Obama's Fuel Efficiency Standards are Falling Apart and Worse!

In mid-2012, Barack Obama announced a new and historic fuel efficiency standard of 54.4 mpg by 2025.  Certainly, the global warming alarmists were delighted.

Now, just 4 years later, that new target is falling apart.  Not, because the technology isn't there to hit those mileage goals. It is.  But, Americans are responding to cheap gasoline prices and not buying either hybrid or electric cars.  Worse yet, instead of fuel efficient cars, they're opting for gas guzzling SUV's  and trucks.

But, in an irony of ironies, the quest for more fuel efficiency in cars to meet the still-mandated 2025 standards, the industry is moving towards engines with Direct Fuel Injection engines that are now proven to output more black carbon than their predecessors.  This according to the American Chemical Society. Thus, while the nation may see higher fuel efficiency in their automobiles, the environment may actually suffer more carbon pollution.  It appears that you can't have both.  The President may have made a poor decision on fuel efficiency that would do more harm than good; but then, he won't be in office when that hammer falls, and that fact becomes widespread knowledge.


References:

Obama Administration Finalizes Historic 54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/28/obama-administration-finalizes-historic-545-mpg-fuel-efficiency-standard

CAFE standards won't hit 54.5 by 2025, regulators say: http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/buyer-appetite-takes-545-mpg-target-table-us-regulators-say

As electric cars stall, a move to greener trucks and buses: GreenBiz: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/electric-cars-stall-move-greener-trucks-and-buses

Could more fuel-efficient engines lead to more global warming?: https://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/07/13/could-more-fuel-efficient-engines-lead-to-more-global-warming/ 

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Really? Move Your Business to New York State?

In 2013, the Democratic Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, proudly announced a new program called "Start-Up NY" that was supposed to bring thousands of new jobs to the State.  Since then, they spent millions for a nationwide advertising campaign with ads like this:

The program, which was supposed to attract new businesses with 10-years of a tax-free start-up operation, was to provide a "report card" on April Fools Day of this year.  That date came and went, and many feared that the tardiness meant bad news. They were right.  In fact, the report wasn't released until late in the day on the very Friday before the Fourth of July weekend. Other than releasing bad data on Christmas Eve, they couldn't have found a better time when so few people were paying attention.

So, here's the bad news they didn't want New Yorker's to know.

Only 403 jobs were created by the program since its inception.  By comparison, Wal-Mart could have easily beat that number by opening just one Sam's Club and one SuperCenter; and it probably did so in that same time span and without any tax break.

But, why isn't the program attracting new businesses?

Well, the answer is simple.  New York, according to CNBC, is the 3rd most expensive state to live in.  It ranks 50th as the worst state for income tax with 12.6%% in combined state and local taxes.   Add to that, it just approved a $15 minimum wage and 12 weeks of paid family leave.  If I'm a CEO considering a move to New York, I see my own pay and the pay of most of my workers subject to the highest taxes in the United States.  And, the $15 minimum wage and paid family leave, simply makes operational costs too high and a company less profitable when compared to wherever that CEO's business is currently located.

In typical fashion, Democrats just don' get it.  Taxes, all taxes, hurt business.  In the larger scheme of things, a short-term tax benefit is not going to offset all the other costs a  company has to pay if they move to New York.

References:

Governor Cuomo Launches Start-Up NY Program at International Conference in New York City: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-launches-start-ny-program-international-conference-new-york-city

Start-Up NY: Why was report released late Friday?: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/blogs/vote-up/2016/07/05/start-up-ny-report-released-late-friday/86716876/

Best and Worst States for Taxes: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/emeg45efhjf/no-50-new-york/#56ae877c4d37

America’s most expensive states to live in 2015: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/24/americas-most-expensive-states-to-live-in-2015.html?slide=9

Governor Cuomo Signs $15 Minimum Wage Plan and 12 Week Paid Leave: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-signs-15-minimum-wage-plan-and-12-week-paid-family-leave-policy-law

Michelle's "Built by Slaves" Comment

In her Democratic Convention speech Michelle Obama repeated something that she has said before: "I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves'.

But, she never seems to mention that she also wakes up every morning in a house in which a man and a Republican by the name of Abraham Lincoln lived and worked to conduct a war to free the slaves.  Thus paving the way so that she and Barack Obama can wake up in that very same house.

The Obama's can never make a positive comment without framing it in a negative.

