Category Archives: Washington DC

Unemployment Insurance claims report January 17, 2013, Total claiming benefits in all programs increased 465547, Top 3 increases NY GA NC over 66K

Unemployment Insurance claims report January 17, 2013, Total claiming benefits in all programs increased 465547, Top 3 increases NY GA NC over 66K

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama

“Truisms are true, hold on to that! The solid world exists, its laws do not change. Stones are hard, water is wet, objects unsupported fall towards the earth’s centre. With the feeling that he was speaking to O’Brien, and also that he was setting forth an important axiom, he wrote:

Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”…George Orwell, “1984”

 

Talk about creative accounting and seasonal adjustments.

The alleged decrease of  37,000 initial claims from the prior week makes zero reality sense.

From the US Labor Dept. January 17, 2013.

“UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA”

“SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending January 12, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 335,000, a decrease of 37,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 372,000. The 4-week moving average was 359,250, a decrease of 6,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 366,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.5 percent for the week ending January 5, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week’s unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemploymentduring the week ending January 5 was 3,214,000, an increase of 87,000 from the preceding week’s revised level of 3,127,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,195,750, a decrease of 6,000 from the preceding week’s revised average of 3,201,750.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 555,708 in the week ending January 12, an increase of 2,360 from the previous week. There were 525,422 initial claims in the comparable week in 2012.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.0 percent during the week ending January 5, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week’s unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,850,441, an increase of 170,067 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.2 percent and the volume was 4,109,127.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending December 29 was 5,821,966, an increase of 465,547 from the previous week. There were 7,826,846 persons claiming benefits in all programs in the comparable week in 2011.”

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000


State Change State Supplied Comment
NY +37,189 Layoffs in the transporation, construction, and educational service industries.
GA +15,354 Layoffs in the manufacturing, administrative and support service, construction, and healthcare industries.
NC +13,606 Layoffs in the textile, business service, construction, electronic, furniture and fixtures, rubber and plastic products, lumber and wood products, transportation equipment, food services, metal, mining, service, healthcare service, engineering, accounting, research, amusement and recreation, general merchandise stores, and apparel and accessory industries.
CA +8,691 Layoffs in the service industry as well as agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
TX +8,669 Layoffs in the transportation and warehousing, and manufacturing industries.
SC +8,020 Layoffs in the textile and manufacturing industries.
AL +7,037 Increase is a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to the holiday. Majority of increase were in the transportation, textile, manufacturing, and construction industries.
TN +4,397 Layoffs in the administrative and support service, textile, contractors, electrical equipment, and construction industries.
VA +3,289 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
FL +2,501 Layoffs in the construction, agriculture, trade, retail and service industries.
CT +2,125 No comment.
MO +1,739 Layoffs in the construction, administrative service, and retail industries.
ME +1,594 Layoffs in the construction, manufacturing, and accommodation and food service industires.
CO +1,378 No comment.
AZ +1,262 No comment.

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/current.htm#.UPhMYif7LhI

The top 3 increases in NY, GA and NC total over 66,000.

Secure schools not empower criminals, Gun control does not protect children, Sandy Hook poorly prepared, CT strict gun laws failed, Keep criminals and insane away from buildings

Secure schools not empower criminals, Gun control does not protect children, Sandy Hook poorly prepared, CT strict gun laws failed, Keep criminals and insane away from buildings

“the deadliest school-related massacre in American history happened in 1927, at an elementary school in Bath, Mich. A school board member named Andrew Kehoe, upset over a burdensome property tax, wired the building with dynamite and set it off in the morning of May 18. Kehoe’s actions killed 45 people, 38 of whom were children.”…NY Times December 18, 2012

“Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA – ordinary citizens don’t need guns, as their having guns doesn’t serve the State.”…Heinrich Himmler

“The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good”…George Washington

Gun control has never worked and never will work. It is the solution of dictators and those lacking reason and accountability.

We secure our businesses with armed guards and security cameras. Rational and responsible members of society protect their families with security systems and weapons. Why have we not protected our schools?

Focusing on gun control is a knee jerk reaction that does not work and does not address the real issues of protecting our children.

Guns are not the issue, school security is.

There are many ways to commit mass murders of children, including explosives as simple as molotov cocktails, fire, poisoned air, poisoned water, poisoned food, crashing vehicles, etc.

The worst school disaster happened in Bath Township, Michigan May 18, 1927. 38 elementary school children and 6 adults were killed and at least 58 others injured. Dynamite was used.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/crime/2012/12/18/bath_school_bombing_remembering_the_deadliest_school_massacre_in_american.html

Elementary and Kindergarten aged children are the most vulnerable and should receive the most protection. Here are some common sense based remedies that will greatly improve the security for these children.

1. Monitor the areas outside the buildings. This would include monitored security cameras and some combination of walk arounds by staff and or security personnel.

2. Security alarms for illegal entry.

3. Buffered entry ways. i.e. double entry ways. The first door should set off the alarm and the second would slow down intrusion.

4. Stronger doorways.

5. Regular drills for emergency preparedness. We had those when I was in grade school.

6. As many armed school personnel as possible. “Good guys with guns to stop the bad guys with guns.” Each armed person should be psychologically evaluated.

As strange as it may sound, we have been fortunate that only guns have been mostly used. The Sandy Hook tragedy could have been much worse.

Thank God some people are waking up, purchasing weapons and taking advantage of free training.

Thank God also for the Tenth Amendment which allows for state autonomy.

Despite the idiotic Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990, many states allow weapons in schools under controlled circumstances.

