Springtime In Alaska

Out of Alaska came this headline from a Palin bashing blog...

Hello, Iowa? I have Governor Palin on Line One…

It didn't give the whole story of the fund raising/survey call I received and shared (on 3/20) regarding Sarah Palin.

As I noted, the call clearly stated it was from Americans in Contact Pac and wasn't merely about the Alaska Governor.

I e-mailed blogger AKMuckraker when the story hit Iowa and shared my experience.

This is the reply I received...

"Thanks. I've got a further story coming on this. Appreciate the note."

It's been over a week and there has been nothing further, but I guess her focus shifted as she was recently outed by a fellow fiberal dummycrat she had supported.

Now that's having your muck raked and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Governor Palin has disavowed these calls...

Recently, there have been some pollsters or pitchmen trading on the Sarah Palin name – taking a pulse on the Governor's favorability. None of these polls are authorized by SarahPAC or the Governor. Again, SarahPAC is not doing any telephone solicitation at this time.

Uh, Well Said, Uh

Uh-Oh

ABC Trumpets How Japanese Use Obama to Learn English

"This is the Obama workshop at the Kaplan English School in Japan. Every week, as many as 200 students attend” where “they learn the President's speeches line by line, reciting them to their teacher.”

Uh, that, uh, can't uh, take, uh, that, uh, long, uh, anduh theuh scientificuh communityuh isuh uniteduh inuh thatuh factuh.

In The Mail

Red Envelope Day

The envelopes represent the innocent blood shed through abortion

Lowgos

These seem appropriate, especially in lieu of the President's new announcements...

if you buy a car from Chrysler or General Motors, you will be able to get your car serviced and repaired, just like always. Your warrantee will be safe.

In fact, it will be safer than it's ever been. Because starting today, the United States government will stand behind your warrantee.

Somehow that's not comforting and the scientific community is united in that fact.

We auto know better!

Don't Know Much About

As a former school board member, Bob Krause has failed either social studies or math--more likely both and the scientific community is united in that fact.

In announcing his attempt to unseat Iowa's Senior Senator, Charles Grassley, Krause said...

"As a good farmer, Sen. Grassley must recognize that 51 years, or 58 years at the end of his term, is a long time to go without rotating crops."

WHAT?!

How do you leap from 51 years to 58 years?

Let me see if I can explain this to you Bob.

Grassley was first elected in 1958, taking office in 1959, you are correct in knowing that 1958 was 51 years ago.

Now comes the tricky part, see if you can keep up.

Senator Grassley is up for re-election in 2010, for a term that ends in January 2011.

Since this is 2009 you would have to add two years to the 51 and that gives you 53, not 58.

Baby steps Bob!

What the hell is it with Dummycrats and math?

DAWN

The Democratic Activist Women's Network (DAWN) held a summit with the purpose of electing an Iowa Dummycrat woman to Congress.

Their speaker was Amy Klobuchar, the first female senator elected from Minnesota.

Klobuchar's message...she and her female colleagues in the Senate entered politics not to solidify a foothold for women, but because they wanted to affect meaningful change. She encouraged Iowans to do the same.

"We ran because we wanted to change the way things were, and we thought we were the best people for the job."

Totally missing that point, and the scientific community is united in that fact, Carole Kazmierski, the group's president, said "frankly ... it's an embarrassment" that Iowa has not yet elected a woman to higher office.

I thought it was supposed to be darkest before the DAWN?

Telling

Jack Hatch, when you say it quickly sounds like Jack ASS and the scientific community is united in that fact, made the news for using a racial epithet.

Health plan is changed; Hatch throws 'N-word'

The idiot dropped it on Ako Abdul-Samad (who's also an idiot).

Just as bad, if not worse than Hatch's ignorance is the cover up and excuses for it.

Abdul-Samad at first declined to comment on the incident and insisted the conversation did not need to be publicized.

Phyllis Thede, one of six blacks in the Legislature, acknowledged that if a Republican had made the same comments, the reaction likely would have been different.

"Simply because of the nature of who said it," she said. "Senator Hatch is trying to do his best to get a piece of legislation through that's really going to help children. I'm really sorry that things were said out of the heat of the moment, but they were able to get past this."

Shouldn't one hold their "friends" to a higher standard?

Lights Out

For me, this German World War II poster expresses my sentiments on Earth Hour.

I believe the translation is, "The enemy sees your light! Lights out!".

