Still NO Deal, Two Days Left

Reid even Filibustering his own Plan.

That is where we stand right now. There was suppose to be a Vote on the Reid Version at 1am. That has been postponed. Lets see, First the House passes Speaker Boehner's Thrid Version of his Plan. Much to the chagrin of Tea Party Republicans, and Conservatives alike. More on that in a second. Then, it goes to the Senate where it is dead on arrival. Reid comes up with a Plan, then Filibusters his own Plan because the Republicans will not agree to a simple Majority Vote. Scheduled for 1 am last night, while the House Kills Reid's Plan before the Vote. Now, 1 am comes and goes, and what do we have? Nothing. No Vote. Two days left until the fictitious deadline.

Happy Sunday to ya. {Smile} Welcome to the Big Sunday Edition of the OPNTalk Blog, I am of course, your Provocateur of thought himself, Peter Carlock. Coming right up today?

Chicago Council OKs Earlier Curfew
Illegals Flee America TO Mexico
Partnership for America
Healthy Eating?
DLA For Sunday 073111
IWA For Sunday 073111

All that coming right up. First I want to share this. Speaker Boehner and the rest of the GOP Leadership REALLY need to be careful here. We do NOT WANT COMPROMISE. We WANT Spending cuts. REAL Spending cuts. We want a smaller Government. We want the Liberal Agenda STOPPED. It is NOT enough for you to simply have an R after your name, or be able to Talk the Talk. YOU had better be willing to Walk the Walk. When the Speaker came out with his Plan 3.0, some were not shy in telling him what they think of it. Here is just one of their latest Press Releases.

TEA PARTY BLASTS BOEHNER FALLBACK

"Low-T, limp-noodle" plan

Top Tea Party Voices available for Talk Shows

WASHINGTON, DC (MMD Newswire) July 29, 2011 - - Even as House Speaker John Boehner bowed this morning to Tea Party pressure for a balanced budget amendment (BBA), the movement blasted a new version of his bill to raise the national debt ceiling by $900 billion, yet cut just $20 billion in 2012.

"Boehner's low-T, limp-noodle response to government borrowing at over 40 cents per dollar is simply unacceptable at this moment in history for which so many have waited," said Tom Trento, National Security Chairman for the Tea Party National Convention and a director of the Tea Party Founding Fathers. "The first House bill sent to the Senate requires a BBA to raise the debt limit, Boehner's latest concedes $900 billion in credit before the BBA condition kicks in, and neither bill cuts more than about $20 billion in 2012 - just five days worth of federal borrowing!"

Meanwhile, Jenny Beth Martin and Mark Meckler, co-founders of Tea Party Patriots, said of the Boehner legislation, "The 'cuts' proposed now are not real; they are phantom cuts to take place in the future.... We simply will not accept their lazy, fiscally irresponsible approach."

Trento said, "Look, Obama and Reid have pledged to kill even these wimpy bills, so why won't House Republicans act like the Spartans in the movie '300' and take a courageous stand for legislation that actually fixes our deficit numbers right now? Why wait years for a BBA to get ratified without serious and significant cuts today?"

Trento, also president of The United West, a Tea Party-tied group which sees the national debt as a national security threat, unveiled a single-issue 2012 Congressional Scorecard on the debt limit earlier this week. He said, "There are 241 House Republicans and 47 Senate Republicans who, with a few sane Democrats, exceed the 300 Spartans whom Leonidas led to defeat the Persians at Thermopylae and save Western Civilization. Today, certain Persians leading Iran are still menacing the West with nuclear threats. It's imperative that our lawmakers start cutting our debt for the sake of U.S. and Western security. We can't defend liberty while sinking in red ink."

Trento said, "Republicans in the Senate, usually one big RINO preserve, have been much bolder than Boehner. Rand Paul (R-KY) has called for $500 billion in cuts, one seventh of our bloated U.S. budget. Tom Coburn (R-OK) says $300 billion is a lay-up. Marco Rubio seems hot to go after all the incredible waste, overlap, and outrages in D.C. Yet all those tough-talkers among House Republicans will only back $20 billion in 2012 cuts? Boehner and his so-called 'young guns' keep firing blanks. In exchange for any debt bump, Tea Partiers and other patriots are expecting giant price tags like $500 billion in 2012 cuts, real reform of all health care entitlements such as Medicare and Medicaid, and the defunding of Planned Parenthood and the gutting of Obamacare as called for by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)."

Yesterday, Trento warned four "GOP Stupaks" for defecting from recent vows not to raise the debt limit without prior Congressional passage of the "Cut, Cap and Balance" BBA out to the states for ratification. The four Republican freshman pledge-breakers were Reps. James Lankford (OK), Allen West (FL), Mike Kelly (PA), and Bill Flores (TX), but Trento said because enough members held firm for the BBA, the defection"may not go down on their permanent record. It's like the difference between juvenile offenses and adult criminality."

The term "Stupak" refers to former U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who famously betrayed conservatives last year to ensure final passage of Obamacare, the president's health bill, after vowing differently. Stupak ended his House career in 2010. Last night, said Trento, Boehner "couldn't find enough Stupaks to betray the BBA, and we applaud all House Republicans who held the line and maintained their integrity." Trento posted an "Integrity Alert" Thursday about the frosh BBA defectors and says the Tea Party hit hundreds of thousands of cell phones with text messages naming the vow-breaking Congressmen.

Condemning any "debt ceiling giveaway," the Congressional scorecard is viewable at www.TeaPartyScorecard2012.com -- and it's not nice to lawmakers willing to trade their pro-debt votes cheaply. The Tea Party scorecard also mocks Obama's August 2 deadline for debt ceiling action as "phony," arguing that tax revenues are ten times what's required to make interest payments to U.S. bondholders.

It's really NOT difficult to understand folks. CUT spending. If Government would get serious about just cutting Waste. We could save Trillions just on that, and redundant Programs that really have nothing to do with National Interests. But if they just defund Obamacare, there is a Trillion we could save right from the get go.

It really is a simple concept to understand. Speaker Boehner, Senator McConnell, and the rest of the Republican Leadership, DO THE RIGHT THING, you will have the American People behind you. Do the WRONG thing, or continue to play Politics as usual, and you WILL face opposition in the Primaries at the next possible opportunity. It really is, just that simple.

Be right back.
Peter

Chicago Council OKs Earlier Curfew

How was it when you were young?

Hey folks,



OK, we're back. I have an honest question for ya. Like him or not, and you all KNOW I'm far from a fan, the New Mayor of Chicago has imposed an enforceable, chargeable, and ticketable Curfew for Kids under 12. It's 8:30 pm on Week Days, and 9 pm on Week Ends. Not sure what the extra half hour is about, but it all begins on Sept 18th.

Now you all know I have SERIOUS issues with Ex Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, but I'm not so sure that I am not willing to give him Kudos for this one. But then again, is this Government Intrusion? See where I'm torn here? Not with Emanuel, but the Policy itself.

OK, I've told this story over the years. Sorry if you heard it before but I love visiting the Past, so forgive me. I grew up in a small Town, a Hamlet really, called Salisbury Mills NY. It was truly the best time of my life growing up until about 13 years old. Me and my Friend Billy, would be out all day until Dinner time. In the Summer, we would go out again until bath and bed time. Never once did anyone worry that we would not be coming home. Not once did the thought ever cross our mind that someone out there may be looking to do us harm. We would walk down to "The Store" {Shown in the Picture} and buy ice cream, candy, and soda. When the Fireman Fair was going in July, we would go there until it closed at 11pm and then ride our bikes back. I do not even know if my Grandmother HAD locks on her doors.

I remember being at The Store when people would pull up and get out, go in, get their stuff, the Car running the whole time. I remember playing WAR through town. Me and Billy would run around with BB Guns and pretend that the Headlights of the Cars were the Enemy coming to get us. I remember one time being scolded by a very nice but annoyed Police Officer. {Smile} We use to do the Knock and Run game. All kinds of stuff. I know. I know. It was a different time back then.

