Chicago's "Infinity Death Spiral"

Stephen Molyneux is the latest to warn about Chicago's debt bomb:

2:26 - Chicago's debt and unfunded liabilities are more than three times higher than Detroit's were when the city declared bankruptcy in 2013.
---
34:05 - More borrowing to keep the lights on.  More debt.  Greater borrowing costs.  Eventually, one of Chicago's municipalities will miss a bond payment and the whole house of cards is gonna tumble to the ground.  The longer you push off reality the harder reality hits you.
---
34:29 - A huge ripple effect is going to run through the American economy when one of America's cities defaults on its debt.  And its going to have a huge impact on the municipal bond market.

You know what happens when a city declares bankruptcy, right?  The bond-holders get to come in and carve up the remains as if they've been working a double-shift at Planned Parenthood.

Quote of the Day

Scott McKay at Hayride has a great post on his transition from "choice" to "life".  I'd call it very mild, and very respectful - far more so than anything I'd write on the Planned Parenthood's current scandal.  It is also very thoughtful and thorough.  Having said that... I really liked these two passages:

That’s what that industry is about. They kill kids, and they lie their asses off about it. At some point you’ve got to stop and recognize this industry for what it is.
---
And now we have these videos, which don’t really tell us anything we didn’t already know about Planned Parenthood. That’s an organization begun by a genocidal racist which has deliberately preyed on minority communities, and it tells the kinds of lies your standard lefty only fantasizes about evil Wall Street corporations telling. Now we know, with pretty difficult evidence to contradict, that what Planned Parenthood really amounts to is a criminal billionaire outfit which takes hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to dupe women into killing their kids for spare parts they’re selling. And when someone comes along to show this to the American people, the Democrat politicians that criminal billionaire outfit has bought turn around and begin a criminal investigation into the whistleblowers.

It is nice to see Scott coming around. Better late than never.  But I doubt many are joining him.  The "choice" people long ago rationalized the act of abortion - the act of killing a baby.  In Hillary-speak, I have to assume they would ask: What difference does it make what they do with the baby's body afterwards? 

Embarrassed?  Yes.  Permanently shifting to pro-life?  Wishful thinking.

Scott links to another great write up from Matt Walsh on FB.

Greg, a self-identifying Libertarian, makes a good point I haven't heard elsewhere:




Another point I haven't seen anyone take up yet: How does, or will, the Planned Parenthood scandal impact the campaigns of pro-choice GOP'ers? 

There are Republican voters who vote on other issues who are getting fired-up about the baby-part black market, and candidate's positions on abortion may become more important than originally expected.

Fiorina has been the most vocal on this scandal, but I think she is pro-choice.  So is her outrage genuine, or is she taking the offense with the hope she'll avoid having to take the defense?

Pop quiz: Who was the last pro-choice Republican president?

GOP Websites

I'm getting ready for tomorrow's unveiling of our first GOP Rankings Report.  I've visited every candidate's website today to find promises and specific plans.  I know it is early, but frankly, I'm disappointed.

Here is my review of those sites.  Which ones have a tab called "Issues?"  And, of those, which candidates have specific promises and plans?

Did any of these candidates know they were going to run for president?  If so, you'd think they'd review the main campaign issues and make a principled stand on each.  Each website looks like each candidate got the idea to run a week ago.

I'm just a political novice here, so my opinion doesn't mean sh*t.  But one may conclude that the candidates who don't say where they stand on issues like taxes, abortion, open borders, etc., may not have a stand.

Most of these sites are lowest common denominator.  I was pleasantly surprised by two: Rubio's and Paul's.

Swing by again tomorrow to see the GOP Rankings report.  I suspect I will be as enlightened by the results as you.

13 Hours

Comrade Diann points us to this trailer for 13 Hours.  A movie about the Hillary and Obama leadership failures that got four Americans killed in Benghazi.  It opens on January 15th, assuming the Democrats are unable to get a judge to issue a restraining order.

13 Hours Website.

Uh. Ya.

Another opportunity for us to say "We told you so!"

