An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for June 2010
Fox………Hen House
Lawmakers guide Dodd-Frank bill for Wall Street reform into homestretch
Nearly two years after tremors on Wall Street set off a historic economic downturn, congressional leaders greenlighted a bill early Friday that would leave the financial industry largely intact but facing a more powerful network of regulators who could impose limits on risky activities.
The final bill took shape after a 20-hour marathon negotiation between House and Senate leaders seeking to reconcile their separate versions. The legislation puts a lot of faith in the watchful eye of regulators to prevent another financial crisis. New agencies would police consumer lending, the invention of financial products and the trading of exotic securities known as derivatives. Bank supervisors would have the power to seize large, troubled financial firms whose collapse could threaten the entire system. The bill calls for banks to hold more money in reserve to weather economic storms but leaves the details to regulators.
But with a few exceptions, the measure avoids dictating to Wall Street what it can and cannot do. The bill does not break up big banks or ban the trading of derivatives. Nor does it significantly streamline the confusing array of financial regulators in Washington.
The House and Senate are set to vote on the legislation next week, and administration officials said President Obama could sign it into law before July 4.
One would think that the people in D.C. had a clue what they were doing. One would be dead wrong. D.C. creates a crisis, D.C. finds “solutions” to make crisis worse. And don’t you find it interesting that the FDA takes years, even decades, to approve a drug that could save a persons life, yet this Congress is able to ram through bills that will destroy lives? And don’t forget about that ‘seizing’ stuff. Step one to a total takeover? Hmmm…
Once more, we have the fox and the hen house scenario coming out of Congress. God help us, cuz Washington isn’t! Although, ya gotta love the official summary. (insert sarcasm)
Two years ago today, Bear Stearns was collapsing. In the time since, Americans have faced the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Millions have lost their jobs, businesses have failed, housing prices have dropped, and savings were wiped out.
The failures that led to this crisis require bold action. We must restore responsibility and accountability in our financial system to give Americans confidence that there is a system in place that works for and protects them. We must create a sound foundation to grow the economy and create jobs.
I notice it doesn’t mean any fees and taxes (redundant?) that these institutions are going to be passing along to the consumer. Perhaps I just missed that part. I also notice they don’t mention that the American people have very little confidence, in this bill, or any others they keep foisting on us. As a matter of fact, I keep seeing that We, The People, would very much like for Congress to stop tinkering with things they don’t understand. It’s like watching a 3 year old taking apart a computer, and trying to put it back together. Ain’t workin’!
Why Change Is Needed: The economic crisis was driven by an across-the-board failure to protect consumers. When no one office has consumer protections as its top priority, consumer protections don’t get the attention they need. The result has been unfair and deceptive practices being allowed to spread unchallenged, nearly bringing down the entire financial system.
I think we’ve had about all the “change” we can handle. When you force companies to loan to persons unable to repay, then you get the mess created by Congress. (That started long before Bush got into office, so blaming him is deceptive.) Congress creates mess, Congress creates bigger mess to attempt to clean up mess previously created. I don’t know about you, but my head is starting to spin. I think that’s the intent.
Glenn Beck 06/25/10 – Black Founders
I Hate Commercials
But I gotta tell ya, this one is hilarious!
When There Is An Important Vote….
….isn’t it a good idea for everyone to show up for it? Especially for something like the DISCLOSE Act?
“R”s not Voting:
Barrett (SC)
Blunt
Brown (SC)
Hoekstra
Pence
Wamp (too busy running for TN governor?)
And these two who voted with the “D”s, need to start looking for a new job!
Cao
Castle
Just think, if all these people had voted NO, it wouldn’t have passed. They should ALL be ashamed they let the American people down!
Weasel Time
No, No and NO!
Tell me I did NOT hear peacocks when I was outside a few minutes ago! I HATE THOSE FREAKIN’ BIRDS!
