Who's Ruining America: Part I - The Media

You Can't Fixing a Problem Without Defining It First.....


      Thanks for coming back, as we finally get to some meat of what we're trying to accomplish.  We kind of indulged ourselves with the first few posts, but it's time to get to work. We all know things are just wrong right now with our government, and in many ways, our country.  The important part to us is to try and pinpoint just where it went wrong.  There are many places that the train went off the tracks, so this will be a series of posts that we will start off with.  Welcome to Who's Ruining America..... First up, an easy target - The Media.

  Network Television
   I was a kid of the 70's and 80's.  When it came to news, we had the same people delivering us the necessary information that we needed.  Walter Cronkite was always there at 630, along with John Chancellor and David Brinkley.   Honestly, I never was very aware of any agenda they had, or what their viewpoints were.  But they were trustworthy.  When Cronkite finally came out and said that Vietnam was unwinnable, it was more important than anything coming from Capitol Hill or the Pentagon. It was over.  More importantly, they just read the news, except when they would defer for a minute, and a GIGANTIC caption that read "COMMENTARY".........Later on they were replaced by Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and Peter Jennings.  Still decent, if not quite as well respected.  Nowadays, news is delivered in group conversation form, with constant opinion, not fact.  No offense to them, but I'll decide what is 'terrible' or 'ridiculous' or 'tragedy'.......

   The fact is, television is an awful place to get your information.  TV anchors want to be taken so seriously, they let their biases take over the conversation too often.  The only possible exception could be some of the Sunday morning news shows, but they make a major mistake - they hire a 'panel of experts', 90% of whom are 50 times more biased than they are.  It's like trying to have a Gamecock Fan and a Tiger Fan debate who is better.  Tonight, the correct answer is Texas A&M..........  Add to that, the endless list of panel shows of such well-rounded and erudite people like Rosie O'Donnell and Whoopi Goldberg.  Having an Oscar or being funny makes your opinions worth something?


Cable Television
     Ugh!  Here's an idea that started off great.  24 Hour news.  Finally, an opportunity to really spend some time to fully discuss and dissect a topic, so viewers might actually LEARN something........ Nope.  We forgot that TV is for ADD, short term memory crackheads.  We try to enjoy Cable News, but it's just become impossible.  Lets spend a minute, and give you a brief review in true Festivus style, of how they've all disappointed us.....

Fox News Channel
        Conceived originally as a station to give Republicans equal time on issues (maybe a little more), Fox has regressed into ragging on Barack Obama 24/7, and pushing the Tea Party every 30 seconds. Their best credit is that they do talk about a variety of subjects, some more entertaining than others.  But it coincides with their biggest beef - too short segments.  If I hear "we're against a hard break here" one more time.  We do like the Weekend Morning Show.  Our least favorite?  Eric Bolling - the guy who killed Cashin' In.  Was a great biz show, now it's a shill for Ted Cruz....

MSNBC
      For Republicans like myself, it's almost unwatchable.  Morning Joe is okay, but any network that hires Al Sharpton and gives him his own show is dead to me. The midday shows are bearable, but their nighttime lineup makes me gag.    Their best move? Firing Keith Olbermann, allowing him to return to ESPN, where I liked him in the 90's....  The worst? Rachel Maddow. On every diatribe she goes on, I can pinpoint where she goes off track.  Between her and Fox's Megyn Kelly, 900PM may soon be banned altogether........

CNN
     I watch CNN in the mornings, and have for the past few months, when Fox's Obama Bash O-Mania went overboard.  This week, I'm particularly happy because they hired Alisyn Camerota to sub this week. I love her.  They generally do a decent job of trying to go middle ground, at least compared to the other two.  There are two notable exceptions: Guns and Race.  They get a bit preachy on both.  My biggest problem with them?  They only seem to be able to count to three.  That is, they discuss the same three topics over and over that day, while adding little to it. I have a big brain - I can handle it.  Ultimately, CNN disappoints because they've been doing it longer than any of them - they should be better than this.  Favorite Show: The Hunt With John Walsh.  Least Favorite: Don Lemon.  Question anything about race, and the guy explodes.... Not professional at all.


