Steinberg For Congress

So long and thanks for all the fish... again

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:31:00 +0000

So the URL for this site expires in about a week... and I think I'm going to just let the site die. It's been fun, but I don't have time to keep up with this blog any longer and I'm sure you have better things to do than read my rants. If you haven't had enough, I'll make short rants on Facebook more often to make up for it.

Alan

What's Going on in Iran

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:14:00 +0000

So I'm getting a little fed up with all of the hoopla about what is going on in Iran. The number of armchair Iranian Political Experts that seem to keep coming up out of nowhere is amazing!

Its hard to believe how many Americans are willing to get involved in this issue but can't be bothered to get involved in a political debate when it directly involves their lives, or heck, even vote here in the U.S.

Before another person who knows nothing more than what they see on the news about the issue asks me to take up arms, choose a side, join a facebook group, or become the newest myspace friend of "Iranian Democracy," take some time to do some research.

This report is courtesy of Stratfor... try it on for size just to get another point of view of what is really going on in Iran. The issue at hand is not whether or not democracy was upheld during the recent elections...

The global media, obsessively focused on the initial demonstrators — who were supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s opponents — failed to notice that while large, the demonstrations primarily consisted of the same type of people demonstrating. Amid the breathless reporting on the demonstrations, reporters failed to notice that the uprising was not spreading to other classes and to other areas. In constantly interviewing English-speaking demonstrators, they failed to note just how many of the demonstrators spoke English and had smartphones. The media thus did not recognize these as the signs of a failing revolution.

Later, when Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke Friday and called out the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, they failed to understand that the troops — definitely not drawn from what we might call the “Twittering classes,” would remain loyal to the regime for ideological and social reasons. The troops had about as much sympathy for the demonstrators as a small-town boy from Alabama might have for a Harvard postdoc. Failing to understand the social tensions in Iran, the reporters deluded themselves into thinking they were witnessing a general uprising. But this was not St. Petersburg in 1917 or Bucharest in 1989 — it was Tiananmen Square.

Perhaps even more interesting that all of this is their conclusion...

We continue to believe two things: that vote fraud occurred, and that Ahmadinejad likely would have won without it. Very little direct evidence has emerged to establish vote fraud, but several things seem suspect.

So for all those people out there calling for the support of the opposition candidate, calling for revolution, calling me too many times a day, think about the possibility that the majority of the Iranian people might just have the leader they want.

And This Is Why I Don't Watch Cable News Shows

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:07:00 +0000

I am not sure which is more sad... that people are so upset about David Letterman's joke or that the news would waste air time to the people who are upset about it. Why spend my time editorializing this when its already been done for me in a great video by Wayne Gladstone...

HBN: 7 Hypocritical Moments in Fox's Letterman/Palin Report -- powered by Cracked.com

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Embryonic Stem Cell Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:21:00 +0000

Teaching Jobs and the Press

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:17:00 +0000

For years all I have heard about being a school teacher was that the pay is low and that there are never enough. However, today I read that the "job market looks tough for aspiring teachers." The article says how there are less teaching jobs available this year than last. Why must we put a negative spin on everything in the news?!?

This article should have read, "Students to have better teachers due to competition in the marketplace." Since when is it bad that there are actually enough people applying to be teachers? Since I've been in school I keep hearing that there are plenty of jobs but not enough applicants. Then I hear the pay is too low to attract good teachers... yet it seems that plenty of people are attracted, so many that there are not enough jobs available!

Seriously, find something better to bitch about cause whats happening here seems to be a good thing!

Editor's Note: I know teachers and former teachers read this, I'm looking forward to the rebuttal!

Real American Money Wasters: Rep. Kosmas

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:27:00 +0000

Today I salute you Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24)....

When no one thought you could waste money on something so frivolous during an economic crisis, you found a way by leading a delegation of congress members to witness the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour this Saturday, June 13th.

Oh what a waste....

Claiming that this will help members of congress "understand the importance of our human spaceflight program for our economy, national security, and technological supremacy," you really are only showing the American people how well you can plan a vacation.

Oh yes you can...

So sit back and let yourself enjoy the show, pop open the government coffers for your benefit, as you waste tax dollars to amuse fellow members of congress who already support the space program.

Oh, what a waste of government money that people will yet again ignore......

Down Side to Fuel Efficient Cars?

