Number-Crunching Government Price Tags

You might be surprised.

Satire Alert: SNL and the Obama-Hu Jintao Press Conference

Via Ms.Underestimated is the link of Saturday Night Live's hilarious potshot at Obama's visit to China. Oh, it's funny. It's funny because the critique is true.

Unemployment Stimulated! Now Up to 10.2%

What fresh hell is this? It's the worst unemployment rate in the US since 1983.

Now perhaps I misremembered, but didn't the government previously scream that if we didn't pass that utterly execrable stimulus bill, we would have unemployment at almost 9%? and that by golly, we'd stop at 8%?

So we have a horrible stimulus bill (that I opposed), and our current unemployment rate is at double digits.

Well, well, well. Take a look at this graphic. Or this one.

Meanwhile, Megan McArdle has found the worst Democratic Party talking point ever about unemployment. I swear those apparatchiks are living in utter denial and defiance of reality. So here we go, as in the middle of a job-slaying recession that lunatic party insists on spending trillions, terrifying the private sector and small business, running up the already-crazy deficit, demonizing everyone who has contrary opinions or full piggy banks, and wanting to raise taxes. OH, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, PEOPLE. Someday historians will look back and sum up the situation with the line "the inmates have taken over the asylum."

One more thing: I do NOT want to hear any more whining and pewling about how the financial mess was "inherited" from the Bush Administration. As another president said, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Besides, the buck stops here, at the president's desk. You wanted the job, and now you have it. You've been in the big chair since January. OWN IT. And grow up. Whining and making excuses is still whining and making excuses no matter how graceful and modulated the rhetorical tones and tropes. As I often want to tell my whining students, "Shut up and get back to work." Ditto for all the deplorable clownish lot on Capitol Hill. Then again, seeing as how all ham-fisted efforts by government at stimulating the economy have done nothing or -- more likely -- backfired and produced the exact opposite effect, maybe it'd be better for all of us if you just sit and whine instead of meddling still more and making everything worse.

Anyway, click on the "stimulus bill" tag for other stimulating (ha ha) posts. The only things that the stimulus bill has clearly stimulated are satire, rage, cynicism, and unemployment.

I have a huge headache now. I'm going to go listen to the Financial Apocalypse Soundtrack.

Quote of the Day: IBD on the Stimulus

This opinion piece from Investors' Business Daily does not hold back (nor should it). Blurb (my emphasis):

Of $157.8 billion "made available" under the stimulus, only $56.3 billion has been paid out — or 7% of the total $787 billion. And according to ex-Treasury Department economist Bruce Bartlett, "just 11% of the the discretionary spending on highways, mass transit, energy efficiency and other programs involving direct government purchases will have been spent by the end of this fiscal year."

Based on this, there are only two possible conclusions: One, the stimulus has been the most inept public waste of money in history. Or two, it was a cynical attempt by the Democrats to vastly expand the scope of government during a time of crisis. Or maybe it's both.

After all, how else could a government seize major parts of a once-private economy with nary a peep? How else could it boost spending to record levels, then blame earlier administrations for their fiscal incontinence? And how else could they add $10 trillion to the nation's debt in just 10 years and still claim fiscal prudence?

Read the whole thing.

This is just depressing. I'm going back to my research and the Tour de Lance.

US Unemployment Rate Now 9.5%

Yes, 9.5%, the highest in a quarter-century. Horrible. California as a state has about 11%. Yikes.

That's some stimulus you got there, eh, Washington? Pffffffffffffffft.

A History Lesson: Are We Repeating Japan's Economic Mistakes of the 1990s?

Are we heading for an American version of "the Lost Decade"? Reason argues that the policies of the Obama Administration are making this scenario more likely by repeating Japan's failed attempts to stem that recession. *Shudder.* For the record, I must sadly say that Obama -- however eloquent and polished an orator he is -- has now (to me, anyway, a self-confessed history nerd) established a depressing pattern of either not knowing history or of mangling it to suit whatever purpose he happens to have at the moment.

