New High: 48% Say Most Members of Congress Are Corrupt

What's even more surprising is that a majority think these candidates spend millions, sometimes out of pocket, for the job because of their patriotism, civil mindedness and big heart.

The belief that politicians use their office for personal gain is growing.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 48% of Likely U.S. Voters believe that most members of Congress are corrupt. Just 28% disagree, and another 24% are not sure.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on December 27-28, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

Paul: Iran justified in closing Strait of Hormuz

This after saying earlier that Iran is entitled to a nuclear weapon. The man is certifiable.

As Iran ratcheted up its rhetoric Thursday about closing the Strait of Hormuz, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul revisited his earlier criticisms of Western policy towards Tehran, adding that Iran would be justified in cutting off the strategic waterway in response to sanctions. ... At a campaign event in Iowa Thursday, Paul called Western sanctions imposed against Iran over its nuclear activities “horrendous” and “acts of war,” while repeating earlier assertions that Iran would understandably want to develop a nuclear weapons capability, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Obama Job Approval

Gallup: Obama "bump" is history. His lavish living in Hawaii can't be helping matters any.

41% Approve, 50% Disapprove.

Rasmussen: Romney 45% Obama 39%

Obama under 40%, WOW!

Mitt Romney has now jumped to his biggest lead ever over President Obama in a hypothetical Election 2012 matchup. It’s also the biggest lead a named Republican candidate has held over the incumbent in Rasmussen Reports surveying to date.

The latest national telephone survey finds that 45% of Likely U.S. Voters favor the former Massachusetts governor, while 39% prefer the president. Ten percent (10%) like some other candidate in the race, and six percent (6%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

A week ago, Romney trailed Obama 44% to 41%. The week before that, he held a slight 43% to 42% edge over the president. The two candidates have been essentially tied in regular surveys since January, but Romney remains the only GOP hopeful to lead Obama in more than one survey. Despite Romney’s current six-point lead, his latest level of support is in line with the 38% to 45% he has earned in matchups with the president this year. However, Obama’s 39% is a new low: Prior to this survey, his support has ranged from 40% to 46% in matchups with Romney.

Congress ends corn ethanol subsidy

Long overdue.

Washington —The United States has ended a 30-year tax subsidy for corn-based ethanol that cost taxpayers $6 billion annually, and ended a tariff on imported Brazilian ethanol.

Congress adjourned for the year on Friday, failing to extend the tax break that's drawn a wide variety of critics on Capitol Hill, including Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Critics also have included environmentalists, frozen food producers, ranchers and others.

The policies have helped shift millions of tons of corn from feedlots, dinner tables and other products into gas tanks.

Home prices down in most major US cities

I've said it before, I'll say it again, untill this turns around the economy won't.

U.S. home prices fell in most major cities for the second straight month, further evidence that the housing recovery will be bumpy. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index shows prices dropped in October from September in 19 of the 20 cities tracked. Prices in a majority of cities declined for the second straight month.

Sears to Close Up to 120 Kmart and Sears Stores

So much for the blockbuster Christmas sales season.

Between 100 and 120 Sears and Kmart stores will be closed, Sears Holdings said Tuesday, after terrible holiday sales during what is the most crucial time of the year for retailers.

Sears has yet to determine which stores will be closed, but there has been a clear shift in where the retailer will devote its resources.

The company is moving away from its practice of propping up "marginally performing" stores in hopes of improving their performance. Sears said it will now concentrate on cash-generating stores.

"Given our performance and the difficult economic environment, especially for big-ticket items, we intend to implement a series of actions to reduce ongoing expenses, adjust our asset base, and accelerate the transformation of our business model," said CEO Louis D'Ambrosio. "These actions will better enable us to focus our investments on serving our customers."

Even profitable firms fleeing California

Gettin out while the gettin's good.

Democratic reaction to the news that Waste Connections, a $3.6-billion company and major Sacramento-area employer, is headed to Houston to seek a friendlier business climate tells other businesses all they need to know about the attitudes of those who run California's government.

State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, gave these clueless and snarky remarks in response to the news: "In this instance you have a company that is, in fact, profitable, making significant revenue gains in 2011 and 2010. That doesn't speak to a bad business climate here in California when a good company is able to thrive in that way. So whatever Mr. Middelstaedt's (company CEO) reasons are to leave the great state of California, I know I'm pushing back."

The California Democratic Party's attitude long has been that businesses are basically trying to rip off the public, and the source of all wealth and advancement can be found in the public sector, When businesses leave. Steinberg and Co. show little sympathy.

Merry Christmas!

Have a Joyous Christmas Eve

If you're one of the many families that has a Christmas Eve eating tradition please give us your best.

