CBO Issues Warning: Too Much Debt is Baaaaaad!

Notice how the folks in the media always go to pains to say the "bi-partisan Congressional Budget Office?"  Remember when they were "scoring" the healthcare "reform" act so that the pro-bill nimrods could tout that it was "budget neutral?" All of that, by the way, is hogwash - a) the estimates turned out to be completely wrong and in the best case that monstrosity will cost us well over $1.5 Trillion  AND b)  the bill(s) that Congress is passing are purposefully vague.  All they are doing is setting up bureaucracies  that will then write the rules...more cause for the continued unsettled state of our economy. AND c) the law of unintended consequences when you meddle with something that large and intertwined with all other segments of the economy. Case in point, Rumblerpal who works for a healthcare REIT informing me that they are encountering difficulties with medical office buildings because 1) Docs are quitting their practices - they don't want to deal with the case load and 2) Credit worthiness of the doc offices is declining due to lower Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates - look for some consolidation there.

Well the same reliable group, our good old CBO has issued a new warning:  too much government debt is bad.  Here's the chart:

See the nice, dare I say "hockey stick" on the purple line?  That's Obama and the Democrat Congress ruining our children's lives.  The green dashes?  How much more our children's and grandchildren's lives will be ruined if the current trend continues.  They note (in a paragraph that could have come straight from the Republican Party platform):

Further increases in federal debt relative to the nation’s output (gross domestic product, or GDP) almost certainly lie ahead if current policies remain in place. The aging of the population and rising costs for health care will push federal spending, measured as a percentage of GDP, well above the levels experienced in recent decades. Unless policymakers restrain the growth of spending, increase revenues significantly as a share of GDP, or adopt some combination of those two approaches, growing budget deficits will cause debt to rise to unsupportable levels.

I'm sorry, what have we been screaming about in these pages for the last few years?  What were we preaching as all the new taxes and entitlements were scheming their way through Congress?  Unsustainable?  Can you say "Argentina?"

Matthews Gets Smacked Down by Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan makes Chris Matthews look like a total moron...oh wait, that's not hard...but this it is fun to watch (especially if you like watching whack a mole):

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Tiger Vs. Obama

The T-shirt says it all:

Spotted at the airport in Houston.  Hat tip GS.

Required Rumbler Reading

This week's installment is focused on the economy.  Here we are in the "Summer of our Recovery," a stone's throw away from our "Winter of Discontent," and I thought it would be helpful to go over some of the big economic forces we are dealing with.

1. The Timeless Principles of American Prosperity:  Pete Ferrara's piece over at the American Spectator is a must read.  A simple recitation of what works to restore jobs and prosperity.  Would someone please slip a copy of this under the pillows of Msr.s Gheithner, Bernanke and Obama before we return to 1929?

2. A New War Between the States: Joel Kotkin looks at the emerging fault-lines between those states that rely on Federal largesse and those that seek greater autonomy.  This could become a very serious problem if state governments such as California and New York fail.  How will fiscally responsible states feel about their earnings going to bail out overspending and inept states?

3. How a Rich and Proud Nation Went Broke: We've written about Argentina on these pages before and in our sister blog, Red State Rumblings.  This is a chilling reminder to all of those who want to stick their heads in the sand and chant "it can't happen here."

4. Fannie and Freddie Remain Unfixed: Despite the hoopla on Capitol Hill and at 1600 PA AVE, the financial system remains in grave danger.  The two giant tapeworms that are sucking the life out of the economy, Fannie and Freddie, remain untouched.  In case you were unfamiliar with this, here's a quick read to get you up to speed.

5. Why the Greater Depression Still Lies Ahead: Keep the sharp objects away from yourself while you read this short analysis of why the worst may still be on the horizon.

Calling American Youth...

For all you youngsters who, in the flush of getting the chance to vote for the first time, fell for that "Hope and Change" chant.  To you who sat there mindlessly yelling "Yes we can!" because you believed that you really could get something for nothing...how's that hopey change thing working now:

True, this administration has managed to keep you on your parent's health care because according to them, you are still a child till you reach the age of 26 (!!), but when you really do want to go to work and discover that there are no jobs, will you listen to the wisdom of age at that point and vote this silliness out of office?

Picture of the Year Award

Hat tip NZ

Allen West - Real American

This guy is going places, what a breath of fresh air in the increasingly stirred up fumes of racism that this Administration is fanning to get votes.

A Charlie Rangel Tribute

Where is that definition of "chutzpah" I was looking for?

Where's The Outrage? (Part 59,678)

Revelations that members of the "media" engaged in a conspiracy to a) protect a candidate (Obama) from harmful information and b) savage the reputation of a threatening candidate from the other party (Palin), should be big news and the perps (in a real world) would be outed.

Instead, apologists and aparatchiks hide behind the tired memes:  "it wasn't really a conspiracy," "they were just joshing," "this is all a right wing cabal to get Obama," "the media is not monolithic," etc. etc. instead of dealing with the fact that the majority of Americans were deprived of information that was critical to potentially forming their opinions.  In this regard, the media failed their civic responsibility miserably.