Too bad they did not at Sandy Hook.

From NBC News January 14, 2013.

“Guns already allowed in schools with little restriction in many states”

“With the debate over gun violence reshaped by the shooting deaths of 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school last month, lawmakers across the country are pushing proposals to arm teachers in the classroom. But many of them may be wasting their time.

More than a third of the states already allow teachers and other adults to carry guns to school. In most cases, all you need is the equivalent of a note from the principal — you usually don’t even need law enforcement approval.

NBC News reviewed the firearms and education laws in all 50 states and found that 18 of them allow adults to have a loaded gun on school grounds, usually as long as they have written permission.

That’s for pretty much any reason; the list doesn’t include states that generally ban guns but carve out narrow exceptions for specific activities like safety demonstrations or military formations and parades.

The families of the children murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School, as well as other Newtown, Conn., community members, are demanding change. NBC’s Anne Thompson reports.

During a Tea Party forum in Fort Worth, Texas Gov. Rick Perry became one of the first prominent officials after the Dec. 14 shootings to call for teachers to be allowed to carry firearms to work — even though Texas already allows any qualified adult to do so as long as the principal OKs it.

Since then, lawmakers in several states have jumped on board with proposals that mirror laws already on the books.”

“The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 prohibits anyone from having a firearm in a school zone. But that law includes the same exception recognized by the states identified in NBC News’ survey: It doesn’t apply if the weapons are “approved by a school in the school zone.”

And in any event, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Steve Stockman, R-Texas, have introduced measures in the new Congress that would repeal the federal law altogether.

Here are the 18 states that allow adults to carry loaded weapons onto school grounds with few or minor conditions:

  • Alabama (which bans possessing a weapon on school grounds only if the carrier has “intent to do bodily harm”)
  • California (with approval of the superintendent)
  • Connecticut (with approval of “school officials”)
  • Hawaii (no specific law)
  • Idaho (with school trustees’ approval)
  • Iowa (with “authorization”)
  • Kentucky (with school board approval)
  • Massachusetts (with approval of the school board or principal)
  • Mississippi (with school board approval)
  • Montana (with school trustees’ permission)
  • New Hampshire (ban applies only to pupils, not adults)
  • New Jersey (with approval from the school’s “governing officer”)
  • New York (with the school’s approval)
  • Oregon (with school board approval)
  • Rhode Island (with a state concealed weapons permit)
  • Texas (with the school’s permission)
  • Utah (with approval of the “responsible school administrator”)
  • Wyoming (as long as it’s not concealed)”

Read more:

http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/14/16468754-guns-already-allowed-in-schools-with-little-restriction-in-many-states?lite

Walmart not ordering Ammo, In store stocks low, Walmart corporate office rejecting orders, Second Amendment decision suspends orders, I will boycott

Walmart not ordering Ammo, In store stocks low, Walmart corporate office rejecting orders, Second Amendment decision suspends orders, I will boycott

“The problem occurs, sir, in those areas precisely where we have said ‘no guns.’ The problem doesn’t occur where the guns are allowed freely to be carried to be used by people. There we have very low murder rates.”…Larry Pratt

“Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA – ordinary citizens don’t need guns, as their having guns doesn’t serve the State.”…Heinrich Himmler

“The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good”…George Washington

 

The following article confirms feedback from knowledgeable sources in the Triad of NC.

From Investment Watch January 12, 2013.

“BREAKING & CONFIRMED: Wal Mart Is NOT Going To Order Any More Ammo.”

“Stopped by my local Wal Mart this morning. They are out of almost every kind of ammo.
I asked to talk to the person in charge of ordering to see if they had any information on this subject.
The manager I talked to said they had not heard anything…BUT.
She tried to order some .223 as I was standing there. She said the order was being rejected by the corporate office. Said she had never had that happen.

She called corporate as I was standing there.
And was told this. “As of right now Wal Mart is not going to be making any new orders of ammo because of the upcoming decision on the second amendment”. Said, “As of right now we are unsure of what new legislation might be coming, and because of this, we are suspending new orders. We will continue to sell what is already in stock in stores and at our distribution centers, but any new orders will not be shipped until the issue is resolved”.

So after they run out, there will be no restocking until Obama makes his decision…Hows that change working out for you now?

As I said, I dont have a link, but you can call Wal Mart headquarters at 1-800-925-6278 for yourself and ask. After the answer press 2 then 1 then 1 again and wait to talk to a rep. I just did this myself and was told the same thing.

Something must have changed at the meeting they had on Thursday.
Guess we will have to wait and see what Obama has in store for us next.

Guys, I am not making this up…Call and find out for yourself.”

http://investmentwatchblog.com/breaking-confirmed-wal-mart-is-not-going-to-order-any-more-ammo/

If Walmart wants to be a puppet, walk in lockstep with or be intimidated by Obama that is their business. Where I shop is my business.

I will spend no more money at Walmart until I get a reasonable response.

Obama criticized by Kenyan Government for being poorly informed, History repeats with Obama gun control statements, Obama hypocrisy of thug associations

Obama criticized by Kenyan Government for being poorly informed, History repeats with Obama gun control statements, Obama hypocrisy of thug associations

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.”…Barack Obama

“And the notion that somehow it’s cute or amusing, or a useful diversion, I think, is something that all of us have to recognize is just not the case. We all have First Amendment rights. And I am a constitutional lawyer and strongly believe in free speech, but as a culture, we really have to do some soul-searching to think about what kind of toxic information are we feeding our kids,”…Barack Obama

“Instead, since I have some reporting history here, I am noting a pattern that has emerged: This is Obama’s third ethical conversion of convenience — taking on a higher standard, but only when it appears to be politically expedient. Obama is making government transparency and ethics a centerpiece of his presidential campaign.”…Lynn Sweet, Chicago SunTimes

Obama has a history of hypocrisy, for blaming others for what he is guilty of. Obama associated with criminals and thugs in Chicago and even campaigned for his cousin Raila Odinga in 2006, in violation of the Logan Act.