Online News
     Lets be honest here.  If you solely get your information from SC6,you need treatment.  Serious, Serious treatment........ I give opinion, not truth.  I hope it's the truth, but I certainly don't have a lock on knowledge.  I rarely had 'breaking news'.  Why, because we don't have real contacts. Of course, that doesn't stop some of us.  Some use the popular 'anonymous source' or 'person close to the situation'............. and they lie.  We generally are self-righteous egomaniacs that value our own opinion infinitely more than the rest of the world does.  I try to fill avoid.  As far as Right Wing and Left Wing Blogs go, I could take or leave 50,000 of them.  The worst I've seen - Western Journalism.  Flat Out Bullshit....... 

Radio
       Be discerning, folks. Radio offers the best opportunity for lengthy discussion, especially for regular people to voice their opinions.  However, most call-in shows, especially national radio, are no better than TV.  Listening to Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Neal Boortz embarrasses me as a moderate Republican.  Like Rachel Maddow, I find myself going "Ok, Ok..... uh,wait ........ no,no,no..... what the f#*^????"  Common Sense just loses itself as it goes on.  And it's been pretty well documented how most of these guys are shills for their sponsors.  I do have one saving grace on air:  the POTUS Channel on Sirius XM.  I don't listen to Patriot the Progressive Channel.   POTUS does a good job of discussing topics in detail, with very little opinion.  The best shows?  Michael Smerconish from 9-12 am, and The Press Pool with Julie Mason. Smerconish is a middle ground compromiser - as close to myself as I've seen in major media.  Julie Mason is excellent at showing the ridiculousness in politics, and she plays great 80's New Wave music....     

Newspapers
       My friend and former Morning News editor Jackie Torok will like this, but print news may be the last great hope.  Why? Because when it's done correctly and according to standard, it's dry news.  Every story is written the same way - it's like a form letter.  It at least gives you a chance at impartiality.  That, and the back sections give them an opportunity to go into a story in more detail.  Of course, all bets are off in the editorial and opinions sections.  Yes, some are liberal J-School graduates doctrinated by their college profs, and tainted by an idealistic, yet unrealistic, desire to change the world.  However, most try to report unbiased.  Least favorite part? The ink stains on your fingertips.........

You
     I hate to break it to you, but it's your fault too.  What, I'm willing to blame myself, but not you?   Yes, you need to reflect on yourself for a minute.  Do you try to see the other side's point of view, or do you just watch shows that just agree with you?  We all like to get confirmation that we're on target on things.  I'll get mine if the hits start rising, or if they fall of a cliff.  The truth is, most of us are generally closed minded tour news.  You have to make an effort to learn more, and it also makes better arguments for your side, because you actually KNOW what they think.....not what you think they think.


There is waaaaaay too much information out there, and a lot of it is crap.  Don't just absorb information - disseminate it, question it, and make up your own unique opinion on subjects.  I'm a Republican, but I am far from in lockstep with the GOP platform.  I'm not just a Republican. I'm me.  I'm unique, and so are you.  When using media for your politics. Tread lightly..........

.       
    
        
  

My Vision of America......

If You're On a Mission, You Better Have a Vision..... Deluded Or Not!

     As we kickoff Phase II of SC6, we want to inspire and give you an idea of where we are aiming to take this political bus.  So, we're going to attempt to do both at the same time, and hopefully, entertain you as well.  Good Luck.....


     Something we've learned along the way, which we definitely failed to do when we ran for office, was to win both the minds and hearts of our supporters and non-supporters (translation: enemies)......   Anyone can give cold, dry facts - we were among the best at that.  But, we've figured out that there have been much dumber and less informed who have piled up a following behind them. We'll name a few along the way.  So, with all apologies to the great speakers of our day, we give you My Vision of America.

(Crank Up the Patriotic Music!)........


     I have,,,,,,,,,,, a Vision................. of America!  While many dream of a United States that was like when they were young, or of a time and / or place that they've never been to or lived in, I dream differently.   I don't falsely deceive myself or others into a time gone by.  The world changes.  Sometimes good, sometimes bad.  But you cannot change the past...... Every moment is an opportunity to change the direction of your life, your future, and the future of your country.  The problem today is that both parties have been hijacked by special interests, by the 10-15% that find no center ground. That make their living on ideas and positions that line their own pockets and more importantly, give no compromise to help America progress an inch in the right direction. It's time the 70-80% of the rest of us - the disenchanted people that think DC doesn't work for them - to push back a little, and push open a hole to find solutions.  I have........... a Vision....... of America!   (drum rolls and cymbal hits, please).........


