Pitchfork Uprising » MUD SLINGING POLITICS

Ron Paul Friend or Foe

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:55:12 +0000

The debt ceiling hangs like a big black storm cloud ready to unleash its fury on a fiscally irresponsible nation. Actually it doesn’t need to be this way but the republicans insist. What’s worse is they are imploring that fury to be let loose as an agonizing penance that will cleanse us of our misguided ways.

Hey look, nobody likes a good ole fashion flogging more than I do. I need to have some sense beaten into me since that haymaker the Great Recession landed on my glass jaw didn’t teach me a thing. I wouldn’t scream uncle to my Republican masters so now they’re going medieval on me.

I’ve always sort of been the recalcitrant child. Many times the nuns at the Catholic school I attended gleefully inflicted pain upon the event of my real or imagined misbehavior. And who knows more about medieval torture techniques than a cloistered nun.

That frustrated congressman Ron Paul has cracked a smile over the prospect of holding the line on the debt ceiling. This is the only opportunity he’s likely to get in his quest for a smaller government. Like Napoleon at Austerlitz causalities mean nothing to him. He sees an opportunity here and he’s willing to sacrifice innumerable foot soldiers to flood the crack in the enemy line and emerge on the other side victorious.

Per Ron Paul:

“When our creditors finally wise up and cut us off, we will be forced to face economic realities whether we want to or not. It would be easier to deal with the tough choices we face now, on our own terms, rather than wait until we are at the mercy of foreign creditors. However, leaders in Washington have no political will to admit that we cannot afford to continue spending without any meaningful limit. They prefer maintaining the illusion and putting off reality for another day.”

Bet you didn’t think it would be our creditors who would save us from ourselves. Or maybe that’s not what Ron Paul is thinking here? Maybe he’s enlisting them to swell his overmatched numbers in an attempt to use foreign power to subdue socialist tending citizens back under the thumb of free market royalists.

Ron Paul is wrong, dead wrong. He wants government influence on his everyday activities to be at the minimum level possible. We all want that. What he fails to realize is that somebody is going to be the supreme power in this country. If you hog tie the government than guess who will fill the power vacuum. A ruling elite of capitalists that’s who. Multinational businesses will end up telling Ron Paul what to do with this everyday life and there will be no legal redress he can turn to for protection.

We know this from history. Somebody will be in charge. The strongest force will rule. Right now our government is strong enough to hold back the forces that would suck the blood right out of our veins as well as the money out of our paychecks. That is the choice between democracy and libertarianism.

Ron Paul is deceived if he believes that individuals can be king and rule over a skeleton crew government. Only a nation of individuals standing together can maintain liberty. We all witnessed what happened when the Republicans applied there divide and conquer strategy in presidential elections. Once the nation was divided it started to crack. Sure enough business interests filled the breech with devastating results. They collected windfall profits and left us with the Great Recession.

Ron Paul has to stop being the opponent of the people and their laws. The government under the current administration and its policies is acting to protect individuals. If you oppose this you are supporting the powers the would make victims of the individual. The size of government doesn’t matter as long as it’s the biggest and meanest dude in the saloon.

You’re wrong Ron Paul. Very, very, very, wrong.

Republican New Guard To Decide The Losers of The Great Recession

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:16:31 +0000

There comes a point when you have to realize that not everybody can survive in the new economy. The post Great Recession America. And so it’s time to choose who gets a seat on the life boats and who gets left behind to go down with the ship. Republicans have had a prepared list ready to be pulled out should this time come and they‘re pulling it out now.

I’m afraid I’m on that list ladies and gentlemen. I am a victim of the Great Recession and my financial wounds still fester. I am no longer of any use to the cash flush psychopaths who now run this land where supposedly every man is created equal. However, do not pity my misfortune because I certainly don’t. I’m man enough to accept my fate but I cannot condone the treatment of those being left behind with me. The elderly, poor children, wounded veterans, unemployed and underemployed, and minorities are also being designated for reassignment.

Who makes the rules around here anyway? I watch a lot of CSPAN so I know it’s the new Republican Guard who has been sent to Washington to clean house. They are not there to fight corruption in Congress; they are there to replace those who drag the free market down by championing the equal rights bestowed upon every American. We won’t recover from this economic slaughter on the rock of equality. A lot of people are going to have to be left behind and the new Republicans are here to once and for all crush those who don’t have the cash resources to save themselves.