Unfortunately, I also found the kittens I had thought were carried off by coyotes or some such. Sigh… They’re all in a pile, playing in what use to be the flower bed on the side of the house. That puppy seriously needs to be cleaned out, so said kittens will go away? One can only hope!
You Fight A War To WIN!
Petraeus to Modify Afghanistan Rules of Engagement, Source Says
A military source close to Gen. David Petraeus told Fox News that one of the first things the general will do when he takes over in Afghanistan is to modify the controversial rules of engagement to make it easier for U.S. troops to engage in combat with the enemy.
Troops on the ground and some military commanders have said the strict rules — aimed at preventing civilian casualties — have effectively forced the troops to fight with one hand tied behind their backs.
Does this mean the troops will actually get to shoot the sons of bitches? One can only hope!
Any adjustment to the rules of engagement does not mean the counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan will change. President Obama stressed Wednesday — after he accepted Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s resignation in the wake of a magazine article in which he and his staff were critical of the administration — that the change-up does not represent a shift in war policy.
I’ll take that as a ‘no’.
At the same news conference at the Pentagon, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen said Petraeus will be able to make tactical changes. But he said that does not necessarily mean changes will be made and echoed the president’s insistence that the strategy stays as he prepared for a visit to the war zone.
I guess they mean the strategy of losing.
“My message will be clear: Nothing changes about our strategy, nothing changes about the mission,” Mullen said.
With all due respect, if you go into a war without the intent of winning, then you might as well stay at home. Wars can NOT be fought by politicians, sitting behind some desk in D.C. OR even generals at their Pentagon desks in Arlington! This “hearts and minds” bull comes AFTER the enemy is defeated, not while you’re trying to beat the crap out of them! Get a grip! Either set ‘em lose to do their job, or bring our troops HOME!
SO Glad We Left
As a former resident of Wisconsin, I’ve been trying NOT to pay as much attention to what is going on up there here on the blog. But this? Well, this is just way too much! Extremely indicative of WHY we got out when the gettin’ was good!
Just a few links to folks talking about the complete stupidity:
Memo to Peggy: Arizona borders Mexico
Arizona boycott backed by Milwaukee County Board panel
The. Dumbest. Elected. Official. Ever.
Milwaukee County Supervisor wants to boycott Arizona but doesn’t know where it is
County Supervisor, Peggy West, dumbest politician east of the Mississippi
Peggy West: Mental Midget Award #1
The Idiocracy Comes To Milwaukee
And that’s just a VERY few. There are so many more, from all around the country. All I can say is, “Way to go Milwaukee! You’ve proved, once again, ignorance is bliss!” I just pray the state has enough sense to elect Scott Walker as governor, and perhaps, he’ll bring some sanity back to the state, and get public education back on the right track. This woman is OBVIOUSLY a product of the union run schools.
“I’m From The Government, And I’m Here To Help”
Halting the Explosive Growth of Welfare Entitlements
The Foundry
Despite its failure last week, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) is continuing to push his tax-extenders bill. Bundled together with the many egregious pieces of this bill is a $2.5 billion Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) emergency fund. This provision ties right into the current administration’s philosophy on government welfare: grow the number of Americans dependent on government by increasing spending.
This is obviously the wrong approach. Instead of throwing more money at the ever-expanding and fiscally unsustainable welfare state, Congress should implement practices that work to move people out of poverty, versus those that do nothing but grow federal bureaucracies.
Glenn Beck 06/24/10 – Communism
Booze and Food
New TN law expected to ease food mandate for bars
A decades-old law meant to discourage bars in Tennessee may quietly fall by the wayside, as Gov. Phil Bredesen is set to sign legislation that reduces how much food restaurants have to sell to get a liquor license.
When we first moved to Tennessee, I found this one of the more odd laws in the state.
The measure sets the minimum amount of food they have to sell to qualify for a liquor license to at least 15 percent of their revenues. Existing law doesn’t have a numerical standard, but says selling food has to be primary purpose of an establishment. State law does recognize bars.
