First it was toilets, now it's light bulbs

The last time the Donks controlled Congress we got the Gore-Toilet (the wimp flusher that saved no water because it required extra flushes and led to toilet smuggling). Well, the Donks are back in control of Congress and guess what? Now it's Gore-bulbs:

You know the energy bill that Congress passed and President Bush signed into law today? Tucked into the legislation is a provision that mandates the phase-out of the 125-year-old incandescent bulb in the next four to 12 years in favor of a new generation of trendy, supposedly energy-efficient Gorebulbs.

No one bothered to check the fine print at the White House?

These feel-good dim bulbs give you crappy lighting, don’t live up to their longevity promises, and are a pain in the neck to dispose of–but they sure make enviro-nitwits and Big Greenie water-carriers feel good about themselves.

I tried the compact fluorescents some years back because I have some ceiling fixtures in the out buildings whose bulbs are a pain to change and I liked the idea of 5-year life. Well, despite the package claims they were noticeably dimmer than incandescents and lasted no longer. When they burned out, I threw them in the trash like I and 99% of the citizenry do with all burned out fluorescents. Now we're supposed to save them for some sort of hazardous waste disposal. Sounds like a heck of a plan to me.

Still there is some good news. Most global warming profiteering is for the swells like Al Gore, but here's a way for the little guy to cash in. I'm just going to clear some space and stock up with cases of incandescents. I'll see ya on eBay in a few years.

Bad news for Al Gore's carbon credit profits

Well respected BBC Science Correspondent and Science Editor Dr. David Whitehouse mentions the unmentionable (if you are an ecoweenie or professional UN bureaucrat or investor in carbon credit scams with Al Gore) in Has Global Warming Stopped?

'The fact is that the global temperature of 2007 is statistically the same as 2006 and every year since 2001'

Global warming stopped? Surely not. What heresy is this? Haven’t we been told that the science of global warming is settled beyond doubt and that all that’s left to the so-called sceptics is the odd errant glacier that refuses to melt?

Aren’t we told that if we don’t act now rising temperatures will render most of the surface of the Earth uninhabitable within our lifetimes? But as we digest these apocalyptic comments, read the recent IPCC’s Synthesis report that says climate change could become irreversible. Witness the drama at Bali as news emerges that something is not quite right in the global warming camp.

With only few days remaining in 2007, the indications are the global temperature for this year is the same as that for 2006 – there has been no warming over the 12 months.

But is this just a blip in the ever upward trend you may ask? No.

The fact is that the global temperature of 2007 is statistically the same as 2006 as well as every year since 2001. Global warming has, temporarily or permanently, ceased. Temperatures across the world are not increasing as they should according to the fundamental theory behind global warming – the greenhouse effect. Something else is happening and it is vital that we find out what or else we may spend hundreds of billions of pounds needlessly.

I'm sure Al Gore would explain to poor misguided Dr. Whitehouse that it has very little to do with any actual global warming and everything to do with political control of those pesky little people not to mention ill gotten gains from carbon credit scams like Al Gore's Generation Investment Management.

Merry Tossmas

Around here folks still have the quaint custom of wishing each other Merry Christmas. One never knows how long that will last given the fact that our betters in the Washington DC suburbs can't even say holiday in the schools. I suspect we'll know the end is nigh when the Federal Government calendar of holidays labels Christmas as Solstice Day or some such. Still, as a rearguard action, I can't help but admire the folks at Citizen Link for their creation of a new pre Solstice Day celebration called Tossmas. Ah, now I feel much better.

More fun with Hillary's holiday commercial

I've talked to several people who couldn't believe that the original Hillary holiday commercial wasn't some sort of Clinton campaign joke gone badly awry. Nope, she's serious folks, seriously deranged:

Watch out for credit card theft!

If you aren't careful, some dumb bimbo could be spending your money like water!




(Hat tip to Herr Schlong for the pointer to the improved version of Her Heinous' commercial.)