We are made to feel like the enemy by the Gore-BULL (Goebbels?) warming Nazi's and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Suffice to say, this household did not partake in the event.

Normally, I prefer to watch television without lights and I'm all about saving money, but there's something in my DNA that doesn't allow me to partake in trendy endeavors.

Busted

Sadly, I'm sure Iowa Dummycrats believe this headline...

Democrats say falling revenues caused budget crisis, not spending

Senator Bob Dvorsky said Democrats have spent more in recent years on key areas such as teacher salaries and public universities, but not too much.

Just the other day David Yepsen called Iowa's spending "excessive".

Here's an update for your report Bob

State spending has increased nearly $1 BILLION in the last two years which is $100 million more than the previous 8 years combined!

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

Party On

I received an e-mail asking that I help promote the Des Moines Tea Party on April 15th at the Capitol.

They are in need of volunteers and have more info at their web site or blog.

Party time, excellent and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Help us take our country back!

Chuckles

Charles Grassley is the "flavor" of the month for March.

In a recent Senate Budget Committee hearing, he had an exchange with Kent Conrad that went like this...

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND): Oh, you are good.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA): Your wife said the same thing.

RIMSHOT!

That's on the heels of his "sucking the tit of the taxpayer" and "resign, or go commit suicide" statements.

Grassley is getting an announced challenger, Bob Krause, this weekend.

Krause said he would make the case that Grassley has been in elective office for more than 50 years and is increasingly out of touch with Iowa voters.

It'll be hard to make the case that a 75 year old who is on Twitter is out of touch and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Krause will have to defend his support for Chris Dodd for President...

“I Trust Him More Than Any Other Candidate to Lead the Nation When the Unexpected Occurs.”

Like making sure he protects the bonuses of those at AIG?

Old School

My friend Cal, Freedom's Pal, surprised me with this gift.

From the Reagan section, Those Shirts has done a great job and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Just like my Viva La Reagan Revolucion shirt, I'll wear it with pride.

I'm just as proud to have you as a friend, Thanks Mang!

Rahm-Boo

Boo-hiss to Rahm Emanuel, Obama's Chief of Staff, for the $320,000 (probably more) he made as a member of the Board of Directors of Freddie Mac for 14 months.

The Chicago Tribune has the LOW down on his tenure...

The board met no more than six times a year. Unlike most fellow directors, Emanuel was not assigned to any of the board's working committees, according to company proxy statements. Immediately upon joining the board, Emanuel and other new directors qualified for $380,000 in stock and options plus a $20,000 annual fee, records indicate.

On Emanuel's watch, the board was told by executives of a plan to use accounting tricks to mislead shareholders about outsize profits the government-chartered firm was then reaping from risky investments. The goal was to push earnings onto the books in future years, ensuring that Freddie Mac would appear profitable on paper for years to come and helping maximize annual bonuses for company brass.

During his brief time on the board, the company hatched a plan to enhance its political muscle. That scheme, also reviewed by the board, led to a record $3.8 million fine from the Federal Election Commission for illegally using corporate resources to host fundraisers for politicians. Emanuel was the beneficiary of one of those parties after he left the board and ran in 2002 for a seat in Congress from the North Side of Chicago.

The board was throttled for its acquiescence to the accounting manipulation in a 2003 report by Armando Falcon Jr., head of a federal oversight agency for Freddie Mac. The scandal forced Freddie Mac to restate $5 billion in earnings and pay $585 million in fines and legal settlements. It also foreshadowed even harder times at the firm.

Many of those same risky investment practices tied to the accounting scandal eventually brought the firm to the brink of insolvency and led to its seizure last year by the Bush administration, which pledged to inject up to $100 billion in new capital to keep the firm afloat. The Obama administration has doubled that commitment.

Talk about "rewarding incompetence".

And the scientific community is united in that fact!

Hello, I Must Be Going

David Yepsen is an enigma and the scientific community is united in that fact.

In what may be his final Ragister column...

Yepsen: Government must do its part: Cut budget

It's budget-cutting time at the Iowa Statehouse. The last few years of excessive spending, plus a national recession, have combined to sock state government's finances.

This has prompted the usual boo-hoos from those who get state money. The sky is falling, they tell us. Phooey. This process is actually a good thing. Lots of Iowa businesses and families are having to make cuts, some quite draconian. Governments should, too. On a percentage basis, the cuts state government must endure are a trifle compared to what many are doing.