Despite prosecutions being down for firearm attacks and the Obama Justice Department providing arms for Mexican drug lords, the Obama Administration is targeting innocent, responsible gun owners.

Here is what the Kenyan Government had to say about Obama’s hypocritical comments in 2006.

“RESPONSE TO AMERICAN SENATOR BARACK OBAMA’S POORLY INFORMED COMMENTS ABOUT TERRORISM, WANTED GENOCIDE CRIMINALS AND GOVERNANCE IN KENYA”

Senator Barack Obama indicated that he was visiting Africa to help nurture relations between the continent and the United States. His mission, therefore, was warmly welcomed by the Government and the people of Kenya. The fact that he has roots in Kenya endeared him to the people of this country.However, during his public address at the University of Nairobi, Senator Obama made extremely disturbing statements on issues which it is clear, he was very poorly informed, and on which he chose to lecture the Government and the people of Kenya on how to manage our country.

We would like to make the following facts clear:

a) Kenya is no less vulnerable to terrorism than the United States or any other country. Kenya has in the past suffered incidents of terrorism because of our friendship with the United States and not because as a people, we are less efficient in the management of our security. Indeed, his own country and other countries with higher levels of development, have had more incidences of terrorism despite their sophisticated security systems. Therefore, blaming terrorist attacks in Kenya on possible corruption is highly misplaced and insincere. Using his logic, then, it follows that the terrorist attacks in the United States and other countries are as a result of corrupt border and customs police in his own country and other countries which have experienced incidents of terrorism.

b) The allegation that wanted Rwandese genocide fugitive Felicen Kabuga may have purchased safe haven in Kenya is an insult to the people of this country and negates the fact that Kenya, Rwanda and the United Nations have an excellent track record in collaboration in the search and apprehending of Rwandese suspects. This country has turned over to the United Nations Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda the highest number of genocidal suspects for trial. For that reason also, this country cannot be a safe haven for any genocide suspect and especially Kabuga. If it was an issue of corruption money, as Senator Obama states, then the bounty of US$5 million (Kshs 365 million) being offered by the United States for the apprehension of Kabuga, would be irresistible to the alleged corrupt police. If anybody knows where Kabuga is, this Government would like to know so that we can apprehend him immediately and hand him over to the tribunal.

c) Senator Obama enjoyed the vibrant freedom of expression and wide democratic space existing in this country, during his tour. Instead of acknowledging this big leap in this country, he chose to dwell on none issues as far as the governance of this country is concerned. He ignored the fact that strengthening of democracy and institutions of Governance has been the strongest thrust of this Government. Today, every Kenyan can openly talk about and address issues of corruption without fear and associate himself or herself to any political party he or she chooses. Bold decisions have made to bring down the rate of corruption with great success. For example, the success in our fighting corruption is evidenced by the fact that Kenya is one of the best performing countries in Africa in the collection of public revenue and the economy has had a turn-around from near zero percent (0%), three years ago, to about six percent (6%) economic growth today. This cannot be achieved in a country, which Senator Obama says, is experiencing a “corruption crisis.”

d) Senator Obama also trivialized the harmony and peaceful co-existence that exists between different ethnic groups and races that live in this country, and chose to magnify tribalism as a major problem in this country.

During Senator Obama’s visit, the Government spared no effort in making his stay and travel all over the country enjoyable and fulfilling. Senator Barack Obama is welcome to come again to learn more about the country, the Government and the people of this country.


Dr. Alfred N. Mutua
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION SECRETARY &
GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON

August 31, 2006

http://www.communication.go.ke/media.asp?id=284

 

Unemployment insurance initial claims up 4000, January 10, 2013, 4 week moving average increased 6750, 18 states increase more than 1000, American Express cutting 5400 jobs

Unemployment insurance initial claims up 4000, January 10, 2013, 4 week moving average increased 6750, 18 states increase more than 1000, American Express cutting 5400 jobs

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama

“the Times of the nineteenth of December had published the official forecasts of the output of various classes of consumption goods in the fourth quarter of 1983, which was also the sixth quarter of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. Today’s issue contained a statement of the actual output, from which it appeared that the forecasts were in every instance grossly wrong. Winston’s job was to rectify the original figures by making them agree with the later ones.”…George Orwell, “1984″

 

From the US Labor Department January 10, 2013.

“UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT”

“In the week ending January 5, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 371,000, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 367,000. The 4-week moving average was 365,750, an increase of 6,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 359,000.”

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000


State Change State Supplied Comment
MI +15,107 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
PA +12,483 Layoffs in the transportation, construction, food and beverage manufacturing, and metals industries.
WI +6,748 No comment.
NJ +3,436 Layoffs in the educational service industry.
MO +3,057 Layoffs in the transportation and warehousing, and manufacturing industries.
IA +2,804 Increase is a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to the holiday.
NC +2,300 Layoffs in the machinery, lumber and wood products, transportation and warehousing, automotive repair, service and parking, rubber and plastic products, petroleum, and textile industries.
OR +2,185 Increase is a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to the holiday.
MD +2,182 No comment.
CA +2,012 Increase is a result of processing claims from prior week when offices were closed due to the holiday.
AL +1,913 Layoffs in the administrative and support service, healthcare and social assistance, construction, and textile industries.
TN +1,589 Layoffs in the administrative and support service, electronics, and construction industries.
KS +1,387 No comment.
CT +1,276 No comment.
OH +1,240 No comment.
ID +1,219 No comment.
VT +1,103 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
MA +1,051 Layoffs in the transportation and warehousing industry.

