Tax Facts That Will Make Your Head Explode!

This is a great video put out by Reason.tv:

Hey California! The Government Is Coming For Your New Big Screen TV!

The Orange County Register reports that in an attempt to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, the California Energy Commission is considering banning the sale of big-screen TV sets that don't meet new, higher energy efficiency standards. Critics say the news standards could take 25 percent of televisions, most 40 inches or larger sets, off the market.

By 2011, the commission wants all large-screen TVs to use 33 percent less power. By 2013, sets must consume 49 percent less power. The Sacramento bureaucrats say the regulations will reduce global warming and save consumers $18 to $30 a year.

Considering that most manufacturers already work to meet voluntary Energy Star standards, it is questionable how much more state agencies can demand from manufacturers without forcing them to pass on these added costs to consumers, which means more expensive TVs.

And as Steve Titch at Reason points out:
There is also a huge question about how such a law would be enforced. Many California consumers would simply choose to purchase non-compliant TVs on the Internet, or drive to stores in nearby Nevada, Arizona or Oregon. As a result, local California-based retailers, who provide jobs and income to state residents, stand to lose the most from the ban.

Obama Adminstration.. Looking Into Climate Engineering?!?!

From The AP:
The president's new science adviser said Wednesday that global warming is so dire, the Obama administration is discussing radical technologies to cool Earth's air.

John Holdren told The Associated Press in his first interview since being confirmed last month that the idea of geoengineering the climate is being discussed. One such extreme option includes shooting pollution particles into the upper atmosphere to reflect the sun's rays. Holdren said such an experimental measure would only be used as a last resort.

"It's got to be looked at," he said. "We don't have the luxury of taking any approach off the table."

Holdren outlined several "tipping points" involving global warming that could be fast approaching. Once such milestones are reached, such as complete loss of summer sea ice in the Arctic, it increases chances of "really intolerable consequences," he said.

Twice in a half-hour interview, Holdren compared global warming to being "in a car with bad brakes driving toward a cliff in the fog."

At first, Holdren characterized the potential need to technologically tinker with the climate as just his personal view. However, he went on to say he has raised it in administration discussions.

Holdren, a 65-year-old physicist, is far from alone in taking geoengineering more seriously. The National Academy of Science is making climate tinkering the subject of its first workshop in its new multidiscipline climate challenges program. The British parliament has also discussed the idea.

The American Meteorological Society is crafting a policy statement on geoengineering that says "it is prudent to consider geoengineering's potential, to understand its limits and to avoid rash deployment."

Last week, Princeton scientist Robert Socolow told the National Academy that geoengineering should be an available option in case climate worsens dramatically.

But Holdren noted that shooting particles into the air — making an artificial volcano as one Nobel laureate has suggested — could have grave side effects and would not completely solve all the problems from soaring greenhouse gas emissions. So such actions could not be taken lightly, he said.

Still, "we might get desperate enough to want to use it," he added.

Another geoengineering option he mentioned was the use of so-called artificial trees to suck carbon dioxide — the chief human-caused greenhouse gas — out of the air and store it. At first that seemed prohibitively expensive, but a re-examination of the approach shows it might be less costly, he said.

Please tell me that I'm not the only one scratching my head at this ridiculousness? So basically what Mr. Holdren is telling us is that the only way too correct something that supposedly men destroyed by taking it for granted, is too take it even more for granted and think that we can control it? This makes just about as much sense as thinking you can triple the budget deficit but reduce the national debt. Or that when a nation is broke, they should spend their way back to prosperity.

Barney Frank Goes Ape On a Harvard Student Asking a Tough Question

Wow. Barney Frank proves that a democrat's only effective strategy when being asked a question they don't want to answer is to attack the questioner and accuse them of being unfair. Go cry some more Barney.



If you are having trouble viewing the video on my site, you can go to Sevenload to see it.

Campaign For Liberty Member Detained In St. Louis Gets It All On Tape

Campaign For Liberty member Steve Bierfeldt was detained by the TSA after supposedly "acting suspiciously" and carrying too much cash on him in a St. Louis airport. He was carrying $4700 in checks and some cash all meant to be contributed to the Campaign For Liberty. Luckily, Steve caught it all on audio.

The Left Trying To Steal Our Teaparty Thunder

From Michelle Malkin:

So, in addition to preemptive smears and sabotage efforts, the Left’s nutroots — feeling, well, left out of the spotlight after putting the Obamessiah in office — are organizing their own anti-Tea Party demonstrations.

