Friday, 20 March 2009

Rants

More nuance, please!


Ooooo-kay:

SPIEGEL:  Madame Secretary, in your first testimony to the US Congress as Homeland Security Secretary you never mentioned the word “terrorism.”  Does Islamist terrorism suddenly no longer pose a threat to your country?

NAPOLITANO:  Of course it does.  I presume there is always a threat from terrorism.  In my speech, although I did not use the word “terrorism,” I referred to “man-caused” disasters.  That is perhaps only a nuance, but it demonstrates that we want to move away from the politics of fear toward a policy of being prepared for all risks that can occur.
“Nuance,” huh?

o-o-0-o-o

A PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS[1]
Prepared, in advance, for the next September 11th
Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack were all inconvenienced in a series of deliberate unfortunate and deadly terrorist acts man-caused disasters.

The victims inconvenienced were in airplanes or in their offices -- secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers.  Moms and dads.  Friends and neighbors.  Little Eichmanns.

Thousands of lives were suddenly ended altered by evil, despicable acts of terror culturally and historically justifiable man-caused disasters.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief grudging admiration, terrible sadness guilt, and a quiet, unyielding anger sincere desire to understand why they hate us.

These acts of mass murder man-caused disasters were intended to frighten inspire our nation into chaos and retreat thoughtful reflection.  But they have failed.  Our country is strong stubborn.  A great people has been moved to defend attack a great nation that is no better than any other.

Terrorist attacks Man-caused disasters can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but and also they cannot touch reflect the foundation evil of America.  But although these acts shatter steel, but unfortunately they cannot have not yet dented the steel of American resolve arroganceWhich is kind of sad, when you think about it.


Via:  NewsBusters via Ace
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[1]  Mostly from this comment by “Milesdei,” with a few extra crossouts by o.g.

Posted by: Old Grouch in Rants at 01:35:18 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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Wednesday, 04 March 2009

Rants

Hey “Atlas:” Three words for ya


Lot of brave talk around the web about “going Galt;[1]” with productive people making noises about easing off so they can duck Obama’s tax increases.

Not so fast, Atlas. Three words: Cap And Trade.

The cost of energy for consumers would be driven higher in Presiden Barak Obama’s proposed budget by a cap-and-trade carbon system that is projected to raise $80 billion a year starting in 2012...

The budget assumes a starting price of $20 per ton for carbon emissions, an amount that Mr. Obama’s aides say is conservative and would likely rise.

The budget projects raising $645 billion from the auction of emissions credits between 2012... and 2019.  Mr. Obama would use some of that money to pay for about $120 billion of spending on various low-carbon technologies...  The rest of the money– about $525 billion– would be returned “to the people, especially vulnerable families, communities, and businesses...”[2]
Well guess what, Atlas, “vulnerable” ain’t you.

So while the Democrats’ clients and buddies get paid, you get to absorb an $80+ billion/year hit.  And it won’t make any difference what your income is, or how much your 1040 taxes are.

Ready for $15 a gallon gasoline?  Ready for you electric bill to quadruple?  Ready for those costs to work their way through the rest of the economy, into the food, and clothing and rents?  Oh, and don’t forget those state and local taxes: It’ll cost more to keep the lights on (and the politicians comfortable) down at the statehouse, and you'll get to pay for it.

Yep, you’ll pay, my pretty.  And you’ll pay more.  And you’ll pay again.

Or you’ll freeze in the dark.



Elsewhere:

Related:
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[1] E.g., here.here.and here.

[2] The Wall Street Journal, February 27, 2009: “Carbon Trading to Raise Consumer Energy Prices” by Stephen Power

Posted by: Old Grouch in Rants at 17:19:32 GMT | No Comments | Add Comment
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