Rick Perry's speech in New Orleans.

Some bites.

"This administration in Washington clearly believes that government is not only the answer to every need but it's the most qualified to make essential decision in every area.. " It's arrogant. Check.

"EPA, killing jobs in Louisiana. They think they know best. I disagree." Check.

Gray hair that I recall seeing a month or so ago. Gone. Check.

"Bail out money for businesses 'too big to fail'. Bad" Check.

Points to the future, and ponders our present actions. Check.

"Revive the American dream". Check.

And now the Texas story. Job creation. 47.8% of all jobs created in the nation in the last 2 years. Total check. Balanced budget. Check check.

1. Don't spend all the money.

2. Keep the taxes low.

3. Have regulations that are fair and predictable.

4. Tort reform. (well, ok, we did recently pass some, which includes "hey, you bring a stupid lawsuit and lose, you pay for all this crap). I'm ok with this. LOSER PAYS.

He's touting the Texas economic story. When 1500 Americans a day are coming to Texas, that's a pretty good story to run on.

"Our loudest opponents on the left are never going to like us, so let's stop trying to curry favor with them". <-- oh yes. That will resonate.

Talks about state house results, and how conservatives want to return power to the people. And how DC pols won't do that until it's demanded.

These aren't specific points at all. One of my friends here wanted to hear more of that, and I appreciate that he did, cause he's waaay ahead of the curve when it comes to what the voters want to hear.

But this is the kind of speech the voters want to hear. Even if he flubbed "of the people by the people for the people." (the order)

He's running. He's going on the economy.

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Posted by: Dave in Texas at 06:20 PM | Comments (654)
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So let's make fun of it.

Funny and also NSFW. Flash Bang Balls.

via jtLOL more...

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 01:49 PM | Comments (209)
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You're aware of the conflict of interest where scientists who warn of Global Warming rely on Global warming concerns to get more Govt. money for their study of... Global Warming. But this money train has more passengers!

The linked story, after regaling us with yet another conflict of interest on a Global Warming advocate reviewing his own work, blueprints a perpetual motion machine of govt. payouts.

"It stinks doubly because the Greenpeace report was originally co-authored by the European Renewable Energy Council - an industry lobby group whose prospects depend on state subsidies which can be expected to be further increased once its views are given the ‘official’ stamp of approval from the IPCC."

Ben Pile ... follows the moneytrail behind the EREC lobby group, and finds much has come from European taxpayers. We already know that the favoured renewables wouldn't be being installed without huge public subsidies, but the taxpayer must also prop up the lobbyists ... so they can lobby for more taxpayer subsidies for their businesses.

... the EU has earmarked (a billion bucks) in one fund alone, to be spent over six years to "[reinforce] the EU's efforts to meet its 2020 targets to ensure a secure and cost competitive supply of energy while fighting climate change." In other words, that's money to lobby itself to stick to a policy it has already decided.

No wonder there are so many professional climate campaigners - it's a lucrative source of income, and a far better career choice today than becoming (say) a steelworker.

...

This is a weird simulation of power and politics as we've traditionally known it. It creates a strange synthetic world, which everyone ends up agreeing on what they going to agree on anyway, after having helped themselves to some taxpayer's cash along the way.

No wonder it's so hard to fight these guys. You're financing them!*

*If you're from Europe. It's not quite as bad in the US but I bet there's some taxpayer money that winds up in NGO hands to promote Global Warming stuff.

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Posted by: Open Blogger at 11:35 AM | Comments (175)
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Just a sum-up of what we don't know. Which is a lot.

First up, no one ever mentions this, but this is beyond the doubt the most diligent and incisive reporter on this whole mess.

By the way, who is that guy who threatens him? Media? Or one of Weiner's body-men (staffers who act partly as bodyguards)?

Second of all, I spoke on a blog podcast with Stranahan and Andrew Breitbart and a guy called AG_Conservative last night, archived here.

Key revelation: Andrew Breitbart has heard of me, but doesn't read me, though he does read the comments.

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Posted by: Ace at 09:06 AM | Comments (279)
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Open Thread with bacon.

La Quercia's Tamworth Country Cured Bacon:

From Ari Weinzweig over at the Atlantic :
"Having done a fair bit of research over the years while writing Zingerman's Guide to Better Bacon, I can tell you that a lot of the old sources list the Tamworths as hogs that were bred specifically to have their pork cured up into bacon. Herb told me pretty much what other sources have said as well—the belly meat from the Tamworth is supposed to be particularly tender. It's also known for having a near-perfect balance of fat and lean, and its flavor gets particularly sweet during the maturing."