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/current.htm#.UO9P4m_7LhI

From CNN Money January 10, 2013.

“American Express to cut 5,400 jobs”

“American Express announced Thursday that it was cutting 5,400 jobs, becoming the latest large financial firm to reduce its headcount.
The company said the largest reductions would come from its travel businesses, which “operate in an industry that is being fundamentally reinvented as a result of the digital revolution.”

“One outcome of this ongoing shift to online is that we can serve a growing customer base with lower staffing levels,” AmEx CEO Kenneth Chenault said in a call with analysts. “Staying ahead of these trends has led us to redesign the model within global business travel and to continue the evolution within cardmember servicing and collections.”

While the cuts will be partially offset by the addition of new positions, American Express said it expects to see its current work force of 63,500 reduced by between 4% and 6% by the end of the year.

“Against the backdrop of an uneven economic recovery, these restructuring initiatives are designed to make American Express more nimble, more efficient and more effective in using our resources to drive growth,” Chenault said in a statement.

The company said the cuts “will be spread proportionally between the U.S. and international markets and will primarily involve positions that do not directly generate revenue.”

Shares fell about 0.7% in after-hours trading.

The news came as American Express (AXP, Fortune 500) pre-announced of its fourth-quarter results. Excluding severance costs associated with the job cuts and other special expenses, net income came in at $1.2 billion, or $1.09 a share, exceeding the prediction of $1.06 a share from analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. Sales were $8.1 billion, in line with expectations.

Elsewhere in the industry, Morgan Stanley (AACXX) plans to eliminate 1,600 jobs in the coming weeks, a source told CNNMoney this week. Last month, Citigroup (C, Fortune 500) announced plans to cut 11,000 jobs.”

http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/10/investing/american-express-jobs/

Joe Biden gun control moral issue, January 9, 2013, If moral issue Obama should apologize, If they bring a knife to the fight we bring a gun, Obama hypocrisy

Joe Biden gun control moral issue, January 9, 2013, If moral issue Obama should apologize, If they bring a knife to the fight we bring a gun, Obama hypocrisy

“I just want you to know that we are working on it (gun control)….We have to go through a few processes, but under the radar.”…Barack Obama

“If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States, for an outright ban, picking up [every gun]… Mr. and Mrs. America, turn ‘em all in.”…Dianne Feinstein

“Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA – ordinary citizens don’t need guns, as their having guns doesn’t serve the State.”…Heinrich Himmler

Joe Biden September 20, 2008.
“I guarantee you Barack Obama ain’t taking my shotguns, so don’t buy that malarkey. Don’t buy that malarkey. They’re gonna – they’re gonna start peddling that to you. I got two. If he tries to fool with my Beretta, he’s got a problem.”

Joe Biden January 9, 2013.

“Biden: Gun effort a ‘moral issue'”

“Vice President Joe Biden described his gun control effort as a “moral issue” when meeting with gun safety advocates and mass shooting victims on Wednesday morning.

“When I think of all the tragedies that we have endured, I don’t think anything has touched the heart of the American people so profoundly as seeing those and learning of those young children not only being shot but riddled with bullets,” he said, referring to the December 14 shooting at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

“Every once in a while there’s something that awakens the conscience of the country, and that tragic event did it in a way like nothing I’ve seen in my career,” he said.

The meeting was held by the task force President Barack Obama appointed to present recommendations by the end of this month. It included survivors of the Virginia Tech shooting, the stepfather of a victim of the Colorado movie shooting, as well as advocates from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.”

Biden: Gun effort a ‘moral issue’

Moral issue Joe?

Shouldn’t Obama apologize for saying:

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.”

“I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors. I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face.“

Gun Shows and Gun Buying Breaking Records, Gun prices up, Innocent people protected by guns, More Americans distrustful of government, Second Amendment right

Gun Shows and Gun Buying Breaking Records, Gun prices up, Innocent people protected by guns, More Americans distrustful of government, Second Amendment right

“Germans who wish to use firearms should join the SS or the SA – ordinary citizens don’t need guns, as their having guns doesn’t serve the State.”…Heinrich Himmler

“The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good”…George Washington

“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.”…Abraham Lincoln

Guns are a tool for me, just as a hammer and saw are. I don’t love them and I don’t hate them.

I attended the Winston Salem Gun Show on Saturday. There were many gun enthusiasts there. For me however, the thrill was that the Second Amendment is still alive and we could freely walk about and purchase guns and ammunition.

Due to supply and demand and worries about government control and increasing crime, the price of guns has gone up significantly over the past several months.

From Political Outcast January 7, 2013.

“Gun Shows and Gun Buying Breaking Records”

“Americans are becoming even more distrustful of their government. They are also fearful of a segment of society that is hell-bent on taking our lives and property. It’s bad enough that our legislators vote to steal our money. If it’s OK for politicians to act illegally, dismissing their oath to uphold the Constitution that they swore to obey, so why is it wrong for others to break into our homes and take the money directly?