Now a days, we DO have to worry about it. With stories of people like Leiby Kletzky, Jaycee Lee Dugard, Sarah Maynard, and others not as famous, we HAVE to keep the thought of this possibility in the back of our Minds at ALL time. So Emanuel comes out and says this.

“I grew up with a curfew,” Emanuel said earlier this week. “When the lights on the street went on, you took your tail and made it home and in the house. And that’s what I believe is the right policy for the safety and security of our kids.

“It doesn’t mean that, because you have, kids are gonna be safe. But it means that we’re aligning good parenting and the laws of the city to make sure that our children are gonna be safe.”

McCarthy said he gets daily briefings on every shooting in the city. When young people are involved, the first question is about curfew.

“As soon as a 15-year-old is shot at 12 o’clock at night, I turn right to Ernie Brown, who is deputy superintendent of patrol, and I say, `I want to know what the curfew numbers are in this location in this district?’ “ McCarthy said.

Informed that the number of curfew citations issued by Chicago Police have been dropping steadily in recent years, McCarthy said, “I have to get tough on my commanders to make sure that they’re doing curfew so we don’t have young people getting shot late at night.”

Two years ago, then-Mayor Richard M. Daley turned back the curfew clock by 30 minutes--to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends for Chicago’s 730,000 kids under the age of 17. The curfew is currently the same for younger kids.

The ordinance approved at Thursday’s City Council meeting will do it again, but only for children under 12. Beginning Sept. 18, they will have to be in the house or in their front or back yards by 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. on weekends.

Parents or guardians who ignore the new law could be saddled with either community service or a $500 fine for the first two offenses and $1,500 for three or more violations over 12 months.

Those penalties could e imposed if, “by insufficient control,” they allow their kids under 12 to be out after those hours, the ordinance states. The wording is designed to prevent parents from escaping responsibility by claiming they didn’t know their children’s whereabouts, officials said.

Fraternal Order of Police President Mike Shields called the ordinance a sad commentary on “the society we live in.”

I do agree with that. So does a Facebook Friend who said this.

Laws like this always make me sad. The parents who created an environment where little kids under 12 could go out after dark in rough neighborhoods are not going to magically become non-neglectful just because of this law. The kids will still be unsafe, because the parents have already demonstrated that they don't care about their whereabouts.

She doesn't feel that the Fines or the threat of Community Service will not help.

Fines won't work because most are too poor to pay them, and community service for the parents might result in the kids being kept home alone.

I couldn't agree more with Anne Marie if I had said it myself. The story goes on.

“We have to make laws to tell parents their children should be in at night….That’s something parents ought to know, but they don’t and it’s a shame,” Shields said.

“A few days ago, a kid pulled a bb-gun out at a police officer. What we’re not talking about is this was 11 o’clock at night and he’s 13-years-old. Shame on that parent for having that 13-year-old out at that time of night.”

But, after a two-year hiring slowdown that has created a severe manpower shortage, Shields said the latest curfew crackdown is more symbolic than real.

“It’s not going to be enforceable. If we can’t enforce laws to curb street violence because of manpower issues, how can we enforce [and even stricter] curfew law?” he said.

Former Police Committee Chairman Anthony Beale (9th) has warned that the new ordinance would overburden police and “penalize our children for enjoying the summer months.”

But Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel Jeff Levine has stressed that parents or guardians could escape liability if the minor is on the sidewalk in front of their own or a neighbor’s house.

He has also noted that citations would not be written until police officers ask questions about the minor’s age and reason for being out on the street.

“In a situation where a minor is biking up and down, essentially on their own block, the officer would have the tools under this ordinance to conclude that it is not a curfew violation,” Levine assured aldermen last week.

So OK. You have what appears to be a LOGICAL and REASONABLE approach by the Police to try to keep kids safe. But is this NOT Government Intrusion? Just because I happen to agree with this one, doesn't really change the fact if it is or isn't. Does the Government have the Right to curtail one's Freedom. To interfere with the Child Parent Relationship? No matter how good the Intention? Or is this just commonsense and a necessity because some Parents just simply should not be? You decide.
Peter

Sources:
WLS 890 AM Radio - Chicago council OKs earlier curfew

Illegals Flee America TO Mexico

Welcome to the Obama Economy.

Hey folks,

I guess, in a weird round about way, thanks is due to Obama. I know, he doesn't want to enforce the Illegal Immigration Laws, even sues States that do. However, thanks to him, we are starting to have a mass Exodus of Illegals. Yup. That's right. Illegals are leaving in droves.

Why? Is it because they fear ICE? Is it because Obama is cracking down on Employers that hire Illegals? Is it because Obama is finally getting serious about securing the Boarder? Nope. JOBS!

{Laughing} I'm not kidding. It's funny as hell, but I'm not making this up. Welcome to Obama's Economy. Illegal Aliens are fleeing TO Mexico for JOBS! According to The Sacramento Bee - Improving Mexican economy draws undocumented immigrants home from California

There are fewer undocumented immigrants in California – and the Sacramento region – because many are now finding the American dream south of the border.

"It's now easier to buy homes on credit, find a job and access higher education in Mexico," Sacramento's Mexican consul general, Carlos González Gutiérrez, said Wednesday. "We have become a middle-class country."

Mexico's unemployment rate is now 4.9 percent, compared with 9.4 percent joblessness in the United States.

I want you to read that again. "Mexico's unemployment rate is now 4.9 percent, compared with 9.4 percent joblessness in the United States." This is not just a few, or a handful of people leaving. No, no, no.

An estimated 300,000 undocumented immigrants have left California since 2008, though the remaining 2.6 million still make up 7 percent of the population and 9 percent of the labor force, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

Among metropolitan areas with more than 1 million residents, Sacramento County ranks among the lowest, with an unauthorized population of 4.6 percent of its 1.4 million residents in 2008, according to Laura Hill, a demographer with the PPIC.

The Sacramento region, suffering from 12.3 percent unemployment and the construction bust, may have triggered a large exodus of undocumented immigrants, González Gutiérrez said.

The best-paid jobs for undocumented migrants are in the building industry, "and because of the severe crisis in the construction business here, their first response has been to move into the service industry," González Gutiérrez said. "But that has its limits. Then, they move to other areas in the U.S. to find better jobs – or back to Mexico."

Hill said it's hard to know whether the benefit of having fewer undocumented migrants outweighs the cost to employers and taxpayers.

California may have to provide less free education to the children of undocumented immigrants and less emergency medical care, she said, but it will also get less tax revenue.

In 2008, at least 836,100 undocumented immigrants filed U.S. tax returns in California using individual tax identification numbers known as ITINS, said Hill, who conducted the tax survey.

WAIT! What do you mean we can't find them to round them up, even if we wanted to? WE ARE SENDING THEM CHECKS. {Sigh} But this WILL save us money. Remember that study we talked about? The States that are upside down, and that have, and if they got rid of, their high Illegal Alien Population, would actually have a SURPLUS? California is just one of them.

Based on those tax returns, the study found there were 65,000 undocumented immigrants in Sacramento County that year, far fewer than in many other big counties.

Sacramento's undocumented population ranked 10th in the state that year, behind Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Santa Clara, San Bernardino, Riverside, Alameda, Contra Costa and Ventura.

There were an estimated 12,000 undocumented immigrants in Yolo County; 9,000 in the Sutter-Yuba area; and 8,000 in Placer County.

An analysis of local ZIP codes showed that Sacramento (95815, 95823, 95824), West Sacramento (95605), Clarksburg (95612), Esparto (95627), Guinda (95637), Knights Landing (95645), Winters (95694) and Woodland (95776) each had an undocumented population of 10 percent to 15 percent.

Yolo County relies heavily on migrant workers to grow and harvest crops.

"People in construction are now turning to agriculture; it's the start of the tomato season so the harvesters will be jump-started pretty soon," said Woodland Mayor Art Pimentel, whose 55,000 residents are 48 percent Latino, some of them undocumented.

Some aren't sticking around for the upcoming tomato harvest, said Sylvina Frausto, secretary of Holy Rosary Church in Woodland. "Some have a small parcel in Mexico. They own their own home there, so instead of renting here they go back to their small business there."