Reference:

Michelle Obama Delivers Rousing DNC 2016 Speech: 'I Wake Up Every Morning in a House That Was Built by Slaves': http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/michelle-obama-reflects-on-white-house-being-built-by-slaves-during-dnc-speech-w430911

Could Hillary Lose Because of Another Email Scandal?

Because of the Wikileaks data dump of nearly 20,000 internal emails of the Democratic National Committee, we now know that the Democratic Party, at its highest levels, plotted to disadvantage Bernie Sanders in the primaries and caucuses; thus favoring the nomination of Hillary Clinton. Even before this, the Sanders supporters felt that the "Super-Delegate'' system was rigged to give Hillary the edge.  Donald Trump had been wooing Bernie Sanders voters by claiming the system was rigged against Bernie all along. Those emails just proved "the Donald" was right.

Hillary had already taken a hit in the polls because of the FBI findings about her own email scandal. Now this. And, now, what do the more than 12 million people who voted for Sanders do in light of these revelations.  Vote for Hillary? Maybe not.  My guess is that some may not vote at all.  Others may vote for the Green Party candidate, and surprisingly, some have actually said in TV interviews that they might vote "Trump".  Let's not forget that Sanders received 45% of the popular vote but received only 38% of the delegates.  So, already, the Sanders voters may have felt disenfranchised.

The real irony is that the emails that talked about how to derail Bernie may, in fact, wind up derailing Hillary.

References:

The 4 Most Damaging Emails From the DNC WikiLeaks Dump: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/damaging-emails-dnc-wikileaks-dump/story?id=40852448

New DNC boss also bashed Sanders in leaked emails: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/07/25/new-dnc-boss-also-bashed-sanders-in-leaked-emails.html

Leaked Emails Suggest DNC Was Conspiring Against Bernie Sanders: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wikileaks-dnc-bernie-sanders_us_579381fbe4b02d5d5ed1d157

2016 Democratic Popular Vote: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/democratic_vote_count.html

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Can Fox News Channel Survive Without Roger Ailes?

Much of the success of the Fox News Channel has to be attributed to the man who was at the helm, Roger Ailes.  The shows, their hosts, and their current formats, have all been as a result of Ailes' stewardship since Rupert Murdoch put him in charge.

But now he's out, due to allegations of sexual harassment.  So he walks away, along with the creative genius that kept Fox News on top for years by avoiding the same stale pitfalls that allowed Fox to overthrow CNN from the top slot and stay there.

Additionally, there are now rumors swirling that Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and Megyn Kelley will also walk when Ailes leaves.  I am quite sure that CNN would be happy to take any of these stars.   So would the alphabet soup of other national broadcast networks.  Should that happen, Fox's entire blockbuster prime time lineup would be decimated.

As many have said, Ailes is akin to being the franchise. and the burning question is whether or not Fox will survive without their super star boss and their prime time stars.  I personally think not. There just aren't a whole bunch of Roger Ailes types out there to keep a station in first place.  If there were, CNN would have regained its former lead and MSNBC would have been licking at it's heels.

References:

Roger Ailes To Exit As Fox News Boss; “In Talks,” Says Lawyer: http://deadline.com/2016/07/roger-ailes-out-at-fox-news-1201788998/

Intrigue at Fox News: Is Roger Ailes out, and is top talent going with him?: http://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2016/07/19/intrigue-at-fox-news-is-roger-ailes-out-and-is-top.html

FOX NEWS CHANNEL MARKS 14 YEARS AS #1 CABLE NEWS CHANNEL IN JANUARY: http://press.foxnews.com/2016/02/fox-news-channel-marks-14-years-as-1-cable-news-channel-in-january/

Cruz Crashes and Burns at the Convention

Prior to his convention speech, many speculated that Ted Cruz would use this platform to launch another run for the Presidency in 2020; even if Trump was President.  But, once again, Cruz proved why he is so hated in Washington.

His speech was merely another campaign speech and had nothing to do with bringing the party together.  As a result, he was booed and jeered and Trump had to enter the arena prematurely.  Of course, by doing so, the cameras and attention focused on Trump and away from Cruz who was still speaking.  Abruptly, Cruz's opportunity ended.

