From the desk of Susie Suburbanite

Can we talk?

I'm ba-a-a-ck. The day job has finally released me from the jaws of Hell. I sure picked a fine time to go on hiatus, didn't I?

Let's see, Japan had a 9.0 earthquake, followed by a devastating tsunami that killed tens of thousands, and a nuclear meltdown from a damaged power plant rivaling the Chernobyl disaster. My heart goes out to the Japanese people in this time of crisis, but they have a spirit which refuses to knuckle under. Know what struck me the most? During the worst of the disaster, there was no rioting, no looting, no thugs roaming the streets, and no whining about when was the government going to hand out checks. Compare that with New Orleans after Katrina. Need I say more?

In the halls of Congress, the debt ceiling deadline was extended--again, and then again. The 2011 budget battle heated up with the Republicans demanding 80 some-odd billion bucks (or was it 60? Can't remember, but when you have that many zeros at the end of the number, it's all relative) in spending cuts, while the Dems trotted out some ridiculously low number. They finally compromised on 38 billion and change.

Nobody's happy, especially the Tea Party who supported many of the Republican candidates last November. The libs cry the same cry of "Tax the rich!" without bothering to define "rich." The vote comes up soon and it'll be interesting to see how many of the new House members vote for the budget proposal. Over in the Senate, I did find myself amused when during the discussions, Harry Reid lamented the cuts saying it would send the Cowboy Poetry Festival into oblivion. I was never quite sure if this meant cowboys wrote poetry or if the poems were about cowboys.

But the biggest and most worrying development during my time away was Libya. Moamar Ghadafi (I know thw spelling is off, but I've seen so many variations I figure close counts) is still in control, but not without his problems. Some European nations convinced our dumbass Fearless Leader to support a no-fly zone over rebel territory. Hillary Rodham Clueless, our venerable Secretary of State, commented that Ghadafi must go. Her reasoning? Ghadafi is killing his own people. This morning I read where Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC), John McCain (R-AZ), and Joe Liebermann (I-CT) want the US to send more support to the rebels.

No, no, no!! First of all, this is how Vietnam started. A little advising, a few arms and some materiel support, and finally ground troops. And what makes Libya different from Tunisia, Egypt, or Yemen? Oil? Why would FL care? He hates the stuff. Would rather see us dependent on a bunch of propellers stuck in the ground like pinwheels or the sun for our energy needs. (I'll cover this in a later blog.)

And why should we care one way or the other if Ghadafi does kill his own people? The same thing is happening in Bahrain where Saudi troops crossed the border and fired a few rounds into protestors. And the Syrian government certainly isn't holding back with real bullets either. So why aren't we hustling to help them, too?

Because this President is weak and too busy trying to put salve on the wounds of his 2012 Presidential campaign. He's easily swayed by Euorpeans who for some reason he admires. And let's say Ghadafi does go down. How do we know these rebels will be supportive of the United States? We don't. I have to wonder how many of these same guys were on the tarmac in Tripoli cheering when the PanAm bomber deplaned.

This President has never abandoned campaigning. He's been in constant "vote for me" since day one. He's ignored domestic policy, preferring to hand it over to a bunch of academics who have no practical experience in how anything is run. The only way to solve the problems of this country is to vote him out in 2012.

So, I guess it's time to start looking at possible Republican candidates to do just that. There's got to be someone out there we can trust and admire.

Enough ranting for today. I'm glad to be back in the saddle again. Hope you all have a good day. Until next time.

Susie Suburbanite

From the desk of Susie Suburbanite

Can we talk?

Sorry it's been so long between blogs, but I think I warned in a previous entry that my day job was heating up leaving less time for the fun stuff. Well, I've gone from simmer to boil and have to spread my opinion around when I can get to it.

On the home front, the budget deadline is creeping ever closer, so what does our Congress do--they take a vacation. Yep, our duly elected House and Senate members get a whole week off for Presidents Day. Crap. I didn't even get the freaking day off.

At any rate, the Dems are screaming the cuts proposed by the new Republican majority in the House are too deep and that we (meaning taxpayers) must invest (meaning spend more money) in the future of our country. (And nobody's really quite sure what that means. Don't you just love how these guys twist words? Sales of thesauruses must be sky-high.) Dems are holding firm in the hopes the Republicans will do the same, thereby causing the government to shut down as it did briefly in 1994 (or was it '95?) Doesn't matter. The shut down cost the Republicans dearly and we got another 4 years of Billy the Liar.

