Super Sport G8

General Motors is really in a world of hurt these days.

Troubles for the company became highly visible during the financial crisis of 2008, where obligations the company had, most notably poor union contracts not remotely associated with reality, were "discovered" as unsustainable.

Both George W. Bush and then candidate Barack Obama thought it prudent to offer the company bailout money, which GM gladly took.  Once Obama took office, after evaluation, his team orchestrated the making of a new GM and made "recommendations" for the company, which most notably included the elimination of the proud Pontiac Motor Division. 

In addition, bailout monies failed to make their way to the appropriated parties as outlined in 200 year contract law, with union partners and political partners reaping cash benefits.

GM, under the "direction" of the administration and viewed by most as "Government Motors" embarked on effort to produce high mileage low powered cars which were beneficial to environmental concerns.

In recent months sales are reported to have been slightly increasing.  However, as reported by ZeroHedge, reported actual sales "were largely irrelevant" due to channel stuffing of inventories with 805,769 units in inventory at months end in February of 2014.

Issues surrounding a faulty ignition switch has resulted in massive recalls and has company executives testifying before Congress. While the issue not restrictive to just one model, the Chevrolet Cruze appears to have, by far, the most noted cases, with tens of deaths having been reported.

In anticipation of a barrage of lawsuits as a result of the ignition defects, because the sales of most of the affected models took place before GM's 2009 bankruptcy, the company has filed a motion in US Court to bar lawsuits on pre-bankruptcy sales.

Shares of General Motors, GM:NYSE, closed at $34.48 per share, down almost 20% from its 52 week high achieved in mid December.

I have owned GM products all my life, and have been very pleased with the products, which were generally Pontiac cars and Chevrolet trucks.  However, due primarily to the government takeover of GM, using bailout money and terminating the Pontiac Motor Division, I have opened up my candidates for a new vehicle outside of GM.

From an SUV perspective, I am looking at the Ford Explorer Limited.  With respect to a four door sedan, without Pontiac, the door has been kicked wide open.  Previously, the Pontiac G8 GXP would have been the choice. 

However, it looks like Pontiac G8 lives on in the form of the Chevrolet SS.  The SS debuted in 2014 to much fanfare, filling a need for a four door performance sedan Chevrolet has been missing for decades.  Lets check a review to see how they did:



It is not a Pontiac, but the reviews for the Super Sport Chevrolet cousin to the Pontiac G8 have been outstanding.  Not as flashy as its Pontiac predecessor, the performance and handling, a longtime Pontiac wide track feature, exceed expectations.  In addition, the interior in really impressive.

The SS does seem pricey, but vehicle inflation is in full swing, and when a comparable analysis is performed, it actually is a heck of a vehicle for the price, which is about $45K.

The price includes a gas guzzler tax, implemented by the Obama administration.  Eat my exhaust!

A few reviewers wondered why Chevrolet left the acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control system off the 2014 SS, but indications are it will on the 2015 models.

In keeping in the Pontiac family, it looks like an SS will be in my very near future.

We All Want To See The Plan

When conservatives are in power, government strives to cultivate free markets and empower the individual with limited taxation and regulation.  In the spirit of Adam Smith, a moral compass is a requirement for optimal market efficiency, with those who violate common decency guidelines quickly defeated in the open market.

With progressives in positions of power, due to perceived lack of confidence in the individual, government seeks, in the name of seemingly good ideas and worthwhile initiatives, to diminish individual power and freedom by increasing the role of government in the marketplace.

An illustrative example may be identified on this day while many celebrated Earth Day.  Seemingly worthwhile and innocent regulatory actions for the perceived good of the environment actually place increasing limitations individual property rights and escalate numerous forms of costs for property owners.

Another example is an extremely nefarious piece of legislation, seemingly vague and harmless in its cloaking presentation, which if passed, will challenge our Constitutional rights by an endless erosion of the rights of free speech.

The piece of legislation, “The Hate Crime Reporting Act of 2014″ (S.2219), is sponsored, in their arrogance, by Democrats Ed Markey of Massachusetts in the Senate and Hakeem Jeffries of New York in the House of Representatives.  The bill seeks:

"To require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to update a report on the role of telecommunications, including the Internet, in the commission of hate crimes".

