Ignatieff Criticizes Deficit While Promising Billions for New Programs

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has repeatedly criticized the current budget deficit that has resulted since the recession in began in 2008.  Recall that at the time, the Liberals were calling for a bigger "stimulus" from the government.  Even so, they now want to have their cake and eat it too.  So Iggy complains about the deficit while promising billions in new spending for post-secondary education.

Prime Minister Harper, meanwhile, has presented a common sense plan to help small businesses:

The incentive offers a credit of up to $1,000 against any increase in an employer's EI premiums in the 2011 tax year, which will make it cheaper for employers to hire new workers and to grow their businesses.

The "academic" Michael Ignatieff, has never held a real job in the private sector.  EVER.  He has been an academic, a professor, and a commentator after having lived a life a privilege attending the prestigious Upper Canada College being the son of a prominent diplomat.

So what does Michael Ignatieff know about creating jobs?  Nothing that he hasn't read in a book.  He's never had to hire people, meet payroll, sell a product, or retain a customer.  So how on earth would Iggy know how to make Canada's economy more robust, successful, and prosperous?  How will he make Canada more competitive in the international market? 

Certainly, no government program will help achieve that, but Harper's plan for tax cuts and incentives will make Canadian businesses stronger and will put more money into the pockets of working Canadians.  That's how you provide every day people, real and tangible assistance.

March Madness Begins

March Madness gets underway today.  The top 4 seeds are Ohio State, Duke, Kansas, and Pittsburgh.  There are plenty of free brackets at ESPN or Yahoo Fantasy Sports.  In Canada, you can catch the action on TSN this year in addition to CBS.

Even if you're not a huge basketball fan, this NCAA tournament is one of the most exciting sporting events in the world.

Let's start the insanity!

Maybe Radiation Isn't So Bad

Every anti-nuclear interest group around the globe is now pining for a halt to any further nuclear plant construction despite the amazing benefits of nuclear power. Ann Coulter points out that radiation may not be the scary threat that we've been told it is for decades by the "experts":

As The New York Times science section reported in 2001, an increasing number of scientists believe that at some level -- much higher than the minimums set by the U.S. government -- radiation is good for you. "They theorize," the Times said, that "these doses protect against cancer by activating cells' natural defense mechanisms."

It is possible that exposure to radiation might, in fact, reduce your odds of getting some types of cancer.

Amazingly, even the Soviet-engineered disaster at Chernobyl in 1986 can be directly blamed for the deaths of no more than the 31 people inside the plant who died in the explosion. Although news reports generally claimed a few thousand people died as a result of Chernobyl -- far fewer than the tens of thousands initially predicted -- that hasn't been confirmed by studies.


So if you buy potassium iodide, don't take it right away.  It apparently only has a 48 hour window of effectiveness and may produce some nasty side effects.  But as for the Japanese reactor meltdowns, there's no sense in panicking about a non-existent threat to North America.

Supermoon on March 19, 2011

On March 19, 2011, the Earth will be closer to the moon at any point in the past 18 years.  Some scientists call this a "super moon". 

It's a scientific fact that:  The moon’s gravity can even cause small but measurable ebbs and flows in the continents, called “land tides” or “solid Earth tides,” too. The tides are greatest during full and new moons, when the sun and moon are aligned either on the same or opposite sides of the Earth.


According to John Vidale, a seismologist at the University of Washington in Seattle and director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, particularly dramatic land and ocean tides do trigger earthquakes. “Both the moon and sun do stress the Earth a tiny bit, and when we look hard we can see a very small increase in tectonic activity when they’re aligned,” Vidale told Life’s Little Mysteries, a sister site to SPACE.com.


Now, the odds of some cataclysmic event unfolding because of a "super moon" seem slim at best, but with the seismic activity recently occurring in Indonesia, Haiti, Chile, Japan, and China, it certainly doesn't seem impossible.

One man who predicted the World Series earthquake in 1989 is predicting another one in California this weekend. Jim Berkland allegedly predicted the quake and is predicting another one on March 19, 2011 because of the super moon coming.

Obama is No Leader

American presidents used to be referred to as the "leader of the free world", but I haven't heard that term used in a while.  It is no surprise considering that President Obama has utterly failed to lead when the issue of freedom is at stake.  Consider the disastrous manner in which the White House responded to the Iranian protests after it's most recent presidential election.  Obama was virtually silent and voiced almost no support for the protesters who were dying in the streets at the hands of theocratic thugs.

Similarly in the "Arab Spring", the administration has been completely behind the ball in supporting movements for freedom.  And after weeks of "rebels" dying in the effort to oust Qaddafi, Obama has done nothing to lead the world closer to a no-fly zone, intervention, supplying the rebels with arms or support, or even offering consistent moral support from the bully pulpit.