That was then. This is now and for the life of me I can't see how even a day's shut down will hurt. Just think--a whole 24 hours with no government intervention in our lives. I think I'm getting giddy. Yes, that also means checks will not go out to those who depend on them, but the people sent a strong message last November and our Congress had better listen. Open your ears--STOP THE DAMNED SPENDING!! I live on a budget--one that gets tighter all the time. That's why I have this crappy day job. If you guys want to continue working at your day jobs, may I suggest you don't ignore us. And that includes all you Congressional freshman.

And if certain entitlement issues like Medicare, Medicaid, and the sacrosanct Social Security must be addressed, then so be it. I can remember my late father-in-law saying all he wanted out of social security was what he'd put into it. The problem was he did that in his first year of eligibility. My generation will retire on the backs of our children, who when their time rolls around, will see nothing. So my husband and I are working as long as we can to ensure leaving an inheritance that will take them off the dog food diet.

Cuts can also be made in the military. Talk about a bloated budget. I'm all for supporting our men and women in uniform, but it's the billions of dollars wasted every year on new toys and gadgets that concerns me. I understand the country needs to be prepared for any calamity that comes our way, but common sense should be used.

Don't you just love the fiasco in Wisconsin? The state is broke, and when asked to actually contribute to their pensions, labor unions representing government employees went berserk. Teachers, workers at city halls across the state, police and firefighters (who are NOT under the gun) have taken to the streets in protest. The bill before the legislature also curbs the union's ability to collective bargaining. The Republicans control the legislature and have the votes to pass the bill, but the law up there requires at least one member of the opposition party to be present for that vote. So, the Dems all took off. They left the state and are holed up in a Best Western or something in Rockford, Illinois and refuse to come do their jobs.

Actually, the bill that is causing the hullaballoo is being jerked all out of proportion by union leaders and the mainstream press. The collective bargaining business refers to salaries, if I'm not mistaken, nothing else. Union prestige and enrollment has been dropping like a rock for years, and this legislation will further erode their influence. As close as I can tell, government workers (including teachers) have been getting their pension money from the taxpayers for years. They haven't contributed dime one on their own. Now when the state has no money in the coffers and Wisconsin has unemployment out the ears, they want taxpayers to keep the status quo.

Boy, wish I could have had someone other than myself forking over big bucks to insure I'd be retiring on a hundred grand a year. It's a toss up as to which unions are most despised--the teachers or the one representing the government workers.

Meanwhile, up in Madison nothing is getting voted on yet. I can't figure out the rational of the demonstrators. If there's no money, there's no money. Contributing to your pension isn't cutting your own throat. If the governor gives in and removes the bill, the next logical step will be layoffs and firings. Makes me wonder how smart those teachers really are. 

The news from the Middle East is chilling. Mubarak is out in Egypt. As of now, the military is in control, but who knows if their grip will be firm until the elections this fall? Already rumblings with anti-American and anti-Israeli overtones are being heard. Iran is sending warships through the Suez Canal for the first time since 1979 with the blessings of the Egyptians. This will put them in the Mediterranean and possibly just off Israel's coast.

The unrest has died down in Jordan, Yemen, and Syria slightly (perhaps they're just catching their breaths), but it's ramped up big time in Bahrain and Lybia. Bahrainian troops aren't as thoughtful as the military in Egypt. They're firing on the protestors with deadly results. And Moamar Khadafy in Lybia has set loose his army with even deadlier actions. This one is bloody and will affect the Western countries in another way--oil. Already the prices are spiking. U.S. stockmarkets were closed yesterday for the holiday, but don't be surprised to see the cost of a barrel of crude run up close to $100 or beyond. Gasoline prices are also climbing fast. Family driving vacations may be curtailed this summer like they were a few years ago. Not a good economic signal.

The one voice that's been silent during this entire Middle East dust-up is our western hemisphere buffoon, Hugo Chavez. With the United States being bad-mouthed from Cairo to Teheran, you'd think he'd have his yap open echoing Iran's rhetoric. Nope, all is quiet. He may be sitting on a buttload of oil, but perhaps he's keeping quiet because his President-for-Life (or whatever he calls it) status is on the shaky side. Of course, as with all dictators, the current status depends on how loyal the military is to the tyrant.

