Wimpy...

Obama: 'Couldn't be prouder of the job' Susan Rice has done

According to TPM LiveWire, "Wednesday, President Barack Obama took the opportunity to praise United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice. 'Susan Rice is extraordinary,' Obama said in a response to a question shouted from a reporter. 'Couldn't be prouder of the job she's done.'"

Well, she did take the Benghazi heat off him.

That's some fine work there! As the brouhaha over U.S. UN Ambassador Susan Rice continued, it appears MSNBC got their Rices wrong. If you'll notice in the lower left of the screen shot below, former Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice has been confused with Susan Rice.

It could happen to anyone...right?

It pays to know the right people: "According to a report from OnEarth, which cites U.N. ambassador Susan Rice’s financial-disclosure reports, the potential secretary of state nominee holds significant stakes in several Canadian oil companies and banks that would benefit enormously from the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The construction of the pipeline was blocked by the State Department earlier this year, but, if nominated and confirmed as secretary of state, Rice would be involved in the postponed approval process. Rice, whose net worth is estimated around $33 million, owns between $300,000 and $600,000 worth of stock in TransCanada, according to her 2011 financial disclosure report. TransCanada is the original developer and sole owner of the Keystone Pipeline project. The company has already started building the southern section of the pipeline, and continues to seek government approval to build the northern portion."

(h/t: NRO's The Corner)

"The American public? We could take 'em or leave 'em." - "In response to a question from reporter Major Garrett on whether the Obama administration's mishandling of Benghazi raises 'core questions of basic competency,' press secretary Jay Carney revealed that Barack Obama 'is not particularly concerned' about whether Susan Rice misled the American people."

I guess we missed the 2012 election slogan: "Re-elect me and I won't give a @#$%!"




From The Bliss Index' Econ 101 class: Remember, one of the first lessons is, "Money goes where it's treated best." The latest example - "Two-thirds of millionaires left Britain to avoid 50 [percent] tax rate: Almost two-thirds of the country’s million-pound earners disappeared from Britain after the introduction of the 50 [percent] top rate of tax, figures have disclosed." 

California, are you paying attention? (Probably not.)

In case you were wondering: Yes, the dog is edible. (Which wouldn't be the first for Mr. Obama...)

'nuf said...

Forward?

Here comes the boom? - Dear Mr. President and Vice President: Remember when you poo-poo'd Iran's nuclear build-up? Check out this nifty little graph --

So what does it mean? It means, "Iranian scientists have run computer simulations for a nuclear weapon that would produce more than triple the explosive force of the World War II bomb that destroyed Hiroshima, according to a diagram obtained by The Associated Press." So, yeah...nothing to worry about here.

More great news from The Recovery! - "The median wealth of U.S. households is the lowest since 1969: 
New research found that while median wealth plummeted, the top 1 percent increased wealth by 71 percent."

Your tax dollars at work! - "Head of Fed Dept. Wasted Thousands in SUV Rental for Three Block Drive." Apparently, a big wig over at the Federal Maritime Commission spent more than $1,600 a month for a 2011 Chevy Tahoe, fully loaded with leather seats and GPS. The agency also spent up to $75 an hour for a staff member to drive the vehicle in the nation's capital -- to avoid a three block walk. (Video below.)

"California's economy remains shaky" -- Let's see...higher taxes, burdensome regulations, a lawsuit happy state...gee, ya think?

Fiscal "cliff" or "iceberg?"

O', Cyber Monday...

The long weekend is over -- welcome back to reality.

So who was he thanking? - "Yet again, President Obama’s Thanksgiving message eschewed any direct reference to thanking God, making this the fourth straight year in which the President of the United States has ignored the central message of the holiday in favor of political grandstanding."

Just a photo opp?


From NorthJersey.com: Donna Vanzant struggled through flooded streets and downed power lines two days after superstorm Sandy to reach the ravaged marina she owns in Brigantine [NJ]. Secret Service agents were combing the area when she finally arrived, and by the time the afternoon was over, she had met President Obama and shared an emotional hug with him. The following morning, the image of that embrace, [above], was published and broadcast by news outlets around the world. [The photographer] returned to Brigantine last week to see how she was doing.

All but one of the boats in her North Point Marina that were pushed as far as three blocks away by the storm surge have now been recovered, but there is much left to do. Vanzant estimates that her business losses will amount to at least $500,000, including the cost of repairing the marina. Her son Stephen, 26, took a two-week leave from the Navy to come home to help out. He has started a Facebook page called Rebuild North Point Marina to seek contributions. Vanzant has been moved by the many kindnesses she received from friends, family and customers. She heard from countless people after the photograph of her hug with the president was published, including from strangers as far away as Vietnam who wished her well.

She said she was honored to meet Obama, but she is also frustrated that she has yet to receive help from either her insurance companies or the government. "The president told me I would get immediate help," she said.