In other words, there are no bars in the state, just restaurants that serve booze. Where’s the logic in that?
“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Ruble Sanderson, co-owner of The Stage, Legends Corner and two other downtown music venues. “The whole thing has been absurd for years.”
Ditto. AND…on the plus side….perhaps more of these places will be ONLY 21 and up so the grown ups can smoke. 
The measure centers on a clause in the 1967 law that authorized sales of liquor by the drink in Tennessee for the first time since Prohibition. It says serving meals must be “the principal business conducted each day the restaurant is open.”
Talk about serious delayed reaction. This is a terrific state, but some of the laws are, shall we say, a bit out dated? Well, it might have something to do with the strong Southern Baptist influence, but still….that was over 40 years ago. There are a LOT of college students in Nashville, along with all those tourists.
Many Nashville bars and clubs routinely run afoul of the requirement, paying a fine of about $1,500 a month to stay in business.
You can’t force people to buy food if they don’t want it!
Earlier this year, the ABC appeared to clamp down on the food-service requirement more firmly, voting to suspend the license of one Second Avenue bar, Buck Wild Saloon, for 90 days for repeated violations. ABC also stepped up audits, telling establishments that they needed to derive at least half of their income from food sales to meet the law, according to some owners.
I repeat…. You can NOT force people to buy food, if the reason they are in the place is to get soused! Punishing a business for not being able to push food on people who don’t want it, is just plain silly.
I Miss That Hair
Was in Thailand at an elephant soccer game. Had a big butt even back then. sigh…
Come to think of it, I’ve been missing that bod for quite a few years….er decades. 
Yes, that is a commie flag on the wall. It was NOT my house!
(Ok, I’ve got to get better cuz I’m making up ways to stay occupied! The finger is working ok, but the brain just can’t get into current events. It all sucks. 
)
Brat is not happy I’m posting pictures on her Facebook page! heh heh heh
And here is our dance recital in kindergarten. I think we were four or five?
Good grief! What our mothers did to our hair! Don’t miss THAT ‘do!
And oh yes, mustn’t forget this picture of the Mr and me in Jamaica I finally got around to scanning.
Very Scary
Hey….I was 3! Gimme a break! 
REAL Bad Idea, Obama!
Obama to Grant Amnesty to Illegal Aliens by Executive Order?
by J. D. Longstreet
A snippet:
Rumors are flying and tempers are flaring in Washington, DC as rumors that President Obama intends to grant amnesty to nearly 20 million illegal aliens, already residing within the United States, with the stroke of his pen. It would take the form of a Presidential Executive Order. Outrage is spreading among the legal citizens of the US with the rapidity of a prairie fire in August.
Read the whole post here.
It’s no secret I’m not a fan of Barack Hussein Obama. I was willing to give him a chance. I did my best to remain open minded. Well, he shut it pretty quick, and did not merit a ‘chance’. I’ve never seen such an incompetent, totally lacking in common sense, or any leadership skills whatsoever. The health care fiasco, the numerous ‘stimulus’, the push to socialism is not the “change” the majority of Americans thought they would be getting. Oh, he’s changed the country alright…into something those of us who are long past generation X don’t recognize.
Since the majority of Americans do NOT want amnesty for millions of criminals, and Congress knows their jobs are at stake, Obama decides to sidestep the political process, again, and shove it down our throats. He refuses to enforce the federal law and is planning on suing a state over the law that would do the job the feds won’t do.
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Well, this child has NOT upheld this oath. He’s turned the Constitution into toilet paper, and at every turn, thumbed his nose at WE, The People. In the 18 months he’s been the occupant of the Oval Office, he has decided the American people mean nothing, and the security of this nation is irrelevant. We aren’t compatible with Obama’s political agenda.
He’s giving the American people reason to seek impeachment.
Glenn Beck 06/23/10 – History of Unions
