by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny
Perhaps this is a large part of the problem?
The Weekly Standard - Senate majority leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, made his "fiscal cliff" position clear in a press conference today. "We are not going to do anything," said Reid.
Reid added, "We are not taking up anything they are working on over there."
The top Democrat in the Senate was explaining his inaction on the House plan, the proposal put forward by Republican John Boehner, the speaker of the House of Representatives. Boehner's plan is being referred to as 'Plan B.' {Read More}
But as there always is two sides, maybe this is a small part of the problem?
Politico - Speaker John Boehner, using his harshest tone of the fiscal cliff debate, said the White House has “done nothing” since he relented on letting low tax rates lapse on wealthy Americans.
“For weeks the White House said if I moved on rates, that they would make substantial concessions on spending cuts and entitlement reform,” Boehner said in an afternoon news conference. “I did my part, they’ve done nothing.” {Read More}
As I see it NEITHER side is serious about negotiations. What is being bantered about amounts to meager adjustments and cuts over a ten year period. Meager against a 16 plus trillion dollar national dept anyway.
Until BOTH sides get serious about actually doing something of significance, and yes, that means defense cuts, domestic spending cuts, and, here it comes, simplifying the tax code and establishing rates that based on the simplified tax code results in increasing revenue flowing to the treasury.
Taxing the wealthy and business until all incentive to do business is removed makes no sense. Most intelligent people, although not all, understand this. However, getting rid of tax loopholes used by the wealthy actually does make a lot of sense. This combined with a lower rate would increase revenues flowing to the treasury from the wealthy.
Either the two intransigent sides get serious, work out a compromise that is both meaningful and workable, or I say lets all go over the cliff together pointing fingers all the way to the bottom. Because folks, at the end of the day, both political parties will bear responsibility. Not that this fact will ease the pain the nation will experience.
Oh, almost forgot. Kicking the can down the road only passes the inevitable off for another day.
Just in time for Holidays season, a gift for you! A new Giveaway from Sheinside, where the prize is: one of these five great sweaters ! If that appeals to you, all you have to do is to follow a few requests.
- Follow Bittersweet Colors with Google Friend Connect or Facebook Page (HERE) - Register on Sheinside( Click HERE to register) - Like the Sheinside Facebook Page (HERE) - Leave a comment below with your name, email address and the product link of your favorite piece. This giveaway is worldwide and the last day to enter is December 28. Good luck!!! 1. Sweater: Sheinside/ Here 2. Cardigan: Sheinside/ Here 3. Sweater: Sheinside/ Here 4. Cardigan: Sheinside/ Here 5. Sweater: Sheinside/ Here
The term appears to have been used originally by President Bush (for example in a speech February 20, 2003 in Kennesaw, Georgia) as a phrase to rally support for his tax-cut proposals (Pittsburgh Post - Gazette, Bush OKs Funding Bill for Fiscal '03, Feb 21, 2003 Scott Lindlaw). From 2004 Bush supporters described the ownership society in much broader and more ambitious terms, including specific policy proposals concerning home ownership, medicine, education and savings.
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs - Tyranny
"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome become bankrupt.
People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance."
Cicero , 55 BC
Indeed. Evidently we have learned nothing in the past 2,067 years.
It has often been said, "The more things change the more they same the same." Apparently it is true.
Back home from a wonderful 3 days trip in New York! Soon photos:) Today I want to show you what I received from one of my blog's wonderful readers! Her name is Sasha Van Goga and her blog (Fashion illustrations by Sasha van Goga) is full with wonderful fashion illustrations. I love all these illustrations with my "Impressionism Inspired" outfit (see it here) and most of all, the fact she took time to do all these as a gift for me. I appreciate that Sasha! And thank you very much! I guess when you are asked what are the most rewarding moments as a blogger... THIS is one of them!
Several weeks ago I went to an estate sale in an amazing house. Each one of the SIX bedrooms had upholstered walls in a different toile. Coordinating but not matching custom made silk curtains in each room (because what is toile without some silk) and custom bedding as well. A little too much toile for most, but as Martyn Lawerence would say it was 'delicious'. I went back to that sale twice, mostly to just look at the house. It was my first encounter with upholstered walls and I'm telling you, they are no joke.