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:41:00 +0000

A recent Houston chronicle article points out that as cars get more fuel efficient, there is less money to build and repair our roads. Each gallon of gas includes 18.4 cents that goes to the federal government and 20 cents that goes to Texas. This money is suppose to be used to fund transportation projects... and if it actually was then we would not even have a problem to talk about. But instead the money is diverted... 5 cents to public education. While I'm all for public education I don't see why it is tied to gas taxes rather than something else. More annoyingly is that another 4 cents goes to the Department of Public Safety. These funds should be diverted back to the roadways and the problem would be solved. Or at least alleviated for now...

While the article mentions the idea of charging per mile people drive... it also acknowledges the havoc that would be created by such a system. “A vehicle mile tax is politically unpalatable, especially for rural areas,” said U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands. But he acknowledged that the revenue problem is real and Congress should muster the “political will” to tackle the problem. Okay Congressman, I applaud you for acknowledging that someone should do something, but what a cop out. This is not congresses problem... this is a Texas problem! So lets stop passing the buck and fix problems at home.

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Keith Olbermann

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:40:00 +0000

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Hate Mail

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 29 May 2009 00:13:00 +0000

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: The Dark Pelosi

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 22 May 2009 16:38:00 +0000

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Updates, and the Naked Twitter Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:53:00 +0000

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Happy Prayer Day

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:46:00 +0000

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Steven's Epic Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:46:00 +0000

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: R.I.P. Perez Hilton

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:01:00 +0000

It's Easy to Score 100% When Teacher Gives the Answers

mlucinski@yahoo.com (mlucinski) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Remember the flames of outrage that scorched the federal vomitoriums in 2006 over preparedness grants released to localities by the Department of Homeland Security? High target cities like New York and Washington received much less money in the 2006 grant round compared to 2005. Whoever produced New York City's threat and vulnerability matrix apparently identified no "national monuments or landmarks" in the Big Apple. I'm sure The Daily Show had fun with that.

Jon Stewart [smirking]: My expression indicates how ridiculous I believe this notion to be.

[audience laughs hysterically despite lack of punchline.]

Those dark days are over, thanks to our overlords in Congress who never met an expectation for the public sector they couldn't lower. The target funding levels for the FY 2009 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) was released late last year. Scroll down to Page 13. The State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) is a subset of the HSGP and the "core" preparedness grant program. To wit:

States should apply for 110 percent of the targeted allocation. FEMA may increase or decrease final SHSP allocations by up to 10 percent based on the effectiveness analysis.

Since each state's target allocation is listed on the page, and they'll only lose 10 percent of the targeted allocation when applying, Congress has effectively eliminated any incentive for the states to craft useful plans for the money. If Missouri knows Congress wants to give it $11.3 million, all the Show-Me State needs to do is file an application that's 10 percent above $11.3 million. At worst, MO gets 100 percent of 11. 3 million.

And wasn't this the same program that Democrats (and Long Island Rep. Peter King) complained about when the GOP controlled Congress? That small and empty states got money that should go to states with obvious urban targets? Applications were due last month. If history serves as a guide, award announcements will go out in May or June.

Michael Lucinski

MLK Money

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:42:00 +0000

I'm a greedy capitalist who is not quick to part with my money... but even I would not steep this low! When the statue of me is constructed I would not want my heirs to profit from the occasion. I am pretty sure Martin Luther King would be on the same page. For those who may have forgotten, the man wanted equality not reparations. The family of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has charged the foundation building a monument to the U.S. civil rights leader on the National Mall about $800,000 for the use of his words and image — an arrangement one leading scholar says King would have found offensive. I find this pretty offensive too! In fact... this act alone makes me not want to support this monument. I sure am glad I did not donate to the project just so the foundation could make a quick buck... foreshame! Great man... greedy kids... typical American family!

On the other side of the coin is Jim Dancy of Richland. He won $10,000 in the lotto and decided others needed it more than he did. He gave his winnings to the United Way. Why can't we have more people like him in the world?!? At a time when unemployment is at 8.5%, the highest its been since I've been alive, and even the postal service is going broke, one would think the King family would have better sense. News like this is just going to lead to less people wanting to support a monument that should be built. We won't go into all the other issues this memorial has had.

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Obama the Pee Wee

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 02:57:00 +0000

Invasion Through Population

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:33:00 +0000

Israel has worried in the past that the country would gradually be taken over by non-Jews simply do the immigration of Palestinians. Other nations have had similar concerns, especially those with low birth rates that neighbor those with high ones. But it seems that the United States is facing a new concern... invasion through birth! Its one thing to think about illegal immigration and related concerns... but the big concern is their legally born children. It was reported that in 2003, 2.7 million children of illegal immigrants were born in this country. Just to put this in perspective... that is more invading babies than the number of U.S. troops serving in the armed forces! Rumor has it that these babies are born armed... with 2 of them no less.

