The O'pocalypse Now

The O'pocalypse Now
By John Ransom
6/3/2012

Doctor Roy wrote: I know you have problems with the other two but what's the problem with shared sacrifice?

Dear Comrade Doctor,

There is noting wrong with shared sacrifice if it’s the type of sacrifice Winston Churchill talked about when he told England he had “nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”

But that’s not what Obama is talking about. He’s talking about rewarding one sector of society, for example the flat-earth society which posses as global alarmists, against the poor and middle class who have to pay more for energy because of Obama.

Let me ask you this: Who the hell in their right mind would appoint someone Secretary of Energy who thinks that gas prices being substantially higher is a good thing for the country? Or tolerates people in their administration who think that crucifying oil and gas companies somehow serves a higher purpose.

I don’t care that Chu uttered those words about high gas prices when he was a private person. How do we take him seriously as a policy executive when he’s just that freakin’ dumb?

That’s not shared sacrifice. That’s a group delusion. We’re verging into people who have delusional views in the same way David Koresh’s followers did.

It spreads from the leader outward.

This is no longer a presidential administration. This is a chapter from the Conrad novel Heart of Darkness better known to Boomers as Apocalypse Now.

Kris in Kalfornia wrote: Just a reminder. When Obama took office on January 20, 2009, the average price of a gallon of Gas was $1.78. Here in CA, the lowest I can find these days is $4.05. If Obama's policies had worked and in light of his refusal to let the oil companies actually produce as much oil as they could if not for stupid rules and permit delays, how high would that be now if the economy had actually improved? $6,00 a gallon? $7? Even higher probably since supply and demand always dictates price.

Dear Kris,

I think the GOP would make a serious mistake betting on gas prices being high a few weeks out from the election. As we saw in 2008, gas prices can swing pretty rapidly.

I think we have entered a very dangerous economic period where a flash crash in commodity prices are not just possible, but likely.

Same goes with the stock markets. The banking crisis in Europe in no different that the one we faced in 2008 and 2009. The entire banking system “over there” is going to have to be recapitalized. That could cause serious problems in the US as well.

Ray the Anarchocapitalist wrote: The "dirt" on Romney is that he's a serial flip-flopper. Expect Obama to hit him with it over and over again.

Dear Comrade Ray,

Yeah. That really seems to be working.

Wasn’t it George H.W. Bush who tried to hit Clinton on that same deal by going to the Waffle House?

Hope that works out for better for the anarchocapitalists than it did for Bush.

Who’s running for president as the anarchocapitalist candidate?

Mac 287 wrote: Wow...maybe if products were made in this country and less were imported from "patriotic" business owners based in China, Walmart would not be as powerful...or politically involved. I know, I know...our taxes make our patriotic American business owners flee to Mexico, China and other "offshore" places. Not their fault. Lies about Solyndra have been "on the loose" since George Bush first approved bucks for them.

Dear Comrade 287,

If it’s possible for someone to know less about how economics works than you do, well then, I’d be scared.

Fortunately all liberals are about as ignorant as you, no more or less.

I think you are trying to say: 1) Walmart should buy more products from union shops here in the US and pass along higher prices to consumers in order to help pay bloated union pension benefits. As result, you would then ask the various attorney generals of the various states to investigate Walmart claiming price gouging so that in a multi-state settlement you could use the billions extorted from Walmart on some bogus educational program that teaches 5 year-olds how to put condoms on carrots- they’re not just for eating!- and also gives them matchbooks with the Planned Parenthood number on it; and 2) That George Bush was born about the same time that the Solyndra executives were, and therefore it must be George Bush’s fault because otherwise the Solyndra families knowing of the failure that the company honchos would be subjected to would have opted for a late term abortions as the only obvious choice- and so therefore, once again, if we didn’t hear it before: IT MUST BE BUSH’S FAULT.

Gosh, I scare myself. I could be a darn good writer for Democrats too.

Upsetvet wrote: Yea, well, I haven't seen the contempt of Congress charges that were supposed to be given to Holder if he didn't comply by May 30 to produce all the Congressional Investigation requested documents of the Fast & Furious debacle.

Dear Vet,

Yes, it’s going slower than many would like. But take heart.

From the Daily Caller:

California Republican Rep. Tom McClintock has joined scores of his House colleagues in pushing for Attorney General Eric Holder to be held accountable for his role in Operation Fast and Furious.

McClintock’s signature on Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar’s official House resolution of “no confidence” in Holder over Fast and Furious makes him the 129th House member to demand Holder’s resignation, sign the resolution or both. Presumptive GOP presidential nominee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, three U.S. senators and two sitting governors join those members in demanding Holder’s removal from the Department of Justice because of Fast and Furious.

I think this is ultimately up to Boehner not Issa. Boehner will make a decision based on election politics, not the law, unfortunately.

XJ wrote: Yes, we'll remind you of that when the next story surfaces about when Obama was 6 years old and was given dogmeat to eat when he lived in Indonesia where it's common practice. And, for what it's worth, the man's family didn't deny that Romney did it -- the victim's sister didn't know about the incident, which means absolutely nothing -- it's not exactly the kind of humiliating experience you would share with your sister.

And don't fool yourself about corruption -- anyone with even the most rudimentary political knowledge understands that both political parties are equally as corrupt.