Some take a while to come around.  MSNBC took its time to address the very old question: What is the difference between the democrat policies and socialism?

At least they asked the right person, Democrat Party Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Shultz.




It may be hot outside now, but winter is coming.  Be ready - get your Commie Obama Hat today!

U/T: GP

UPDATED 8.3.15:

Redistributing from The People's Cube:

Ushanka Exclusive: 2016 GOP Candidate Rankings

This Saturday, August 1st, I will be posting the first Ushanka 2016 GOP Candidate ranking report.  I will post updated reports each month on the 1st and 15th until we have a nominee.

I could measure each candidates' electability, but that would be stupid.  Just watch the old media if that is your thing.

Instead, I will be ranking these candidates on strict conservative criteria.  Libs, RINO's, Libertarians, smelly hippies - do your own rankings. 

I'm keeping the subjective to a minimum, and otherwise scoring each candidate on measurable and verifiable positions or accomplishments.  Not perfect, but objective.  I hope you find it useful.

Here are the rules I will be following (pdf version):

Old Media Tribute #57

On February 10th NBC suspended top anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay.

I collected over 60 meme images mocking Brian Williams’ lying and, by extension, the loss of credibility within the old media.

I will post one of these images every three days until his suspension is over. . .  and trust is restored.

The 43-Minute Refresher

Stephen Molyneux adds to the class-warfare knowledge base.  (The first half is great, the second half loses focus and turns into an Ayn Rand chat.)



Recommended viewing for:

1) All young people considering a vote for the Democrat Party, and
2) All liberals who think they are independent thinkers.

I like his comments on government education.

10:20

The hatred of any group in which you strip free will is horrifying.  It is a drug.

Socialist artists are literally drug dealers. They are giving the endorphins of 'no responsibility' through words, through words, to the poor.  They're like the skivy guys on street corners that say "hey man, you feeling bad about your life?  I've got some determinism right here man.  This is the good stuff.  Man, this is the good stuff.  It has lots of syllables.  It goes all the way back to the Greeks...."

 22:10

Imagine this, right now.  Imagine writing a novel or a movie and the rich guys were really all wise and smart and considerate and humane.  And the poor people were all selfish, greedy irresponsible assholes.  Imagine that.

People would think you were insane.  Because the poor have become a protected class.

Image and Quote of the Day

From FB Comrade Chuck in response to Googie's image above:

Severed arms are the only ones libtards don't want to ban.

The image was originally posted at AllTheRightSnark.  And Da, Comrades!  Googie and Chuck both own Commie Obama Hats.

New Photos from 9-11

CNN has posted some new white house photos from Sept. 11, 2001.  Here is the flickr album with more.

I'm expecting CNN to release new white house photos from Sept. 11, 2012.  Because these are all we have from that day:

Old Media Tribute #56

On February 10th NBC suspended top anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay.

I collected over 60 meme images mocking Brian Williams’ lying and, by extension, the loss of credibility within the old media.

I will post one of these images every three days until his suspension is over. . .  and trust is restored.

Ushanka Mandatory Diversity Training

It is that time of the year again Comrades.

For this year's training, we are going to analyze this picture from GP. 

I'll get us started, but feel free to jump in.

Two AK's, an AR, and three sidearms. 

Five people with sunglasses eye protection seem to tolerate the one without.

The people with hats aren't creating a hostile work environment for those without hats.

A hearty Ushanka Tip to all the Americans who have reported to duty outside recruiting stations.  Your patriotism is noted, and so is the disconnect between Americans and service members on one hand, and the elites in the Pentagon and in DC on the other.

Am I Expected to Comment on This?

At GP:

Comrades, I've been saying it since '08. 

I even made a hat.

We will continue to ship all the old placards, including the Hillary '08, with all hat orders until we run out... or get a knock on the door.

Old Media Tribute #55

On February 10th NBC suspended top anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay.

I collected over 60 meme images mocking Brian Williams’ lying and, by extension, the loss of credibility within the old media.

I will post one of these images every three days until his suspension is over. . .  and trust is restored.

