president Obama and Congress need to attend credit counseling

New York Times --

president Obama that is pressuring Republicans on Wednesday to accept higher taxes as part of any plan to pare down the federal deficit [which they created, not us] and told lawmakers that they "need to do their job" before the United States risked the faulting in its debt.

Obama directly challenging Republican leaders, "everybody else has been willing to move off their maximalist position — they need to do the same."

The House speaker, John A. Boehner commented stating that the president's remarks ignore legislative and economic reality.

John A. Boehner is 100% correct... they are not living and economic reality in fact, somehow they must think that we have an endless pot of money that all they have to do is pass new legislation to take it from us.

like the Obamacare for example in 2016 if you do not have qualifying health insurance, you may be fined for a family over $2000 which could be more than your tax return. Now what is the federal government going to do when you can't pay it?

Personally, regarding the debt ceiling... I hope that the Republicans stick to their guns and do not raise the debt ceiling and force the government to start making massive cutbacks [which of course will first be Medicare, Medicaid and other issues which will directly affect US] and wring them back into reality.

Remember... WE THE PEOPLE did not incur the federal deficit... WE HAD NO SAY OR CONTROL OVER IT!

And if we did... I seriously doubt that we would have borrowed money from another country AND THEN turnaround and give that money out to somebody else.

Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke stated recently that he was confused and puzzled why the economy was not recovering as predicted.

Look in the mirror!

In closing, I have some food for thought...

The president stated that the United States risks defaulting on its debt.

so what?

Who's going to come to us to collect it?

I mean seriously... the IRS or other debt collectors that the "normal" citizen faces when it defaults on its debt?

And what collateral did we give China for the money that we borrowed?

I hope that Obama didn't take out a second on the White House.

hey, did you hear the one about the armed military troops crossing the US border the other day??

Pro 8 News --
Headline:"Mexican troops in three military trucks crossed into the united States at Bridge Two" which clearly is a violation on international law and [surprise] Customs and Border Protection inspectors were trying to figure out what to do because the troops told them that they [their words] lost their way to Nuevo Laredo and did not know the area.

"you see, I told you you should've stopped and asked for directions!"

got lost? yeah right! GPS?

...and I have a bridge that I can sell you too!

Actually, I am not a bit surprised that the customs and border protection inspectors were confused about what to do because they were afraid that somebody might say that they were "profiling" if they detained them.

but what is even more interesting is that if this was as "serious" as the news story is making it, why is this not hitting the headlines all over the place and why is there not any follow-up story on this either?

I guess because in reality if Mexico really wanted to invade the United States, they wouldn't just sends three armed vehicles through the front door, they would just send masses secretly through unprotected parts of our borders....

... oh wait...

Columbo's Peter Falk -- dead at 83

The tv's "Columbo" star Peter Falk died Thursday night at his home in Beverly Hills, California. He was 83.
"Oh, one more thing...." was his catch phrase on the show.

Another great goes... RIP

the PC crowd gives illegal immigrants a new name

Robin's commentary --

first they were "illegal aliens"

Because that too harsh, they were renamed "illegal immigrants"

but that is not very politically correct...

So that was changed to, "undocumented immigrants"

still seemingly kind of harsh and insulting to some people...

So the new name for those who are not authorized to be in the country is...

[Insert drumroll sound effect]

[Wait for it...]

INFORMAL IMMIGRANTS

*sigh*

So I guess the next time that somebody breaks in your home, just remember that it is not politically correct to call them a burglar... or a "home invasion robber"... they are now known as...

"Informal house guests"

{example}

{ Google search }

EmX Do not build we knew that they were going to do it anyways

Robin's commentary...

The next proposed route for the EmX [and increase vehicle congestion]is the West 6th & West 7th to West 11th.

The question that was asked of LTD is why can't you just use the buses that you already have and not build a special bus route.

To sum up their answer... Federal [tax] dollars are predominately earmarked for capital projects and cannot be reallocated to enhance existing bus service which is largely funded by local payroll taxes [advertising,ridership,etc.] which is impacted by the local economy.

so my opinion, the bottom line is that they're not trying to implement the service in order to improve transportation, it is because the carrot of federal money is hanging out there for them to go after.

