As I started to write this, I have decided that Palin has made an excellent decision.
If she is being blocked in Alaska government with spurious ethics charges (15-0) and her opponents will prevent her agenda from succeeding, then staying on an additional year and a half would do her no good nor the state any good. If she did not plan to run for another term leaving now gives her successor (which I assume she believes will follow the same agenda as hers) will give him a better chance in winning the next election.
If she is spending 80% her time fighting ethics charges, and it is costing the State millions to investigate and her family $500K to fight, then it makes little sense to continue on. Her opponents will say she quit because of this and of course it will make a great 30 second ad. Had she wished just to remain the governor for another term, it would have shown politically weakness. But if she already decided not to seek another term, then it makes sense to leave now.
If pundits are right, she can make $50K to $100K a speech. These could help pay-off her legal defense bills. Leaving also limits the amount of new spurious ethics charges. If she plans to run for President, then she can build the funds necessary for a run. Giving the current situation, remaining as Governor just hamstrings her. She will now be able to freely leave the state and campaign for others.
It also allows her to spend more time with her family. Something that must be appreciated if she does run for President (2 years running, 8 years governing).
I suspect that the building of the Alaskan gas pipeline through Canada will have started by 2014. This will give her a big boost for a 2016 election bid. Six years of campaigning on a national level could give her a strong base.
It is also possible that the Democrats will mess things up so bad that Obama will be seen as defeat-able in 2012. If she campaigns for congressional candidates in 2010 and has an impact on the races, she could be in great position for 2012.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
On the health care bill.
The Democrats are saying 46 million Americans are uninsured. This implies they are not getting health care now. So if they become insured, but there are no additional doctors, nurses, etc., does that not imply that there will be longer waiting times?
If the government offers a plan that pays doctors, nurses, hospitals less will there be more people becoming doctors and nurses or building hospitals?
Kennedy, Dodd unveil trimmer Senate healthcare bill
"Americans who refuse to buy medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a healthcare overhaul bill unveiled yesterday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Obama’s top domestic priority."
Is it fair to charge a healthy adult who doesn't feel he needs insurance, maybe making minimum wage, a fine so others (maybe an illegal alien) can get insurance?
If the government offers a plan that pays doctors, nurses, hospitals less will there be more people becoming doctors and nurses or building hospitals?
Kennedy, Dodd unveil trimmer Senate healthcare bill
"Americans who refuse to buy medical coverage could be hit with fines of more than $1,000 under a healthcare overhaul bill unveiled yesterday by key Senate Democrats looking to fulfill President Obama’s top domestic priority."
Is it fair to charge a healthy adult who doesn't feel he needs insurance, maybe making minimum wage, a fine so others (maybe an illegal alien) can get insurance?
Helen Thomas Lays Into Gibbs
link
"CBS News White House Correspondent Chip Reid – along with columnist Helen Thomas – got into a contentious back-and-forth with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs at Gibbs' daily briefing yesterday.
The topic? The questions being asked at yesterday's health care "online town hall," which were submitted by the public but selected by the White House. Reid also brought up the fact that the audience was selected by the White House and the college where the event was held. "
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Why the economy will continue to stall.
Looking for a recovering economy in the next few months? Don't bet on it.
First, there are the bond investors, with the takeover of the banks, Chrysler and General Motors by the government, do not expect many to buy bonds from any company that may become a target of the government.
Second, government debt. With the increase of government debt, do not expect any company to borrowing money with short term debt. If the economy recovers, most experts believe interest rates will skyrocket. Therefore, any company borrowing money for expansion would be wise to borrow in such a manner as to not expose them to borrowing money at a cost they couldn't repay. Therefore, companies will be shy to expand on borrowed funds.
Third, cap-and-trade. Cap and trade, if passed, will increase electricity costs. India has already said it will not impose C02 restrictions. China is also not likely too. So if a company is going to expand, if it can, it will expand to those countries. Thus reducing jobs in the U.S. and delaying or reducing any recovery.
First, there are the bond investors, with the takeover of the banks, Chrysler and General Motors by the government, do not expect many to buy bonds from any company that may become a target of the government.
Second, government debt. With the increase of government debt, do not expect any company to borrowing money with short term debt. If the economy recovers, most experts believe interest rates will skyrocket. Therefore, any company borrowing money for expansion would be wise to borrow in such a manner as to not expose them to borrowing money at a cost they couldn't repay. Therefore, companies will be shy to expand on borrowed funds.
Third, cap-and-trade. Cap and trade, if passed, will increase electricity costs. India has already said it will not impose C02 restrictions. China is also not likely too. So if a company is going to expand, if it can, it will expand to those countries. Thus reducing jobs in the U.S. and delaying or reducing any recovery.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Science losing to politics.
