Social Security Choice

A good resource for Social Security.
Social Security Choice

Boxer Rebellion - Failure

Barbara Boxer, Robert Byrd, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, and others; leaders of the current Democratic party failed in their mission - further the vote simply shows how futile their attack on Condi Rice was. In fact, even those on the far left, if honest, would have to admit it was a demonstration of political "soar grapes".

The Senate voted 85 to 13 to confirm Rice
[...]
The Senate vote showed some of the partisanship that delayed Rice's confirmation vote by several days. Twelve Democrats and independent James Jeffords of Vermont voted against Rice. The Democrats included some of the Senate's best-known members such as Massachusetts Democratic Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry, who was the party's presidential candidate in last year's election. Thirty Democrats voted for her.
[...]
On the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., suggested Democrats are sore losers. Rice had enough votes to win confirmation, as even her Democratic critics acknowledge, McCain said.
"So I wonder why we are starting this new Congress with a protracted debate about a foregone conclusion," McCain said. Since Rice is qualified for the job, he said, "I can only conclude that we are doing this for no other reason than because of lingering bitterness over the outcome of the election." (Read more here)

I don't agree with Senator McCain much, but he and I agree wholeheartedly on this issue.

MSM - Critical of a Real Election but Not a Fraud?

Is the Main Stream Media (MSM) less enthusiastic about a real election, even from accounts of their demigod the UN, then they were about the Fraud of 2002 when Saddam Hussein was elected? The Media Research Center has some puzzling things to think about, and it is worth a read.

Need to Fact Check FactCheck.org

Donald Luskin details a disturbing fact - the organization that many use to check facts is itself guilty of not providing accurate information. Highlights:

In a posting last week, FactCheck.org asked, “Does Social Security Really Face an $11 Trillion Deficit?” The answer, in the feature’s headline, was: “Bush and Cheney say yes. But actuaries say the figure is ‘likely to mislead’ the public on the system’s true financial state.”

It’s that headline that is “likely to mislead.” And you can be sure that the opponents of reform will seize on it to do just that — mislead. That headline gives the impression that the $11 trillion deficit is a number created by Bush and Cheney in defiance of expert advice to the contrary. In reality, Bush and Cheney are simply quoting an official deficit estimate of the Trustees of the Social Security Trust Fund in their 2003 and 2004 annual reports.

The trustees relied on the work of actuaries to come up with that deficit estimate. So, to be fair, the headline should have read, “Actuaries say yes. But other actuaries say the figure is ‘likely to mislead’ the public ... ” But that wouldn’t be an exciting headline, would it? Battling actuaries is about as dull as, well — it’s just about the dullest thing in the world.
[...]
According to Gebhardtsbauer, while the American Academy committee had concerns about public perceptions, the new infinite-horizon analysis has distinct advantages:
"Policy wonks can use this to prepare different proposals. Any solution that has effects beyond the 75th year doesn’t see those effects included. I totally understand why they developed this. With private accounts, the system bears all the costs up front, but the benefits often don’t come until after the 75th year."
[...]
FactCheck.org also cited concerns about public perceptions of the $11 trillion deficit number in the 2003 report of the Technical Panel on Assumptions and Methods — a group of actuaries, economists, and demographers appointed by the Social Security Advisory Board. The report recommended that the infinite-horizon deficit figure should be presented as a percent of payroll, and next to the value of payrolls to the same infinite horizon. This was done in the Social Security trustees’ 2004 report. The deficit amount of $10.4 trillion was given as 3.5 percent of payroll and compared with $295.5 trillion of total payroll.

If you want context — so that the public is sure not to be misled — then how about this? That $10.4 trillion number represents the value of economic assets today that would have to be contributed to the Social Security system to assure its perpetual sustainability based on the best estimates we can make at this time. To set things right, then, we would have to contribute today virtually the entire market value of the S&P 500. We would have to throw down the gaping maw of Social Security almost every share of every major company in America today in order to satisfy the hungry beast. (Read more here)

Turner Proves America is Great

Here is a story about Ted Turner comparing FoxNews to Hitler, along with many other less then factual claims. The fact that anyone with so many views just left of lunacy can be as successful as Ted Turner proves America is the "Land of Opportunity" where anyone can succeed. As far as what Ted had to say - once again someone who disagrees with the President states their opinion as fact and I simply "consider the source" the if you will.

Wife and I Night

Not blogging much today or tonight - spending time with my best half... Here are some stories I might have to say something about later.
Boxer's rebellion and Democrats' new tone
Turner Compares Fox's Popularity to Hitler
As a Matter of FactCheck.org

Willing to Die for a Cause - NOT!

We hear how so many are willing to die for their cause, although some are many are not. The USA Today has a story of a young terrorist that is angry because his terrorist handlers blew a truck up while he was still inside, go figure, guess you can't trust them.

