Former Sen Jeff Bingaman Says We Need Both Parties To Fight Climate Change (scam)

By William Teach August 27, 2022 – 7:15 am

The other day is was Joe Lieberman who took this tactic, while also forgetting to mention what measures he’s taking in his own life. Now we have Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) giving it a whirl

Successfully fighting climate change requires the support of both parties

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 contains Congress’s largest investment to date to deal with climate change. It passed without a single Republican vote. Before this, Congress’s most significant effort was in 2009 with enactment of ARRA (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) during the first month of President Obama’s first term. No House Republican voted for the ARRA, and only three Republican senators did.

It wasn’t always this way.

When climate change first appeared on the national agenda the commitment to deal with it was bipartisan. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, President George H. W. Bush stated the U.S. position: “Let me be clear on one fundamental point. The United States fully intends to be the world’s preeminent leader in protecting the global environment. We have been that for many years. We will remain so.”

We’ve also learned quite a bit more about it being a complete scam. Back in 1992 I believed, and back in 1992 people weren’t utter fanatics pushing hardcore Modern Socialist policies on the subject

Before 2010, some Republican members of Congress provided leadership to deal with climate change. In 2003, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), with Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.), took the lead in introducing the first major bill on the issue in the Senate. In 2007, three Republicans (Ted Stevens of Alaska, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania), joined me and three other Democrats in introducing the Low Carbon Economy Act. It proposed to set up a cap-and-trade system, but without all the complexity included in the House-passed bill.

Mentioning super squishy Republicans who were always happy to help out Democrats is not the best idea.

But opposition to dealing with climate change became a litmus test for Republicans seeking their party’s nomination in the 2010 midterm election campaigns. In June 2009, the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill passed in the Democratic-controlled House. To defeat the legislation, the Koch brothers, through Americans for Prosperity, worked with others from the fossil fuel industry to galvanize members of the tea party to oppose the bill. They succeeded. The bill died in the Senate in the face of a threatened Republican-led filibuster.

Yes, yes it did become a litmus test. If you want to implement measures that do not increase taxation and fees and cost of living, ones that decrease freedom, liberty, and life choices, yeah, we’re going to oppose them. I’m pretty sure most Skeptic are just fine with moving towards cleaner energy methods…I’ve said many times I am not a fan of coal, and would love to reduce petroleum, which is dirty (not talking about CO2)….and I’m not against hybrids and EVs. I’m against using governmental force. Especially when the people like Bingamen pushing this stuff are a) not negatively impacted because they’re rich, and b) always fail to mention their own actions in their own lives. Bingamen forgets to mention his own.

Much more needs to be done. In Congress Democrats should not be the only ones committed to protecting the global environment. Until Republicans also are willing to support constructive policies to address climate change, our efforts to reduce emissions to stabilize the climate will continue to fall short.

Republicans are fine doing things for real environmental issues. ‘Climate change’ is not one, and, why does it always have to be Republicans who comply? Why do Democrats never have to give something? It’s very much a cult: you must follow our Beliefs or you’re Evil.

Read: Former Sen Jeff Bingaman Says We Need Both Parties To Fight Climate Change (scam) »

Posted in AGW Socialism, Democrats, Global Warming | 4 Comments | Trackback URL

DOJ Releases Some With Black Marks Giving Unknown Rational For Mar-O-Lago Raid

By William Teach August 27, 2022 – 7:00 am

This totally helps, right?

It’s very. very, silly

(Breitbart) The Department of Justice (DOJ) affidavit seeking the search warrant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raid on former President Donald Trump’s private residence at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, was unsealed by a federal judge Friday afternoon.

The affidavit, signed by a special agent with the FBI, contends that after reviewing 15 boxes of material that Trump handed over voluntarily to the government, the DOJ determined that classified information had not been stored properly and that there might be more of it at Mar-a-Lago. “The FBI’s investigation has established that documents bearing classification markings, which appear to contain National Defense Information (NDI), were among the materials contained in the FIFTEEN BOXES and were stored at the PREMISES in an unauthorized location,” the affidavit said.