     I see an America where politicians value voters by their ideas, and not their wallets.  Where their districts don't look like The Michelin Man doing a handspring while holding a violin.  Where using the terms RINO and DINO merit punishment like expulsion or castration, your choice.   Where Republicans and Democrats can willfully admit that their Congressman or Senator is an idiot.  Where party platforms are not separated like the Berlin Wall.   Where a party member can utter these dreaded words about a member of the other party......... "He/She has a point".


     I see an America where politicians aren't afraid to admit there are pending issues that they need to courageously address.  That they each take their share of blame for our present challenges.  That Democrats see that Social Security and Medicare/Medicare will soon cause our budget deficits to explode to levels as bad or worse than they were in the last 5 years.  That Republicans quit protecting the super rich and corporations with tax exemptions that the middle class don't get. That both parties realize the middle class are being squeezed by them both. 


    I see an America where people are taxed equitably.  Where buying Range Rovers and having a stable of babies don't get you bigger refunds.  Where the FairTax blowhards at last admit that it's a scam, devised by the Megarich and blindly followed by people getting half the necessary information.... Aw hell.  An America where the FairTax doesn't even get airtime.......


   I see an America where the social divisions fall away.  Where blacks and whites understand and respect each other. Where they talk with, and not at each other., Where people realize that all faiths - including Muslims - are probably praying to the same God.   That they stop being bigoted and violent towards each other - and worse, that they use verses and quotes from the Bible and Koran to justify prejudice.  That they respect people who differ from them, and that know that in politics, most of us don't like to legislate morals, but let Mom & Dad do it...


    As much as I see in this Vision of America, the true excitement - and challenge - is that so much of this is incomplete. Like I said, the future is unwritten.  Therefore, it is up to each of us to help write that future and fill in the blanks.  The most important part each of need to realize is that we don't all have the answers, and that NONE of us have the power do enact our will on our own.  It takes a team, and it takes - SAY IT!   COMPROMISE.  This is my Vision of America.  Now go out there, and let's do something to change our house, our street, our town, our state, our country and our world! 

(Marching Band erupts into song, and I kiss a baby)..


. 

The Rules of The Game .......

If You're Going to Try and Raise the Bar .......


   Forgive us, as we move slowly into our second coming......  We're learning quickly that we may not be the 8 post a day machine we used to be.  I have a decent job, and some semblance of a life - along with trying to maintain our recent fitness improvement ( we'll get into that another time ).  So, the goal will be to find realistic solutions for America's problems. It's a lofty goal, but we suck at small solutions anyway. 


    Being a Center-Right Blog, we are shooting for consensus building ideas that cross aisles. Our partisan days are over....  We're getting old fast, and time is running out.......We're not worried about being right and taking credit. Idealogues on both sides are going to hate us. But, that doesn't mean we can't learn from them, or that at times they may be right. More right than you or I..... That being said, we lay down the ground rules that we ask you to follow for the potential benefit of all:


1:  Be Respectful For Others
     As much as we love seeing Bobby call people Ass Clowns, we're going to request that you refrain from calling fellow readers/postings the same.  Many politicians deserve derision, and we fully encourage breaking down those that deserve it.  But we don't have a ton of fans, so we need every one we can get.  Be nice to each other......



2. Be Funny Or Go Home
        It's what we love, and frankly, it's what made us great.   Sarcasm, Gross Out Humor, Wit, Irony........  It's all fine with us.  It helps get the point across, and it's more entertaining.....


3.  For God's Sake, Please Post!
        Remember how awesome/terrible the post that I did on the Hotties of the Hill was?  Neither do I.   We are a figment of our readers. We take requests.  If you like something, tell us.  If the Milton Waddams Award is so 2006 to you guys, let me know.  Sometimes, being liked is more important to us than being respected.  Our first post, and we're already contradicting ourselves.  So much for idealism.......



We'll keep the bar low for now.  Sorry for not just jumping right in and ripping off a stellar post, but we're just easing into this.  Next post: a slide show of what we've been doing the past 20 months!


.                    


    

Your Worst Nightmare Comes True .......

                                   SC6 Comes Back Online After a Two Year Layoff.......


     We've been thinking about this for a while, especially with all the dysfunction going on in DC.  Like the header says, we're getting back in the game, because SOMEONE has to blog with common sense in mind.  Not an ideologue, but someone who has been in the game, and lives in the real world.... It's the new, smarter SC6.  But don't worry............... We'll still have women in bikini's.