Personally my wifes family had one when we got married....Oyster stew and rice with raisins, it was vile! Thankfully I got her off that and for 20 years we've had Super Jumbo Atlantic wild caught Shrimp and Jumbo Stone Crab claws MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM gooooooood.

Please post what you'll be having.

Yes, Virginia, There Really Is Voter Fraud

Voter fraud IS rampant and it's perpetuated by the same party that disenfranchised blacks in the 1800s. Cancelling out a legitimate vote with an illegitimate one is the same as disenfranchisement by intimidation and violence.

The latest voter-fraud convictions in Troy, N.Y., must be very inconvenient to the public-affairs propagandists over at the DNC and the NAACP, as well as liberal media outlets like the New York Times. It just ruins their constant refrain that there is no voter fraud in the United States.

Eric Shawn at FOX News reports that two Troy city officials, the city clerk and a councilman, along with two Democratic political operatives, have pled guilty to forging absentee-ballot signatures and casting fraudulent ballots in the 2009 Working Families Party primary. The WFP is the political party associated with ACORN.

One of the citizens whose votes were stolen was stunned at what happened. She said that she was “sure this goes on a lot in politics, but it’s very rare that they do get caught.” This voter was right on the money with that observation — fraud is so easy to commit in our election system that it is rare that fraudsters get caught and even rarer that they get prosecuted.

As for the constant liberal claims that voter fraud does not occur, one of the Democratic operatives who pled guilty, Anthony DeFiglio, told New York State police investigators “that faking absentee ballots was a commonplace and accepted practice in political circles, all intended to swing an election.” And whose votes do they steal? DeFiglio was very plain about that: “The people who are targeted live in low-income housing, and there is a sense that they are a lot less likely to ask any questions.”

Economic Growth Revised Lower for 3rd Quarter

Well you could knock me over with a feather.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. economy grew more slowly in the summer than previously thought because consumers spent less than the government had first estimated. But economists expect growth in the current October-December quarter to be stronger.

The Commerce Department says the economy grew at an annual rate of 1.8 percent in the July-September quarter. That was the fastest growth this year, up from 1.3 percent in the April-June quarter. But it was down slightly from last month's estimate that the economy was expanding at a 2 percent rate in the summer.

The government now estimates that consumer spending grew at a 1.7 percent annual rate last summer, instead of 2.3 percent. The updated estimate reflects data showing less spending on hospitals.

Rasmussen poll shows Romney leading 25%, Paul 20%, Gingrich 17%

It looks like support is beginning to coalesce for Romney.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Texas Congressman Ron Paul are leading the pack in Iowa with just two weeks to go until Caucus Day. But large numbers of voters remain uncommitted and lots could change between now and January 3.

The new Rasmussen Reports survey of Iowa caucus participants shows Romney on top with 25% of the vote followed by Paul at 20% and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 17%. Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, both at 10%, are the only other candidates in double-digits. Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann earns six percent (6%), former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman four percent (4%), while one percent (1%) prefer some other candidate and eight percent (8%) are not sure.

U.S. Official: North Korea Leader Died Just As Deal Was Struck To Halt Nuclear Program

The United States was about to announce a deal that would put a stop to North Korea's uranium enrichment program when it was announced that the country's leader, Kim Jong Il, had died, a senior U.S. official told CBS on Tuesday.

The Obama administration, according to the official, was due to announce that the U.S. would make a large donation of food aid to North Korea, and in turn North Korea was to announce the suspension of its controversial uranium enrichment program.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Gingrich wins endorsements from American Family Association, Iowa speaker

Nice pick up.

Newt Gingrich rolled out a pair of high profile endorsements Tuesday, hoping to regain momentum in Iowa as recent polls have shown the one-time frontrunner slipping back into the middle of the Republican pack.

Don Wildmon, the founder and chairman of the American Family Association, announced his support for Gingrich Tuesday. The group, which promotes conservative Christian values and has a nationwide radio network of more than 180 stations, is a coup for Gingrich who has struggled to convince conservative voters to overlook a past that includes multiple divorces and admitted marital infidelity.

"Newt Gingrich recognizes the threat to our country posed by judges and lawyers imposing values upon the country inconsistent with our religious heritage, and has proposed constitutional steps to bring the courts back in balance under the constitution,” Wildmon said in a statement.

Palin Rattles the Cage

Brother could she turn this thing on it's ear.

In Fox Business Network interview, ex-Alaska Guv plays coy on whether she's still mulling a presidential bid.

Palin: "It's not too late for folks to jump in. Who knows what will happen in the future."

Saturday Funny

Thanks RR.

Obama: Only Three Other Presidents Might Outrank Me

Truely a legend in his own mind.

In his latest interview with CBS News's Steve Kroft, President Obama said "I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president -- with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln -- just in terms of what we've gotten done in modern history." CBS edited the statement out of the televised version of the interview.