Dear Comrade X,

I think both the dog meat story and the haircut story are really tasteless examples of why we have such poor leaders. Who would put up with such nonsense? Only people who have incredibly big, stupid egos.

You hit on the real problem though.

Yes both parties are corrupt. Power does that. I’ll say even more: All political parties are corrupt. And the only way to combat the corruption is to lessen the influence government has on day-to-day life and decisions that properly belong to individuals.

Knowing that political parties are corrupt, how can you turn over our entire healthcare system to the government? Or our banking system? Or the mortgage business? Or our educational system?

The rationalization of everyone does it doesn’t change the fact that you have identified the fatal flaw of liberals.

Government is corrupt. And the more power you give it, the more corrupt it becomes. We used to know this in this country.

I suspect you know it. You just don’t care. You likely think that corruption in the pursuit of socialism is not a vice at all, but a side benefit.

Doctor Roy wrote: You mean politicians actually peddle influence for campaign contributions? Scandalous. I wouldn't look for too much from the GOP on this. People in glass houses you know. Good luck with that Johnny.

Dear Comrade Doctor,

Thanks. Luck has nothing to do with it. I’m just that good.

WotanofAzgard wrote: Does anybody still like Ransom? Anybody . . . ?

Dear Comrade Wotan,

Does it really matter? I’m not running for president of the United States am I?

I got really good advice when I started writing about politics from a well known columnist. He told me it didn’t matter if people hated me or loved me. They just had to read me. And the easiest way to do it is to get people love me or hate me.

Guess which I picked for you?

Truth001 wrote: Ransom said: “I think in part CEO confidence is surging because it looks increasingly likely that some or all of the following could happen in between now and the first of the year: Obama will be defeated, Obamacare will be overturned, and the GOP could pick up seats in the Senate and the House.” John spoken like the true conservative you are. At least we can never accuse you of unbias reporting. Did you ever give consideration to maybe, just maybe, the CEO's of this country are smart enough to see the economy getting traction to spite the Republican congress attempts to sabotage the current administration? Just think what we could do if we stopped the bi-partisan in fighting and acutual compromised.

Dear Comrade Pravda,

Oh, I though Obama didn’t want to compromise. Wasn’t that the gist of his remarks when he said “I won,” back in 2009?

Look, this might be one of the dumbest comments you have ever made. It certainly suffers from the bad timing award.

Because in the interim new employment numbers have come out which are a disaster for Obama.

Forget the 69,000 jobs which were created last month. That number will be revised downward. The previous month’s estimate has been cut in half from 150,000 to 77,000.

My reporting isn’t unbiased I will admit.

But it’s not like we haven’t predicted this here at Townhall Finance.

One of the jobs I have as editor is picking stories to feature on Finance. Here’s a story that you should have read back in on May 3rd regarding unemployment and jobs. If you had, you wouldn’t be surprised by the poor numbers.

I will say it once again: If you guys aren’t reading some of the other authors here you will be as misinformed as Comrade Pravda.

Stephen East Coast wrote: In answer to your question, John, he does[like himself] , and he'll tell you he's done such a good job that he should rank as at least fourth best president ever - even after only three years at it. Best reply comes from Moonbat Exterminator: Let's see, that means that 10 are tied for first, 15 for second, and 18 for third.

Hisemiester wrote: You know one of the things I dislike so much is the way facts are presented. This one for instance. The confidence measure plunged from 68.7 in April to 64.9 in May. Plunging to me would be from 68.7& to say 40% Not a bit less than 4%.

Why are facts not just reported as such. We no longer have reporters we have journalists or commentators. Truth and/or facts are tools used the way the writer wants.

Dear Comrade Hisemiester,

First of all I’m not a reporter. I’m a columnist. That means that I get to use all the words in the dictionary, not just the ones that match with your grade level.

That said when I used the word “plunged” to describe the drop in consumer confidence it was because it was the highest drop in eight months and it was unexpected.

BusinessWeek wrote: Consumer confidence in the economy plunged in May. So did most other media outlets. Here’s a simple search you can do to verify the headlines.

ArtF. wrote: Hey John, how is that Facebook IPO working out for you? I don't doubt that it will eventually get some of its value back but not all of it. It seems their income stream is not quite as plentiful as originally thought. Now you can understand why it reminded me of the dot.com era.

Dear Art,

It’s working out great for me. I wrote three times in the Facebook IPO column that I hated the IPO. So naturally that means that I didn’t buy it.

In the future, don’t make your reading disorder my problem.

Thanks,

The Management.

Shubi wrote: It is interesting to analyze which trolls show up at which articles and correlate that with what the left might fear from the article. In this case, Ransom struck a nerve with the truth.

Dear Shubi,

We have them on the run that’s all. It’s going to be a really bad summer to be a progressive.

Sylvia J wrote: Thank you Mr. Ransom, for remembering the VETS.

I live with one of those VETS, we have been married for over 30 yrs. and the honeymoon has never ended for either of us. My husband was wounded nearly mortaley on three occations and was awarded a Multi-Purple Heart for those three times. Thank GOD he is here body and soul with me and we are having a cook-out with the two sons and and remembering his Brothers he had to say good bye to in Viet Nam.

GOD BLESS AMERICA.

Dear Sylvia,

God bless you and yours. Thanks for the service and the sacrifice.

That’s all for this week,

V/r,

JR
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To read another article by John Ransom, click here.