Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.
John Adams
Tweet of the Day
It's amazing to see Sanders do to the Dems what Ron Paul couldn't do with the GOP. The funny thing is that Hillary Clinton is no centrist.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
I think we seeing the start of a new American political era. It's starting to surface in deep blue states like Illinois and California.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
While those of us not in the ruling class of politicians and entitled government workers are trying to cope with a stagnant economy,(1 of 2)— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
the ruling class, including public sector unions, has done quick well, with steady compensation increases & up to 7-figure early retirements— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
You are now seeing major cities like Los Angeles & Chicago trying to cope with exploding Baby Boomer retirement costs, crowding out services— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Once the 5 of 6 private-sector workers figure they are the ones getting stuck with paying the bill for other workers' compensation it's over— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Right now Chicago is struggling with deteriorating bond ratings with defiant teacher unions, huge property taxes. Not to mention the state.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
The IL Dem-dominated legislature is desperately trying to raise state income taxes while trying to give unions a workaround to the GOP gov.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
How does this play out? Like the disasters in Greece or Venezuela? I suspect we'll see factionalism play out like in the 1820's.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
This doesn't mean necessarily a comeback for the GOP in urban areas. But I suspect that you will have a group of fiscal realists emerge.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
I think we've seen signs of a long overdue pushback against public pensions in California, of all places. Occupational deregulation, etc.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
But what about the Bernie Sanders movement, basically an extension of the Occupy Wall Street nonsense? Remember Chicago 1968? We got Nixon.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Remember Nixon's paranoia, his enemies' list, his abuse of Presidential authority?You ain't seen nothing yet. Trump is in your face.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
I know the polls look like they favor Sanders over Trump. But trust me: the GOP would love to run against George McGovern v 2.0— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Sanders is one Willie Horton ad away from political oblivion. Clinton doesn't want to alienate Sander's supporters. Trump will call him out.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
@ladydshops This is anti-immigrant rubbish. In most states, immigrant related expenditures amount to less than 5% of the relevant budget.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Donald Boudreaux rightly blasts the political whores Hillary Clinton & Bernie Sanders for trying to outlaw min wage exemptions for disabled— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
@ladydshops I have personally reviewed several studies which back what I saw. Try bothering immigration scholar Alex Nowrasteh with rubbish.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
@AlexNowrasteh Heaven help me. I was tweeting about city pension budget issues, when I got alt-right nativists arguing it's all "illegals".— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
@AlexNowrasteh I have very little patience with these retards citing FAIR chapter and verse. How many times do I have to block these guys?— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Something set me off this morning when anti-immigrant crackpots tweeted to me blaming immigrants for chronic public sector budget problems.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
One of the crackpots called me a "fake professor". LOL. I was a state employee in WI 1986-89, TX 89-90, IL 90-91. I wish I hadn't been.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Listen, when the percentage of the municipal budget on pensions goes from something like 6% 15 years ago to a third or so, what happens?— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Guess what happens since we've been stuck in the low economic growth trend since 2000? Tax revenues also grow sluggishly. Baby Boomers real.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
There are major US cities like NY and Chicago with more retired than active cops. In fact some retirees pull in more than active cops.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Whatever welfare issues exist with purported unauthorized workers, their numbers have stabilized or even decreased over the past 10 years.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Via Twitter parody account: Cherokee Lizzie Warren from her days playing VP to the Lone Ranger.No like Wash Redskins pic.twitter.com/Oz3MLRr9iy— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
The pension tsunami is not caused by unauthorized immigrants who are ineligible for the up to 7-figure retirements in multiple states.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
WashPo released poll results showing 9 in 10 Native Americans indifferent to "Washington Redskins".Not my choice but PC police more annoying— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Usually sports nicknames are honorific. I would not have used the name 'Redskin' knowing its historical use as a pejorative by non-Indians.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Getting back to the disabled/minimum wage kerfuffle: some disabled people have made nominal wages for light duties like stuffing envelopes.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
For many of these people it's not a question of "being exploited"; they feel like a contributing member of society. It's personal dignity.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
These "progressive" political whores are not acting on the behalf of the disabled when they price them out of a job and supportive community— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Wow, 1980 LP VP nominee David Koch is supporting Gary Johnson's LP campaign for President. And the Internet explodes. Slow news day.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Your vote makes a difference. #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Act now and apologize later. #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
One time, can't get pregnant #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
It tastes just like chicken #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
This won't hurt a bit. #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
He won't notice it's missing #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
No payments until next January #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
My wife doesn't suspect anything #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
What did the directions say? #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
He's not afraid of you #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Don't cash it until Monday #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
The directions are in Chinese #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
We don't need a plumber #BadIdeaIn5Words— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Obama reads his favorite regulations #MakeACelebBoring— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
Ben Stein calls on the student after Bueller #MakeACelebBoring— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 19, 2016
I have wide feet and have worn New Balance athletic shoes for years. But Veronique de Rugy points out NDAA protectionist provision for DoD.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 20, 2016
Tsongas (D-MA) inserted language which favors more expensive New Balance and less competition/selection for military recruits at troop store— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 20, 2016
Recruits receive a one-time stipend for sneakers.Congress in 1941 adopted the corrupt Berry Amendment favoring domestic vendors for uniforms— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 20, 2016
Athletic footware is not considered part of the uniform, hence exempt from Berry. The industry is dominated by Asian suppliers. NB lobbied.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 20, 2016
It just goes to show how Democrats, who constantly bash lobbying & campaign finances, have no problem selling out taxpayers for constituents— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 20, 2016
Corrupt Certificate of Need Laws in WVLess selection in footwear may exacerbate the $100M cost of injuries to military recruits. Current recruits can choose among 14 varations.— Ronald Guillemette (@raguillem) May 20, 2016
If Trump Were
Political Cartoon
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| Courtesy of Glenn McCoy via Townhall |
Rod Stewart, "Your Song". Some of Rod Stewart's remakes, like this take on the Elton John classic, are very good (like "Downtown Train") in bringing attention to the song to a whole new audience. "Have I Told You Lately", which I'll soon reprise, is an example; I loved it when the Van Morrison original hit the A/C charts in the late 80's (enough to buy the album just for one track); Rod Stewart made it his (last) Top 5 solo hit in 1993. I think as a pop singer, you have to be very wary of covering other people's hits; you need new, fresh material, and if you lose your hip audience, you probably won't get them back. (The BeeGees were like that and no doubt were overexposed by the end of the 70's; in their case, it wasn't a case of making the nostalgia circuit or doing retreads but when they started releasing new material several years later, it's like their core audience had moved on. Maybe they weren't able to reinvent themselves like they did so brilliantly in the disco era, although "One" blew me away.) I think when I was really young, I would be happy to get really inexpensive takes on original songs, because I liked the songs, but as I grew older, I wanted the original tracks. This particular remake is a nice interpretation within Stewart's style, but it's not a compelling variation and comes across to me as an artist's indulgence. I had heard the original literally hundreds of times, and Stewart really didn't do anything that different over the original arrangement.