Let us look at the opening sentence of the bill we outlined above. Who is the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and what would be considered their mission statement?  Why not, let us check Wikipedia.

In review of the stated goals of the agency, while much of it seems unnecessary, it follows a logical process for our government during these times with respect to utilization and growth of global communications. Investigatory actions with respect to any form of criminology was not identified within the agency tasks and they appear to have no such legal authority.

So, exactly why are we attempting to travel down this road? Are these two legislators seeking additional power for their personal resumes or are they sponsoring legislation as a front tentacle for a web of enacting widespread governmental control over what is exactly able to be communicated over the Internet?  The distinctions are critically important.

Tying their bill to this week's alleged white supremacist shootings in Kansas, Markey says it is "critical to ensure the internet, television and radio are not encouraging hate crimes or hate speech." He brushes aside expected First Amendment arguments, saying "criminal and hateful activity" aren't covered by the Constitution. HT/Inside Radio.

At quick glance, the bill seems to have merit. After all, who does not want individuals who engage in the commission of hate crimes to be punished to the fullest extent of the law?

However, if law, it would allow a non-elected bureaucrat to cast a wide net in search of such violators, trampling over the first amendment rights of the citizenry in a typical progressive power grab. However, with progressives, as we have learned all too well, the issue is never the issue, and this legislation is no different.

Those who recognize what is actually at play here are appalled by the legislation, including political pundits from opposing sides, ranging from Alan Colmes to Glenn Beck.

The legislation is a back door attack on freedom of speech and an attempt to eliminate the power of the first amendment so that political opponents can be silenced.  The administration is working this angle from many fronts, most notably through the IRS, one of many current scandals engulfing the administration.

Think I am kidding?


Mark Lloyd

We need to take a moment to learn more about an early appointee by President Obama, Diversity Czar, Mark Lloyd.  Investors Business Daily, in an editorial in August of 2009, accurately depicted Lloyd as a disciple of Saul Alinsky and a great admirer of Hugo Chavez, who silenced freedom of speech as a dictator in Venezuela.  SOS Venezuela!

IBD references Glenn Beck, who points out Lloyd, in his 2006 book, "Prologue to a Farce: Communication and Democracy in America," wrote: "It should be clear by now that my focus here is not freedom of speech or the press. ... This freedom is all too often an exaggeration. ... At the very least, blind references to freedom of speech or the press serve as a distraction from the critical examination of other communications policies."

Alarmed yet? With Lloyd unleashed to implement his ideas, we would have the Fairness Doctrine on steroids.

David Horowitz, over at his Discover the Networks website, noted the following regarding Lloyd:

*Seeks to use "diversity" and "localism" as pretexts for shifting the political balance of talk-radio programming leftward.
*Suggests that private broadcasters should pay an annual licensing fee in an amount equivalent to their total yearly operating costs; that money, in turn, should be redistributed to public broadcasting stations.
*Opposes virtually any private ownership of media.
*Disciple of Saul Alinsky's tactics for revolutionary social change.
* Greatly admires Venezuela's Marxist President, Hugo Chavez.

So, we can conclude that, with respect to media operations, Lloyd much prefers governmental control of media outlets, vehemently opposing media outlets operating in the private sector. And much like his mentor Hugo Chavez, Lloyd thinks the government should determine what can be voiced or written on the said media outlets.

Would Lloyd, and those charged with implementation of the Markey-Jeffries bill, apply equal governance over The Huffinton Post as they would The Drudge Report?  As John Lennon of The Beatles wrote in Revolution, "well, you know, we'd all love to see the plan".  TRUST NO ONE!

The shooting Senator Markey referred to in Kansas City was undertaken by a deranged individual, who was white supremacist.  His antics had nothing to do with what radio station he listened to, or which political figure he admired.  He was not a man of principle and character, but an individaul who violated the law and must be judged by a jury of his peers.  God will be the ultimate judge.

Senator Markey utilizing this crime as a motive for him crafting the bill is a smokescreen.  While the bill itself seeks to contain the first amendment, tying the Kansas City shooting to it places cards on the table in the effort to increase gun control, an attack on the second amendment.

