Prison Inmates Get Stimulus Checks

More fraud with the Stimulus money – at a tune of around $425,000 to around 1,700 inmates. In government terms this is chump change, but is there any oversight with the program? As a manager I would ask, “How many more people that should not have received money, did.”

Is this a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, probably not, but it is a symptom of a larger organizational problem.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Actual Stimulus Program Almost Denied

All government ideas are not ALL bad.  I’m not sure I would advocated a “Cash For Clunkers” program if the economy was humming along, but it seems like a decent idea. Actually giving money back to the citizens (some are actually tax payers) while selling new cars.  Forget the fact that it will benefit Obama Motors or that buying a new car is a horrible investment, this seemed like a great idea, right?  Well, maybe not.

Early on Friday we learned that only a couple of days after launching the “Cash for Clunkers”  program, it was out of money.  They only allotted one billion to reimburse dealerships – a very small sum in government figures.  Fortunately on Friday afternoon Mr. Obama got involved and infused the program with another 2 billion.  I say throw a whole bunch of that unused Stimulus money into this program and actually do some stimulating instead of creating signs and other useless spending.

The consensus of many dealers is that this program has worked.  They have had activity like they have not seen in quite some time.  This is what we see when the government gives back money to the citizens to actually spend.  What would happen if the government took less of our money at the front end, cut THEIR bloated spending and let us do what we want with our hard earned money instead of funding an unending bottomless pit that is government?  That would end this recession in a heart beat and growth would skyrocket. 

Again, like so many of my rants, I’m not holding my breath.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

The Stimulus Bill is a Big Hit with the Unemployed!

Many of us shook our heads as Congress and the President signed the “Stimulus” bill into law.  It was obvious to myself and many other true Conservatives that this was a gateway to further economic problems.  Unfortunately, Washington politicians see the loss of votes or bad press instead of what is really good for the country. 

I shamlessly stole this video from a post on The Great Illuminator – one of the best sites out there in my opinion.

A penny for your thoughts?

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

New Ice Cream Flavor – Baraky Road?

I ran across this new idea for a Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream flavor in honor of our 44th President, Barak Obama.  It’s called Baraky Road. 

Barocky Road is a blend of half Vanilla, half Chocolate, and surrounded by
Nuts and Flakes.

The Vanilla portion of the mix is not openly advertised and usually denied
as an ingredient.

The Nuts and Flakes are all very bitter and hard to swallow.

The cost is $100.00 per scoop.

When purchased it will be presented to you in a large beautiful cone, but
then the Ice Cream is taken away and given to the person in line behind you.

Thus you are left with an empty wallet, no change, holding an empty cone,
with no hope of getting any Ice Cream.

Are you feeling stimulated?

 

Wish I had thought of this.  It was sent to me in an email by the greatest man I know, my father. 

Rob’s Rant

US Dollar Worth Nothing?

Call me extremist, call me out of touch, maybe you’re right.  Of course, I think you would be misguided, but you are welcome to your opinion.  Below is a great video from Glenn Beck explaining the latest Federal “Stimulus” money.  As I have been saying for some time, along with other “kooks” is that we don’t have this money – we’re printing it.  The presses are working overtime to put this money out into the system.

Eventually this reckless spending will catch up to the dollar, making it virtually worthless.  Remember, the US Dollar is backed by nothing other than the confidence in the US Dollar and our system of government.  If that goes away, inflation WILL spiral out of control and the economy WILL collapse.

Welcome to Monday morning.  Hope the rest of the week is great!

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

 

P.S. Welcome to Monday morning.  Hope the rest of the week is great!

New Cabinet Position Announced: Leprechaun & Pot ‘O Gold Affairs

The libertarian in me shuns additional government programs, but I really think that this new Cabinet position can really make a huge difference to our country.   The new Cabinet position is the Division of Leprechaun and Pot ‘O Gold Affairs.  I am hoping this will really help out our financial problems we have in the country.

According to the Irelands Eye:

If caught by a mortal, the Leprechaun will promise great wealth if allowed to go free. He carries two leather pouches.    In one there is a silver shilling, a magical coin that returns to the purse each time it is paid out.

I see this as a huge opportunity for the U.S. Government.  Instead of taxing the productive electorate to death to pay for all the new (and old) social programs, let’s find these Leprechans and get this leather pouch that gives out silver shillings!  What a concept.

We could send the military to all areas with rainbows and other places to help hunt down the Leprechaun’s.  Maybe this could be “Operation Gold Pouch”. 

In all seriousness, this may be the only way for us to get out of the spending frenzy going on in Washington. 

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

P.S. For those of you who are still thinking there will be a new Cabinet Position called Leprechaun & Pot ‘O Gold Affairs, here’s a great link for you.

New Porkulus Logo

My friends at The Great Illuminator have designed an awesome new logo for the Department of Porkulus Affairs (my name for these folks).   This logo is in response to a contest on Michelle Malkin’s site to design a logo to combat the one unveiled by the “Recovery.gov” folks. 

All I can say is Awesome!

Mortgage Bailout Boondoggle

I’m not sure I can be ticked off anymore.  It seems that every day brings some new horror from Washington.  If George Bush was as incompetent as Obama, he would have been thrown out of the White House by now.  Of course, as it is, the Kool-Aid drinkers think Obama is the second coming.  (Have we checked is hands for the nail scars?)

We have not heard that the Government will now be bailing out people who are “under water” on their mortgages.  Tell me again why we are perpetuating the problem.  What are these people learning?  It’s kind of like that kid we all knew growing up that was always in trouble but had parents with the right connections to get him out of trouble.  Usually those people grow up to be complete idiots expecting to be bailed out at the sign of trouble (i.e. not learning to deal with life).