If he thought his performance would solidify support for another run in 2020, he was devastatingly mistaken.  People will remember this for years.  For many, both in the arena and those watching on TV, there will always be a negative opinion of him.  He truly ruined what was a great night of speeches.  On the following day, all the media talk was about Cruz and his appearance, and not about the other speakers. He should have just stayed home.

References:

Cruz gets booed after he declines to endorse Trump: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/cruz-gets-booed-after-he-declines-to-endorse-trump-during-convention-speech-225924

Ted Cruz stole the show, and then Donald Trump stole it right back: http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/21/politics/republican-convention-2016-day-three-takeaways/

Ted's Selfish Gambit Backfires: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/20/ted-cruz-puts-his-political-career-ahead-his-count/

Ted Cruz Reopens Party Wounds on Dramatic RNC Convention Night: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-conventions/ted-cruz-reopens-party-wounds-dramatic-rnc-convention-night-n613826 

Why Everyone (in Congress) Hates Ted Cruz -- NYMag: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/12/why-everyone-in-congress-hates-ted-cruz.html

In the three years since he arrived in the U.S. Senate, Ted Cruz has become easily the most hated man in Washington: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/01/why-dc-hates-ted-cruz/426915/

Everybody Hates Ted | New Republic: https://newrepublic.com/article/128808/everybody-hates-ted 

Could Hillary Win with the 3rd Least Votes of Any President?

Currently, the latest Real Clear Politics' average of polls with Clinton vs Trump plus the two candidates from the Libertarian and Green Party, has Hillary leading in every poll, with an average of just 41.5%.

Click on Image to Enlarge

In the history of this country, only 10 Presidents have won with less than 50% of the vote.  If Clinton should win with 41.5%, it would place her 3rd from the bottom in terms of the least voting percentage for any winning President.

This speaks volumes about this election.  An election with a potential winner that few in the country really want.  And, her percentages may continue to get worse following the latest revelations from the FBI report regarding her email server.

References:

General Election: Trump vs. Clinton vs. Johnson vs. Stein: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_clinton_vs_johnson_vs_stein-5952.html

10 Presidents Who Won with Less Than 50% of the Vote: http://www.toptenz.net/10-presidents-who-won-with-less-than-50-of-the-vote.php

Melania's Plagiarism is an Embarrassment That Needs Addressing

Following Melania's Trump's speech on the first night of the Republican Convention, some noted that portions were clearly taken from a prior speech by Michele Obama in 2008.  In proving that point, several have posted side-by-side comparisons of both speeches on the Internet:

Sure enough, it appears that some phrases were ripped, almost word-for-word, from Michele's speech.  But, also understand, that this constitutes less than 30 seconds of a nearly 17 minute speech:

If you listen to the news media, one would think her entire speech was plagiarized. This is not to say that it was justified, but someone from the Trump organization needs to own up and apologize for it because I am quite sure that the speech was written for Melania.  Letting this embarrassment go unaddressed will just weigh on Melania's credibility going forward and follow her throughout this current political process.  Don't think that a Hillary Clinton SuperPac or her own campaign won't use this in a TV commercial.

References:

Source of Top Video: CNN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcbiGsDMmCM

Trump campaign dismisses criticism of Melania Trump speech: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/52b83e75a4104d2eb10d39fb3ce5be42/melania-trump-speech-paints-kind-and-fair-donald-trump 

No one to be fired after Melania Trump speech plagiarism episode: http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/19/politics/melania-trump-michelle-obama-speech/

Dallas Police Chief: "We're Hiring"

Following the killing of cops in Dallas, Police Chief David Brown, a black man, said this about the Black Lives Matter protestors:

"We’re hiring.  Get out of that protest line and put in an application. We'll put you in your neighborhood and help you resolve some of those problems."

What he is really referring to is the fact that we have too few black police officers.  As a result, we have too many white officers policing high crime black neighborhoods.   Obviously, this increases the odds of a white cop shooting a black suspect, and also feeds into complaints by blacks that white cops are likely to harass them with things like traffic stops.

For example, in Ferguson, Missouri, the community is 67% black.  Yet, the police force is made up of 50 white officers and just 3 black officers. In Abilene, Texas, the population is 39.3% black with a police force that is 3.1% black.  The imbalance is also true in Baton Rouge; the scene of another recent incident of a black man being killed by a white police officer.

Basically, Chief Brown understands that community policing will get better in this country,  if the police departments across America better reflect the demographics of the communities they serve.  Black Lives Matter would serve blacks better by becoming part of the solution instead of worsening the problem.  But then, not too many people want a job where you go to work everyday wearing a bulletproof vest.  Just shows how dangerous the job really is.

