Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called for an end of Christmas "consumption insanity" and replace presents for children with stories about national independence hero Simon Bolivar, local media reported.
"For the love of God, let's halt this, let's put the brakes on this consumerist, capitalist insanity, that leads us to lose our spiritual values," said Chavez.
Chavez suggested to stop More.. buying toys "that as mothers and fathers we are practically forced" to buy. He also said that there is little sense in buying new clothes each December before Christmas Eve as these sales do not benefit the small merchants, but "their owners, the wealthy, the big distributors that make a bundle squeezing people."
"Let's sit with the children and tell them stories of Bolivar, of the motherland," the Venezuelan President said, adding that he makes this appeal from his heart "to put aside these vices."
#2
called for an end of Christmas "consumption insanity" and replace presents for children with stories about national independence hero Simon Bolivar the birth of Jesus Christ
Fixed if for you, Hugo. Now you have a suggestion I can agree with.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
12/26/2009 17:04 Comments ||
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#3
Just remember when Santa Karl with his gaily candy striped AK-47 asks you,"What do you want for Marxmas?"
You better answer,"FURTHER VICTORIES FOR THE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES!"
States: The once-great state of California has been reduced to begging from the federal government. But no matter how much help the feds give, the state's fiscal ills won't end until its lawmakers stop spending money.
To say California is a mess is an understatement. In the current fiscal year, the state is expected to post a deficit of $21 billion as the budget continues to spiral out of control. Even after last year's epic budget battle, when Californians were hit with $12.5 billion in new taxes and $6 billion more in borrowing, the state still isn't close to bringing revenues and expenditures into balance.
So Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has an idea: He wants President Obama to give him $8 billion -- or else, he says, he'll kill or slash most of the state's welfare programs, cut pay for 200,000 state workers and end two tax breaks for big corporations.
Everything except the last sound like very good ideas, indeed. The last time he the governor had such good ideas, the president made very clear his displeasure with the thought of impacting the lifestyle of union members.
How far the Golden State has fallen. Once the nation's unquestioned economic and innovation leader, it's now a laggard. With 13% of the country's population, it has nearly a third of its welfare recipients. Though it's still the world's seventh-largest economy, it's in danger of sliding backward as its fiscal and economic crises drive jobs and workers away.
The White House should do California a favor and say no. The only thing that will help at this point is for the state's citizens to vote the Legislature out of office -- or for the state to be forced into bankruptcy. The Legislature has been under almost exclusive Democratic control for decades. Time for change.
Lawmakers in Sacramento are held in almost universal contempt by Californians, yet most are safe inside their carefully gerrymandered districts. They're the country's highest-paid state legislators, pulling down nearly $100,000, with $30,000 in tax-free money for their "expenses" and a state-provided car for their use.
Yet look at the state's imploding economy and shrinking population, and it's clear they're guilty of negligence at best and malfeasance at worst. They've handed much of the control of the economy and education to the public employee unions that have systematically looted the public fisc. Businesses and high-income entrepreneurs are leaving the state in droves, fed up with the anti-business zealots who control Sacramento.
By most objective measures, the economy is among the worst in the nation. Unemployment of over 12% is well above the national average of 10% -- no surprise, considering the nonpartisan Tax Foundation recently ranked California 48th among the states on business-tax competitiveness.
Posted by: Fred ||
12/26/2009 00:14 ||
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Note there was no mention of cutting programs other than welfare? State funded Medical research could be one that could go?
#2
CA has been relying on the pre-2009 Bernie Madoff financial model. When the top 3% pay half the CA income tax, any hiccup will cause a similar crisis.
Posted by: ed ||
12/26/2009 6:37 Comments ||
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#3
As an aside, there is a downright funny conspiracy theory making the rounds right now, that Canadian military equipment likely going to Afghanistan from the Port of Seattle, is instead going to California in case there is a massive social collapse there.
Yeah, I know, more holes than Swiss cheese, but still.
#4
Sure Arnold, but put them in receivership, return to territorial status, lose the vote of Senators and Representatives in Congress [but get to keep the federal income tax - see the residents of the District of Columbia about the one], and have a federally appointed territorial governor till the state draws up a new Constitution that includes provisions for living within their own means requiring both statewide popular vote and Congressional approval to full return to State status.
#5
Condition of cash should be the dismemberment of California into five states, Northern Caliphornia, San Franistan, Central Valley, Sierra and SoCal. Inland Empire gets to choose whether it wants to be part of SoCal or Sierra.
#8
Instead of 2 radicals you'd have 3 or 4 radicals and 6 or 7 conservatives. Much improves the odds. And if Texas then exercised its option, the nation might be safe.