"Looking back on it, it wasted a lot of people’s time," she said of the visit.

Regarding our economic predicaments...




Do you live in a "death spiral" state? - "Thinking about buying a house? Or a municipal bond? Be careful where you put your capital. Don’t put it in a state at high risk of a fiscal tailspin." 

Wanna guess which states are the worst? Here's a hint: they're "blue states." 


California Gov. Jerry Brown: killing it...

It pays to know the right people: "Obama Donors Got $21,000 in Government Money for Every $1 They Gave." There is a "recovery"...for some folks.


"What's in your wallet?"


"Lord and Savior?" Really? - Actor/comedian Jamie Foxx (at the BET Awards) praises Barack Obama...



Yes, Virginia, there is a liar: Disagreeing with Obama can ruin Christmas, says White House report.

The day after...

So, are you still thankful...or just full?

Time's a wastin', so let's jump right into the post-Thanksgiving Day bloggage...



Might these be Saddam's old toys? - Why would Czech anti-chemical warfare troops [be working] in Jordan? Foreign Policy.com's John Reed posts the following: "Czech troops are in Jordan, providing technical expertise in case Syria's massive stockpile of chemical weapons is somehow unleashed by the Assad regime, rebels, or terrorists. "We do have the traditional CBRN [chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear warfare] specialization, we have our anti-chemical units in the Gulf, in Kuwait . . .  we do have some even in Afghanistan, we do have some cooperation now with Jordan because of the danger with Syria," Czech Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra told Killer Apps yesterday while discussing the Czech military's special role within NATO: dealing with CBRN threats. While there are reports of some of the Syrian government's advanced Russian-made SA-24 handheld surface-to-air missiles falling into rebel hands, we have yet to see evidence of Assad's chemical or biological weapons making their way out of their supposedly secure storage sites -- although there are reports of government troops moving the chem/bio weapons in an effort to keep them safe. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta recently told the White House that any military effort to secure Syria's chemical weapons would take tens of thousands of troops.  

So how's that "Arab Spring" workin' out for ya? The Muslim Brotherhood's mouthpiece/leader in the Land of the Pharaoh hasn't even been in power a year and he's looking more and more like a dictator who could end up being worse than the deposed former leader: "citing deadlock, Egypt’s leader seizes new power and plans Mubarak retrial." It appears that the Islamicists learned well from their Nazi friends back in the day.



Memories: In 1941, Haj Amin al-Husseini (the Muslim leader in Jerusalem) fled to Germany and met with Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, Joachim Von Ribbentrop and other Nazi leaders. He wanted to persuade them to extend the Nazis’ anti-Jewish program to the Arab world.

Egypt, pt. 2: "Protests rock Egypt after Morsi seizes new powers."

Meanwhile back in the good ol' US of A...

Welcome to Katrina, Part 2: Here's a choice headline, "NYC sends health teams to post-Sandy food handouts, rubbing some wrong way," which goes with a choice story - "Bobby Eustace, an 11-year veteran with the city's fire department tells FoxNews.com that on Sunday he and his fellow firefighters from Ladder 27 in the Bronx were issued a notice of violation for not maintaining restaurant standards in a tent set up in Breezy Point, Queens, to feed victims and first responders. 'It’s just a little ridiculous. The inspector came up and asked if we were wearing hairnets. I told him, ‘We have helmets. This is a disaster area,’' Eustace told FoxNews.com. “Then he asked is we had gloves and thermometers [for food]. I said, “Yeah, we have rectal and oral. Which one do you want?’ He wasn’t amused.'” Glad to see the bureaucracies have their priorities in order.


Rules are rules!

“The more you know” - Is Hollywood aware of the fact that NBC News Vetoed Chelsea Clinton's Marriage Equality ads? "Videos prepared by former First Daughter, who supports marriage equality, would have been used in Washington state and by TheFour.com. But NBC News, where Clinton has worked for the past year, wouldn't allow it." Haters!

If you want an example of what not to do, you need look no further than California: "Anyone who thinks that President Obama's economic policies will spur strong growth should consider U-Haul rates between California and Texas. Renting a 20-foot truck one-way from San Francisco to San Antonio, for example, will cost $1,693. But the U-Haul tab to go in the opposite direction is just $983." 

Finally, if you read one article this week, read this one: "The “Hollywood Holocaust” and Other Cold War Myths." It puts things into perspective and corrects the revisionists.


Farewell...Larry Hagman...