Chart of the Day

Comrade Doug Ross shares:

This chart has so much to offer, and I couldn't agree more.

Here are my interpretations:

Doug uses it to justify his support for Sen. Cruz.  Correctly.  I use it to support my current favorite in the GOP race.

A comrade, who will remain nameless, recently fell into the liberal/media trap by saying 'America hasn't had a conservative to vote for since Reagan.'  Wrong-o!  W. was the second most conservative in 2000, behind Keyes.  Keyes got my vote in the primary, and W. got my vote in the election.  A lot of historic revisionism has been pushed on us about W.  Do you remember he ran on a $1.6B tax cut.  Then, under pressure in the general election dropped it to $1.2b?  Do you remember what it ended up being?  $1.6B.  Then he passed a second tax cut - $1.2B - I recall.  Do you remember W.'s position on abortion?  Do you remember him calling out not just terrorists after 9-11, but the states that harbor them?  Liberals don't do that.  RINOs don't either.  I am amazed at the power the media, and what war fatigue can do to a class guy like W.  And please, save the space in the comments about his deal with Teddy Kennedy on education.  No excuses here, but that was pre-9-11 status quo DC.  The prescription drug benefit?  Pretty brilliant taking an issue away from the Democrats when emerging generics made it a cheap win.  TARP - a desperate measure in desperate times that was abused by the subsequent administration. 

And yes, I too put W. as more conservative than Reagan, but that could be that I was paying closer attention to W. than Reagan.  Reagan made a bigger impact - remember the USSR? - but I would argue that is more a measure of leadership and determination than ideology.  This comparison is also flawed as Reagan had Democrat majorities in Congress whereas W. did not in his first six years.

The only data I question is that of McCain, which is also the problem with these concepts.  Who is measuring the 'conservativeness' of each?  What is their criteria?

Last, and only partially related: Trump.  He is bitch-slapping the GOP lineup right now, yet he isn't a conservative.  Did you know his solution to ObamaCare is to replace it with another government healthcare law?  It isn't ideology that is putting him on top.  It is a combination of common sense, a command of his message and the media, and his tapping into an anger within the silent majority.  I expect Trump to flame-out before the primaries, but at the moment he is in a position to prove this chart wrong.

Did I miss anything?

No, We Are Not

MarketWatch:

This is horrible news for the Rand Paul campaign.  I've said several times already: he only has a chance at the nomination if he can keep quiet on the drug legalization topic.  He will flame-out the moment he is tied to this, as his other priorities will soon be forgotten.  If it hasn't happened already, then wait.  Watch.  And see.

The Libertarian movement is made up of two frustrated camps: conservatives and liberals.  They can't acknowledge this unstable state, or their movement would explode like a Helium atom holding onto 25 electrons.  The glue that holds them together: "Both Parties Suck!" 

I've ventured down the trail that leads to Libertarianism.  I am more sympathetic to their origins than they will give me credit for.  But on that trail, I took the fork in the road that turned away from the cliff. 

This doesn't mean I don't pay attention.

Ask a Libertarian to tell you his (they are almost exclusively male) top priority and you'll learn his true ideology.  "End the Fed," or "Limited Government" will come from my allies, the conservatives.  "End the Drug War," or "Release Non-Violent Drug Offenders," or "Legalize Pot/Meth/Heroin because Personal Responsibility," or "End Foreign Wars and Disband the Military Industrial Complex," and you have a disgruntled hippie Democrat who, like all liberals, is anxious to dilute this nation's family and religious values.

Each side can articulate and defend the other side's arguments, but their top priority will tell you what they really are.  And if a Ron Paul-type were to somehow get elected, these divisions would come out on day one of his administration.  And 4 years later none of the Libertarian priorities would have been accomplished.

I think Rand Paul is a solid guy overall.  I will vote for him is he wins the GOP nomination.  But I don't even consider him because he won't get past his socially-liberal flaws in the GOP.  Maybe he could in another time, but not after 8 years of Obama. 

I'd advise anyone who cannot see the difference between the Democrat Party and the Republican Party in 2016, nor the stakes in this coming election, to step away from the bong.

