The SLOBs Go Mobile!

The San Diego Local Order of Bloggers have launched our Android mobile app.  It is free and available in the Android Market by clicking here or on the right side of http://www.theslobs.org/.

We hope that our efforts in creating this app will help spread the call for liberty. Please share this app, "like" http://www.theslobs.org/ and bring the Tea Party movement back to the grassroots.

The San Diego Local Order of Bloggers publish facts, opinion and important information from a range of Tea Party perspectives with focus on economic issues. Our goal is to save America and empower free individuals. The site summarizes the latest articles in an easy to read format that helps keep you informed and up to date.

You have access to San Diego's Finest Tea Party Bloggers via facebook, web, rss, atom, and now on your Android mobile phone.

Update: Thanks to Shane Atwell's suggestion we now automatically feed posts to our facebook page and my twitter account DooDooEcon.

Left Coast Rebel: New York Times: Obama Is Failing Miserably, So Let's Talk About Jesus

An article so nice, as a SLOB I am posting it twice. Left Coast Rebel: New York Times: Obama Is Failing Miserably, So Let's Talk About Jesus


If the far left media would ask Obama one question it should be one of these.

Hurricane Irene, More Obama "bad luck"

With the economy teetering and Mr. Obama on vacation the major media outlets need a big story to fit the progressive narrative.  Behold Irene as she drags CNN back into the murky waters of overblown alarmism.

Following 3 days of "preparedness training", CNN has been running with stories of all the possible hurricane based disasters that could occur. The headline has settled upon "The First Evacuation of New York starring Mayor Bloomberg." Other segments on CNN include "Low lying areas will floor and those who stay behind should pray."  "Mandatory evacuations causing traffic jams."  "No help coming for three days."  "Shut down of the New York subways." "Water and power will be gone." "Bridges and tunnels will be closed. www.vaemergency.gov" "The economy will be impacted." "The urgency of the warnings is more intense with Irene."  "The stormsurge will be devistating."  "Historic hurricane."

My prediction is that this hurricane is overblown, if you will pardon the pun.

Buffet gets 5% to 6% with $5 bln BofA preferred shares buy

This represents an American individual making a difference in the economy.  Gold has pulled back and the financial sector is still below book value, so value exists in the market. The question of psychology could turn, but economic fundamentals have not changed.

If we get some pro-capitalist moves by the Fed and the administration it could signal a short term bottom in the market decline. However there are a couple serious risks.  Hackers targeting banks are one major current risk.  Also, there could be a sell off of bank stocks on profit taking that could counter the sentimental impact of this news. The largest risk is that, like Buffets 2008 investments in G.E. and Goldman Sacks, the administration could continue on a misguided Keynesian intervention in the economy boosting barriers to small business creation. Start-up companies need capital loans.  The most likely threat is European market problems.

What we need is a freeze on regulations and taxes. We also need Obama to stay on the golf course and away from Washington D.C.  Ending the weak horse strategy of the Obama administration would additionally boost confidence and dissuade our enemies.

A small government President has the opportunity to shore up confidence with a supply-side economic strategy and spark an immediate positive economic turn.

The current book value of BofA is around $11, current price is around $7.90

Competition Works

My friend who has been running for 20 years recently ran a half marathon with a 13 minute improvement in his time. At 40 years or age he told me he was in the best shape of his life. How is this possible?

He joined a track club and began training in a competitive environment.

Do you have similar stories about the wonders of competition?

"Sorry to interrupt your swing Barry," God

USGS reports a 5.8 earthquake near Richmond, VA and felt at Martha's Vineyard as Mr. Obama began a round of golf.

Vons and Unions Intimidating Petitioners

Today I ran across another example of intimidation.  This occurance happened outside of Von's supermarket as I approached a man asking citizens to sign local issue petitions. As soon as I signed the petition thugs emerged.  Signs were placed and "Von's cops" started standing around. The petition gatherer, in his wheel chair, began telling me the story of a young woman who was brought to tears through intimidation. 

The petition gathering focused upon city pension reform, open contract bids and the vilified assault on political contributions by union payroll deductions. A story in San Diego's Citybeat further chronicles the challenges of saving the single party state of California. The intimidation is so prevelent that the gatherer needed advice from his lawyer to proceed.

