morris' ideas may produce popular electoral victories, but more must be done to change the culture and philosophy underlying our political landscape.

Private property and the sanctity of contracts are inalienable. The government does not have the right to take away our liberty or property, nor interfere with or vitiate private contracts. A government that claims such rights is illegitimate and "it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it."

Morris' ideas to deny insurance companies the right to protect themselves (and all their customers, vendors, and creditors) with lifetime caps on payouts... or to deny insurance companies the right to charge higher rates commensurate with higher risk are clearly violations of the rights of innocent insurance companies. Such is the perverse and pernicious nature of regulation: innocent companies are branded guilty until proven innocent, in clear violation of due process. Actually it's worse than that. An innocent company must continually jump through the arbitrary hoops of a tyrannical government.And there is no point at which innocent companies are ever released from this unjust perpetual persecution.Haven't innocent insurance companies been victimized enough by government thuggery?

For those who still respect the Commandment THOU SHALT NOT STEAL, it is morally imperative to block any further restrictions on the rights of innocent insurance companies. Let insurance companies actually do what they were meant to do -- manage risk and price risk properly.