Back to the Japanese history lesson for our current American mess. Click here for the video. See also this and this.

You may remember that back in February 2009 I had posted about Japan's misguided government policies that brought about "the Lost Decade." Do read it.

For crying out loud, government. Cut taxes for everybody and stop spending already!

A Few Post-Tea Party Links: Tea and Sympathy

Despite my promise, I'm too busy to write a full analysis of the Tax Day tea parties that took place exactly 1 week ago, but these other folks have basically done my job for me. Take a look at some nice observations:

• "Tea Party Economics" from Forbes
• "Live Tea or Die!" by the humorous Mark Steyn
• Andrew Klavan's personal view
• Were the tea parties more 1765 than 1773? The Bosque Boys and I basically think the same thing.
• A law professor looks at the Tax Day rallies.
  

A few thoughts from me:

~Mainstream media coverage was abysmal. ABYSMAL. People at MSNBC and CNN embarrassed themselves repeatedly. Exhibit A: the now-infamous CNN employee (I refuse to call her a "reporter" or "journalist") who apparently had no inkling either of what journalism is (the collection and objective analysis of facts) or that the First Amendment existed for people who didn't agree with her. Exhibit B: MSNBC and CNN "journalists" acting like sophomoric adolescents by constantly making jokes about "teabagging," which is a grossly vulgar expression in urban slang. Meanwhile, Fox News was an unabashed cheerleader for the tea parties.

~The MSM's and various leftists' open hostility to the tea parties was itself indicative. Hey, I guess dissent isn't patriotic anymore. Do you remember how Bush-bashers used to say that they were being patriots by opposing the president? I guess now we have "dissent for me, but not for thee." Media bias has become so blazingly obvious that I can hardly believe it. Am I the only person who remembers how devotedly the MSM covered anti-Bush rallies or Cindy Sheehan's camp-out in front of Bush's property in Crawford? It's the same MSM that's now openly sneering at the millions of common Americans who came out and exercised their constitutionally protected right to assembly, speech, and expression.

~Some people have said that the rallies are bogus because "where were these rallies when Bush was busy expanding government spending and deficit?" Well, I wasn't happy about THAT, either! And neither were lots of other people. But I think we've come to critical mass with the rapid presentation of TARP, the various bailouts, the mortgage plan, the stimulus bill, AND the Obama budget. The price tag has been eye-watering and mind-boggling, along with the sheer concept of the new debt and deficit, has pushed the long-frustrated American taxpayer to the breaking point. The grotesque amount of government spending, delivered with dubious spending policy, has now become impossible to hide, ignore, or mitigate with pretty words and slight-of-hand. (Listen to the Cassandras?)

~So, did the tea parties DO anything? I think it's premature to expect an agenda. In fact, it's rather good that there's not, because then the rallies would look too partisan and political. No, the parties were the first expression of unhappiness. Where do we go from here? It's time to turn passion into action. Elections are coming in 2010 -- it's time to vote out as many rancid spend-aholic incumbents as we can. I'm disgusted with the entire lot of career politicians in DC. Many career Republicans are just as guilty as career Democrats. It's time to demand accountability. I kind of like this. I kind of like it a lot! (Summary: a politician who supported the bailouts goes home and faces some very angry constituents. All politics really ARE local!)

~Thalia went to a tea party and said there was too much singing "Kumbaya" and nowhere near enough talking about real solutions. She's got a great point. The tea parties are a great first step. But it's time and past time to talk about common sense solutions. She reported a nice little feature of her tea party, though. The organizers had asked everyone who attended to bring a canned food item as the "price of admission." The goal: collecting donations for the local food shelf to help people hard-hit by the recession. Now I like that. I like that A LOT. It's a snapshot of the "common sense solutions" mentality: individuals freely volunteering to help other individuals -- with no stupid government involved.