My $0.02.

Intimidation

Imagine looking out your window and seeing this.  Prayers in the streets. 

What are they asking their god for?  And why are they outside your home?

This is a street in Moscow.  Far, far away from here.

Never an AC-130 around when you need one.  Pfft.

On the bright side, at the precise moment of those photos, those muslims were not:

• raping young boys and/or goats,
• beating their wives,
• mutilating young girls,
• performing honor killings, 
• attending a school that has a single book, 
• flying planes into buildings,
• blowing up infidels innocent people,
• ambushing US Marines, or
• lecturing me on how to assimilate into their culture.

Source: English Russia.

From a Retired Marine

Sent from a retired marine - and Vietnam Veteran - in response to the four marines and one sailor murdered by Islam in Tennessee last week.  Original was sent by email to his friends.  Copied in full below with his permission:

How every single Marine feels right now:

Congratulations, ISIS? You wanted attention and you got it. Only, you chose the wrong people to seek that attention from.

You didn’t get the attention of our weak President. He tweeted his support for your medieval holiday following your cowardly attack.

You did not get the attention of our useless and corrupt Congress. They are too busy lining their pockets.

When you attacked those four Marines, you got the attention of every one of our 186,800 active duty Marines, along with every Marine veteran.

You just stirred up hate, discontent, and malice within a group of people who relish the idea of engaging the enemy.

There is something you obviously don't yet know about Marines. The brotherhood we share is stronger than the challenges we face, the weapons we master, or the enemies we destroy. You will learn that soon though.

You attacked a group of men who bond over the smell of gunpowder and misery and actually enjoy it. You didn't attack America's leaders, you attacked America's Marines, and that is a battle you are not prepared for.

You see, we won't play by the rules you're accustomed to. When you play in our backyard, we don't have to answer to any chain of command. We will not follow ridiculous ROEs crafted by a spineless bureaucrat to appease some goat-herding tribal leader. And we won't be wearing uniforms so that you can easily ambush us.

Nope. None of that shit.

When you think you're walking into a target-rich environment, you're really walking into an ambush.

That pudgy, middle-aged guy wearing khakis in the mall, who unbeknownst to you is a former 0311 and armed, will dump your sorry ass before you have a chance to scream "Allah snackbar.” And that soccer mom pushing a stroller, she's got a Glock19 and will happily leave you gasping in a pool of your own blood before she lets you hurt her children.

We are here and we still have the training and experience to wage war, whether here or abroad, and wage war we will. Every one of us is willing to fight and die to protect our Marine Corps brothers and sisters, our families and friends and our way of life.

And we will win, because while you fight to destroy what you hate -- we fight to protect what we love.

How do I sign up?!

In related news: It took a few days longer than at the Capitol, but the white house flag was moved to half-mast today.

My original post.

Old Media Tribute #54

On February 10th NBC suspended top anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay.

I collected over 60 meme images mocking Brian Williams’ lying and, by extension, the loss of credibility within the old media.

I will post one of these images every three days until his suspension is over. . .  and trust is restored.

US-Cuba Ties Restored

The Cuban flag was raised in DC for the first time in 54 years today.  Reuters has more.

Like our deal with Iran, no political prisoners were released, nor did the US gain anything.

Comrade Donald Joy commemorated today's event by sharing this this John Stossel video on FB.

Book Review: Under the Same Sky

Book Review: Under the Same Sky, by Joseph Kim.  288 pages.

Under the Same Sky is Joseph Kim’s story of survival during North Korea’s famine that started in 1994 and killed hundreds of thousands (wiki), and of his escape to freedom.  It is a story of suffering, betrayal, hope and family.  

Lives are full of ups and downs, and Kim’s story is no different.  I lost count of the good breaks and bad breaks Kim endured during his life in North Korea.  Each up and down for Kim, however, meant life or death, and he describes both in detail.  He finds someone to give him food and shelter, and he rejoins civilization and regains his health.  He is abandoned, and he rejoins the Khotjebi - the homeless children begging for crumbs in the streets, always a day away from death.

