Oh, no… it’s not socialism at all!

I remember some pundit writing some column about how calling the Democrats socialists was technically incorrect, and how those of us who called Obama and his merry band of looters on the Potomac socialist were sadly mistaken.

These days, no one believes in socialism — defined by the late,
left-wing economist Robert Heilbroner as “a centrally planned economy
in which the government controls all means of production.” A socialist
wouldn’t favor government aid to the automakers or the banks. He’d
propose that the government take them over and run them for the benefit
of society. But you haven’t heard Obama or anyone else suggest that.

With all due respect, Mr. Chapman, that’s probably one of the most short-sighted and stupid statements you can possibly make.  As I stated in the comments section of this article, “When
the government gives a bank or a corporation money, whom do you think
the bank or corporation becomes accountable to? By pouring funds into
the coffers of banks or auto makers, the government IS, in fact,
gaining control of said means of production or financial institution.
It’s a minor change from straight nationalization, but the idea is the
same, especially if the government purchases shares and becomes, in
essence, part owner”

This is as it should be.  If I invest my money in an enterprise, I expect that enterprise to be at least somewhat accountable to me.  Government bailouts are no different.  Logic demands if a company receives a gargantuan handout from the government to the tune of billions, the government then has the right to exert its influence and control on said enterprise.  This was to be expected.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., introduced legislation Friday
afternoon that will cap compensation for employees of any private
company that accepts federal dollars because of the economic downturn.

Employees would not be able to make more than the president —
$400,000 — until the company no longer relies on federal assistance
from the $700 billion bailout of the financial sector, McCaskill’s
office said.

The cap would include salary, bonuses and stock options.

Demanding fiscal responsibility from companies that receive money from the taxpayers is right and just.  I’m not blaming McCaskill for introducing this bill.  After all, the taxpayers shelled out billions, and they now have a right to make demands.  What I AM excoriating is the very idea of government bailouts! 

And what I AM saying is that those who offhand dismiss claims that those in power aren’t exercising control over the companies whom they “help” when they rightfully make demands on how the companies operate, what salaries they pay and how they are run are either stupid or naive.  And what is socialism, if not government control of the means of production?

Still think this isn’t socialism, Mr. Chapman?

A bit o’ hypocrisy from Barry ‘O… WITH CARTOONY UPDATE

Well, we all knew that the bankers who received billions in taxpayer dollars for “emergency” purposes to avoid this great, horrifying, scary catastrophe took the cash and boogied down with some righteous parties and bonuses for themselves… all to save the economy, of course!  Because nothing helps a credit crunch like a bunch of naked, pasty, flabby millionaires cavorting in hot tubs filled with champagne.

Um… I’ll give you a moment to utilize the brain bleach…

Now, we have some righteous indignation from the Anointed One(tm), who was only too happy to hand the bankers billions of your dollars during the campaign.

President Obama delivered a blistering message to Wall Street
yesterday, blasting the big-bucks bonuses doled out to fat-cat execs as
“shameful.”

Obama called reporters in to the Oval Office to express outrage over a report on Wednesday by New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli that corporate employees were paid more than $18 billion in bonuses despite the worst economic crisis in decades.

“That is the height of irresponsibility. It is shameful,” Obama
said in the sharpest words he has spoken since becoming president.

That’s a bit of hypocrisy coming from the Marxist-in-Chief, who just a few weeks ago was telling telling us how we’re all going to need to sacrifice, while spending record amounts of cash on his inauguration and chowing down on the most expensive beef in the world at a cocktail party, no doubt to congratulate himself on the passage of a trillion dollar handout that will leave future generations saddled with record amounts of debt.

But I guess he doesn’t have to sacrifice, and neither do the banker beneficiaries of our earnings.  The Chosen One will simply wag a reproachful finger in their direction and continue giving away billions of dollars in cash that doesn’t belong to him.

How do you like your Hope and Change now?

UPDATE: I just found this cartoon that pretty much says it all.  Enjoy!

h/t: Townhall.com

The dumbassery of gun banners

You guys ever wonder where gun-grabbing politicians get their panty-shitting nonsense?  Most of the time I really don’t like to delve into the rancid depths of their psyche to figure out what it is that makes them soil their undergarments at the very thought of a law-abiding citizen with a gun, but sometimes they present such irresistible targets!

