Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Yesterday, I wrote this post that highlighted how progressive hacks have gotten pretty much everything wrong in predicting the trajectory of the US economy. Andy Puzder’s op-ed does a fantastic job highlighting what’s actually happening with the economy.

Puzder wrote “This is no ‘sugar high’ for the U.S. economy. To the great shock and disappointment of liberals who have been desperately hoping for an economic downturn, the U.S. economy once again blew away expectations, recording a 3.2 percent GDP growth rate in the first quarter of this year. Even MSNBC described the quarterly growth as ‘extraordinary.'”

Here’s what’s really happening:

Liberals have been predicting an impending recession for months. Frustrated with the obvious success of President Trump’s sweeping middle-class tax cuts, which they had claimed would result in ‘Armageddon’, Democrats next argued that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) would only produce a ‘sugar high’ for the economy. With each successive quarter that their predictions have failed to materialize, they’ve only become more frustrated with the economy’s long-term prospects.

After Ms. Pelosi started talk about Armageddon, she quickly shifted to talking about the crumbs workers were getting:

It’s obvious that Democrats are deploying a multitude of lies to tell the American people that Trump’s policies are a failure. Admitting that President Trump’s policies are working simply won’t do. Admitting that they’re working would upset the Resistance. Pelosi and the Democrats are being held hostage by the Resistance movement. The Resistance Democrats don’t put America first. They put acquiring political power first.

In the end, Democrats will get hurt because they can’t admit the truth. That’ll hurt the Democrats’ credibility in an election cycle where voters are craving authenticity. Think back to how Fauxahontas got crucified for her grabbing a beer. The other thing that’ll hurt Democrats is the economy. It’s going strong, despite Krugman’s and Summers’ predictions. It isn’t going to slow down significantly before Election Day.

Democrat frontrunner Joe Biden’s campaign theme essentially calls them back to the supposedly good old days of the Obama administration. I can’t wait to watch President Trump and the RNC hit him with ads highlighting stagnant wage growth and stagnant economic growth during the Obama-Biden administration vs. the strong wage and GDP growth during President Trump’s administration.

According to this article, 4 of Virginia Lt. Gov. Fairfax’s aides have resigned:

Four aides to Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax have resigned from their jobs, leaving Fairfax with a badly depleted staff as he tries to fight two allegations of sexual assault and resist pressure to resign.

Two of Fairfax’s three government staffers and two employees of his political action committee left their posts after a second sexual assault allegation emerged Friday.

Let’s be clear. Unlike Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats, I believe in due process. Though I think Fairfax is guilty, that isn’t good enough to ruin a man’s life over. Proof is required.

Vanessa Tyson and Meredith Watson — the two women who have accused Fairfax — have both said they’re willing to testify before the General Assembly. Tyson has accused Fairfax of assaulting her in a Boston hotel room in 2004. Watson, who came forward Friday, has alleged Fairfax raped her in 2000 at Duke University. Fairfax has said both encounters were consensual and has refused to step down in the face of what he has called a “vicious and coordinated smear campaign.”

It’s times like this when the laws must be followed. Still, this must trouble Fairfax:

Vanessa Tyson and Meredith Watson, the two women who have accused Fairfax, have both said they’re willing to testify before the General Assembly.

That isn’t what people with something to hid do.

Regular readers of LFR undoubtedly have noticed that I haven’t posted in a while. That’s because I’ve been diagnosed with an arthritic hip, which will be getting replaced in the next couple months. The hip gets so painful that I can’t sit in my computer chair very long.

Please keep me in your prayers.

When Jim Comey testified behind closed doors, Mr. Comey frequently testified that he didn’t know the answer to the question he was asked or FBI counsel testified that he wasn’t allowed to testify per FBI rules. One such instance got fairly heated. Here it is:

Mr. Gowdy: I think the whole world has read the memo and — or most of the world. My question is whether or not Director Comey — I think he’s already answered he had no conversations with Rod Rosenstein. My question is, whether or not — and he’s entitled to his opinion — whether or not he believes that that framed a sufficient factual basis for his termination as the FBI Director.
Ms. Bessee: He is entitled to his opinion, but to the extent — because he also stated that he is also a witness in the investigation.
Mr. Gowdy: Which investigation is he a witness in?
Ms. Bessee: To the special counsel. He said he is a potential witness.
Mr. Gowdy: Well, you just said witness. Is there an obstruction of justice investigation?
Ms. Bessee: I believe there is an investigation that the special counsel is looking into.
Mr. Gowdy: Well, we all know that. Is it an obstruction of justice investigation?
Ms. Bessee: Mr. Chairman, can you rephrase the question, please?
Mr. Gowdy: Yes. Director Comey, you’re familiar with the memo drafted by Rod Rosenstein. You have not talked to Rod Rosenstein, as I understand your testimony. Do you believe the memo, just on the cold four pages of the memo, four corners of that document, do you believe it provides sufficient basis for your termination? Even if you would have done it differently, is it a basis for your termination?
Mr. Comey: I can’t answer that, Mr. Chairman, because it requires me to get into the mind of the decisionmaker, who is the President, and I’m not in a position to do that.
Mr. Gowdy: Do you have any evidence the memo was subterfuge to fire you, but not for the — but for a different reason?
Mr. Comey: I have no evidence at all about how the memo came to be created. I know that it was part of the documentation that was attached, what was sent to me, delivered to the FBI on the day I was fired. That’s the only thing I have personal knowledge of.