#9
Who will get to file banruptcy first? The US or California.
Arnold should encourage all California medicare recipients to move to Nebraska (one-way bus ticket vouchers should do the trick).
#10
Any progress on the San Andreas Continental Drift project?
Posted by: ed ||
12/26/2009 11:21 Comments ||
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During the 2008 election there were about 10 really expensive initiatives on the ballot even though anyone who had successfully completed pre-algebra could see that state finances were headed down the toilet. One that passed mandated that the state issue $10B of junk bonds to back a bullet train from LA to SF. They are now saying that they need $60B and that the ticket prices will have to be subsidized to compete with South West - there is no talk of pulling the plug.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
12/26/2009 12:07 Comments ||
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$10B of junk bonds to back a bullet train from LA to SF. They are now saying that they need $60B and that the ticket prices will have to be subsidized to compete with South West -
#13
And if Texas then exercised its option, the nation might be safe.
For those of you who may not be aware of Nimble's reference, under the terms by which Texas joined the US in 1845 there was a proviso under which Texas could at some later date split itself into four new states. However, that clause may (stress the may)be invalid for two reasons.
First, although Texas may make the request, the US Constitution says that new states may be created out of existing states ONLY if the state in question and Congress approve it. And sadly, I cannot possibly see any Congress approving any arrangement that would permanently alter the balance of power so drastically. Second, when Texas rejoined the Union after the Civil War, it did so under the traditional method as prescribed by the Constitution - which probably invalidated the original annexation agreement.
/Neat historical stuff
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
12/26/2009 14:18 Comments ||
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#14
Businesses and people with retirement income are fleeing the state in droves. The latest budget disaster is cause in large part because of plunging tax revenues below even relatively normal times. And the greatest joke of all, massive income and job losses in the breadbasket of America, the central valley. Unemployment is at 30-40% in places, and 25% of the smaller farms have closed...permanently. Why? not the recession/depression....water, and not just the drought, but the diversion of what little there is after 3 yrs of drought to the delta to protect the delta smelt, a 1 inch long fish. In the food banks and charity lines in the central valley, they are giving away food to illegal farm worker that was IMPORTED from China. Can you get government policy more f*cked up that this?
Now you see why we are bailing and as fast as we can get the house sold moving on.....
#15
Many state employees, especially in academia, have already taken what amounts to about a 10% pay cut in the form of furlough days. They have to take two or three days off per month without pay. Well, some of them might actually enjoy the time off. And if a college professor isn't in the classroom for a few days a month, that's a few days a month when he won't be doing any harm to the students. So it's not all bad news.
And besides, I rather enjoy the lighter traffic on the freeways.
The part I don't like is when I have to pay my taxes.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
12/26/2009 17:24 Comments ||
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#16
Love that train, tipper. We're kinda behind in that area, aren't we?
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
12/26/2009 17:26 Comments ||
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#17
As Bloody Mary sang,
You gotta have a dream, if you don't have a dream,How you gonna have a dream come true?
Added Azaria Jagger, a blogger at the news and gossip site "Gawker":
"[D]oes it really make sense to put a tyrannical communist leader's visage on the American president's Christmas tree? On the other hand, an ornament that shellacks [Obama's] face onto Mount Rushmore is just tacky. It's in the guy's living room, for crying out loud."
And drag queen Hedda Lettuce chimed in that she is proud to have her portrait hanging in the White House, even if it's just temporary:
"I may never get equal rights, I may never be blond and pencil thin, I may never see Lady Gaga in concert this winter at Madison Square Garden (I could not get a ticket) but one of my balls is hanging in the White House with my name for all to see."
Posted by: ed ||
12/26/2009 11:08 Comments ||
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#4
Zero has the ability to embarass himself at just about every turn.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
12/26/2009 11:40 Comments ||
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#5
That's assuming he's embarassed. An alternate explanation is that he's thumbing his nose at America.
#1
They will never get it. I believe they know it and are requesting it so when we have an administation change they will be able to say they asked for it. If there was a probe, and by some drug induce mistake congress allowed it, then they would find the President, most of his staff, Czars, and the leadership in congress involved in the misdeeds.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
12/26/2009 11:50 Comments ||
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If nothing else, the acrimonious debate over health care reform has contributed some potent new expressions to the American political vocabulary. You heard weeks ago about "death panels." And the vaguely named "public option," which has nothing to do with finding a suitable men's room at the shopping mall.
