OpiniPundit

(Inane) Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:57:00 +0000

NYT:"But with roughly a quarter of the stimulus money out the door after nine months, the accumulation of hard data and real-life experience has allowed more dispassionate analysts to reach a consensus that the stimulus package, messy as it is, is working."
If you've got a cast iron stomach, the rest of the article is HERE

Hadley hacked: warmist conspiracy exposed?

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:14:00 +0000

At least on the surface it appears that The disingenuous and manipulated house of cards built by the Global Warming fanatics is in for a very stiff breeze.

The director of Britain’s leading Climate Research Unit, Phil Jones, has told Investigate magazine’s TGIF Edition tonight ..."It was a hacker. We were aware of this about three or four days ago that someone had hacked into our system and taken and copied loads of data files and emails."…

TGIF asked Jones about the controversial email discussing “hiding the decline”, and Jones explained what he was trying to say.
So the 1079 emails and 72 documents seem indeed evidence of a scandal involving most of the most prominent scientists pushing the man-made warming theory - a scandal that is one of the greatest in modern science. I’ve been adding some of the most astonishing in updates below - emails suggesting conspiracy, collusion in exaggerating warming data, possibly illegal destruction of embarrassing information, organised resistance to disclosure, manipulation of data, private admissions of flaws in their public claims and much more. If it is as it now seems, never again will “peer review” be used to shout down sceptics.

This is clearly not the work of some hacker, but of an insider who’s now blown the whistle.

More HERE.

Detroit's Silverdome sells for a paltry $583,000

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:04:00 +0000

Detroit is the quintessential template for how to drive away business and totally screw up a city.

Even though some homes in Detroit literally sell for $1, we're still surprised to see how little an entire stadium fetches. In this case it's the famous Pontiac Silverdome

Detroit News: Nearly 25 years after taxpayers spent $55.7 million building the Pontiac Silverdome and a year after a $20 million sale fell through, city officials have sold the arena once called the most desirable property in Oakland County.

The price: $583,000.

The broker, David J. Leitch, is quite upset about the final selling price. And hey, can you blame him?

"The property alone, at $10,000 an acre, should have gone for more than that. And you have the Silverdome, its contents, and the infrastructure already in place. I had estimated it would probably go for between $1.2 million and $3 million. I can't believe it."

Look for a similar scenario to play out in our larger cities throughout the country.

Obama Motors Chrysler and UAW “electric car” fraud

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:48:00 +0000

Just one example of thousands...

Last winter when Chrysler was groveling and crying about having to go bankrupt the Obama Administration took control of the company and struck a deal to justify putting $12.5 B of our tax money in its bank accounts. Chrysler promised it would produce a 500,000 vehicle fleet of practical “electric” cars in just four model years!

Chrysler was merely the United Auto Workers’ bagman. Chrysler got our money then funneled it to the very unions that are killing the American auto industry.

Last week these thieves quietly announced the end of the “electric car” scam which they knew was a fake promise to begin with. The government’s money has run out so there’s no need to keep up the charade.

New Poll Backs up Rasmussen

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:12:00 +0000

President Barack Obama's job approval rating has dipped below 50 percent nationally for the first time, as Americans worry about the war in Afghanistan, a new poll released Wednesday found.

The Quinnipiac University poll showed 48 percent of Americans approve of the way Obama is handling his job as president, compared to 42 percent who disapprove.

The president also scored low marks from Americans on his handling of the situation in Afghanistan, with just 38 percent saying they approved of his approach, but a majority did say it was the "right thing" for US troops to be in the country.

Raz has shown this for a month.

"The Prisoner" Reviewed

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:20:00 +0000

I rarely comment on such things as mundane as a television miniseries. Let me make the exception to offer my two sense worth on the the "updated" version of "The Prisoner".... IT SUCKS! Despite top notch casting and a premise with tons of potential it fell flatter than a 2000 lb. pancake dropped from the Sears Tower.

It was nothing more than a cross between a soap opera made on the cheap and "Twin Peaks" without the sex and persuasive plot. One is beotchslapped early on by this dung pile of creativity. It wasn't cinematography or the acting that made most of us incredulous, it was the complete incoherence of storyline and one of the monumental anticlimaxes of all time. Self involved is a compliment for this little gem.

Maybe I'm just not deep enough, or maybe I had a hard day and wasn't feeling too "artsy" at the time or maybe it just sucked hind tit. Whatever the reason for my gut reaction,take my advice....don't waste your time, reruns of "Family Guy" or The Office" or "I Love Lucy" will leave you far more spiritually fullfilled than this cinematic piece of crap.

Fort Hood captain: Hasan wanted patients to face war crimes charges

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:41:00 +0000

Fort Hood massacre suspect Nidal Malik Hasan sought to have some of his patients prosecuted for war crimes based on statements they made during psychiatric sessions with him, a captain who served on the base said Monday.