That’s just one of the heated exchanges between Chairman Gowdy, Director Comey and Ms. Bessee. Here’s the entire transcript:

What I found fascinating about this video is Chairman Gowdy’s statistics:

According to Chairman Gowdy, Comey replied “I don’t remember” 71 times, “I don’t know” 166 times and “I don’t recall” 8 times. That’s a pretty pathetic performance for a man leading the premier law enforcement agency in the world. These weren’t insignificant questions about things that happened long ago. They were central questions about major recent investigations that he supposedly headed.

It’s rather disgusting to hear Mr. Comey talk about transparency after hiding behind the FBI’s attorney. It’s clear that the FBI’s attorney’s mission was singular: protect Mueller. The FBI’s attorney didn’t care a whit about informing the public or the committees. She primarily cared about hiding important facts.

Who would’ve guessed that President Obama is responsible for the recent US energy boom? I didn’t know that but it must be true since he’s declaring himself the champion of building the industry.

What a dirtbag! Doesn’t President Obama know that there’s this thing called Youtube that either verifies or rejects the truthfulness of people’s statements? Watch the statements in the above video, then compare the president’s statements in this video:

In the 2nd video, President Obama said that “For decades, we have known that the days of cheap and easily accessible oil were numbered. For decades, we have talked and talked about the need to end America’s century-long addiction to fossil fuels.”

Let’s be emphatic about this. It’s impossible to advocate for “the need to end America’s century-long addiction to fossil fuels” while also insisting that you’re the man who pioneered the current energy boom. The 2 statements don’t fit together.

When President Obama’s economic policies failed, he blamed the economy on President Bush. When President Trump implemented the policies that turned around the stagnant economy he inherited from President Obama, President Obama insists that he created the oil boom.

PARTING QUESTION: If President Obama created the energy boom, why did millions of rural energy voters turn against the Democrats and vote for President Trump?
BONUS QUESTION: If President Obama is so proud of his role in turning the US into a net exporter of fossil fuels, why didn’t he approve the Keystone XL Pipeline?

Frankly, it’s disgusting that President Obama is this dishonest.

A rose, some lipstick and bullies

More ramblings….

Shakespeare told us that a rose remains a rose even if the name is changed. In the 2010 presidential election, we learned that putting lipstick on a pig is not enough to change its identity.

I am confused, disappointed and even disturbed by media today that seem to paint bullying as a new phenomenon that occurs in schools due to guns. And that the persons that have shot school-age children suffer from mental issues caused by bullying.

It’s not that simple.

And bullying is as old as time.

Bullying, by whatever name, is not related to gun ownership. It is spawned by sin and has been exacerbated by an increasing immoral society. I am confident that the majority reading this article have been picked on, insulted and bullied as a child AND as an adult. It occurs at home, at school, in the workplace—wherever the bully is. Just because it has happened to so many does NOT make it right. Nor did it begin in the 1990’s when researchers in this country became interested in the topic due to the school shootings.

Bullying is about control by one or more over others perceived to be weaker, less desirable and not just for race, religion, poverty, physical characteristics or more recently, announced sexual preferences. It’s about power and control—to feed the bully’s ego and warped self-worth.

Victims of the undeserved bullying have always suffered from lowered self-esteem, poor academic and/or work performance, illness, disturbed sleep, isolation and loneliness, etc. They have been targeted by ones with whom they should have had a positive relationship—family, friends and classmates, teachers and administrators, co-workers and supervisors. Instead they were attacked, often without warning. It just happened; it hurt; it was wrong.

Studies say that observers should intervene. Probably, but why would they if they could become the next targets? The studies suggest that the young people should tell teachers. Probably, but it does no good if the bullies come from the families of social status in the community, from friends of the teachers, from the athletic teams of the school. They belong! The victims learn again that they do not count, and the pain is intensified.

Many speculate on the causes of bullying—guns, violent movies, video games, drugs, race, religion, etc.