Well, nuts, my day job--the one I still have and is paying some of the bills--is calling. Don't give up on me because I don't blog as often as before. I still have plenty to say and an opinion to share, so drop by Can We Talk every now and then. Leave a comment if you like (or don't like--it depends) and I'll get back as soon as I can.

In the meantime, have a nice day and I'll talk to you later.

Susie Suburbanite

From the desk of Susie Suburbanite

Can we talk?

The last 10 days or so have been interesting to say the least. The House, as promised, voted to repeal Obamacare--a positive step. The Senate, as expected, voted no thereby sealing some of the up-for-reelection-Dems fate.

Then a federal judge in Florida declared the portion of the bill regarding people must buy health insurance unconstitutional. Because our brilliant lawmakers didn't forsee (or perhaps ignored) the possible ramifications, neglected to separate it from the body of the legislation. The judge therefore held that because the language didn't allow for separation, then the entire bill was null and void.

Hot damn! Now the fun starts. Some states decided that the judge's ruling means the bill doesn't need to be enacted. Other states are still suspicious and want to pursue the unconstitutionaql aspects further to the Supreme Court for the final nail in the coffin. It won't happen overnight. That particular provision wasn't to take effect until 2014 anyway, so the high court most likely won't take it up until sometime in 2012--just in time for elections.

Bet Fearless Leader is sorry now he insulted some of the justices in that State of the Union address last year. Speculation has it the ruling will be split 5-4 along the usual conservative/liberal lines. I imagine our beloved Prez is hoping some conservative judge croaks so he can appoint a more liberal friendly one in his place.

The news out of Egypt is scary. Despotic governments are rapidly learning they can't suppress the flow of information. Not even shutting down Facebook, Twitter, or the internet works. Just too many ways around the censorship. Mubarak is toast. He knows it, but refuses to leave office on any terms except his own. And while he's a despot, he's also been a key element in keeping the peace between Egypt and Israel for the past 30 years.

I kept waiting for our Idiot-in-Chief to come out and at least support the man in a nominal way. But I-in-C did what he always does in times of crisis--he ignored it for a few days. And when he did finally say something, he called for Mubarak to listen to the people and step down. Kind of a "thanks for all your help, but it's time to move on" type of thing. He later reversed himself and called for the Egyptian President to stay long enough to hand over the reins of power in an orderly fashion. If I was Mubarak, I'd tell him where to cram it.

As usual, this administration was caught off guard. Intelligence officers tell us they warned Egypt was "unstable" as early as last November. Fearless Leader stood with egg on his face totally unprepared to deal with yet again another foreign policy debacle. And our marvelous Secretary of State, or as my husband likes to call her, Hillary Rodham Clueless, offered no guidance, preferring to mouth silly platitudes. I can't understand how she got the job. When did she ever work in the State Department at this high of a diplomatic level? I don't think she achieved ambassador status. Chairing a few committees while in the Senate doesn't qualify her for the position.

You can be sure the driving force behind this sudden Mid-East unrest is Iran and an organization called the Muslim Brotherhood. I don't trust any group with the word Muslim in it, especially when it leads to demonstrations or riots. This all began in Tunisa and is rapidly spreading.

Take a good look at the map. Egypt is next door to Israel on the west. Jordan, which is also seeing demonstrations, borders that country's eastern edge. Hamas is entrenched in Gaza, while Hezbollah controls Lebanon. Or maybe its the other way around. I tend to get them confused. But either way, they are both terrorist organizations dedicated to the eradication of Israel and world wide jihad. All must be Islamists or die. And how long will Saudi Arabia hold out? Will a new regime in Egypt shut down the Suez canal? Will Iran play games in the Straits of Hormuz? You betcha.

Israel reminds me of the United States. Both were carved out of desperation and the desire to be free. Americans built a country out of nothing using grit, determinatoin and their bare hands. Jews flocked to the Holy Land after World War II to find a life free from persecution. They took an inhospitable terrain and turned it into a productive nation where the word "Jew" is spoken with pride and respect.

From the desk of Susie Suburbanite

Can we talk?

Sorry, I've been so long in posting, but the day job is heating up and likely to get hotter, so please bear with me. I was also waiting for The Prez to deliver the State of the Union address.

