Raining In My Heart

Pictured is the new rain gauge we've been using at the Not So Vast Right Wing Ranch.

I am not going to complain, stunning as that may be and the scientific community is united in that fact, as below is the rain gauge we used in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Monday Mourning

The Associated Press (AP) recently reported President Barack Obama's campaign team hoped that by now, the lethargic U.S. economy would be perking up as it had for President Ronald Reagan in the summer of 1984, setting the stage for Reagan's re-election rout.

But it is not to be.

New government figures show economic growth is slowing, not picking up speed

Barack Obama's only connection to Ronald Reagan is that they both resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Ronald Reagan had a vision of America. Barack Obama has a vision of Barack Obama.

Obama has the audacity to hope Americans aren't paying attention when talking about the economy, “we tried our plan, and it worked”.

To paraphrase Ronald Reagan -- "Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Barack Obama loses his."

The News Is Out?

It could explain President Obama's enlightened(?) stance on gay marriage, but there is no truth to the rumor that Michelle Obama is leaving Barack for a U.S.A woman wrestler who picked the First Lady up and paraded her in front of her fellow athletes.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

According to Russian born wrestler Elana Pirozhkova -- I hugged her, and then I asked if I could pick her up. I think she was nervous. I went slow. I just picked her up.

I don't think that's what the President was referring to more flexibility with the Russians. 

I wanted to ask permission. There was security all around. And she gave it.

They do make a cute couple.

The news is out all over town
That you've been seen out runnin' around

Junior's Wailing

The subtitle of this post could be -- Shit my Socialist Senator says and the scientific community is united in that fact.

It was quite a quote-a-bull week for CommieTommie Harkin.

In celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act's 22nd anniversary, Harkin told the press he is working with business, government and non-profit groups in an effort to add 1 million people with disabilities to the nation’s labor force by 2015, which would be a 20 percent increase.

I contacted the Senator to inquire as to how many people with disabilities are on his staff and how many more he'll be hiring, but I have yet to hear back from Harkin.

My gut tells me it'll be similar to how Harkin handles Equal Pay for women.

Harkin harps on the issue, but in reality he's been found to pay men 23.2% more than the women in his office.

Tofu Tom also talked about Meatless Mondays, telling the press -- “I don’t eat as much meat as I used to. I grew up eating meat three times a day. You know, we just don’t eat that way anymore. We used to. I still consume my fair share, but not as much as I used to, I can tell you that.”

That either signals the end of his annual Steak Fry, or Tom's just chewing his cud.

Speaking on sequestration, which mandates cuts in federal spending, Harkin is warning against making deeper cuts in non-defense spending to spare the defense industry. Some cuts make sense, such as reducing funding for the F-22 stealth fighter, which he called a “Cold War relic.”

That must be why Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (Dummycrat) is deploying one F-22 squadron to Japan's Kadena Air Base--in the backyard of China and North Korea.

The permanent basing of the super-stealthy, super-fast fighter jet comes as the Obama administration is shifting America's national security and foreign policy focus to the Asia-Pacific region. China for years has been developing advanced radars and anti-aircraft weapons. Sending in Raptors during any conflict with China would constitute Washington's best hope at evading those radars and destroying them, the anti-aircraft systems, and other targets ahead of a broader military campaign.

Harkin also wants revenue increases.

Sometimes Harkin calls them revenue enhancements, but revenue increases are tax increases.

Someplace else CommieTommie wants a tax increase is subjecting income above $110,100 to the payroll tax, bringing more money into the Social Security System.

It's all part of his scheme to solve the retirement crisis.

Harkin hopes to implement a privately operated hybrid pension plan that would be overseen by a group composed of employee, retiree and employer representatives. People who do not have access to a retirement fund would have universal access to the system, and would pay into it through an automatic payroll deduction from their paychecks into a larger pool along with other active employees and retirees. A person could choose to change their contribution level or opt out of the program entirely.

HUH?

No Values

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is seeking to prevent Chick-fil-A from expanding in his city because of the company's "support of the traditional family".