Of course there is nothing new about this. It is the way the world has always worked. What was new was that this country once upon a time was a place where people did reach a new high in equality. Of course hundreds of thousands had to die in a civil war and people had to form unions and resort to violence just to get a day off. We had to go through the disgrace of a civil rights movement and women had to fight just to get the right to vote. Apparently, people forgot and were misled into believing they did not have to fight for their status of equal and when their resistance waned the old guard is rushing in to undo what generations of people fought to achieve.

And so now we will travel back in time to a place Republicans believe the real America existed. A country of small businesses where everybody was self sufficient and there was no need for social programs like Medicare and unemployment. There were no taxes and government was just an institution that kept blackies in their place and out of sight. But that is fantasy. Where they will really take us is back to Dicksonian London, a place where Ebenezer Scrooge begrudgingly gives Cratchit Christmas day off.

I know history so I know what to expect over the coming decade. What is sad is that it is not just the economic decline of America; it is a rejection of our basic beliefs in who we thought we were and what we stood for. I thought I was special because I was an American. I believed that because of this idea of all people being equal. It coincided with my Christian beliefs of the lowest among us being the ones our Lord cared for the most. But this current ravaging of the innocents is foreign to me.

And so now the tables have been turned upon me. The Republicans looked nostalgically back in time to a place where their vision of America flourished and are in the process of reviving it in the here and now. I’m now the one looking back nostalgically to a time when Americans would fight to demand to be considered equal and not subservient to free market pirates.

Herman Cain For President Republicans Can’t Be Serious Can They

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:45:23 +0000

Herman Cain for president? Are you serious? What solutions does he propose to balnce the budget and reduce unemployment? Here is how he presents his claim to throne of the GOP and ultimately the Oval Office”

“No, I have never held public office before, and I may not know how Washington works, as some have pointed out. But I do not want to learn how to create a $14 trillion national debt, or waste $1 trillion to create a stalled economy and a nine percent unemployment rate or continue to push problems off on future generations.”

Here he admits right off he’s not qualified by pointing out he has no public office experience and has no idea how Washington works. Apparently, he figures his ignorance is his strongest attribute. He then goes on to prove his ignorance by reciting trite references to the debt and how the stimulus program created nine percent unemployment. Either Cain is a moron or he’s vying for the votes of morons. Tell me again Herman, stimulus spending creates unemployment? Are you sure about that?

He goes on with this:

“Our collective vision for America is to change those results for the better with a direct boost to the economy using bold tax reductions, responsible regulatory reductions, a restructuring of social programs and common-sense solutions to our national problems.”

Cain’s vision is to change the results for America by doing the exact same thing that created those results. It was the Bush tax cuts that primarily pushed the debt to 14 trillion and why Cain believes doubling down with more bold tax reductions won’t double down on the 14 trillion is beyond me. But even hearing Cain say this hurts my brain. Can’t this guy say anything that isn’t totally insane?

As we delve further into Cain’s vision he starts talking in code words; responsible regulatory reductions translates into get government off our backs, and restructuring of social programs translates into refreshing the tree of liberty with the blood of the elderly and the huddled masses, the wretched refuse yearning to breathe free.

What are these common-sense solutions to our national problems? Sarah Palin says the same thing. They never say what the common sense solutions are. I guess they won’t know until they are sitting in the White House and have to make them up. I think some self-help book writer has a book out there entitled Common Sense Solutions to Life’s Problems that both Cain and Palin intend to fall back on in formulating these common sense solutions. I think Einstein referenced the same book while developing his relativity theory.

I think it’s great that a man with common sense can become the ruler of the free world. I think a man who has the courage to stand in front of the country and say “the reason why the debt is so high is that we pay too much taxes”, and” if we restructure our social programs than the needs of the elderly won’t be as big of a problem”. Moreover, “if we stop regulating business then business won’t have to be worried about being regulated”.

Don’t ask me to explain any of this; go ask Alice, I think she’ll know, it all makes sense in Wonderland.

Corrupt Republican Senators In Bed With Big OIL Want to Balance Budget on Backs of Poor

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:41:45 +0000

May 18, 2011

WASHNGTON, May 17 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a member of the Senate energy committee, issued the following statement today after the Senate blocked a bill to rescind $2 billion in annual taxpayer handouts to the five biggest U.S. oil companies:

“I voted to end oil company subsidies because we have a $14 trillion national debt, because some of the most profitable corporations in the history of the world don’t need tax breaks, because some oil companies pay no federal income taxes, and because we desperately need to end our dependence on fossil fuels.

“Congress cannot balance the budget on the backs of middle-class working families without asking the wealthiest Americans and the most profitable corporations for shared sacrifice.”

