1 August 2011: Doom, Gloom, but some cheer too

Workout notes
Swimming: 500 of 3g/swim/fist/swim, 500 of 25 front, 25 swim (fins)
Then 10 x 100 on the 2: 1:38, 1:38, 1:38, 1:38, 1:37, 1:36, 1:36, 1:36, 1:37, 1:36 (1:37.0 average)
200 cool down (back stroke)

Previously

1 Aug 1:38 1:38 1:38 1:38 1:37 1:36 1:36 1:36 1:37 1:36 (1:37.0 average)
27 July 1:40, 1:41, 1:40, 1:41, 1:40, 1:38, 1:37, 1:37, 1:38, 1:37 (1:38.9 average)
19 July 1:41, 1:38, 1:38, 1:38, 1:38, 1:37, 1:38, 1:36, 1:38, 1:36 (1:37.8 average)
This was a set back from the last time, but I did come in fatigued.

1 Aug 1:37.0 (.4 seconds/week)
27 July 1:38.9 (+ 1.1 seconds!)
19 July 1:37.8 (.85 seconds/week)
5 July 1:39.5 (.9 seconds/week)
21 June: 1:41.3 (1.1 seconds/week)
15 June: 1:42.4 (1.1 seconds/week)
1 June: 1:44.6 (5.1 seconds/.5 week = 10.2 seconds per week)
29 May: 1:49.7

Then 33:43 worth of running outside (hot! 82 F, 76 percent humidity; about 3.1 miles) The run was slow and miserable.

Cheer: via the Spandex Statement:

Click on the thumbnail to see the photo at the source, where one can see a much larger version!

Politics
The President’s presentation:

His administration’s “fact sheet”

A reaction that is a bit harsher than mine:

Barack Obama, Comedian

What I wanted to see:

What Would I Have Done?

That’s the question Obama’s kinda-sorta defenders keep asking; it’s supposed to be a conversation-stopper.

But the answer is clear: I would have made a statement declaring that giving in to this kind of blackmail would constitute a violation of my oath of office, and that my lawyers, on careful reflection, have determined that there are several legal options that allow me to ignore this extortionate demand.

Now, the Obama people say that this wasn’t actually an option. Well, I hate to say this, but I don’t believe them. [...]

It’s much, much too late for Obama and co. to say “Trust us, we know what we’re doing.” My reservoir of trust is now completely drained. And I know I’m not alone.

The last sentence doesn’t describe me. I still want to see the end result. Still I would cheer if this proposal got voted down in Congress, but that is not going to happen.

What is weird is that at least one Republican is to the left of the President:

I’m a Republican. Always have been. I believe in free markets, low taxes, reasonable regulation and limited government. But as I look back at the weeks of rancor leading up to Sunday night’s last-minute budget deal, I see some things I don’t believe in:

Forcing the United States to the verge of default.

Shrugging off the needs and concerns of millions of unemployed.

Protecting every single loophole, giveaway and boondoggle in the tax code as a matter of fundamental conservative principle.

Massive government budget cuts in the midst of the worst recession since World War II.

I am not alone.

Only about one-third of Republicans agree that cutting government spending should be the country’s top priority. Only about one-quarter of Republicans insist the budget be balanced without any tax increases.

Yet that one-third and that one-quarter have come to dominate my party. That one-third and that one-quarter forced a debt standoff that could have ended in default and a second Great Recession. That one-third and that one-quarter have effectively written the “no new taxes pledge” into national law.

There was another way. There still is.[...]

4) The place to cut is health care, not assistance to the unemployed and poor.

The United States provides less assistance to the unemployed and the poor than almost any other democracy. It spends 60% more per person on health care than almost any other democracy — and gets worse results. The problem is not that Americans use too much medicine. People in other countries use more. The problem is that Americans pay too much for the medicine they use. Go where the money is, cut where the waste is grossest.

5) We can collect more revenue without raising tax rates.

Republicans stand for low taxes to encourage people to work, save and invest. But how would it discourage work if we reduced the mortgage-interest deduction again? Did it hurt the economy when we reduced the maximum eligible loan to $1 million back in 1986? Do Canadians and Brits — who lack the deduction — work less hard than Americans?

Why are state and local taxes deductible from federally taxable income? Wouldn’t higher taxes on energy encourage conservation? Who decided to allow inflation to corrode federal alcohol taxes by 80% over the past 50 years?

Ok, I would disagree with Mr. Frumm on one issue: I’d let the Bush tax cuts expire. Oh yes, the President says that will happen. But either
1. He won’t be reelected (this looks increasingly likely) or
2. He and we’ll get rolled again.

Of course, there are some who say that this cave in is not that important.

Oh well.

Right now, the Republicans are gleeful and are measuring the drapes:

Note: the “80 percent of the undecided vote goes against the incumbent” rule didn’t work in 2004.
Our only hope is that the Tea Party overreaches and nominates a bunch of Christine O’Donnell’s and Michelle Bachmann’s.

But this is how President Obama’s approval ratings compares with President Reagan’s and President Clinton’s (Clinton was at 46; Obama was at 43, Reagan at 42 when the three lines end)

Intrade has Obama at 56.6 percent