Emanuel believes, “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago values. They’re not respectful of our residents, our neighbors and our family members. And if you’re gonna be part of the Chicago community, you should reflect Chicago values”.

Stop it you're killing me.

That actually would be true if I lived in Chicago, because respect for human life doesn't appear to represent their values and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Chicago’s Murders for 2012 Likely to Exceed 2011

This site allows for Tracking homicides in Chicago

Mayor Emanuel recently lectured the gangs to “Stay away from the kids!”.

Comforting.

High And Dry

On Monday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Mason City.

As you can see from the picture, The Pickle is holding a map of the United States.

Mostly red, it could be a map of Mitt Romney's November election win and the scientific community is united in that fact, but it purports to be a map of areas affected by drought this summer.

To paraphrase George Carlin, as Al Sleet your Hippy Dippy Weatherman, The United States' ON FIRE man.

Maybe it's just the reaction to Meatless Mondays at the USDA.

I do find it interesting the distinct lack of red between The Pickles drought map and the one put out Tuesday from the US Drought Monitor.

Independence?

I saw the Christie Vilsack "Independence" ad on television last evening.

The first airing was sponsored by the House Majority PAC and the second airing had the ASSME tagline.

SEIU is also involved in the $400,000 worth of TV ads in the Des Moines and Sioux City markets.

One thing, besides what a waste the ad was and the scientific community is united in that fact, stood out for me.

Christie Vilsack as First Lady helped lead effort for early childhood funding.

I was curious as to how, but Vilsack doesn't enlighten us on her For CONgress web site.

There Vilsack proclaims, as Iowa's First Lady, she was Best known for creating a statewide literacy initiative.

There was nothing on the Vilsack Foundation, launched by Christie, or in her Bio at The Iowa Initiative, a group Vilsack also founded.

Christie Vilsack never even mentioned it during her March appearance in the Ames classroom of Dawn Remsburg (The Master Plan?).

Remsburg is featured in the "Independence" ad.

During that visit Vilsack discussed her K-12 education plan which included Steering sufficient financing to the Head Start and Early Start programs, which seems like a natural place to bring it up.

Both Sides Of The Story?

Here's two takes on the same annual Kids Count study.

From the online Omaha World-Herald 

Nebraska, Iowa ranked high in kids' financial well-being

The Ragister's focus is the complete opposite, which says a lot about their product and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Child poverty is growing across Iowa, report finds

This from a news organization that professes to dedicate ourselves to reporting the news accurately, thoroughly and in context and will strive to include all sides relevant to a story and not take sides in news coverage.

Responsible Citizen?

In their story about Mitt Romney's surrogates taking part in an Iowa bus tour, the Ragister included commentary from Obama’s Iowa campaign communications director, Erin Seidler.

“The fact is that President Obama is committed to creating middle class security by investing in education and innovation to help our economy grow, while responsibly balancing the budget”.

Someone needs to look up the meaning of the word responsible and the scientific community is united in that fact.

For the country to have a balanced budget, its spending must match its revenue.

By the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the new debt accumulated in this fiscal year by the federal government had already exceeded $1 trillion, making this fiscal year the fifth straight in which the federal government has increased its debt by more than a trillion dollars

Although he has served less than a term, Obama is now the first American president to see the federal government's debt increase by more than $5 trillion during his time in office.

Responsible -- Having the means to pay debts or fulfill obligations.

Good Golly Miss Molly

Biz Buzz, in the Ragister, notes that an Iowan-made movie about a distinctly Iowa story had its official premiere last weekend.

Another way to say it would be Rip It Up.

This "Iowan-made movie" is directed by someone from Wisconsin and produced by a Des Moines person, the film tells the story of a lesbian woman who befriends the (straight) daughter of a conservative state senator. To stir things up, the two women pretend they’re engaged.

She's Tutti-Frutti.

If you "sleep" with someone of the same sex, you're not straight and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Actually there wasn't much sleeping going on, more like Slippin' and Slidin'.