Did I say State of the Union? Forgive me. I meant, State of the Campaign. For a supposedly great speaker, this speech was lacking in substance. It said very little about the state of the country, but more about "Vote for Me in 2012." Fearless Leader sounded like he was out on the stump again talking about what he wanted to accomplish as opposed to what he has accomplished. (Oh, that's right. To conservatives, he hasn't accomplished anything except a massive debt. He even had the audacity to claim the extension of the Bush tax cuts as his feat.)

He began slowly and built momentum toward nonsense, frequently bringing up the term "spending cuts". The problem is he wants to replace those cuts with "investments" in other areas. Investment is additional spending. He wants more money for infrastructure and education.

Wait a minute. Didn't he say that two years ago in his first State of the Union address? Yep, I believe he did. And the liberal Congress, led by former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, came through with a trillion dollars of our tax money for those shovel-ready jobs guaranteed to rebuild all those crumbling bridges and roads in America.

My question is: We gave you all that money, so what the hell did you do with it that you need more? Where was it spent? Who got what and how much? Or are you simply holding it in reserve like a miser?

As an American taxpayer, I demand an audit.

And stop referring to a push for our country's reemergence as an economical superpower as a "Sputnik" moment. I'd say at least half fo the people in America have no idea what Sputnik was, and those that do remember dismiss it. In 1957, the launch of a Soviet satellite was stunning and embarrassing for the US, a nation that had always prided itself on innovation and implementation. Yes, it did spur us into greater awareness and 12 years later we landed a man on the moon, but those days were filled with hope and the unshakeable belief we could do anything. Not so anymore. We are floundering because we haven't had leadership--true leadership--since Ronald Reagan.

This was a dull, boring speech. It brought nothing new to the table. The Prez sounded neither convincing or hopeful. In fact, it didn't sound like he believed what he said. Not even the Dems, some sitting side by side with their Republican "dates", looked enthused. And while liberal pundits hailed it as inspiring, conservatives yawned. The liberal network news media took instant polls proclaiming anywhere from 86-92% of those polled thought the message uplifting. Hey, my Maidenform is uplifting. This flat campaign speech wasn't. The only highlight was not having to stare at Nancy Pelosi sitting behind him

I think Barack Obama realizes he's in for a tough time in the halls of Congress the next 2 years. Already the House has voted to repeal his precious health care bill, but we all knew that was coming. Harry Reid, still Senate Marjority Leader, has stated he will not allow it to come to a vote in that chamber, which must mean he's not sure of how many of those up-for-reelection-in-2012 Dems might switch sides and cast their votes with the Pubbies. There are ways around Harry though, so it's going to be an interesting time. And don't forget, the vote on increasing the debt ceiling will arrive in March.

I have this uneasy feeling that something is in the wind. I wonder what Fearless Leader and the Chinese head dude really discussed behind closed doors. If we cut our spending and borrowing (from the Chinese, of course) would China call in our note? And what would happen if they did? And why the hell are we borrowing from them in the first place? They're our sworn enemy determined to bring us to our knees. They're succeeding, not with weapons and military might, but with economic pressure--pressure hard enough to collapse this country.

I've got my fingers crossed that the Congress will do the right thing and get the United States back on track to where it belongs. Most of the remedy is common sense. If you ain't got the money, don't spend it on luxury items. Pay the rent, put food on the table, and clothes on your back first.

Interesting days lie ahead. I'm looking forward to a Republican House with some backbone.

Until next time.

Susie Suburbanite

From the desk of Susie Suburbanite

Can we talk?

Last Saturday showed how depraved people can be. A young man opened fire with a recently purchased Glock killing 6 people, including a 9 year old girl. His main target appears to have been Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. The Congresswoman survived a through and through shot to the head and is, remarkably, doing well. Upwards of 10 other people were wounded.

It was a senseless tragedy and may have been prevented if just a small amount of security had been in place. I can understand the desire of elected officials to meet and greet their constituents up close and personal. It makes them seem less intimidating and "Washingtonized." However, holding the meeting in front of a Safeway offered no protection. Most of us don't assume a large gathering will produce a nut case with a gun, but in this day and age it's never safe to assume.

I also understand the shock and horror immediately following the shootings.