This book is about Kim’s experiences, his desperation and his family.  The hunger turned Kim and his countrymen inward, breaking community bonds and even family bonds.  There were families that stayed intact, but Kim’s family was not one of those.  The story reflects these realities with little said about Kim Jong-il, the communist state or anything political.  From a starving boy’s eyes, he only knows family, school and friends.

Kim lived in the North, near the China border.  I was surprised that crossing the border was not uncommon nor a taboo topic even among loyal government workers.  For some it is a way of life and from Kim’s eyes, a lucrative option.  I was equally surprised at how much suffering Kim and others endured when that option was open to them all along.  Kim finally does make the trip across the Tumen River, but the circumstances of his crossing were not what I had expected.

For North Koreans, China is prison #2 on the path to freedom.  A North Korean in China is not protected, and if caught is returned to North Korea where he is promptly thrown in the gulag.  You’ll see this happen to Kim’s mother more than once.  Further, those who cross into China most often do so with the intention of returning, including Kim.  

As you know, in place of the typical blog Donate button I have pointed Ushanka visitors to Liberty in North Korea, or LiNK.  They help North Koreans who are trapped in China to escape to freedom in either South Korea or the United States.  LiNK will share a story or two of their work, but they must keep the stories vague as they are breaking Chinese laws.  Kim comes in contact with LiNK, and his story is the most detailed I’ve read about how he makes his escape to the States.  I am more impressed than ever with LiNK.  The author’s dedication on page 272:

I want to thank all past, present, and future LiNK (Liberty in North Korea) interns, nomads, and staff who have dedicated their lives to the lives of the North Korean people.  Thank you for believing in us.  You inspire me with your determination and commitment to bring justice, peace, and liberty to North Korea.  Please keep up your hard work.

New Terms:

Saro-Cheong - North Korean Department of Youth.

Khotjebi - Wandering Sparrows.  The name for the abandoned children during the famine.

Under the Same Sky is the fifth book in the Ushanka Library (see left) about North Korea.

See the author’s TED talk.

You can buy the book here. 

See my Book Notes - here -  selected quotes.

Click here to learn more about LiNK.

Old Media Tribute #53

On February 10th NBC suspended top anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay.

I collected over 60 meme images mocking Brian Williams’ lying and, by extension, the loss of credibility within the old media.

I will post one of these images every three days until his suspension is over. . .  and trust is restored.

It Was Another Terrorist Attack on US Soil

This guy...

...attacks two Marine Corps recruiting stations in Chattanooga yesterday, killing four Marines and wounding a responding police officer.  The White House and the old media immediately consulted the Newspeak process for a terrorist attack:

The process above would apply to 9/11 just as it applies to yesterday's attack.  According to this process, there is no difference.  The only difference is the man in the white house.  One knew exactly what the attack was and spoke the truth, the other also knew exactly what it was but can't be trusted to tell the truth.

First, heartfelt Ushanka condolences to the families of those Marines.  They hold their breath when their sons are overseas, then relax when they are serving here at home.  The shock must be two-fold and I can only imagine their grief.

Second, FB is abuzz about the recruiting stations being gun-free zones.  True, but I have to step in here to say that is not relevant in this shooting.  (Although it is an issue that must be fixed.)  Anybody outside the offices - where the shooter attacked from - could carry in that gun-friendly state.  It is a shame nobody was.  I'd rather we focus on the threat from Islam, the open-border policy of the dear leader, and on the incompetence of our impotent security agencies which have been poised since April 2009 to react to a deadly wave of violence from internal enemies.  Of the citizen, white, conservative variety...

The Marines were ambushed by a rifleman.  Ambush: you're only option is to react.  Rifleman:  rifle beats pistol nearly all of the time.  I wish the Marines were carrying concealed handguns - on principle.  Self-defense is a God-given right, acknowledged by our founders in the Constitution.  The Marines were not the first recruiters to be targeted by Islam.  But behind commercial glass, in the ambush kill zone and without any warning - I don't think pistols would have mattered.

