News

I am sort of a news junkie.  Cable TV and the Internet were the best things to happen to people like me who can't wait until 6:00 or 10:00 to learn what is going on.  It's kind of hard to believe that once during my lifetime, people would wait for the next newspaper to read about current events.  I remember when Kansas City had both a morning and evening paper.  The KC Times was waiting on the driveway each morning when we woke up.  The KC Star would be delivered around 4:00 PM each afternoon.

It was probably 30-40 years ago the newspaper became a single publication delivered only in the morning.  Then, people were satisfied to read about yesterday's news.  Not so much anymore.  Newspapers across the country are withering.  Many have already gone under.  Only old folks remain loyal to the print media.  I cancelled my subscription a few months ago, proving my relative youth.  A common question I hear whenever I am involved in a technology meeting is "How many still subscribe to the newspaper?"  In a room of nearly 100 people, only a handful of hands go up.  Five years ago, nearly every hand would raise.

My reasons to cancel the subscription were many.  First, the KC Star editorial board is very liberal.  They haven't supported a conservative local politician in years.  They are completely out of touch with the values of their readership.  Second, there was very little I would read in the paper that I didn't already know.  Dilbert and the obituaries were the only sections that would have new content for me.  I can now get that on the Internet.  Third, at $45 every 2 months just to read two sections and the Sunday ads, my tightwaddiness kicked in.  We still buy the Sunday paper at $2 per week.  I was shocked there was no attempt by the newspaper sales force to retain my subscription.  Are they giving up?

While the print media withers, cable news prospers.  Some of the best cable shows are news programs.  Fox News seems to lead the way, thanks to their center-right bias that matches the country's politics.  Occasionally I tune over to MSNBC or CNBC just to see what the libs are talking about.  Their bias is far more left than Fox is right.  A few nights ago I listened for 15 minutes and heard 3 different guests talk about how uneducated the right and their candidates are.  I think that completely discounts lib's charges of bias toward Fox News.

People listen to the news that best represents their values.  Fox News draws more viewers that most network shows during certain time slots.  I think that proves that America is not a centrist or left leaning populous.  We are center-right and moving to the right.  I know that I am thankful that Fox News is successful.  If MSNBC or CNN were the only news networks on cable, I would either watch far less news or vomit a lot more.

2011 Kansas City Chiefs

Expectations among fans is high after the Chiefs unexpected division win in 2010.  This year, anything less than a conference title will be a disappointment.  So can they do it?  Let's look at the preseason for clues.  The defense has been the bright spot.  This year they are getting burnt for long pass plays much less often that last.  They really haven't stopped the opponents first team at all.  But that is the bright spot.

The offense has been awful.  The first team hasn't scored a touchdown, even when given field position twice inside their opponents 10 yard line.  They settled for one field goal.  The offensive line has offered the six million dollar man, Matt Cassell, with absolutely no protection.  He has spent more time on his back that an Independence Boulevard hooker.  The KC coach, Todd Haley, and GM, Scott Pioli, both claim they are not concerned and continue to "work the plan".

Did I mention the schedule?  Brutal.  The final 8 games include 5 with 2010 playoff team and the final 4 teams.  Last year's division title team only played 2 teams that made the playoffs.  A powder puff schedule to be sure.  So what will they do this year?  Smart men with a rudimentary knowledge of professional football will pick them to win 4, no more than 6 games in 2011.  Repeat of a division title would be pure fantasy.

I, however, will pick the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl in 2011.  I see them winning all 16 games due to a series of miracles.  All bad or missed calls will go in their favor, weather conditions will thwart their opponents game plan, fumbles will bounce their way every time, and opposing players will regularly lose their composure in game situations.  That is how the Chiefs will win 16. A series of miracles is the key to the season.

Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, NY Jets, and Chicago, you are all going down to this years Super Bowl Champions.  San Diego, Oakland and Denver, you have no chance.  This is going to be fun.

Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
All the king's horses and all the king's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

But that doesn't mean they won't try.  If the election were held today, Obama and the democrats would lose.  Big.  Unfortunately, the election won't happen for another 14 months.  The Ministry of Truth believes that is plenty of time to put Humpty back together again.

The Ministry of Truth, NBC division continued their efforts today on the morning talk shows.  While hurricane Irene dominated the coverage, NBC felt it was necessary to continually compare the federal government's response to Irene to that during hurricane Katrina.  That is like comparing a thunderstorm to a hurricane.  No, not like, that's actually exactly what they did.  Irene was a dud.  The damage and human suffering caused by Irene was far less than hyped.  Never the less, NBC thought it a good opportunity to bring back images of the human suffering during Katrina as a reminder of what could happen if Obama is replaced by a republican conservative like George Bush. 

The theme of the morning talk shows was hard to miss.  Bush bad, Obama good.  If Obama wasn't there, he couldn't take care of the millions of people in the path of Irene.  I am somewhat amazed they didn't report that Obama stepped out on the back porch of the White House and shouted "Peace be still" to the storm as it passed Washington. 

DS of the Week - Debbie Wasserman Schultz

I just realized the video embed didn't work, so I am re-publishing ...



“The president is in actually remarkably good shape, given that he is still struggling to help pull our economy out of the Republican recession that he inherited. His numbers are still strong,”

DWS is a democratic representative from Florida who recently became the democratic national committee chairwomen.  She is very consistent in her statements.  Everything she says is a lie.

The RealClearPolitics.com chart above illustrates just how badly Obama's job approval ratings have become.  If DWS believes Obama's numbers are good, I can only hope they get better between now and November 2012.

A Weekend with the Little Monsters

Last Friday, Lyndy dropped off the 3 grand kids off at our house for the weekend.  Shortly after, Lyndy and Dan left for Eureka Springs and a short 4 day mini-vacation.  Interestingly enough, the grand children thought that a couple days with Nana, Papa (and Aunt Bubba), followed by a couple more days with Mimi and Papa, as a vacation.  For our two days with the grand kids, we had a few plans for them.  Friday evening we went to Culver's for hamburgers and frozen yogurt.  All 3 kids were in bed by 9PM and we had little trouble getting them to sleep.

Saturday morning began earlier than most Saturdays as the sound of little feet awoke the adults just after 5AM.  That's okay, I naively thought.  We'll just wear them out today and make them beg and plead for bedtime tonight. 

Saturday was a rare perfect summer day in Kansas City, so we left early for the local park.  The grand kids played on all the equipment, expending energy with each minute.  By lunch we decided that is was a good morning's wear down, so we took them to the Dollar Store and then lunch at Wendy's.  The afternoon was spent mainly outside playing.  Watching them run and wrestle convinced me they would soon be tired.

By Saturday evening the grandparents were spent.  The grand kids motored on.  I don't think they can wear down.  We did get a few good pictures before handing them off to their other set of grandparents.

A Contrived Crisis

Every month, households across the nation consciously or unconsciously perform a simple, but necessary budget exercise.  They look at what bills must be paid, their available income, and any extra items they would like to purchase.  They decide how to pay these expenses by setting a priority order.  Families will usually ensure they pay for the house, utilities, food and utilities before deciding whether additional items can be bought.  Businesses do much the same, prioritizing payroll, benefits, materials, and such before making new capital investments. 

Most marginally responsible families stop the spending at or before the money runs out.  Dire consequences result if they were to borrow enough money to pay for both necessities and desires every month.  Nearly every person with a grade school education is smart enough to understand this.  Not so with our current congressional representatives and president.  They ask for an open line of credit so their spending is not limited in any way.