The black-listing has already begun. We are entering a dark period for the truth.
Warmists deny Copenhagen access to polar bear scientist
"But one of the world’s leading experts on polar bears has been told to stay away from this week’s meeting, specifically because his views on global warming do not accord with the views of the rest of the group."
"Dr Mitchell Taylor has been researching into the status and management of polar bears in Canada and around the Arctic Circle for 30 years, as both an academic and a government employee. More than once since 2006 he has made headlines by insisting that polar bear numbers, far from decreasing, are much higher than they were 30 years ago. Of the 19 different bear populations, almost all are increasing or at optimum levels, only two have for local reasons modestly declined."
Warmists deny Copenhagen access to polar bear scientist
"But one of the world’s leading experts on polar bears has been told to stay away from this week’s meeting, specifically because his views on global warming do not accord with the views of the rest of the group."
"Dr Mitchell Taylor has been researching into the status and management of polar bears in Canada and around the Arctic Circle for 30 years, as both an academic and a government employee. More than once since 2006 he has made headlines by insisting that polar bear numbers, far from decreasing, are much higher than they were 30 years ago. Of the 19 different bear populations, almost all are increasing or at optimum levels, only two have for local reasons modestly declined."
EPA Suppresses Dissent on Global Warming
EPA May Have Suppressed Report Skeptical Of Global Warming
Where is the outrage that was present when the mirror-opposite happened in the Bush administration?
"Less than two weeks before the agency formally submitted its pro-regulation recommendation to the White House, an EPA center director quashed a 98-page report that warned against making hasty "decisions based on a scientific hypothesis that does not appear to explain most of the available data."
"The EPA official, Al McGartland, said in an e-mail message to a staff researcher on March 17: "The administrator and the administration has decided to move forward... and your comments do not help the legal or policy case for this decision."
"Alan Carlin, the primary author of the 98-page EPA report, told CBSNews.com in a telephone interview on Friday that his boss, McGartland, was being pressured himself. "It was his view that he either lost his job or he got me working on something else," Carlin said. "That was obviously coming from higher levels." "
"Carlin's report listed a number of recent developments he said the EPA did not consider, including that global temperatures have declined for 11 years; that new research predicts Atlantic hurricanes will be unaffected; that there's "little evidence" that Greenland is shedding ice at expected levels; and that solar radiation has the largest single effect on the earth's temperature. "
"The revelations could prove embarrassing to Jackson, the EPA administrator, who said in January: "I will ensure EPA’s efforts to address the environmental crises of today are rooted in three fundamental values: science-based policies and programs, adherence to the rule of law, and overwhelming transparency." Similarly, Mr. Obama claimed that "the days of science taking a back seat to ideology are over... To undermine scientific integrity is to undermine our democracy. It is contrary to our way of life."
"All this talk from the president and (EPA administrator) Lisa Jackson about integrity, transparency, and increased EPA protection for whistleblowers -- you've got a bouquet of ironies here," said Kazman, the CEI attorney. "
Where is the outrage that was present when the mirror-opposite happened in the Bush administration?
"Less than two weeks before the agency formally submitted its pro-regulation recommendation to the White House, an EPA center director quashed a 98-page report that warned against making hasty "decisions based on a scientific hypothesis that does not appear to explain most of the available data."
"The EPA official, Al McGartland, said in an e-mail message to a staff researcher on March 17: "The administrator and the administration has decided to move forward... and your comments do not help the legal or policy case for this decision."
"Alan Carlin, the primary author of the 98-page EPA report, told CBSNews.com in a telephone interview on Friday that his boss, McGartland, was being pressured himself. "It was his view that he either lost his job or he got me working on something else," Carlin said. "That was obviously coming from higher levels." "
"Carlin's report listed a number of recent developments he said the EPA did not consider, including that global temperatures have declined for 11 years; that new research predicts Atlantic hurricanes will be unaffected; that there's "little evidence" that Greenland is shedding ice at expected levels; and that solar radiation has the largest single effect on the earth's temperature. "
"The revelations could prove embarrassing to Jackson, the EPA administrator, who said in January: "I will ensure EPA’s efforts to address the environmental crises of today are rooted in three fundamental values: science-based policies and programs, adherence to the rule of law, and overwhelming transparency." Similarly, Mr. Obama claimed that "the days of science taking a back seat to ideology are over... To undermine scientific integrity is to undermine our democracy. It is contrary to our way of life."
"All this talk from the president and (EPA administrator) Lisa Jackson about integrity, transparency, and increased EPA protection for whistleblowers -- you've got a bouquet of ironies here," said Kazman, the CEI attorney. "
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