Other psychiatrists complained to superiors that Hasan's actions violated doctor-patient confidentiality, Capt. Shannon Meehan told The Dallas Morning News.

One day after the Nov. 5 attack that killed 13 and wounded 29, a Fort Hood official said she had never received complaints about Hasan's job performance. Col. Kimberly Kesling, deputy commander of clinical services at the base's Darnall Army Medical Center, also said he was a "hardworking, dedicated young man who gave great care to his patients."

Great call Ms Col. Kesling. Idiots like her treat cluelessness as if it was a virtue.

Tuesday Funny

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:46:00 +0000

Not so funny.

Jobs 'Saved or Created' in Congressional Districts That Don't Exist

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:29:00 +0000

You'd think they'd be a tad less obvious...

Here's a stimulus success story: In Arizona's 9th Congressional District, 30 jobs have been saved or created with just $761,420 in federal stimulus spending. At least that's what the website set up by the Obama Administration to track the $787 billion stimulus says.

There's one problem, though: There is no 9th Congressional District in Arizona; the state has only eight Congressional Districts.

Two New Polls Show Graham Tanking

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:50:00 +0000

"Moderates" win MSM beauty contests not elections. This is especially true in South Carolina.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s public support is collapsing in South Carolina – driven by a wholesale revolt among the GOP electorate and a steady erosion of his support amongst independents.

Already consistently loathed by a solid third of GOP voters, Graham’s recent leftward bent – including his co-authoring of a controversial “Cap & Tax” proposal supported by President Barack Obama and liberal Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) – has him locked in a “terminal free fall,” according one prominent Republican consultant.

“A chunk of the GOP has always detested him, but in the last month a dam has broken,” said the consultant, who was granted anonymity to discuss the impact of two recent polls that were conducted in South Carolina (one allegedly by Graham’s own advisors). “More Republicans now oppose Sen. Graham than support him. Independents are also deserting him in huge numbers.”

Even more troubling for Graham is there doesn’t seem to be a way out of the box. In fact, both polls reportedly showed that the more the national liberal establishment and local environmentalists rally to Graham’s defense, the worse things get for him.

Iran 'has rejected' nuclear deal: French FM

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:49:00 +0000

Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Iran has in effect rejected a UN-brokered deal aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in an interview published on Sunday.

"In practice, the answer has almost been given and it is negative. That is a shame, a shame, a shame," Kouchner told the Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot ahead of a visit to the region later this week.

The comments came as both the United States and Russia expressed frustration at Iran's failure to give an answer three weeks after it received the offer in high-level talks to defuse the stand-off.

Copenhagen climate change agreement is impossible

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:24:00 +0000

Expected when two of the most populous nations in the world tell them to FO.

World leaders have finally accepted that it will be impossible to come to a deal on climate change this year and have moved their attention to setting new deadlines for a global agreement.

Obama: Too Soon for Probe Of Fort Hood by Congress

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:50:00 +0000

On an eight-day Asia trip, President Obama turned his attention home and pleaded for lawmakers to "resist the temptation to turn this tragic event into the political theater."

You mean Mr President, like exactly what you're doing with the Khalid Sheikh Mohammed trial?

Pic of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:16:00 +0000

He ought to be getting pretty good at this, after all practice makes perfect.

Webb Calls it Right

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:26:00 +0000

Concerning the idiotic decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other terrorists in civilian courts in the United States, we have a rare display of lucidity from a Democrat.

Virginia Democratic Sen. James Webb says: I have never disputed the constitutional authority of the President to convene Article III courts in cases of international terrorism. However, I remain very concerned about the wisdom of doing so. Those who have committed acts of international terrorism are enemy combatants, just as certainly as the Japanese pilots who killed thousands of Americans at Pearl Harbor. It will be disruptive, costly, and potentially counterproductive to try them as criminals in our civilian courts.

The precedent set by this decision deserves careful scrutiny as we consider proper venues for trying those now held at Guantanamo who were apprehended outside of this country for acts that occurred outside of the country. And we must be especially careful with any decisions to bring onto American soil any of those prisoners who remain a threat to our country but whose cases have been adjudged as inappropriate for trial at all. They do not belong in our country, they do not belong in our courts, and they do not belong in our prisons.

I have consistently argued that military commissions, with the additional procedural rules added by Congress and enacted by President Obama, are the most appropriate venue for trying individuals adjudged to be enemy combatants.

Well stated Senator.

Consumer sentiment falls in November

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:59:00 +0000

Gear up for some banner Christmas sales.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. consumer sentiment fell in early November to the weakest in three months amid grim expectations for job and income prospects, a survey showed on Friday.

The Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers said its preliminary index of sentiment for November fell to 66.0, the lowest since August, from 70.6 in October. This was well below economists' median expectation of a reading of 71.0, according to a Reuters poll.