References:

Dallas police chief to protestors: "We're hiring": http://www.fox4news.com/news/172844863-story

New FBI Crime Figures Confirm: Black Towns Most Dangerous, White Areas Safest: http://newobserveronline.com/new-fbi-crime-figures-confirm-black-towns-dangerous-white-areas-safest/

The New Racial Makeup of U.S. Police Departments: http://www.newsweek.com/racial-makeup-police-departments-331130

Ferguson, Mo., has 50 white police officers, three black officers, NBC's Mitchell claims: http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2014/aug/17/andrea-mitchell/ferguson-police-department-has-50-white-officers-t/

Police Department Race and Ethnicity Demographic Data: http://www.governing.com/gov-data/safety-justice/police-department-officer-demographics-minority-representation.html

Baton Rouge: A majority-black city with a majority-white police force: http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/baton-rouge-police-for-whiter-than-city/265447114 

Pence and Indiana: The Best Economic Growth of All States

The Democrats are going to accuse Trump's announced running mate, Governor Mike Pence,  a devout Catholic, of being an extremist because of his stance on social issues such as abortion, his lack of support of Planned Parenthood; and of course, his objection to gay marriage.

But, what they can't argue against, is his economic record in Indiana.  The Bureau of Economic Analysis recently released growth numbers by state, and Indiana was number one for the fourth quarter of 2015 (the latest data available).  With its 3% economic growth, it stands at more than twice the 1.4% growth, for the same quarter, for all of the U.S.

What is truly amazing is that coal is an integral part of Indiana's economy, and coal has suffered major losses of jobs. Yet Indiana was still able to beat all other states and come out on top.  God only knows what Indiana's economic growth would have been without Obama's relentless attempts to kill off coal production in the U.S.

What most Democrats seem to ignore is that -- in poll after poll -- unemployment and the economy are job number one for this country.  Pence fits that mandate.

References:

Prior to becoming Indiana's governor, Pence served in Congress for 12 years, where he pursued a staunchly conservative agenda: http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-07-13/mike-pence-s-record-scrutinized-ahead-of-trump-running-mate-decision

State GDP Growth in Last Quarter 2015: http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/gdp_state/2016/pdf/qgsp0616.pdf

In the fourth quarter of 2015, real GDP increased 1.4 percent: http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/gdpnewsrelease.htm

Coal layoffs in Indiana continue as industry struggles: http://www.ibj.com/articles/57919

Priorities:  Polling Report.com: http://www.pollingreport.com/prioriti.htm

Obama's Falacious "Teen Buying a Glock" Statement

During the Dallas Police Memorial, Barack Obama made a statement that he has made before: "It's easier for teenagers to buy a Glock than a book or computer".  As usual, he doesn't get called on the falseness of that claim.  The fact is, that Federal law prohibits any licensed firearm dealer from selling any handgun, such as a Glock, to anyone under the age of 21.

Now, what may be true, is that in certain neighborhoods in America, teens are able to buy a handgun on the streets. Even so, under Federal law, it is illegal to sell a it to anyone under the age of 18.  But, like all laws, there will always be someone who will violate them.

As I have said before, gun control advocates consistently lie in order to sway opinion in their favor.

References:

Obama at Dallas memorial: It’s easier for teenagers to buy a Glock than a book: http://hotair.com/archives/2016/07/12/obama-at-dallas-memorial-its-easier-for-teenagers-to-buy-a-glock-than-a-book/

Gun Laws: Minimum Age: http://smartgunlaws.org/gun-laws/policy-areas/consumer-child-safety/minimum-age/

Americans Waste Billions on College Education

As of this writing, student loan debt is rapidly closing in on a record $1.4 trillion.  But, more importantly, the average college graduate's debt has risen 350% in just the last 22 years while overall inflation has only risen 164% over the same period:

Yet, over the same period, real college graduate incomes have been relatively flat:

Combine this with the fact that, since 1993, the percentage of graduates with debt has risen from 45% to 70%. It doesn't take a math degree to figure out why 27.3% of student loans are in delinquency following the normal 6-month grace period after graduation.  The simple fact, is that high and rapidly-rising student debt, high delinquency rates, and flat wages, mean that our society isn't cranking out enough high-paying college-level jobs to support all that debt.  That fact couldn't be any clearer than shown on these two graphs from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as published by the Washington Post:

Essentially, 38% of college graduates are working below their achieved education levels.  And, only 27.3% of those with degrees are employed in jobs that match their original chosen fields.   Other studies confirm these results. For example, in 2014, Career Builder found that, for the class of 2014, 51% of graduates wound up working in jobs that required "no" degree.  Another study by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity found that 37% of college grads were working in jobs that only required a high school diploma.