These progressive elites think their thought processes, enacted in governance, are superior to those of our founding fathers.  Imagine, for a moment, the arrogance.

Those seeking to curtail freedom of speech, as has been the case throughout history, are opponents of liberty.  In most cases, these efforts were masked under some presentation of the action having been implemented for some greater good.  Historically, it has worked oh so well.

HT/Tea Party Command Center

Senator Markey and Representative Jeffries, likely under direction of others, moved forward with the bill as one of many avenues to attack the first amendment.  I will let you decide if you think they fail to see the "real plan" or are among the players who are actively seeking limitations of your freedoms outlined in the Constitution.

I have seen the plan. I'll go with the latter.

The Way To Kill A Killer

For now, it looks like the heat surrounding a very tense standoff in southern Nevada over farm land grazing rights has cooled down. 

The standoff, between rancher Cliven Bundy and The Bureau of Land Management, quickly escalated to the point where violence was knocking on the front door.  There were a host full of players, many of whom did not have a legitimate dog in the hunt, and most were looking for trouble.

Thankfully, a violent eruption of lost tempers did not rule the day, or we potentially could have had another Waco or Ruby Ridge situation on our hands.

Legally, the case is somewhat complex, involving conflicts between state and federal laws. It would have been a good case for Jarrod Barkley, Esquire, of Stockton, CA were he still in practice.

Certainly, I do not have the scorecard filled out on this battle, but I have drawn some conclusions, and they are as follows:

Cliven Bundy

*I have heard interviews with Cliven Bundy and he seems like a good natured fellow.  He does sort of give off the vibe of a "sovereign citizen", but I think he just wants to ranch his land and has had it up to his eyeballs with the federal government increasing regulations and encroaching their influence of his business dealings.  Join the club.

*Some people claiming to be Bundy supporters agree with his position, but are looking to create a disturbance, hoping for violence to erupt so they can gage battle with the government.  The retired Sheriff, a complete moron, who wanted to put women and children at the front of the line should shooting occur, comes to mind. 

*Bundy appears to be in arrears regarding grazing fees. I pay my taxes and regualtory fees, and I would expect him to do the same.

The people hoping for violence should recall that the government is hoping for civil unrest, as it offers opportunities to increase power.  The correct way to win these issues is to follow the path of Dr. Martin Luther King, an exemplary example of leadership in grievances against an oppressive government.

*Sen. Harry Reid, D:NV, a despicable individual, has labeled all those who side with Bundy as "domestic terrorists".  Well, that may include me.  Sen. Reid says it is not over, and people just can't go around breaking the law going unpunished.  Unless maybe you work for the IRS.

*It is worth noting the government, in contesting the Bundy family at the ranch, may as well of retained the US Army, given the man power, weaponry and vehicles that ascended upon the ranch.  We cannot secure our southern border but we can unleash untold armory to get the Bundy family.

*Evidence has turned up that the BLM has killed some of the cows owned by Bundy.  I did not hear of an anthrax breakout, so the killing of his cattle is nothing more than an act of intimidation.  This is not the behavior I would be in support of my elected governmental officials being engaged in.

*It also seems the government attempted to reduce the amount of acreage Bundy could utilize, which due to the large amount needed for cattle grazing, would have essentially put Bundy out of business as he was currently engaged.

Certainly we know, particularly under President Obama, is strongly overreaching when it comes to property rights.  The EPA is out of control, but their actions appear to be the tip of the iceberg.

We have previously written about Agenda 21, an evil platform of ideas which attack the sovereignty of the United States and viciously encroach upon the property rights of our citizens. An outreach of wealth transformation, the tentacles of Agenda 21 reach Orwellian levels.

But are these ideas new.  Stuart Chase, in his 1942 book "The Road We Are Traveling", noted the transfer from the free enterprise system to a system deemed "X".  Nineteen characteristics were noted, but number 17 described control of industry without ownership. 

This includes property, where, although they do not own your property, through items like permitting, energy control "smart meters" and water usage they control what you can do with it.  For example, for the new buyer of your home to get financing through the government controlled banks, your home must be energy efficient, with items like roof covering, HVAC and windows meeting newly established guidelines.  Seems like encroachment of property rights to me.