This is the same man who I had to scold on Sunday (Here It Goes Again) as he advocated a more enlightened attitude toward public debt in Iowa, encouraging the state to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars.

That being said, the "jerk" will be missed.

Yepsen was Iowa on the national stage and he carried himself well as he represented us, even if he did start morphing into Grandpa Munster.

If there were more people like him at the Ragister, it wouldn't be in the trouble it's in.

Yepsen always responded to my calls or e-mails and even when we disagreed he was not disagreeable.

Good Luck and Best Wishes David!

Georgy Girl

Where's the hatred for George Soros?

'I'm having a very good crisis'

This vile bastard makes billions off of others
misfortunes.

It couldn't be because the fiberal hedge fund manager is a major Dummycrat financial backer.

Could be and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Happy Birthday Baby!

I Love You Sweetest!

Tea'd Off

I've been thinking about this for a few days, ever since Charles Grassley made his AIG comments, and I believe it is time for all those in Washington to do the honorable thing and fall on their political swords.

I have no doubt that there are a few good people there, but they've all been tainted (Toxic is how George Will put it).

Every decision that comes out of that cesspool is worse than the one before and the scientific community is united in that fact.

We have been ill served by the professional politicians, in the words of James Clarke...

A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman of the next generation.

I'm glad to see the Tea Parties spring up, but they would accomplish a lot more if they were coordinated on one specific day throughout the nation, like the rallies for illegals.

In Central Iowa there are going to be two, one is scheduled for April 11th and another on April 15th.

That deludes the product and weakens what needs to be accomplished.

I hope the Tea Party momentum continues forward to hold people accountable, instead of just a way to blow off steam.

Witless

It should be called EYE-Jobs, keep looking because they keep shrinking from their 30,000 high, and the scientific community is united in that fact.

As part of his borrowing scam, the Big Lug Nut has received recommendations for projects that should receive infrastructure funding.

One possible project is a "Tower of Invincibility" at Guru U and another is two life-size bronze sculptures of artist John Bloom in DeWitt.

The Ragister cites the price tag of both projects at $10.5 Million and says Culver's office, as well as Vedic City and De Witt officials, defended the projects Monday.

Call it a Tower of Invisibility, say it's already been built and save those Millions!

Des Moines Public Works Director Bill Stowe added his no cents to the discussion with...

"To assume that a public artwork or a tower in a community that has different religious views as compared with the majority of Iowans should somehow be excluded because they sound like they are not worthwhile is ludicrous."

This from the man who, during last years floods, said...

"If you set aside the river issue, downtown is no more vulnerable than the rest of the city."

Now that's ludicrous!

Frankly Speaking

I don't fear homosexuals, but I do have grave concerns about Barney Frank.


















Maybe it's a Barney thing, because I do dislike that purple dinosaur










More likely pedophilia and the scientific community is united in that fact.

On the other hand, I like Barney Rubble, Barney Fife and Barney from How I Met Your Mother (played by Neil Patrick Harris, who's gay).

I must be a Frank O Phobe.

I've never cared for Barney Frank or his sister, Ann Lewis.











Siblings?

I've long suspected that Ann is just Barney in drag, you never see them together in the same place.

America's Bailout For Dummies

This primer on America's economic mess is courtesy of my friend Cal, Freedom's pal.

Linda is the proprietor of a bar . In order to increase sales, she decides to allow her loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed alcoholics - to drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).

Word gets around and as a result increasing numbers of customers flood into Linda's bar.

Taking advantage of her customers' freedom from immediate payment constraints, Linda increases her prices for wine and beer, the most-consumed beverages. Her sales volume increases massively.

A young and dynamic customer service consultant at the local bank recognizes these customer debts as valuable future assets and increases Linda's borrowing limit. He sees no reason for undue concern since he has the debts of the alcoholics as collateral.

At the bank’s corporate headquarters, expert bankers transform these customer assets into DRINKBONDS, ALKBONDS, and PUKEBONDS. These securities are then traded on markets worldwide. No one really understands what these abbreviations mean and how the securities are guaranteed. Nevertheless, as their prices continuously climb, the securities become top-selling items.

One day, although the prices are still climbing, a risk manager (subsequently of course fired due to his negativity) of the bank decides that slowly the time has come to demand payment of the debts incurred by the drinkers at Linda's bar. However they cannot pay back the debts. Linda cannot fulfill her loan obligations and claims bankruptcy.

