February 2009 Archives

The condensed version of a Cato Institute video:

You can also see the long version for more detail.

If a chart like this looks complicated ...

... the explanation helps (a bit). It's interesting, but it's only a start. We need to throw several monkey wrenches into the Left's works, and quickly.

Have you ever seen a more obstinately stupid person than Bertha Lewis of ACORN?

More here.

Hat tip: Hot Air

To mark the impending passage of the stimulus package The Generational Theft Act of 2009, I wrote a parody for any good Barack Obama impersonator to sing (with backup vocals by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Barney Frank).

"Welfare"
(Tune: "Hang Fire" by The Rolling Stones)

Welfare welfare, welfare welfare, welfare welfare, well well
Welfare welfare, welfare welfare, welfare welfare, well well

In the brand new country we're gonna remake
Nobody has a job, cuz they're all on the take, welfare
Uh welfare

Well running your life is our full time job
We know what's best for you, you're just a helpless slob, welfare
Uh welfare, welfare, sign right there, baby yeah
Uh welfare, welfare, sign right there, baby

Yeah
Uh welfare

We got four short years to spread all of your wealth
This truckload of cash won't spend itself
Here in D.C. we're on a tear
Say what the hell, say what the hell, welfare
Welfare, welfare, welfare, sign right there, baby
Welfare, welfare, welfare, welfare
Welfare, welfare, sign right there baby

Welfare welfare, welfare welfare, welfare welfare, well well
Welfare welfare, welfare welfare, welfare welfare, well well
Welfare welfare, welfare welfare, welfare welfare, well well
Welfare welfare, welfare welfare, welfare welfare, well well

Cough up a trillion dollars for us to burn
Then re-elect us cuz you never learn, welfare
Uh welfare, welfare, sign right there baby
Uh welfare, welfare, sign right there
Welfare welfare welfare welfare
Sign right there
Sign right there

Considering the original song's ironic subject, I fiured it could use an update. After all, Barack Obama is the new James Callaghan.

Read the following text buried in the House version of the Generational Theft Act of 2009 (emphasis mine):

EMERGENCY FUND. -- ''(1) ESTABLISHMENT. -- There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund which shall be known as the 'Emergency Contingency Fund for State Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Programs' (in this subsection referred to as the 'Emergency Fund'). ''(2) DEPOSITS INTO FUND.--Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated such sums as are necessary for payment to the Emergency Fund.

That's a blatant return to unlimited direct welfare payments. Remember those? A Republican Congress cut off those hand-outs in 1996 with Bill Clinton's approval years ago, but Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi want to go back to the bad old days of welfare queens.

I searched the text of the Senate's "compromise" version and found this:

'(1) ESTABLISHMENT.--There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund which shall be known as the 'Emergency Contingency Fund for State Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Programs' (in this subsection referred to as the 'Emergency Fund'). ''(2) DEPOSITS INTO FUND.-- ''(A) IN GENERAL.--Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for fiscal year 2009, $3,000,000,000 for payment to the Emergency Fund.

It's a sad day when three billion dollars in welfare payments sounds less insane than the alternative, but here we are. Any bets on what dollar figure will result from the conference committee in which the House and Senate reconcile the differences in their bills and go for final passage?

I'm not betting on anything small.

Hat tip: Mickey Kaus

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7:00 Update: Tom Blumer points out that this bill is 47% pork.

I have no idea why this starts with footage of a guy in tighty whities in a fireworks fight. Then again, guys like that don't need a reason, do they?