What I can't understand is the far left automatically denouncing conservative talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck,  along with Sarah Palin as the fuel for this gunman's actions. Liberals railed and screamed, "Off with their heads!" Politicians decried the lack of civility in modern society. (Can't we all just get along?)

While I agree more civility would be a pleasant change from harsh rhetoric, I'd like to point out that a lack of civility isn't the sole property of conservatives.

Between 2004 and 2008, I heard more vicious, angry comments from the left concerning George Bush and Dick Cheney than I care to remember. I believe the low point was some talk show liberal who wanted to decapitate the President and put his head on a spike. And I recall having seen the cross-hairs of a gunsight on a paid political advertisement in 2004--from the Democrats.

Where was their outrage then? Nowhere, because if it's a liberal saying it, it must be true and therefore, all right. Hypocrits! What outrages me at the moment is the Vermont Congressman (or maybe he's a Senator--I can't remember. All I know is he's an Independent and a jerk) who is using the deaths of 6 innocent people to raise funds for his reelection.

The incident has also brought out the anti-gun enthusiasts. Ban guns! is their mantra. The shooter bought the gun legally. "He was obviously deranged and shouldn't have been able to buy it!" they cry. Yes, he is deranged, but he had no record of psychiatric problems. In spite of his strange behavior at a local community college, no one thought to inform the authorities of a potential problem.

When in doubt the no guns bunch turns to the wording of the second ammendment of the Constitution. Conveniently ignoring the "right of the people to bear arms", they concentrate instead on the part referring to maintaining a militia and infer that means an organized branch of the military like the National Guard.

When the Constitution was written, militias were comprised of everyday citizens. Doctors, lawyers, merchants, and farmers would heed the call to arms as they did in Lexington and Concord. Rather than place those arms in a central location (one raid by the enemy and they'd be out of luck), every militia man brought his own weapon. That's why the second ammendment exists.

We have no idea why this young man did what he did. In his own confused mind it made sense, I suppose. There is no evidence he was inflamed by the words of any conservative talk show host. For all we know, he could have watched The View every day.

And banning guns is not the answer. Only the criminals would have access, and I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't intend to become a victim--ever. I carry a gun in my car and have several in my home. A stun gun sits in my purse whenever I go out.

In spite of all the murder and mayhem in our lives, we are a nation of innocents who want to believe in truth, justice, and the American way. I would hope we are still imbued with that eternal optimism that helped make this country great. I can't imagine we would allow ourselves to sink into some bottomless abyss of no hope. It's just not in our genes.

Until next time.

Susie Suburbanite

From the desk of Susie Suburbanite

Can we talk?

I want to wish all my readers a mega-Happy New Year. Hope your holidays were merry and bright. Mine were, but now I'm ready to spout my opinion again.

The lame duck session ended with a flurry of bills passed. Bills that wouldn't have made it through without the support of Republicans. Some conservatives call this a cave-in, others frowned and muttered obscene comments about compromise. Not all compromise, especially on something like Don't Ask, Don't Tell, is bad. DADT wasn't long for this world anyway, so make it look like we're cooperating. At least the Dream Act was defeated, so take solice in that.

The Prez appointed Dr. Donald Berwick, administrator of The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. I might add he did this after Congress recessed. Berwick issued a rule that physicians would be paid to "counsel" patients on options for ending their lives, including no treatment for life extension. This was not part of the health care bill for obvious reasons, but Sarah Palin and other conservatives had it pegged from the start--death panels. This means some bureaucrat in some cubicle in some obscure office can say yea or nay on treatment. I've gone on about this possibility before, and now it looks like it could happen.

To me, this is a variation on the Nazi plan to eliminate all who didn't meet their standards of purity. The mentally and physically impaired were shipped off to "hospitals". Shortly thereafter, relatives were informed their loved ones had "died", usually of pneumonia. The new House and Senate members need to keep a close eye on this one and squash any implementation like a cockroach.

The Republicans also need to keep an eye on the Dream Act. On the surface it allows children brought here illegally before their 16th birthday by their parents to fast track to citizenship via education and/or the military. I'm all for education and agree that anyone who puts their life on the line for a country where they aren't citizens deserve to be, but lack of specific language in the bill allows for wide interpretation. For instance, would this also permit their parents, grandparents, cousins, uncles, etc., to enter the US as relatives of the new citizen? (You following me on this, because I'm not sure I's stating it properly.) If so, then this is nothing more than amnesty for millions--again. We've been there, done that, and it solved nothing. Illegals still pour over our borders and swim to our shores in droves.