With statistic like these, it's no wonder they can't repay their loans. A fact that hurts their credit ratings right out of the box.

So, the solution by Democrats such as Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Barack Obama is to make college education debt free.  In other words, let the taxpayers pay the debt off.  But, that ignores the basic problem of graduating too many college students for the number of jobs available to them.  For that reason, we, as a country should be de-emphasizing the importance of a college degree.  Instead, the focus should shift to trade schools as the means to making a good salary.  In fact, all of these jobs pay more than what a median college job is paying:

1. Air traffic controller – Annual income: $108,000
2. Nuclear Operator – $75,600
3. Registered Nurse – $64,700
4. Construction Manager $95,956
5. Radiation Therapist $74,900
6. Storage and distribution manager – Annual income: $66,600
7. Transportation manager – Annual income: $77,762
8. Police and detectives supervisor – Annual income: $64,430
9. Non-retail sales manager – Annual income: $59,300
10. Forest fire fighting and prevention supervisor – Annual income: $58,920
11. Municipal fire fighting and prevention supervisor – Annual income: $58,902
12. Real estate broker – Annual income: $58,720
13. Elevator installers and repairer – Annual income: $65,893
14. Sales representative – Annual income: $62,000
15. Dental hygienist – Annual income: $66,221
16. Radiation therapist – Annual income: $72,491
17. Nuclear medicine technologist – Annual income: $71,212
18. Child support, missing persons and unemployment insurance fraud investigator – Annual income: $53,900
19. Criminal investigators and special agents – Annual income: $53,990

The simple fact is that our society is wrongly leading people to believe that any college degree will get you a good paying job.  When you have so few people working in the college major that they spent so much money to get, it is a complete financial waste, and the taxpayers should not be burdened with that waste.  As long as colleges and universities are able to turn students away because of the sheer volume of applicants, tuitions and student debt will rise unabated.  However, if we can get to a point where colleges can't fill the number of slots available, tuition rates won't increase nearly as quickly; or may even fall as they attempt to attract more students.  That's simple college level economics.


References:

Student Loan Debt Clock: http://www.finaid.org/loans/studentloandebtclock.phtml

Wall Street Journal: Head of the Class Chart: http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/05/08/congratulations-class-of-2015-youre-the-most-indebted-ever-for-now/

Only 27 percent of college grads have a job related to their major: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/05/20/only-27-percent-of-college-grads-have-a-job-related-to-their-major/

Annual Wage by Education Chart:  http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/09/08/college_graduate_vs_high_school_graduate_salaries.html

51 Percent of Employed 2014 College Grads Are in Jobs That Don’t Require a Degree, Finds CareerBuilder Survey: http://www.careerbuilder.com/share/aboutus/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?sd=10%2F9%2F2014&id=pr846&ed=10%2F9%2F2099

College graduates underutilized in current job market: http://www.schoolguides.com/College_News/college_graduates_underutilized_in_current_job_market_379061.html

Student Loan Delinquency: A Big Problem Getting Worse?: https://research.stlouisfed.org/publications/economic-synopses/2015/04/10/student-loan-delinquency-a-big-problem-getting-worse/

19 Good Jobs That Don’t Require a 4-Year College Degree: http://wealthpilgrim.com/19-great-jobs-without-a-college-degree-and-how-to-get-them-fast/

The Dallas Cop Killings Shows Us the Worst of Americans

Following the Dallas Police killings, a City Council Woman, Reinette Senum, from Nevada City, California posted this on Facebook:

 "This was completely incited by America's police force. They have obviously been given directives to go out there and kill."

So, basically, you have a public official claiming that the 5 Dallas cops deserved to die.  And, worse, she is saying that all cops have been given orders to kill.