“Further, there is probable cause to believe that additional documents that contain classified NDI or that are Presidential records subject to record retention requirements currently remain at the PREMISES. There is also probable cause to believe that evidence of obstmction will be found at the PREMISES.”

This was so concerning that the FBI took 7 days to raid MOL after the warrant was signed. And they were Very Concerned that some of the boxes were poorly organized. Seriously.

But, my favorite part was about how they were not stored properly. Something which the FBI knew about, and could simply have provided guidance to Trump and his people. There was apparently no need to raid MOL since late January 2021. And there was no need now. If they were that concerned, they could have popped in for a frank discussion on how to store them properly. A dawn raid with dozens of agents toting actual military grade weapons, searching Melania’s closet, making a big show for the news media, it was optics for the unhinged Democrat base

The agent did not personally know that there was defense-related information in the documents with alleged classification marking, but said that “[b]ased on my training and experience, I know that documents classified at these levels typically contain NDI.”

So, the judge signed off based on a crystal ball reading? Oh, more fun

Read: DOJ Releases Some With Black Marks Giving Unknown Rational For Mar-O-Lago Raid »

Posted in Current Affairs, Donald Trump, Joe Biden | 11 Comments | Trackback URL

We Now Know The Perfect Temperature For Your Home, Which Is Bad For ‘Climate Change’

By William Teach August 26, 2022 – 3:00 pm

Is there are reason people need to keep coming out with this stuff? Things like

And then all the “I moved to/visited X and this is what surprised me!” ones. And this

You Can Stop Arguing Over the Thermostat: This Is the Optimal Temperature for Your Home in Summer and Winter

You can officially settle arguments over your home’s thermostat settings—during the hottest and coldest months of the year—for good. We asked two heating and cooling professionals to name the exact temperature your thermostat should read during the summer and winter, keeping in mind comfort, environmental impact, and energy efficiency.

Two!

When the heat of summer kicks in and your home’s air conditioning kicks on, you likely make a mad dash to the thermostat to keep comfortable. According to Michael Lopes, the Operations Manager at Reliance Home Comfort, make sure you’re not tweaking that dial too much on your hunt for cooler air—and, ultimately, you don’t have to. The perfect summer temperature for your home is roughly 70 degrees Fahrenheit. “This is a comfortable temperature for most people, but many things can influence how that feels,” he says—after all, a humid 70 degrees feels a lot different than a dry 70 degrees. (snip)

On the flip side of the dial is winter, which requires us to bump on our heating units. Fournier, however, advises customers to keep their thermostats set on the lower side. “During the winter months, I’d suggest keeping your heating system set at around 68 to 70 degrees,” she says. “This may seem a bit low, but it is ideal to avoid overworking the system to heat the house. If you raise the temperature too much, your unit will struggle to stay at this higher temperature while competing with the cold weather outside, causing unnecessary strain on your HVAC.”

OK. Me, I keep it at 72 in the summer, that’s my comfort level. Because of where the thermostat is, and that my bedroom faces east, the bedroom typically is about 70-71. Winter, I like 69. They also recommend turning the heat down to 65. Heck no, not going to want to get out of bed. Anyhow, you do you. But, of course, there’s something else

According to Lopes, what feels good to you isn’t necessarily best for the environment (or your energy bill). “Environmentally-friendly temperatures are a few degrees different than what feels comfortable,” he says. “Smart thermostats might show you an ‘eco’ or ‘leaf’ icon when you are set to an environmentally-friendly temperature. This reduces energy usage, but you might need to wear a sweater in cold months or keep a fan handy in the summer.”

A recent report from Energy Star, which is affiliated with the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy, affirms this; the company recommends settings that go well beyond 70 degrees come summertime: According to the energy company, 78 degrees is the ideal eco-friendly thermostat setpoint—a number that creeps up to 82 degrees overnight (and 85 degrees if you’re not at home!).

