U.S. military turns to private sector for its satellite communications needs
Now, was that so hard? The U.S. military is turning to the private sector to fill its satellite communications needs.
Tag: deficit
Boehner says spending must be cut, but Senate Dems won’t budge
The Republicans in the House are insisting that there must be some spending cuts before they will agree to a continuing resolution. Senate Democrats are refusing any compromise.
The result will be a government shutdown. And the fault, as far as I am concerned, will lie with the Democrats, who are the ones screaming shutdown almost like they can’t wait for it to happen.
To be a Republican lawmaker in Wisconsin means facing threats of violence
To be a Republican lawmaker in Wisconsin means facing threats of violence. Key quote:
[Republican state senator Randy] Hopper has received threatening phone calls and e-mails. These are threats of a physical nature. “We are working with law enforcement in my district. They are watching my home and my business.” Other Republicans have had their homes and businesses threatened, too. The unionists have demonstrated outside those homes and businesses.
A menacing old phrase comes to mind (and has been used by others, in talking about events in Wisconsin): We know where you live. [emphasis in original]
Squeals from the media
Squeals from the media. Key quote:
Now that budget battles have begun in earnest all around the country, those advocating spending cuts, Democrat and Republican, had better not expect any help in furthering their cause from the mainstream news media. In fact, the news media might be their most formidable foe. How so? Well, now that we know the targets of the cuts, the news media, suckers for a sob story, are already throbbing with carefully orchestrated, heart-rending tales about what devastation those cuts will cause.
Union protesters fill Ohio Statehouse
Now for some union squealing in Ohio: Union protesters fill Ohio statehouse.
Tennessee bill targets teacher collective bargaining rights
The historical illiteracy of the Wisconsin union protesters
The historical illiteracy of the Wisconsin union protesters. The best is the photo of the protester with the sign “Impeach Bush.”
Democrats flee to avoid participating in Wisconsin budget vote
The battle in Wisconsin: Democrat Senators in hiding to avoid participating in Wisconsin budget vote.
Democrat congresswoman seeking to defund Army sponsorship of NASCAR
Now for some squeals from the right! A Democrat congresswoman is seeking to defund the Army sponsorship of NASCAR.
more voters view cutting spending rather than investing as the best way to do so
Pollster tells Senate Democrats that they better cut the budget or face defeat from voters.
Showdown in Wisconsin
Showdown in Wisconsin. Key quote:
Government school teachers, among others, are not happy and have shut down entire school districts across the state for two days so they can protest.
I have two thoughts on this…
1. Hell yes.
2. About time.
Public employees should not be allowed to unionize or if they are, they should be forbidden to contribute to political campaigns. The current system essentially allows the employees to buy off the managers (politicians) in order to rip off the owners (the public). It’s a system that is corrupt by it’s very existence. The proof of this is the public pension and benefits schemes that threatens to crush the fiscal solvency of many states.
Update and bumped. This New York Times article summarizes the situation nicely. To me, however, the key quote is this:
Scott Fitzgerald, the Republican leader in the State Senate, slipped out of the Capitol Wednesday morning with his sunglasses on, head down. Protesters had gone to his home earlier in the week, forcing his family (including his wife, a school guidance counselor) to go elsewhere for a bit.
You can see some video of the protests here: Union hate rally in Wisconsin: Protests rife with Hitler, gun targets, death threats.
So, another demonstration of how the left tones down the rhetoric: threatening the family of a lawmaker.
Obama’s energy secretary squeals.
Steven Chu, Obama’s energy secretary, gave us his own version of a pig’s squeal yesterday.
Democrats campaign to save funding for public television
The squealing of puppets! The Muppets (and Democrats) lobbied today in DC to save funding for public television.
House votes to move money from NASA to local law enforcement
The House votes to shift $298 million from NASA to local law enforcement.
What idiocy. I can accept the idea of cutting NASA considering the state of the deficit. However, for Congress to instead spend the money for local police work, something that is definitely not the responsibility of the federal government, is plain foolishness. The need now is to cut, cut, cut, until the budget is under control. Only then can we reasonably consider spending money on these programs.
Why more railroad subsidies make no sense
Why high-speed rail makes no sense. Key quote:
High-speed rail would transform Amtrak’s small drain [on the government] into a much larger drain. Once built, high-speed rail systems would face a dilemma. To recoup initial capital costs — construction and train purchases — ticket prices would have to be set so high that few people would choose rail. But lower prices, even with favorable passenger loads, might not cover costs. Government would be stuck with huge subsidies. Even without recovering capital costs, high-speed rail systems would probably run in the red. Most mass-transit systems, despite high ridership, routinely have deficits.
Democratic Congressman says Republicans want kids to get asthma
This is how we rationally debate the budget? Democratic Congressman Jay Inslee (D-Washington) today accused Republicans of wanting kids to get asthma by their effort to trim the budget.
New Jersey Governor Christie slams Democrats and Republicans over spending
Right on! New Jersey Governor Chris Christie slammed both Democrats and Republicans yesterday over out-of-control spending.
Florida Governor Joins Two More in Rejecting Federal High-Speed Rail Spending
The governor of Florida has joined two states in rejecting Obama’s proposed $53 billion federal high-speed rail program.
White House Ignores Interest Payments in Claiming to Control Debt
This is beyond belief: The White House has decided to make believe the interest payments required to pay back the federal debt do not exist in their claim that their budget is reducing that debt. Key quote from Senate hearings yesterday:
To justify the administration claim, [White House Budget Director Jack] Lew said the administration was merely referring to “primary balance” — or federal spending minus interest payments. Lew sought to forgive the public for their confusion. “The terminology that we use in Washington of primary balance is a little confusing,” Lew said.
“It’s because I believe it’s dishonest,” [Senator John] Ensign (R-Nevada) shot back.
Democrats join GOP criticism of Obama’s budget proposal
Holy moley! Do pigs fly? Yesterday Senate Democrats joined Republicans in attacking the timidity of Obama’s budget cuts.