Now, Mr. Obama has proposed $75 Billion to assist people to stay in their homes by allowing assistance to mortgage holders to rework the loan terms and the courts to force it if it comes to that point.  Do we need this?  Where is the responsibility on the part of the home owner who agreed to the terms of the loan when they got the house?  Why can’t the home owner go to the mortgage lender and work out some type of deal?  Some money is better than no money, right?.  Do we really need government intervention on this problem?

I guess the point of my ramblings is that I’m tired.  Tired of seeing my hard earned money that I turn over to the government in taxes thrown down the bottomless pit of all these worthless bailouts and social programs.  Like it was when we were children, we need to be able to fail and learn our lesson.  Without  those hard lessons, we’ll soon be back at the plate asking for more.  When will this nightmare end???

Of Course, that is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Source: http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/mar2009/db2009034_993400.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index+-+temp_top+story

House Banking Committee Video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPSDnGMzIdo

St. Louis Tea Party Extravaganza

I often go and do things that I know many people will just not do. I’ll go out of my way to see the biggest ball of twine, ride that great roller coaster or eat some weird and interesting concoction at some dive diner I saw on a TV program.

Today was no different. I had the day off of work and could have just stayed home with the kids and played around the house (something I prefer even more than ranting). I decided to do something different.

Today was the Tea Party Protest around the country where normal everyday people joined together and actually protested the massive government intrusion we have been seeing for quite some time. So, I dragged my kids out into the cold (not blizzard cold, just cold) and went down to the Gateway Arch grounds for the protest. Around 500-600 people did the same as I – so maybe there is still hope for our republic. Everything was peaceful and being around that many like minded people was really a neat thing.

To some this seems very strange, but I believe that there is not enough education of children about the history of the US and how we got to this point in our short history. The patriots in colonial times had their own tea party protesting the exorbitant tax on tea by dumping a whole shipload of tea into the Boston Harbor (today this would be like a $10 tax on a cup of Starbucks). We are at the point right now. The “Stimulus Package” along with all of the other boondoggle giveaway programs are changing the landscape of our country forever. This has been tried before back in the 30’s – first with Hoover and then with FDR. Hoover started us down the path and FDR prolonged our long national nightmare for many years (i.e. The Great Depression for those of you who don’t habla) by involving Government in the jobs business. We’re heading down the same road right now.

Businesses need to fail (yes, even banks) for things to really come back to normal. That’s the only way we will get out of this problem. More government programs = more government spending = more taxes on the producers. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to provide for all the lazy people. Failure leads to success.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

We Don’t Need no Stinking Green Card!

As the boondoggle affectionately called the “Stimulus Bill” goes to the President for signing, I thought it would be a good idea to pick out a couple of the most egregious ideas that made it in the bill and a couple that did not that should have.

Anyone who knows me has heard me rant about the proliferation of illegal immigrants, mostly from Mexico, who come to this country for a more opportunity. The only problem is that they are, as the moniker suggests, ILLEGAL. For those of you who didn’t get it, that means Not Legal.

Probably the best way to curb this huge drain on our resources is to punish those employers who hire illegals to do that work “that Americans won’t do”. (If you don’t have money and the government is not assisting, it’s surprising what you will do to survive). A provision was introduced in the original bill was called E-Verify – mandating businesses to verify citizenship of their workers. An excerpt from an AP story from yesterday follows:

“Negotiators dropped a House provision targeting illegal immigrant workers. The House wanted to require anyone getting a contract paid for with stimulus money to use the government’s E-Verify program to ensure employees are citizens or immigrants permitted to work. Many businesses, civil liberties groups and immigration advocates say E-Verify is a flawed program. Others say the tool is needed to control illegal immigration.”

Nice to see that our elected officials have the interest of the American Worker top of mind.

Of course, that’s just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gdDrWnoMueqVFI-Uo1ClxVZur22AD96A92LO1

Obama Throws A Fit on National TV

I have two small children. They throw fits from time to time, not many, but they are kids. It happens.

I witnessed a site I’ve never seen before, a President of the United States actually throw a fit on national TV. This was the case tonight with President Obama speaking to the House Democrats at the Democratic Issues Conference in Williamsburg, VA. Embarrassing is the word I use.

The whole talk was meant to push many of the Senate Republicans and some Senate Democrats to pass the “Stimulus Bill.” It is the humble opinion of this poster that Mr. Obama flat out lied to the American public. During the tirade (my words), it was pointed out that this bill included no earmarks, that it was all meant to get the economy back into shape and on the road to recovery. The fact is that this is the biggest boondoggle in the history of the US, maybe the world. No earmarks? What in the world is all that pork?

If this bill is passed, this will definitely prolong the economic slump by throwing money at non-stimulus items – no doubt payback for all those who pushed for him in November. Don’t believe me, go to http://www.stimuluswatch.org/ for a total rundown of everything in this “Bill”.

We are quickly going down the road to total socialism. This is the first step to the end of the liberty we enjoy. Hope all you Kool-Aid drinkers enjoy the ride.

Of course, this is just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/05/senators-struggle-steer-stimulus-package-obama-urges-action/

GOP Governors Cave on Stimulus Bill

Looks like the GOP Governors are pushing for their part of the stimulus bill, caving on their core principles. This really outlines the greed of the states wanting their piece of the pie, regardless of the real damage it will do to the country down the road.

What a shame and a travesty.

Of course, that’s just my opinion.

Rob’s Rant

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i7-R1kzxgbD531An5glFlllGZVvAD962B5480