The index of consumer expectations fell to 63.7 in early November from 68.6 in October.

Federal Deficit Hits October Record of $176 Billion

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:44:00 +0000

Records keep being broken and none of them good.

The U.S. budget deficit for October surged to $176 billion, a record for the month, the Treasury Department announced today.

During the month, the government racked up $311 billion in outlays compared with $135 billion in receipts.

The October numbers mark the first month for the new fiscal year after the U.S. wrapped up the 2009 fiscal year that ended on September 30 with a record-high $1.4 trillion budget deficit due to increased government spending to stop the recession and the financial crisis. The final deficit for the 2009 fiscal year was equal to 10 percent of the nation's GDP, the highest shortfall relative to GDP since 1945, the final year of World War II.

Obama said to want revised Afghanistan options

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:26:00 +0000

Apparently surrender wasn't one of the options originally offered up.

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama won't accept any of the Afghanistan war options before him without changes, administration officials say, amid an argument by his own ambassador in Kabul that a significant U.S. troop increase would only prop up a weak, corruption-tainted government.

Obama's ambassador, Karl Eikenberry, who is also a former commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, is voicing strong dissent against sending more troops, according to an administration official. This puts him at odds with the current war commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who wants thousands more troops.

Eikenberry's misgivings center on a concern that bolstering the American presence in Afghanistan could make the country more reliant on the U.S., not less. He expressed them in forcefully worded cables to Washington just ahead of Obama's latest war meeting Wednesday.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss administration deliberations.

Veterans Day 2009

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:26:00 +0000

God bless all that have served, Godspeed all those who have perished.

Republicans Edge Ahead of Democrats in 2010 Vote

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:01:00 +0000

I don't generally post polls by any firm other than Rasmussen. I do however, make an exception when another major outfit confirms what Raz has shown for some time.

PRINCETON, NJ Republicans have moved ahead of Democrats by 48% to 44% among registered voters in the latest update on Gallup's generic congressional ballot for the 2010 House elections, after trailing by six points in July and two points last month.

34 Years Ago Today

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Gitchigoomie is an unforgiving mistress.

Global Warming Where?

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:18:00 +0000

Any wonder wonder why the "global warming" moniker has been replaced with the designation "climate change"

* The average October temperature of 50.8°F was 4.0°F below the 20th Century average and ranked as the 3rd coolest based on preliminary data.

* For the nation as a whole, it was the third coolest October on record. The month was marked by an active weather pattern that reinforced unseasonably cold air behind a series of cold fronts. Temperatures were below normal in eight of the nation's nine climate regions, and of the nine, five were much below normal. Only the Southeast climate region had near normal temperatures for October.

* Statewide temperatures coincided with the regional values as all but six states had below normal temperatures. Oklahoma had its coolest October on record and ten other states had their top five coolest such months.

Boehner: 'The future is Cao'

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:05:00 +0000

If Cao is the future of the GOP, color me Independent.

When “Joseph” Cao was elected to the 2nd Congressional District in Louisiana, House Minority Leader John Boehner hailed him as representing the GOP’s future.

Cao was the only Republican to vote for the Pelosi healthcare reform bill Saturday evening.

U.S. Aware of Hasan Efforts to Contact al Qaeda

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:05:00 +0000

This could get VERY nasty...

U.S. intelligence agencies were aware months ago that Army Major Nidal Hasan was attempting to make contact with people associated with al Qaeda, two American officials briefed on classified material in the case told ABC News.

It is not known whether the intelligence agencies informed the Army that one of its officers was seeking to connect with suspected al Qaeda figures, the officials said.

One senior lawmaker said the CIA had, so far, refused to brief the intelligence committees on what, if any, knowledge they had about Hasan's efforts.

CIA director Leon Panetta and the Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair, have been asked by Congress "to preserve" all documents and intelligence files that relate to Hasan, according to the lawmaker.

Fort Hood gunman had told US military colleagues that infidels should have their throats cut

noreply@blogger.com (traderrob) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:42:00 +0000

Yes, lethal indeed.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the gunman who killed 13 at America's Fort Hood military base, once gave a lecture to other doctors in which he said non-believers should be beheaded and have boiling oil poured down their throats.

He also told colleagues at America's top military hospital that non-Muslims were infidels condemned to hell who should be set on fire. The outburst came during an hour-long talk Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, gave on the Koran in front of dozens of other doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Centre in Washington DC, where he worked for six years before arriving at Fort Hood in July.

Colleagues had expected a discussion on a medical issue but were instead given an extremist interpretation of the Koran, which Hasan appeared to believe.

One Army doctor who knew him said a fear of appearing discriminatory against a Muslim soldier had stopped fellow officers from filing formal complaints.