Let me add to the discussion. In the 1960’s, God was removed from schools and society. Now progressives want Him removed from our history and governing documents. With the Hippies, drugs became more accessible and accepted. Now society is legalizing them. Currently the abuse of prescription drugs is epidemic. At the same time, family life was devalued and destroyed; co-habitation and no marriage covenant, no-fault divorce and no stigma, fatherless families and lack of role models. Some even advocate turning infants over to the State to be reared since families are incapable of providing for them.

Bullying causes physical and emotional consequences that destroy human dignity, freedom and security. Previously, a stronger family re-affirmed the victims’ identity, even if the victim chose not to share the humility with the family unit but did find strength at home. Now that resource is not available to many.

Cyberbullying is another layer of bullying. I thank Melanie Trump’s efforts to tackle this problem as her project as First Lady.

I congratulate all who have had the family support to survive and thrive. Bullies want to hurt, harm and humiliate to feed their egos. They won’t stop. But we can help the targeted victims.

Our task is to love our family members and let them know that they are valued and loved. Hug your child; take time for your child—no matter their age.

A survivor.

I can’t wait for 2016 to end. Please understand that parts of 2016 were exceptionally enjoyable. Think Trump defeating Hillary, Republicans flipping the Minnesota Senate and, most importantly, the Cubs defeating the Cleveland Indians (Sorry Hugh.) in winning their first World Series championship since 1908.

What hasn’t been that enjoyable has been my health.

At 2:30 am on Aug. 1, I woke up with chest pain. A friend gave me a ride to the hospital, where I checked into the ER. After running a couple tests, I was admitted into the hospital. I was told by the cardiologist that treated me that I’d dodged a major bullet. The cardiologist said that I had a 90% blockage of the left anterior descending artery. The path chosen was to place a new stent in the LAD through angioplasty. In the 9 days that I was in the hospital, I lost 23 lbs.

On Friday, Sept. 30, I was rushed by ambulance to the ER with an acute shortness of breath. I was able to tell theme that I wasn’t feeling any chest pains. After running an EKG, they were able to confirm that I wasn’t suffering a heart attack. After running another test, I was diagnosed with multiple blood clots in my right lung and multiple blood clots in my left lung. The good news is that I’m recovering nicely. I’ll probably have to take warfarin the rest of my life but that’s ok.

I wish that would’ve ended my health issues but it didn’t. This past Saturday, Christmas Eve morning, at 8:05 am, I slipped on a patch of glare ice on the top of my back porch. I landed on the sidewalk 3 rungs lower, a drop (for my back) of 60″. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that I was instantly in pain.

I’m finally out of the hospital but now there are things I need going forward. First, I need a railing for my steps to give me something solid to stabilize myself when navigating my steps (both going up and down.) After Saturday’s fall, I realize I need a rain gutter to keep melting snow from the roof from icing up my steps. I don’t need a full gutter system, just something to keep the melting snow off my steps. There are some things I need inside the house, too, starting with an ergonomic chair for my computer.

A few weeks ago, I posted a bleg on a political subject. Today, I’m posting an ’emergency bleg’ to help defray the costs of the changes I’ll need to make going forward. No contribution is too small. All contributions are sincerely appreciated. If you want to contribute to these causes via credit card, hit the donate button in the top corner of the right sidebar. If you don’t trust that method, just leave a comment to this post. I’ll send you an email explaining how to contribute through more conventional methods.

Here’s hoping you had a Merry Christmas. Here’s wish you a Happy New Year.

PS- Despite being in the hospital for Christmas, God still figured out a way to bless me. Color me grateful and humbled for that.

The central theme of Salena Zito’s article is that rural Democrats are switching parties because they’re voting for their lives. The chief setting for Ms. Zito’s article is Lee Supply’s training room, which is described as “a third-generation family-owned business” that’s been “operating since 1954.”

Geographically, it’s described as being nestled “in a glen between the rolling hills of the Alleghenies and the Monongahela River.” Its economic niche is that “it sells pipe and pumping systems used in everything from traditional applications, such as water distribution and sewage treatment, to highly specialized applications such as horizontal directional drilling, slip lining, leachate and methane collection, gas extraction and water transport.”

The political impact of Lee Supply’s training room might be election-changing. As Ms. Zito notes, “Every single person who walked into Lee Supply’s training room, from the CEO down to the janitor, was a registered Democrat. And every single person pledged not only to vote for Trump and Toomey but to ask family, neighbors and friends to do the same.”

It’s important to note that this information is anecdotal. It isn’t scientific. This information isn’t anecdotal, though:

Paul Sracic, a Youngstown State University political scientist, believes there are two categories of voters rallying to support Trump. “First, there are people who don’t normally vote,” he said. “Nearly half the voting-age population was either not registered to vote, or was registered and decided not to vote in 2012. And if even 10 percent of that group was to show up and vote this year, it could easily change the outcome in the important swing states.”