Was it really just that one time, or did she Keep A-Knockin'?

I guess The Girl Can't Help It.

Build Me Up Buttercup

With the Iowa State Fair looming, the Ragister is promoting their first Great Butter Build-Off contest.

Paying homage to the Butter Cow, the Ragister rules state your sculpture must be made completely out of butter. Don’t cheat.

Obviously it's news to them that the Butter Cow is built on an armature made of wood and chicken wire.

The theme of this years fair is NOTHING COMPARES.

In a contest between the fair and nothing, for me, nothing wins and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Ariel?

WHO TV's newest weather wienie is getting some face time.

Arielle Nixon is from GEORGIA.

The Liter thinks her name should be pronounced AIR-ielle, after all she is ON AIR talent.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

You can read her complete biography here.

Not sure who the Norman New Guy was doing sports on their News at 9 on KDSM FOX 17 last night, turns out it's John Sears, but it was unprofessional to start laughing, on air, when he found out his segment was over and they wouldn't be coming back to him after the commercials.

Time To Kill

His brain can't function adequately because his fiberal bleeding heart can't pump enough blood to it.

For the second time in less than a week, CommieTommie Harkin takes to the press to support criminal wrongdoers.

Last week he was morose over the inability of felons to automatically regain their voting rights (Hopelessly Devoted To You).

Now Harkin's heart spills out for convicted murderers.

Harkin: Branstad made wrong decision on juvenile killers

CommieTommie's heartstrings pluck, “Hopefully civilization is progressing to the point where we understand that sometimes kids do impetuous things. Sometimes they get caught up in things.”

Not so much for the victims or their families --

Harkin said he recognizes that the human reaction to a heinous crime is to seek retribution, and he would initially feel the same way. But as he has gotten older he said he has gotten away from the idea of retribution as a means of justice.

“One family and one life has been ruined. What about the families of some of these kids” who have committed crimes of murder?” Harkin asked. “Maybe they tried their best to raise the kid and something went wrong. Maybe they made a mistake. You have to think about them too. The old thing about why ruin two lives? One life, one family, has already been ruined.”

These killers need to sit and rot, like the bodies of those they murdered and the scientific community is united in that fact.

If this happened in my family, it would take extreme willpower not to go all biblical eye for an eye on their ass and extract at least a pound of flesh.

Sporting Life Blues

In Ragister online Norts Spews the Iowa Cubs got an extra inning win at Principal Park.

According to the sports geniuses, the win came in the top of the 11th inning on a roller to New Orleans pitcher Gary Glover that amounted to a walk-off win.

Sports News Flash -- the Home Team does not bat in the top of any inning and the scientific community is united in that fact.

On a roller back to the pitcher, I doubt there was any walking involved, but as annoying as the term walk off has become, this is at least as close to the original intent of the phrase.



Also online, the Ragister chose this headline

Douglas wrestles cover away from Michael Phelps, other stars 

I can understand the Ragister wanting to play up the somewhat local angle, but this makes it seem like the Iowa-based gymnast has the cover of Sports Illustrated (below) to herself.

Recovery?

On the same day I received this picture from our friend Cal (Freedom's pal), I read the following in an article and knew I had to put it together in a post.

The truth is: We are in the Obama recovery now. If history is a guide, these are the best of the Obama times.

SHUDDER!

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

The next presidential term -- no matter who serves in the Oval Office -- is likely to see another recession.

It's going to take a few years to recover from this recovery.

The Big Hurt

The Iowa Cubs have been advertising the appearance of onetime Major League Baseball player Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas at Principal Park.

Frank Thomas to Principal Park Today

Thomas will sign autographs, but only if you've purchased a separate $30 autograph ticket.

The autograph ticket allows for one autograph, no photos or inscriptions please, and does not provide admission into the game.

Ouch!

That's a BIG HURT to the wallet and the scientific community is united in that fact.

In addition, certificates of authenticity will be on sale for $3.00 each.

Now you're just being insulting.