Look, they created the Bamster, and now they are stuck with their choice.  He still is what he was before: a socialist ideologue with a truck-load of "friends" and "associates" that are further to the left of Mao.  If the American people knew then what they know now, this guy wouldn't have stood a chance, as the Rasmussen daily poll shows relentlessly:

Hopefully, time will cure this malfeasance that has been foisted upon us.

George Carlin on the Language of Politicians

Priceless!  RIP George.

Sheila Jackson Lee: The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Here's a little history lesson from another brilliant liberal mind:

An Insult Too Far

Pat Condell really nails it - for all the hand-wringing, religion-of-peace nonsense, 9/11 was caused by Islam.  Without the "misunderstood" preaching of Jihad, those loons would never have even begun to plot the atrocity.  We ignore this at our own peril.  Pay particular attention to the significance of the "Cordoba Initiative."  This kind of wink-wink sneaky symbology needs to be called out.  Muslims are using our own freedoms against us and laughing all the way to Sharia Law.  Condell observation that if Islam were a political movement (which it is), it would have been stamped out by the west a long time ago.

Hat tip SP.

This Means That 23% of You Still Haven't Figured It Out

Poll by Rasmussen is reporting that only "23% of Americans say the U.S. Government has the consent of the governed."  This must be the same 23% that have never heard of Jeremiah Wright or that believe that Obama is gonna give them some money from "you know, his Obama stash!"

Get a grip people, there is a fundamental disconnect between the people and the ruling class in Washington.  For starters, those folks in DC - think you are stupid.  Exhibit A is Lindsey Graham (for the 23% of you, he's a "Senator" from a state called "South Carolina" ) who voted to move Elena Kagan (for the 23%, she's a nominee to a place called the "Supreme Court" ) out of committee.  Defending his decision, one of his team stated:

that the Senator is "not a demagogue". Added Quinn: "He's a thinking person's conservative. I expect him to do well among voters with IQ's in triple digits."

Sorry, 23% that obviously leaves you out.  What Quinn is actually saying is that he will do well among the voters who want to THINK they have IQ's in the triple digits.  Either way, it is typical Washington patronization.  They think you are stooopid!  They are right about 23%, let's pray they are wrong about the rest.

Required Rumbler Reading

This week's installment includes a lengthy, but important read on the dance macabre being acted out between Iran and the world, Dame Noonan going Brit and thoughts on the continuing blame game.

1. Should Israel Bomb Iran?  An in-depth analysis of the calculus facing Israel and what might happen if different scenarios play out.  Rumblergal read this in the car to me while we were driving the Rumbletruckster across Mississippi and it led to lengthy discussions - net conclusion: the Mullahs with a nuke cannot be allowed to happen.

2. Pity the Postmodern Cultural Elite - always insightful Victor Davis Hanson nails the current ruling class for the false premises that they have built their world upon.

3. The Blame Game -  close Rumbler Liberopal DN - I dare not out his real name - is exhausted by this Administration's complete unwillingness to take responsibility.  In a short teleconvo yesterday after the Rose Garden Unemployment Boo Hoo, DN snarked - "when will these idiots man up?"

4. "David Cameron Don't Follow Barrack Obama" -  dame Peggy Noonan is off-shoring her column to tell us what she really thinks about the man she once hailed as "fresh and exciting."  This actually is a good piece of advice for ANY future politician.

A better way...

5. How Obama Lost Small Business - Demographer pal, Joel Kotkin, nails the angst being felt in the heartland.  There is a fundamental disconnect in the world view of Washington and the world view from Wabash...this explains a good chunk of it.

And that, dear reader, should help round out your knowledge base for yet another week.

Important Community Service Announcement

If you didn't take care of this with the "Cash for Clunkers" program:



Hat tip GS.

Dumb Logo Department

It is painfully obvious that the Donk's have no one from the private sector in their camp.  The logo seen below would not have made it out of the intern to the marketing assistant's cubicle otherwise:

Talk about foreshadowing!  That's exactly where Wall Street is headed with the passage of this next piece of insanity.  Well, maybe they were just trying to have truth in advertising?  You be the judge.

Feds Asleep...Again

Not that this is any surprise, mind you: Watchdog Group Report Feds Asleep As Felons Voted For Franken.  But this is becoming WAY too familiar...just to remind you of a few top liners:

1.  SEC and Pornography - those watchdogs that were going to save us from financial ruin...too busy surfing porn sites.

2. BP Oil Spill Could Have Been Avoided if Feds did their job - look BP is no saint in this issue at all, but dammit, the regulators could have enforced what was on the books.

3.  Feds Won't Enforce Immigration Law - sure, let sanctuary cities flaunt the law, but by all means sue Arizona for trying to enforce it.