The young Saudi man told investigators this month that he wants revenge against the Iraqi terrorist network that sent him on the deadly mission that he survived.
[...]
But on Dec. 24, he was given a preliminary job of driving a butane-gas delivery truck that was rigged with bombs. It wasn't supposed to be a suicide mission.

"They asked me to take the truck near a concrete block barrier before turning to the right and leaving it there. There, somebody will pick up the truck from you," they told him. "But they blew me up in the truck," he says.

During the young terrorist's interrogation he did make an alarming revelation, if proven true. Unlike many I will reserve judgment on the following claim until more information is discovered - I guess if you just want to criticize you can take the world of the oh so trustworthy terrorist.

While he was awaiting his mission, he says, he was told that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of a terrorist network responsible for numerous bombings and beheadings, had been captured by Iraqi police only to be let go after seven hours because they didn't recognize him. Iraqi officials have declined to comment on previous reports that Zarqawi had been captured and let go.

Read the story here.

What Happened Mike?

Looks like Michael Moore has been shunned by Academy - his film of half-truths and lies was not nominated for any award. See the nominations here. Unfortunately, they also passed over The Passion of the Christ for best picture but it does have three other nominations.

Hillary's Numbers False - Surprised/NOT

Michelle Malkin has the scoop on Hillary's rant blaming President Bush for possibly causing abortion rates to go up. Needless to say Hillary's claims are based on bogus numbers. Read it here.

Expressing Free Speech

Five are charged with felony damage of property for slashing the tires of GOP rented vehicles post election... Two of the five are sons of Wisconsin politicians.

MILWAUKEE — The sons of a first-term congresswoman and Milwaukee's former acting mayor were among five Democratic activists charged Monday with slashing the tires of vans rented by Republicans to drive voters and monitors to the polls on Election Day.

Sowande Omokunde, son of Rep. Gwen Moore (search), D-Wis., and Michael Pratt, the son of former Milwaukee acting mayor Marvin Pratt (search), were among those charged with criminal damage to property, a felony that carries a maximum punishment of 3 1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

What possible defense will they use, either they didn't do it (typical Democrats), or maybe the ACLU will help them with a free speech defense.

Hillary Finance Dir. Pleads Not Guilty

In Campaign Reform - Hillary I advised that the Hillary's former Campaign Finance Director had been indicted on multiple counts of fraud, and asked did Hillary know. Well Matt Margolis, of GopBlogger has a follow-up..

Note to Readers

I have gotten several comments today and the writer has accused me of not allowing opposite views - this is false as there are several comments that disagree with me throughout the blog… However, to place vulgar comments and asinine one-liners while refusing to identify one's self (i.e. real name, homepage, e-mail, etc.) is not debating it is harassing, these types of comments will be deleted, and the writer will be banned.

Good News - Zarqawi Aide Captured

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq announced the capture of a senior aide to leading militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Monday, hours after Zarqawi claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb near the offices of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

The seizure of Abu Omar al-Kurdi, accused of masterminding some of the worst car bombings in Iraq, appeared to be a major breakthrough for the authorities ahead of next Sunday's historic election, which Zarqawi and his followers have vowed to disrupt. [Read whole story here.]

Talking to an Atheist

Mike S. Adams has a great column that not only is a testimonial but also advise how one should treat atheist... I found it well written and full of sound advice. Mr. Adams advises that "true" Christians do not become angry and combative when address atheist.. Some excerpts:

I don’t have the same reaction towards atheists, even when I see them attacking my basic religious freedoms. When I look into their eyes I see an emptiness that evokes pity. Maybe that’s because I was once one of them.
[...]
After I explained that my former girlfriend was too much of a fundamentalist while I was an atheist, his jaw nearly hit the ground. “Are you really an atheist?” he asked. He assured me he didn’t mean to pry and that he was merely concerned. He didn’t have to tell me that. His reaction gave him away. It was a reaction he could not have possibly faked.

That law student, whose name I have forgotten, made no effort to convert me on the spot. But he did plead with me to pick up a copy of Mere Christianity. “I’ve heard it all before,” I said. He told me I was wrong. He said that C.S. Lewis was the best apologist of the 20th century, but he didn’t push the matter. The conversation ended abruptly. I never saw him again.

Years later, I read Mere Christianity and it did have a great effect upon me. But, recently, I was thinking about what really drove me to read the book. How could I have remembered the title of a book I heard only once? After all, it was many years before at the end of a long night of drinking in a bar in Mississippi.

The answer is simple. The advice was given to me by someone who sincerely considered the matter to be urgent. And that sense of urgency was conveyed without a trace of anger. It was just a matter of one human being communicating his concern for another without being pushy and holier-than-thou.

Please read this column here.

Is "Boxer" Serious?