 

--Frank Thomas to the San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 12, 2008

99 percent of the time, its about the money.

I'm not going to begrudge Thomas or the Iowa Cubs a money making opportunity, but save it for a card show or during your winter Fan Fest, not before a baseball game.

Faint

Just like at a campaign appearance in 2008, President Obama utilized his medical expertise to diagnose treatment for the infirmed.

According to CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller, Obama told supporters there were "paralegals" available to help those who felt weak from the heat.

"Catching his mistake," Knoller tweeted, Obama corrected himself and told the crowd, "you don't need lawyers."

With Obamacare being implemented, it's probably a good idea to get an attorney to CYA and the scientific community is united in that fact.

They probably fainted because of their asthma and just needed a breathalyzer.

Broken

President Obama, once again, is not smart enough to come in out of the rain.

‘Everyone is wet anyway’ soaked Obama jokes to crowd

There's no worse smell than a wet Dummycrat.

Soon his political career will be all washed up and the scientific community is united in that fact.

In other developments, President Obama says Washington "feels as broken as it did four years ago."

That's because he's the broker.

Would I Lie To You?

You don't have to take Mitt Romney's word about having no role whatsoever in the management of Bain Capital after February of 1999.

CNN's John King found two Obama-backing former Bain executives who stated, unequivocally, that Romney stopped having a role in Bain’s decision making in 1999.

Which gives it a certain air of truthiness and the scientific community is united in that fact.

But wait, there's more -- is there anything other than the SEC filings to suggest a hands-on Romney role at Bain post-February 1999?
 
No is the word from four sources who communicated with CNN on Thursday — all of whom have firsthand knowledge of Bain’s operations at the time in question. Three of the four are Democrats, and two of the four are active Obama supporters in Campaign 2012. All four told me Romney is telling the truth.

Bain Managing Director Steve Pagliuca, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2010, told CNN: “Mitt Romney left Bain Capital in February 1999 to run the Olympics and has had absolutely no involvement with the management or investment activities of the firm or with any of its portfolio companies since the day of his departure.”

That's the same Stephen Pagliuca who last year outsourced some of his income, $35,800, to Barack Obama’s Victory Fund.

Hopelessly Devoted To You

True to form, CommieTommie Harkin is more concerned about felons than their victims.

Harkin critical of Branstad's felon-voting policy

Harkin criticized the reversal of a six-year state policy, courtesy of The Pickle's executive order, in which felons automatically regained their voting rights once they were discharged from state supervision.

CommieTommie thinks the new policy increases the likelihood felons will re-offend.

First, Branstad's order was signed his first day in office in January 2011, so it's not all that "new" and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Second, Felon Richard Straight, said he would like to vote in the upcoming presidential election, but it’s not worth the fight.

“I’ve only got a few years left of living. I might as well kick back and relax and live my life instead of fighting the system like that”.

Someone stop him before he doesn't vote again, most of these law breakers never voted in the first place.

It is not unreasonable to expect that these felons demonstrate that they have paid restitution to the victim, fines and courts costs.

As we noted last week, this policy is about placating Dummycrat constituents, as it annoys The Press, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Democratic Party.

Paperback Writer

The Ragister interviewed an Obama supporter who thinks it's patriotism to be in the "Tax Me More" club.

Marilynne Robinson, a Pulitzer Prize winning author and Professor at University of Iowa, said she’s happy to pay higher taxes.

“I’ve prospered a great deal from living in this country, from things like public education and so on,” she said. “I want to help other people also prosper and enjoy living in this country. As far as I’m concerned, it’s patriotism.”

It would actually be patriotism if you wrote a check now, without being forced to under the law and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Robinson's taxpayer paid salary has ranged from $56,374.98 to $151,500.00 over the last six years.

Not quite Warren Buffet money, but she shares the same principles of all showing and no doughing.

It should come as no surprise that her Pulitzer Prize was for Fiction.

I Know You're Out There Somewhere

The national Me-D-Uh, specifically ABC News, can't tell the difference between Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Shushannah Walshe had both President Obama and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus in Cedar Falls.