And I'm not talking one flew over the cuckoo's nest padded walls. I mean upholstered goodness. Like this.
The Led Zeppelin reunion show at the O2 Arena, and there were some surprises: alongside the hoary classics ("Stairway to Heaven," "Kashmir") there was a strong selection of deeper cuts ("Trampled Under Foot,"
"Nobody's Fault But Mine") and one live debut (Presence's "For Your Life"). Tomorrow, we'll have David Fricke's complete report from the Ahmet Ertegun Benefit, but until then, here's the full set list:
"Good Times, Bad Times" "Ramble On" "Black Dog" "In My Time of Dying" "For Your Life" "Trampled Under Foot" "Nobody's Fault But Mine" "No Quarter" "Since I've Been Lovin' You" "Dazed and Confused" "Stairway To Heaven" "The Song Remains the Same" "Misty Mountain Hop" "Kashmir" Encore: "Whole Lotta Love" "Rock and Roll"
While you read this post, we will be on our way to New York. I'll keep you posted with photos from our trip on Instagram Meantime a new outfit post: White-Neon-Nude trio combination. A minimalist -chic look that I wore almost 2 weeks ago and I was very happy about it, even though my "bittersweet colours" are missing. Still, some striking neon touches can be seen in the Marni bangle bracelet and sporty blouse. For the cape I have to thank to Forward Fashion Project and Daryl K. A really wonderful and warm piece to get through a long winter that has just begun!
Cape: thanks to FFP andDaryl K/ Here Jeans: Mago/ similarHere Boots: Zara(old) Bangle bracelet: Marni/ another great one Here Bag: Margot Neon blouse: Hind
These will be the Stones' third and fourth area appearances this month. They played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn Dec. 8, and took the stage briefly at the 12-12-12 benefit at Madison Square Garden, contributing sharp versions of "You Got Me Rocking" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash."
EnlargeStar-Ledger Entertainment DeskMick Jagger, lead singer for the rock group the "Rolling Stones" performs with his band in the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, Sweden, June 19, 1982, before some 112,177 spectators. (TOMMY WIBERG/AFP/Getty Images)
John Mayer joined the Stones at Thursday's show in Newark, playing guitar on "Respectable." But it was Taylor who stole the show with his dynamic guitar playing on "Midnight Rambler."
These will be the last of the only five full-length concerts the Stones are presenting this year, though band members have said in interviews that they may continue touring next year as well.
SETLIST "Get Off of My Cloud" "The Last Time" "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)" "Paint It Black" "Gimme Shelter" (with Lady Gaga) "Wild Horses" "Going Down" (with Gary Clark Jr. and John Mayer) "Dead Flowers" "Who Do You Love" (with the Black Keys) "Doom and Gloom" "One More Shot" "Miss You" "Honky Tonk Women" "Before They Make Me Run" "Happy" "Midnight Rambler" (with Mick Taylor) "Start Me Up" "Tumbling Dice" (with Bruce Springsteen) "Brown Sugar" "Sympathy for the Devil" Encores: "You Can't Always Get What You Want" "Jumpin' Jack Flash" "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
"The short circuit, which celebrates the Rolling Stones’ 50th anniversary, has been loaded with guests: veteran guitar-slingers Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, young blues rockers Gary Clark Jr., John Mayer, the Black Keys, former Stone Mick Taylor and, in London, departed bassist Bill Wyman."
“Our next guest just had to walk here,” joked Mick Jagger.
And from the rear of the stage at Prudential Center, bearing a Telecaster and a smile, came Bruce Springsteen.
It was the ideal combination of blue-collar Jersey muscle and delectable London sleaze: The Boss and Jagger, voices joined together on “Tumbling Dice.”
Springsteen had come to send off the Rolling Stones, who declared the 2½-hour Saturday night concert the last stop on their 50 and Counting Tour. The Boss, who has never been shy about citing the Stones as a major influence, looked delighted as he roared out the verses of “Dice,” pumping his fist and grinning wildly as he sang along.
In that regard, he was not so different from the thousands of thrilled attendees who sold out the Rock last night. He just had a microphone and a spotlight.
Earlier, the Mother Monster stood shoulder to shoulder with the quintessential rock ’n’ roll animals.
She was right at home. Yet Lady Gaga, the platinum-selling pop star with a knack for the outrageous, met her match at the Prudential Center.
