June, 2022, Part 5, Political Class Insanity: Biden's Slipping Cognitive Ability, Biden's Failing Presidency, and Ignorance In Illiinois

It is the beginning of another month which means it is time again to review the latest political class insanity from the American political class. Each month it takes us multiple posts to cover the wasteful spending, incompetent government organizations and employees, government programs that usually make a problem worse than resolving it, inane and idiotic politician comments, etc.

To review past posts on this insanity and idiocy, just click on the first few posts in each month listed to the right of this page. After reviewing just a handful of these insanity posts we think you will agree that we are currently being served by the worst set of American politicians ever to hold office in our entire history.

1) As we have discussed so many times over the years, people in government, be they government bureaucrats or the politicians that oversee government operations, never seem to have the brain power to fix what they often have broken. Name one thing that the Federal government does well, efficiently, and effectively and I could name dozens of other efforts that are abject failures.

We are living through one of those failures now. We are in the midst of an inflationary spiral that we have not experienced since the Carter Presidency over 40 years ago. And, as usual, the Presidential administration currently running things has no clue how to fix the problem:

• Jennifer Granholm is Biden’s Secretary of Energy.
• Obviously, you would hope she would be part of the solution when it comes to the fact that gas prices have more than doubled since Biden became President.
• In a recent interview on CNN, she decided to distract the country from the reality of $5.00 gas per gallon with the following nonsensical comparison: “If you were in Brazil, you’d be paying the same amount for gas at the pump — over $5. If you were in Canada, you’d be paying over $6. If you were in Germany, you’d be paying over $8. So this is happening around the world.”
• But most places around the world do not have the energy source potential and multitude of energy options that we have in this country.
• And many places are paying far less than what we are paying today.
• And really, Madame Secretary, who cares what the rest of the world is paying, what people in Brazil are paying?
• We only care what we are paying and obviously you have no solution to fix what Biden has broken, rather than coming up with solutions you are coming up with inane and stupid comparisons to cover up your incompetency.
• Or as what the CNN interviewer asked: “Understood, secretary. We’re talking about the United States, though. We’re talking about the United States right now and what the president can do.”

But we shouldn't expect anything more from this failed government employee. She had previously blamed OPEC for the high gas prices, just like the failed Carter administration did back over 40 years ago.

2) But this blaming someone else for your problem syndrome is not surprising. Biden was Vice President when Obama blamed everyone in the world for his inability to get anything done, e.g. it was Bush’s fault, it was automation’s fault, it was Bush’s fault, it was the Japanese tidal wave’s fault, it was Bush's fault.

And apparently Biden continues on the “it’s not my fault” trend. With inflation at 40 year highs, with gas prices more than doubling during his short tenure in office, with food prices making it difficult for families to feed their kids, Biden refuses to accept responsibility for this disaster.

According to the Washington Post, a liberal, far left wing news organization that rarely criticizes any Democrat: “Biden has privately grumbled to top White House officials over the administration’s handling of inflation, expressing frustration over the past several months that aides were not doing enough to confront the problem directly.”

A President that blames everyone else, like his aides, for the problems he either created or cannot resolve is not a leader, he is a child blaming the dog for eating his homework. Be it Obama, Biden, Granholm, or most others in Washington, they all have rarely come across a problem that is their fault or a problem they can resolve.

3) It is our opinion that Biden continues to be in the midst of a significant cognitive decline. Whether it is dementia, senility, or whatever, his actions and words do not encourage confidence that he has the ability to lead, resolve problems, or show any empathy for Americans on an individual basis or national basis. Listening to him struggle to explain anything is painful and again, does not inspire confidence.

During a recent event he tried to offer condolences to a family who had just lost a beloved family member. In typical Biden manner, he completely botched his words relative to the deceased individual: “My sympathies to the family of your… uhhh… CFO who dropped dead very unexpectedly.”

Pretty heartless and cold thing to say to the family sitting in front of him. He did not even have the decency, or maybe did not have the ability, to show empathy and be prepared to say more than “...uhhh….CFO who dropped dead very unexpectedly.” This sentiment and stupidity was so bad that his deaf signer dropped her hands and stopped translating his words into sign language, that is how awful his statement was.