As a long time Tea Party activist, I encouraged the gatherer as he talked about feeling alone in the battle. His fears were unfounded. I informed him that less than 500 ft. from where he worked a small but influential group of fellow freedom lovers had been meeting over breakfast. "You are not alone. We are right beside you."

RED Hackers Targeting Western Banks?

French researcher Xyliton, part of the RED Crew, released a crack for SpyEye builder 1.3.45. SpyEye is the premier Trojan builder. SpyEye is used to attack banks and collect credentials from SpyEye bots, including screen shots, user name and password combinations, and stolen certificates and cookies.

"SpyEye activity has been growing in recent months, with 60 percent of SpyEye bots targeting banks in the United States and 53 percent targeting financial institutions in the United Kingdom, according to a recent report from Trusteer." eWeek.com

Reports of the release originated from The Day Before Zero Blog.  SpyEye is used to defend itself by targeting anti-botnet sites with Denial of Service Attacks. These botnet attacks are becoming commonplace and I have begun running into them in San Diego.  It appears that the communist RED scare is now on the net and not just MSNBC.

The Tea Party is the Opposite of European Rioters

We often hear the code language inspire hate against Tea Party members from "news" outlets. We have seen police in riot gear intimidate national anthem singing, geriatric patriots in Quincy and now see a teen curfew in Philadelphia due to "flash mobs." With the violence around the globe perpetrated by riotous and entitled socialists the time has come to point out the differences between Tea Party protesters and socialist animals.

Both groups are upset about the economy, but have radically different solutions in mind.  Tea Party members point to proven economic solutions that create wealth. Socialists depend upon pseudo-economic "interventionist" political entitlements. Entitlements taken from "fall guy" groups targeted by daily talking points. (For instance, if the U.S. government took all $685 billion of income from American "millionaires and billionaires" it would not cover the $1.65 trillion dollar annual deficit.)

Entitled socialists are violent animals from all classes of wealth who intimidate, destroy and steal with a shameless lack of personal responsibility.  The socialists are miseducated from preschool to Harvard by Karl Marx's "sociology" curriculum.  Tea Party protesters use nonviolence to persuade individuals to vote against the dangerous power of overgrown and heartless government. Tea Party members are educated through studies of The Bible, philosophy, capitalism, The U.S. Constitution and The Declaration of Independence.

Entitled Socialists regard as "rights" anything that ruling class propaganda decree. The ruling class then uses threats against these "rights" to provoke mob hate, outrage and eventual violence for political gain. Tea Party members rely upon the rule of law and not men. Tea Party members hold that rights are given by God to the individual and are inalienable. Outrage at the corruption of law is not related to hate. This lack of Tea Party hate draws the ire of the left leaning media establishment who cannot relate to or understand it.

The God given rights protected by The U.S. Constitution are held in high regard by the Tea Party. Entitled Socialists regard The U.S. Constitution as a barrier to the issuance of "rights" as found in the Goals of Communism and the Communist Manifesto. This disagreement defines the Tea Party as counter revolutionaries and socialists as the useful tools of communist revolutionaries.

This "Constitutional" difference is the most important at the personal level. The Tea Party believes in the Second Amendment right to bare arms to protect themselves. Socialists wish to impose their will upon groups too large to be controlled indefinitely at the barrel of a gun. Education and re-education are used to protect elitists from the masses that they live at the expense of. In America this can be summarized by saying that the Tea Party is armed and ready to protect society, while socialists need to tear down society and subjugate those who would stand in their way. If socialist rioters engage in America they had better stay away from Tea Party members wearing t-shirts stating "ARMED."

UPDATE:
Another interesting difference is pointed out in a Gallup poll showing that the Tea Party is the most racially balanced group.

CNS Reports:

According to Gallup, 75 percent of the U.S. population is non-Hispanic White, while 11 percent are non-Hispanic black, and 15 percent belong to other races. Meanwhile, 79% of Tea Party movement supporters are non-Hispanic white, while 6 percent are non-Hispanic black, and 15 percent belong to other races.