It was either Bacon or Christina Hendricks, my two sided die came up bacon. Enjoy.

Posted by: CAC at 08:04 AM | Comments (90)
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Shut up, really?

Daley couldn’t answer basic questions and continually faced criticism from the executives in the room. The business leaders even applauded each other’s criticism of the administration. “At one point, the room erupted in applause when Massachusetts utility executive Doug Starrett, his voice shaking with emotion, accused the administration of blocking construction on one of his facilities to protect fish, saying government ‘throws sand into the gears of progress,’” wrote Peter Wallsten and Jia Lynn Yang in the Washington Post.

There's more on the NLRB attack against Boeing over their South Carolina plant, including the interesting fact that Daley served on the board of directors at Boeing and voted to build the plant there.

So I agree, these policies would be pretty difficult for Daley to defend. Hell, they'd be difficult for Obama to defend, except he doesn't bother with "explaining" Explaining is for homos.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:57 AM | Comments (186)
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Can't understand that at all. It was going so well.

By cutting off applications, the administration will avoid the bursts of attention each time it granted a new batch. Opponents of the law contended that the administration had shown favoritism in granting the waivers, prompting federal health officials to disclose the names of recipients and the application process for granting them.

A thousand Dem cronies are gonna be scrambling now, to apply for the special love.

That seems a bit inconsistent with the stated goal of helping companies who would be adversely affected by complying with the amazing and wonderful new Obamacare 4Ever Plan. It's generally a bad idea to change the rules in the middle of the game, creating uncertainty and panic. But it is a good idea if you're lookin to duck all this unwanted attention and scrutiny.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:06 AM | Comments (82)
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Because our military operations are not hostilities. Or something like that. Even though Pentagon general counsel and acting head of the DoJ Office of Legal Counsel advised otherwise. (NYT link)

Jeh C. Johnson, the Pentagon general counsel, and Caroline D. Krass, the acting head of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel, had told the White House that they believed that the United States military’s activities in the NATO-led air war amounted to “hostilities.” Under the War Powers Resolution, that would have required Mr. Obama to terminate or scale back the mission after May 20.

The White House counsel, State Dept counsel, and the AG argued Obama was not bound by the Act.

Lawyers argue. Hell I've seen it, take three of em to lunch sometime. But Obama is dancing on the head of a pin if he thinks he can sell drone-launched missiles as some kind of NATO logistical support (what, our "our explosives are transporting large amounts of concrete and steel to thousands of different locations within the proximity of the boom"?)

A Hellfire missile launched from a drone isn't "hostility", it's "re-decorating."

via jtLOL

UPDATE: DrewM reminded me about Gabriel's post on Harold Koh, General Counsel at State.

AND: Meet President Dredd. He is the law.

Judge, Jury and Executioner

from Slublog (who else?)

Last Update: Reading for comprehension. The NYT piece lowballed this in the last part and I totally misread it. Obama overruled his Attorney General too:

Other high-level Justice lawyers were also involved in the deliberations, and Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. supported Ms. KrassÂ’s view, officials said.

BUMPED: because President Dredd is worth it.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 03:29 AM | Comments (105)
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NYT says the twitter identities of two younger girls who tipped the #bornfree crew about Weiner's internet behavior... don't exist.

One Twitter user the group observed seeking to interact with Mr. Weiner was called “Nikki Reid.” She started an online campaign to get Mr. Weiner to be her prom date at Hollywood High School in May, using the account @starchild111. Within days after Mr. Weiner started following her, a Twitter user, also using a fake name, Marianela Alicea, and pretending to be Nikki Reid’s classmate, contacted a member of the #bornfreecrew and said she had information about Mr. Weiner, but never provided any.

But there is no evidence that either girl exists. There is no Nikki Reid or Marianela Alicea enrolled at Hollywood High School. In response to requests from a reporter from the blog Mediaite, a woman claiming to be Nikki ReidÂ’s mother provided documentation to substantiate her identity and her daughterÂ’s identity. But records show the street address the woman provided does not list anyone named Reid as an occupant. State officials in California have confirmed that the driverÂ’s license this woman provided to Mediaite was false, as well.

It remains unclear who is behind the fake Twitter accounts, why anyone was trying to pretend to be a 16-year-old high school girl looking for Mr. Weiner to be her prom date or why the user contacted members of the #bornfreecrew.