With the progressives, we know that the issue, in this case Bundy and his ranch, is never the issue. What is the issue?  Is it the government is aiming to seize private property of citizens under Agenda 21 protocol?  Or, God forbid, are we so broke we are positioning ourselves for negotiation with China as we recently saw Ecuador involved in?

We must put government back in its place, but engaging in violence with them on a ranch in southern Nevada is not the time or place.  Sen. Rand Paul has legislation he claims would go a long way in solving this dispute; however, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will not allow it to be heard or brought up for vote.

Does Sen. Reid want the problem solved in a way the people approve of, or is he hoping for violence to erupt so he can seize more control of the people? Was his heightened rhetoric calling those who disagree with him "domestic terrorists" an effort to put gas on the fire?

The answer to this problem has one word: freedom.  While this country has laws which must be followed and legal taxation we must pay for our society to adequately function, government over reaching their authority and intimidating the citizenry. Those seeking to limit freedom, and at the end of the day that seems to be what is going on at the Bundy ranch, should be defeated.

Non violent avenues, such as the legislation put forth by Sen. Paul and others, is the way to achieve these goals.  Sprinting to the voting booth at your earliest opportunity helps as well.  That is how we kill the political careers of those who seek to kill freedom for the citizenry.

Hold The Racism

Fresh off threatening Rep. Louie Gohmert during testimony in front of the House Oversight Committee, Attorney General Eric Holder lashed out deeming the degree of questioning he received as racist, sinking to new lows by playing the race card.

Speaking before Al Shaprton's National Action Network, which actually is a racist organization whose mission is to shakedown opponents; threatening them with accusations of racism, Holder claimed both he and President Obama have had to deal with unprecedented criticism due in part to their race.



As usual with this crowd, nothing could be further from the truth. There is a long history of previous Attorneys General being raked over the coals. Most, no all, were Caucasian, so Holder's theory is officially squashed.

Once again, the brilliance of IBD Editorial Cartoonist Michael Ramirez:

Michael Ramirez/Investors Business Daily

Holder was grilled because he has repeatedly held himself above the law, refusing to adequately respond to request by the committee for documents he is legally required to produce.  At least for the moment, we are a nation of laws; not men.

Sadly, these men are well aware of this fact, but aim to create chaos by raising false flags and creating animosity between the citizenry.  This is hardly behavior fitting men of character, something you would have thought these men learned from Martin Luther King, Jr.

Unfortunately, Dr. King was not a man Obama and Holder patterned their lives after; Frank Marshal Davis and Saul Alinsky were.

Louis Gohmert accurately assessed that Holder's recent actions have a demeaning affect on his office, but contrary to Holder's comments in from of NAN that it is not about him, he clearly thinks otherwise.

Neither Obama nor Eric Holder are fit to represent this nation in the offices they currently hold.  It is not because of the color of their skin, which nobody of merit cares about.  It is because they operate their own agenda of social justice, governing against the will of the people implementing socialist tentacles in wealth transformation believing wholeheartedly America is an unjust country.

The Founders would be appalled, as these men have a literal distaste for the Constitution.  It must be noted these men find the Constitution inadequate in that is a flawed document.  Obama sated his view of the Constitution as "a charter of negative liberties, which says what the states can’t do to you, what the Federal government can’t do to you, but doesn’t say what the Federal government or State government must do on your behalf.”

If you respect and hold dear our Constitution, then, sadly, you must recognize President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder are political opponents of yours.  As we have stated previously, every legally permissible avenue must be approached to remove these individuals from their respective offices.

Is there not a tee time waiting or pick up game of hoops they can participate in?

The upcoming mid term elections, with some excellent candidates available for your consideration, comes next on the clock.  In the spirit of Dr. King, leadership by example, with emphasis on his non violent approach, is the best avenue to win the hearts and minds of the people, where justice will prevail.

Go There

A tense exchange occured up on Capitol Hill last week which I took particular notice of, as it seemingly included a direct threat to a member of the US House of Representatives.