Tea Party View of the Republican Debate

GOP candidates Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman Jr. and Rick Santorum debated on Fox News last night. There were a few "tea party" take aways and a few gaffes of note. The majority of the debate was correctly focused upon defining differences between the candidates.

Fellow SLOB WC Varones noticed Democrats jumping on Mitt Romney's "corporations are people, too" statement last night. Many small business owners are S-Corporation, so despite mock outrage by leftist fundraisers, it seems minor.

Tim Pawlenty did not come across well in his argument with Michelle Bachmann. Particularly when she miscommunicated her choice to vote for a Pawlenty pro-life bill that included a tax increase. Rep. Bachmann  made the mistake, and it was clearly a bad choice of wording, but Gov. Pawlenty piled on acting as if she had voted pro-choice despite a tax increase.  This may have seemed good politic but it was just small.

Michelle Bachmann made another mistake that had actual substance to Tea Partiers. In a question about ORomneyCare she failed to point out the difference between federal constitutional powers and state constitutional powers.  Reporters may think that is wonkish, but Tea Party members are extremely savvy about the constitution.

Amendment 10, "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."  Rep. Bachmann is correct in her answer that neither the federal or state governments have unlimited powers. The mistake was in not communicating that individual states are closer to the people and more empowered to make policy decisions of such consequence. Citizens can leave a state.  Her answer leads one to believe that she would repeal ObamaCare, but then proceed to repeal RomneyCare and other similar state laws.  The Tea Party would support that political position nationally but may not at the state level.

One good moment in the debate was had by Newt Gingrich as he explained the problem with the "super congress." Speaker Gingich railed against the Washington idiocy of leaving the entire congress idol while political appointees decide how to make congress choose between "shoot you in the head or cut off your right leg." The former speaker made it clear that he is in the race for patriotic reasons but may have no intention of being the final candidate.

The debate "Tea Party take aways" include both politics and economics. 

On the economic front, the Obama Depression is not going to end due to anticipation of a conservative president. Consumer sentiment is shockingly low and the "90 days after I am elected" fix is not enough. By the time we retire our vacuous Present-ent Obama, the economy will be in the unimaginably bad shape.

On the political front, the majority of the available candidates are major upgrades from our current president. The other candidates are just significant upgrades.  Mitt Romney is still the front runner. Newt is the Ed McMahon to everyone else's Johnny and will bring up excellent points before bowing out. Bachmann is the "had enough" candidate. Cain is the most likable. Ron Paul is the purest in constitutional original intent.  Santorum and Pawlety are reasonable but interchangeable and establishment. Huntsman has credibility but is hard to relate to. Palin and Perry will need to triangulate with withdrawing candidates in order to succeed. 

Pay close attention to any "progressive" policies in the candidates. Issues that candidates do not passionately embrace are going to be "negotiables."  Lets each be sure to choose the correct "negotiables" in the primaries.

The Day After Capitalism

In 1791, a new economic system was tried. It was called Capitalism and based on Adam Smith's philosophical arguments. The primary focus of capitalism was finding an alternative to slavery in various forms.
Slavery in the form of kingdoms, dictatorships, empires, and other barbaric violations of mankind's basic freedoms has dominated human history. Even religions imposed a basic requirement that limited your access to your God or Gods through a master.

Along came a man named Cicero who spoke of Natural Law. A few years later a "magician" named Jesus took up the cause and birthed a movement based upon individual salvation via direct relationship to God. These philosophies weighed heavy on Adam Smith. He was a devout believer in individual salvation, individual morality and individual worth and through his book "Theory of Moral Sentiments"; a new economic idea began to take shape.

What if each person could harness their own unique value and create a "Free Market" that enabled anyone with a unique idea, skill, or value of any kind to trade with other willing "Free" individuals? What if government did not control "Trade" or regulate who could participate in the creation of wealth? In answering these questions and because Smith had "Had enough" of Kings and mercantilism, Capitalism was created.