Meanwhile, Obama has not let his golf game go unattended.  In just over two years, Obama has already played more golf than President George W. Bush played in 8 years!  But I've yet to hear the mainstream media complain about Obama's golf habit.  The Nation reports: "Mr Obama played 28 rounds in 2009, 30 rounds in 2010, and two this year." 

I would have thought a president, considering the demands and requirements of his job, would have far less time than the average Joe to play golf, but not Obama. 

And while one of America's closest allies, Japan, struggles amid chaos, Obama will be traveling to Rio in Brazil to "take in the sights" with his family.

So while the world burns, Obama talks about the NCAA march madness tournament, golfs, and sidesteps his duties as president.  This is nothing short of a dereliction of duty and an embarrassment for the United States of America.

John Podhoretz writes:

Obama is defining himself in a way that will destroy him.


It is not merely that he isn't rising to the challenge. He is avoiding the challenge. He is Bartleby the President. He would prefer not to.

He has access to a microphone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If he tells the broadcast networks in the middle of the day that he has a major address to deliver on an unprecedented world situation, they will cancel their programming for him.

And yet, since Friday and a press conference in which he managed to leave the American position on Libya more muddled than it was before, we have not heard his voice. Except in a radio address -- he talked about education legislation.

And he appeared at a fund-raiser in DC. And sat down with ESPN to reveal his NCAA picks.

If the media were not shills for the president and in the tank for his socialist agenda, the President would be rightfully exposed for the disgrace that is unfolding at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  Obama's refusal to do his job will have long term repercussions in the world in regards to freedom, democracy, and America's standing in the world.  The consequences of Obama's failures will be felt for years to come.

Birth Pains?

Matthew 24: [3]As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Public Sector Unions at Work

A great video from Pajamas Media on public sector unions.

Earthquake in Japan

A massive earthquake has struck northern Japan measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale.  Tsunamis are headed for North America and South America as I write this.  CNN is reporting that hundreds of bodies have been discovered in some areas of Japan and there is concern about a nuclear reactor whose cooling system is experiencing difficulty.

The images of the destruction are incredible and horrifying.

Fifty counties have been alerted for possible tsunamis and precautions are being taken around the Pacific to ensure that any loss of life is minimized.

CNN reports: "Japanese media, citing local and national police, said hundreds of people were dead and hundreds more missing. The 2:46 p.m. quake struck 373 kilometers (230 miles) from Tokyo, the United States Geological Survey said."

A tsunami is expected to make landfall in California at about 11:25AM EST.  Updates will follow.

Obama: Being President of China Would Be Easier

The Weekly Standard reports, "Mr. Obama has told people that it would be so much easier to be the president of China. As one official put it, ‘No one is scrutinizing Hu Jintao’s words in Tahrir Square."

I've never bought into this myth that Obama is the "smartest guy in the room" or that he brings some kind of extraordinary level of intelligence to the Oval Office.  We don't know his grades from college or law school, the guy never had a real job, never started a business, never employed people, and only managed to write two books about himself in a narcissistic exercise of self promotion.  First of all, Tahrir Square is in Cairo, not Beijing.  Secondly, of course it's easier to be a dictator than the president of a republic. 

I don't doubt that Obama, somewhere deep inside, longs to have dictatorial powers in which he could remake America as he sees fit.  Fortunately, America is a republic and tyranny has been prevented for over two centuries because the system has been designed to be difficult in order that no man can "easily" govern on his own.  This is the brilliance of checks and balances on the power of government.  This is why there are three co-equal branches of government.  This is why presidents may be impeached and why the congress holds the power of the purse while the executive holds the power over administrative agencies.

Smartest guy in the room my foot.

Muslim Radicalization Hearings Underway

Go to http://www.foxnews.com/ to watch live streaming of Muslim Radicalization hearings chaired by Rep. Peter King (R-NY).
Fifty-two percent of Americans support the hearings (not surprisingly) since they understand the threat posed by radical Islam.  Not everyone forgets what happened on September 11, 2001.

Ann Coulter on Wisconsin Union Debate

Ann Coulter opines on the raging debate over unions in Wisconsin, NPR, and Obama on Fox News' Hannity.  You can also read her column today HERE.

Gov. Walker Victorious in Wisconsin

Despite fear mongering, threats, thug-like behavior, and intimidation from the left wing union thugs coupled with misinformation and slanted reporting in the media, Gov. Walker and Republicans in Wisconsin have passed a bill to limit union benefits and eliminate collective bargaining for government employees.

The Democrats were out maneuvered by Republicans: "The Senate requires a quorum of 20 to take up any measures that spend money. But a special committee of lawmakers from the Senate and Assembly voted late Wednesday afternoon to take all the spending measures out of the legislation and the Senate approved it minutes later, 18-1."