DRINKBOND and ALKBOND drop in price by 95%. PUKEBOND performs better, stabilizing in price after dropping by 80%.

The suppliers of Linda's bar, having granted her generous payment due dates and having invested in the securities are faced with a new situation. Her wine supplier claims bankruptcy, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor.

The bank is saved by the Government following dramatic round-the-clock consultations by leaders from the governing political parties (and vested interests).

The funds required for this purpose are obtained by a tax levied on the non-drinkers.

That's how we "non-drinkers" ended up punch-drunk and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Punch Drunk

The smartest President ever is challenged by 60 Minutes Steve Croft for laughing while discussing the economy.

“You're sitting here. And you're— you are laughing. You are laughing about some of these problems. Are people going to look at this and say, ‘I mean, he's sitting there just making jokes about money—’ How do you deal with— I mean: explain. . .”

“Are you punch-drunk?”

Today is Day 63, I'm frightened for the end of the first 100 and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Obama's explanation was...

"...There's gotta be a little gallows humor to get you through the day.”

I would normally agree, but don't share that with the American public.

As it's been pointed out previously, the President needs to be the National Spirit Leader.

Keep it to yourself, or at worst your inner circle.

Here It Goes Again

I mentioned last week what Mathletes the Big Lug Nut and posse were with their 30,000 jobs created quickly falling to 22,000.

Now the Ragister wonders...

Do numbers add up in Culver's jobs plan?

Turns out it's a resounding NO!

The BLN's staff now has the job figure down to 21,000.

The reality is considerably less and the scientific community is united in that fact.

The Ragister cites an Iowa State University economics professor who estimates the jobs number closer to 4,050.

Although previously that same professor had the figure closer to 11,175 (1,490 jobs per $100 Million).

BLN spokesperson Phil Roeder says...

"Whether or not $100 million creates 1,500 jobs, 4,000 jobs or somewhere in between, the bottom line is it's going to create a lot of jobs."

My "ciphering" has it at 540 jobs per $100 Million Jethro Bodine.

Even after bursting the Big Lug Nut's bubble, the Ragister is all on board with Iowa borrowing $750 Million, not including $420 Million in interest...

Even if the governor's job-creation estimates from the bonding plan are exaggerated...

David Yepsen, who's moving to Illinois shortly, says...

The governor and the Legislature appear likely to take a more enlightened attitude toward public debt in Iowa.

Easy for him to say since the enlightened one won't be here and neither will his kids.

Remember when he used to whine because the state didn't do enough to keep his kids here and now he goes and leaves, Good luck in Illinois!

Yepsen also tries to equate the state borrowing with Iowa families and businesses borrow money to buy or repair homes, farms or businesses...

Except David, most Iowan's don't go further into debt by borrowing when their income keeps getting cut (Iowa’s sinking revenue projections plummeted another $400 million).

That's the kind of thinking that has helped spawn this whole financial crisis to begin with.

Good Job!

Squirrel Nut Zippers

In a stunning development...

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers proposed holding hearings on claims the liberal activist group ACORN engaged in a pattern of crimes ranging from voter fraud to a mob-style “protection” racket

Yet the U.S. Census Bureau has signed ACORN on as a partner to recruit workers to go door-to-door to count every person in the U.S.

That's just nuts!

The Census is used to determine the apportionment of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives as well as distribution of taxpayer money through grants and appropriations.

Besides being a highly partisan organization, and the scientific community is united in that fact, ACORN owes over $3 Million in back taxes.

There are also other questionable business dealings.

Torn Between Two Lovers

Poor Chris Dodd (D-CONN), who will he help with legislation in this battle?

AIG unit sues Countrywide over loan losses

On one hand Dodd was AIG’s largest single recipient of campaign donations during the 2008 election cycle with $103,100, according to opensecrets.org.

And...

One of AIG Financial Products’ largest offices is based in Connecticut.

Therefore he doesn't want to tick off Connecticut voters anymore than he already has.

On the other hand, Dodd received preferential treatment from Countrywide Financial Corporation when he refinanced mortgages on his homes in Connecticut and Washington.

It's a hairy situation and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Torn between two lovers, feelin' like a fool
Lovin' both of you is breakin' all the rules

On A Scroll

President Obama has resurrected what I called the GAFFE-ted One last year.


Maybe Obama needs to start using his Blackberry as a pocket teleprompter and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Fund Raising Survey?