By eco, they mean climate doom. Who wants to bet that most of the ones recommending this do not keep their own homes at these temperatures?

Read: We Now Know The Perfect Temperature For Your Home, Which Is Bad For ‘Climate Change’ »

Posted in AGW Idiocy, Global Warming | 6 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach August 26, 2022 – 1:00 pm

…is an area drying up because Other People won’t take mass transit, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Da Techguy’s Blog, with a post on death panels in Canada.

As a sidebar, I do find photos like this rather ridiculous. You’ve gone to an interesting spot, and, rather than enjoy it, the idea was simply to take a sexy selfie, then probably leave.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 8 Comments | Trackback URL

IRS Administrator Fails To Specifically Say Those Making Under $400k Will Avoid The IRS

By William Teach August 26, 2022 – 10:30 am

Current IRS Administrator Charles P. Rettig decided to write an opinion piece meant to soothe and convince those making under $400k that they will not be targets of the IRS expansion, but, can’t quite say that they won’t be targets. Don’t forget that in tax cases, you are guilty until proven innocent

IRS sets the record straight: We’re going after tax evaders, not honest Americans: Op-Ed

As the nation’s tax administrator, the IRS plays a unique role in our nation. It can be a difficult job. After all, does anyone really like paying taxes? Of course not. But they’re essential to fund the roads we drive on, the schools our children attend, support our military and so much more. Unfortunately, given the nature of this work and historical stereotypes, the IRS is often perceived as an easy target for mischaracterizations of what IRS employees do — and that’s exactly what’s happened in recent weeks.

The recent debate over providing badly needed funding to the IRS is filled with outright false suggestions about what the agency and our hard-working employees do — as well as how the additional resources will be handled.

The bottom line is this: These resources are absolutely not about increasing audit scrutiny on small business or middle-income Americans. The investment of these important resources is designed to support honest, compliant taxpayers. Our investment is designed around a Treasury directive that audit rates do not rise relative to recent years for households making under $400,000.

We all want a fair and impartial system where everyone contributes their fair share, no more and certainly no less. A robust, visible tax enforcement effort focused on high-end tax evaders and those supporting them is a priority. Underpayments by tax evaders shift the burden of operating our great country onto honest, hard-working Americans who follow the law.

Focused on high earners, but, not exclusively on. There’s going to be a whole lot more people making underpayments who make less than $400k, be it small businesses or individuals.

With this new law, honest taxpayers will see badly needed, meaningful service improvements at the IRS. The IRS should be able to answer the phones and process information — including tax returns — in a timely manner. Enhanced IT systems and taxpayer services will mean that honest taxpayers will be better able to comply with the tax laws, ultimately resulting in a lower — yes, lower — likelihood of being audited and a reduced burden on them.

It works the other way, with all those extra employees being able to go through everyone’s tax filings with a fine tooth comb. You’re making $50k a year and blew off filing on the 1099 income of a $700? They’ll find out. Rettig goes through some “falsehoods”, which, really, are mostly just political talking points, including

False Statement: The additional funding will be used to hire more auditors to “shake down” average taxpayers.

Reality: False. Wage-earning taxpayers like firefighters, construction workers, teachers and police officers are among the most compliant taxpayers, given that their incomes come from Forms W-2 and 1099. These resources are absolutely not about increasing audit scrutiny on small businesses or middle-income Americans. Instead, the additional resources will also be focused on large corporate and high net-worth taxpayers to enforce laws already on the books that the IRS does not have enough resources to pursue.

What, exactly, does “audit scrutiny” mean? The IRS doesn’t need to go full bore with an audit, they can simply pull out that fine tooth comb for the small business owner. Don’t forget, a lot of small businesses have gross profits of over $400k a year, but, their net is much lower than $400k. Those large corporations and high net taxpayers have very good accountants and lawyers to make sure they’re in compliance, along with paying as little as they can per the tax code.

