Free Republic

I really want to watch Newsmax and OAN but can’t seem to pause, rewind, or fast forward live shows on either one. Anyone know how?

The Cal Veterans home loan program is the ONLY bond measure on the CA ballot that will not cost taxpayers anything!

Here’s how it works: CA sells bonds that finance home loans to CA VETS. The CA Vets pay their mortgages, which repays the bonds, including interest. This program has a 100% track record of the bonds being repaid by the VETS themselves.

ZERO out of pocket for the taxpayers!

I sent that link to Drudge and Fox News as well.

We’ll see if they pick up the story...

Philip J. Berg, Esq. Files Federal Lawsuit Requesting Obama Be Removed as a Candidate as he does not meet the Qualifications for President

http://www.obamacrimes.com/index.php/component/content/article/1-philip-j-berg-esq-files-federal-lawsuit-requesting-obama-be-removed-as-a-candidate-as-he-does-not-meet-the-qualifications-for-president

Waterloo?

Did anyone notice this little bit of info from the dailymotion.com link in post 100?

“Kind of a bizarre moment in Waterloo, IA”.

http://www.dailymotion.com/hillary2008/video/5816279

All the United States Fault!

Here 's a transcript of the liveleak video:

“Invited by a Congressman, with one more chance to be heard, Elvira Arellano arrived at the Mexican capitol looking to find the support of the Mexican Congress.”
“And trying to persuade this country to push forward immigration reform between both countries.”
“The United States is the one who broke the law first.”
“By letting people cross over without documents.”
“By letting people pay taxes.”
“For me it has been very hard.”
“But I know I am not alone.”

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Investment_Management

 
Pacific Investment Management From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO) is an investment company and runs the Total Return fund, the world's largest bond fund. Founded in 1971 in Newport Beach, California with $12 million in assets under management, it is now owned by Allianz, a global insurance company based in Munich, Germany. The PIMCO Total Return fund, along with others, is managed by Bill Gross. As of July 30, 2007, it had $103.6 billion in assets. As of July 30, 2007, PIMCO in total had $687 billion in assets under management and 824 employees.

On May 16th 2007, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan was hired as a special consultant by PIMCO and he will participate in Pimco’s quarterly economic forums and speak privately with the bond manager about Fed interest rate policy.[1]

McCain Straight Talk Express

Much more info here:

http://ydr.com/story/main/49494/

Errr, Batrachian seems to be from New Jersey...

You're right in saying the problem is with the Democrat controlled legislature. Just look at some of the "laws" they have passed recently: $200,00 administrative fine for discriminating against cross dressers or transvestites in hiring, "Rights" for domestic partners, employers with 20 or more employees forced to pay for health care, driver's licenses for illegals, etc.

They papered over the deficit in the last budget with borrowing and tricks, like selling future tobacco settlement funds as bonds, borrowing $10.7 billion by selling "deficit" bonds, borrowing another $1.9 billion to pay for retirement payments to Calpers, it goes on and on.

In California, bonds must go before the people for a vote. There are law suits pending on the bond sales, as the legislature didn't think this little detail was necessary. If the suits are successful, which is likely, and Arnie repeals the car tax increase, the REAL deficit will be close to $30 billion...

The real fireworks are about to start.

If you're on this forum I would think you'd understand that when the public sector gets too big it destroys a society. Public workers and programs aren't what made America great and they aren't what made California great. Freedom and capitalism are what made them great, and when a state takes too much it destroys freedom and capitalism. Do you really need so many social workers and clerks and beaurocrats? All public workers are not policemen and firemen that at least provide a necessary service. How many translators does your state employ because of all the illegal immigrants? It's a two pronged problem. Too many public workers and too generous contracts. They also get medical and overtime. That's how you get a $38 billion deficit.

I agree that the California government is far too large. Having been a Californian most of my life, and having worked for the state for several years, I've seen the unchecked growth. On this, we agree 100%. There are far too many programs, bureaucrats, and people used to handouts. It's time to curtail them!

My point is that painting all state workers with a broad brush, and saying they don't deserve a retirement is not the way to correct the problem.

A full accounting of just where the money is going is in order. Selective cuts are needed.

Tell me this. You work for a private company, correct. Does that company contribute to your retirement in any way? If they do, the customers of your company are paying for your retirement, indirectly, are they not??

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/recall/story/7579497p-8520553c.html

The state plans to sell a $1.9 billion bond to cover its payments to the state retirement system. Another $10.7 billion bond would retire the deficit remaining from the 2002-03 fiscal year.

As you can see, it's NOT "Almost $13 billion just in bonds to cover pensions, on top of the existing tax burden." as you stated.

Little known fact: The State and other governmental agencies got a free ride for several years, while times were good. They contributed NOTHING to CALPERS for several years in the 90's. Instead of socking money away during the good times, Davis and the legislature spent like drunken sailors (apologies to sailors everywhere).

Here's a little something I posted here on FR on this subject, a while back:

Davis knew of the budget shortfalls as far back as '2000. At the labor negotiations that year, his people refused to give raises to most state workers. He did give sweetheart deals to 3 groups, highway patrol, fire fighters, and prison guards. Some of these groups are now supporting him, against the recall. Everyone else got no raise. Instead, he used a "creative financing" trick. Up to that time, state workers had been contributing 5% toward their own retirements. The '2000 contracts stipulated that the state would pay 1/2 of that 5% the first year, then all of the 5% the second year. At the end of the contracts (now), the state workers would start paying that 5% again, and would receive a 5% pay increase. Wild isn't it? The net effect was a 5% increase over 3 years. Not overly generous in my opinion. The situation now is that the employees must start paying their 5% retirement, but without a budget, there will not be an offsetting 5% pay increase. Yes, their net paychecks will go down.

It never ceases to amaze me that so many people assume that government workers are useless, overpaid hacks, not deserving what little pay they receive. The news is full of stories about "overpaid government workers". What crap. The truth is that the state of CA has had major problems attracting employees for years, because the pay of state workers is often 10% - 25% LESS than that elsewhere.

Don't believe me??? I left a Sr. position in state service last year, going to a non Sr. position, for $10,000 a year more, elsewhere.

Joajuin

I don't work for the State of CA, but I have several friends who do. It never ceases to amaze me when people make remarks like yours. Are you saying that ALL State workers don't deserve a retirement plan? Do they contribute NOTHING??

Tell me, now; who do you work for, and what's your pension like, hmmmm?

“I’D RATHER BE GROPED BY ARNIE THAN SCREWED OVER BY GRAY”

Related thread:

How the Dems are helping Tom

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/990725/posts

When Alan Colmes talks nice about any Republican, you can bet there is a sneaky reason...

How would DemocRATS respond?

An interesting question.
I think they would go with much the same attack Arianna Huffington used in the last debate. "It's all about the evil Republicans, like George Bush". This would paint Arnold as a member of "the evil vast right wing" which he obviously isn't. Once again, underhanded but most likely effective.