Sracic—who frankly admits he obsesses over opinion polls—wonders whether these voters are even represented in the endless presidential surveys: “If people aren’t registered voters, they won’t be picked up by most polls. If they are registered voters but don’t normally vote, they may be eliminated by ‘likely voter’ screens pollsters use.” Romney lost Pennsylvania in 2012 by about 300,000 votes out of about 5.5 million cast; in Ohio, he lost by less than 200,000. “So bringing new people in can make a difference,” Sracic said.

Potentially more significant, however, are those voters who “flip”— Sracic’s second category. “Remember,” he said, “taking a Democratic voter and having them vote Republican is both a +1 and a -1. In other words, if Romney lost Pennsylvania by 300,000 voters, all you have to do [this time] is flip slightly more than 150,000 votes.” Between Ohio and Pennsylvania, if approximately 225,000 voters (out of the 11 million who are expected on Election Day) switch parties, they could tip the entire election.

It’s unknown how many people are “voting for their lives” in swing states. If western Pennsylvania is an example, though, it’s quite possible that the polling in Ohio and Pennsylvania won’t pick up a Trump mini-wave. This sums things up perfectly:

“Nine years ago I was forced into retirement at Corning, and I needed a job with health care,” said Paul Satranko, a lifelong Mon Valley resident. A Vietnam War veteran, he played Little League baseball 60 years ago with Lee Supply’s CEO, he has been the company’s janitor and all-around character ever since. “There is no room for apathy in this election,” he said. “I think that is what people not from around here don’t understand—we are voting for our lives.” He plans to vote for Trump.

Technorati: Pittsburgh, Monongahela River, Alleghenies, Secure Energy for America, Voter Registration Drive, Donald Trump, Pat Toomey, Lee Supply, Energy Voters, Coal Mining, Ohio, Battleground States, Likely Voters, Polling, Reagan Democrats, Republicans, Election 2016

About 45 minutes ago, the sirens went off. A minute later, the local weather station announced a tornado warning for “Benton and Stearns counties.” At the time, the tornado warning was set to expire at 6:45 pm. At that time, the tornado that had touched down was moving northeast at 35 mph.

The tornado warning has been extended until 7:15 pm.

Further, weather spotters reported that a tornado had touched down in Sartell, about 5-6 miles to the north of me.

UPDATE: A friend just called me. My friend said that a funnel cloud had passed to the north of Cathedral High School. When I asked where the storm had passed, my friend said it passed to the St. Cloud Hospital side of Cathedral.

UPDATE II: A tornado has been spotted east of St. Cloud. Foley is expected to get hit within the next 3-5 minutes.

UPDATE III: The NWS has issued a severe thunderstorm east of Foley. That cell is moving at 20 mph. Additionally, the tornado warning for Kandiyohi County has expired but another tornado warning has been issued for central Stearns County.

The tornado warning for eastern Benton County is set to expire at 7:45. Stay tuned, though. This cell has spawned at least 4 tornado touchdowns.

UPDATE IV: This should get people’s attention:

Easter is a time of celebration for Christians. Christ has risen after His crucifixion. Sometimes, important lessons are learned through simple stories. Jeremy’s Egg is one of those stories. Here’s the abridged version of the story:

Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind. At the age of 12, he was still in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool and make grunting noises.

Spring came and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. “Now,” she said to them “I want you to take this home & bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?” “Yes, Miss Miller,” the children responded enthusiastically all except Jeremy.

n the first egg, Doris found a flower. “Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life.” She said. “When plants peek through the ground, we know that spring is here.” A small girl is the first to raise her hand. “That’s my egg, Miss Miller” she called out. The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. “We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that’s new life too.”

Little Judy smiled proudly and said “Miss Miller, that one is mine.” Next Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that moss showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom, “My daddy helped me” he beamed.

When Doris opened the fourth egg, she gasped. The egg was empty. Surely, it must be Jeremy’s, she thought. Of course, he didn’t understand her instructions. If only she hadn’t forgotten to phone his parents. Because she didn’t want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside, reached for another.

Suddenly Jeremy spoke up. “Miss Miller, aren’t you going to talk about my egg?” Flustered, Doris replied, “But Jeremy, your egg is empty.” He looked into her eyes and said softly, “Yes, but Jesus’ tomb was empty, too.” Time stopped.

When she could speak again, Doris asked him, “Do you know why the tomb was empty?” “Oh yes,’ Jeremy said, “Jesus was killed and put in there. Then His Father raised Him up.” The recess bell rang.

Three months later, Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see nineteen eggs on top of his casket, each of them empty.

It’s stunning that a mentally-challenged 12-year-old understood the story of Christ’s empty tomb while it’s incomprehensible to highly educated people.

From I Corinthians 1:20:

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?