If this was only one person's twisted viewpoint, then, we could afford to ignore it.  But, unfortunately, a lot of people who align themselves with Black Lives Matter believe this to be true.  Last year, at several of their protest marches, supporters chanted "Pigs In A Blanket, Fry 'Em Like Bacon".  Another chant was "What do we want.  Dead cops. When do we want em? Now." On Twitter, another posted this "“Y’all pigs got what was coming for y’all.”  And, it goes on and on.

The fact is that Black Lives Matter, and other groups have openly called for the killing of police officers; and Barack Obama and Loretta Lynch still refer to their demonstrations as "peaceful protests".

Lastly, as to the comment by Senum that cops have been given orders to kill.  Every year, police in this country make approximately 9 million arrests of which 2.5 million are blacks.  Yet, last year, just 40 unarmed blacks were shot and killed.  If cops were given orders to kill, they sure are doing a poor job of it.  Maybe, Obama and Lynch would best serve this nation by publicly stating these facts and supporting the police, instead of depicting Black Lives Matter as being peaceful and deserving of our "respect".

References:

Following the 2016 Dallas Police Protest Shooting, Senum posted on Facebook, blaming the Dallas Police Department for the attacks: https://www.everipedia.com/reinette-senum/

Black Lives Matter: 'Pigs In A Blanket, Fry 'Em Like Bacon': http://dailycaller.com/2015/08/29/black-lives-matter-protesters-chant-pigs-in-a-blanket-fry-em-like-bacon-video/

SICK: ‘Black Lives Matter’ Supporters Celebrate Murder of Dallas Cops: http://www.infowars.com/sick-black-lives-matter-supporters-celebrate-murder-of-dallas-cops/

#Blacklivesmatter chants for dead cops: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqQXmnMr_w8

Obama defends Black Lives Matter movement as protests heat up: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-defends-black-lives-matter-movement-as-protests-heat-up/

AG Lynch: Peaceful protest will be protected - CNBC.com: http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000532771

Obama calls for mutual respect from Black Lives Matter and police: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/10/obama-calls-mutual-respect-black-lives-matter-and-police/86917082/

FBI: National 2014 Arrests: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-43

People Killed by Police: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/jun/01/the-counted-police-killings-us-database

Dallas and the False Narratives of Obama and Black Lives Matter

It was just a matter of time before the mass killing of police officers was bound to happen.  Anytime you have a group, such as Black Lives Matter and even the President of the United States, spreading the belief that white cops are racists and only want to kill blacks, Dallas was waiting to happen.  And, what happened in Dallas is sure to be replicated elsewhere.

This belief, that white cops are racist is based on complete dishonesty. The more this false narrative is repeated and believed, more blacks will die as cops increasingly back away from aggressive policing for fear of losing their jobs or going to prison.  Meanwhile,  record numbers of murders keep piling up in cities like Chicago where, already this year, 267 blacks have been killed, and 77% of all the murder victims are black.

According to the website "The Counted" which started tracking people killed by police beginning in 2015, there were 1146 persons killed by police in that year due to a variety of reasons including vehicular deaths. Of that total, 40 unarmed blacks were shot and killed.  To put this number into perspective, according to the FBI, our police arrest more than 2.5 million blacks each year.  Not a fact that supports the perception that there is widespread killing of unarmed blacks by police such as the mantra; "Hands up...Don't Shoot" suggests. Also, that 40 blacks were killed makes no distinction as to the race of the cop that killed them.  But, even if they were all white, the number is still extremely small relative to the number of blacks that are arrested each year.

This is not to say that any cop involved in a questionable death shouldn't be tried and convicted if  warranted.  But, we should let our legal system decide that.  Not take to the streets and start revenge killing white police officers .

The conversation that Black Lives Matter and Obama should be having is why there is an almost wholesale slaughter of blacks by other blacks.  In 2013, the FBI reported that 2,491 blacks were murdered.  That was 41% of all murders reported in that year. Of that, 90% or 2,245 of those were committed by other blacks.  But, no one wants to talk about that.  Instead, the discussion is all about the 40 or so, unarmed blacks that might be shot by police each year.

Lastly, the President stated that blacks are twice as likely to be arrested than whites, the reason is that blacks commit more crimes relative to their share of our population.  For example, while blacks only make up 13% of the population, 51% of murders in this country and 56% of robberies are committed by blacks.  Also, in a recent Gallup poll, 78% of blacks said they were "not treated less fairly" by cops; although this is down from 81% in 2013.  Thus, the claim or implication that there is widespread harassment of black citizens by police, for only racial reasons, does not appear to be true.