Many raise animals, run grocery stores or sell fruits and goods on street corners.

"They're going back home because they can't get medical help or government assistance anymore," Frausto said, "And when it's getting so difficult for them to find a job without proper documentation, it's pushing them away."

GOOD! The way it SHOULD be! However, they are leaving because of Obama's Economy. NO JOBS. Not even Illegal ones.

Anita Barnes, director of La Familia Counseling Center on Franklin Boulevard in Sacramento, said she recently spoke to a high school graduate who had lost his job in a restaurant and was thinking of going back to Mexico.

"He came over with his mom, who was in the process of losing her restaurant job," Barnes said. "It's frightening, especially for the children. They feel this is their country, they don't know anything else, and they find they can't get driver's licenses or jobs."

As its economy rebounds, Mexico "is becoming a better option than it was in the past, but you still have to find a job and reconnect," Barnes said.

While the weakened U.S. economy, rising deportations and tougher border enforcement have led to fewer undocumented migrants, changes in Mexico are playing a significant role, González Gutiérrez said.

Mexico's average standard of living – including health, education and per capita income – is now higher than those in Russia, China and India, according to the United Nations.

Mexico's growing middle class "reduces the appetites to come because there are simply many more options" at home, González Gutiérrez said. "Most people who decided to migrate already have a job in Mexico and tend to be the most ambitious and attracted to the income gap between the U.S. and Mexico."

Mexico's economy is growing at 4 percent to 5 percent, benefiting from low inflation, exports and a strong banking system, the consul said.

Mexico's birthrate is also declining sharply. "As a natural consequence of us transforming from a rural to an urban society, we are running out of Mexicans to export," González Gutiérrez said. "Our society's growing at a rate of 2.1 children per woman – in the 1970s it was more than five."

Once the U.S. economy recovers, the flow of migrants moving north "may go up again, although most likely they will not reach the peak levels we saw in the first half of the decade," González Gutiérrez said.

So there you have it folks. Mexico and it's Economy is GROWING, and thanks to Obama and Crew, the US is SHRINKING, and becoming less attractive for those outside to come here. THAT is truly sad. However, as I said, I guess we do have to thank Obama for the Illegal Exodus. Now get out of the way and let the Private Sector Create NEW Jobs, and jump start the Economy. OR? You could even go WITH them Obama. Be their King down there. We have no need of a King here.
Peter

Source:
The Sacramento Bee - Improving Mexican economy draws undocumented immigrants home from California

Partnership for America

Here is a group I'm going to look more into.

Hey folks,

Here is a group I will look more into, and I will be keeping an eye on them. Sounds interesting. I'm just hoping that they are legit and NOT a sham created by Libs to attempt to offset the Tea Party Movement.

Announcing the Launch of the Partnership for America
PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2011

New Organization Presses for Market-Based Solutions to Health Care Problems

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Partnership for America, a new, national grassroots organization dedicated to finding common-sense, market-based solutions to problems in the U.S. was unveiled today in Washington D.C.

The organization, based in the nation's capital, is dedicated to fighting to preserve American independence from foreign creditors, foreign energy producers and excessive government control by finding solutions to public policy problems that are consistent with our Founding principles. By ratifying the Constitution, the states granted limited powers to the Federal government and reserved to themselves and their citizens those powers not explicitly granted. The Constitution also provided that the three branches of that Federal government would provide checks and balances to prevent one person or branch from gaining too much power.

"The Partnership is determined to fight to protect the unalienable rights of all Americans and ensure a new era of American greatness by reducing Americans' dependence on government," the Partnership's chairman, James Wootton, said. "Our first project will be to work with other groups and individuals – our partners – to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and devise widely acceptable ways to address the problems with America's healthcare system."

The Partnership for America (http://partnership4america.org/) has assembled a first-rate team headed by Wootton, who was the founding president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. The group's team also includes Legislative Director Bob Wood, a former chief of staff to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Policy Director James Capretta, a former associate director for healthcare at the White House Office of Management and Budget, and Litigation Counsel Chuck Cooper, a former Assistant Attorney General for Legal Counsel.

The Partnership has made Repealing and Replacing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) its highest priority because while PPACA poses a great threat to that system of government and must be repealed, repeal is unlikely to happen unless there is a credible alternative to take its place. According to Policy Director James Capretta: "There were problems with the American health care system before PPACA was enacted that will need to be addressed when it is repealed. That's why the Partnership is working with a broad-based political coalition to design a realistic, market-based alternative that can be implemented when PPACA is reversed."

The Partnership is working to alert the American people that PPACA's Independent Payment Advisory Board will allow unaccountable bureaucrats to ration health care for seniors. It also is raising alarms that a greater than predicted shift to state-run exchanges for subsidized health insurance could add between $50 billion and $100 billion to annual Federal deficits and increase the national debt by up to $1 trillion over ten years.

"The Partnership believes it is imperative that Congress address these concerns before permanent damage is done," Wootton said.

The Partnership for America; 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006

If they are legit, I will be interesting in learning more about what average everyday people can do to support them and help the cause. Sad though, in this day and age, one has to be careful. There are a lot of Wolves in Sheep's Clothing out there.
Peter

SOURCE:
The Partnership for America

Healthy Eating?

You may be surprised.

Hey folks,

As some of you know, my Wife is a Vegan. I'm doing my best to eat healthier. Not ready for the total Vegetarian thing yet. But eating healthier is always better than not. My most recent change has been from White Bread Totally, to Honey Wheat. I can't do the Grain Breads, but the Honey Wheat I actually like.

As I continue to look into Healthy Eating, I'm discovering that I have MORE questions than I did before. If you are like me, and trying to eat healthier, then you need to be aware of things like this. According to Yahoo Health - Don't Let Food Names Fool You! By Amy Ahlberg, Rodale.com Thu, Jul 21, 2011

If healthy eating, is important to you, watch out for misleading healthy-sounding food names. According to a study published online ahead of print in The Journal of Consumer Research, simply changing the name of a food item can influence its perceived healthfulness to dieters, who seem to rely more heavily on food cues—such as food names—than nondieters. Ambiguous names like "veggie chips," "flavored water," or simply calling a dish a "salad" can convince dieters that the item has nutritional value, whereas other names lead to the belief that the item is unhealthful.

Well YEAH. If someone asked me what was more healthy for me, a Salad or a Big Mac, I would most likely chose the Salad. Right?

The details: These perceptions can have unhealthy effects: According to study author Caglar Irmak, PhD, assistant professor of marketing at the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, the study's findings show that dieters may actually end up eating more of these not-so-healthy foods. Says Irmak, "One of our key findings is that dieters rate foods with healthy-sounding names [for example, salad] as healthier than identical food items with less-healthy-sounding names [for example, pasta]." Dieters base their food decisions on the name of the food items, instead of the ingredients, says Irmak. So they may eat more calories than what their dieting goals prescribe. "In one of our studies, when a candy was called 'fruit chews,' dieters ate significantly more candies than when the candy was called 'candy chews'."

5 Ways food labels try to mislead you.

What it means: Irmak's advice is to be vigilant about a food's actual ingredients. "Dieters need to focus on the ingredients of the food items, rather than names only, as many food items are healthy in name only," he says. But the good news is that checking the ingredients can erase the misleading effects of the food's name."In one of our studies, when we asked dieters about the healthfulness of each ingredient in the food item before they evaluated the overall healthfulness of the item, the effect of the food name vanished," says Irmak.

It's possible to avoid being seduced by a healthy-sounding food, if you pay attention. Here are some tips for sorting the "health" from the hype:

6 Things food industry executives don't want you to know.

Salads aren't always healthy.

Often, dieters skip pizza and burgers and opt for main-course salads, imagining them to be the healthiest foods on the menu. And restaurants perpetuate the belief that their salads are nutritious, low-calorie options, even though many salads at chain restaurants can hover around (or top) 1,000 calories, thanks to gigantic portion sizes, fatty and/or fried toppings, and creamy dressings. These super-size salads can also contain almost a day's worth of sodium, so buyer beware. Fast fixes include having a half portion, if it's on the menu, or just packing up half of your order to take home.