Liberal guru Joe Trippi and government-subsidized Bill Moyers are pushing the new initiative, titled “A New Way Forward.” Hey, wasn’t Obama supposed to be your New Way Forward? Way to go!

The lefties have chosen April 11 to try and usurp media attention from the nationwide Tax Day Tea Party event on April 15. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

I should note: If even one of those protesters is truly sincere about opposing government bailouts of private industries and truly sincere about ending government support for crony pesudo-capitalists at Fannie/Freddie and truly sincere about letting failing banks fail, I say: Welcome to the club.

The rest is all nutroots Kabuki theater.

You can already guess how the national media will treat the two competing demonstrations. Tens of thousands of tax revolters = radio silence. A few dozen ACORN/ANSWER stragglers in from of any given bank = front page news.

No matter.

Get out there. Mobilize. Put your local and state officials and your members of Congress on notice.
They’re your true audience. Not the MSM.

Senate Introduces Another Bill That Would Permanently Ban Offshore Drilling

In just another nail in the coffin of American's hopes to someday become energy dependent, Senator Robert Menedez (D-NJ) has just introduced a bill to the senate that would permanently ban offshore drilling on almost all of the Atlantic continental shelf.

The bill specifically states that drilling should be banned in the mid and north atlantic areas of the continental shelf. That would bann drilling from anywhere between Georgia and Maine.

With the cap and trade of fossil fuels coming, and the lack of insight into the benefits of nuclear power, American citizens are having their energy choices taken away one by one.

Nanny State At Work: A Record Number Of American's Are Now Collecting Food Stamps

In a piece that shows just how well the nanny state mentality is working in America, Caroline Hedley of The Telegraph showcases just how dependent Americans have become on the government.

Ten percent of Americans are now collecting food stamps and that number is expected to keep rising in the upcoming months as unemployment is also slated to rise.

As part of the massive stimulus package that was passed in February there will also be a rise in food stamp funding by 13%.

One has to wonder if that 13%, would have been better used being sunk into tax cuts or job creation that would actually lead people back to work and being able to provide for themselves. I can not comprehend how "stimulating" it is to provide more people with free food, when what they really want is jobs.

You Might Be A Democrat...

First off, I would like to apologize for the following corny joke. I try to keep my blog above the fray but I am in a particularly good mood today, saw this joke and thought it was funny. So now I am using my "oh so serious" news blog, to share it with you! Enjoy!


A woman in a hot air balloon realized she was lost. She lowered her altitude and spotted a man in a boat below. She shouted to him, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man consulted his portable GPS and replied, "You're in a hot air balloon, approximately 30 feet above a ground elevation of 2346 feet above sea level. You are at 31 degrees, 14.97 minutes north latitude and 100 degrees, 49.09 minutes west longitude."

She rolled her eyes and said, "You must be a Republican."

"I am," replied the man.

"How did you know?"

"Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to do with your information, and I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help to me."

The man smiled and responded, "You must be a Democrat."

"I am," replied the balloonist.

"How did you know?"

"Well," said the man, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You've risen to where you are, due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise that you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. You're in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but, somehow, now it's my fault."

Check Out The Tax Day Tea Party Google Map

This April 15th Tea party thing looks like it is going to be HUGE! I can't see any feasible way that the media will be able to ignore this nationwide protest! Check out the interactive map on here, and don't forget to find your local event, wherever you are located, and attend! Bring your friends, some signs and your outdoor voice.



And for my fellow Pennsylvanians, our protests will be held in Erie, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Matamoras (Pike County), Wilkes Barre, Scranton, West Chester and of course Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The exact locations and times are:

City: Erie
When: April 15, 5:15 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Griswold Park, 123 West 14th Street, Erie
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City: Harrisburg
When: April 15, Noon
Where: West steps of the Capitol building
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City: Lancaster
When: April 15, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Musser Park
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City: Matamoras (Pike County)
When: April 15, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: Mid-Delaware Bridge (Port Jervis-Matamoras Bridge), Pennsylvania Avenue
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City: Meadville
When: April 15, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Where: Arch Street US Post Office
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City: Philadelphia
When: April 15, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Where: Downtown Philadelphia, LOVE Park located between 15th and 16th and JFK Blvd.
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City: Pittsburgh
When: April 15, 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Where: Market Square
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City: Sharon
When: April 15, 12:00pm - 2:30pm
Where: Downtown Sharon, On the Bridge overlooking the River on State St.
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City: Wilkes-Barre
When: April 15, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Market Street Bridge