But remember, no matter what the source of the funding whether it be federal or state, ultimately it comes from the same source.

Yeah!, lets get everyone out of the cars and use mass transit

Robin's commentary --

To all those people that are really pushing to "get us out of our cars" I just wanted to say that some of those people are really glad this coming Monday that we have cars as I was asked already by a coworker if they could get a ride to work because....

LTD WILL NOT OPERATE ON MEMORIAL DAY

So for those mass transit greenies who prefers to rely totally on mass transit...

I for one am going to make it to work on time Monday morning.

we can't fix potholes but we can come up with $640,000 for art for the I-5 bridge

the register guard --

The I-5 bridge over the Willamette River which will open in about two years from now will contain sculptures that will epict a river and canoe, and two baskets containing camas.

ODOT is using $640,000 in federal money to commission the three sculptures and that money will be used to pay for the artist design, make and install the works.

okay, this is one of the examples that just gets me fuming.

We are constantly inundated with the government crying that they do not have money for road maintenance, funding for police and fire and has to close or reduce bed size in jails.

HOWEVER they ALWAYS seem to find a way to come up with money for art.

SCREW THE ART... FIX THE DAMN ROADS!!!

When the economy gets better... we can always add art to the project later and besides, people driving through the area will be more impressed with well maintained roadway versus rough roads and pretty roadside ornaments.

the bottom line... like I have said before, "right pocket... left pocket... it's still the same pair of pants" or more importantly...

IT'S OUR MONEY... QUIT SPENDING IT FRIVOLOUSLY!!!

So next time that our government representatives decide that they would like to raise our taxes or add additional fees let us refer to all the money that is being spent for "art" or other pooh-pooh projects and let them know that we gave you some money... and this is how you spent it... now go away!

the Apocalypse... Not as exciting as I thought it would be

Robin's commentary --

Except for an eruption of a volcano in Iceland, the 2011 end of times prediction made by American Christian radio host Harold Camping stated that on May 21, 2011 that God's elect people would be taken on this date with the end of the world to follow on October 21, 2011 was rather quiet considering Camping's prediction that there would be massive earthquakes across the world beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern.

"In Christian eschatology, the Rapture is a reference to the being caught up referred to in the Biblical passage 1 Thess 4:17, when in the End Times the Christians of the world will be gathered together in the air to meet Jesus Christ.-- Wikipedia

I guess that means that if you don't show up for work on Monday... you have a valid excuse.

As for the rest of us... if you didn't get a chance to take the trip the first time, you'll get a second chance according to Sir Isaac Newton who proposed based on his calculations using figures from the Book of Daniel that the Apocalypse could happen no earlier than 2060.

as for the real date of the rapture... God only knows.

the rapture happens today at 3 p.m. Pacific Time

Robin's commentary --

the rapture happens today at 3 p.m. Pacific Time...

I wonder how many people are going to use that as an excuse to get out of work?

do you think schools should be paid for out of local utility taxes?

The Oregonian --

Lake Oswego businesses and residences will see an increase in utility franchise fees for Northwest natural gas, Allied waste of Lake Oswego and Portland General Electric under a one-year plan approved by the city Council this week which is expected to generate about $807,000.

The increases which will take effect in January and August will increase the homeowners amount to about five dollars per month [$60 per year] which should help divert $2 million in city revenue to public schools.

"Councilor Bill Tierney, who supported the proposal, said "it's the cleanest way of providing support for the schools."

Lake Oswego city counselors voted 4-3 to approve the fees.

the thing that really gets me angry is that they probably said to themselves, "it's just five dollars a month... anybody can afford that!"

the Eugene city income tax "bombed" big time sending a message to deaf ears that while we support the schools, we also do not have any money to spare.

the sad thing about all of this, is that the money is there, it has just been "budget" for other nonessential items.

Like the EmX bus, or the money required to be diverted for art projects, etc..

Like I have said many times before, "right pocket... left pocket... it's all the same pair of pants"

Meaning... you have to pick what is more important to you.

Do you want to send your kids to schools or have a fancy new bus system or in Portland's case light rail?

but you can't have both.

You decide