Why the Polls are Grim for Real Cuts in Spending


I’ve been wading through the multiple polls regarding Wisconsin’s action against collective bargaining vs. the levers pulled for the republicans in the 2010 election and am disheartened because its not just in Wisconsin, its now showing up in Washington DC  regarding the republicans, the two week budget extension, and the polls coming out for the action to balance the federal problem.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the Tea Party which includes disaffected conservatives, true independents and democrats came together to fight Obamacare because it was a one-shot: it raised taxes (which irritated the conservatives), it took away choice (which irritated the independents) and it didn’t do enough to go to single payor (so the few tea party democrats joined in) – all creating the perfect venue for a cross-party issue to rally behind. Thus instead of being the rocket booster phase to the conservative take back of the republican rocket, it masks merely the same old divisions of republicans/democrats/independents that divide on social issues if asked. Which leads to the idea – is collective bargaining and fiscal cuts the new code words for the same social issues that we have been divided upon since the beginning of the 20th Century (1900′s for those that went to Wisconsin public schools and are in the 33% math range).

Between the numerous polls out now, even Rassmussen has it that collective bargaining “rights” are tipped toward the sacrosanct. Uh-oh.

The macrolevel view polling – that of the federal budget – and what would “you” cut – is even worse with foreign aid having the support of 42% of people (better not cut THAT), and poor Cantor can’t even get ~roughly~ $350 million dollars out of the budget for Planned Parenhood, let alone going after the BIGGEST resource HOG which is social security/medicare that had a support rate of 78%. A few brave hearts said it was ok to nibble at the edges such as means testing and increasing the age to 69 by the year 2075(!) to receive benefits.

Good grief. Its no wonder that rumors of House Majority Leader Boehner told President Obama that there would be no blowback if the President stood up and took a stand on pairing back entitlements, that leadership was needed.

Leadership is needed, and unfortunately its us in the mirror, and we’re fleebagging it out to 2075 to make hard choices. Talk about wimps.

Which brings me to the polling.

Having a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Arizona State University, one of my classes was Polling 101. Well, that’s the cliff note title of the class whose real name was Statistics in the Political Process. I remember having to devise a poll question – go out and ask it, gather the results, then change the question (albeit keeping the same premise) around, go out and gather results. Wow! What a difference a few words make and placement of order of those words in the question.

Now I’m assuming Rassmussen vs. Qunnipac have done due diligence and their polling statistics can withstand the test of time. Combine those numbers with our inherent Not-in-My-Pocket-Book-Issue narcissism and it begs the question: What are the tea party conservative republicans who were swept to power in the 2010 anti-tax, small government tidal wave supposed to do RIGHT NOW with the debt limit coming up for renewal by the end of the month?


Willy Wonka and the Democratic Stimulus plan


I’d like to be fully disclosed: At one time I ponied up $40k for a friend who was in NYC, down in the dumps, and wanted to be the next Stephen Speilberg.  I tasked this liberal friend into working for the money: A script, a movie, and give me 5 copies on DVDs with art work so if it bombs, I can always send it to netflix where it will be rated one of the worst horror films of all times. That was the limit of my friendship and it seemed to help energize this fuzzy head dreamer into making  me a movie.

So, imagine my surprise when I read the following from the WSJ as to what was contained in the stimulus bill that was passed by the democrats in the House of Representatives:

National Journal reported this week that the Senate’s economic stimulus bill includes a provision that would make Hollywood studios eligible for a special 50% write-off of equipment purchases. According to the report, “the provision is backed by firms like the Walt Disney Co., and the industry trade group the Motion Picture Association of America.”

The House version of the stimulus already includes a bonus depreciation that lets businesses immediately write off 50% of their 2009 capital expenditures. But the Senate bill expands the definition of “qualifying property” — specifically to include “certain motion picture film or videotape.” Hollywood moguls like Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and George Lucas were among the biggest backers of President Obama’s candidacy, and it looks as though Democrats have found a way to return the favor.

So let’s see: Democrats object to cutting the U.S. 35% corporate tax rate — which is higher than in all of Europe, undermines economic growth and discourages job creation — for all companies on grounds that it favors the rich and powerful. But Democrats will carve out tax loopholes for businesses they like and that write them campaign checks.”

For an industry that turned out in droves to support Obama, from the constant making movies throughout the Iraq War that were anti-American in nature, to the Jimmy Stewart of today – Tom Hanks, giving $50,000 for 1 of the many Obama inauguration parties, and making Big Love – an inside fictional look at Mormonism – for HBO – for BIG MONEY.

Looks like Hanks et al have got their golden tickets to the Willy Wanka Chocolate Factory of printed money……but surprise surprise surprise, it seems a pleeb like me – the equivalent of the little boy who actually is worthy of getting into the factory – may get something for my efforts in getting a lazy dreamer who can’t deal with reality to actually make something of absolutely no worth (I’ve seen the movie that I was ‘executive producer’ on).

Seems I was doing stimulus as a republican trickle down theorist when they were out of vogue and now are being set to be labeled as enemies of the state.

They’ll probably make me eat the purple candy and then the oompa – loompah’s will be pressing me for even more cash for others that have big dreams, big houses in Malibu, and give big money to Democrats, only to have that money handed back to them in the form of stimulus.

Can you say pay for play?


Still Angry at Obama’s win?


Why its not his "win" that makes me angry

I have a story to tell so please stay with me while we’re on this written journey as the circular nature of some of the statements do get closed at the end. Please also remember my motto: Life is not Linear which is why Pi is so important.

That Obama won is not the issue that I’m upset about.

At 52%/48% I’ve realized that during my normal daily living I have started looking at people very differently then I used to, since it was my fellow American citizens that gave the man enough votes to win.

I go to Walmart and see the people there and know instinctively that my considered (meaning well researched beyond the pap that is usually given out to the populace) vote no longer matters when it has the power to be canceled out by sheer idiocy and feel good mental candy. I can no longer say that America works based on the simple fact that the public education system has for the last 30 years produced the stupidest people on the planet at the most expensive cost ever per pupil.

How do I know this for a fact?

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