All bottled waters aren't the same.

Some flavored waters or vitamin-enhanced waters can contain up to 200 calories per bottle. Sucking down just one of these a day could create a 20-pound weight gain in a year's time. A smarter substitution? Calorie-free flavored waters without added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Look for brands that contain just a hint of natural flavoring, or sip on naturally flavored seltzer water for hydration minus the additives.

Fruit-flavored snacks aren't fruit.

Gummy fruit treats, fruit roll-ups, fruit bars and other items with fruit on the label may contain some juice or fruit flavoring, but often don't actually contain fruit. But they can contain high-fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, and other unhealthy ingredients. A superior swap is pretty obvious—go for fresh fruit. Another portable option? Chewy dried fruit (remember to check the label for added sugar and calories). Both offer up the fiber, antioxidants and other nutrients missing from fruit-flavored snacks.

Veggie chips are still, well, chips.

While baked veggie chips might seem better for you than traditional chips, they can still contain up to 8 grams of fat per one-ounce serving—almost as much as a small bag of potato chips. Having actual cut-up veggies, even with a small amount of dip, is a better way to satisfy your craving for crunch. The fat in the dip even helps with the absorption of key nutrients in the vegetables.

No I was aware of some of these. I am FULLY aware that not all Fruit Snacks are Fruit. Not even Roll-Ups. I found that out the hard way. I thought I was doing right by giving Josh them, but then Laura told me to check out the ingredient. Yup. No Fruit whatsoever. Or very little.

I was surprised about the Water thing. But that makes sense. I really dislike Veggie Chips. Laura loves them. But I can't stand Baked Chips of any kind. Too hard for me. But the bottom line here is Ingredients, Ingredients, Ingredients. Read the Lables. Now I DO still stand by Moderation. I still find it both Logical and Factual that as long as you consume ANYTHING in Moderation, you'll be just fine. Of course, if you are looking to lose weight, there is still only one Diet that is GAURUNTEED to work EVERY TIME with EVERY BODY that tries it. The ELMM Diet. Eat Less, Move More.
Peter

Sources:
Yahoo Health - Don't Let Food Names Fool You!

DLA For Sunday 073111

We need MORE of this type of thing.

Hey folks,

I am loving some of the Boldness of the GOP. I'm ashamed of some of the standard Politics as usual, such as the Debt Ceiling Debate, but some of the things they are trying to do they deserve kudos for.

Here is an example of what I mean. Remember "Net Neutrality?" Net Neutrality essentially amounts to a takeover of the Internet by the Federal Government The new regulations have the potential to forever change how American Citizens access the Internet, how much they pay, and what speeds they can access while downloading Information. Even though it got blocked by the Courts, questioning the Constitutionality, the Obama's owned and controlled FCC voted along Party lines to pass it.

But here is the Problem. Well, one of many, the FCC is NOT a tool of this or any other President. By them doing this FOR Obama, they have violated both their own rules and the Law.

So? Well, most of the time, things like this just go by the wayside. Like Obamacare being ruled Unconstitutional, yet, they are still enacting it. Like Obama coming out and saying "Screw the Law, I will not enforce the Protection of Marriage Act." Or some of the MANY other things this Administration does. They get away with it because no one stands up and says ENOUGH!

Not so now. Today we have more and more people standing up and saying no more. ENOUGH! We WILL stop this insanity. This Week's Display of Logic Winners, yes, I said Winners, are three Republicans that have decided that we need the TRUTH. We WANT the Truth. They are calling for information on this whole "Net Neutrality" mess. They are Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Stearns, R-Fla. They said that the House Energy and Commerce Committee is investigating whether the Federal Communications Commission, AKA the FCC, improperly coordinated with the White House and Public Interest groups in the development of the "Net Neutrality" Rules adopted in December.

They wrote a letter to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. Here are some highlights.

"Agency decisions should be based on law and policy."

"These allegations suggest the FCC's network neutrality proceeding was designed to fulfill a presidential campaign slogan, when it should have been based on an analysis of statutory authority, an economic analysis of the Internet service market, and an examination of the record," they added.

"If true, it seems the FCC failed to develop an independent conclusion derived from a balanced fact-based record, which is incompatible with proper rule-making."

According to this News Story, "A spokesman for Genachowski said, the agency would cooperate." I guess we'll see. But this is what we need MORE of. People standing up and saying ENOUGH! You are not a Dictator. This is NOT a Socialist Country. YOU work for US. You do NOT rule over us. YOU, from the President to both branches of Congress, are Public SERVANTS. Not Royalty. Not Elite Rulers. Not anyone special nor more significant than any one Citizen in this Country. You are also NOT above the Law.

Congratulations Fred Upton, Greg Walden, and Cliff Stearns. For standing up and doing the right thing, you are the WINNERS of the Display of Logic Award for Today, Sunday, July 31, 2011. The PEOPLE want more of this. We want the Insanity Stopped. We want Freedoms restored. We WANT a Government of the People, by the People. Not a People Ruled by Government. George Washington turned down the Crown, may NO President attempt to receive one.
Peter

Sources:
National Journal - House Panel Want Details On FCC Net Neutrality Rulemaking
TPM - House Republicans Launch Investigation Into FCC's Net Neutrality Rulemaking Process

IWA For Sunday 073111

In Violation of her own Ethics Policy.

Hey folks,

Time to wrap things up with the Idiot of the Week. Do you remember when Journalists were True Journalists? Where they beat the Street to uncover the FACTS and TRUTH and Report them to you for you to make up your own mind on what to believe? Yeah, I know. Let me rephrase the question. Do you remember when they at least PRETENDED to be Neutral? Unbiased?

Now I have been telling you for years that they have even stopped trying to hide it now. They are nothing more than the Corporate Media and they simply report whatever they are told to. Gone are the days of independent, hard hitting, real Journalism. What we have left is nothing more than an extension of the Liberals in Washington. An Attack Organization and Cheerleaders for the Liberal Agenda.

A while back, I talked about how the New York Times Violates their own Ethics Policy Daily. Now we have another clear case of this. Her name? Jennifer Preston. Preston is a Fake Journalist, Book Author, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, and long-time New York Times Employee.

According to the NYT's Ethic Policy:

Steering Clear of Advice Roles

40. It is an inherent conflict for a journalist to perform public relations work, paid or unpaid. Staff members may not counsel individuals or organizations on how to deal successfully with the news media. They may not, for example, advise candidates for public office, write or edit annual reports, or contribute to the programs of sports teams.

41. They may, of course, explain the newsroom's normal workings and steer outsiders to the appropriate editor or reporter. They may offer basic advice to community or neighborhood institutions such as their child's school, a small museum, a local charity or their house of worship.

42. They should not take part in public relations workshops that charge admission or imply privileged access to the press, or participate in surveys asking their opinion of an organization's media relations or public image. But on occasion they may describe our procedures to public relations groups with the goal of improving the flow of pertinent information.

43. Staff members may not serve as ghostwriters or co-authors for people or groups who figure in coverage they are likely to provide, prepare or supervise. They may not undertake such assignments for organizations that espouse a cause.

Actually, I could highlight A LOT of the Ethics Policy here that would highlight Ms. Preston's naughty behaviour, but I think you get the point. They are suppose to be NEUTRAL. UNBAIS. They are not suppose to be in bed with ANY Politician, or Political Party. I know, I know. But they are at least not suppose to ADVERTISE that they ARE.

So what does Preston do at the NYTs? She is the Paper’s first Social Media Editor. She is in charge of Tweets. SO what does she do? She tries to TEACH Obama and Crew how to Flood Twitter with their Propaganda about the Evil Republicans and the Debt Ceiling Debate. {Laughing} I kid you not. According to The Daily Caller - New York Times reporter prompts White House media staff on Twitter

Minutes after President Obama urged Americans this morning to tweet their support for a Democratic debt-ceiling bill, a New York Times reporter prompted the White House to organize the effort with a special Twitter hashtag.

Hashtags use the “#” symbol to mark keywords or topics on Twitter. They often help drive messages by linking similar messages together in a common theme.