False Statement: This new funding will allow overreach by the IRS, putting agents on every street corner and prying into people’s personal financial lives.

Reality: False. This funding will allow the IRS to better serve the nation’s taxpayers — and ultimately meet the critical needs of our country. Our employees care and, like others in government, take an oath to support our country. We take pride in hiring veterans, people with disabilities and people from all walks of life and from every corner of our country. Many of our employees, including myself, are members of a military family. And all of our employees reflect the taxpayers we serve.

An oath like those at the FBI with their differing structure of investigation and justice? How about when the IRS targeted conservative groups? Which they admitted to? Does anyone seriously trust the IRS? Or the government? You can find all sorts of examples when the power of the federal government went after one of the little people, because it’s a whole lot easier than going after the rich and powerful, be they individuals or companies.

A couple of the comments at the article

  • In their eyes, everyone is guilty though because with the myriad or rules and regulations there must be a mistake in there somewhere even if it’s only $1. And they know it.
  • To a hammer, everything looks like a nail. To an IRS agent, everyone looks like a “tax evader”. How about meaningful tax reform instead?
  • With the ridiculous complexity of the tax code, anyone can be a “tax evader”. There are way too many gray areas, especially if you have a small business. They will be going after everyone.
  • This is utter nonsense. Once the IRS system identifies a potential discrepancy they go after everyone, regardless of income. The rich have lawyers and accountants protecting them. The little guy is at the mercy of a typical government bureaucrat.
  • After talking off record to several IRS agents, they laugh at the notion that people make mistakes. Everyone is guilty. They will let you know about an error two years later after penalties have been multiplying without your knowledge. Giving them more power will only make it worse.

That last one is rather important, because those penalties from simple mistakes can turn into serious money. All those extra employees will allow the IRS to find all those minor errors the middle and working class folks made by accident. The IRS doesn’t need you to come in to be audited: a simple letter will do.

Read: IRS Administrator Fails To Specifically Say Those Making Under $400k Will Avoid The IRS »

Posted in Taxation | 35 Comments | Trackback URL

Huge Gathering In Jackson Hole Complains About Climate Doom

By William Teach August 26, 2022 – 7:00 am

Can anyone tell me what’s wrong with this?

Climate change alters life at Fed’s Jackson Hole conference

When officials of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City sought a location for an annual economic symposium in 1982, they chose Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a simple reason: It had fly-fishing.

Paul Volcker, the Fed chairman at the time, was known to enjoy the pastime, and it was hoped that the opportunity to do some fishing would draw Volcker away from Washington, D.C.’s late August heat. The ploy worked, and the Fed has held a conference there in late August ever since.

Now, though, warmer waters in Jackson Lake and the Snake River it empties into have led the Park Service to urge anglers to restrict their fishing to the morning hours. Catch-and-release fishing, the most common practice here, is harder on the fish when water is warmer, and the fish are also harder to catch later in the day.

It is just one example of how the consequences of climate change are now in plain view to Fed officials during their annual summer symposium in Jackson Hole. Wyoming’s Teton County has been afflicted by the same long-term drought that has lowered rivers and reservoir levels throughout the West.

Hmm, strange

Some water activities typically enjoyed by visitors to the Jackson Lake Lodge, where Fed officials are convening, have been canceled this summer. The Colter Bay Marina has been closed because of low water levels, an economic blow to the small businesses that rent motorboats and other equipment.

Many academic economists and central bankers from around the world attend the Fed’s conclave in Jackson Hole, a valley nestled amid the majestic Teton mountain peaks. The signs of climate damage are among the ways in which the region’s challenges are evident alongside the idyllic setting. The nearby town of Jackson is also struggling with soaring home prices, labor shortages and widening economic inequality.