~The DC talking heads have been busy fomenting or attempting to foment class envy, class hatred, wealth redistribution, and the "eat the rich" mentality. I don't think it's working. The tea parties were rallies against government overreach and its massive spending. The taxman cometh not only for the demonized "rich," but for all of us.

~Frankly, the entire tea party thing made my wicked little libertarian/conservative heart smile. I absolutely believe that the government that governs least governs best, and I am convinced that Reagan was right when he said that government was the problem, not the solution. Besides, there was something deeply moving -- even inspiring -- about millions of normal Americans in hundreds fof cities taking part in the political life of their country and asserting that they are active citizens, not passive subjects. It is a right of participation that previous Americans had fought and even died to obtain and preserve, and it's a wonderful thing. Oh, sure, there were a few inevitable crazies at the rallies (as there are at any rally of any type), but for the most part the folks behaved themselves. It wasn't a mob mentality (and must never become one).

~Some critics have doubted the sincerity and/or authenticity of the parties. "Oh, they can't be grass-roots. They've GOT to be part of some Vast Right Wing Conspiracy." This betrays a total lack of understanding about how information sharing has undergone a revolution in the last few years. Its called the INTERNET, people. From social networking sites like Facebook to instant communications like Twitter or text messages to (now-stodgy-sounding) email, it's now faster and easier to coordinate information than ever before -- among ever-increasing numbers of people who don't have to know each other personally (see the phenomenon of "flash mobs").

~The tea party rallies were the largest tax protests in recent history and memory. Admittedly I'm not very experienced, but I've never seen anything like it. But is anybody in DC "bubble" paying attention? Maybe they'll refuse to acknowledge grass-roots expressions of unhappiness until the grass-roots show up and hold a tea party on the Capitol steps. Tea, Earl Grey, hot!

~I'm rather tickled at how the tea partiers so often called on the memory of the Founding Fathers, used their words on placards, and even dressed in 18th-century garb. The demand: go back to the founding principles! (Note to self: Maybe get a tricorne hat if I go to a future tea party. Maybe my fellow girlish subversives and I will make a special effort to bring the hotness in honor of Martha Washington. You go, girl. After all, it is possible both to be a patriot and have some awesome shoes. Heck, yeah!)

~There is buzz already for another tea party on July 4. One of the witticisms: TEA = "Taxed Enough Already." Heh. You don't say!

The tea parties were a great start. But it's up to the concerned American citizen taxpayer to do something now beyond the world of tea and sympathy. It's time to take it to the ballot box. (Whom do YOU most want to see voted out of office? I have a whole laundry list of people!)

One last thought: I actually don't like talking about tax policy or government spending or things of that nature. I much prefer posting recipes or silly stories about Hello Kitty on my blog. But I feel that this is no time to be an ostrich. I've never gone to a political protest in my life. But you may very well see me at the next tea party. (Assuming that DHS hasn't hauled me away by then! Pfffft!)

Oh, more here, including this fabulous quote about newspapers from someone at the Boston Tea Party: "If Obama had been the king of England, the Globe wouldn’t have covered the American Revolution." Ha!

UPDATE 1: A bailout supporter wonders, "Maybe those tea party protesters were right about the bailouts."

UPDATE 2: The rallies seem to have struck a nerve.

14 Modern Cassandras Criticize Government Economic Policy

OK, some of these 14 Cassandras have more dignitas and credibility than others. Still, it's an interesting collection of critics from both left and right. One common theme -- apparently nobody likes Tim Geithner or his "plan."

I can't resist including a quote from one of the critics:

"Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's latest bank bailout plan is another Rube Goldberg contraption intended to funnel taxpayer dollars to bankrupt banks, without being overly visible about the process."

A RUBE GOLDBERG DEVICE! Such geek-speak does make me smile.

Obamaspeak: Sentence Diagram!

I love diagramming sentences. Yes, I'm a grammar nerd. So you can imagine my delight when I found this blog post complete with a diagram of one of Obama's sentences.