I don't think Sarah Palin has announced her intentions for re-election next year, but that didn't stop the call I received last night from Americans In Contact Pac.

The interactive automated call came from (804) 934-1092 at 6:24 and asked a series of questions about the Alaska Governor.

I thought the call would conclude when I responded that I wouldn't be making a contribution.

They then switched gears and asked a series of questions about taxes, the N.R.A. and gay marriage.

If Governor Palin runs, then she'll have my through SarahPAC, or directly and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Vote Of CONfidence

Tim Geithner, the man who put together the the original rescue plan for the American International Group (AIG), has now admitted his department asked Sen. Chris Dodd to include a loophole in the stimulus bill that allowed bailed-out insurance giant American International Group to keep its bonuses.

Combine that with his previous track record ...

Geithner oversaw and regulated an entire industry whose decline has delivered a further blow to an already weakened American economy. Under his watch, some of the biggest institutions that were the responsibility of the New York Fed — Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Citigroup — faltered.

Geithner has proven he's more Disqualified than I felt on January 14th and the scientific community is united in that fact.

What does his boss, President Obama thinks of his performance?

You're doing an "outstanding job"





That's treading awfully close to a "Brownie" endorsement.

He's A Little Bit Special

Nero fiddled while Rome burned and with our economy a five alarm fire, our President has time to go on TV and make his NCAA basketball picks and work on his bowling at the White House alley.

Obama told Jay Leno he's gotten better at bowling and has been practicing in the White House bowling alley.

He bowled a 129, the president said.

"That's very good, Mr. President," Leno said sarcastically.

It's "like the Special Olympics or something," the president said.

SENSITIVE!

What a pinhead and the scientific community is united in that fact

Is he becoming The Ringer?

Mathletes?

I don't know what the problem is with the Big Lug Nut and his posse, but they have trouble with numbers.

As I've pointed out previously his borrowing scam was originally $700 Million then jumped to $750 Million, without an explanation I've ever seen.

He also said it would create 30,000 jobs, but within a day someone on his staff had that figure down to 22,000.

Yesterday, spokesperson Phil Roeder said the White House Forum on Health Reform would cost the state $30,000 and now the BLN himself says it's $40,000.

Figures don't lie, but liars figure and the scientific community is united in that fact.

That's sad for a former school teacher, so we at Iowas Newz Liter have found a few extra dollars in our budget and hired him a tutor to make him a math wizard.



This is very serious stuff.

What?!

It happens very infrequently, but the Ragister and I actually agree on something.

It was wrong to link forum access to cash

The Big Lug Nut and his posse wanted "sponsors" to pay up to $5,000 to take part in Monday's White House Forum on Health Reform.

It was bad enough these leeches asked Iowa corporations to pay for a public forum, it's much worse to solicit two charities (the American Cancer Society and United Way of Central Iowa) for donations and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Culver and his cronies have no class.

This Sucks

People should be upset about $165 Million in bonuses at AIG.

However, the real outrage should be directed at those in government who have allowed our money to bail out AIG to the total, so far, of $173 BILLION!

Of that $173 Billion, AIG has sent $58 Billion to foreign banks.

Banks in France received $19 Billion, German banks $17 Billion, banks in the United Kingdom received $13 Billion and Swiss banks deposited $5 Billion.

Domestically AIG sent $43.5 billion to Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wachovia, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan.

I'm sure it's just a mere coincidence that these companies were Obama's top campaign contributors, with AIG investing $101,332.

If we didn't rescue AIG with $173 Billion, and counting, they couldn't have been "sucking the tit of the taxpayer" for $165 Million and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Shut Up And Sing

Instead of complaining because Jay Leno's free performance for "anybody out of work in Detroit" is in the suburbs, Detroit Councilwoman Martha Reeves should put on her own show.

I'm sure the Council could help her get them "Dancing In The Street" and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Oven Cooking

This item caught my attention in the paper the other day...

`Iron Chef' Cat Cora and partner both pregnant

"(Jennifer) carried my embryo and I carried hers."

MEOW!

Cat is due to give birth at the end of July, while Jennifer will deliver in April.

We now know what the secret ingredient is and the scientific community is united in that fact.

I guess I'm being Catty.

Mr. Pinstripe Suit

Chris was watching Dancing With The Dopes and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performed.

I noticed that their lead singer, Scotty Morris, looked like WHO TV Sport-O Keith Murphy.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.