References:

Dallas police shooting: Suspect told police he 'wanted to kill white people' as Philando Castile's death ruled a homicide: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/08/dallas-shooting-two-police-officers-wounded-as-shots-fired-at-ra/

Obama, angered by police shootings, calls for elimination of racial bias: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/07/obama-police-shootings-alton-sterling-philando-castile/86824568/

The Counted: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2015/jun/01/the-counted-police-killings-us-database

Murder by Race of Victim and Offender: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/offenses-known-to-law-enforcement/expanded-homicide/expanded_homicide_data_table_6_murder_race_and_sex_of_vicitm_by_race_and_sex_of_offender_2013.xls

2013 Arrests: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/tables/table-43

HeyJackass!: 2016 Stats | Chicago Murder, Crime & Mayhem: http://heyjackass.com/

Despite Unrest, Blacks Do Not Feel More Mistreated by Police: http://www.gallup.com/poll/184439/despite-unrest-blacks-feel-mistreated-police.aspx?g_source=RACE_RELATIONS&g_medium=topic&g_campaign=tiles 

Comey Hearing: Complete Bipartisan Partisanship

Yesterday, I listened to Congress grilling FBI Director Comey over his decision not to recommend any charges against Hillary Clinton, for her use of a personal email server.

What I basically heard is the Republicans focusing in on Hillary's lies that contradicted the FBI reported facts.  On the other hand, Democrats were dismissive of those lies and attempted to prove that no actions rose to a level that would warrant charges.  I actually  heard one Democrat slam the hearing as being purely political partisanship, as if the defense of Secretary Clinton wasn't, in itself, partisan.

In my opinion, this country will never achieve true bipartisan agreement on anything if the Democrats can't understand that lying to the American people, over-and-over again, is a violation of the public trust by a person who wants to lead this country.  I feel that is actually a bigger problem than whether or not Hillary was charged.

The Trial of Hillary Is Happening Anyway

When FBI Director Comey outlined a litany of security violations with regard to Hillary Clinton's email server, he essentially showed her to be a liar and a reckless individual on so many issues as this video clip of MSNBC's Morning Joe so clearly states:

In my opinion, this may possibly explain why Comey didn't bring any charges.

He merely tossed all of the violations out into the public domain and, as a result, she will be  tried in the court of public opinion; and, as that video shows, not favorably.  He could have simply handed the conclusions of his FBI investigation to the Justice Department without a press conference and allowed that agency to decide whether or not to press charges.  But, by having an unprecedented news conference, he ensured that what she did wouldn't be swept under the rug.  He also gave Donald Trump, the Republican National Committee (RNC), and any Trump SuperPacs, all the sound-bites they need to keep prosecuting her in that fabled public court.  In fact, as of this writing, the RNC has already released this ad:

If Hillary Clinton does lose the election because of her server problem, the Democrats may regret that she wasn't charged so that they could have had the opportunity run someone else for President.

References:

Morning Joe eviscerates Hillary Clinton in wake of brutal FBI report about email conduct: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maVuOWDOHL8

Transcript: Statement by FBI Director James B. Comey on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Use of a Personal E-Mail System: https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system

Impossible! No Charges for Hillary Clinton?

The federal government takes security very seriously.  It doesn't just give you a security clearance and a pat on the back and let you go off on your merry way.  Instead, you are briefed on the responsibilities of having a clearance and you must also sign a legally binding  Standard Form 312 (SF 312) "CLASSIFIED  INFORMATION  NONDISCLOSURE  AGREEMENT".

When Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State, she was issued the highest possible security clearance known as "Top Secret/Special Access" and, as such, she would have had to sign a new SF 312. Following are some highlights of that Standard Form with regards to the use of her email server:

"Intending  to  be  legally  bound,  I  hereby  accept  the  obligations  contained  in  this  Agreement  in  consideration  of  my  being  granted  access  to  classified  information."

Also:

"I  have  been  advised  that  the  unauthorized  disclosure,  unauthorized  retention,  or  negligent  handling  of  classified  information  by  me  could  cause  damage  or  irreparable  injury  to  the  United  States  or  could  be  used  to  advantage  by  a foreign  nation. "

We know from the Inspector General's Report that she violated "unauthorized retention" because she never once sought authorization for her email server.  Additionally, from the FBI report we know that she and her aides were "extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information" which was, again, a violation of her SF 3121 agreement covered by the statement  "negligent  handling  of  classified  information  by  me  could  cause  damage  or  irreparable  injury  to  the  United  States".  Additionally, she agreed that she may be prosecuted for violations of this agreement and lose her security clearance.