The Internet was quick to pick up on how cold hearted and bad his behavior was in yet another embarrassing string of embarrassments:

• “What’s the American sign language sign for ‘dropped dead’?”
• “What an asshole”
• “Shame on anyone who put this man in charge and doesn’t regret it”
• “This and Pelosi mentions that we’re at war with Iraq…Say it with me people ..Term Limits “Look at how compassionate this man is. Blessed he’s at the helm. LOL”
• “I mean with these markets, who’s CFO wouldn’t just drop dead?”
• “This is quite the masterclass on statesmanship and decorum no?”
• “I can hardly make it through the cringe in these clips of Biden.”
• “This is the guy who represents us on the world stage.”
• “Yesterday Karine Jean-Pierre was appalled that anyone would question Joe’s mental abilities lmao”
• “I know we say this all the time, but imagine if Trump spoke like this, how the media would cover it” “One More Unacceptable Absurd Insane Leftist Moment In The Obama Puppet Master World We Live In”
• “Just when you think you can’t be shocked by this idiot anymore you get this. Unbelievable!! Hahahaha”
• “So, Bo and your previous wife, “dropped dead?” Ignorant career insensitive politician.”
• “What a shitty way to phrase say that. I voted for this guy.”
• “If anyone is curious we our country is currently up sh*t creek, watch this newest video of our dually selected President”
• “Can you imagine he drop dead suddenly tough stuff” How are people even listening to this geriatric dementia ridden gravy brain”

You can see this pitiful display of heartlessness at the following link:

https://dailyheadlines.com/what-caused-bidens-sign-language-interpreter-to-just-give-up-will/?utm_source=Mailer%20DH.COM&utm_medium=email&utm_content=subscriber_id:96942747&utm_campaign=DH.com%206-19%204a

4) We have often discussed the reality that states with high government taxes, massive government regulation, high current and future debt levels, high cost of living levels, high crime rates, and inept politicians are quickly losing residents and businesses to other states.

This out-migration of people and businesses continue to reduce those states’ tax bases, thus reducing tax revenue, resulting in less government services and more ineffective government services. The most egregious states guilty of abusing their residents and businesses continue to be Illinois, California, New York, and New Jersey. These states are at the beginning of a financial death spiral, as we discussed in detail at the following link:

https://loathemygovernment.blogspot.com/2020/11/which-city-and-which-state-will-go.html

But despite the realities of this out-migration, local politicians continue to not grasp the reality that their actions are causing the high cost of living, the high taxes, the high crime rates etc. And as a result of their ignorance, they are unable to change the migration patterns and are continually surprised when it continues to happen:

• Heavy equipment operator, Caterpillar, has had its corporate headquarters in the state of Illinois for a very long time.
• The company recently announced that it is moving its corporate headquarters out of the state and relocating it to low tax, business friendly, low crime Texas.
• And yet, Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth was shocked at the announcement: "I’m shocked and disappointed by Caterpillar’s decision to move its HQ from Illinois. While this will only directly affect about 1.5 percent of IL-based employees, I'll keep working to encourage Caterpillar to preserve jobs and follow through on its promise to hire even more Illinoisans."
• This move comes on the heels of Boeing announcing that it was also moving its corporate headquarters out of Illinois.
• Illinois Congressman, Jim Durkin, seems to be one of the few politicians associated with Illinois who gets it: "I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times of what these manufacturers are paying and there’s really little for them to do. They’re getting no relief from local governments nor from the state. … When it comes back to it, it’s the cost of doing business in Illinois."

A recent survey of 700 CEOs recently rated Texas as the best state for business while it rated Illinois as the 48th best state for business. Thus, it should not be a surprise that companies, like residents, will flee to states where government and politicians make life difficult and expensive. But somehow it is always a surprise for out of touch politicians.

That will do it for today: out of touch politicians, a failing Biden Presidency and a failing President’s cognitive ability.

Our book, "Love My Country, Loathe My Government - Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom And Destroying The American Political Class" is now available at:

https://www.amazon.com/Love-My-Country-Loathe-Government/dp/1604942789/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=love+my+country%2C+loathe+my+government&qid=1607716020&sr=8-1

Please visit the following sites for freedom:

http://www.reason.com

http://www.cato.org

http://www.openthebooks.com

http://www.conventionofstates.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08j0sYUOb5w

 

September, 2016, Part 1, Political Class Insanity: Pentagon Loses $6 TRILLION, Lies About Syrian Refugees, and More

It is the beginning of another month which means it is again time to review the latest political class insanity from Washington and around the world. Political class insanity takes many forms including the wasting of taxpayer wealth, criminal fraud within government programs, inane and stupid political quotes and actions, the inability to create and implement effective and efficient government programs, stupid and ill performing economic policies and strategies, and other forms of insanity that continue to evolve and surprise and shock us.