The rhetorical smoke billowing from the Democrats is so over the top it is laughable. The fight had nothing to do with "civil rights" or "freedom" and everything to do with political interests being at both sides of the bargaining table (Dem politicians and Unions) which has driven up costs to the tax payers for decades.

The bill that passed accomplishes the following: "The measure forbids most government workers from collectively bargaining for wage increases beyond the rate of inflation unless approved by referendum. It also requires public workers to pay more toward their pensions and double their health insurance contribution, a combination equivalent to an 8 percent pay cut for the average worker."

For the first time since the great recession began, public workers in the United States are now feeling a bit of pain.  There are virtually no job losses in the public sector, or pay cuts, or lay offs, or cut backs.  This would be unthinkable for a 9 to 5 government worker, but at least there is increased contributions towards the lavish benefits they receive.  Keep in mind that private sector workers have no where near the benefits of government workers on average and actually earn less on average as well.  A sickening reality that has overtaken the American workforce.

Wisconsin will be a turning point for other states like Ohio, Michigan, and elsewhere in which government workers repeatedly hold taxpayers hostage to their demands.  This is a first step towards reigning in the power of public sector unions and returning that power to the people where it belongs.

The left wing media has accused the Tea Party, Republicans, and Fox News of using ugly rhetoric that will lead to violence against political opponents.  However, it is the union thugs and protesters that have used actual violence in an attempt to intimidate and bully their way to victory:

Senate Republicans were harried by swarming crowds. “We tried to get out of the building after the vote, because they were rushing the chamber, and we were escorted by security through a tunnel system to another building. But, after being tipped off by a Democrat, they mobbed the exit at that building, and were literally trying to break the windows of the cars we were in as we were driving away,” Republican senator Randy Hopper tells NRO. Such tactics, he sighs, were hardly unexpected. “I got a phone call yesterday saying that we should be executed. I’ve had messages saying that they want to beat me with a billy club.”

The thugs have failed.  Obama's "transformed" America has experienced a major setback and the taxpayers have achieved a major victory against ever-expanding, abusive government.

Rep. King's Radical Islam Hearings

In the past month, two US servicemen were killed in Frankfurt, Germany by an Islamic radical from Kosovo and four American missionaries were murdered by Muslim pirates from Somalia.

It seems fitting, that the United States investigate the extent of radicalism within its borders after having thwarted a number of attacks in Seattle, New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere in the recent past.  Nevertheless, the left and the Democrats are up in arms about Rep. Peter King's (R-NY) plan to investigate Islamic radicalism in the United States through the committee he chairs on Homeland Security.

There is no hard evidence that homegrown terrorism is on the decline.  In fact, it seems that radicalism may be increasing within the US, Europe, and elsewhere.  While the Arab awakening my bring democracy, it could easily bring more radical regimes if the democratic revolts are hijacked by elements of Al Qaeda or Iranian backed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Islamic radicalism remains a serious threat to the internal security of the United States and its allies.  This is even more true for America considering America's weakened economic predicament.  A serious attack on America from within or without could lead to an economic depression.  While the American economy has always been resilient, it is not all powerful.  Obama's policies (and those of the GOP to a lesser extent) have weakened America and made it far less robust than it was in 2001 when 9/11 occurred.

Being ever vigilant against the threat of Islamic terror was a key lesson of 9/11 and one which the Democrats and the leftist elite want to forget.  This not a new form of McCarthyism or witch hunting, this is an important investigation to ensure that America is doing all it can to protect itself from another terrorist attack.

Ignatieff, the Absent Leader

It's no wonder that Michael Ingatieff isn't making traction with voters when he rarely shows up for work.  Members of Parliament are elected to represent their consitutents in the House of Commons, and much of their job involves being in the House debating bills on the floor. 

Ignatieff has been absent more than any other member of parliament, 135 times!  Prime Minister Harper, has been absent only half that amount, and his duties involve international travel to attend summits, conferences, and the like.  So what's Iggy doing?  Perhaps, spending a little too much time with his aristocratic friends from Harvard.  Or, maybe he's enjoying Algonquin Park since it was the only thing he missed when he was living in the US for 25 years.

The Liberal  culture of entitlement has been made clear by this G&M report:

An investigation by the Globe and Mail, published Monday, correlated the MPs' absences with votes on bills in the House and found that 17 members, most of them Liberals, have missed at least a quarter of the votes in the past two years.

The difference between the "real world" (i.e. the private sector) and the public sector is made ever so stark when light is shone into the practices of government workers and our "representatives" in parliament who so often take liberties with their privileged positions while reducing our individual liberties and increasing our burdens to support the government through taxes, fees, and mandatory rules.

American Teachers Unions Explained

The video gives a great commentary on teachers unions in the United States and the manner in which the public policy debate is manipulated by unions to spread misinformation.

Rush Limbaugh Interviews Trump

The great El Rushbo has a rare interview on his show with Donald Trump.