2 Look : Swimsuit: Ella Moss thanks toSwimSpot.com / Here Sunglasses: thanks tozeroUV/ Here Hat: no brand/ similarHere Bracelet: vintage
In the middle of December I dream to a getaway:) probably I'm not the only one, right? All that because I received this Ella Moss retro inspired swimsuit, (thanks toSwimSpot.com) and my mind started dreaming to sunny Summer days or why not to a getaway in the middle of Winter... Ella Moss 2013 Collection features a selection of bold colors, charming textures, and eye-catching cuts, like this one presented here today. I personally love this solid piece with these ruffle details that brings the right amount of feminine charm. I even accessorize it in 2 different ways with jewelry, hats and sunglasses, shown here above. If you are looking for unique designs, you'll want to check out this new collection <HERE> I 'll love to know what piece do you like the most !
Lead researcher Rodney Kennedy said: 'Given that such improvement resulted from less than 30 minutes per week of moderate exercise, stair climbing in the workplace should be promoted as a health-enhancing physical activity.'
I'm a believer in "baby step" theories. Doing something is definitely better than doing nothing. It doesn't take much of a behavior change to make a big difference if one just sticks to it.
Starting in June of 2011, I have been climbing at least 20 flights of extra stairs each and every day. These days, I generally break it into 4 sets of 5 flights. Now that I'm in relatively good shape, they take about a minute each. That's roughly 28 minutes per week. No big deal!
It took so little to feel so much better. I'm about 20 pounds lighter than when I started. I'm generally doing a lot more activity per day than just 20 flights of stairs though. Exercise begets exercise. 20 flights is still my minimum. It's enough to keep me in the game, so to speak. Some days I just do the bare minimum. No big deal!
No stress. No eating rice cakes. No pain, no pain. I've been doing a lot of walking around the neighborhood in recent months. And I mean a lot! I honestly enjoy it. Rain? Shine? It's all good. That's what umbrellas are for. It all started with baby steps on the stairway.
“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” - Greg Anderson
That's the difference this time. I'm doing what I think I can do every day for the rest of my life, and not because I feel the need to do it. I do it because I enjoy how it makes me feel.
And on that note, I'm off to walk a 1.5 mile loop around the neighborhood. It's a beautiful night. The air is crisp. I won't have to ask my dog to join me more than once. Dogs somehow inherently know that walking can be fun. And yet it is we humans that need to be trained? Go figure! :)
Thanks to Rik in the comments of this post for bringing the article to my attention.
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny
Connecticut State Police walk near the scene of an elementary school shooting on Dec. 14, 2012 in Newtown, Conn. (credit: Douglas Healey/Getty Images)
Today, in Newtown Connecticut an act of unspeakable violence against innocent children occurred. As unfathomable as this act was it occured.
As I sat numbed by the realization such a grotesque and deranged act could actually occur, I could not help but to contemplate what it is that would drive a 20 year old individual to commit such a heinous crime against innocent children.
Having a 4 year old grandson and a 1 and a 1/2 year old old granddaughter the events of today hit very close to home. My heart, as well as that of Mrs. Rational Nation goes out to the parents and families who lost loved ones in today's tragic shooting.
Now is the time for all Americans to come together in mourning the loss of innocent young lives. After the grieving we must look for answers as to how we may, as a civilized people prevent future occurrences of such horrific violence against the innocent.
There are those who will use the tragedy of today to further their political agenda. Such politicizing of today's tragedy is despicable and deserving of the strongest condemnation. Rational Nation USA urges all conservative and libertarian site to join me in vocal condemnation of such naked political whoring of today's tragic events.
Local news of the today's tragic event can be found here.
I'm not suggesting that World War III will soon break out, but I am suggesting that ZIRP may be here for far longer than most think possible. We're currently "only" four years into the chart.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said policy makers may not start to raise rates until early 2012 while facing a “too low for two long” argument that may “weigh heavily” on the central bank.
Charles Plosser, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, said the Fed will probably need to raise interest rates before mid-2013 and that policy makers should have waited to see how the economy performed before pledging to hold rates at record lows for two years.
Federal Reserve officials said their benchmark interest rate will stay low until at least late 2014 and anticipate that unemployment will remain high and inflation “subdued.”