Here is the sentence: “My view is also that nobody’s above the law, and, if there are clear instances of wrongdoing, that people should be prosecuted just like any ordinary citizen, but that, generally speaking, I’m more interested in looking forward than I am in looking backwards.”

Here's the diagram:

OK, I watched part of the press conference the other day. It was a colossal, crashing BORE. I wished I'd thought of diagramming sentences then to stay awake. As it was, I soon watched something else.

Hey, Bush's press conferences weren't that great either, but Obama's rambling yet lofty and sanctimonious style is beginning to bother me. A press conference isn't the same thing as a speech. He's good at delivering big rhetorical set-pieces (though I'm also beginning to tire of the banalities buried under a glossy verbal flair). But I'm beginning to see that Obama's not very good at the give-and-take of interactive press conferences. He doesn't actually answer questions! He takes questions (sort of) and then starts rambling on and on about the topic. He sounds -- and I would know -- like an overly serious and thus overly boring professor who not only can't inspire his students but also can't clarify the basic material. He (and such professors) give off an air of "I don't need to answer questions. They're petty. You're rather petty for asking. No, I'm the expert, so all you need to do is absorb what I say." It comes across as rather condescending. I found myself rooting for Jake Tapper and Major Garrett to pile on.

And the journalists SHOULD be piling on. BE journalists. The kid gloves should be coming off, because by any reasonable estimation, the Obama Administration's handling of economic policy has been a total farce, and the new budget proposal is insane. Folks are beginning to balk -- from some Congressional Democrats to plain ordinary citizen-taxpayers. And weirdly or not, Obama's new big problem now is his apparent inability to communicate with people -- any people, much less forge or foster a meaningful relationship with them. He's managed to alienate everyone from the British Prime Minister to the folks in the Special Olympics. I'm not sure anybody quite knows what he says versus what he means, but the floundering is becoming obvious.

I'm not the only noticing. Check out Politico's Obama translation: what he said versus what he meant. Maybe. I still don't understand how he can support the new ludicrous budget with one breath and, in the next breath, wax eloquent about being responsible and "doing everything we can to reduce the deficit." Say WHAT?

Obama's complicated sentences make great grammatical fun for diagrams, but they are hopeless for leading in a time of crisis.

Geek Fun + Political Humor of the Day: the Debt Star

I -- alas -- did not make this magnificent demotivator. I filched it from the Insta-Prof since it's much too awesome not to share! HOPECHANGE!

Satire Alert: "Dow Soars on NYU White House Takeover"

Iowahawk combines two recent news items (the silly NYU "revolution" and the current economic mess) into a glorious fresh satire.

Blurb:

NEW YORK - Major stock indexes posted broad gains on heavy trading early Tuesday on news that a rogue group of student protesters from New York University had taken over the White House and barricaded themselves in the Oval Office. The Dow posted a 1100 point (17%) gain in the first hour of trading, wiping out nearly all of its loss since January 20 and almost 35% of losses since November 4.

"Finally, we're seeing encouraging signs of sanity in Washington," said UBS market analyst Jane Cohen.

The market rally lifted issues across the board, with 87% of stocks showing gains. Market leaders included Apple ($116.05, +32%), Amalgamated Pachouli & Incense ($23.15, +53%), Keffiya Mart ($17.66, +49%), and Bongs.com ($41.10, +72%). The short list of losers included student loan guarantor Sallie Mae ($1.78, -78%) and General Deodorant ($0.83, -96%).

Go read the whole thing.

The 10th Amendment, State Sovereignty, and Stimulus Skeptics

Something seems to be going on. A few days ago, I posted about Governor Bobby Jindal (R) of Louisiana rejecting some federal stimulus money. Now here is a headline about Governor Phil Bredesen (D) of Tennessee considering a rejection of some stimulus funds also. Both governors cite concerns that taking money now will end up creating consequences down the road. Breseden is concerned that taking the money will mean having to raise taxes on businesses in the future. He doesn't seem to think that raising taxes on businesses is such a good idea in a time of economic trouble. Hmmm!!!! Ya think?