Actually the NYT overstates this -- what they seem to have is evidence they provided false ID to Tommy Christopher. They don't seem to have evidence the girls are actually "fake" as they mean fake to imply-- that they're some kind of operatives trying to stoke interest in the story.

Still, with their ID checking out as fake, the "completely fake" possibility is in play.

Dialing In... Calling this blog radio show to talk about B & V.

Over now, but now archived here.

Posted by: Ace at 07:45 PM | Comments (387)
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Note: This was gonna' be a regular post, but now it's the ONT. Because I'm Just. That. Lazy.

The ever-helpful FDA has just released new rules to cut confusion on sunscreen claims.

“WASHINGTON (AP) -- Help is on the way to consumers confused by the jumble of sun protection numbers, symbols and other claims on sunscreens. Starting next summer, consumers can start looking for SPF 15 bottles with the label "broad spectrum" and feel confident they're being protected from an increased risk of cancer.”

“"These changes to sunscreen labels are an important part of helping consumers have the information they need so they can choose the right sun protection for themselves and their families," said the delightfully named Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA's drug division.”

ItÂ’s entirely possible that something extra was slipped into that last sentence by the editorial staff here. Speaking of staffs:

“The FDA will prohibit sunscreen marketing claims like "waterproof" and "sweatproof," which the agency said ‘are exaggerations of performance.’”

Not mentioned is whether or not you should seek immediate medical attention if your sunscreen lasts for more than 4 hours. Good to see that the FDA jumped right on this problem with their usual speed and efficiency though:

“The rules were decades in the making. FDA announced its intent to draft sunscreen rules in 1978 and published them in 1999. The agency delayed finalizing its guidelines for years until it could address issues concerning both UVA and UVB protection.”

A mere 33 years.

And in related news, our sun (AKA “Sol”) issued a press release yesterday, presumably in response to the new FDA regulations. The beleaguered star, under intense public scrutiny for causing sunburns and other unpleasanty things has agreed to tone things down for a few years. While no direct reason for this unexpected solar nap was given, that didn't stop speculation:

”WASHINGTON (AP) - The sun is heading into an unusual and extended hibernation, scientists predict. Around 2020, sunspots may disappear for years, maybe decades.”

“But scientists say it is nothing to worry about. Solar storm activity has little to do with life-giving light and warmth from the sun. The effects from a calmer sun are mostly good. There'd be fewer disruptions of satellites and power systems. And it might mean a little less increase in global warming.”

But that can't, uh...

"Scientists don't know why the sun is going quiet. But all the signs are there."

Oh.

A sleepy sun is a happy sun? Maybe it's tired of all those probe-arrazzis buzzing around it. Wants to stay out of the light of day for awhile? (Hah! Solar humor!)

"Earlier this month, David Hathaway, NASA's top solar storm scientist, predicted that the current cycle, which started around 2009, will be the weakest in a century. Hathaway is not part of Tuesday's prediction."

Which is a damn good thing since we know well by now that dramatic climatic and galactic changes occur only during much shorter periods of time Mr. Hathaway. Usually in four year cycles. But not to worry:

"People shouldn't be scared of this," said David McComas, a scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, who wasn't part of the team. "This is about the magnetic field and the ionized gas coming out of the sun. It's a reduction in that, not the light and the heat."

"There are questions about what this means for Earth's climate. Three times in the past the regular 11-year solar cycle has gone on an extended vacation - at the same time as cool periods on Earth."

Wait, but...like causality or something? Some sort of relationship?

"Skeptics of man-made global warming from the burning of fossil fuels have often pointed to solar radiation as a possible cause of a warming Earth, but they are in the minority among scientists. The Earth has warmed as solar activity has decreased."

"Andrew Weaver, a climate scientist at the University of Victoria, said there could be small temperature effects, but they are far weaker than the strength of man-made global warming from carbon dioxide and methane. He noted that in 2010, when solar activity was mostly absent, Earth tied for its hottest year in more than a century of record-keeping."

Oh thank Gaia. For a moment I thought there might be...questions. Like this dumbass heretic implies:

"Hill and colleagues wouldn't discuss the effects of a quiet sun on temperature or global warming. "If our predictions are true, we'll have a wonderful experiment that will determine whether the sun has any effect on global warming," Hill said.

Some soothing solar-related tunes below the fold... more...

Posted by: Genghis at 05:50 PM | Comments (686)
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