A majority of Federal Reserve officials don’t expect to raise the main interest rate until 2015, when they forecast the jobless rate will fall to between 6 percent and 6.6 percent.
The date of the interest rate hike is a procrastinator's dream. It *always* appears to be about 2 years away. You know what they say. Never put off for tomorrow what you can do two years from now! This is no doubt a big shocker to the ivory tower crowd.
For what it is worth, this has definitely been one of my better calls since starting this blog.
If I had but one prediction, it would be that it will grow increasingly difficult to make money off of money going forward. That's why I continue to track what I call the death of real yields.
The following chart shows nonstore sales divided by department store sales.
Click to enlarge.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where department store employment trends are headed, although rocket science might help in establishing the exact trajectory. Sigh.
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny
Of interest no doubt to the Star Wars enthusiast. However, quite far fetched. For now anyway. Or is it?
THE FW - On the White House’s website there is a “We The People” section, which allows citizens to “petition the Obama Administration to take action on a range of important issues facing our country.” If any submitted petition gets 25,000 E-signatures, then the White House will review the proposal.
Our favorite of these petitions this month has to be from Colorado man “John D” who, as we reported last week, wants the government to secure resources and funding to begin the construction of a Death Star by 2016.
His rationale for building the mega-weapon from the ‘Star Wars‘ movies is as much public works project than direct threat to the little green men who could be living below Mars’ surface.
“By focusing our defense resources into a space-superiority platform and weapon system such as a Death Star, the government can spur job creation in the fields of construction, engineering, space exploration, and more, and strengthen our national defense,” he writes.
So far, the petition has over 19,000 signatures. However, the fun ends on December 14 so ‘Star Wars’ fans and folks who have ‘Independence Day’-related nightmares need to log on and sign on immediately.
If the petition does hit 25,000 it is going to pose a problem for the Obama Administration. While having a Death Star would be undeniably awesome, the costs of building one are probably prohibitive. According a recent study it would cost $852,000,000,000,000,000 — or 13,000 times the world’s GDP — just to produce the steel required to build the weapon.
With the President's enthusiasm for drones, and with the mega ton cost it just may be of interest to this President. ;-)
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny
Yep, certainly everyone should be able to agree on the need to offset the cost of Sandy's devastation to the federal budget. As well, everyone should be able to see the logic of the states effected shouldering a share of the burden of cost.
THE HILL - House conservatives are wasting no time in demanding that emergency spending for Hurricane Sandy be offset by spending cuts to the rest of the budget.
The White House on Friday requested Congress to pass a $60.4 billion bill to pay for damage resulting from Sandy.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders have so far been mum on whether they will demand spending cuts to match.
The right wing members of the House conference are not waiting to make their feelings known.
Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), who sits on the Appropriations Committee, said she will need to see offsets on Wednesday as did Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho).
“We have these emergencies every year and we should prepare for that in our budget,” Labrador said.
“No pun intended, we should have a rainy day fund,” Rep. Jeff Landry (R-La.) said.
The August 2011 debt deal allows the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund to have up to $11 billion this year in extra funds for a disaster, but this money is not enough for the historic damage cause by Sandy according to the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said he will be looking for offsets for at least some of the spending and indicated he is not comfortable with the White House request that state and local governments contribute less than 25 percent of the cost of repairs. {Read More}
by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny
NBC/WSJ poll: GOP already goes off one cliff -- the image cliff… American public: We want compromise… But this also presents dilemma for White House: Does it bend over backwards to achieve compromise, or does it try to make the GOP cry “Uncle”?... Who gets the blame if the country goes over the cliff? Answer: Both sides… But Obama and the Democrats also have the upper hand… The other big news from our poll: Majority, for the first time, supports gay marriage… {First Thoughts - NBC}
Maybe the President and Congress will finally listen? I'm linking it unlikely.
Those among us that lean towards a reasonable fiscal conservatism and a libertarian social agenda have seen this coming for quite some time. rEpublicans (many are members of the Tea Party) decided after the 2010 mid term elections that compromise on debt and budgetary matters was a dirty concept. The agenda was to stare down the President and dEmocrat party. The rEpublicans obviously believed, erroneously as it turned out, the public was in majority force behind them. We all know where the socons stand on social issues, back a couple hundred years or so.
dEmocrats while offering some compromises the reality is for the most part they were designed to result in the rEpublicans not accepting them. President Obama, after establishing a "commission" to find alternatives and make recommendations pretty much ignored the advice of those he appointed. However, on the social issue side they offered a welcome counter to the socons of the rEpublican party.