Anyway, I had wondered out loud in the other post: What DOES happen when states actually refuse federal stimulus money? Will the big government-cheerleaders in DC flip out and try to insist? There's such a thing as "states' rights," after all.

Now here is a report that 11 states have passed resolutions asserting their 10th Amendment rights. There are various ways to interpret this, but the very fact that the states felt the need to re-assert their rights is interesting. Do they -- like your humble blog hostess -- think that the federal government is getting too big, that its ongoing expansion (and power creep) could become intolerable?

The 11 states are both red and blue: Arizona, California, Georgia, Montana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington. On top of this, you can add the skeptical governors of Louisiana (a Republican) and Tennessee (a Democrat). Add the handful of other governors who have expressed reservations about stimulus money. (UPDATE: Tennessee has a 10th Amendment resolution on the way, dated February 18.)

Somehow I don't think this is quite what Obama had in mind in all his starry-eyed HOPECHANGE speeches about unity and bipartisanship and such.

Basically, all this seems to be, fundamentally, declaring that states are perfectly within their rights to reject stimulus money if they so choose. "Thanks but no thanks." Frankly, part of me thinks this is a thrilling prospect because the stimulus plan was horrible to begin with, and if states have more sense than DC and therefore refuse to take part, then fine -- let the states try to handle themselves.

Meanwhile, the state/federal divide is starting to look alive in a way that it hasn't been in my memory. It's oddly ironic, really. Obama's been so busy trying to wrap himself in the memory of Abraham Lincoln -- and hey! the whole state/federal issue was rather relevant back then too. At least this time around, it's people talking and throwing Chicago Tea Parties and passing resolutions in state legislatures. It's all very polite, really.

Still, is it time for everybody to go re-read the 10th Amendment? Maybe! Oh, what exactly is the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution? Here you go for your convenience:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

At its heart is that novel idea of -- *gasp* can it be? -- limiting the central government.

Wow, I guess that stimulus bill is really stimulating after all -- as in, it's stimulating practically everything EXCEPT the economy.

UPDATE: The Indiana general assembly has apparently introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 0037, which in part says this:

"A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, in Congress assembled, and the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives of each State's legislature of the United States of America to cease and desist, effective immediately, any and all mandates that are beyond the scope of their constitutionally delegated power."

Is this for real? Seems so. I traced it all the way back through the general assembly website. What's going on in Indiana? The resolution then goes on to quote Madison, Jefferson, and Hamilton. Niiiiiice.

Satire Alert: the Gettysburg Address + Obama's Address to Congress

Enjoy.

Oooh, oooh, the broadcast is starting. Hey, here's a drinking game: every time Obama says "crisis," take a swig! He's already said it twice and he JUST GOT STARTED.

UPDATE: You can try a non-alcoholic game. Or not. Check out Steven "Vodkapundit" Green's unabashed drunkblogging of the speech. His drinking game rules: "Drink on 'hope,' or 'change,' or 'invest,' or 'stimulus.' If President Obama uses the word 'malaise,' then finish your drink, pour another, and call your broker. Tell him to put everything into ammo and bottled water."

Jindal on Fiscal Policy and Stimulus Bill

Jindalmania!  Well, I already had a touch of it to begin with.

Mad Minerva's Monday Monetary Madness Musical!

Like that alliteration, DID YOU?  Yes, I'd been waiting all weekend long so I could say that.  Now, without any further ado, I give you a vidiotic montage of songs for our daily dose of GLOBALFINANCIALAPOCALYPSEWE'REALLGOINGTODIEOMG.

First of all, an oldie but goodie and more appropriate than ever, "Gimme Some Money" by Spinal Tap:

Next, here is a fine contribution by a gentle reader, who wrote and sang this with some friends of his:

Follow that with a rollicking bit of folksy fun known as "I'm Changing My Name to Fannie Mae":

Finally, here is an amusing hip-hoppy, faux rap tune entitled "I Want My Bailout Money." It's a catchy tune:

Want more?  Go get some TARP! 