At 10:55 a.m. the Times’s Jennifer Preston suggested that administration officials might create a hashtag, so tweeting Democrats could jointly target Republicans who are now trying to pass their own debt ceiling plan.

Preston tweeted to a White House rep, saying “@macon44 Hi there. I heard the President ask the people to tweet re: debt ceiling. Are you guys using specific hashtag?”

A minute later, she tweeted a followup to White House staffer Jesse Lee, saying, “Hi Jesse, what’s the hashtag that you guys are urging people to use in their tweets to Congress re: debtceiling.” Lee is the White House’s s director of progressive media & online response. (RELATED: New WH talking point: Boehner is the Grinch, and he’ll steal your Christmas)

Eight minutes later, at 11:04, the White House’s press shop announced a new hashtag for Democrats to use when targeting GOP members of Congress: “@NYT_JenPreston People responding to POTUS shld use #compromise. As he said, it is ‘time for #compromise on behalf of the American people.’”

At 11:31, The Washington Post reported out the new hashtag, and at 12.32, staffers at the White House’s Office of Management and Budget re-tweeted the same message. “RT @postpolitics: The @whitehouse new media team has said people responding to the President on Twitter should use #compromise.”

Preston, whose own tweet ID is @NYT_JenPreston, covers social media in politics and government. Reached by TheDC for comment, she insisted that she wasn’t trying to aid the White House in any way.

What? OF COURSE YOU WERE. You know that she KNOWS what she was doing was against her own Ethics Policy by her quick denial of her doing, well, what she was doing. It ends with this statement by Preston.

“I wasn’t doing it to help the White House,” she added. “I was doing it to help myself.”

Of course you were helping yourself. You need to keep having the Paycheck coming in. So, like a good little Drone, you simply do whatever they tell you. I know your Paper lost ALL Credibility a while ago but JEEZ Ms. Preston. At least PRETEND to be Neutral. It would be like me, saying to someone trying to figure out a Math Problem, "Hey, why do you not use a Calculator? Here is one." Of course you were HELPING them. It didn't work though. Did you catch this? NY Daily News - President Barack Obama takes debt battle to Twitter, loses more than 40,000 followers in one day

Not everyone is a fan of the presidential spam. By Friday evening, the President had lost more than 40,000 Twitter followers - and counting.

Better be careful Ms. Preston. They will throw YOU under the Bus. It was YOUR fault that their little Twitter Spam thing didn't work. They were following bad advice from YOU. Do not doubt that. They NEVER take credit for Failures.

Congratulations Jennifer Preston, for openly and outwardly violating your own companies Ethics Rules and Regulations, YOU are the Idiot of the Week. For that completely pointless denial, maybe it is YOU that needs some help in Covertness and Denial. But then again, it IS the NYTs. We have come to expect none the less.
Peter

Sources:
The Daily Caller - New York Times reporter prompts White House media staff on Twitter
NY Daily News - President Barack Obama takes debt battle to Twitter, loses more than 40,000 followers in one day

Obama Contemplating Playing Dictator While The World Grows More Dangerous

I have been warning you about this one.

Hey folks,

First, since the GOP refuse, per the American People, refuse to increase Taxes to cover Obama and Crew's out of control spending, Obama is contemplating becoming a full fledged Dictator, and just doing whatever he wants. To hell with the American way, and the Constitution. This is not the first time he has openly Dreamed of being a Dictator. According to ABC Political Punch - Obama tempted to go it alone--if only he could. By ABC News' Jon Garcia and Jake Tapper.

What do the deficit negotiations and immigration reform have in common? President Obama says thinks he’d have a much easier time getting what he wants if only he could do it all himself.

“Believe me, the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting. I promise you not just on immigration reform. But that's not how our system works,”

The 14th Amendment does NOT give him the Authority to Raise the Debt Ceiling by himself, contrary to what they are trying to get you to believe. Congress can GIVE him that Authority, but that is a dangerous proposition. This Idiot does not need to be given any more power. He needs to be thrown out of Office.

Meanwhile in the World, the World becomes a more dangerous place. First, while all these Political games and BS are playing out, and Obama still refuses to get out of the way of us using our own resources for our Energy Needs, The UK Guardian reports this: Iran revolutionary guards' commander set to become president of Opec

Rostam Ghasemi, who is blacklisted by western powers, could have major role in determining global oil price.

A senior commander of Iran's revolutionary guards, who is subject to comprehensive international sanctions, has been nominated as the country's oil minister, a position that currently includes the presidency of Opec.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, sent a list of four ministers, including Rostam Ghasemi, commander of the revolutionary guards' Khatam al-Anbia military and industrial base, to the parliament for approval, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Should the parliament confirm Ghasemi's nomination next week, the commander, who is targeted by US, EU and Australian sanctions, will be automatically appointed as head of Opec, giving the revolutionary guards access to an influential international platform.

You think things are bad NOW? Imagine Iran controlling our Energy Needs and WORLD Supply? Iran? You know, the Country ran by Little Hitler himself? The Country that WANTS Israel wiped off the map. Calls for the Death of America. Has come ever so close to creating a Nuclear Weapon. Who has just proven that they have the Rockets needed to CARRY a Nuclear Weapon to Israel, and American Interests. Who is about to join the Space Race, while Obama shut ours down. Yup THAT Iran. But wait. It gets BETTER. According to the Washington Times: Classified report: Russia tied to blast at U.S. embassy

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in a classified report late last year that Russia’s military intelligence was responsible for a bomb blast that occurred at an exterior wall of the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, in September.

The highly classified report about the Sept. 22 incident was described to The Washington Times by two U.S. officials who have read it. They said the report supports the findings of the Georgian Interior Ministry, which traced the bombing to a Russian military intelligence officer.

The Times reported last week that Shota Utiashvili, director of information and analysis for the Georgian Interior Ministry, said the embassy blast and others in his country were the work of a Russian military intelligence officer named Maj. Yevgeny Borisov.

What? Russia? Our FRIENDS? What's this. It must be a mistake? Right? But that's not all. Also according to FP - Russia threatens to wreck the reset

Russia has threatened the Obama administration that it will end cooperation on Iran and prevent the transfer of material to Afghanistan if Congress passes a law criticizing Russian human rights practices.

And? According to Fox News - Russia Plans to Sink the International Space Station in 2020

Russia's space agency announced Wednesday that the International Space Station -- a space base the world's scientists and billions of U.S. tax dollars helped build and maintain some 200 miles above the surface of the Earth -- will be de-orbited and allowed to sink into the Pacific Ocean in 2020, just like its Russian predecessor, Mir.

"We will be forced to sink the ISS. We cannot leave it in orbit as it is a very complicated and a heavy object," Roscosmos' deputy head Vitaly Davydov said in an interview posted on the agency's website.

Why not? We can't really stop them. Hell, we have to RELY on them to GET there. Thank You Obama. Here is something else you need to keep an eye on. No. I will for ya. I have been warning you about this one. I told you that Putin wasn't going anywhere. I have been telling you HE is in charge of the Country. I have told you he WANTS the old USSR back. Now according to Reuters - RPT-Russia's Putin considering Kremlin return-sources

* Three sources say Putin considering return to presidency

* Putin has doubts about Medvedev

* Putin could run in March 2012 presidential election

Lets not forget about China, North Korea, all the Turmoil in the Middle East. This of course INCLUDES the War Obama starting in Libya and the fact he has just recognized the Muslim Brotherhood as an Official Government in Libya. Recognizes Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Continues to dis our long time Allies. And seemingly ignores all else in the World.

Yes folks, While Obama plays Dictator Wannabe, the World Grows more and more dangerous. Why? One of the reasons is simple to understand. NO ONE fears Obama. The World thinks we are a Joke. They have no reservations on getting uppity while Obama is President. They know he will do nothing about anything. He is too busy destroying America FOR THEM. 2012 can not come soon enough folks. I'm not one hundred percent certain we could survive another 4 years.
Peter

Sources:
ABC Political Punch - Obama tempted to go it alone--if only he could
The UK Guardian - Iran revolutionary guards' commander set to become president of Opec
Washington Times: Classified report: Russia tied to blast at U.S. embassy
FP - Russia threatens to wreck the reset
Fox News - Russia Plans to Sink the International Space Station in 2020
Reuters - RPT-Russia's Putin considering Kremlin return-sources

Sincere Thank You For Attendance

You all made Joshua's Birthday Party GREAT!