Here is a story by Audrey Hudson, Sen. Boxer takes victim role after hearing for Rice, Senator Boxer takes victim role? Is she serious, how can Senator Barbra Boxer actual be the victim during the confirmation hearings? Let's take a question that applies to "sexual discrimination" cases. Who has the power; Condi Rice or Senator Boxer? I would suggest that Senator Boxer has the power, is the questioner, and in no way could be a victim in this type setting - I believe her attempt to even claim she is a victim indicates that she believe Condi Rice a strong person, strong than herself, and is evidence of Condi Rice's qualifications. Some snippets:

Sen. Barbara Boxer says she is the real victim of last week's confirmation hearing for Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice, yet continued yesterday to question the national security adviser's honesty.
[…]
"And I would hope that we can have this conversation and discuss what happened before and what went on before and what I said without impugning my credibility or my integrity," Miss Rice said.
Mrs. Boxer yesterday called that response a "good debating technique."
"When you really don't know what to say about a specific, you just attack the person who is asking the questions," Mrs. Boxer told CNN.
[…]
On CNN, Mrs. Boxer accused Miss Rice of intentionally "frightening every American, and that was the point."
"She didn't hesitate to go out and sell this war to the American people," Mrs. Boxer said. "She said things that were flat-out not true." [Now in Boxer-ese or Boxer-ism this statement does not constitute an attack - You buy that?]

Read the whole article here.

Rest Well "Tonight" Johnny Carson

Johnny Carson, who entertained so many for so long has passed away today - Good night and Rest in Peace!

SS Reform Defined

Thomas Sowell has a informative article, Social Insecurity, that may educate some that are not familiar with the current Social Security system or with the "Personal Accounts" the President is advocating. Further, he explains real issues liberals have with Social Security reform.

The biggest difference seems to get the least attention: With private accounts, money is invested in the economy, creating additional wealth, from which pensions can be paid. With Social Security, the money is spent as soon as it gets to Washington.
[...]
Government bonds are not an investment that adds to the country's wealth. They are a claim on future taxpayers. Without those bonds, future taxpayers would still be on the hook to provide the money to cover future Social Security pensions that are not covered by future Social Security taxes. The bonds change nothing.
[...]
But no matter how much money you have paid into Social Security over the years, and no matter what you were promised when you paid it, the government always has the option to pay you back only what future politicians decide they can afford, given all the other things they might prefer to spend the money on.
[...]
Liberals are desperate to keep Social Security the way it is, because that means they can keep spending your money as they see fit and keep you dependent on them. That's what the welfare state is all about. (Read the here)

It is a War

Hugh Hewitt has a great article in the LA Times, Cover the Terror War as a War, where he explains how The Times needs to cover the war. Some excerpts:

The Times does do the occasional big-picture story. For instance, on Sept. 26, a Page 1 article, "Al Qaeda Seen as Wider Threat," described the Iraq war as "a new front in the battle against terrorism and a rallying point for a seemingly endless supply of young extremists willing to die in a jihad, or holy war." But it relied too heavily on experts who seem most concerned that the invasion of Iraq has triggered an expansion in the ranks of jihadists. Imagine a newspaper during World War II giving so much space to people fretting that the Army's victory over the Japanese at Guadalcanal would only make the combined enemy forces more eager to fight on Iwo Jima and Normandy — though indeed the first major victory in the Pacific might very well have had exactly that effect.
[...]
Do more to identify and inform the readers on the organization, leadership and capabilities of the Islamist terrorist network, paying more attention to experts who support the war in Iraq and believe, along with President Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and many others, that the battles there will ultimately slow the spread of terrorism elsewhere.
[...]
In short, The Times needs to reorganize to actually cover the war as a war. The last global war was not covered as though the Pacific Theater was independent of the battles in North Africa, or the Russian front disconnected from the D-day invasion.

The story is good read. Read the whole article here.

More Election Ad(s) - Iraq

More election ads that are being broadcast in Iraq - everyone should see these commercials.

Standing Firm

I wrote Christians Not Taking it Anymore last month in reference to the "removing of Christmas". The Washington Times has a story, Faithful standing more firm, poll says, that says Christains "grew less patient in the past four years with politicians making compromises on such issues as abortion and homosexual rights". Some excerpts:

"There do not seem to be very many voices arguing for compromise today," she said. "It could be that more religious voices feel under siege, pinned against the wall by cultural developments. They may feel more emboldened as a result."
On the question of whether elected officials should set their convictions aside to get results in government, 84 percent of those surveyed agreed in a similar Public Agenda survey in 2000. However, that number dropped to 74 percent in the new poll.
Researchers found a sharper decline on the same question among weekly churchgoers, from 82 percent in the first survey to 63 percent in the second. (Read more here)

I my opinion this is wonderful news; however, "standing firm" is necessary as there will be assaults on faith from many sides as I touched on when I wrote Groups go After Faith. Therefore, in closing I would simply say stand firm and God bless.