The general public, including a majority of rEpublicans polled hold a negative view of the party of the Elephant. Some very telling (and top) comments used to describe the rEpublicans in Congress are; "“Bad,” “weak,” “negative,” “uncompromising,” “need to work together,” “broken,” “disorganized”. If the party really doesn't desire achieving complete and total irrelevancy the leadership might want to start listening a tad better.
Being a fiscal conservative of the reasonable sort, and libertarian on social issue I say the rEpublicans ought to give the President and the dEmocrats precisely what they want. Let the spend thrift dEmocrat Keynesian statists (not at all unlike the rEpublican spend thrift statists) have the day. This way the responsibility for a collapse, should it occur will rest fully with them. The other side of the token of course is that if their plan is a resounding success they will reap all the accolades.
Here's how I see it bottom line. What we've got ain't working. What we had, at least in part, led to our current situation. So, at least in this individuals never humble opinion letting the dEmocrat Keynesian bureaucrats now in power call the shots seems reasonable. After all in four years the country will have the opportunity to grade the results and pass judgment. This time based SOLELY on the current administration and dEmocrat policy and agenda. I can't think of anything more fitting.
By Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Brooke Brower - *** GOP goes off the image cliff: The clock is ticking over whether President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner can avoid going over the so-called fiscal cliff at the beginning of next year. But our new NBC/WSJ poll shows that the Republican Party has already gone off one cliff, per co-pollster Peter Hart (D) -- the image cliff. The GOP’s fav/unfav rating in the poll now stands at 30%/45% (minus-15), which is down from 36%/43% (minus-7) right before the election. That’s compared with the Democratic Party’s 44%/35% rating (plus-9). And other than self-described Republicans and conservatives, just two other groups have a net positive view of the GOP: folks who live in rural America (39%/33%) and folks who live in the South (39%/38%), that’s it. What’s more, asked to give a word or short phrase to describe the Republican Party, 65% offered a negative comment, including MORE THAN HALF of Republicans. The top responses: “Bad,” “weak,” “negative,” “uncompromising,” “need to work together,” “broken,” “disorganized” and “lost.” By contrast, 37% gave negative descriptions of the Democratic Party, while 35% were positive. A Republican politician or operative might look at our poll and say, “Well, the good news is that our numbers can’t get any lower.” That might be true, and they could very well drag Democrats down with them if there isn’t a deal. But there’s another way to look at the poll: Republicans have a lot to gain, too. And if they want to be a competitive national party again and not simply a regional, rural party, they need to make gains.
*** The American public: We want compromise: The reason they have a lot to gain is that the American public -- Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike -- wants compromise. According to the poll, two-thirds of respondents (67%) are willing to accept an increase in taxes or cuts in federal government programs they care about to reach an agreement to avoid the problem. What’s more, a whopping 76% say it would be acceptable increasing taxes on those who earn more than $250,000 to avoid the cliff, and that includes 61% of Republican respondents. Indeed, for the first time in our poll, a majority of Republicans (59%) say they want GOP leaders to make compromises to gain consensus in the current budget debate. Previously, in 2011, majorities of Republicans said they preferred GOP leaders to stick to their positions rather than make compromises. And the percentage of Democrats who favor compromise on this question (70%) is now at an all-time high in the survey.
*** Does the White House seek compromise -- or total victory? But these numbers present the Obama White House with a dilemma: How does it proceed during what looks like a stalemate right now in the budget negotiations? Does it bend over backwards with Boehner and House Republicans just to get a deal, even if it gives up much of the leverage it has with the Bush-era tax cuts and after last month’s presidential election? Or does it -- as some Democrats and many progressives are urging -- hold fast and be willing to go off the cliff to break the Republican Party and make it cry, “Uncle”? This is a tricky situation for the White House, because there is every chance that we simply go from fiscal cliff to other fiscal cliff over the next few years, and that could end up being politically painful for the White House and could mean the hope of getting OTHER legislative accomplishments in 2013 remote (think immigration or energy or education). {Read More}