It was a beautiful idea and "Free Markets" led to "Freedom" from slavery as British Colonies in the New World established independent and entrepreneurial territories. Poor Englishmen began to travel to America as indentured servants who traded several years of labor for their passage toward a better life. In 1619, a Dutch slave trader traded his cargo of Africans for food at Jamestown. Africans were traded at Jamestown for food and English women cost about 120 pounds of tobacco.  The term slave began use around 1660. In 1662, Africans became servants for life.  By 1680, slaves had become essential to the economy. There was no alternative to slavery at that time.

By 1775, many tobacco growers were perpetually indebted to the British government connected mercantilists and a "Tobacco War" began. Freedom in America was being taken away through British law and financial cronyism. David Hartley called slavery "contrary to the laws of God and the rights of man." In addition, in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was drafted and for the first time in modern western history, a people declared themselves self governing and free from the King and thereby free from slavery.

"How is it," asked British author Samuel Johnson, "that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of Negroes?"  Johnson did not realize the high regard for hard work and genius that American Colonists like George Washington held for everyone around them.

Washington readily recognized and applauded the talents among the enslaved. In early 1776, he received a poem from a young woman and, "with a view of doing justice to her great poetical Genius, I had a great Mind to publish the Poem." In gratitude for her gift, he invited her to visit his headquarters in Cambridge. The poet was the now famous Phillis Wheatley, who was then an enslaved Bostonian. In writing of and to her, Washington made no reference to her race: a remarkable omission by the standards of his day (and of our own). In private correspondence during the 1780s and 1790s, Washington repeatedly expressed a devout hope that the state governments would legislate "a gradual Abolition of Slavery; It would prevent much future Mischief." (Chronology on the History of Slavery)

During the American Revolution, the abolition of slavery began. Virginia 1778, the importation of slaves was ended and all slaves in the state were considered legally free. By the Constitution of 1780, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts persons of color were declared citizens of the state. In 1783, the Revolution successfully ends. George Washington becomes the first President in 1784 and he is intent on ending slavery.

"I never mean (unless some particular circumstance should compel me to it) to possess another slave by purchase; it being among my first wishes to see some plan adopted, by which slavery in this country may be abolished by slow, sure and imperceptible degrees."--George Washington, September 9, 1786

The only economic idea available to counter slavery was Adam Smith's capitalism requiring each individual to be moral and educated. The American public school system began focused on teaching people to read The Bible. Within 100 years, slavery is abolished in Britain and America and a new era of human prosperity and freedom begins.

Unfortunately, tens of thousands of years of social drive to rule other men did not die with the abolition of slavery. Slavery has arisen with many new names under the pretext of religious and political systems. The major tools for human slavery include submission to a God through dependence upon his self-proclaimed leaders and submission to government through economic dependence.  Pseudo-economic interventionist dogma is used by both religious and political promoters of slavery. 

"Socialism" in its various forms has arisen as the most popular form of slavery.  Communism is slavery based upon class warfare. Fascism is slavery based on racism. Sharia is slavery based upon religion. Each of these political systems share red "socialist" banners. All were kept at bay through capitalist economic prosperity, individual bravery, faith and strength.

Since people generally do not "yearn to breath slave" attacks upon capitalism became the primary marketing tool. Blaming banks or "the rich" have been the most successful appeals to envy and hate. Slogans like "for the people," "hope and change," and "social justice" remain common propaganda tools appealing to group identity. Obfuscations emerged such as labeling fascism "right-wing" and coloring electoral maps to represent socialists as blue and opponents as red. 

Intimidation is the most central theme in slavery through human existence. Political correctness is the westernized tactic to keep people from discussing the failures and irrationality of slavery in its various disguises. Ignorance through miseducation and distraction is the second tenet of slavery. When these tactics fail and groups rise up in opposition they are assaulted and intimidated with personal attacks, demonization, vilification, slander and eventual violence through legal or illegal channels. Ignorant masses are exploited as the tools to exact violence upon the brave and the free.

The day after capitalism came as a shock to an entitled and miseducated public. "Free markets" converted to "slave markets" quickly as people realized that they no longer could provide for themselves or their families. Ignorant and ill equipped to defend themselves, masses of people were fooled into hating and assaulting the people who could stand up to the slave masters. Promises of "social justice" and "equality" appealed to the desperate. Code language was used to identify people to be voilently targeted by those "springing up for equality."