The current monthly record for the number of posts that were needed to cover one month's worth of insanity is ten. We almost equaled that record last month when we needed nine days to cover one month’s worth of political class insanity. There is a very good chance that the ten day record could fall this month since as we get closer and closer to the election, the volume of ineptness grows almost exponentially. 

But today and for all of the posts this month, let’s start off with a welcome piece of honest political dialog. It comes from a State Department spokesperson. Mark Toner, who is about to start the daily State Department press briefing. In a joking matter, he makes the following quote: "Welcome to the State Department. I think we have some interns in the back. Welcome. Good to see you in this exercise in transparency and democracy." 

He then burst out laughing at his own quote, indicating he also knew what a joke the Obama administration has been, especially Mr. Toner’s State Department, when it comes to cover ups, lack of transparency, denial of Freedom of Information Act requests, the prosecution of whistleblowers, etc. But at least it was a little refreshing to finally hear some actual honesty out of Washington as we see from the actual clip of the news conference:

http://www.againstcronycapitalism.org/2016/08/when-even-the-state-department-spokesperson-cant-keep-a-straight-face-about-things-anymore-video/

With that context of honesty, let’s see what other insanity has been going down:

1) We have often reported on how inept and messy the accounting processes are at the Pentagon. They are so messed up that professional auditors have thrown up their hands when trying to make sense of the financial chaos at the Defense Department. That impression continues to be the reality, at least according to a recent article on the World News Daily website written by Bob Unruh on August 17, 2016:

• An audit report from the inspector general of the Pentagon found that the Pentagon cannot account for a whopping $6.5 TRILLION.
• That is not a typo, it is $6.5 TRILLION or over $50,000 for every U.S. household.
• This has been going on for a long time since former Department of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld admitted $2.3 TRILLION was missing shortly after the 9-11 attacks. 
• This $2.3 TRILLION has almost tripled to $6.5 TRILLION.
• Specifically, the inspector general reported declared that “the office of the assistant secretary of the army (Financial Management & Comptroller) (OASA[FM&C]) and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Indianapolis (DFAS Indianapolis) did not adequately support $2.8 trillion in third quarter journal voucher (JV) adjustments and $6.5 trillion in year end JV adjustments occurred because OASA(FM&C) and DFAS Indianapolis did not prioritize correcting the system deficiencies that caused errors resulting in JV adjustments, and did not provide sufficient guidance for supporting system-generated adjustments.”
• Suspiciously, the inspector general could not find out why 16,513 financial records had been removed from the Pentagon budget system in the third quarter of 2015.

The article referenced an organization called Armstrong Economics, that had also analyzed the inspector general report, and Armstrong did a simple, yet elegant, summary of what is going on with this financial incompetence: “Let[‘s] face the truth. Government is incapable of managing even a bubblegum machine. They are completely hopeless. This money is lining the pockets of unknown people and it is funding unknown military operations.” Brilliant insight, and I dare anyone to come up with a better explanation of these disgusting misuses of taxpayer wealth.

2) The next piece of insanity again tests the age old question whether politicians really do not know when they are telling a lie or think we are to stupid to check out what they say against facts and realities. Kathryn Blackhurst, writing for the Lifezette website on August 28, 2016, brings us the latest politician who apparently is living in a different reality.

Tammy Duckworth is running for the Senate in Illinois. She recently and publicly claimed that the United States and the Obama administration are only accepting refugees from the Middle East that are not military aged men. This is obviously a ploy to reassure Americans that we have nothing to fear from the refugees coming into this country since no men of military age are being admitted.

She actually doubled down on this assertion by going on to say all of the men in the families being admitted into the country are all dead: “To come to the U.S., the UN High Commission for Refugees actually selects largely families with no men of military age, and there are no men of military age in these families because the men are dead.” And furthermore, the people coming into the country as refugees, ‘They’re widows and orphans.”

Unfortunately, she did not tell the State Department about this reality because recent data out of the State Department shows that:

• More Syrian refugees being brought to this country have been men than women so far in 2016, 4,646 males vs. 4,333 women.
• 363 of the males coming in were aged between 21 and 30, prime military ages.
• 738 of the males coming in were aged between 31 and 409 years old, still of military age. 