Sanders last year called for the repeal of $35 billion in oil and gas industry tax breaks over the next decade. His proposal would have devoted $25 billion to deficit reduction and put $10 billion over 10 years into an Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Program. The vote last June 15 on Sanders’ amendment was 35 to 61. At that time, 22 Democrats bucked the wishes of the White House and voted against the repeal.

How much of the oil produced in the U.S. is consumed in the U.S.?

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Wed, 18 May 2011 17:34:57 +0000

EIA (U.S Energy Information Administratiom) is not able to determine exactly the amount of crude oil produced in the United States that is consumed, as refined products, in the U.S. However, the majority of the crude oil produced in the U.S. is refined in U.S. refineries. The U.S. also produces other liquids that are used in the refining process that are added or blended with the refined products. In 2010, the U.S. produced about 5.5 million barrels of crude oil per day and imported about 9.2 million barrels per day.

EIA is not able to track how much of the domestically produced crude oil and other liquids is exported in the form of refined products. The small quantity of crude oil produced in the U.S. that is exported, nearly all to Canada, may actually be returned to the U.S. as refined products.

The U.S. became a (slight) net exporter (exported more than we imported) of refined petroleum productsin 2008. Refined petroleum products produced in the U.S. from both domestic and imported crude oil are exported to other countries. The volume of net exports of refined products in 2010 was equivalent to about 5% of the total volume of U.S. petroleum consumption in 2010.

Any Micmac Indians Out There Please Contact Me

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Wed, 18 May 2011 16:00:26 +0000

I am a decendant of Micmacs from Prince Edward Island Canada. I want to associate with fellow Micmacs in order to deepen my ties to the Nation. Please contact me.

Investing in Skyworks today

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:39:44 +0000

Investing in Skyworks today. I’s down from 31.60 on April 28 to 27.11 today. I like to invest in beat up stocks and this is one of them. Expecting it to get back to 30 at some point. This is the tech play in my portfolio.

Jack Van Impe Full Assault on Obama Religious Right Versus Reality

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:11:16 +0000

Why Jack? Why are you using the pulpit to launch a full scale attack on President Obama? Why did you and Rexella produce a DVD to turn your Christian audience against its president? Does your ministry need the money that much? Have you not made enough money already from your multitude of book and DVD sales so that you don’t have to engage in character assassination?

You have stepped over the line on this one Jack. As you pointed out on your recent show Obama has told us he is a Christian (and we know this to be true since he was a member of Jeremiah Wright’s congregation in Chicago) but he disregards or disagrees with parts of scripture and according to you is on record as saying there are many ways to heaven which implies by- passing the Cross.

From your standpoint this is blasphemy and therefore allows you to proclaim he is not a Christian. I can’t argue against your theological basis for saying this, but if a man believes in Christ, but questions some of the writings in the gospels, he may be mistaken in questioning what you believe to be the inspired word of god inscribed by His disciples on earth, but you could have just said that rather than proclaim Obama is not a Christian and condemn Obama to hell.

You may not know it Jack, but being a Christian is not a requirement for being president. The president’s religious beliefs don’t even matter in the secular world of managing this industrial superpower of ours. The Constitution does not except non-Christians from the office of the presidency. So why do you make such a big deal out of the purity of Obama’s Christianity?

I know why. It’s because he’s not like you. He doesn’t think like you, he doesn’t look like you, he doesn’t come where you come from and he’s not a zealot. And so you and your ilk reject him as your political leader. What foolishness.

This is a country founded on the principal of tolerance yet you remain passionately intolerant. You may have memorized the bible but even and I, no scholar to be sure, know that what you are doing is wrong. Your shtick doesn’t play well outside of the coven of zealots that have ordained you a preacher.

You preach insanity and then recite bible versus to validate the righteousness of your foolishness. Any twisted mind could do the same thing. You can accumulate a pile of scripture to build an argument but when you step back and see that you’ve come up with a stupid answer then that’s a good indication that your premise is wrong. That’s what happened here Jack. You need to step back and realize you’re mistaken. I shouldn’t need to do it for you.

The problem I have with your Obama condemnation is that it turns citizen against citizen and creates ill will among people unnecessarily. There’s religion and there is the need for Americans to work together to deal with everyday’s problems and the major issues that challenge the country. The latter requires setting aside differences in order to get things done.

You should have known better in this time of distress that hindering the political process by branding the president as illegitimate could immobilize the country’s ability to work together toward the goal of mitigating the human suffering caused by this great recession. You instead chose to profit from it. Shame on you Jack! Shame on you.