As the dust settled it became clear that essentials were scarce and there were no alternative leaders remaining. Opponents had all been injured, broken or destroyed.  Opposing political groups had been infiltrated and "moderated." Green re-education taught people to live with less and less in submission to "a better planet" and "more sustainable" service to the ruling class.  The tired, poor, huddled masses had no one left to believe in them, only rulers who required their belief.  To satisfy this requirement now requires service, servitude...slavery. The only alternative is to live without income, financial assets, healthcare, education and legal rights as citizenship now requires participation in the master's plan.

Did the 2012 Election Kill Seal Team 6?

America mourns the loss of heroes with the news of a "lucky shot" that took down 30 special forces in a helicopter at the end of a rescue mission in Afghanistan. Many of the personnel were members of the unit known as "SEAL Team 6." This is a tragedy that is gaining media coverage during a week of horrible economic news.

Some discussions of this tragic event have put the blame on the Obama administration. With no evidence of interference or leaks about the location of the SEAL unit, these are baseless accusations fueled by partisanship and loathing of the administration.  Obama has one accomplishment, the killing of Osama Bin Ladin through the efforts of our military and intelligence heroes. This accomplishment should not be unfairly tarnished.

Unfortunately, the security of "SEAL Team 6" was compromised by the Obama administration. A recent New York Times op ed article named "The Downgrade Blues" by Maureen Dowd chronicles the "'Mission Accomplished' glow" that the administration was targeting as a 2012 October surprise.

The White House is also counting on the Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal big-screen version of the killing of Bin Laden to counter Obama’s growing reputation as ineffectual. The Sony film by the Oscar-winning pair who made “The Hurt Locker” will no doubt reflect the president’s cool, gutsy decision against shaky odds. Just as Obamaland was hoping, the movie is scheduled to open on Oct. 12, 2012 — perfectly timed to give a home-stretch boost to a campaign that has grown tougher.

The moviemakers are getting top-level access to the most classified mission in history from an administration that has tried to throw more people in jail for leaking classified information than the Bush administration.  It was clear that the White House had outsourced the job of manning up the president’s image to Hollywood when Boal got welcomed to the upper echelons of the White House and the Pentagon and showed up recently — to the surprise of some military officers — at a C.I.A. ceremony celebrating the hero Seals.

It seems that Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal are examples of at least two people who were given inappropriate access to classified information. Two people surrounded by big mouth media agents, publicists and self-promoting and greedy associates. Two people granted access for political gain.

There is a reason that society values humble, hard working men and women who understand that "loose lips sink ships." Even if this breach of security is completely unrelated to the tragedy in Afghanistan, it looks and smells horrible. Our military personnel will not be happy with this information. Perception is reality in politics and national security.

Super Congress or Freedom Kryptonite?

The founders of the American Republic envisioned a world of laws and not of men. Unfortunately men often envision a world founded under their law. To rise above the constraints of our Republic a new threat has emerged and it is named "Super Congress!"

“The joint committee — there are no constraints,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said on the Senate floor. “They can look at any program we have in government, any program. … It has the ability to look at everything” as Reid described Super Congress powers. The six Republicans and six Democrats are granted “extraordinary new powers” (Huffington Post) to quickly force legislation through both chambers.

Legislation decided on by the Super Congress would be immune from amendment and lawmakers would only be able to register an up or down vote, eliminating the ability to filibuster and the Speaker of the House loses the ability to prevent unpopular bills from making it to the House floor. The unconstitutional fun does not stop there, Michael MCAulitf reports (Huffington Post) that “even greater super powers, according to multiple news reports and congressional aides with knowledge of the plan” are being uncovered.

Reported targets of the "Super Congress" include Obama administration goals of Tax Increases and Gun Control.

The icing on the cake is that the Obama administration will be the 13th "de facto" member of this self appointed body and it seems unlikely that any freshman "Tea Party" congressional "terrorists" will be included. As a matter of fact, it seems that this process will lack transparency and forgo the entire messy "representative American system of government" thingy.

Bypassing the U.S. Constitution and "taxation without representation" have never been more "Super". Lex Luthor would be proud!