Thus, the State Department says over 20% of the male Syrian refugees were males that could be considered of military age while Duckworth says 0% of the Syrian refugees were males that could be considered of military age, quite a reality disconnect. Was Duckworth that plain ignorant of reality or flat out lying, thinking no one would fact check her? So typical of the political class in this country today.

And also consider that a Middle East female immigrant of military age helped execute the San Bernardino terrorist attack and massacre and that the terrorist who shot up the night club in Orlando likely had help from his wife setting that attack up. So it is not just MEN of military age that we need to worry about, it can also be WOMEN of military age that we need to worry about. But that reality apparently is too tough for this politician to grasp.

3) If we have proven anything over the years, it is that politicians should not do much of anything when it comes to the economy since they usually and royally screw it up. Our most recent discussion on how badly Washington and the Obama administration have messed up the economy and economic growth can be accessed at the following link:

http://loathemygovernment.blogspot.com/2016/08/how-badly-did-washingtonobama-butcher.html

Politicians’ latest economic insanity is this push to move the national minimum wage to $15 an hour. We have shown many times in this blog what happens when the minimum wage is jacked up so high so quickly: some employees get more money and a load of employees get fired because the economic model of the businesses and industries they are working in cannot afford much higher wages expenses. Thus, the good news is you can now earn $15 an hour, the bad news is because you can earn $15 an hour, your job has been eliminated.

Businesses use a number of tactics to survive when their wage expense explodes because of this nonsense. In the fast food industry, we now see the wider and wider use of self serve kiosks that allow customers to order their food without the need of a employee. Some industries move their businesses to other, lower cost locations, either across the county line or across the world to survive and avoid devastating wage increase expenses. Some businesses will take away other perks of the job to counterbalance the increased wage expenses such as free meals, free parking, healthcare support, etc. And some businesses just go out of business. 

Chriss Street writing for the Breitbart website back in April, 2016, illustrated this type of situation out in California:

• American Apparel, until recently, provided 10% of all the apparel manufacturing jobs in the city of Los Angeles.
• However, in just a two week period back in the spring, the company terminated 500 of its employees.
• Chief Executive Paula Schneider was quoted in the Los Angeles Times that “manufacturing of more complicated pieces, such as jeans, could soon be outsourced to a third-party company.”
• However, not said was the reality that two weeks before the layoffs, the state of California had raised the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
• Lloyd Greif, CEO of Los Angeles investment banking firm Greif & Co., summed up what was happening when he told the LA Times: “They’re headed out of Dodge. They are going to outsource all garments. It’s only a matter of time.”
• Although the LA apparel business had taken huge hits over the past twenty years because of cheaper goods being imported from the Far East, the domestic apparel industry in LA had been undergoing a revival as the imports got more expensive, making the domestic production more attractive.

But now, because of politicians meddling in the market and the relationship between business owners and business employees, which all had benefited from good trends in their industry is going to be lost. It looks like those trends will likely self destruct because of the political class pushing through a higher than doable minimum wage law. Insanity.

But even more insane is what Jerry Brown, the California governor said when he signed the law: “Economically, minimum wages may not make sense.” And yet, even though these laws do not make sense, he signed the law anyway, likely killing whatever competitive edge the LA apparel trade and industry had and killing a load of jobs with it.

He continued on with his completely false logic by stating: “But morally and socially and politically they make every sense, because it binds the community together and makes sure that parents can take care of their kids in a much more satisfactory way.” So the increase in the minimum wage does not make economic sense but we are going to do it anyway because it helps parents take better care of their kids. Huh? I bet that the 500 people already laid off as a result of this political class insanity do not feel this way since I would assume that by losing their jobs, they will NOT be able to take better care of their kids.

That will do it for today’s insanity, we are just getting warmed up. A governor who recognizes a piece of economic legislation makes no economic sense but he signs it anyway, a Senate candidate that is either a liar or just plain out of touch when it comes to Middle East refugees, and a Pentagon that has LOST over $6 TRILLION. More insanity for days and days to come.

Our book, "Love My Country, Loathe My Government - Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom And Destroying The American Political Class" is now available at:

www.loathemygovernment.com

It is also available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Please pass our message of freedom onward. Let your friends and family know about our websites and blogs, ask your library to carry the book, and respect freedom for both yourselves and others everyday.

Please visit the following sites for freedom:

Term Limits Now: http://www.howmuchworsecoulditget.com
http://www.reason.com
http://www.cato.org
http://www.bankruptingamerica.org
http://www.conventionofstates.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08j0sYUOb5w