Thanks, College Kids! We Old White Folks Will Live High Off the Hog and You Voted to Pay For It!

Thanks to Powerline, my perspective on the recent presidential election has changed.

The younger voters assumed crushing debt on my behalf.  Now I and my wife can live a comfy retirement and the majority who elected Obama get to pay for it.

Thanks, suckers!

Read the Powerline article and feel much better:  One Generation Got Old,  Another Generation Got Sold.

Your Lives Are About to Get Much Worse, Americans

Monty Pelerin at American Thinker has a very depressing analysis of what Obama's re-election means to Americans (hat tip Donald Douglas at American Power).  Pelerin, like others, is predicting an economic collapse.  He writes:

His election ensures the continuing shift away from the Rule of Law, property rights, free men, and free markets. Obama's vision of how the world works ensures a dire economy until an economic collapse resets everything.

And this:

The United States and Europe have abandoned the fundamentals necessary for progress. Both are hopelessly committed to the failed ideas of Socialism. Both are headed for great catastrophe. The catastrophe extends beyond economic well-being and touches the foundations of society and civilization itself.

We are headed into an economic dark age, where standards of living will continue to decline and may collapse. Societies and civilizations will also regress.

Read the whole depressing article here.

Another article at Doug Ross Journal portrays a similar scenario, "We Have Lost" by Casey.  Casey writes:

The most productive people, the small business owners, the entrepreneurs and the honest wage earners of America are so demoralized right now I am not sure we will recover as a country. We have lost the most important election of our lifetime and did so after giving our best effort, spent the most money ever and working the hardest we have ever worked. The very people that America needs the most to generate a real recovery now have the least motivation to do so and worse, lack the confidence necessary to even justify the effort.

On polarization, he writes:

As a country we are hopelessly divided by a malignant polarization approaching that which divided us prior to the Civil War....The American can-do spirit, our optimism, our traditional dependence on our own ingenuity is now mere kindling on the advancing flame of an insidious yet steadily advancing socialism.

On the feeling of despair many now have:

Those of us who create real jobs, invest our capital, our fortunes and take the risks to build America, feel betrayed. The fundamentals of honest effort and hard work rendering the rewards associated with capitalism seem now like a cruel joke. We are now a targeted enemy not to be governed but coerced into submission by a lazy, corrupt, vindictive, arrogant government that is out for revenge, redistribution -- and to add a final insult -- one we believe is too morally bankrupt to lead.

Do read it all here.

Politics as usual is unlikely to turn the tide in time to avoid financial disaster and societal collapse.  Radical action may be necessary at some point, like the fledgling secession movements now underway.  Political protests of Obama's re-election are said to be proliferating -- that remains to be seen.  We must encourage their growth.  The legislatures of the red states must discuss and coordinate a unified refusal to cooperate with the radical regime now in Washington, including nullification of unconstitutional laws like Obamacare, open defiance of the Supreme Court's unconstitutional edicts, and suspension of the taxing authority of the federal government if that becomes necessary.  Note:  this is NOT a call for violence.  Our actions must proceed mainly through our state and local representatives.  Individual protests should proceed in peaceful ways, like this one.

We will not go gently into the dark night that looms before us.  We have not yet begun to fight.

Voted and Nervously Awaiting the Election Returns

I got up at 6:15 AM, got to the polling place at 7:30 AM, and the place was packed.  There is a heavy turnout here in Northern California.  I voted and left for my morning Spanish class.  The teacher is a very good instructor and a great guy, but a Democrat.  He was wearing a campaign button that said "Yes on 30" and "No on 32."  I voted the exact opposite of his wishes.

It will be a long day, and hours will pass before we know any election results.  I think I'll drive over to Morgan Hill and buy some cigars for use as pacifiers to ward off anxiety.  They taste so much better than my thumb, and you can light them as well.

Hispanics For Romney #juntosconromney

Here's a great Twitter thread that features Hispanics for Romney. Great to know these good people are out there: it is #juntosconromney ("together with Romney").

Not all Hispanics are Democrat-deluded. A Twitter hashtag #juntosconromney ("together with Romney") is for Hispanics who are voting for Romney. Some of them have some great things to say! I especially like those of Stephen Sanchez and Marisa Marshall -- see the link here. Bueno, mis amigos!

Here's a screen grab of some of the tweeters:

Who Will Win the Presidential Election of 2012?

Beats the Hell outta me.  My intuition says Romney will win and it won't be that close.  However, whether reality conforms itself to my intuition or not remains to be seen.

Here are the factors that impress me:
1.  Romney is tied or slightly ahead or slighly behind Obama in several key states like Ohio, Colorado, Virginia and Florida.  Turnout will be the key to victory, and Romney's crowds are large and enthusiastic; Obama's not so much.  Only 800 people turned out to hear Joe Biden speak today.