Hey folks,

Happy Hump Day to ya. No breaking news. No deal on the Debt. I want to take a few minutes to answer a question that some of you have posed. How was Josh's Birthday Bash? I want to take this time to sincerely THANK all of those of you who attended Joshua's Sixth Birthday Party. A VERY special Thank You to all of you who attended this past Saturday at 2pm at Indian River park. I think a fun time was had by all. We had friends and Family, met some new Friends, and Joshua made out like a little Bandit. He got Lego, well, EVERYTHING. He's pretty much been building ever since.

We chose Indian River park for a few reasons. First, it is absolutely gorgeous. It really is. They host a LOT of Weddings there for the sheer beauty and surroundings. Second, of course, the Fountain. It costs a little bit to have the Pavilion right there next to the Fountain, but the Kiddies LOVE the Fountain. They can run around through it with Water shooting up all over the place. A good way to cool off on a hot day. Best part, unless you are having a party, it's FREE.

Laura made all the food, except the Pizza. That we ordered out. She made Jerk Chicken, Chicken Curry, Black Eyed Pea Curry, Rice, and our Friends Buzz and Bizz brought Chicken Salad. That would be Salad with Real Chicken grilled to delicious perfection and place on top. Not the Mayo sandwich type. We went through like ten plus pounds of Chicken, all the Black Eyed Peas, all the Rice, and FIVE Pizzas. I think everyone was well fed.

We got to meet for the first time, well, we made some new friends as well, but we got to meet for the first time my Friend's Soon to be Baby Mommy. {Smile} Two Months away and she was just glowing. I love her. Such a Sweet person. My Friend also brought Anabel, a black Pug. Anabel was a big hit with some of the Kiddies as you can imagine. I keep telling Steven that he better be careful, I'll steal her one of these days. Love that Dog.

Josh had his Favorite people in the whole World there. Not naming names, do not want to unintentionally hurt any one's feelings, but they all had a BLAST. You can see pictures of this on FACEBOOK. You can also see pictures of the Lego Cupcake Cake that Laura ALSO made.

Josh made out beyond even his imagination. And that is saying something. He got Lego Star Wars, Cars, Buildings, Regular Cars, Boats, Plans, whole sets with like towns and stuff. My favorite is the Lego Lighthouse that really lights up. That's why I bought it for him. I want to play with it. {Smile} You know you do the same thing. You buy your kids toys that YOU want to play with. I guess that is another reason I'm happy to be blessed with two Boys.

Oh don't worry, Eli made his rounds. He was LOVING all the pretty Girls around. He was visiting with just about everyone there. Even our new Friend that is about to have one of her own was enjoying spending a bit of time with him. It was kinda funny. I looked over at the soon to be Dad watching her hold him, and I could almost hear, "Oh, so this is what it will look like." {Laughing}

No folks, there were no issues. No drama. No Politics. No rain. No fights. Nothing to report but a REALLY beautiful and happy Day. And all that was possible thanks to YOU. Well, OK. God for the weather. But YOU made Joshua's Birthday Bash a GREAT time. I think he is counting down toward the next one. {Smile}

Again, truly Thanks to all of you. It really meant a lot to me that you came. Even more so to Josh.

See you soon folks. Have a GREAT Day!
Peter

REAL American Jobs / Real Answers to Our Energy Crisis

These are REAL Jobs for REAL American People. RIGHT NOW!

Hey folks,

I just simply want you to read this piece from the Wall Street Journal - Energy Boom Fuels Hiring By RYAN DEZEMBER

Oilfield services companies are doing a booming business amid the rush to tap North America's newfound troves of crude oil and natural gas. The discoveries are pushing U.S. energy employment to its highest level in two decades.

Baker Hughes Inc. on Monday said its income in North America doubled last quarter from a year-ago to $440 million, despite weather-related disruptions in Canada that weighed on results. Last week, Halliburton Co. said its second quarter North American profit more than doubled from a year earlier. Schlumberger Ltd. on Friday said its North American profit jumped six-fold to $673 million, from $116 million a year ago.

Those gains translated into at least 17,200 new U.S. oilfield jobs during the quarter, according to federal employment data. In May, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there were 413,500 jobs in the oil and gas extraction and support businesses in positions ranging from roustabout to tax accountant. Oil and gas extraction added jobs in June; corresponding data is not yet available for support positions. All the hiring, however, hasn't moved the needle on the nation's unemployment rate, now at 9.2%, due to weakness in construction and other industries.

Schlumberger Chief Executive Andrew Gould worries that a shortage of skilled workers will become a pinch point as the company responds to global demand for its services."The ability to provide both North American and international markets with required people in a continued growth phase will be a challenge," Mr. Gould said.

Schlumberger, Halliburton as well as smaller rivals Baker Hughes and Weatherford International Ltd., are watched closely because of their global reach and their linchpin position between equipment makers, rig owners and energy producers. Their profits are a good barometer of the industry's job growth. On Tuesday, Weatherford is expected to report profit rose 36% from a year ago, according to Thomson Reuters.

Baker Hughes has been on a hiring spree, adding 2,200 employees in the U.S. in the last 12 month, said Vice President Adam Anderson. "We plan to continue to do so this year," he said. Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy Corp. hopes to add as many as 450 workers this year to a U.S. payroll that tops 3,300 and could repeat that level of hiring in 2012, said Frank Rudolph, the company's top human resources executive. "These are typically well-paid people," he said in an interview.

After shedding jobs for much of the previous two decades, steady job growth returned to the U.S. industry in 2004, about the same time that U.S. energy producers began extracting natural gas from shale-rock formations. The industry combined horizontal drilling with a rock-cracking process called hydraulic fracturing to release huge quantities of gas once thought to be out of reach.

U.S. oil and gas explorer Anadarko Petroleum Corp. on Monday posted net of $562 million compared to a year-ago loss of $28 million.

The ensuing drilling frenzy fed a flurry of hiring. The run was curtailed by recession in 2009, but recovery has come swiftly. The sector has added an average of 5,920 jobs a month this year through May and preliminary data suggest that trend continued in June. Through May, there are 13.6% more jobs tied to drilling than at the end of last year. By contrast the number of construction jobs in the U.S. has only grown 0.8% in that span.

Now all we keep hearing from Obama and Crew on how this Utopia of "Green Dreams," will Create Jobs and save us from our Energy Crisis. Most estimate that in best case scenarios, ten to fifteen years from now, we may make a bit of a dent on our Energy Independence of Oil and Natural Gas. It MAY create a few thousand Jobs, {GM has their Batteries being made overseas. Solar Panels are being made overseas, Wind Turbines? Yup. Accept for those being funded by YOU the Tax Payer} But it MAY help us reduce our needs on Oil, MAYBE, sometime in the distant future.

HERE is what is happening NOW. Just one industry. TODAY! In the Economic Mess that this Administration and Liberal Policies have put us in. These are REAL Jobs for REAL American People. RIGHT NOW! Now after reading this. I want you to think about something. Imagine if the Government would just get out of the way. Imagine the Increased Production. Imagine the Increase Jobs that would HAVE to be created to support that Production. Imagine the Increased Revenue to our Government. Imagine the Increase Product added to the supply. Increased American Security. Increase Revenue. Increase Jobs. Lower costs for all.

Dreams vs Reality. Which do you think will help our Economic Situation? Dreams vs Reality. What do you think will increase Jobs? Dreams vs Reality. Which do you prefer?
Peter

Sources:
Wall Street Journal - Energy Boom Fuels Hiring

230,000 American Jobs, $12 Billion in Tax, By End of 2012

All that has to happen is, Government, get out of the way.