President Obama Needs to be Impeached Nancy Pelosi is Our Real Leader

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:55:26 +0000

I’ve had enough of president Obama. He’s going to extend the tax cuts for the rich and extend the war in Afghanistan. I can’t support this guy anymore. I want him impeached. I want him to go home. I want Nancy Pelosi to take his place.

This guy can’t take a stand on anything. He doesn’t compromise he gives in. The Republicans have figured this out so they don’t have to negotiate with democrats; they just have to wait them out. How many times can you give in before it’s clear that your presidency has been diluted to the point where it is no longer relevant? I need someone who is going to fight for me not someone who is serving me up as red meat to keep the dogs at bay.

Nancy Pelosi is hated by the right because she’s a fighter. The harder you push her the harder she pushes back. The more you hate her the more she’s says “I love you too bad ass”. She’s a bulldog and loves a fight. Democrats need to fight like mad dogs right now or big money and big business through their Republican proxies will push our faces into the ground and hold their boot on our throats until we submit to servitude.

W e are in a power struggle right now and the Republicans are on the warpath. They want a blood bath of Americans who depend on safety net programs to get by. This is the solution to all our problems. Destroy the whining useless masses that are a drag on free enterprise. In this post great recession America there is a surplus of people who we can’t employ and who we don’t want to support anymore.

Cut them off and let them fend for themselves. They are a sub-citizenry of parasites who need to be silenced and removed from the democratic process. They can’t be saved and congress does not want to represent them anymore.

The whole premises of government now is to sever its relationship from the permanently unemployed and under employed the poor and the elderly. Bringing the budget deficit under control depends on this. The rich are calling the shots now and they do not want to be held responsible through higher taxes for providing safety nets for those who are the losers and victims of the free market.

We losers and victims need a champion. Obama ‘s not the guy. Nancy Pelosi is the one we need. Hopefully, she’ll become the minority leader and lead the fight and defend us against those who are out to destroy us.

New Republicans to Push for Balanced Budget Amendment

Mike Hammer (alias the peasant) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:47:50 +0000

Some Republican ideas are beyond comprehension. One in particular is a balanced budget amendment. Senator elect Mike Lee from Utah will push for such an amendment when he gets to Washington.

When Utah Senator-elect Mike Lee arrives in Washington, he will push for a balanced budget amendment in the Senate, …

“The majority of states in this country balance their budgets every year,” Lee is quoted as saying in a BBAN press release. “Requiring Congress to do the same simply requires self-restraint, fiscal discipline, forethought and a commitment to follow both the roles and restraints outlined in the Constitution.”

http://dailycaller.com/2010/11/09/balance-budget-amendment-to-be-pushed-in-new-congress/

This Mike Lee guy is clueless and this statement is proof that he is an incompetent not qualified to serve in the Senate. Obviously, his Republican audience is as clueless as he is. Forcing a Federal balanced budget sounds like common sense when you say it, but in real life it can’t be allowed. Common sense solutions (think Sarah Palin here) served up by uninformed well intentioned fools will not lead to better government, only to a dysfunctional Congress.

States can have forced balanced budgets since the federal government will provide armies for them when the wars break out, or supply them with emergency aid during hard times (like now for instance). The federal government can only do this if it is not locked into a balanced budget. The government cannot defend the states if it doesn’t have the ability to raise the money to do so even if it means deficit spending.

So you see there will never be a balanced budget amendment passed by congress. Mike Lee should know this. He probably does but advocates for it anyway. If such a bill came up for a vote not one Republican would vote for it, not even Mike Lee. Why, because you would have to raise taxes to do it. Spending cuts alone wouldn’t get you there. It’s not a matter of fiscal discipline and self restraint; it requires a commitment to pay for the bills you ran up.

To balance the budget by spending cuts alone would require cuts so massive that they would crash the government, the economy, and cause dire harm to innocent Americans. It would cause pure chaos and disaster. I’m starting to believe that’s what Mike Lee and this new Republican majority in the House wants. Only under the cover of chaos can they pass the reforms they cherish so much.

We had a balanced budget ten years ago. The unfunded Bush tax cuts are the cause of most of our debt woes. Let them expire and our situation immediately looks a lot better. But Mike Lee would rather see the country brought down than give in on those tax cuts. I guess that makes him a freedom fighter. More likely he’s just a fool.

The new Republican congress is making promises than can’t keep. Moreover they wouldn’t vote for the reforms they are pushing. They are lying. Nothing is going to change because Mike Lee is in the Senate. We will continue to decline while the Congress sits on its hands, watches, and does nothing. I think we are in big trouble.