The Constitution doesn’t give elected officials the authority to take our money in ever greater amounts, and yet they do it every election cycle. Street-walking thieves are using the same logic. “If Congress can violate the law, why can’t we?”

What’s different about a thief dressed in a suit and tie who votes to use the power of the State to take our money and some guy dressed in black Hoodie who creeps around in the dark to do it?

At least we can protect ourselves against the creeping thieves, but not if the government passes laws that make it illegal to buy and own guns for protection. A woman in Georgia protected herself and her children after a man broke into the house with a crowbar and began ransacking the house. The woman hid in a closet with her twin daughters but not before getting a .38-caliber revolver she kept in the house. When the intruder opened the closet door, the protective mother shot the suspect five times in the face and neck.

Since Congress and the President may try to pass laws to make us defenseless, Americans are stocking up on weapons as insurance against thieves, rapists, and murderers. That’s why we’re seeing evidence of record gun buying from Florida to California.

“Nearly 8,000 people attended the first day of the Florida Gun Shows’ exhibition this weekend in Orlando, according to event organizers.

“Crowds broke records on Saturday, and organizers said it’s possible they’ll see even larger numbers of gun enthusiasts before the weekend ends.

“Hundreds of gun buyers took vouchers that would allow them to return on Sunday because it was difficult to get into Saturday’s events.

“‘[Gun enthusiasts] are buying and they’re buying as fast as they can get them,’ said Victor Bean, promoter for Florida Gun Shows. ‘We’ve had some exhibitors who had to cancel because they didn’t have any inventory from their gun shops.’”

Most Americans do not trust the government.

It’s no wonder that even California is seeing record crowds. More than 6,000 people filled the Ontario Convention Center over the weekend in Ontario, California. This was more than double the number the Crossroads of the West Gun Show promoter expected.

“‘Nationally manufacturers can’t keep up demand for firearms or ammunition,” said Bob Templeton, with Crossroads of the West Gun Shows. ‘There’s no ammunition at stores, I’m understanding, anyway.’”

It’s OK for the Department of Homeland Security to purchase more than 200,000 rounds of ammunition, but your average law-abiding American citizen just trying to protect himself from lawless thugs may be denied the right in the future. If guns and ammunition are outlawed, only outlaws — street thugs and government agencies — will have guns and ammunition.

“‘ATF: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms’ should be a sign on a convenience store, not a government agency.””

Read more:

http://politicaloutcast.com/2013/01/gun-shows-and-gun-buying-breaking-records/#ixzz2HNrbWVWw

Obama the spoiled child elected by adolescents, Real loser Adulthood Maturity Responsibility, Lack of reason and accountability cause liberals to blame guns and conservatives

Obama the spoiled child elected by adolescents, Real loser Adulthood Maturity Responsibility, Lack of reason and accountability cause liberals to blame guns and conservatives

“How do you get a Obama Liberal? You begin with a normal child at birth and take away reason and accountability.”…Citizen Wells

“The real loser in this election was adulthood: Maturity. Responsibility. The understanding that liberty must be accompanied by self-restraint. Obama is a spoiled child, and the behavior and language of his followers and their advertisements throughout the campaign makes it clear how many of them are, as well. Romney is a grown-up. Romney should have won. Those of us who expected him to win assumed that voters would act like grownups. Because if we were a nation of grownups, he would have won.

But what did win? Sex. Drugs. Bad language. Bad manners. Vulgarity. Lies. Cheating. Name-calling. Finger-pointing. Blaming. And irresponsible spending.”…Laura Hollis, attorney and associate professor of law at Notre Dame

“The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good”…George Washington

One of my favorite movies is “As Good as it Gets.” Jack Nicholson plays a obsessive compulsive misanthrope who is transformed into a more loveable character by the end. There are 2 scenes in the movie that are significant in regard to the liberal position on gun control.

The first is when Nicholson’s gay neighbor is beaten to near death when he is robbed. In real life, he would probably have been shot or knifed to death. However, there were enough blunt instruments around to do the job. The neighbor was outnumbered. If the neighbor had been armed (of course NY City has some of the toughest gun laws in the nation for the honest citizens) he could have repelled the intruders.

The second scene has one of the all time great movie quotes. Nicholson is actually describing how he writes about women. He states.

“It’s easy. I start with a man and I take away reason and accountability.”

I believe that the quote more accurately applies to liberals, many of whom are female.

Which leads me to the following.

Obviously, for the folks reading this with reason and accountability, guns are not responsible for the deaths at the Sand Hook Elementary School or anywhere else. In the world where reason and accountability should rule, here are the guilty parties.

I do not know how much involvement the dad had in his life. It is clear that the father’s role is important, but since I do not have that information I will not lapse into conjecture.

Here is the list in priority order:

1. Adam Lanza, the apparent shooter. Despite any mental illness or adversity, he is to blame.

2. Mother. She apparently knew of her son’s problems. She should have secured the guns.

3. Sandy Hook Elementary School and the school system. It was their job to protect the students. They failed with honorable mention to the staff members who gave their lives in an effort to protect the students. However, too little, too late.

4. The damn fools who have dictated that schools should be gun free zones.

5. The whole of American society that has let Liberals & wackos take over government, schools, media, etc.

Laura Hollis is an attorney and associate professor of law at the University of Notre Dame.

From Town Hall November 8, 2012.