2.  All the traditional reasons for picking a winner line up behind Romney:  the economy is terrible and Obama hasn't helped; gas prices are sky high, unemployment is not improving.  Only the fervently faithful to their Party will vote for Obama.

3.  Independents are overwhelmingly for Romney, by double digits.  Traditionally, no one wins without winning the independents.

4.  Most polls showing Obama ahead are skewed from oversampling Democrats, and are based on the undoubtedly false belief that the Democrat turnout will be the same as in 2008.  Most pundits expect it to be substantially lower.  The sharp decline in Democrats voting early and the sharp increase in Republicans voting early confirm this impression.

5.  Republican registrations are up considerably and Democrat registrations are down.  The former have the enthusiasm and the determination to win.  They will show up at the polls, whereas many disappointed Democrats will stay home.

6.  Undecided voters traditionally go for the challenger, and will go for Romney this time.

Of course, I could be completely wrong.  By this time tomorrow, we should know.

Photoshopping as Therapy: Creating Some in Expectancy of a Romney Win

I hate this anxiety, waiting for Tuesday, waiting to know if we will have to suffer another four years of radical-leftwing-college-sophomore-redistributionism.  If Obama is re-elected, what will the gas prices be in 2016 when he leaves office?  If they double again, like they did in his first four years, we are looking at $9 a gallon gas.  Yes indeedy, liberals, do vote for Obama if you enjoy poverty.

All the news indicates the race is tied; one poll shows Romney up, another shows Obama up, one pundit says this, and another says that.  I suspect that Romney will win, because not all voters like to put their hand in the fire twice.  Most learn the first time that it hurts.

Nevertheless, who really knows?  Not I.  So instead of assuring my readers that I know the answer and that I have crunched the numbers proving a Romney victory, I Photoshop instead.  It's good therapy for my anxiety.  This morning I Photoshopped Nat Silverman dining on a big crow sandwich and Paul Krugman's facial expression when he learns Romney has won.  Both are funny and fun, but won't be posted until I know Romney and Ryan have been elected beyond all doubt.

So who else can I skewer?  I know, Cher said she would "cry forever" if Romney wins, that would be a worthy subject for Photoshop.  Who else?

Don't Forget to Change Your Clocks and Your President

Obama Asks "How Can We Be Sure Benghazi Never Happens Again?" Answer Supplied.

Las Vegas Oddsmaker Predicts Landslide Victory For Romney Over Obama

Wayn Allyn Root is a Las Vegas odds-maker with a reputation for accuracy in predicting political outcomes. That doesn't mean he is infallible, but his argument in favor of a Romney victory next Tuesday is compelling.

Root argues that Obama has alienated too many important voting blocs to be re-elected.  Root predicts the race will remain close until election day, when the vote will break heavily for Romney.

He writes:

Most pollsters miss one ingredient — common sense. My gut instinct is that not one American who voted for McCain four years ago will switch to Obama.  But many millions of people who voted for an unknown Obama four years ago are angry, disillusioned, turned off or scared about the future. Voters know Obama now — and that is a bad harbinger.

Read it all here.

One Week To Go: The Presidential Election of 2012

In reading polls, predictions and pundits, I still do not have a clear idea of how the Presidential election will turn out.  Logic would seem to support the election of Mitt Romney over the failed and terrible presidency of Barack Obama.  However, voters aren't always logical.  Obama was elected in 2008 based on sheer fantasy about his capabilities.  Mark Levin warned what the election of Obama would  mean.  I also predicted what an Obama presidency would bring, and most of my predictions, the most important ones, were correct.  Four more years of Obama will be much like the last four, with the same disastrous results.  What you see is what you get.

In 2008 I had an epiphany, a sudden realization that McCain would lose to Obama.  It was a feeling of certitude and I did not doubt its accuracy.  Unfortunately, my intuition hasn't revealed the 2012 outcome.  It is still a big question mark in my mind.  

In any case, I will be glad when it's over.  Then we will know if the polls were indeed accurate, the predictions true or false.  Reality will replace wishful thinking and we will finally know what we are dealing with.  I am tired of the anxiety, tired of scrutinizing every new poll and event and editorial and commentary, in a vain attempt to perceive a clear trend, to guess the outcome.

I really don't understand Democrats.  Do they really believe their soundbite ideology?  Do they even care that their policies impoverish Americans and erode our security?  Do they like soaring gas prices, high joblessness, and class warfare?  It seems to me that they have an irrational loyalty to their party, above all practical concerns for their own self-interests and the well being of their families.  I really don't get it.