Let me get this straight: you have all these people take fossil fueled trip from around the U.S. and the world, many in private jets (you can bet not a train or electric vehicle), and Reuters, and other outlets, are whining about ‘climate change’? Not that these people are massive climahypocrites?

Read: Huge Gathering In Jackson Hole Complains About Climate Doom »

Posted in Climahypocrites, Global Warming | 4 Comments | Trackback URL

DHS Head Whines About Texas Governor’s Actions On Illegal Aliens

By William Teach August 26, 2022 – 6:45 am

It wouldn’t be necessary for Greg Abbott to take actions if the federal government would do their job as required by the Constitution and duly passed federal law

Texas Border Patrol agents meet with DHS Sec. Mayorkas, who blasts Gov. Abbott’s border actions: ‘wreak havoc’

Americans before illegalsHomeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas Thursday afternoon to meet with Border Patrol agents and survey operations amid a daily influx of migrants that has overwhelmed local officials and fueled criticism of the Biden administration’s border policies.

Secretary Mayorkas met with Border Patrol agents at Shelby Park – a site from which the agency often launches boats.

Mayorkas did not take questions from media outlets or elaborate on the visit. Fox News has reached out to DHS seeking more information on Mayorkas’ meeting.

Isn’t it wonderful when appointed officials refuse to tell the citizens what they’re doing?

The secretary’s visit came after a sit down with the San Antonio Express-News in which he criticized Gov. Greg Abbott for ramping up Texas Department of Public Safety Officers at the border for inspections.

“[W]hen we work with DPS, in coordination with DPS, they are of tremendous assistance to us,” Mayorkas told the Express-News’ editorial board. “When state officials work unilaterally and do not coordinate and collaborate with us, it can actually wreak havoc.”

Do your f’ing job and none of this would be necessary. Stop as many illegals as possible. Deport them, don’t traffic them all over the U.S., releasing them in small town America with often even telling the residents, opening them up to crime and disease. Seriously, saying Abbott is wreaking havoc? Project much?

The difference in approach was on display earlier this month, when Border Patrol agents opened a gate that had previously been locked by Texas National Guard members to allow multiple illegal immigrants to go deeper in o the U.S.

In a sane nation, there would be an investigation into who ordered that gate to be unlocked, and that would person would, at a minimum, fired. Perhaps Abbott should send a busload to the DHS building. If Mayorkas still has a house in Los Angeles, drop a busload off there.

Read: DHS Head Whines About Texas Governor’s Actions On Illegal Aliens »

Posted in Democrats, Illegal Immigration | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Surprise: Politicized FBI Told Agents To Not Investigate Hunter Biden Pre-2020 Election

By William Teach August 25, 2022 – 6:00 pm

No, no, there’s absolutely zero bias at the FBI/DOJ

FBI Officials Told Agents Not to Investigate Hunter Biden Laptop ahead of 2020 Election, Whistleblower Says

A whistleblower claims FBI officials instructed agents not to investigate Hunter Biden’s laptop ahead of the 2020 presidential election, saying the bureau was “not going to change the outcome of the election again,” according to Senator Ron Johnson (R., Wis.)

Johnson included the whistleblower claims in a letter to Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz on Tuesday.

“These new allegations provide even more evidence of FBI corruption and renew calls for you to take immediate steps to investigate the FBI’s actions regarding the laptop,” the senator wrote.

Johnson writes that “individuals with knowledge of the FBI’s apparent corruption” told his office that FBI officials intentionally undermined efforts to investigate President Biden’s son.

“After the FBI obtained the Hunter Biden laptop from the Wilmington, DE computer shop, these whistleblowers stated that local FBI leadership told employees, ‘you will not look at that Hunter Biden laptop’ and that the FBI is ‘not going to change the outcome of the election again,’” he wrote.