The Virginia Citizens’ Defense League (VCDL) reports that Senator Hanger’s Restaurant Ban Repeal bill, SB 1035, cleared the Senate Courts of Justice committee by 9 to 6.

They also report that gun banners are friggin’ idiots!

First a representative from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission said, “We are concerned that this is a public safety issue… What if  someone carrying concealed has their gun taken away from the by a drunken customer and used to shoot someone.”

When I spoke, I pointed out how ridiculous that argument was – the gun  is CONCEALED, so the drunken customer won’t know the person has a gun or where that gun is. (Additionally, wouldn’t the drunken customer be more apt to notice and grab the gun when it’s carried openly, as the law mandates? But hey, what the hell do I know?)

Senator Marsh took the cake, however.  He said that if a concealed  handgun permit holder came into a restaurant with the intent to “pop” someone in  the restaurant, and the permit holder couldn’t find  someone to declare that he has a concealed gun, he might just go ahead  and kill his victim anyhow, without notifying the restaurant of his  concealed gun.

Senator Cuccinelli had fun with that one, saying, “So, Senator Marsh,  the permit holder, determined to commit murder, would not do so  because he was worried about getting charged with a Class 3  misdemeanor?”

Marsh just sat there with a blank look on his face.

By the way, Marsh is the same guy that has been trying to destroy Virginia’s gun shows year after year with no success.  But that’s not his only claim to fame.  Marsh is also the same guy who tried to ban fake balls… nuts… testicles… you know – the ornamental kind that some of the Crimson Nape like to hang from the hitches of their trucks.  It made me want to get a pair (of the fake ones, you pervs!) and hang them from the bumper of my Sentra and go driving around Richmond just to piss him off.

The pig trough passes

I’m sure all of you knew it already, and no one is surprised by the fact that Congress has passed the $819 BILLION economic stimulus package… otherwise known as economic Viagara (or a cheap knockoff made somewhere in Thailand by slave labor).

Would you like to know what you’re getting for your tax dollars?

The House stimulus package includes aid to states and localities to
help them avoid cuts in Medicaid coverage and school funding. The bill
also would extend unemployment benefits and give unemployed workers
subsidies for health care coverage. The legislation also would fund
infrastructure improvements and investments in energy efficiency and
alternative energy projects.

Most of the tax relief in the bill would go to individuals,
including a $500 refundable tax credit for low- and middle-income
workers.

What else?

How about $20 million for fish and wildlife service trail improvement?

How about hundreds of millions of dollars for STDs?  Yeah… for screening and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.  Get ready, girls!  If the government gives up millions in public funding to ensure you stay chlamydia-free, they also have a right to ensure their money is being used responsibly.  Prepare to spread ‘em on demand.

Apparently, the Senate version provides something called the Maryland Supercomputer Center with $70,000,000 of your tax dollars to support “climate research.”  I’m sure that the decrepit, socialist bag of vinegar and water who represents Maryland in the Senate, Barbara Mikulski is the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science.  But I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.

There’s tons more pork in this bill, but I’m too emotionally exhausted to give you the entire rundown now.  You can read the entire pork-laden thing here.

I wasn’t too worried about our economic future in the fourth quarter of 2008.  I thought we would weather the storm and the market would correct itself like it normally does.  Now, that the Democrats have started seriously screwing with every portion of the economy, I’m not so complacent.

This is what you get for kissing Iran’s ass

NOW will you remove your tongue from Ahmadinejad’s rectal cavity?

The US should apologise for “crimes” it has committed against Iran if it wants a better relationship with Tehran, the Iranian president said today, after recent overtures to the Muslim world from the new administration in Washington.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s uncompromising tone followed a conciliatory message from Barack Obama,
the US president, earlier this week when he told the Islamic world: “We
are not your enemies.” In his inauguration last week, Obama offered to extend a hand of peace if Iran “unclenched its fist”.

At a rally in western Iran today, broadcast live on national television, Ahmadinejad said Iran would welcome a change in US policy provided it involved a withdrawal of American troops from abroad and an apology to Iran.

If I said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times:  you can’t negotiate with irrational, sociopathic losers.  Negotiating with Iran is much like negotiating with the Brady Center and VPC.  You can’t give an inch, because they’ll open up their maws and swallow you whole.