During the recent debt ceiling crisis, Obama and his loyal minions made statements saying that if the debt ceiling was not raised, the United States would default on loans.  They also claimed they could not guarantee paychecks to soldiers or Social Security payments to seniors.  This was a contrived crisis.  Each month the United States takes in enough tax revenue to pay debt service, military payroll and Social Security checks with billions left over.  If the debt ceiling had not been raised and interest payments, paychecks or Social Security were not paid, it would be due to a conscious decision by the Obama administration to pay other bills instead.  In reality, there was zero likelihood of a U.S. credit default.  But using the Raum Emanuel tactic of never letting a crisis go to waste, one was created for the sole purpose of scaring Americans and denigrating the Tea Party.

Obama's behavior is analogous to a family borrowing to pay both necessities and desires, and being denied a new loan because of their irresponsible action.  They then threaten their family that they may not have a home next month because the bank would not loan more money.  The fault is not with the bank.  The problem is their spending habit.  The same is true with our government. 

Now take it a step farther by imagining the bank saying they would loan more money if the family would come up with a plan to live within their means.  The family opts instead to reduce the amount they will increase spending in the future but decides to make no real spending decreases.  Because of the poor spending habits and a refusal to commit to a plan that reforms the destructive behavior, the credit agencies lower this family's credit score.  Now, every dollar they owe will carry a higher interest rate.  Does this convince the family they have a problem?  It should, but instead they blame the credit agency and the bank.

Obama has given lip service to getting the national deficit under control.  Whenever presented with an idea to do so, he resists.  Congressional liberals have acted even worse.  Senator John Kerry called the credit downgrade issued by the S&P ratings service, "the Tea Party downgrade".  Many might believe him, however the downgrade was justified based on Obama and the democrats refusal to accept reduced spending (not a reduction in planned increases) and a balanced budget amendment.

1984 All Over Again

Hello again.  It's me.  I did a good job of containing myself during the contived debt ceiling crisis, but I can't contain myself any longer.

I recently reread the George Orwell book 1984, a futuristic novel about an all powerful Big Brother government of Oceania, with an Inner Party that controls every aspect of its citizen's lives.  While reading it, I was often reminded that Orwell's writings from the 1950's are still relevant today.  I saw many parallels with current American politics.  However, during the past few weeks as liberal democrats and Obama have made ridiculous statements during the debt ceiling negotiations and the credit downgrade that followed, I began to associate those statements to terms Orwell used in his novel.

It became quite clear that our mainstream media is equivalent to the Orwellian Ministry of Truth.  Just as this ministry sought to control all news and history for the benefit of the Big Brother and Inner Party, the mainstream media seeks to ensure the our crippled president Obama is insulated from obvious truths.  His "version" of the truth is always reported in a positive light and never challenged with obvious facts.  Opponents are ridiculed as inflexible and uncompromising.

But the 1984 parallels go beyond the media.  Orwell used the terms doublethink and newspeak to explain how the Inner Party sought to control thought and language in the fictional state of Oceania.  Doublethink is the state of mind where 2 mutually exclusive facts are both believed.  Big Brother (Obama) and the Ministry of Truth (mainstream media) expect their subjects to use doublethink.  How else can they believe the evil pro-business republicans wouldn't participate in  finding a solution to the debt ceiling contrived crisis, when in fact they were the only group who passed not one, but two bills to raise the debt ceiling and sent them on to the Senate only to be tabled by the democrats.  The first of these bills was called Cap, Cut and Balance and was a serious plan that would have cut real spending levels (not just the rate of spending increases) and forced congress to take up a balanced budget amendment this year.  To believe the republicans did not participate, one must engage in doublethink.

We also see examples of newspeak.  In the novel, Orwell introduces newspeak as the official government sanctioned language of Oceania.  The newspeak vocabulary eliminates all words that detrimental to the Inner Party.  In the newspeak language, "tax increases" would be eliminated in favor of "revenue enhancements".  In Oceania, Orwell's Inner Party also promote class warfare by equating "capitalists" as the devil overthrown by Big Brother so that all citizens could prosper.  Wow.  All you need do is exchange "millionaires and billionaires" for "capitalist" and the parallel is frightening.

So when you hear Obama and the democrats tell us there is no spending problem, just a need to get millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share, (double)think of 1984 and Big Brother.