Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.  I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally-accepted calendar year 2011, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great.  Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere.  Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee.

To all my Republican and Libertarian friends:  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

*note:  I did not create this, nor do I know who did.  Gotta love it though!

http://www.ustream.tv/restoringhonor

It’s a very close race and the outcome may very well determine whether Obamacare ever gets implemented.  I certainly hope it doesn’t, because I feel it would be an incredibly expensive boondoggle nightmare.  However, the far left in this country definitely want it.  But it’s not about actual healthcare, it’s about power.  Once the government controls your health, you no longer own yourself.  I still think they should use the Random-American Healthcare Plan, but something tells me they won’t be taking my advice.

The Dems are very nervous about the results in Massachusetts, and I think cheating and voter fraud is not out of the realm of possibilities.  The audio from this Dem tells you all you need to know about the midset of the left. 

And if Brown miraculously does win?  The Dems aren’t above just changing the rules to get their way.  Rules that have been in place for generations, mind you.   

Liberals.  If they don’t like the way it’s going, cheat.  If they don’t get the results they want, change the rules.  Can’t help but wonder…is ‘Democrat’ Latin for ‘whiner?’

 *update*  Republican Scott Brown wins! 

‘All-time record for one snowstorm’ in Vermont
Miami shivers from coldest weather in decade
‘30 degrees below normal’ in Iowa
Seoul, Korea buried in heaviest snowfall in 70 years
Ice build-up shuts down NJ nuclear power plant
Coldest in 40 years in Beijing, China
Miami shivers from coldest weather in decade
Winter of 2009-2010 Could Be Worst in 25 Years

Hmm, funny… I haven’t read or heard much from the global warming alarmist crowd lately.   

Ohhh, maybe this is why… Snowstorm squelches climate change protest

*chuckle*

From The Holy Bible, New Testament, Gospel of Luke:

2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;

2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  

2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  

2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  

2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  

2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

2:17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

2:18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.  

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

…and God bless us, every one.

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.  I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great.  Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere.  Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee.

To all my Republican and Libertarian friends:  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

*note:  I did not create this, nor do I know who did.  Gotta love it though!

General Thanksgiving

By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and

Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness”:

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26^th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our national government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) George Washington

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, as it falls on the anniversary of the signing of the armistice which ended hostilities in World War I.  Major hostitilies were officially ended at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month.  November 11, 1918.  It became officially known as Veterans Day when President Dwight Eisenhower signed the proclamation on October 8, 1954. 

Where it originally commemorated the veterans of World War I, it now serves as a day to remember, reflect, and thank all veterans for their service.

The liberal (”progressive”) left doesn’t want kids to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the FLAG, and heaven forbid if anyone prays or mention’s God in school…

But apparently having kids sing the hopeychangey praises of the Obamessiah?  Ahh, that’s ok.

Just to clarify, it would be equally wrong if kids were being made to heap worshipful praises on a Republican president as well.  Political indoctrination, for any political party, should not be pushed on school children.  To be taught to love and have pride in their country, sure… but absolutely not a politician.

MM has more

From Investor’s Business Daily:

Two of every three practicing physicians oppose the medical overhaul plan under consideration in Washington, and hundreds of thousands would think about shutting down their practices or retiring early if it were adopted, a new IBD/TIPP Poll has found.

The poll contradicts the claims of not only the White House, but also doctors’ own lobby — the powerful American Medical Association — both of which suggest the medical profession is behind the proposed overhaul.

It also calls into question whether an overhaul is even doable; 72% of the doctors polled disagree with the administration’s claim that the government can cover 47 million more people with better-quality care at lower cost.

Fewer doctors, eh?  Is that the ‘change’ you want?

I refer back to The Random-American Healthcare Plan

On a side note, the stock market closed at 9605 today. Eerily, eight years ago, on Sep 11, 2001, it was at 9605.

The biggest story, according to mainstream media reporting, is not the outright glaring holes in Obama’s ‘plan,’ but rather that Republican Congressman Joe Wilson blurted out that President Obama was lying.  Crass?  Yes.  Inappropriate on the floor of Congress?  Yes.  Ultimately?…big freakin’ deal.  Oh, the horror.  By the way, this was shortly after President Obama accused critics of his plan as being liars.  I also don’t recall the media lambasting the Democrats for booing President Bush during the 2005 State of the Union address.