The list goes on and on.  The amazing thing to me (and I am sure to most of you dear readers) is that there are actually people who want to EXPAND the role of government!!  They want these same porn-surfers, and law-ignorers to take over your healthcare!  Better yet, they blame the lack of laws, not the fact that they aren't doing their jobs and thereby expand the leviathan of our bureaucracy.    They are getting ready to pass a financial regulatory "reform" bill that leaves off the most egregious problem creators in the system,  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac! Small business in America is choking under the regulation already imposed and these people want to do more.

What was that old saw about the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over again and somehow expecting a different outcome?  C'mon folks, this has got to stop.

What The Republicans Should Have Said in the Kagan Hearings..

This guy nails it!  When will the loyal opposition grow a pair and start calling these people what they are: radicals who despise this country and all it's institutions.

I Fought For You

For all veterans and for those currently serving:



There are a lot of folks in the country that need to take the earphones off and start learning.

Hat tip New Zeal.

Required Rumbler Reading

A little late in the week, but the July 4th festivities and a happy visit from a Canadian friend have thrown Rumblerama a little off.  That doesn't meant that we have been slack in our responsibility of wading through the cultural swamp to bring you another fine selection for your digestion, discussion and edification!

1. Immigration Truly 'Above Politics' : Folks, we have a problem...a very big problem, and that is the fact that we are being invaded from our southern border.  Both sides continue to look the other way - Republicans because they like the source of cheap labor; Democrats because they view the Hispanics as their next clients on the liberal plantation - a source of votes to secure them in office forever.  We need to have a mature discussion about immigration and allow for it to occur, but on OUR terms and in such a way that the very fabric of our culture is not torn asunder.  This column is a good place to start.

2. Americans Who Will Never Work Again: short piece on the devastation that Obamanomics is causing in the African-American community.  The prospect of a growing, dissatisfied underclass coupled with the illegal immigration problem is a dangerous social condition that needs to be addressed...not going to happen as long as the clowns in the White House actually believe that we are in the "Summer of Recovery."

3. The Roadmap Plan: Paul Ryan is one of the rising stars among young Republicans.  This website offers an optimistic, balanced approach to getting the country back on track (and maybe even addressing articles 1 and 2!)

4. Down With Doom :  Of all places, I found this little gem on the Huffington Post!  A first...Huffpo guest appearance on the Rumbler Report!  It is a thoughtful write-up of the hype that surrounds every crisis...remember when we were going to freeze to death in the Ice Age of the late 1970's?

5. Why The Great Depression Still Lies Ahead:  OK, enough with the happy talk!  Back to matters at hand, namely that the economic situation is so dire we are whistling past the graveyard.  Read these numbers and weep.  We've got some heavy lifting to do, and unless we turn at least one of the chambers, this is our future.

Have a great rest of the week...and keep the sharp objects a healthy distance away from you, especially if you are listening to the news! 

Blast Muslims Into Space!

Everyone is getting upset about the report that NASA's primary mission is outreach to Muslims: "Next Frontier: Better Relations With Muslim World."  Rush, Hannity, Glen, et al, you guys are missing the point!  Our brilliant boy President is actually setting a trap for Muslims - we'll get them all interested in rocketry (other than the kind that comes back down and kills Jews and Heathens) but we won't tell them how to get back down!  We'll blast Muslims into space as a solution to the "Man Caused Disasters!"  More incredible brilliance from the Mighty O...peace be upon him!

This is the same brilliant approach to problem solving that includes such gems as:

• We'll reduce healthcare spending by increasing costs!
• We'll solve the energy problems of America by not having any!
• We'll win the war in Afghanistan by telling the Taliban when we are leaving!
• We'll get oil on shore faster by allowing it to flow freely from a deep sea gusher onto the beach!
• We'll create more jobs by paying off teacher's and service employees' unions!
• We'll solve our immigration problems by letting everyone in!
• We'll solve the Iranian problem by beating up Israel!
• We'll end the housing crisis by allowing more people who can't afford homes to get loans!

And my personal favorite: We'll reduce the budget deficit by spending more money...no, a whole lot more money!

Brilliance!  Sheer, unadulterated brilliance!

100% Of The Budget

Wait, did I really just see that?  "Federal Debt Could Reach 100% of The Budget by 2025" - wait, who said that?  Oh, it's only the Congressional Budget Office...you know the same bunch that scored the $1 Trillion cost of ObamaCare as "revenue neutral."  Whew - they're not credible!

Oh wait, they always err on the side of saying it's not as bad as you really think it is...maybe I'd better read on:

On the same day President Barack Obama told a Wisconsin town hall gathering that his policies mean “the economy is headed in the right direction,” the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office(CBO) projected that federal debt could reach 87 percent of America’s gross domestic production by 2020, and surpass 100 percent of GDP by 2025

If we don't stop these people, and stop them soon, gold and ammunition will be the only thing worth buying.

Which Part of "Endowed By Their Creator" Do Liberals Not Understand?

Great short vid from Chuck Colson that drives home the point no longer taught in our schools: freedom comes from God, not the Gov'ment!