Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal says he won't accept some of the money from the so-calle "stimulus" plan because it would force the state to increase unemployment taxes. Slow Joe saw this as an opportunity to go after Jindal claiming that Louisiana was losing 400 jobs a month day*. Problem is, the actual numbers tell a different story.

"In December, Louisiana was the only state in the nation besides the District of Columbia, according to the national press release that added employment over the month," says Patty Granier with the Louisiana Workforce Commission. According to her, not only is Louisiana not losing jobs. "The state gained 3,700 jobs for the seasonally adjusted employment," Granier said of the most recent figures.

I realize this come perilously close to "messing with Joe", but Biden is an idiot.

*Damn, nothing worse than making a mistake while calling someone an idiot. Sorry about that. Thanks to A. Weasel for messing with me.

Posted by: DrewM at 11:08 AM | Comments (107)
Post contains 183 words, total size 1 kb.

Eco-freaks make us giggle.

The tenderness of the delicate American buttock is causing more environmental devastation than the country's love of gas-guzzling cars, fast food or McMansions, according to green campaigners. At fault, they say, is the US public's insistence on extra-soft, quilted and multi-ply products when they use the bathroom.

"This is a product that we use for less than three seconds and the ecological consequences of manufacturing it from trees is enormous," said Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defence Council.

The problem, it seems, is that it's hard to make really nice, soft TP from recycled material. You need to get 'virgin wood.'

The article does not differentiate the terms 'virgin wood' and 'virgin forest' but uses them interchangeably, which is misleading.

We're not converting ancient wild forests into butt wipe. Ancient wild forests are for furniture.

No, most of the wood used for paper in this country comes from farmed trees; quick-growing trees that are planted and raised specifically to become paper someday.

'Saving' these trees would be as wasteful and stupid as 'saving' a field of wheat.

As usual, The Grauniad never fails to get in a typical lefty jab.

"I really do think it is overwhelmingly an American phenomenom," [sic] said Hershkowitz. "People just don't understand that softness equals ecological destruction."

My emphasis. American Exceptionalism means something quite different to the Left, hmm?

Posted by: LauraW at 10:35 AM | Comments (179)
Post contains 245 words, total size 2 kb.

...taking the train to CPAC. Will be in and posting, I hope, by around 3:30. But of course then I'll only be able to put up a couple of quickies, as I will be mobbed by adoring female fans.

I know you're rather sick of these words, but Open Blog for tonight.

Posted by: Ace at 06:48 AM | Comments (70)
Post contains 54 words, total size 1 kb.

...to be proposed by the Spendthrift in Chief.

He knew this huge expenditure was coming up, and yet rammed through an outsized spendulus anyway.

Posted by: Ace at 06:26 AM | Comments (106)
Post contains 36 words, total size 1 kb.

Patrick Ruffini takes a look at the state of the movement.

I'm not sure I agree with his use of Joe the Plumber per se as a symbol of the party's troubles. I do think, however, there is something wrong with the party, and I'm not looking to dismiss any critiques out of hand. Looking at our over-reliance on identity politics -- not an identity politics of race or gender or sexuality, but a softer one of "one of us" -- might be a good place to start.

It's that bugaboo, I think, that caused Jindal to deliver his rebuttal in such a false way. He was trying to channel his inner Bubba rather than just being himself.

Oh: The identity-politics thing is pretty widespread among the elites of the party (both actual and self-anointed), obviously.

I point that out because I can imagine David Frum shouting with joy as he considers how the one-of-us factor aided Sarah Palin. Well, yes. And the not-one-of-us factor sure the hell seems to have been a big factor among the Frum sorts.

Mitt? I think this whole thing works triply against Romney: He's a Mormon, he's a Northeastern elitist, and then on top of it he's not good at faking the common touch so he comes off as inauthentic when he attempts to show he's "one of us." Which he really shouldn't have to do all that much in the first place.

Posted by: Ace at 06:15 AM | Comments (255)
Post contains 257 words, total size 2 kb.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 05:29 AM | Comments (35)
Post contains 8 words, total size 1 kb.

Finally a first-hand account from Michael Totten.

When Hitch checks in, this will officially be over.

Posted by: Ace at 05:18 AM | Comments (38)
Post contains 36 words, total size 1 kb.