Hey folks,

Happy Friday to ya. As I keep telling you, and our Republicans in the House, the FREE MARKET, the AMERICAN PEOPLE, can and WILL fix the Economic mess that Government put us in. All that has to happen is, Government, get out of the way.

Like with most things, the TRUTH is easy to see, even if you'd rather not, or you CHOOSE not to accept it. None of that changes what the TRUTH is. It is right there. It is fully visible. Right there in front of our face. Truth is often SIMPLE to understand. Even if at times hard to accept. WE, in the false attempt to make it into something it may not be, WE complicate the simple.

There is a new Study out that PROVES that if we would only let the Free Market, BE FREE, they can and will fix this Economy, JUST by the Free Market BEING what it is. This new report shows, that while THOUSANDS of people get pink slips today in Florida, with Obama shutting down the Space Shuttle Program, just one Industry could Create 230,000 American Jobs, $12 Billion in Tax, all by the end of 2012.

This news is so good, even some in the Mainstream Media are starting to report this. According to CBS News - Researchers: Gulf drilling could add 230,000 jobs

(AP) NEW YORK — An energy research group predicted that an increase in drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico could create 230,000 jobs and add $44 billion to the economy next year.

IHS on Thursday said that the U.S. would produce more jobs, more tax revenue and another 411,000 barrels of oil per day if the industry was allowed to operate at full speed in the Gulf. The government essentially shut down offshore drilling for several months last year after BP's massive oil spill while it put new safety regulations in place.

In February, regulators started granting drilling permits again for deepwater wells, but at a slower pace than before the spill. They say stricter guidelines now in place for permits help ensure that drillers operate safely.

It's called a De facto Moratorium. Obama WANTS Higher Gas Prices. He thinks that it will help him further his agendas. It was Obama who has cost us THOUSANDS of Jobs WITH the Drilling Ban to begin with. Others are still Drilling, and we are PAYING some of them to Drill. But WE, and American Jobs, are caught up in Red Tape. Of course,

A government spokeswoman wouldn't comment about the IHS report.

This report was not done to attack anyone nor even the reasons this is happening.

“There is a need to better align the new regulatory environment with industry capacity, as the current pace of plan and permit approval is congested,” said Jim Burkhard, IHS CERA's managing director for global oil, who co-authored the report.

IHS CERA Chairman Daniel Yergin said in a conference call the study doesn't try to answer why the pace of permitting has slowed or how it should be fixed. Rather, it simply identifies the problem and the missed economic opportunities.

These are just the facts. No political Spin. No rhetoric. Just the FACTS. Just the TRUTH. Government is not the answer to all our woes. It is a hindrance to our progress. To recap a bit. According to this Study:

230,000 American jobs.
More than $44 Billion in US gross domestic product.
Nearly $12 Billion in tax and Royalty Revenues for state and Federal Treasuries.
$15 Million reduction in the amount the US sends to Foreign Governments.

All that by the end of 2012. Not ten years out. Not MAYBE. Not possibly. It WILL, by the end of NEXT Year. What is Obama's Plan? To increase American Security? For Jobs? To lower the Cost of Energy? To help America prosper? What is HIS plan? Yeah, if you figure it out let me know.

Government has it's role. The Constitution lays it out for us. No doubt about it. But it is NOT Government's role to protect us from Progress. It is not Government's role to look out for our "best interests." It is not Government's role to redistribute wealth, control the Freedoms we have, and take care of our daily needs. It just isn't. It is not the catalyst of progress, it is the hindrance of muck.

I want you to think about this. From Day 1, whatever you think Day 1 is, until 1900, we got around on Horses. We used Fire for light and to heat our homes. We were a simple people that were trying to make a better life. From 1900 until now, in just 111 years, we went from Horse and Carriage and Fire to Laser Beams and Space Travel. In just over a hundred years folks. Imagine what we could accomplish NOW. Imagine where we could go from here. If Government would just get out of the way.

Remember folks, no Big Sunday Edition this Week. My boy Joshua's Big Birthday Bash. Have a GREAT Weekend. I'll see you soon.
Peter

Sources:
MY SA - Study finds Gulf permit backlog costs jobs, tax revenue Industry study says 230,000 jobs could be created next year.
CBS News - Researchers: Gulf drilling could add 230,000 jobs

Note: From The Emails is a weekly Segment every Friday, or occasionally anytime, that appears here at the OPNTalk Blog. Please feel free to Email any Articles, Comments, Thoughts, Whatever, that you may like to share to opntalk@gmail.com As always, you never know what you may see here.

Proof We Got Obama In Checkmate

He is starting to panic.

Hey folks,

WE HAVE WON THIS THING! All the Republicans need to do is hang tough. All they need to do is NOTHING. Obama and the Libs got us into this mess, thanks to Bush for opening the door, and it is THEM that need to figure out how to get us out of it.

The Republicans have offered a Plan. A FEW actually. Obama and Crew keep saying no. Obama said he will Veto the Balanced Budget Amendment, even if it Passes. Can't have a Balanced Budget LAW that FORCES someone that has not even bothered to summit a Budget, to control spending and debt. Can you?

Folks, Obama is starting to panic here. He KNOWS he is in a corner. He KNOWS that the majority of this country see him and the Liberals for what they are. FAILURES. Complete and utter FAILURES. He knows he CAN'T fix this mess and still further his agenda. All he KNOWS is Tax, Tax, Tax, and spend, spend, spend.

Remember what Obama Said about a short term deal?



"I will NOT sign a short term deal." Well? Reuters - Obama open to short-term debt fix if big deal agreed By Jeff Mason and Andy Sullivan Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:27pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House signaled on Wednesday it could support a short-term increase in the U.S. borrowing limit for "a few days" if lawmakers agreed to a broad deficit reduction deal but needed more time to pass it.

The move, a shift from President Barack Obama's previous position, reflects the growing political reality that time is short for Congress to pass a massive deficit-cutting deal before the United States runs out of money on August 2.

So he will not sign a deal for 30, 60, 90, but will for a few days? Forget all the things he said about "some in Congress who want to do just enough to make sure that America avoids defaulting on our debt in the short term, but then wants to kick the can down the road when it comes to solving the larger problem of our deficit." That IS what his Administration has been all about from day one. Out of control spending that our GRANDCHILDREN will still be dealing with. Long after Obama and Crew are gone. Obama was right when he said this:

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies."

And when he said this:

"This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing our cities and States of critical investments in infrastructure like bridges, ports, and levees; robbing our families and our children of critical investments in education and health care reform; robbing our seniors of the retirement and health security they have counted on.

Every dollar we pay in interest is a dollar that is not going to investment in America’s priorities."

He is one hundred percent RIGHT! Now if he would only listen to himself. The bottom line here is WE GOT OBAMA and the Liberals in Congress at Checkmate. They have nowhere to go, but to play along with US.

Once again, let me make it CLEAR to our Republican friends. NO NEW TAXES. No Tax increases. No raising the Debt Ceiling. No more out of control spending. CUT SPENDING. As I just said before, defund and kill Obamacare, and we will cut over a Trillion right there. Look at some of the other Waste and Pork, multi similar Programs, FAILED Programs, Programs that do NOTHING to bolster American interests, and cut them out. A couple of Trillion dollars could be cut TODAY. Not in ten years. TODAY. We have a SPENDING Problem. We need to CUT SPENDING. The answer is SIMPLE.

You want a comprehensive Plan? OK. Here it is.

Seek out and cut WASTE.
Reduce the size of Government.
Reduce Corporate Tax and Regulations.
Lower the Tax Rates. Perhaps enact the Fair or Flat Tax System.
Let the Energy Sector do what they DO.
Let the Free Market BE the Free Market.

In essence, get Government out of the way. Leave us alone to BE the American People. Let America HEAL itself from the damage that YOU have done. Restore the American Dream and allow those who seek it, to do so without fear of being punished for doing so. It is not a difficult thing to understand. It's not even really all that hard to do. Just DO IT!
Peter

Sources:
OPNTalk -Obama On The Debt Ceiling
Reuters - Obama open to short-term debt fix if big deal agreed

Gang of Six, Bipartisan?