Tomorrow, the new Congress is sworn in. (At least I think it's tomorrow. These long holidays leave me confused as to what day of the week it is.) Fearless Leader, who turned up his nose at any Republican input for the past 2 years, is now trumpeting cooperation and compromise. He seemed to come out smelling like a rose with the lame duck session, but I wonder if the Republicans have just maneuvered him into a corner. They came off looking reasonable--much more so than the Dems since 2006. But are they about to lower the boom? If a repeal of portions of the health care bill are presented and perhaps even passed, the Prez will surely veto it. Since the public hates the bill, the conservatives can point to him and say, "Hey, we tried. Vote for us in 2012. Then we can really do business." Same goes for other measures near and dear to conservative hearts.

And won't it be fun to watch Nancy Pelosi relegated to a role just above that of House page? Minority Leader means nothing. Ask John Boehner.

In spite of all his hard work, the Prez escaped to spend the holidays in Hawaii with a promise to get out of Washington more often to meet the people who put him there and listen to their views. Huh? This guy has put more miles on Air Force One in 2 years than George Bush did in 8, and most of them were not within the US, but to foreign countries where the inhabitants still think he's terrific. And he said this with a straight face. Gotta love it.

Our new lawmakers have their work cut out for them. All the campaign rhetoric must now be implemented. It's time to put up or shut up. Cut the spending, dismantle as many of these stupid bills passed by the liberals as possible, and keep the lines of communication between yourselves and the voters open at all times. Answer e-mails and don't dodge phone calls. Doesn't sit well with constituents. Remember your promises because we will be watching.

So, here's to a prosperous new year for everyone. I'll be talkingatcha later.

Susie Suburbanite

From the desk of Susie Suburbanite

Can we talk?

It took a lot of arm twisting by the White House and stoic determination from Senate Republicans and the Dems who supported it, but the tax extension bill finally passed the House as received. Due to a glitch in the wording on the rules of how the bill would be presented, the final vote didn't occur until midnight. (Can't these people even get who's going to support or bitch and moan right? As written, the rules left out those who wanted to get their 2 cents worth in on opposition. They had to go back and re-write them. Jeesh. And you have to ask why this country is in trouble?)

At any rate, it passed. The Bush tax cuts are extended for another 2 years. The libs don't like that those making over $250,000 a year are included, nor do they like the 35% inheritance tax on estates over $10 million for families. They think the percentage should be higher--a lot higher--and the bottom line a lot lower.

The matter has been laid to rest as of now, but 2 years brings it all back to the forefront during the 2012 election campaign. You know, if Obama and his cohorts hadn't been so arrogant over the last couple of years and had consulted with Republicans on major issues, this whole argument would be moot. We might even have a health care bill everyone could live with instead of the mess that is threatening to hit the fan in the courts soon.

It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the liberal agenda is presented in this lame duck session with the Dream Act and Don't Ask, Don't Tell still on the table.

I read about the big meeting in Cancun, Mexico regarding climate change. You'll note it is no longer referred to as "Global Warming." That particular moniker was totally debunked last year. So now, it's "Climate Change."

As usual, delegates from 190 countries spent 2 weeks in warm, sunny Cancun. The only problem is it wasn't so warm. They experienced record low temperatures. By the time everything was said and done the results were predictable--nothing was done. Poor countries who denuded their forests, raped their own lands of natural resources, and haven't changed their manner of farming in decades blame the "rich" countries--as in the US--for all their problems. They are demanding buckets of cold, hard cash from us to solve the situation. The US says only if China, India, Brazil, and other expanding economies fork over a few bucks, too. They declined. So with no nation agreeing to cough it up, the conference ended with a lot of posturing on how successful it was.

I also read an article online the other day about a city that has been discovered in or near the Persian Gulf. It was buried by rising sea waters anywhere from 60,000 to 125,000 years ago. Hmmm. Rising waters, huh? As in "global warming"--oops, I mean climate change? Did the residents of this city drive big, honking SUVs and pick-ups. Or is the likely explanation that the earth goes through many cycles of heating and cooling and, therefore, the human contribution is minimal? Try selling the warming theory to those in Minnesota who are shoveling 2 feet of snow off their roofs and shivering in yet another excessively early and cold winter. Does not compute. 