Obama’s Watergate Officials cover up culpability for gun smuggling and murder

A Special Prosecutor needs to be appointed and NOW.

A year ago this week, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered. He died protecting his country from brutal Mexican gangsters. Two AK-47 assault rifles were found at his death site. We now know the horrifying truth: Agent Terry was killed by weapons that were part of an illegal Obama administration operation to smuggle arms to the dangerous drug cartels. He was a victim of his own government. This is not only a major scandal; it is a high crime that potentially reaches all the way to the White House, implicating senior officials. It is President Obama’s Watergate.

'Dismal' prospects: 1 in 2 Americans are now poor or low income

Let's redistribute the wealth so we can all be poor.

WASHINGTON - Squeezed by rising living costs, a record number of Americans — nearly 1in 2 — have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income.

The latest census data depict a middle class that's shrinking as unemployment stays high and the government's safety net frays. The new numbers follow years of stagnating wages for the middle class that have hurt millions of workers and families.

Well, for at least the last 3+ years.

Video Grab of the Day

Funny. This image was displayed on Fox's America Live Wednesday. Considering Fox's cheerleading for Romney over the last 6 months, it was probably a legitimate screw up. Either that or the producer isn't on the Romney bandwagon.

Boxer: "Poison Pill" In GOP Payroll Tax Bill "Will Kill 8,100" People For Christmas

Boxer is hyperbole personified.

"They have attached a poison pill -- literally, colleagues -- because it will kill 8,100 more people more than would have otherwise been killed from pollution," Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Cali.) said on the Senate floor today about Republicans trying to roll back a Clean Air Act provision.

Barack Obama Would Lose All 12 Swing States Today, Poll Says

Long time to go but interesting nonetheless.

A survey of 12 swing states that Barack Obama carried in 2008 now finds the president losing to both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich there.

USA Today-Gallup -- polling registered voters in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin -- found Obama trailing Romney 43-48, and Gingrich 45-48.

Because Obama is expected to hold the big states of California, New York and Illinois, he maintains a popular-vote advantage nationwide, where he leads Gingrich 50-44, and edges Romney 47-46.

But the Electoral College math would deliver the White House to Republicans if they can carry the swing states, as the USA Today-Gallup poll shows.

CNN: Gingrich challenges Romney to a bet

Like him or not ya gotta love his moxie.

Londonderry, New Hampshire (CNN) – Newt Gingrich responded to a call Monday by GOP rival Mitt Romney to return the money he received from mortgage giant Freddie Mac by issuing his own challenge.

"If Gov. Romney would like to give back all the money he's earned from bankrupting companies and laying off employees over his years at Bain that I would be glad to then listen to him," Gingrich told reporters after a town hall, referring to the company Romney ran. "And I'll bet you 10 dollars, not 10 thousand that he won't take the offer."

Pakistan Says U.S. drones in its Air Space will be Shot Down

This is what the billions and billions of foreign aid have bought us.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan will shoot down any U.S. drone that intrudes its air space per new directives, a senior Pakistani official told NBC News on Saturday.

According to the new Pakistani defense policy, "Any object entering into our air space, including U.S. drones, will be treated as hostile and be shot down," a senior Pakistani military official told NBC News.

The policy change comes just weeks after a deadly NATO attack on Pakistani military checkpoints accidentally killed 24 Pakistani soldiers, prompting Pakistani officials to order all U.S. personnel out of a remote airfield in Pakistan.

Pakistan told the U.S. to vacate Shamsi Air Base by December 11.

Sunday Funny

Thanks RR.

Former Obama lawyer admits deceiving Congress

Remember the Gerald Walpin affair? Republican Sen. Charles Grassley does.

Walpin was the inspector general of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the organization that runs the AmeriCorps service program. In June 2009, Walpin received a call from Norman Eisen, who was then the Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform. Eisen told Walpin he had an hour to either resign or be fired.

Eisen's call appeared to violate the 2008 Inspectors General Reform Act, which is designed to protect inspectors general from political interference. The Act requires the president to give Congress 30 days' notice, plus an explanation of cause, before firing an inspector general. In Walpin's case, the White House did neither.

In a meeting with Grassley, Eisen apologized for his statements to investigators. In the letter, Eisen writes, "It is now my understanding that I answered a few of the questions inaccurately, although at the time I thought they were accurate. Of course, it was not my intent to mislead staff in any way, but to the extent that I was unclear in my responses, or that my declining to answer questions created confusion, I regret it and I sincerely apologize."

Try that statement with the IRS.

Americans leaving US in record numbers

Interesting...

Ever dream of leaving it all behind and heading out of America? You’re not the only one. A new study shows that more US citizens than ever before are living outside of the country.

According to statistics from the US State Department, around 6.4 million Americans are either working or studying overseas, which Gallup says is the largest number ever for such statistic.