.

Cartoons of the Week....

   Hey, remember when we would have ONE cartoon every Sunday? Well, this week we have an all-time high of FIVE political cartoons for you!  Call it rewarding a faithful audience. Besides, this will be the only Christmas present you get from us...

   Like we remind you from time to time, these 'toons are on a one week delay. No doubt next week's will be very somber, but it gives you an idea of what we were thinking about before Newtown.  Basically, it was two things: Christmas and the Fiscal Cliff.  So, when you can combine both, chances are you will make SC6. You can go the Elf On the Shelf route..

The Basketball Season Route....

Or the Three Wise Men Route - or is that One Wise Man, and the Other Two?

But Life is not all Fiscal Cliffs and Basketball... With Pot being legalized in some Western States, even Santa has to be careful with munching on certain goodies.

Meanwhile, North Korean Doughboy Kim Jong Un was able to shoot a satellite into Outer Space, where it's bouncing around aimlessly - but far enough to worry everyone in the Pacific.  It's always every son's goal to show up his old man...






.

Today's Founders Quote: No Similitude to Nobles

"As our president bears no resemblance to a king so we shall see the Senate has no similitude to nobles. First, not being hereditary, their collective knowledge, wisdom, and virtue are not precarious. For by these qualities alone are they to obtain their offices, and they will have none of the peculiar qualities and vices of those men who possess power merely because their father held it before them."

- Tench Coxe, from An American Citizen, 1787.


This quote may seem a bit out of place today, but in two years, when the voters of the 6th Congressional District of South Carolina are faced with a second generation of Clyburns in Congress, you'll be looking for this quote.  We've seen it in the car business a million times: Dad works hard and builds a successful business from nothing - then he retires and leaves it all to his know-nothing idiot son.  Soon, said business goes belly up, or is sold to a corporation to avoid that fate.  Here is one piece of good advice today: NEVER work for a guy named Skip, Chip or Trey... You're just asking for trouble.


Congress is no different, but we seem to think that the only person who can keep up the 'legacy' of a man or woman is their dolt of an offspring.... Anyone else hear the whispers of Chelsea Clinton getting into politics? F**king please !!!  No, Congress is not the House of Lords, and it's not a lifetime appointment. It's where the best our district has to offer is sent to represent all of us - and every two years, there should be a choice of at least two qualified people to pick from.  Remember this in two years, when we say "I told you so".... and get ready!

.

Cartoons of the Week ....

   Welcome back to the return of SC6.. We thought Irony took us over this week, when we posted our "We're Not Dead Yet" comment - then got pretty sick this week. Such are withdrawals from medications.  Anyway, we tried to rest up after work this week, and we're feeling a tad better. What better way to celebrate our return than with our usual Sunday Morning fare - Cartoons and Hot Chicks with Founders Quotes!

   Like ourselves, the Fiscal Cliff (formerly known as Taxmaggedon) is on the minds of most people not stuck in a fog - even poltical cartoonists.  There were a few, but we chose this one... Why? Because Obama and the GOP are being a bunch of clowns.  Ass Clowns, if you asked Bobby for his opinion... Anyone want to bet that when these politicians in DC were in High School and College, they all did their studying and projects the night before it was due?  I wouldn't take that bet either..

      But, not all of life is politics.... So, in the rest of the world segment, we note the conception of Prince William and Duchess Kate's SuperWASP offspring, soon to be known as the future King/Queen of England!  Kate was suffering from extreme morning sickness (re: she was puking so much, she got dehydrated), and the announcement that YES, she was preggers sent the media into a tizzy... That stork better haul ass, or he's gonna get sucked into a CNN jet turbo engine.  Either that, or he should go back to selling Vlasic Pickles.   'Prince William? That's the silliest accent I ever heard!"...


.

Rumors of Our Demise Are Greatly Exaggerated..

We're Back !  Why? Because America NEEDS Us ...


    No, you are not seeing a Ghost, or even one of those Zombies from The Walking Dead.... This is a new post from SC6!  Yeah, it's been a while, but life has been much more of a priority for us lately than politics.  While a Presidential election season may seem to be a odd time to walk away from the game, it's a common practice for us. Why? Because there IS such a thing as political overload, and even though we consider ourselves more informed than most people, we choose not to contribute to it..