Breaking news..."Larry Hagman, who became a TV icon with his starring roles onDallas and I Dream of Jeannie, died from complications of cancer on Friday in Dallas, Texas. "It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for," Hagman's family wrote in a statement. Hagman, who was seen as recently as this year on TNT's reboot of "Dallas," is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, actress Maj Axelsson." (h/t: Daily Beast). It was said that Romania's communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu showed "Dallas" in Romania to demonstrate how evil Capitalism was, but they loved it so much they shot Ceausescu. On a personal note, when I was in college, Mr. Hagman often frequented the bar I worked at. He was nice but kept to himself. A real gentleman...just sippin' his drink. RIP, Mr. Hagman.

Thanksgiving, 2012...

No matter the adversity, no matter the foe, no matter the conditions, we Americans have much to be thankful for -- Thanksgiving Day or not.

Through the years, the Thanksgiving story has evolved into more than just a recollection of Pilgrims and Native Americans sitting down to a feast. Still, it's important to remember how it first came to be.



In its first incarnation, the Pilgrims' experiment in socialism was an utter failure. It was only after they "had the humility to learn from their initial mistakes and embrace freedom" that they succeeded.

Much is said and written about Abraham Lincoln's "Proclamation of Thanksgiving," but George Washington probably contributed the most significant proclamation regarding "thanks" in the years following the Pilgrims' celebration.



Here is Washington's proclamation:

[New York, 3 October 1789]

By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor–and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be–That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions–to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Finally, whether you're eating turkey, watching football, gathered with family and friends, or guarding our liberties in some American outpost, it's important for us to remember all the bounties we've been given; we can never forget the multitude of blessings we enjoy; or the greatness of thisexceptional nation. Today is, most certainly, a day of Thanksgiving.

As we head off to our Bliss Index feast, we leave you with a bit of Thanksgiving levity: the now-infamous "WKRP in Cincinnati" Turkey Drop episode, wherein this classic line is uttered: "As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly."

Save your thanks...

...for tomorrow.

It may be slow around your workplace or neighborhood today, but there is a lot going on in our world (not everyone is getting the turkey and fixin's ready for Thanksgiving!)...

The Middle East, again... 

If you're in Israel and you're worried about incoming Hamas missiles -- yeah, there's an app for that (see video below):

 

When it comes to peace between the warring tribes, there is hope -- at least here in the U.S.: On Thanksgiving, Jews and Muslims volunteer together despite Middle East violence...

Another case of Now & Then...

Then- Reagan: “We should invest in an anti-missile defense system.” 

Media: “What a loon.”

Now-Obama: “We should invest in an anti-missile defense system.”
Media: “Brilliant!”

Meanwhile, Benghazi won't go away (much to the unhappiness of the administration).

Good riddance: "Mumbai attack gunman Qasab executed Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole surviving gunman from the 2008 Mumbai attacks, has been hanged in an Indian prison."

As we watch Hillary Clinton ride off into the sunset -- at least as far as being Secretary of State is concerned -- what exactly has she accomplished?  

Here at home...

You might not matter: "

Obama’s ‘Constituency Groups’ Checklist Offers No Options for Whites or Men" (see official campaign survey below)...

Because they're special: "Federal Workers to Congress: Leave Us Out of Deficit Deal"... 

Well, they are better than you:  "36 Obama aides owe $833,970 in back taxes"...

News item: "Treasury Sec. Timothy Geithner suggests eliminating debt limit"...

More great news from "The Recovery!" - More Americans will use food stamps for Thanksgiving this year than ever before... 

Remember when Tea Party members were arrested, tried and convicted of trying to blow up things like bridges? Yeah, me neither...

Today's Hall of Shame entry: "Woman's disrespect at Tomb of Unknowns Sparks Outrage." Too say the least...

And finally...

Looks like the L-tryptophan from the turkey kicked in a little early...

It's been a while...

It's been a wild and woolly couple of months...hence, the long gap 'tween the last time this blog published and today.

Well, wait no more. It's the return of The Bliss Index!

Let us begin...

More than two months later, and we still haven't heard the truth from the White House...

Meanwhile, in a place called the Middle East...

Remember when Ronald Reagan proposed a missile defense system and was roundly laughed at for his "crazy and unworkable Star Wars ideas?" Yeah, about that. Over in Israel, its "Iron Dome" anti-missile system is knocking out about 90 percent of all rockets fired at its civilian populations. Not too bad. Pretty, pretty, pretty good....  

I'm crossing that Porsche off my Christmas list. No, I want this baby -- below -- from Israel (which seems to be doing its job just fine)...

In case you were wondering: this is Gaza...

And elsewhere...

Our president, practicing more of that "smart diplomacy" he promised...

Picture this! -- Your tax dollars at work!

And finally, some great news to cheer you up: Apparently, 2013 is shaping up to look a lot like 1937. Why is that bad? "In this case, “1937” means a market drop similar to the one after the re-election of another Democratic president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, in 1936." So there's that to look forward to...

Bonus: the perfect wrap to any story or bit of blogging on the Middle East: the Clash's 1982 hit, "Rock The Casbah."