Video: Democrat Rep. Jim Moran tells constituent to “sit down or leave” during townhall meeting

Posted on April 8, 2011 by steve

After watching the following video, I find it odd how Rep. Jim Moran (Democrat- Virginia) went from reasonably calm to purple faced with rage in the span of a couple of seconds. It seems as if Rep. Moran was looking for a fight, an opportunity to garner positive press similar to this blurb posted at Fox Nation:

The man began his tirade by asking, “Why are you here tonight and not in Congress trying to figure out how to stop this from happening?” The man continued to verbally attack Moran before the Congressman finally yelled back, ordering the man to sit down or leave.

Here is the video:

Video: Jousting on a Segway?

Posted on April 7, 2011 by steve

This looks like fun…

Obama Can Keep His ‘Shared Sacrifice’

Posted on April 6, 2011 by steve

I read this quote today from Obama’s press secretary that really sums up the American left’s world view.

“Any plan to reduce our deficit substantially must reflect American values of fairness and shared sacrifice”

Much like Obama’s “I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody” quote this short blurb speaks volumes about the left’s world view.

I think the majority of Americans reject Obama’s idea of ‘shared sacrifice.’

Here are a few quotes that are more representative of the American spirit and reflect true American values:

“There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence, and energy of her citizens can not cure.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower

The Democrats say that the United States has had its days in the sun, that our nation has passed its zenith. They expect you to tell your children that the American people no longer have the will to cope with their problems, that the future will be one of sacrifice and few opportunities. My fellow citizens, I utterly reject that view.

Ronald Reagan

Because of what America is and what America has done, a firmer courage, a higher hope, inspires the heart of all humanity.

And….

There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no independence quite so important, as living within your means.

Calvin Coolidge

Accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.

George S. Patton

The mania for giving the Government power to meddle with the private affairs of cities or citizens is likely to cause endless trouble, through the rivaly of schools and creeds that are anxious to obtain official recognition, and there is great danger that our people will lose our independence of thought and action which is the cause of much of our greatness, and sink into the helplessness of the Frenchman or German who expects his government to feed him when hungry, clothe him when naked, to prescribe when his child may be born and when he may die, and, in fine, to regulate every act of humanity from the cradle to the tomb, including the manner in which he may seek future admission to paradise.

Mark Twain

I think these ideals are much more representative of American ideals rather than Obama’s ‘shared sacrifice’ nonsense.

Obama: “We don’t have time for games”

Posted on April 5, 2011 by steve

Uhhhh… What was that Obama said?

President Obama strongly scolded congressional Republicans on their failure so far to reach a budget compromise that would avert a government shutdown by the end of the week, instructing them to start acting like “grown-ups” and to stop playing political games.

“We don’t have time for games,” he told reporters during a rare appearance in the White House briefing room. “We don’t have time to score political points.”

Get real. Who ran Congress last year and din’t even bother to put forth a budget?

The EPA’s “Re-Powering” America Initiative: Sending More Tax Dollars Down The Drain

Posted on April 4, 2011 by steve

The EPA is pushing a new initiative called re-powering America. The project involves the EPA giving money we don’t have to local governments to construct ‘green energy’ projects in brown field areas, that (in theory) will produce electricity we all ready have.

Via the EPA:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is soliciting applications from states, tribes, regional governments, and communities that are interested in the development of renewable energy on current and formerly contaminated properties. The opportunity is offered through EPA’s RE-Powering America’s Land initiative, which takes a multi-pronged approach to site cleanup and development of renewable energy production facilities on potentially contaminated land. Potentially contaminated lands include Superfund, brownfields, RCRA corrective action, and former landfill or mining sites.

The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory will conduct renewable energy feasibility studies for the selected sites to determine the best renewable energy technology for the site, the optimal location for placement of the renewable energy technology, potential energy generating capacity, the return on the investment, and the economic feasibility of the renewable energy projects.

Through this initiative, potentially contaminated sites will be reused and redeveloped to increase renewable power generation, while also improving communities, creating jobs, and decreasing the use of greenspace necessary for renewable power plants.

Economic feasibility? Who are they kidding, has anyone in the EPA read Frederic Bastiat’s classic Broken Window essay? As pointed out in a previous motorcitytimes.com post:

Any serious economist will tell you that subsidizing green energy is simply a modern version of Frederic Bastiat’s classic “broken window” economic model. Rather than breaking our own window, replacing and it calling this economic activity we are spending vast sums of money replacing existing reliable, functioning and cost effective energy generating capacity with so-called “green energy” (that is less reliable and more expensive). How does this make any sense?

Anyone would be hard pressed to find an area in the United States that doesn’t have reliable and inexpensive electricity today. So, why spend large sums of money constructing redundant, less reliable and more expensive generating projects.

Video: 2009 Malibu vs. 1959 Bel Air Crash Test

Posted on April 3, 2011 by steve

My friend on StumbleUpon, Lee, sent me this great video of a crash test between a 2009 Chevy Malibu and 1959 Chevy Bel Air.

It is quite amazing:

Speaking of StumbleUpon, You can follow me here if you feel so inclined. I’ll be sure to reciprocate.

More Self-Imposed Price Pressures On Economy: Conflict Free Materials From Africa

Posted on April 3, 2011 by steve

On the surface, it seems like a good idea. Forgo purchasing raw materials (minerals such as tungsten, tin, gold and coltan) used in electronics from suppliers that are helping to fund wars in Central Africa.

Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog:

Bloomberg reports that new rules have gone into effect which prohibit electronics makers from buying minerals that help fund wars in Central Africa. The Conflict-Free Smelter program specifically bars electronics makers like Apple and Intel from buying tungsten, tin ore, gold and coltan from Congo and neighboring countries unless mineral processors can prove purchases don’t contribute to conflict in eastern Congo.

Of course, our lecturer-in-chief is all over this idea since it appeals to his collegiate sensibilities. And, as an added bonus, it makes things harder on private sector business.

Via Bloomberg:

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will also issue regulations to stem purchases of so-called “conflict minerals” this month, under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed by President Barack Obama in July.

U.S. companies will be required to audit mineral supplies next year to identify purchases that may be tainted by the Congo fighting, according to draft SEC regulations.

African traders want more time to implement programs to track minerals before the new rules take effect, Kanyoni said. An embargo may affect more than 200,000 artisanal miners in Congo, according to Pact, a Washington-based development group helping to implement mineral tracing programs in the region.

This action will not prevent these materials from ending up inside consumer electronics on US store shelves. These materials will simply be shipped to an unscrupulous middle man in China, Taiwan, Vietnam or Malaysia where the material will be marked up and sold on the market as ‘conflict free material.’

If companies in the United States can prove and document that the mines they are using are not providing financial assistance to the conflict in Africa, they will incur added costs in meeting the new compliance regimen.

Either way, US consumers are going to foot the bill for an initiative that will not do anything to stem the violence in Africa.

Saturday Night Links: The Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa Edition

Posted on April 2, 2011 by steve

This car just looks cool. Via egmCarTech:

Weighing in at 1,870 pounds, the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Corsa is powered by a 4.2L dry sump V8 engine making 420-hp. mated to a 6-speed sequential gearbox, the TZ3 Corsa is capable of running from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 185 mph.

We’re sure each unit will cost a couple hundred thousand dollars.

Conservative Perspective: Dateline Detroit

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Inconsistency, Questionable Morality Mark War in Libya

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