Got something to contribute?  Let me known in Comments below!

No, Thanks: Louisiana Governor Jindal Refuses (Some) Stimulus Money

A risky move?  Maybe.  But I kinda LIKE it.  After the recent and endless drumbeat of ever-increasing spending from DC, I'm exhausted -- and relieved to hear even one person say that this orgy of spending isn't such a great idea (plus it has strings attached, plus it could spawn all kinds of unintended consequences).

Then again, I've found Jindal a fascinating figure for a long time.  (Watch for him to give the Republican response to Obama's big Congress speech on Tuesday.)

Blurb:

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Friday that he will decline stimulus money specifically targeted at expanding state unemployment insurance coverage, becoming the first state executive to officially refuse any part of the federal government’s payout to states.

In a statement, Jindal . . . expressed concern that expanding unemployment insurance coverage would lead to increased unemployment insurance taxes later on.

“The federal money in this bill will run out in less than three years for this benefit and our businesses would then be stuck paying the bill,” Jindal said. “We must be careful and thoughtful as we examine all the strings attached to the funding in this package. We cannot grow government in an unsustainable way.”

Jindal is one of a small group of Republican governors, which includes South Carolina’s Mark Sanford and Mississippi’s Haley Barbour, who have said they might refuse some or all of the stimulus money targeted to their states.

Well, here's an interesting idea.  What DOES happen when states actually refuse federal stimulus money?  Will the "big government-cheerleaders in DC flip out and try to insist?  There's such a thing as "states' rights," after all.

Anyway, Jindal has a point about the future.

PS:  Just you wait and see.  Pretty soon, Jindal's opponents will be screaming something totally reductive and misleading like "Jindal hates poor people."  It's only a matter of time.  Or, even more predictable, someone will play the race card against him. 

UPDATE:  More here when Jindal went on "Meet the Press."  Here's a bit of the transcript:

MR. GREGORY:  You have a budget shortfall in Louisiana of $2 billion.  Now, under the stimulus plan by the Obama administration, you would get a cut of that.  You'd get $4 billion in federal stimulus.  But this is what you said on Monday about the stimulus plan:  "We're going to have to review each program, each new dollar to make sure that we understand what are the conditions, what are the strings and see whether it's beneficial for Louisiana to use those dollars." And just Friday you made good on that pledge not necessarily to take the federal money, saying that you would reject almost $100 million in federal unemployment assistance.  Why would you turn this money down?

GOV. JINDAL:  Well, let's be clear.  The best thing that Washington could do to help Louisiana and all of our states with our budgets is to get this economy moving again.  I think we just have a fundamental disagreement here. I don't think the best way to do that is for the government to tax and borrow more money.  I think the best thing they could've done, for example, was to cut taxes on things like capital gains, the lower tax brackets, to get the private sector spending again.  I think they had a provision the net operating losses to help small businesses.  Unfortunately, they slimmed that down.  They could've done some things on a real energy policy.  If all they do is borrow federal money and give it to the states, all we're really doing is delaying the inevitable.  We're eventually going to have to make these hard choices anyway.  In Louisiana we made midyear reductions, $241 million.  We're going to have to do more with less.  What would be more helpful from Washington is less unnecessary spending.  How does $300 million for federal cars, $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, how is spending like that going to help our economy?  How's that stimulus?

Financial Apocalypse Soundtrack, Song 21: Triumph

The latest track is inspired by Rick Santelli, increasing taxpayer unhappiness, and the various grass-roots taxpayer protests against the government's utterly monstrous orgy of spending otherwise known as bailouts and stimulus bills.  Plus "savior-based economics," pffffft!

The loyal opposition is finding its voice, as well it should.

I give you . . . "Fight the Good Fight" by Triumph. 

CNBC's Rick Santelli and Taxpayer Rage: "...see if we really want to subsidize the losers' mortgages"

Check out CNBC's Rick Santelli's passionately indignant rant from the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade.  Watch the whole thing; it has a real sting at the end.  Here is the link to the video.