RNC Chairman Heads to Iowa to Push Message Where Obama Is Campaigning

It's not like if you've seen one Cedar you've seen them all and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Walshe needs to drop half her name and just go with SHUSH!

Somethin' Stupid

There's more to yesterday's post, Royal Scam.

MidAmerican warns customers of scam

MidAmerican Energy says more than four dozen Iowans have already been duped.

Iowans in Des Moines, Davenport, Iowa City and Waterloo.

Obama country.

I can see why they've issue the warning, because there's got to be a lot more stupid Iowans out there and the scientific community is united in that fact.

After all - This was a state that gave (him) a chance when nobody else would.

Royal Scam

Obama voters are ignorant.

‘Obama pays your bills’ scam claims more victims

2,000 people in Florida.

10,000 reported victims in New Jersey in recent weeks, and thousands more in North Carolina, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

It's all part of the entitlement culture and the scientific community is united in that fact.

These fools have believed it since 2008 -- "I won't have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage. If I help him, he's going to help me."

They should know that Obama doesn't pay his own bills, as the national debt has grown by about $5 trillion under Obama.

To try and cover that, and to continue spreading the wealth to his voters, Obama wants to raise taxes on those paying taxes with incomes of $250,000 and up.

That includes 900,000 small businesses.

Obama wants their taxes to go back to the income tax rates we were paying under Bill Clinton.

Then Obama should have to go back to the $1.8 Trillion Clintonian spending levels, instead of his $3.8 Trillion.

Big & Rich

On the same day the Ragister runs an Op-ed piece by CommieTommie Harkin.

Sen. Tom Harkin: Middle class is foundation for an economy build to last

The Ragister outs him as rich.

Register Exclusive: Tom Harkin is richest in Iowa delegation

One can't help but love the
















And the scientific community is united in that fact.

As for the Ragister and its "Exclusive", it's hardly NEWs, as I wrote of CommieTommie's being the richest in May of 2006, 2007 and 2008.

I got tired of writing about his assets, like his Bahamian home, and just focused on his being a BIG ASS.

In The Summertime

It was so hot last week that I think I melted from 6'8" to 5'10".

The Ragister ran an AP piece that wondered

Climate change or just Mother Nature?

Naturally, the CONsensus among the cozen was Climate Change.

It's not nice to fool Mother Nature.

And the scientific community is united in that fact.

The one person, John Christy, who stated, “The guilty party, in my view, is Mother Nature” was labeled a global warming skeptic and was the only person not identified professionally.


Dr. John R. Christy is the Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science and Director of the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville where he began studying global climate issues in 1987. Since November 2000 he has been Alabama's State Climatologist.

Must have been some sort of oversight, probably a typo.

Of the four days that Des Moines reached triple digits (7/4-101, 7/5-101, 7/6-102, 7/7-100) not one set a record, although Des Moines tied the 1936 record of 100 on July 7.

On Saturday, Des Moines’ temperature marked the first time a record high in the city was matched or exceeded during the month of July since 1955, according to the National Weather Service.

The other records for those dates, 109 on 7/4 & 106 on 7/5, go back to 1936.

The record on 7/6 was 104 in 1886.

Hardly virgin territory.

It looks like the whole Climate Change caboodle needs to chillax.

I Tried?

On the heels of yet another sorry jobs report, President Obama told a Cincinnati television station --

I suspect that most people in Cincinnati would acknowledge that I've tried real hard

Golf is the only thing this guy works hard at and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Obama is under the delusion that the economy has made "steady progress" on his watch and it's a step in the right direction.

The reality is, if you want unemployment to drop... Go GOP.

Unemployment Rate Dropped In Every State That Elected A Republican Gov. In 2010

On the other hand, the unemployment rate in states that elected Democrats in 2010 dropped, on average, as much as the national rate decline and, in some states such as New York, the unemployment rate has risen since January of 2011.

November's choice couldn't be clearer, we've had enough of

For Months And Months And Months

For 30 straight months the Obama administration has advised Americans not to “read too much into” the latest bad news from the jobs front.