But, more importantly, the FBI report said this:

"From the group of 30,000 e-mails returned to the State Department, 110 e-mails in 52 e-mail chains have been determined by the owning agency to contain classified information at the time they were sent or received. Eight of those chains contained information that was Top Secret at the time they were sent; 36 chains contained Secret information at the time; and eight contained Confidential information."

"...seven e-mail chains concern matters that were classified at the Top Secret/Special Access Program level when they were sent and received. These chains involved Secretary Clinton both sending e-mails about those matters and receiving e-mails from others about the same matters. There is evidence to support a conclusion that any reasonable person in Secretary Clinton’s position, or in the position of those government employees with whom she was corresponding about these matters, should have known that an unclassified system was no place for that conversation."

This completely contradicts her claim that she never sent or received emails that were classified at the time they were sent or received.

In my opinion, Secretary Clinton grossly violated her sworn responsibilities in the handling of highly classified information.  And, now, she gets a pass on any charges?  Apparently, her signed agreement is as worthless as her word.  All this does -- along with the Inspector General's Report -- is reinforce the fact that she is a serial liar and incompetently reckless with the nation's secrets.  But, also, this shows that the FBI's integrity has been compromised.  Could we expect anything less from the pseudo-most-transparent Obama Administration?

Lastly, by rights, Hillary Clinton and her staff should lose whatever security clearances they now hold.  Of course that won't happen since you can't have a potential President that can't even read the lowest level of classified materials. But, does America really care?

References:

SF 312: CLASSIFIED  INFORMATION  NONDISCLOSURE  AGREEMENT: https://www.fas.org/sgp/isoo/new_sf312.pdf

The State Department inspector general contradicts several of Clinton's long-standing talking points: http://www.factcheck.org/2016/05/ig-report-on-clintons-emails/

Transcript: Statement by FBI Director James B. Comey on the Investigation of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Use of a Personal E-Mail System: https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/statement-by-fbi-director-james-b.-comey-on-the-investigation-of-secretary-hillary-clintons-use-of-a-personal-e-mail-system

Clinton and Trump Seem To Forget Congress Controls the Purse Strings

Both Clinton and Trump have their tax plans. Hillary promises a $275 billion infrastructure spending program and higher taxes on the rich, along with debt-free college, universal pre-K, and paid family leave.

The only problem with these candidates' promises is that they seem to forget that Congress controls all budget issues.   If Hillary wins and the control of Congress remains with the Republicans, she won't get any of these things accomplished.  Similarly, Trump may also have difficulty dealing with a Republican Congress if his proposals are too radical, such as singling out Ford for moving a plant to Mexico.

The issue going forward is which of these two candidates can best work with Congress in order to truly get things done.   Personally, I don't think either would be successful unless, for some reason, Hillary is fortunate to have both Houses controlled by the Democrats. 

Reference:

How Congress Controls the Budget in Washington, DC: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-congress-controls-the-budget-in-washington-dc.html

The Upward Mobility of the Middle Class

According to Pew Research, the number of Americans who are identified as being in the middle class has fallen from 62% of the population in 1971, to only 43% in 2015.

Normally, this would be a sign that the country is getting poorer.  However, over the same period, the percentage of those in the lower class fell as well; albeit by only a meager 1%.  On the other hand, the upper class grew from 29% to a whopping 49% by 2015.  Thus, the middle class decline is more a result of them moving towards the upper class, and not the other way around.

However, when it comes to America's economic strength, the real issue is growth in incomes among the various classes from 1971 to 2015.  As Pew further reported, the middle class income gains were just 34% against an upper class that saw its income rise by 47%.  Thus, not only is the size of the upper income population increasing, but their share of the nation's wealth is also growing at a faster rate. The real lag in wages was in the lower class, which saw incomes only rise by 28%.

Of course, this plays into the Democrat's claim about income inequality and the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.  But, understand, this trend is over decades with both Republicans and Democrats to blame.

Reference:

The American Middle Class Is Losing Ground: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/12/09/the-american-middle-class-is-losing-ground/