Rep. Louie Gohmert, R:TX, a member of the House Oversight Committee, was involved in an exchange with Attorney General Eric Holder.  Lets go to the tape:


(h/t: Charlie Spiering)

Attorney General Holder, as I see it, is in contempt of court for failing to provide requested documentation from The Department of Justice.  Rep. Gohmert, a former judge, has extended Holder a courtesy by even discussing the matter with him, as most in contempt of court are in jail.

Rep. Louie Gohmert

The exchange prompted me to send Rep. Gohmert a note, which read as follows:

Rep. Gohmert; your efforts in this matter are greatly appreciated. With seemingly unwavering arrogance, Attorney General Holder continues to operate outside of the law. If our elected officials, and their appointed representatives, are lawless, our nation will cease to exist as founded. I hope you and your colleagues will accept the invitation of Attorney General Holder and "go there"; and the sooner the better.

Holder is an ideologue, using his position, not to enforce the laws of our country, but to impose his brand of social justice on the nation.  For this alone, he should be impeached, as he does not have the authority under the law to personalize his position. 

Evidence of Holder operating outside the law came early in his tenure when he failed to go forward with a voter intimidation case in Philadelphia involving his buddies in The New Black Panther Party threatening potential voters at a local precinct.  Certainly, you recall the event.

As a representative of the administration of President Barack Obama, who proclaimed his office would be the most transparent in history, Holder should eagerly turn over documents requested by House committees.

However, Holder has repeatedly failed to produce such documentaion.  Not only that, in his arrogance, he threatened Gohmert "not to go there".  In addition, he personally attacked Gohmert, thinking he scored big making fun of a tongue tied moment Gohmert supposedly had in a previous exchange a year ago.

Imagine Holder sitting with venom for over a year waiting for an opportunity to hammer Gohmert only to learn Gohmert was actually extending Holder yet another courtesy.

Holder has repeatedly demonstrated he is not fit for the office of Attorney General of the United States, disregarding laws, enforcing those of his choosing and utilizing his unelected position to inflict his ideas on social justice on our citizenry.

Enough of the courtesy.

Go There.  Immediately.

See The Sign

Here's your sign.

Comedian Bill Engvall tells the story of approaching the airline luggage counter to inform the staff that his luggage is lost.  The airline staff member asked Engvall if his plane had landed. "No, I am having an out of body experience" relied Engvall.  "Here's your sign".

One would think Americans, no matter the side of the political aisle they tend to gather, would demand answers when four patriots, including a US Ambassador, were murdered in a terrorist attack.

They do.

However, a percentage of Americans exist that only want answers to these type of questions if the representative for the other party is in charge.  Here's your sign.  That is very sad commentary, and is an example of folks who are limited in principles and character. 

While most would be appalled to learn of this behavior, it is particularly distressing to learn that media members are actively engaged in a coverup of the aforementioned events in Benghazi.  Not only is news regarding Benghazi being selectively presented on the mainstream networks, but editorial columnists are cheerleading the lack of transparency and suppression of the facts by the Obama administration and the complicit news media.

Enter Dana Milbank, and a recent editorial from the left in Investors Business Daily. Here's you sign.

I must have missed all the legitimate inquiries over Benghazi having been adequately answered, because according to Milbank, all efforts by House Republicans to get answers are a complete waste of time. 

I obviously missed a change in what I considered to be the elusive transparency President Obama claimed his administration would have.  I guess all those documents have been turned over to the investigating committee, and everyone performed admirably.

Well, I did not miss a damn thing.

Milbank hopes his ridiculing editorials, combined with media outlets biased coverage of what little information the investigating committee has gathered versus the stonewalling, misleading evidence  and lack of transparency, will steer the public away from demanding answers.

Odds may favor Milbank and his teammates, but here is your sign.

What kind of people do not want answers when four Americans are killed?  What type of individuals would seek to suppress information in an effort to protect officials just because they are members of their team?

Here is a sign

When it comes to dereliction of duty, or the covering up of gun running, I could care less what political party the officials in charge are from.  In America, we have laws and principles we live by, and those who violate the public trust in this regard must be held accountable.

Not in the minds of the progressives currently in charge.  They are running the Alinksy model on all cylinders.  Ridicule your opponents, fire out misinformation, lie so often the truth becomes murky and win the day by any means necessary.

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign.  Here is another sign.  No out of body experience needed.