“I am already reading so many pundits and other talking heads analyzing the disaster that was this year’s elections. I am adding my own ten cents. Here goes:

1. We are outnumbered

We accurately foresaw the enthusiasm, the passion, the commitment, the determination, and the turnout. Married women, men, independents, Catholics, evangelicals – they all went for Romney in percentages as high or higher than the groups which voted for McCain in 2008. It wasn’t enough. What we saw in the election on Tuesday was a tipping point: we are now at a place where there are legitimately fewer Americans who desire a free republic with a free people than there are those who think the government should give them stuff. There are fewer of us who believe in the value of free exchange and free enterprise. There are fewer of us who do not wish to demonize successful people in order to justify taking from them. We are outnumbered. For the moment. It’s just that simple.

2. It wasn’t the candidate(s)
Some are already saying, “Romney was the wrong guy”; “He should have picked Marco Rubio to get Florida/Rob Portman to get Ohio/Chris Christie to get [someplace else].” With all due respect, these assessments are incorrect. Romney ran a strategic and well-organized campaign. Yes, he could have hit harder on Benghazi. But for those who would have loved that, there are those who would have found it distasteful. No matter what tactic you could point to that Romney could have done better, it would have been spun in a way that was detrimental to his chances. Romney would have been an excellent president, and Ryan was an inspired choice. No matter who we ran this year, they would have lost. See #1, above.

3. It’s the culture, stupid.
We have been trying to fight this battle every four years at the voting booth. It is long past time we admit that that is not where the battle really is. We abdicated control of the culture – starting back in the 1960s. And now our largest primary social institutions – education, the media, Hollywood (entertainment) have become really nothing more than an assembly line for cranking out reliable little Leftists. Furthermore, we have allowed the government to undermine the institutions that instill good character – marriage, the family, communities, schools, our churches. So, here we are, at least two full generations later – we are reaping what we have sown. It took nearly fifty years to get here; it will take another fifty years to get back. But it starts with the determination to reclaim education, the media, and the entertainment business. If we fail to do that, we can kiss every election goodbye from here on out. And much more.

4. America has become a nation of adolescents
The real loser in this election was adulthood: Maturity. Responsibility. The understanding that liberty must be accompanied by self-restraint. Obama is a spoiled child, and the behavior and language of his followers and their advertisements throughout the campaign makes it clear how many of them are, as well. Romney is a grown-up. Romney should have won. Those of us who expected him to win assumed that voters would act like grownups. Because if we were a nation of grownups, he would have won.

But what did win? Sex. Drugs. Bad language. Bad manners. Vulgarity. Lies. Cheating. Name-calling. Finger-pointing. Blaming. And irresponsible spending.

This does not bode well. People grow up one of two ways: either they choose to, or circumstances force them to. The warnings are all there, whether it is the looming economic disaster, or the inability of the government to respond to crises like Hurricane Sandy, or the growing strength and brazenness of our enemies. American voters stick their fingers in their ears and say, “Lalalalalala, I can’t hear you.”

It is unpleasant to think about the circumstances it will take to force Americans to grow up. It is even more unpleasant to think about Obama at the helm when those circumstances arrive.

5. Yes, there is apparently a Vagina Vote
It’s the subject matter of another column in its entirety to point out, one by one, all of the inconsistencies and hypocrisies of the Democrats this year. Suffice it to say that the only “war on women” was the one waged by the Obama campaign, which sexualized and objectified women, featuring them dressed up like vulvas at the Democrat National Convention, appealing to their “lady parts,” comparing voting to losing your virginity with Obama, trumpeting the thrills of destroying our children in the womb (and using our daughters in commercials to do so), and making Catholics pay for their birth control. For a significant number of women, this was appealing. It might call into question the wisdom of the Nineteenth Amendment, but for the fact that large numbers of women (largely married) used their “lady smarts” instead. Either way, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton are rolling over in their graves.

6. It’s not about giving up on “social issues”
No Republican candidate should participate in a debate or go out on the stump without thorough debate prep and a complete set of talking points that they stick to. This should start with a good grounding in biology and a reluctance to purport to know the will of God. (Thank you, Todd and Richard.)

That said, we do not hold the values we do because they garner votes. We hold the values we do because we believe that they are time-tested principles without which a civilized, free and prosperous society is not possible. We defend the unborn because we understand that a society which views some lives as expendable is capable of viewing all lives as expendable. We defend family – mothers, fathers, marriage, children – because history makes it quite clear that societies without intact families quickly descend into anarchy and barbarism, and we have plenty of proof of that in our inner cities where marriage is infrequent and unwed motherhood approaches 80%. When Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, many thought that the abortion cause was lost. 40 years later, ultrasound technology has demonstrated the inevitable connection between science and morality. More Americans than ever define themselves as “pro-life.” What is tragic is that tens of millions of children have lost their lives while Americans figure out what should have been obvious before.

There is no “giving up” on social issues. There is only the realization that we have to fight the battle on other fronts. The truth will out in the end.

7. Obama does not have a mandate. And he does not need one.
I have to laugh – bitterly – when I read conservative pundits trying to assure us that Obama “has to know” that he does not have a mandate, and so he will have to govern from the middle. I don’t know what they’re smoking. Obama does not care that he does not have a mandate. He does not view himself as being elected (much less re-elected) to represent individuals. He views himself as having been re-elected to complete the “fundamental transformation” of America, the basic structure of which he despises. Expect much more of the same – largely the complete disregard of the will of half the American public, his willingness to rule by executive order, and the utter inability of another divided Congress to rein him in. Stanley Kurtz has it all laid out here.