But what about the "Louisiana purchase" of 2009? Or the "Cornhusker kickback"? Or "U. Con"? Those are nicknames hung on some of the seedy backroom deals cut by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to secure the 60 votes he needs for passage of his $871 billion health care reform bill.
Here's a translation of those terms, compliments of The Washington Post:
--Louisiana purchase: The reported $100 million in extra Medicaid money secured for her state by Sen. Mary Landrieu. She has boasted she actually snared $300 million.
--Cornhusker kickback: A similar $100 million for Sen. Ben Nelson's Nebraska.
--U. Con: $100 million meant for a medical center in Sen. Chris Dodd's Connecticut.
There also were special favors handed out to Vermont, Massachusetts, Montana, Iowa, Michigan and Florida. And that's just the stuff we know about so far. Remember, this is a 2,400-plus page bill.
The bill is all but certain to be advanced in a vote Thursday morning. Next stop: a Senate-House conference committee, where dueling versions of health care legislation will be melded into one and where upright lawmakers will strip out all of the special interest bribes, er, payments made to senators in exchange for their votes.
Just kidding! That's as likely as aspirin curing cancer. Likelier: More lawmakers clamoring to extort gazillions for their states. Guess who'll pay for all of this.
And how has Reid reacted? "I don't know if there is a senator that doesn't have something in this bill that was important to them," he said Monday about what's become known as "cash for cloture." "And if they don't have something in it important to them, then it doesn't speak well of them."
Sure. If a senator merely votes for a bill because it's the right thing to do, rather than it's the right thing to do if he gets $100 million in special benefits for his state, then he's a dope? Talk about twisted logic.
We've seen this kind of shameful display before. To roughly paraphrase a famous line from President Barack Obama: It's not a Democratic thing. Or a Republican thing. It's a Congress thing.
Remember what happened last year, as the economy shambled over a cliff and the House approved an $800 billion-plus rescue plan? Remember how some recalcitrant members of Congress were moved to switch their votes? Saving the economy from potential ruin wasn't enough of an incentive. Thus the bill came to include $2 million in tax breaks for the manufacturers of kids' wooden arrows, $192 million for rum producers, $148 million in tariff relief for U.S. wool fabric producers and $33 million for corporations operating in American Samoa. Oh, and $2 million to help people who commute to work on bicycles.
There are plenty of winners and losers in the Senate health bill. Democrats removed a tax on cosmetic surgery (the "Botax") but added a tax on tanning salons. The tax on so-called Cadillac health plans remains, but the bill now exempts miners, construction workers, cops, firefighters, longshoremen and other union members who contribute so mightily to Democratic causes.
Obama envisioned health care reform as a bipartisan effort. It hasn't turned out that way. The Dems wholly own the Senate and House bills. And public opinion be damned.
But leaders of the two chambers still can show sense by dropping their noble pretensions that getting health care reform this far is all about . . . health care.
Instead, this debacle evokes the all-purpose Chicago political motto proposed by the late columnist Mike Royko:
"Ubi Est Mea?" -- "Where's Mine?"
Posted by: Fred ||
12/26/2009 00:14 ||
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Much urban seething and rage with the fragrance of mega-boodle and entitlements in the air. I fully expect Rangel, Towns, Lee, Burris and the rest of the Congressional Amish Caucus to stir up a huge "Ubi Est Mea" ruckus when the critters come back from their well earned vacation. They'll certainly be holding Barry to his previous statement of "Reparations do not go far enough."
#3
My Daughter sent me a very funy EMail about "Death Squads"
the general idea was that they'll work with the usual government efficiency (Molasses in January) and by the time we're declared "On the list" we'll all be dead from old age anyway.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
12/27/2009 0:02 Comments ||
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This is from the 22nd. Served up today in light of the Delta boom attempt. Murtha looks more foolish than usual.
JOHNSTOWN U.S. Rep. John Murtha told reporters Tuesday that he isnt convinced al-Qaida is still a threat to national security. Murtha said he visited Kuwait and Afghanistan during Thanksgiving and approves of the militarys strategy, but expressed a need to measure progress in Afghanistan.
I dont agree there is a threat to national security, Murtha said, while not ruling out the possibility that he could be wrong about al-Qaidas influence. They keep saying theyve defeated al-Qaida.
The Democratic congressman also expressed concern about the number of contractors remaining in Iraq.
There are more contractors in Iraq than troops, he said. Ive been pushing to cut back on contractors.
He said that the cost of the war is a concern and that it needs to be paid. He supports a war tax to deal with the costs. Murtha, the chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, along with Democratic Rep. Dave Obey, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and nine other Democrats, introduced legislation in November that would pay for the war with a graduated surtax.