Tradition Tackled?

There it is.  The Seminole Head logo from Florida State University, proudly representing Florida State University since 1971 with heartfelt significance to all Seminoles.

Florida State Seminole Head Logo

A traditional logo rivaled by few, if any.  In fact, the iconic Seminole Head transcends sports; showcasing our university and the Seminole Tribe of Florida we are so honored to represent, with class and dignity.

On April 2, much of Seminole nation became aghast and angered at an effort by Florida State, in conjunction with NIKE, to change the logo for a more modern representation.  A bungled release of the new logo, a picture snapped by a fan from a Florida Wal-Mart, has set off a firestorm FSU of negativity at FSU, and rightfully so.  Take a look:

New Florida State Seminole Head Logo

Given the outstanding logo all Seminoles cherish, one has to wonder the motivation behind the nonsensical idea to change the best looking logo in all of sport?

Amidst the backlash, FSU athletics issued a statement in which they mentioned a two year study revealed the iconic logo did not reproduce well in a number of mediums and was difficult to embroider.

To learn it is being changed due in part due to "embroidering" issues is insulting. 

The outrage by the Seminole faithful is out of control and has FSU in significant damage control. 

Gene Williams, the purveyor of WarChant.com, a fantastic web platform chronicling FSU athletics, was in Orlando on Thursday night, April 3rd, to discuss spring football practice and the prospects for the football team as it regards the 2015 season.  In talking with Gene, it was apparent to me the full extent of the outrage had not yet been adequately assessed.  That is no way a knock on Gene, who is on his game 24/7, a leading source in FSU athletics and a real nice guy, but more a sense that FSU Athletics and its tentacles were oblvious to the brewing storm.

Williams, affectionately known as Dot.com, penned a great piece on this most unfortunate situation on WarChant.com

But FSU, no doubt in a bout of arrogance, failed miserably in appraising the pulse of the fan base and measuring the emotional level Seminole fans have regarding the traditions we hold so dear.  In fact, a fan, Jodi Slade, with some level of skill in marketing and design presented a logo alternative that is appealing to many faithful, if, and that is a big if, the design needing changing the first place.  Take a look:

Current Logo and new Jodi Slade designed logo

 

FSU and Nike took two years and Jodi Slade needed an evening.  Oh my!

Then word leaked there would be changes to the uniform, including the helmet, which is simply fighting words.  Changing our helmet, appropriately voted the best looking helmet in the game by ESPN, is unnecessary and without merit. 

FSU 2013 Helmet

I am spitting tomahawks!

Jeff Cameron, of ESPN 97.9 in Tallahassee, a well connected and respected media voice in the Florida State community, although not a big fan of the new Seminole Head logo, has seen the uniforms, including the helmet, and thinks they are really nicely done.  Cameron mentioned the embrace a historical element of the Seminole Tribe and are classy in the approach. 

In addition, he says the helmet changes are very minimal. Among the changes was the spear supposedly wraps around the back, which seems slight.  The facemask may be gold like the helmet, which I would be a loud opponent of. 

In fact, leave the helmet alone. Period. 

Perhaps it is the turning of the clock.  Perhaps it has been assisted by the baseless rhetoric of our president, Barack Obama. Michelle Obama said Barack knows the citizenry will have to change our history and our traditions.  But, there seems to be an overriding notion to affect change on just about anything; not change due to necessity or the will of the people or for the better in most cases, but seemingly just to do it.

As the clock ticks, change in inevitable.  But, as evolutions in cell phones is one thing, manipulating things our society has gotten right, as an effort of appeasement or political correctness, is a display of weakness and lack of principle.

That is just as true for Uncle Same as it is Chief Osceola.

History and tradition should be embraced, and unless significant issues exist, and none do at Florida State, major changes in the top notch uniforms and logos of our beloved university should not be entertained. Our highly valued traditions are not in need of change, and I strongly disagree with those in FSU Athletics who found the idea of this change welcoming.

At the unveiling this Friday night, I have no doubt a cascade of booing will fill the air of the evening with the "official' presentation of the "new" logo. With any luck, FSU will have to backtrack and keep the traditional Seminole Head logo, which should have never been changed to begin with.

Go Seminoles!