The whole ‘lying’ thing was ALL over the mainstream media today, all day, on nearly every news channel and news website.  Little to nothing about the inaccuracies and incompleteness of President Obama’s speech though.  Little to no questions about just who the hell is expected to pay for this healthcare boondoggle, on top of the existing trillions of dollars of debt and deficits we’re already facing.

Meanwhile, ACORN, a taxpayer-funded group that President Obama once assisted with ‘community organizing’ and pledged have help form his policies (see here, with special attention starting around 1:50), had 11 people arrested yesterday for voter registration fraud.  And today ACORN was exposed as having employees tell an undercover ’prostitute’ and her ‘pimp’ how to swindle taxpayer dollars in order to get housing to run her ‘business.’  Not only that, but the ‘prostitute and pimp’ even got advice from the ACORN employees on how to not get caught running a brothel with underaged illegal immigrant prostitutes.  The ONLY major media outlet to give any substantial coverage to this was Fox News.  The rest of the mainstream media were silent, too busy harping about Congressman Joe Wilson. 

Here is a must-watch clip from Glenn Beck.  Love him or hate him, his reports damn sure make you think.

For the record, ACORN receives taxpayer funding, and as a result of the so-called stimulus may end up receiving up to $8 billion in tax dollars.  I have previously blogged about ACORN many, many, many, many times, and Michelle Malkin and numerous others have written about them extensively.

The question remains, where in the hell is the mainstream media on this?  In my not-so-humble opinion, their failure to report on this taxpayer-funded organization is nothing but malfeasance at the very least.  By the way, just where in the hell is Congress on this and why are they not investigating this group as well?  These questions about ACORN, and why they’re receiving taxpayer dollars, need to be asked immediately.  Sadly, I certainly don’t expect the mainstream media or Congress to do it.  Surely you don’t expect them to actually do their jobs, do you?

ACORN, the SEIU, President Obama, and ‘community organizers”… nuts from the same tree?

*UPDATE 9/12/09*  The two ACORN workers in the video above have been fired.  And yet another video has surfaced, of more ACORN workers in Washington, DC, doing the same exact thing of offering assistance to acquire illegal home loans that would help set up a brothel.  More employees have been fired.

In addition, the Census Bureau has severed their ties with ACORN.  Kudos to the Census Bureau.  ACORN should never have been involved to begin with.

From Census Director Robert Groves:

“It is clear that ACORN’s affiliation with the 2010 census promotion has caused sufficient concern in the general public, has indeed become a distraction from our mission, and may even become a discouragement to public cooperation, negatively impacting 2010 census efforts…

…Unfortunately, we no longer have confidence that our national partnership agreement is being effectively managed through your many local offices.  For the reasons stated, we therefore  have decided to terminate the partnership.”

Read the entire letter.

 Stay up-to-date with all the ACORN shenanigans at BigGovernment.com.

Better than hoped?  Just how low were their expectations of the stimulus package to be able to claim that it’s working better than hoped?

It has heaped trillions of dollars in new spending onto the backs of taxpayers and future generations.  President Obama and other politicians on left had claimed that the stimulus package HAD to be passed, NOW, or unemployment might hit 8%.  Well, here we are, a trillion dollars later, and unemployment is now at 9.7%.  That’s the worst unemployment rate in 26 years.  There have been references to this being a ‘jobless recovery.’  Well, sorry, but that’s bunk.  A recovery without jobs is no recovery at all.

Now we see an increase in the number of Americans on food stamps.  Uh, what was that about the economic recovery again?

From Financial Times:

The number of working Americans turning to free government food stamps has surged as their hours and wages erode, in a stark sign that the recession is inflicting pain on the employed as well as the newly jobless.

…

Less attention has been paid to those still in the workforce, whose incomes are also being squeezed. The average working week is now about 33 hours, the lowest on record, while the number forced to work part-time because they cannot find full-time work has risen more than 50 per cent in the past year to a record 8.8m. Wages and benefits have decelerated.

The food stamp data suggest that “the labour market problems are more significant than you would expect, given just the unemployment rate”, said John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo. “For me it suggests the consumer is not going to rebound or contribute to economic growth for the next year, as the consumer would in a traditional economic recovery.”