Their spiel has been nearly verbatim each month, they're probably counting that as a green job with all the recycling.

Maybe they should hire a creative writer, after all good fiction takes time and the scientific community is united in that fact.

One thing is for certain, the jobless rate won't change in the first few months of the Romney administration due to all those unemployed Dummycrats.

All Bets Are Off

Busing through Ohio and Pennsylvania, President Obama says he's "Betting on America".

The trouble is he's using out tax dollars as house money and he has a flawed system (Solyndra & Abound Solar to name two)  and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Obama and his closest allies have proposed more Solyndra- and Ex-Im-type loan guarantee programs for favored industries. 

Looks like we'll crap out again.

It was only last summer that Obama said, on another previous bus tour, “This is not rocket science in terms of how we can create more jobs in this country.”

Then the unemployment rate was 9.1 percent and today it remains at 8.2 percent, for the second straight month.

Patriot?

I only read the Dummycrat responses to a question, posed by the Ragister, to Iowa's Congressional delegation and challengers.

How do you demonstrate patriotism?

The Merriam-Webster online Dictionary defines Patriotism as: love for or devotion to one's country.

From CommieTommie Harkin came -- 

Members of Congress demonstrate patriotism when we put country ahead of party. For me, this means advancing bipartisan legislation to make America a better, fairer nation — for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law 22 years ago this month.

1990 was the last time Harkin put country ahead of party, probably because he was seeking re-election to his second Senate term and the scientific community is united in that fact.

Per CONgressman Bruce Braley -- I took an oath 29 years ago (as a lawyer) to support and defend the Constitution, and have taken a similar oath three times as a congressman. I take that oath very seriously, and I don’t allow political pressure to determine how I vote. Doing what’s right isn’t always popular; and doing what’s popular isn’t always right. To me, a true patriot stands up for all the principles in the Constitution, not just those that are popular or politically convenient.

Sounds like a lawyer.

It sounds like Braley doesn't support or defend the immigration laws of this country, saying to a gathering in Marshalltown -- tax payers would likely be shocked by how much money the federal government spends deporting and detaining immigrants. Situations like the 2008 Postville raid, where federal agents arrested 389 undocumented workers and detained them, cost tax payers millions of dollars and do little to address the issue of immigration.

"Everyday in this county, people are charged with crimes. They go to court. They are given due process. They plead guilty. They pay a fine. They are on probation. And if they satisfy the terms of their probation, their records are expunged, and they are able to go back to their community without any long-term consequences," Braley said. "We can come up with similar solutions to immigration

For Leonard BOZO-well -- When I enter the Capitol to vote, I think how fortunate I am to have realized the American dream. The way I express my patriotism today is by working to make sure my dream is still a possibility for our children and grandchildren.

BOZO-well's dream is our nightmare.

CONgressional candidate Christie Vilsack -- One of the most important things a member of Congress can do is honor the patriots who have served their country... As a member of Congress I will make it a priority to honor the flag of the United States by honoring those willing to put their lives on the line to protect our liberty.

The only time most veterans were seen ducking, was was while taking fire.

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism - George Washington.


Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it - Mark Twain.


A politician will do anything to keep his job, even become a patriot - William Randolph Hearst

Press

Recently there have been a few things in the online press that puts their industry to shame.

The screen capture of the online Ragister shows People on the Move for Wednesday, July 3, 2012.

The main problem being July 3, 2012 was a Tuesday and the scientific community is united in that fact.

There's this grave situation from the Business Record

Cemetaries to be cleaned starting Sunday

The story does note this is for the cemeteries in Des Moines.

I'm thinking somebody should have buried the lead.

Finally, in the Cedar Rapids Gazette -- Despite mounting criticism, a spokesman says Gov. Terry Branstad won’t change the application process that former Iowa felons have to navigate to get their voting rights back.

Said criticism comes from Newspaper editorials, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Democratic Party.

Aren't they all one in the same?