All we can do is go to the polls and vote, and hope for the best.

Disaster Alert

Thomas Sowell Explains Obama's Strategy in Defusing Benghazi-Gate

Thomas Sowell has described a new political stratagem employed by the Democrats to take the steam out of controversies like Benghazi.  He calls it "cooling out" the voters.  Scam artists use the same technique on those that they defraud.  It involves creating plausible deniability, blurring the facts to confuse the victim as to whether he has been defrauded, thus delaying him from going to the police.  The delay is important, as it allows the fraudster to escape before any action can be taken.

Obama used the "cooling out" strategy in defusing public outrage over Benghazi.  Obama offered a plausible (but knowingly false) scenario to deflect deserved blame away from himself.  That scenario was to miscast the terrorist attack on our embassy to be a spontaneous protest over a YouTube video that just got out of hand.  Then allow the truth to come out slowly, when it will have a lesser impact on public opinion.

Clever, these Democrats.  They have transformed unethical and dishonest behavior into a fine art form.

Read it all here.

Great Bumper Sticker Seen: "NOT AGAIN" (Photoshop)

Last Thursday, on my way home from my Spanish class, I saw a car with a very clever bumper sticker.  I have used Photoshop to recreate it here.  Feel free to use on your blog or website!

A Very Short But Accurate Description of the Benghazi Affair

We've all heard of the attack on our embassy in Benghazi, Libya.  What happened, and what is the controversy all about?  Here it is in eight simple steps.

1.  Islamic extremists plotted to attack our embassy in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, the anniversary of Bin Laden's attack on New York in 2001.

2.  The terrorists attacked, killing our defenseless ambassador and two Navy Seals who tried to protect him.  During the attack, the Embassy personnel requested military assistance from the Obama administration, who refused the request.  Reasons for the refusal are unknown, but may be due to (1) gross incompetence of the Obama team, or (2) due to political considerations, e.g., if the military went in to save the embassy, it might make the "Arab Spring" and Obama's support of it look bad.  CIA ordered the Navy Seals to "stand down" during the attack and do nothing to assist the embassy.  They disobeyed orders and were killed defending it.

3.  After the embassy was burned to the ground and our ambassador murdered, Obama realized that the situation would make him look bad in an election year.  Somehow he had to hide his lack of foresight, lack of precaution, his gross negligence in refusing greater security and military assistance that the embassy had asked for.

4.  Obama decided to hide his culpability for our embassy dead by pretending that the onslaught was a spontaneous protest against an anti-Islam video on YouTube.  Now this is something he could not foresee or be blamed for; it deflected public attention away from Obama's security blunders, and gave him a plausible excuse for avoiding blame.

5.  Obama, with the help of Hillary Clinton, spreads the "spontaneous video protest" meme far and wide, even to the United Nations.

6.  Finally, CIA and other security personnel come forth to say that the attack was a planned act of terror, and had nothing to do with the YouTube video.  Emails are presented, proving that Obama knew the nature of the attack within a half hour of its beginning.

7.  Much of the public now realizes that the embassy attack happened due to the gross negligence of Barack Obama, and that he lied and attempted to cover up the real facts to protect his political hide.

8.  Final step, yet to happen:  On November 6, the American electorate kicks the lying cover-up king out on his butt, in part because of the Benghazi controversy.

Udate:  Lawrence Auster has a similar timeline that is worth your attention, here.

Sleazy Gloria Allred Seeks "October Surprise" to Derail Romney

Gloria Allred is an attorney who is forever trying to derail Republicans in their quest for higher office.  She generally does this by disclosing some embarrassing incident from the Republican's past, shortly before the election to deny her victim a chance to rebut or respond.

The rumor is that she will be in court tomorrow to ask a judge to revoke a gag order on a long-ago case in which Romney testified.  The revocation will allow those involved in the case to discuss Romney's part in the case, which presumably will be used to denigrate Romney's character or judgment.

Obama did this same thing to one of his early political opponents, when seeking office as a senator.  His lawyers were able to remove a gag order in his opponent's divorce case, allowing Obama to reveal embarrassing (but irrelevant) facts about the opponent.

The "October Surprise" is a long-time Democrat stratagem, employing unethical means to sway an election.  But when you've got nothing worthwhile on which to run, perhaps you can embarrass your opponent or smear him or her sufficiently to sway the election.  Gloria Allred is an Obama supporter and doctrinaire Democrat who will resort to such dirty tactics to win at all costs.  She is the epitome of the ambulance-chasing shrew.

I wonder what embarrassing facts exist in her background?  We are all human and we all make mistakes, and any good lawyer is an expert in attacking the character of a courtroom opponent with spin, distortion, exaggeration and out-and-out lies.  Such an attorney could make Mother Teresa seem like a crack whore, and yes, it's one of the reasons lawyers are widely hated in America.