8. The CorruptMedia is the enemy

Too strong? I don’t think so. I have been watching the media try to throw elections since at least the early 1990s. In 2008 and again this year, we saw the media cravenly cover up for the incompetence and deceit of this President, while demonizing a good, honorable and decent man with lies and smears. This is on top of the daily barrage of insults that conservatives (and by that I mean the electorate, not the politicians) must endure at the hands of this arrogant bunch of elitist snobs. Bias is one thing. What we observed with Benghazi was professional malpractice and fraud. They need to go. Republicans, Libertarians and other conservatives need to be prepared to play hardball with the Pravda press from here on out. And while we are at it, to defend those journalists of whatever political stripe (Jake Tapper, Sharyl Atkisson, Eli Lake) who actually do their jobs. As well as FoxNews and talk radio. Because you can fully expect a re-elected Obama to try to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine in term 2.

9. Small business and entrepreneurs will be hurt the worst
For all the blather about “Wall Street versus Main Street,” Obama’s statist agenda will unquestionably benefit the biggest corporations which – as with the public sector unions – are in the best position to make campaign donations, hire lobbyists, and get special exemptions carved out from Obama’s health care laws, his environmental regulations, his labor laws. It will be the small business, the entrepreneur, and the first-time innovators who will be crushed by their inability to compete on a level playing field.

10. America is more polarized than ever; and this time it’s personal

I’ve been following politics for a long time, and it feels different this time. Not just for me. I’ve received messages from other conservatives who are saying the same thing: there is little to no tolerance left out there for those who are bringing this country to its knees – even when they have been our friends. It isn’t just about “my guy” versus “your guy.” It is my view of America versus your view of America – a crippled, hemorrhaging, debt-laden, weakened and dependent America that I want no part of and resent being foisted on me. I no longer have any patience for stupidity, blindness, or vulgarity, so with each dumb “tweet” or FB post by one of my happily lefty comrades, another one bites the dust, for me. Delete.

What does this portend for a divided Congress? I expect that Republicans will be demoralized and chastened for a short time. But I see them in a bad position. Americans in general want Congress to work together. But many do not want Obama’s policies, and so Republicans who support them will be toast. Good luck, guys.

11. It’s possible that America just has to hit rock bottom
I truly believe that most Americans who voted for Obama have no idea what they are in for. Most simply believe him when he says that all he really wants is for the rich to pay “a little bit more.” So reasonable! Who could argue with that except a greedy racist?

America is on a horrific bender. Has been for some time now. The warning signs of our fiscal profligacy and culture of lack of personal responsibility are everywhere – too many to mention. We need only look at other countries which have gone the route we are walking now to see what is in store.

For the past four years – but certainly within the past campaign season – we have tried to warn Americans. Too many refuse to listen, even when all of the events that have transpired during Obama’s presidency – unemployment, economic stagnation, skyrocketing prices, the depression of the dollar, the collapse of foreign policy, Benghazi, hopelessly inept responses to natural disasters – can be tied directly to Obama’s statist philosophies, and his decisions.

What that means, I fear, is that they will not see what is coming until the whole thing collapses. That is what makes me so sad today. I see the country I love headed toward its own “rock bottom,” and I cannot seem to reach those who are taking it there.”

http://townhall.com/columnists/laurahollis/2012/11/08/postmortem/page/full/

John Boehner Mitch McConnell Republicans should have walked away from table, Republicans support tax increases, Rhino Times January 3, 2013, Good news from NC

John Boehner Mitch McConnell Republicans should have walked away from table, Republicans support tax increases, Rhino Times January 3, 2013, Good news from NC

“The tax on capital gains directly affects investment decisions, the mobility and flow of risk capital… the ease or difficulty experienced by new ventures in obtaining capital, and thereby the strength and potential for growth in the economy.”…John F. Kennedy

A tax increase to a company results in some combination of the following:
Product and service price increases.
Employee and hours cutbacks.
Reduced hiring.”…Citizen Wells

“Nearly every empirical study of taxes and economic growth published in a peer reviewed journal finds that tax increases harm economic growth,”…William McBride, Tax Foundation

Good news from NC.

Obama was defeated in NC in the 2012 election and for the first time since the 1890s, Republicans control both legislative and executive branches.

Good news reporting in NC.

From John Hammer of the Rhino Times January 3, 2013.

“The Republicans blinked and now they are toast. There is an old saying in business: If you aren’t willing to get up and walk away from the negotiating table then you’re just begging.

Obama refused to negotiate and basically said it was OK with him if they went over the fiscal cliff. We’ll never know if he was serious because House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell panicked. Whether or not Obama would have gone over the fiscal cliff is academic at this point because he did what good negotiators do – he convinced his opponents that he was willing to go over the cliff if they didn’t agree to his terms.

The negotiations by McConnell with Vice President Joe Biden got the small concession that taxes would be raised on families with incomes over $450,000. Obama wanted it to be $250,000, but it doesn’t matter because Obama got the Republicans to support tax increases.

And it’s not just a tax increase on those making over $450,000, it’s a tax increase on over 70 percent of Americans. So Obama got the Republicans to vote to raise taxes on most Americans – something they said they wouldn’t do.

Not only did Obama get Republicans to support tax increases, he got them to agree to raise spending. The deal that McConnell and Boehner voted for raises spending by nearly $4 trillion. The deal includes $1 in tax cuts for every $41 in increased taxes.

If the Republicans were going to cave like this, why bother to wait until the last minute?

The huge problem is that this leadership is done. The Democrats now know that they will cave. The Democrats have to wait until the last minute, but in the end this Republican leadership team doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to hang in there.