I'd like to end on a totally bizarre note. It seems some whining mother in California is bringing a class action lawsuit against McDonald's for deceptive advertising in regards to the toys presented in the Happy Meal. Apparently last summer, her young daughters nagged and whined (must run in the family) to go to Mickey D's every week so they could collect the toys in the series from some movie. The mother only allowed once a month visits to the king of fast food eateries. She claims the promotion enticed children to eat unhealthy food with the promise of a toy not mention that the nagging got on her nerves.

How crazy is this? This must be the world's laziest, most incompetent mother. In her mind, this is all McDonald's fault for tempting her children. (She's probably a liberal who believes children's opinions on raising kids are legitimate talking points.) How do her kids know about these promotions? From TV, of course. Try turning the damned thing off, honey. If they nag and whine, tell them no. You're the adult, stupid.

This brings me to 2 points. First, healthy options are available with the Happy Meal. Second, kids under 8 don't buy Happy Meals or go to McDonald's alone. Parents take them, order the food, and pay for it. So, tell the kiddies no, hand them an apple or a banana, and go about your business. It's frivolous lawsuits like this that drive me nuts. Where, oh, where is tort reform when we need it?

With Christmas closing in, I may not be back until after the holiday. So if I'm not, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. May you receive all that you need and most of what you want.

Until next time.

Susie Suburbanite

From the desk of Susie Suburbanite

Can we talk?

Well, this has been an interesting last few days. The tax cut compromise reached between the Prez and the Republicans has hit a landslide of disapproval from Dems. Perhaps, disapproval is too mild a word. Try loathing on for size. When a liberal member of the House says, "F*** the President," you know you've got trouble. The Republicans have said this is it--take it or leave it. Many Dems are saying "Leave it!" in no uncertain terms.

So faced with this criticism what does our Idiot-in-Chief do? He holds a press conference trying to sell the bill. In order not to sound like he's been steamrolled by the Republicans in this whole thing, he says there are parts of it he doesn't like, but that he refused to let the middle class be held hostage by those nasty Pubbies. Not a good thing to utter when you want some cooperation from the opposing party.

Oddly enough, the breaking point for the libs was not necessarily the tax break for the so-called rich. Oh, it was lambasted all right, but what turned Nancy Pelosi an interesting shade of puce was the estate tax. That is her bugaboo. Thirty-five percent is too little, she and her fellow morons cry. They want 55% or more. They keep visualizing bank accounts and don't take into consideration that many estates also include businesses--like a family farm. In order to pay up, the heirs would be forced to sell some of the assets--on which would then be taxed again as income.

Of course, this whole thing is nothing more than another stimulus bill, but adding the words "tax cuts" makes it palatable. And in reality, nothing is getting cut. The bill's passage would merely keep taxes from going up--again.

So in desperation, our Fearless Leader called in the big gun to reinforce his decision. Yesterday, he met with former Prez Bill Clinton, and then made the monumental mistake of holding a joint press conference. In the 8 years of George W. Bush's Presidency, many people forgot what a powerful, silver-tongued speaker the former Prez is. Not even Barack Obama and his teleprompter can out do him.

And so it was yesterday. They both approached the podium. The Prez (present day) introduced Bill and turned the microphone over to him. Big mistake. Bill Clinton never met a microphone or TV camera he didn't like. The first words out of his mouth referred to FL as "the other guy." Not a good beginning. And Billy boy has never used 10 words when 50 were available. He took over. Our present day Prez stood off to the side like an unwanted step-child at a family reunion. He eventually left to fullfill some other duty, while Bill rambled on. It was painfully obvious who was more Presidential and it certainly wasn't Barack Obama. He looked weak and ineffectual, which pretty much describes his reign so far.

The lame duck session is rapidly drawing to a close. Amendments are being tacked onto the compromise, all guaranteed to raise the deficit further. The Republicans are holding the cards on this one--for a change. If the bill doesn't pass and the tax cuts are allowed to expire, then the new Pubbie controled House will be in charge come January. If that happens, the bill will no longer be a compromise, but whatever they want. Taxes will go up temporarily and the Dems will get blamed.