Daily Caller lists (poorly) 7 terrorist attacks - one for each year since our dear leader took an oath to protect the United States against enemies foreign and domestic.

In 2008 Amb. John Bolton was asked in an interview if he thought Obama could protect the US from another terrorist attack.  He had a great answer, and a gracious answer, which was: "I don't know.  But we will all know if he did after he leaves office."

I'm not so gracious.  I am realistic in that no one man can prevent all terrorist attacks through policy alone.  But this is what I also know: When the Chattanooga police were called yesterday, they responded to the active shooter by swarming the scenes and shooting that terrorist dead within minutes.  Had the Marines called this white house for help instead, we know for a fact that they would have been put on hold for 8 hours.

UPDATED 7.18.15 1:30pm:

A fifth victim has died.  Navy Petty Officer Randall Smith.

What others are saying:

Lagniappe's Lair: Where Does It Stop?
Slow Facts: Citizens Stand Up for Disarmed Military.  Excellent! (Georgia)
Borepatch: Flea Bites.  A nice writeup about deceased Staff Sergeant Wyatt.

The jihadist worked at a nuclear power plant and made several trips to the middle east, but those aren't enough to warrant any attention from the Department of Homeland Security.

UPDATED 7.19.15 2:30pm:

Man stands guard outside recruiting station in Virginia. 

UPDATED 7.21.15 4:30pm:

More standing guard in Tyler Texas.

It's Official: Greece Has Run Out of Other People's Money UPDATED and BUMPED

[orig post 6.28 4:30pm]

NPR:  Greece To Close Banks, Impose Capital Controls Amid Looming Default

Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced Sunday that banks will be closed and capital controls imposed in order to stave off a run on the euro after negotiations with the country's international lenders broke down.

He said the Athens stock market would also be closed.

But not to worry.  Socialist prime minister Tsipras has assured the masses that their bank deposits are safe.

Frankly, if anyone has anything over $5 is a Greek bank, they deserve what they get.

My first reaction to the photos (ZH) of Greeks lining up at ATM machines over the weekend was, "look at those idiots."

But I've come around in my thinking.  I would be in line too.

As a Greek I would, of course, have protected my assets after the Cyprus 40% theft in 2013.  But I'd leave just enough cash in the bank so I could join my fellow neighbors in the ATM lines.  They would see me there and think I was just as surprised as they that Tsipras couldn't find the courage to cut pensions by 1% and instead decided to lead the country into default and Euro exile.  Clearly I wouldn't be seen as a "hoarder" or a "prepper" if I were seen in an ATM line.  Right?

They voted for Tsipras who was clear about his intentions: milk the rest of Europe for every drop and never cut costs at home.  Europe has been milked, and not a cent has been cut.

Tuesday is the new judgement day, however I suspect it'll drag out for a while longer.  The two things I've learned from these financial crises over the years: they are more of a process than an event, and there is almost always an out that delays the day of reckoning.

But I do have questions.  Why are so many resources devoted to negotiating with losers?  Why doesn't the IMF and Germany and others devote all these resources to the best-managed economies, and let the likes of Greece collapse fast and hard?  One, they'd draw attention to, and reinforce, good financial responsibility.  Second, those making bad decisions would get the healing benefits of immediate feedback.

I'll be watching for two events in Greece in the coming days:

1)  Bail-In. How much of the citizen deposits will be confiscated by the state?  (At this moment in Cyprus - when it was announced banks would not open - the bail-in was said to be 6-10%.  A week later when the dust settled, it was 40% of all accounts with balances over $100k.)

2) Tyranny.  Tsipras is a socialist.  That means he A) makes decisions that increase despair, lead to desperate times and reduce the quality of living, and B) blames others for bad times leading to a doubling-down on bad policies and less freedom (restricting travel, limiting financial activity (capital controls), limiting the press and citizen speech, etc.).

Unlike Cyprus 2013, every Greek citizen had the warning signs.  And most voted for this exact outcome.  And as promised, Greek pensions will not be cut by 1%, but oh boy. . . .

. . . Greek pensions will be cut.

For these reasons, I will watch with dispassionate interest.