It’s astounding how badly Obama beat the Republicans. First he got them to agree to this fiscal cliff deal a year ago, which was brilliant. He pushed the showdown out past the election. Obama will never run for anything again, so he really doesn’t have to worry about public opinion. Plus, he does have the media on his side. So no matter what Obama does he knows that he has the full support of the mainstream media and it will work overtime spinning everything in his direction.

However, despite the unquestioning media support, pushing the face-off out past the election gave Obama a huge advantage. The Republicans were no doubt hoping they could beat Obama at the polls in November, but they didn’t come close.

With the fiscal cliff looming and no election to worry about, Obama had a strong hand. The fiscal cliff raised taxes on everyone, something that Obama wants to do, and this way he could do it and blame it on the Republicans. The cuts included by going over the fiscal cliff may have been devastating, but half were to military spending, which Obama also wanted to do, and once again by going over the fiscal cliff he could blame it on the Republicans, which is what the press was doing.

So Obama could sit back with confidence and say, OK, either agree to my terms or I’m willing to jump off that cliff. The Republicans lost any bargaining power they might have had when they admitted to being horrified to go over the cliff. The negotiating tactic that might have worked would have been to agree with Obama that going over the cliff would not be bad and discussing how to deal with the issues that would arise, like a recession.

You’ve got to convince the other guy that you are willing to walk away from the table, and in the negotiations the Republicans convinced Obama that in the end they would cave, and they did.

Obama in the end gave up almost nothing. It doesn’t matter where you put the limit on tax increases on the wealthy because the point is not to raise money. It’s just politics. Obama has been saying that the rich don’t pay their fair share. He doesn’t give facts and figures to back this up; he just says it over and over again until people start believing it. Obama says the rich don’t pay their fair share so he wants to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans.

The Republicans have for 20 years opposed raising taxes. The Republican argument is that the problem is not that the government doesn’t have enough money, it is that the government spends too much money. The way to solve the fiscal mess according to Republicans is to reduce spending and reduce taxes. You reduce spending to lower the deficit and you reduce taxes to stimulate the economy.

Even Obama admits that reducing taxes stimulates the economy. What he hasn’t explained is why he wants to raise taxes if reducing taxes stimulates the economy. But Obama got to raise taxes on the wealthy like he wanted, and he got to increase spending by nearly $4 trillion. But he also got to raise taxes on most everybody else and to extend unemployment benefits for another year. Extending unemployment benefits encourages more people not to work, which is not what is best for the economy. But it sure is a great way for the Democrats to buy votes.

It was a win all the way around for Obama. Then he got to get on Air Force One, fly west and wake up in Hawaii. Talk about having a good week. This one is going to be hard for Obama to beat.”

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Articles-Columns-c-2013-01-02-214374.112113-Under-the-Hammer.html

Unemployment initial claims January 3, 2013, 372000 claims, Up 10 thousand, 21 states with increases over 1000, Carma for Ohio with Layoffs in the automobile and manufacturing industries

Unemployment initial claims January 3, 2013, 372000 claims, Up 10 thousand, 21 states with increases over 1000, Carma for Ohio with Layoffs in the automobile and manufacturing industries

“With a 63.7% labor force participation, “conditions in the labor market are considerably worse than indicated” in July’s report”…economist Joshua Shapiro, WSJ August 3, 2012

“We tried our plan—and it worked. That’s the difference. That’s the choice in this election. That’s why I’m running for a second term.”…Barack Obama

“the Times of the nineteenth of December had published the official forecasts of the output of various classes of consumption goods in the fourth quarter of 1983, which was also the sixth quarter of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. Today’s issue contained a statement of the actual output, from which it appeared that the forecasts were in every instance grossly wrong. Winston’s job was to rectify the original figures by making them agree with the later ones.”…George Orwell, “1984″

The Unemployment Initial Claims Report for January 3, 2013 was released this morning. 21 states had increases over 1000. Of the top 12 states with claims increases, all but one went for Obama in 2012 and all had initial claims over 2,000. Ohio had the largest increase of 8,795.

I refer to this as Carma.

From the US Labor Department January 3, 2013.

“In the week ending December 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 372,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 362,000. The 4-week moving average was 360,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week’s revised average of 359,750.”

STATES WITH AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 1,000


State Change State Supplied Comment
OH +8,795 Layoffs in the automobile and manufacturing industries.
MI +6,641 Layoffs in the manufacturing industry.
PA +5,530 Layoffs in the entertainment and accommodations, and food service industries.
KY +4,745 No comment.
MA +4,330 Layoffs in the educational services, construction, transportation, retail, food service and manufacturing industries.
NJ +3,710 Layoffs in the educational services, construction, manufacturing, and real estate and rental industries.
IL +3,445 Layoffs in the construction and manufacturing industries.
VA +3,366 No comment.
WI +2,833 No comment.
NY +2,401 Layoffs in the construction, food service, professional, scientific, and technical service industries.
CT +2,084 No comment.
WA +2,008 Layoffs in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and construction industries.
IA +1,648 Layoffs in construction and manufacturing industries.
NC +1,394 Layoffs in the business services and construction industries.
MD +1,353 No comment.
MO +1,311 Layoffs in the accommodation and food service industries.
OK +1,198 No comment.
IN +1,175 Layoffs in the construction and transportation manufacturing industries.
OR +1,150 Layoffs in seasonal industries.
AR +1,092 No comment.
TN +1,030 Layoffs in the administrative and supporting service, food service, specialty trade contractors, metal, and construction industries.

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ui/eta20122533.htm#.UOXh8W_7LhI