Hardly

Hey folks,

So the Gang of Six? Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.

Is this TRULY a Bipartisan group? No. Not really. It is also not a NEW group. These Six have been together, well, off and on, for over a Year. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK, walked away from the group at one point, talking about impasses on certain points. HIS points to be more precise. Coburn wants to reduce the size of the Military, and make Vets pay more for their Healthcare. Not kidding.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.? Hardly a true Conservative. He barely got reelected last time. He is another Senator that has just been there WAY too long. He is an Establishment Republican, and a RINO. He keeps the R for times like this so he can say, he is part of a Bipartisan, whatever.

Mike Crapo, R-Idaho? Have you ever heard of him? No? With a name like Crapo? He is another RINO, looking to get 15 minutes.

So there you have the Bipartisan Group. The Gang of Six. It seems that they have patched things up and have released their PLAN. They say it will cut spending and reduce the Debt. Problem is, it WON'T.

IF it does what it says, basically it will cut spending something like 400 Billion a year. It WILL raise Taxes. It WILL raise the Debt Ceiling. It WILL PROTECT Entitlement Programs. In the long run, it will do NOTHING to reduce the Debt. What it DOES do, is guarantee MORE spending. More Spending MEANS, more DEBT.

House Republicans? Back in April, they passed a Resolution that calls for reducing annual Deficits by a total of $6.2 Trillion over the next Ten years. It included no Tax increases but calls for transforming Medicare into a Voucher system that Subsidizes the purchase of Private Insurance Plans. Now the House Republicans Passed a Balanced Budget Amendment Bill last night. These people are SERIOUS about spending and reducing the Debt.

Or ARE they? The whole Balanced Budget thing is GREAT. Florida has that. What it means is that Government will have to make the tough choices that it needs to make to cut out of control spending. HOWEVER, attached to this, is a way to Raise the Debt Ceiling TWO TRILLION. So? Balance the Budget AFTER you spend another TWO TRILLION that we do not have?

The answer is as simple as your normal American Household. DON'T SPEND MONEY YOU DO NOT HAVE! If your Income is not covering your OUT going. THEN CUT SPENDING. Don't spend MORE. STOP putting us in more and more DEBT!

The answer is simple. NO NEW TAXES! CUT SPENDING! DO NOT RAISE THE DEBT CEILING! You know folks, the sad thing is, the TRUTH? As usual with the TRUTH. It is not really all the complicated to understand. Sometimes the TRUTH is hard to accept. But it is NOT hard to understand. Me and you could sit down at the table right now. We could find and cut over a Trillion Dollars in Pork and Waste that the Government spends every year. We could do this in under one day. Most people do not even know that these programs exist. It would only effect a handful of people who's pockets are being padding. Most will not even miss the Programs and Waste. Yet we could save TRILLIONS by cutting this garbage out. Just repealing, or defunding Obamacare would save us a TRILLION we do not have.

The answer is simple. Stop playing games. CUT SPENDING. Stop spending what we do not have. Get rid of programs that are nothing more than money pits that serve no National Interest, or are Unconstitutional. Stop allowing us to borrow more money we do not have. Just STOP!
Peter

As Always, More Access IS The Answer

California just one example.

Hey folks,

It's my Boy Joshua's SIXTH Birthday today. Happy Birthday to Josh. Big Birthday Weekend coming up this Weekend. Friends, Family, Food, Water, Sun, Fun. Can't wait. Of course that also means no Big Sunday Edition this Week, but Fret not, I will return soon. {Smile}

Have you noticed that the Price of Gas has started to clime a bit? California just one example. But they are not even the highest. According to the LA Times -California gas prices aren't among nation's highest

The state's average for a gallon of regular gasoline the past week increased 2.2 cents to $3.80, but that came in lower than several other states because of refinery problems in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions.

I know, this guy, who's this by? Oh here it is, Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times Writer, is trying to make the best of it here. But Refinery Problems are just a scratch on the surface. According to this Piece:

Refinery problems plaguing the northeast U.S. and the Great Lakes region have knocked California out of its usual spot at the top of the nation's gasoline price list.

California almost always competes with Alaska and Hawaii for the highest gasoline prices in the U.S. because of its complicated gasoline blend and relative isolation from U.S. oil sources. But not so this summer.

Now stop right there a second. WHY do they have different and complicated gasoline blends? Liberal, Environmental BS Policies. Why are they so Isolated? Because of Liberal, Environmental BS Policies. Lets look at the TRUTH of all this.

First California has insane and pointless Environmental Regulatory Standards that force the Gas that THEY consume to meet higher and pointless standards. In the name of Saving the Planet, GWBS, they have enacted Policies and Procedures that make Production more Expensive and in turn, more costly for the Consumer. Now I'll have to check Alaska because that is not sitting right with me. Not sure if that's a Fact or not.

Point two, NO NEW REFINERIES ALLOWED for over 30 years. Can't build them. Can't UPGRADE them. Can't do ANYTHING without a long a costly battle with Environut Groups and a Costly and lengthy Permitting Process. If it even gets approved to BE Permitted.

Remember what we were talking about this past Friday? Obama: Kill The Damn Birds We were discussing how Obama WANTS this massive Wind Project that will allow a 200-mile corridor for Wind Energy Development from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico that would allow for KILLING Endangered Whooping Cranes. Because Obama and Crew WANT this, Screw the Environmental Studies and Permitting Process. Just roll it all into a single Permit to allow them to do whatever they want. But a New Refinery? NEVER! More Drilling? NEVER! {Sigh} Attempt at living the "Green Dream" or at least APPEAR to be caring? KILL THE DAMN BIRDS, I WANT THIS! Make it happen. Right?

The California average for a gallon of regular gasoline rose 2.2 cents to $3.80 over the past week, according to the Energy Department's weekly survey of service stations. New York came in at $3.90 a gallon. California wasn't even the most expensive on the West Coast, falling below Washington's $3.804 a gallon.

Nationally, the Energy Department said the average rose 4.1 cents to $3.682 a gallon.

In another survey, the daily AAA Fuel Gauge Report, the California average for a gallon of regular gasoline of $3.803 ranked seventh behind Hawaii ($4.064), Alaska ($4.046), Connecticut ($4.015), New York ($3.926), Illinois ($3.910) and Rhode Island ($3.835).

"California gasoline supplies have been very healthy, and there have been few refinery problems there. If refineries in other parts of the country were doing better, we wouldn't see prices rising this fast," said Patrick DeHaan, senior energy analyst for GasBuddy.com, a system that gathers prices from a network of volunteers.

MORE Product IS the answer. We need more Product. Oil and Natural Gas. What did I just see. Hold on. Yeah, According to The OKLAHOMAN - Chesapeake Energy Corp well hits production milestone

Chesapeake Energy Corp. has had an Oklahoma well surpass 60 billion cubic feet of natural gas production for the fourth time, the company announced.

But it doesn't take ten to twenty years to increase production folks. Do not believe the garbage and incorrect Talking Points you hear from the Environmentalists. Get this.

The Oklahoma City oil and gas company owns an 82.6 percent stake in the Buffalo Creek, which it began drilling in May 2002. The first gas sales from the well occurred in December 2002.

Begin in MAY, SALES in December of the SAME YEAR. Remember Perdido? Ten to Fifteen Years

So let's recap. No oil. A structure larger than the Eiffel Tower, weighing as much as 10,000 cars, that will be producing oil from THREE different fields, and a product to market within 2 years. Do not tell me we can't do it. Do not tell me we can't drill our way out of foreign dependency. Out of outrageous gas prices, and do not tell me that this will kill the planet. We can do whatever we set our minds to. THAT is what has always, and will always, keep us great.

So instead of "Dreaming Green." Violating their own standards, and WAITING 15 to 20 years to MAYBE perfect an Alternative, within 2 to 3 years we could have MORE Security, Affordable Energy, Better Economy, and a STRONGER America in general. Government just has to get out of the way.
Peter

Sources:
LA Times -California gas prices aren't among nation's highest
OKLAHOMAN - Chesapeake Energy Corp well hits production milestone