ERIC. HOLDER. ROCKET. SCIENTIST.

..."I think closing the gun show loophole, the banning of cop-killer bullets and I also think that making the assault weapons ban permanent, would be something that would be permitted under Heller," Holder said...

478.37 Manufacture, importation and
sale of armor piercing ammunition.
No person shall manufacture or import,
and no manufacturer or importer
shall sell or deliver, armor piercing
ammunition, except:
(a) The manufacture or importation,
or the sale or delivery by any manufacturer
or importer, of armor piercing
ammunition for the use of the United
States or any department or agency
thereof or any State or any department,
agency or political subdivision
thereof;
(b) The manufacture, or the sale or
delivery by a manufacturer or importer,
of armor piercing ammunition
for the purpose of exportation; or
(c) The sale or delivery by a manufacturer
or importer of armor piercing
ammunition for the purposes of testing
or experimentation as authorized by
the Director under the provisions of
§ 478.149.

If my memory serves correct, this sort of law has been in place since about the time of Bush V1.0 was in office...which would be just under 20 years ago. Enough time for the AG to familiarize themselves with it I would presume...unless of course the AG has the mental capacity of a turnip.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 04:37 AM | Comments (185)
Post contains 301 words, total size 2 kb.

As part of our continuing series “People affected by the recession/depression/apocalypse that you could not give a shit any less about,” comes this sad tale: Even the Doonesbury Reporter Lost His Job. Heavens to Betsy, will this madness ever end?

”On the lighter side this afternoon ... It's more and more clear every day: No one is immune from this recession. Not even comics. Rick, the investigative newspaper reporter long featured in the award-winning Doonesbury comic, is out of a job as of yesterday.”

On the lighter side this afternoon? My gawd, woman, this man has a comic family to support and a comic house they have to keep up payments on. Will you be there to provide them comically drawn cans of beans and even a comically drawn cardboard shelter underneath a freeway offramp should it come down to that?

But someday soon, you may have to walk a cartoon mile in RickÂ’s cartoon shoes. Because according to the following story P-I Employees Bracing for PaperÂ’s Shutdown.

”SEATTLE -- On Wednesday, employees of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper learned how to file for unemployment after the paper shuts down.“

“Though the paper is still up for sale and it's possible that someone could buy it, the closure of the paper is increasingly likely. Dan Raley wasn't scheduled to work Wednesday, but the longtime sports columnist was at the P-I building anyway for a meeting he said he didn't want to attend.“

“"I'm here for an unemployment benefits meeting, something I can't imagine I'd ever be doing," said Raley.”

”P-I employee Kery Murakami said all he ever wanted to be was a newspaper reporter.

"I think the hardest part is that for a lot of us, we're looking at the end of our careers because there's no jobs in newspapers anywhere," said Murakami.

“After 9 years at the P-I, Murakami is facing both the loss of a job and a childhood dream."There's a very good possibility that my last story here will be the last story I ever write," said Murakami.”

I’m not entirely unsympathetic (though mostly I am) since the P-I actually had a pretty good sports section. But there’s a whole “New Frontier” awaiting all of these expatriates of the media wars in the Obama Administration. Lots of new jobs. Go East young man (and woman). They’ll need good people to get the word out, and you’ll hardly skip a beat as you move from journalist to department publicist.

Notice: Posted by permission of AceCorp LLC. Please e-mail overnight open thread tips to xgenghisx@gmail.com. Otherwise send tips to Ace.

Posted by: Open Blog at 09:11 PM | Comments (96)
Post contains 457 words, total size 3 kb.

In keeping with the Ace of Spades HQ reputation as being a "very smart military blog", I would like to introduce a good friend of mine and share with fellow AoSHQers her volunteer work with the USO. Candace Kita is an aspiring actress and model who's credits include working alongside the likes of Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen, Adam Sandler, and Pamela Anderson. The role she has become most proud of though is that of a USO volunteer.
Earlier this week, Miss Kita visited the Bob Hope USO Center in Los Angeles to visit with troops preparing to deploy overseas and show them that America supports them and their important mission.

“I’ve always wanted to serve my country through the USO and am excited about this opportunity”, Kita said, explaining that she was interested in joining an overseas USO tour.

Posted by: Open Blog at 06:10 PM | Comments (109)
Post contains 268 words, total size 2 kb.