In any case, someone with the capability should do a thorough search of Allred's background to let her know how it feels.  Maybe there's a drug arrest or DUI, or lesbian affair or traffic ticket, or censure by the Bar in her past.  Maybe we can find the guy who deflowered Allred and have him relate the experience in excruciating detail, or a plaintiff who won a civil case against Allred and have him or her explain Allred's behavior that led to the suit, or her college buddies who smoked pot with her before attending a male stripper bar.  The possibilities are endless.  Let's work on it.

Obama's Stand on Charitable Contributions vs That of Romney (Photoshop)

Personal Stuff: High School Reunion; Son's New Puppy

Last night wifey and I attended my high school reunion, Class of 1962.  You do the math.  A band comprised of some musician friends of mine played rock, and did very well (and got paid).  I danced until my legs were falling off.  Funny, after fifty years all the cliques and social strata of high school have melded into one big group of equals.  There are no longer any homecoming queens or football heroes, just one big crowd of fat people with white hair (or no hair).  Everyone was nice.  I had the youngest looking and cutest wife there; no brag, just fact.  I wore a tan suit that fit perfectly, thanks to my recent weight loss efforts.

At dinner I was seated next to "Wolfie," a man with cerebral palsy who was also afflicted with such in high school.  He asked me to cut his salad and his meat for him, as he only has one operable hand.  Glad to do it.

***

On the political front, the Real Clear Politics polls are again at a dead heat for Romney vs Obama.  Hard to believe that anyone but a small cadre of socialist-fanatics are voting for Obama.  I will be so glad when the election is over and we can all turn to other things.  On November 7, we will finally know if the polls were right and the lay of the political landscape.  Do we keep America or do we lose it to the forces of "progressivisim"?

I notice a couple more newspapers endorsed Romney today.

My eldest son and my youngest son are both here for the weekend, the latter showing off his new Pomeranian puppy.  Bogie, my dog, absolutely loves her and the feeling seems mutual as they joyously chase each other around the backyard.  Missy the cat is still surveying the situation from underneath the safety of the dining room table.

My persimmon tree is loaded with fruit.  Wifey has started picking the ripest ones.  The aroma of bacon wafts from the kitchen and it is time for my second cup of coffee.  Have a great Sunday.

More Important Endorsements for Romney

Three more left-leaning newspapers have endorsed Romney for president:  the Orlando Sentinel, the Tennessean, and the Chicago Jewish Star.

On top of that, lifelong Democrat Lee Iaccoca has endorsed Romney as well.

Obama's former supporters are deserting him in the last three weeks before the election.

At this point, I feel fairly safe in saying that Obama's disastrous tenure at the helm of state is coming to an end.  People, including many Democrats, have had enough.

RCP Electoral Map Shows Romney Ahead For First Time

Real Clear Politics has been running an electoral college map for months now.  Before today, it has always shown Obama ahead of Romney in probable electoral college votes.

Today, for the first time, the RCP electoral map shows Romney going ahead of Obama by 206 electoral college votes to 201.  It takes 270 electoral college votes to win, and a number of states (representing 131 electoral college votes) are still in the toss-up category.

The increase in Romney's vote count is due to the addition of North Carolina to the Romney column, based on a recent poll showing him ahead in that state.

Hat tip:  View From the Right

Note to Left:  The freak-out begins in 10 seconds:  10, 9, 8, .......

Liberal New York Newspaper Endorses Romney for President

The New York Observer is said to be a liberal newspaper in New York City.  In 2008, the newspaper editors endorsed Obama for president.  In 2012, they believe Mitt Romney is the choice for New Yorkers.

Their editorial today includes this:

A candidate has emerged from the rough and tumble of the primaries with his dignity intact. The system has produced not a demagogue but a manager, a candidate whose experience is rooted in the pragmatism of the business world rather than the ideology of partisan politics.  That candidate is Mitt Romney.

Another powerful paragraph is this:

Mitt Romney stands out because—unlike so many candidates in the past—he understands how to build businesses, create efficiencies, make tough deals and carefully consider divergent viewpoints. America needs a strong leader, a practical leader. Mr. Romney knows full well that it would be a tragic mistake to simply assume that the United States will continue to be the world’s economic powerhouse simply because that’s what we’ve been for decades. America earned its global prominence because of the nation’s culture of work and individual freedom. That’s why immigrants came here and continue to come here—not because they seek a handout, but because they want a chance to work and to create and to innovate. In today’s competitive economy, the country needs competitors, not class-war crybabies.

Read it all here.