Can't wait to see what next week holds. I imagine tempers will flare again and rhetoric will soar. In a few weeks, Nancy Pelosi will give up the gavel of the Speakaer of the House to John Boehner. She will be reduced to Minority Leader, a position I once heard described as one step above a House page. Makes my day.

Until next time.

Susie Suburbanite

From the desk of Susie Suburbanite

Can we talk?

Barack Obama blinked yesterday. He and his liberal cronies (who still can't quite believe the election results) were in a stare down with the Republicans over taxes. He blinked first.

Fearless Leader announced he was compromising on the Bush tax cuts agreeing to extend the 2001 and 2003 cuts for all levels, including the so-called "rich", those making $250,000 and above. Got news for all you people who hate it when others achieve their goals--$250,000 is not rich. It's middle class. Not even a million dollars these days is considered rich. There are so many millionaires in this country, a person can't walk down the sidewalk without tripping over one. The tax break will be good for two years, or just in time to become a talking point for the 2012 election.

Also in the deal is lowering the Social Security payroll taxes by 2 percentage points for a year. Not sure how this one will play out. A year isn't a long time and businesses like to plan for longer periods. However, businesses are allowed to write off all investments they make in 2011. Will the widget manufacturer see this as a positive sign and expand his factory thereby hiring new employees? It's a roll of the dice. If the economy picks up and unemployment drops (which it didn't at the last report), you can bet the Prez will take full kudos for it.

The estate tax was also set at 35%. Not great, but better than what was on the table, which I believe was 55%. There is no estate tax for 2010, so if you croaked this year your beneficiaries are set. I never did understand the "death tax." People already paid taxes while accumulating the estates. Then when they die, their heirs have to pay again. Bernie Madoff should have been this good.

What did the Prez get in return for all of this? He got continued tax breaks for students and families as stipulated in the 2009 stimulus bill. And he can breath a sigh of relief at the extension of the unemplyment benefits to 99 weeks. I doubt the Republicans conceded much on this. I think they would have agreed to it anyway.

One thing stood out yesterday afternoon as I watched Fearless Leader's announcement. He was alone. Normally, whenever politicos reach an agreement on major issues, they all stand behind the President, facing the cameras for the voters at home, with grins on their faces. It gives the impression of bipartisanship and the willingness to work together. Not this time. And the expression on the Prez's face was not happy. Neither did he thank the opposition party for the hard work at bringing about the bill in question. That's almost a gimme.

Before his speech, the Prez spent a lot of time with his fellow Democrats in a closed session at the White House. I have the feeling the discussion was heated. Liberals are furious at what they see as their champion caving in to Republican demands.

November 2nd changed a lot of things. Come January when the newly elected Republican House takes control, health care will be on the agenda. Repeal at this point is not an option. Obama would simply veto it. But it can be tweaked and certain portions of it stalled. And the beloved idea of the federal government bailing out various insolvent states like California, Illinois, and New York to name a few, is not likely to happen. (Bet Meg Whitman's happy she didn't win now.) And if it does, then those newly elected Republicans can wave bye-bye in 2012. The American taxpayer has had it with stupidity.

So far, the lame duck session is just that--pretty lame. All the hot liberal goodies on the plate have gotten cold. Cap and Trade, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and several other items are non-starters now. The Prez desperately want his Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty passed. To be honest, I can't decide on this one. It's an uncomfortable reminder of the Cold War, which of course, should be over, but isn't--not with Iran and North Korea in the picture. And the Russians are always there lurking in the background. Given this President's foreign policy failures, I can't see how this will help us much. Iran, North Korea, and Russia will simply refuse to comply regarding inspections, and we'll be left with egg on our faces--again.

I'd like to end today with a moment of silence for the 2300 men and women who died 69 years ago on this date. December 7, 1941 is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. A while back, the last WWI vetern passed away. The WWII vets are also growing fewer in numbers. My father (Army) always paused on this day to remember as did my father-in-law (Army Air Corps). Sixty-nine years ago they were both going about their Sunday afternoon business in Indiana and Iowa repsectively when the terrible news came over the radio. At first, my father thought it was another Orson Welles broadcast a la the "Invasion from Mars" story that began such a panic a couple of years earlier. Sadly, it wasn't. Both of these fine men are gone now, but it's important to remember then, just like it's important to remember now and September 11, 2001.

Here's wishing everyone a good day and I'll be back in a while with more thoughts and comments.

Susie Suburbanite