Posted by: Steve White ||
12/26/2009 00:00 ||
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What a moron. He must be senile or just plain stupid.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
12/26/2009 0:03 Comments ||
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#2
49 Pan, I vote for both.
This is the guy (supposedly a former Marine) who wanted to convict Marines without a trial.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
12/26/2009 1:26 Comments ||
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#3
and wanted to move our troops (pre-surge) out of Iraq just over the horizon to Okinawa.
Amidst the continuous live coverage of bandhs, protests and resignations over Telangana, people woke up Christmas morning to shocking pictures aired by a local news channel of an old man in bed with three young women.
The Telugu news channel ABN telecast the pictures saying the man shown was the 84-year-old governor of Andhra, Narayan Dutt Tiwari.
Awright Narayan! Wotta stud!
A woman named Radhika sent the girls in return for mining projects she was promised, the channel said. As the promise was not kept, she handed over some pictures taken by her. The man in the pictures is wearing only a shirt and lying on his back, between two women. The third woman is at his feet.
Tiwari's office called the pictures a "pack of lies" and speedily obtained an order from the high court preventing the channel from running them.
The story had been on air for almost an hour by then. Those who missed, caught it on YouTube and news sites.
By early afternoon protests started outside Raj Bhavan. Telugu Desam leader and former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu called for Tiwari's resignation saying the governor's office had been shamed. "If he doesn't quit," Naidu said, "he should be sacked."
"If it's really Tiwari in the pictures," said Congress sources in Delhi, "he will have to go."
Tiwari completed two years as Andhra governor in August. A long time Congress leader, he has been chief minister Uttarakhand and held several senior positions in the Union cabinet.
News channel ABN, which is owned by a popular Telugu daily Andhra Jyothi, also alleged the involvement of an Uttarakhand cadre officer. But did not elaborate.
In the evening, governor's office issued a statement saying, "The Governor is 86 years old and in the evening of his life. It is sad and unfortunate that constitutional functionaries are dragged into needless controversies."
Counsel for governor's office Ravishanker Jandhyala said, "There is absolutely no truth in the alleged news story, which is nothing but sensation mongering."
"We will definitely file a defamation case," he said, adding, "I issued a notice in the afternoon (to the channel)."
But the channel said it was ready to defend its story. "We have evidence (to back) what we have shown," Vemuri Radhakrishna, editor in chief of Andhra Jyothi, told Hindustan Times. "Let them serve defamation notice ... we are even ready to deal with the issue in the courts," he added.
"The footage shown is very recent (and) we got it from the victims," he said.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/26/2009 00:00 ||
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NEW DELHI: Andhra Pradesh governor N D Tiwari quit on Saturday late afternoon, a little over a day after allegations about his involvement in a sex romp in Raj Bhawan surfaced.
Congress sources say that Chhattisgarh governor ESL Narsimhan may get additional charge of Andhra Pradesh.
It is understood that Tiwari's fate was sealed by none other than President Pratibha Patil. The President, who is to arrive in Hyderabad on her annual southern sojourn on Sunday morning, had indicated that it would be untenable for her to come to the city with such allegations being made publicly. Patil would have been received by Tiwari at the airport.
Tiwari took the cue and with continued agitations outside Raj Bhavan by vociferous women activists realised that his position was untenable.
Indications from the Congress high command were also not very favourable for him. An emergency meeting was held earlier in the day over the sex tape issue.
Though Tiwari men had been aggressive on Friday morning soon after the tapes were telecast, by evening, their position had tempered down. This might have been with the realisation that the governor was absolutely defenceless with foolproof tapes available with the ABN Andhra Jyothi, the channel that telecast the episode. Also Tiwari and his aides realised that he had been done in by elements deep within his camp.
Times Now reported that the 86-year-old leader has cited health reasons for quitting.
He had also lately been overcome with fading memory and other indications of senility.
The Congress party welcomed Tiwaris resignation. "I think he has taken an appropriate decision keeping in view the high standards of public life. We welcome it," AICC media department chief Janardan Dwivedi told reporters in Delhi.
Posted by: john frum ||
12/26/2009 9:22 Comments ||
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#2
"...Battles Sex Taint"
Sex! Taint!
You know, there is almost no end to what could be done with that headline. But I am just going to back away slowly...
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called for an end of Christmas "consumption insanity" and replace presents for children with stories about national independence hero Simon Bolivar, local media reported.
Amidst the continuous live coverage of bandhs, protests and resignations over Telangana, people woke up Christmas morning to shocking pictures aired by a local news channel of an old man in bed with three young women.