Who is on this "Super Congress?" Is there a reason they are serving "Satan Sandwiches?" Will the American people prevail? ... Tune in next time for the thrilling conclusion.

The Progressive Ends Justify the Vile, Hateful, Divisive Means

The left has recently deployed some interesting tactics against conservatives and the popular American movement known as the Tea Party.  These tactics are psychological in nature and devised to exploit the differences between conservative and non-conservative Americans.  The primary strategic objective is classical divide and conquer for the 2012 election.  Lets look at some of the tactics recently deployed.

Exploit Conservative fears

Recently a union group formed called Californians Against Identity Theft. They have deployed thugs to stand next to volunteers collecting ballot signatures for causes that will weaken unions. The thugs then claim that ballot initiatives are "ripe with identity theft" to scare hard working conservatives away. This is clear intimidation and it is buttressed by a large radio advertising campaign.

Ballots do not collect social security numbers, bank account numbers or other information more sensitive than an email or physical address. Ballots are not ripe with identity theft, but conservatives generally have more to lose than non-conservatives.  This tactic is vile, but well considered as the intimidation can be targeted to talk radio and specific ballot initiatives while allowing rank and file leftist supporters unaware and unafraid of losing what they do not have.

There is an elitist left-wing class that is susceptible to fear of identity theft. This tactic could be reversed with a radio campaign on public radio, either informing elitist lefties to the outrageous tactics or targeting a specific ballot initiative that is favorable to progressive or union causes. 


Exploit Religious Differences

Typically conservative Americans are known as "god fearing" and another tactic this month emerged to divide along religious denominational lines.  Specifically the Huffington Post, LA Times and other far left outlets accused Michele Bachmann, as a member of a Lutheran "confessional" church, of believing that Catholics are not Christian. Of course, neither Michele Bachmann nor her church are anti-Catholic.

There have been long standing differences between many religious denominations and the left is pushing to exploit these age old fault lines.  This assault is targeted at religious conservatives and completely avoids the typical secular humanist progressive.  This tactic also advances the narrative that all religious people are extremists and crazy, a core communist tenet.

Again, exposure of this vile tactic is an embarrassment to all left thinking Americans. We must remember that not all "liberals" are progressives or communists. Most political correctness indoctrination focuses upon a "you care and are thus superior" appeal to the human predilection to see one's self in the best possible light. Revealing the "ends justify the means" hypocrisy of the left is very damaging to the feelings of progressive followers.

Update 8/4/2011:
An article has come to my attention titled: Secretary Of State Clinton Working With U.N. To Criminalize “Defamation Of Religion.”

(the) aim at developing a legal basis for the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution which help in enacting domestic laws for the countries involved in the issue, as well as formulating international laws preventing inciting hatred resulting from the continued defamation of religions.

This is more insane promotion of "Islamophobia" narrative, as a phobia is an irrational fear and not a fear based on a global political movement based on a history of violence and intolerance. With such laws, progressives could harass, fine or imprison people of faith who discuss denominational differences. Thus raising such differences to the forefront of political debate and fracturing any religious conservative political coalitions.  This is a very dangerous alliance between groups who hunger for power and control, Sharia Law proponents and progressives.


Terrorists!!!

This tactic is so reactionary that I will not waste our time on it.  The very group that cannot recognize Islamic Jihad is accusing the general public, as embodied by the Tea Party grassroots movement, of being Jihadist terrorists. This may gain traction with MSNBC pundits trying to grab attention but it is just the nuclear fall-out from the Obama accusation that the Tea Party will not let him spend the country into bankruptcy.


Conclusion

The 2012 "billion dollar election" is heating up. The progressive left knows that it is facing an embarrassing and de-legitimizing defeat and is now a cornered animal. They have cornered themselves by not thinking independently and adhering to childish communist economic tenets. However, the drive to survive is bringing out the creative tactics that can only be described as "the progressive ends justify the vile, hateful, divisive means."


P.S.
Please visit the San Diego Local Order of Bloggers (http://www.theslobs.org/)  It is an excellent site to find informed and original Tea Party inspired ideas.