Hey, remember this joke?

What is the difference between Greece and the US?

About ten years.

UPDATED 6.30.15 10am:

Cavuto sums it up.




UPDATED 7.3.15 4pm:

ZH reports the bail-in estimate is currently 30% of all deposits over 8k Euros.

UPDATED 7.6.15 6am:

Greece voted in favor of their lets-hit-rock-bottom referendum yesterday.  Or is it the lets-vote-for-our-dignity referendum?

They are now fully on record as expecting someone else to pay their bills.  This is like applying for am unsecured loan in between calls from collectors.

The 61% who voted for the referendum clearly do not have 8k euros to their name and who thus think they will not be impacted by the bail-in.  This is a clear sign to the government that they could have - or still may - lower the bail-in target or increase the bail-in amount.  The Tsipras commissars know that, like Cyprus, the bail-in is a one-time event.  For some reason, people only lay down once and let their wealth be stolen.  The money won't be there next time.

Here is Tsipras' victory speech, and his happy patriots who, today, have full bellies:



Good luck with that whole 'dignity' thing.

UPDATED and BUMPED 7.6.15 8:30pm:

I found two excellent blog posts on this subject.  Click them both - your time will not be wasted!

Captain Capitalism with a novel idea, and
Total Survivalist with the best analogy yet.

UPDATED 7.8.15:

Via WSRA, Hershal Smith shares some opinions.  I appreciate his comments debunking the oft-used bankers-as-scapegoats crap.  The finger-pointing is already at crescendo levels, but Mr. Smith is keeping his perspective. 

Banks cannot make fractional reserve banking legal – only politicians do that.  Banks cannot create debt-based economies – only politicians can do that.  Banks cannot create money-printing – only politicians can do that.  The entire crumbling edifice upon which Keynesian economics is built requires the willing participation of politicians who couple with bankers to fleece the people.
---
. . . the people elected communists to office because they want a state-run system.  They got what they asked for.  It’s unimpressive to argue now that the poor Greeks are victims of either the government or the bankers.  The Greeks are victims of the choices they made.

Oh, and Greece extended the Capital Controls through Friday.   Anyone want to bet a Commie Obama Hat that banks won't open Monday either?

UPDATED and BUMPED 7.16.15 Noon:

Greek banks have been closed a full three weeks now.  They re-re-announced to a likely skeptical citizenry that they will open this coming Monday.  The status of the proposed bail-in is still unknown.

ZH asks some tough questions about how the Greek account holders will behave once the banks reopen: Greek Banks To Reopen On Monday, But Do Greeks Have Any Faith Left In Their Banks?

What a cluster. 

Ghouls

So now we learn Planned Parenthood sells body parts from their aborted babies.  Maybe it would be best for all of us if Planned Parenthood would just tell us what they don't do inside their facilities.

If only Trump were pro-life.  With that mouth he'd have the nomination wrapped up.  If there was ever a topic to debate, and a person to lead the criticism....

Isn't it telling when you see a Democrat Party wholly-owned enterprise?  Planned Parenthood.  Detroit.  ACORN.  Public schools.  Benghazi.  Old media.  Slavery.

I've updated my comparison spreadsheet with the latest numbers.  It is odd how zGermans get the reputation for efficiency, no?

Images redistributed from FB Comrades.  Abortion data: Number of Abortions.

UPDATED 7.18.15 1pm:

Comrade Stilton's latest work:

UPDATED 7.19.15 6:30am:

Comrade Ann Barnhardt tweeted a link to Stem Express, the middle-man for all your fetus organ needs.  Here is a screenshot in case it disappears...

UPDATED 7.21.15 4pm:

Another video emerged today.  This time a very smug and bitter Dr. Mary Gatter was negotiating the price for harvested baby body parts.

Planned Parenthood is complaining these videos represent a constant abuse from critics:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Planned Parenthood told Congress Monday that a secretly recorded video released last week by an anti-abortion group is fraudulent and part of a years-long pattern of illegal harassment aimed at prohibiting abortion.

Ghouls, you ain't seen nothing yet.