The polling organization came across the number after conducting surveys in 135 outside nations and the information behind the numbers reveal that this isn’t exactly a longtime coming either — numbers have skyrocketed only in recent years. In the 24 months before polling began, the number of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 living abroad managed to surge from barely 1 percent to over 5.1 percent. For those under the age span wishing to move overseas, the percentage has jumped in the same amount of time from 15 percent to 40.

Survey USA Poll - Florida

This thing is very quickly becoming out of reach for Romney.

8 weeks to the Florida GOP Primary, Newt Gingrich resoundingly defeats Mitt Romney, with no other candidates worth discussing, according to a SurveyUSA poll of 500 likely Republican primary voters conducted for WFLA-TV in Tampa.

Gingrich gets 45%, Romney 23%, no one else is above 6%.

TV Stunt Goes Awry, Sends Cannonball Rocketing Through Homes

Speaking of loose cannons...

DUBLIN, Calif. (CBS) — A cast iron cannonball rocketed through two homes and landed inside a minivan Tuesday when a “Mythbusters” TV experiment went wrong.

Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage are hosts of the scientific experimentation show, which airs on The Discovery Channel. The pair was reportedly trying to figure out how fast a cannonball would travel, when it misfired and shot hundreds of feet in the air.

“This cannonball was supposed to go through several barrels of water and through a cinder block, and then ultimately into the side of the hill,” said J.D. Nelson of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department.

Instead the cannonball flew over the foothills surrounding Camp Parks Military Firing Reservation, before spiraling back toward Dublin like a cruise missile.

It flew straight though the front door of a home on Cassata Place, and bounced around like a pinball, flying up to the second floor before blasting through a back bedroom wall.

The wayward cannonball then blasted across a busy road and through a second home some 50 yards away, demolishing roof tiles.

Wednesday Funny

Gingrich 37%, Romney 22% Among GOP Voters Nationwide

Hmmmmm.

PRINCETON, NJ -- Newt Gingrich leads Mitt Romney 37% to 22% in Gallup's inaugural Daily tracking of Republican registered voters' preferences for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, with all other candidates in the single digits.

LGBT Activists Urge Christmas Shoppers To Boycott Salvation Army Donations

Gay and lesbian activists have accused the Salvation Army of discrimination against homosexuals because of its affirmation of traditional marriage and other Biblical viewpoints.

“We are urging a boycott of the Salvation Army because it uses its selective interpretation of the Bible to promote discrimination against LGBT people in employment benefits and leadership positions within the Army,” said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network.

“It’s a sad day in America when gay rights become more important than giving to the needy,” said Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute.

“Here’s a better idea,” he added. “The next time you pass a Salvation Army bell-ringer, why not thank the volunteer and put a little extra in the kettle to make up for the LGBT grinches who will not be giving this year?”

I don't know about you all but I'll be giving significantly more to the SA this year.

First post-Cain poll finds Gingrich holding double-digit lead nationally

Most significant of all, Romney picked up 0% from Cains withdrawal.

Newt Gingrich is benefitting from Herman Cain’s exit from the GOP presidential race, according to a Poll Position survey released on Monday.

According to the survey of likely Republican primary voters and caucus-goers, which was taken after Cain announced his campaign’s suspension on Saturday, Gingrich took 37 percent of support of those surveyed, followed by Mitt Romney at 23 percent.

Rep. Ron Paul came in at seven percent, Rep. Michele Bachmann at six percent, Gov. Rick Perry at three percent, and Jon Huntsman and Rick Santorum with two percent each.

Sunday Funny

Thanks RR.

Real Unemployment 11 Percent; Total Unemployment 15.6 Percent

Dig into the data and it's a lot worse than we would be led to believe.

In the last year, the civilian population rose by 1,726,000. Yet the labor force fell by 67,000. Those not in the labor force rose by 1,793,000.

In November, those "Not in Labor Force" rose by a whopping 487,000. If you are not in the labor force, you are not counted as unemployed.

Were it not for people dropping out of the labor force, the unemployment rate would be well over 11%.

Rhode Island governor gets rid of capitol 'Christmas' tree

The thing idiot Chafee fails to grasp is that the "holiday" IS Crristmas.

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee does not like a Christmas tree being called a Christmas tree. So he is changing it. According to FoxNews, Gov. Chafee has said the Christmas tree in the State House Rotunda in Providence, as of this year, will be called a "holiday" tree.

Thus the War on Christmas continues. Those like Gov. Chafee don't like the fact that the Christmas tree is identified with the Christian faith.

But Rep. Doreen Costa, called the governor a "Grinch."

She has decided to erect her own Christmas tree - at the State House. And she plans on lighting it on Dec. 6 - the same day Chafee plans to host the official "holiday" tree lighting event.