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?"

It's all fun and games -- until someone gets fired...

'GSA Again Under Fire, Now Over Video Spoof'

Two House committees said Thursday they are investigating wasteful spending by the General Services Administration, following an inspector general's report criticizing a lavish conference in October 2010 in Las Vegas.

The Oversight and Government Reform Committee also released a six-minute video (below) that was reportedly shown at an awards ceremony at the conference in which a GSA employee is applauded and named "commissioner for the day" for rapping about what he would do if he were head of the agency.

Earlier this week, the White House accepted GSA chief Martha Johnson's resignation after she dismissed two deputies and suspended other career employees over the conference, which cost $820,000.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa's office issued the following press release regarding a video they uncovered of a General Services Administration (GSA) employee bragging about lavish taypayer funded perks he enjoyed while working there.

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Federal Worker “American Idle” Uncovered:

Winning Video Skit from Taxpayer Funded Luxury Las Vegas GSA Convention

Video featuring Federal Employees jokes about never being under Inspector General Investigation, Lavish GSA Spending

The video clips below are from the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) October 2010 Western Region Conference in Las Vegas, NV. It was played on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at the “Capstone Dinner Event.”

Obama better prepare, when I’m Commissioner.
I’d have a road show like [Acting Regional GSA Administrator Jeffrey] Neely, every time you see me rolling on 20s yeah, in my GOV.
Spend BA 61 all on fun.
ATF can’t touch GS-15 guns!
Cause I buy everything your field office can’t afford.
Every GS-5 would get a top hat award.
Donate my vacation, love to the nation,
I’ll never be under OIG investigation.

In congratulating the winner at the conference, Deputy Commissioner of the Public Building Service David Foley presents an award and jokes about the previous night’s lavish “party that was held in the commissioner’s suite,” having to respond to congressional oversight, and Obama Administration efforts to restrict executive pay. 
GSA Administrator Martha Johnson later resigned after the GSA Inspector General presented findings of abuse and waste of taxpayer dollars at the conference.

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UPDATE

GSA has issued a statement condemning the video that was released earlier today by Issa’s office, showing GSA employees joking about the 2010 conference.

“This video is another example of the complete lack of judgment exhibited during the 2010 Western Regions Conference. Our agency continues to be appalled by this indefensible behavior, and we are taking every step possible to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.” - GSA Spokesman

The train wreck that is High-Speed Rail...

Why do politicians love the idea of a railroad system that can never be what they promise it will be and will cost way more than they promise it will be delivered for?

The answer: because it's other people's money they're spending.

Liberals (aka: “Progressives”), on the other hand, have a different agenda at work: control.

In his latest column, "High Speed to Insolvency: Why liberals love trains," George Will explains why "America’s 'win the future' administration [is] so fixated on railroads, a technology that was the future two centuries ago?" The underlying reason, he points out, is that "progressivism’s aim is the modification of (other people’s) behavior."

Either reason, wasting tax money or infringing on liberties is reason enough to kill these programs.

If there’s one great thing that’s come out of this horrible economy, it’s that many people – voters and elected officials – have woken-up to the fact that projects like High-Speed Rail (HSR) are boondoggles. Total wastes. Because the poor economy is forcing tough choices on both groups, there is growing consensus that as cuts need to be made, wasteful projects like HSR should be among the first on the chopping block.

Let’s just hope we can keep cutting these rail projects quicker than their proponents say the make-believe trains on the make-believe systems would travel…