A couple quotations:

"The government is promoting bad behavior!"

"How about we ALL stop paying our mortgages?"

It's outrage over the idea of having to pay your neighbor's mortgage, especially if the neighbor's been a fool to get that mortgage in the first place.  (Among other things.)  Preach it, Rick.

I ought to thank Santelli for ranting so I don't have to.

UPDATE 1:  Check out this angry piece in the Denver Post too (via Dr. Helen):  

"So why are we rewarding failure and abolishing consequences? . . . The more irresponsibly you behave, the more the government works for you."  

Plus this:

Obama has told us the American dream must be saved. So far, his remedy entails government rewarding bad behavior, encouraging dependency, subsidizing failure and penalizing success and prosperity.

Bingo.

UPDATE 2: Santelli interviewed about his outburst.  Blurb: 

And I’m not saying we should forget people who need help. But at the end of the day, Americans are strong and they’re charitable. I think what they have a problem with is that it’s force-fed via the government.

Yes.

UPDATE 3:  More here.  Check out the reader email quoted in the middle of the story.   Santelli, I dare say, did not so much create a raw nerve as much as he touched one that was already festering.

UPDATE 4:  How do we know that Santelli's hit a sensitive target?  The (increasingly catty and thin-skinned) White House spokesman attacked him by name.  Note to press secretary Gibbs and his puppeteers: What are you people smoking (besides a trillion dollars worth of worthless American greenbacks)?  PLENTY of people have been criticizing the Spend-a-palooza Government Orgy Bill, but you single Santelli out?  You're making him a martyr and a populist hero -- plus by default legitimizing him.  Besides, it's completely stupid for the White House to attack journalists and public people by name.  First it was Rush Limbaugh and now Rick Santelli?  You're making your own side look like a prickly elitist bunch of free-speech hypocrites.  HOPECHANGE!  

Fashion Fun with the Economic Meltdown: the Stock Market T-Shirt

Roller coaster.

Get this as a T-shirt!
(Assuming that you still have any petty cash, that is!
And a free market!)

MM in the Kitchen, Stimulus Bill Edition -- The Audacity of Pork!

Well, Obama signed the much-maligned (and much-unread) stimulus bill today.

I'm thinking, MAN, that's a LOT of pork. What to do, what to do? Oh, I know! I give you . . . PORK RECIPES.

Bite me.

• Porchetta -- some info to go with the photo above. Cine-Sib and I had some last summer, and it was divine.
• The glories of bacon are available to all at Bacon Today
• Smithfield hams! A culinary masterpiece.
• Prosciutto di Parma, a favorite of the Cine-Sib. Try it with sweet, ripe, juicy cantaloupe. Really!
  
• Nearly 5000 pork recipes at Food Network
  
• The National Pork Board has a gazillion recipes online. Pork -- the other white meat!
• Haven't you tried this splendiferous carnitas recipe yet? Make it at once! I personally vouch for it.
• Try some Southern pulled pork sandwiches. Awesome. Messy, but awesome.
• Perhaps you will like these step-by-step directions for making pork potstickers. YUM.
• Char sui bao. The apotheosis of bread + meat at dim sum. Oh, man!
• Pork belly sandwiches Chinese-style, with mantou for the bread.
  
• Learn something about the very British thing known as pork pie. It's got its own historical association, you know.
  

Now I often have a DVD playing while I cook. If you're in the mood, try one of this porcine productions:

• "Babe" (1995) -- That'll do, pig!
• "Charlotte's Web"(1973 cartoon or 2006 live action)
  
• any of the "Shrek" flicks -- look for the Three Little Pigs
• "The Lion King" (1994) for Pumbaa the warthog.

UPDATE 1: OK, this made me laugh. Some anti-pork protestors roasted a pig in front of the Capitol Denver today. Creative and delicious dissent, I must say!

UPDATE 2: Can I get some government money so I *don't* get pork?