Finally, an explanation of Mike Huckabee

I knew that cornpone mixture of naivete, snake oil, and half-assed socialism sounded familiar. Selwyn Duke does the honors at The American Thinker in describing The Huckabee Hustle:

When evangelicals embraced Jimmy Carter during the 1976 presidential campaign, they didn't know he would repudiate the Southern Baptist Convention a generation later. Today the very same constituency has glommed onto Mike Huckabee, and I can't help but lament how history truly does repeat itself.

One can see why the man I dubbed "Huck the Huckster" would appeal to evangelicals. He's a pro-life Southern Baptist minister with charm, wit and a good-ol'-boy, yuck-it-up style. Yet this resplendent exterior only serves to obscure the stain of liberal sin.

Huck would be a disaster - a disaster - on immigration. In fact, in 2006 he compared those who would crack down on illegals to antebellum slave masters, saying,

"One of the great challenges facing us is that we do not commit the same mistakes with our growing Hispanic population that we did with African Americans 150 years ago and beyond. We're still paying the price for the pathetic manner in which this country handled that."

Outrageously, it seems Huck can't distinguish between denying citizens the protection of the law and requiring non-citizens to follow it.

Gosh, it could be a Jimmy Carter sound bite. Of course the Huckster is trying to hide out on his past positions with a deviousness that is also familiar according to John Fund:

"‘He's just like Bill Clinton in that he practices management by news cycle,' a former top Huckabee aide told me. ‘As with Clinton there was no long-term planning, just putting out fires on a daily basis. One thing I'll guarantee is that won't lead to competent conservative governance.'"

Phyllis Schlafly credits the Huckster with destroying the conservative movement in Arkansas and leaving the Republican party in a shambles. No wonder the MSM loves the guy so much.

Still, despite all the vaunted MSM polls I have yet to meet a Huckabee supporter right here in the heart of The Bible Belt. The nearest town has a Baptist church on nearly every corner and the folks there think the Huckster is from outer space. Hmm, that's an alternative theory.

(Picture stolen from FR)

If Hillary wins, I'm going to England

Yep, that's right. If Hillary wins the 2008 election, I'm going to England and claim political asylum. Actually, no matter who wins the election, I'm going to England and claim political asylum. What better way to have a cheap European vacation and get £4,000 (that's currently $8,054 in real money).

Thousands of failed asylum seekers have been flown out of Britain and set up in business back home in a £36 million taxpayer-funded scheme, it can be revealed.

The unwanted foreigners, who had no legal right to remain, were given free flights, handed £1,000 in cash at the airport, then paid a further £3,000 to start enterprises in their homelands.

More than 23,000 migrants have taken advantage of the scheme. Their UK-funded businesses range from market stalls to hotels and clothes factories, in countries as far-flung as South Africa, China and Colombia.

The ostensible reason for this policy is that it is supposedly cheaper than the legal process for deporting them which I'm sure makes sense to those with a liberal mindset. They don't notice that they have just painted a big "Kick Me" on their hindquarters because they are too busy patting themselves on the back:

Organisers say the business start-up grants create jobs and prosperity in troubled regions of the world. Most of those returning have resettled successfully, although 300 have been caught trying to re-enter Britain.

I guess the latter needed more start-up cash.

The only downside is that while Britain's National Asylum Support Service (NASS) will give you housing and walking around money until they kick you out, it's not as luxurious as you may have heard:

NASS states:

Asylum seekers don't "jump the queue" for social housing, and so do not deprive UK nationals who are still on waiting lists. Asylum seekers are housed under separate arrangements funded by the Home Office and don't affect local authority housing lists.

Accommodation given to asylum seekers is not better than that provided to UK nationals. NASS has a model contract for use with housing providers which sets out minimum regulatory standards only. The contract does not require provision of special services or luxury goods.

Asylum seekers don't get free colour television sets, new cookers or washing machines or other electrical goods, or telephone facilities. They don't get free mobile phones or benefits to buy second-hand cars or new furniture.

Weekly cash payments provided to adults are worth 70% of Income Support.

Well heck. Maybe if I am real annoying they'll kick me out quick. I'll just sue for better accommodations.