Well, of course they did. I’ve probably mentioned my long thing about how Progressives (nice Fascists) take over sectors, starting with education. Skipping a bunch, we get to the Hoover era where he had the FBI going after subversives, especially communists. Democrats/leftists hated that, so, they wanted the FBI defunded/shut down. Well, that didn’t happen, so, they did what they do best: infiltrate and change from the inside. Get people in positions of power, from Special Agents In Charge to department heads to control of HR (which they did everywhere, of course). The average agent wants to just do their job, but, enough superiors have made it political, and, if they want raises and to move up, they must cooperate.

The funny part is I’m using the Yahoo version of a National Review piece, and, of course, NR was mostly chock full of Never Trumpers, who helped get Biden elected, and many of them didn’t care about the Hunter story and laptop.

Read: Surprise: Politicized FBI Told Agents To Not Investigate Hunter Biden Pre-2020 Election »

Posted in Government | 8 Comments | Trackback URL

Ford To Slash 3,000 Jobs As It Pushes Electric Vehicles

By William Teach August 25, 2022 – 2:00 pm

What was that talking point about the Green New Deal, er, Inflation Reduction Act creating lots of good paying jobs?

Ford is slashing thousands of jobs as it goes electric. Experts say a tidal wave of layoffs will rock the industry as it undergoes a seismic shift.

electric vehicleAutomakers from General Motors to Toyota are on a mission to phase out gasoline vehicles.

And while a future full of clean, electric cars will help reduce harmful emissions and stunt climate change, it may spell disaster for the thousands of auto workers whose jobs will be rendered obsolete by new technologies and manufacturing processes.

As one might surmise, workers who assemble gasoline engines, transmissions, exhaust systems, and the myriad of other parts not needed in electric vehicles will likely bear the brunt of the transition. Moreover, electric motors and batteries are much simpler than traditional powertrains, allowing carmakers to maintain the same production output with fewer workers.

Both Ford and Volkswagen have estimated that electric cars require 30% less labor than conventional vehicles. The consulting firm AlixPartners reckons that 40% less labor goes into an EV’s motors and battery pack than an engine and transmission. (big snip)

These cuts are already underway: Ford in August confirmed plans to lay off roughly 3,000 salaried and contract employees, the Wall Street Journal and others reported, as part of a larger restructuring.

Well, hey, all these automaker union members are big supporters of the Democratic Party, right? They organize for them, donate to them, and vote for them, right? So they don’t mind losing their jobs to pay for the Democrats climate crisis (scam) agenda, right?

According to an analysis by Boston Consulting Group, the shift to EVs in Europe will result in 630,000 fewer jobs at automakers and suppliers of parts specifically for combustion-engine vehicles by 2030. But booming demand for batteries, charging infrastructure, and the like will create 580,000 new roles.

“While the core automotive industry will certainly suffer significant job losses, some new industries that support electrification will experience tremendous job growth,” the firm said. When all is said is done, policy measures to spur domestic EV production could help the US add 150,000 automotive jobs overall, the Economic Policy Institute estimates.

They’re assuming this will happen with the new jobs. But, will those who worked the old jobs and getting laid off be getting the new jobs? Or, will they be filled by younger folks? Will they pay the same? Have the same benefits? How many of these jobs will shift to outside the U.S.?

Still, there’s no guarantee that displaced workers will benefit from newly created positions. “It’s not going to be the same people getting new jobs. It’s often going to be new jobs created in new places for new people,” Smith said. Automakers and their partners are planning a slew of battery plants in the US, but many of those factories will be far away from current auto manufacturing. Battery packs lend themselves to automation, Smith added.

Huh. The workers are good with taking one for the team, right? All those middle and working class folks are good with getting boned so Elites can feel good that they’re Doing Something, right?

Read: Ford To Slash 3,000 Jobs As It Pushes Electric Vehicles »

Posted in Economy, Global Warming | 12 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach August 25, 2022 – 1:00 pm

…is a wonderful walkway so Other People can be forced out of their cars, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Common Cents Blog, with a post on Biden forgiving lots of student debt.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 8 Comments | Trackback URL
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