China and Iran have concerns about young people with no jobs who may attempt to over throw the government... in fact, Russia and Germany had such an uprising. But these kids are all-American, with nothing to worry about being that they live in a rich country with plenty of opportunity. Heck, they can even work here legally! But the report states that "Illegal immigrants' children born in the United States are American citizens, yet they struggle in poverty and uncertainty along with parents who fear deportation, toil largely in low-wage jobs and face layoffs in an ailing economy." Hmmm... sounds like they are ripe for revolution!

But not to worry, cause there are plenty of U.S. Citizens who would prevent such an uprising... right? Well, assuming they are not being held as illegal immigrants. Thankfully most of those wrongly held are also wrongly deported so they won't join the rebellion against the government!

Personally I'm not concerned about either of these two issues. We've got an asteroid coming to wipe out human civilization, yet we worry about lines on a map... I'm glad our priorities are in order!

The Empire Needs You!

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 08:09:00 +0000

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Silly Canadians!

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:32:00 +0000

All Are Free; Some Are More Than Others

mlucinski@yahoo.com (mlucinski) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:18:00 +0000

Two political science professors of a libertarian bent -- one of whom teaches at my alma mater -- ranked the 50 states on their economic and personal freedom. Economic freedom encompassed a number of issues including health insurance mandates, eminent domain laws, labor laws, regulatory policy, etc. Personal freedom was ranked by gambling regulations, alcohol and drug laws, gun control, home-schooling regulations, etc.

Here are the top ten and bottom ten:

1. New Hampshire
2. Colorado
3. South Dakota
4. Idaho
5. Texas
6. Missouri
7. Tennessee
8. Arizona
9. Virginia
10. North Dakota

40. Vermont
41. Connecticut
42. Illinois
43. Massachusetts
44. Washington
45. Hawaii
46. Maryland
47. California
48. Rhode Island
49. New Jersey
50. New York

Excelsior! As a 20+ year (former) resident of New York and current resident of Maryland, I am not shocked by their inclusion at the bottom of the list. One would be hard pressed to identify the most liberal states and not include the ones found in the bottom ten. I'm surprised Virginia is in the Top 10. The personal property tax alone should drop them down into the 20s.

To residents of New York, I offer the sage advice Denethor, steward of Gondor, gave to his troops after seeing Sauron's armies massed outside the White City: "FLEE! FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES!" It's an interesting study and worth a read.

Michael Lucinski

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Joe Freaking Biden

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:48:00 +0000

What is Life Worth?

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:22:00 +0000

Four different cases where a life was worth very different amounts, but all decided in the past week:

Nathaniel Robinson, died from "excited delirium," a condition in which the person suddenly stops breathing after being forcibly restrained. He was only worth a $600,000 settlement.

Nachshon Wachsman, who was kidnapped and executed by Hamas in 1994, turned out to be worth about $25 million. We all know that this will never happen... but the best part was the tenacity of the judge to figure that $3 million is due to lost earnings due to the estate because he planned to become a doctor one day.

Jesse Williams, a janitor in Portland who started smoking during a 1950s Army hitch and died in 1997, six months after he was diagnosed with lung cancer, turned out to be worth about $80 Million. While only $800,000 was in actual damages, the punitive damages make up the rest.

Wally, my fish. $3.95 at Walmart.

Why Pay for Music When You Can Move to China?

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:47:00 +0000

I refuse to pay for MP3s or any other music on line. I don't download it "illegally" either, so don't worry RIAA. So I only listen on the radio, live venues, and to bands that want me to listen to their work (i.e. they give it away). Meanwhlie sites like Hulu and major networks have figured out how to make money on me... ad supported free video watching. What a concept!

Intersetingly, this doesn't exist in the music realm. Despite that radio is just that! But in the meantime, Google and major music labels have teamed up to reward illegal downloading in China by putting just such a system in place!

"Google and the Big Four music labels have launched an ad-supported music service in China in an attempt to make online music profitable there. The venture, launched along with 14 independent labels, will have to compete with search engines that point users to thousands of copyrighted music files for free, but Google hopes that this will make it even easier for users to find what they want online while ensuring artists get paid for their work."

So to sum it up... if everyone downloads "illegally," we all win by getting free music. So I encourage you to do so... or at least stop paying for MP3s you fools!

Getting Louder with Steven Crowder: Obama Song

noreply@blogger.com (Alan Steinberg) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:33:00 +0000