   Yes, the last few weeks of an election are torture, even to us.  It drives us crazy to hear opinions on Facebook and Twitter from people who don't follow it except for the last 90 days of a campaign. Sure, they're entitled to their opinions..... we just wish they wouldn't.  We admit it - this is about all we have.  We don't work for campaigns, we don't knock on doors or make phone calls.  Why? Because anxiety problems keep us from being able to get out often.  We quietly sit by, listen intently, then give the best solutions to our country's problems - and we're pretty damned good at it!


   Really though, there were two reasons we took a break: first, we changed jobs and moved. Yes, we are now in Laurinburg, North Carolina full time. We went though a home sale (14 months - Thank God it's over!), a home purchase, and learning a new industry.  Like we said, life took a big priority.  Work is going great, and the past 2 months have been spent doing minor renovations on the new casa. There's more we'd like to do on the house, but the budget is wiped out for now, so there's time to blog now! Lucky You..


   More importantly, our health has been a concern in 2012.  Ever since we got back to Florence, we seemed to have troubles. We thought we had allergies, and other problems have dogged  us all year. It was easy to blog when we weren't working. We basically sat around, blogged when we could, and rested if we felt less than 100%, which occured a lot.  Adding work to the mix made blogging almost impossible. We're starting to feel better, and there is more free time, so we're going to give it a shot...


  Honestly, we thought we might be done if Mitt Romney won the election. Like Moses leading his people to the promised land, we view ourselves as the messenger of what our country needs to do to move forward - and it hasn't. We thought Mitt Romney would have been a very good President. But Barack Obama won , which was no surprise. What stunned us a bit more was the American People voted back a Democratic Senate and a Republican House.. So, we have all the same players that brought us here.  Clearly, voters didn't get the message, so we had an epiphany - America Needs Us.


   Given the circumstances we're in right now, there is little option except for us to get back to guiding you and the country to a better place. Is that a cocky view? Hell yeah, but it's true.  We always take others opinions into consideration, and it helps us come up with strong, bipartisan solutions... Like it or not, SC6 is back, and we're still keeping the SC6 name.  Our 7th anniversary will be here in a few weeks, and we know how important a baby's 7th year is - and this is our baby!  We appreciate your support through the years, and we'll try to keep it going at a high level...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quyB8PMTD3o

.
  

Finally, News That Got Us Back on the Laptop !

Unfortunately, The Gear For This Jobs Report Isn't Hooked Onto a Machine to Produce ANYTHING..... Much Less Jobs.


     Yes, we're back.... Even if only for a day.  Truth is, there has been way too much more important things going on with us than politics.  Although we are kinda political junkies here, we still are grounded enough to know that it IS just politics.  Yes, we watched some of the DNC and RNC Conventions, but to us, it's all a pile of BS.  Football season is finally here, so if we want to watch cheerleaders in front of tens of thousands of Kool-Aid drinkers, we'll catch a game between the goalposts..


    Nope, it was REAL news that got us back on our old Dell Inspiron 6000 - The Economy.   Namely, jobs - or lack of them.  We'll be honest, we got a bit fooled by this one.  Yesterday, we got a false alarm that maybe things had finally turned Barack Obama's way.  ADP had reported that payrolls increased by 200,000 jobs, which helped spike the Dow Jones up 244 points.  So, when we got out for lunch and heard that the unemployment rate had dropped from 8.3% to 8.1%, we thought maybe that 200,000 had been underestimated.  We even had a theory for it - the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare may have led some employers to just go ahead and start hiring. But, that had nothing to do with it...The fact was that in the wonderfully complicated world of the Unemployment Rate, there was nowhere near that amount of new jobs - yet Obama may have moved closer to getting re-elected despite it.  Such is politics.....


    You may have heard by now, but only 96,000 jobs were created, about 25% less than is needed just to keep up with population growth.  So, how does the unemployment rate go down 2/10th of a point, much less at all?  Here is the big stat: the number of people who quit looking for work. That number was a scarily astonishing 368,000 people - in a month.  Yep, school was out, and once they realized the Summer gigs were dried up, people flat out gave up.  To put it in terms South Carolinians can wrap their brains around, enough people left the job market to equal the populations of Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg and Rock Hill....... COMBINED!  The job participation rate is at it's lowest point in 30 years.


    Yep, for every person who got a job, almost four said 'F**k It', and quit.... So by now, you're probably asking 'Hey Reino, how can 368,000 people leaving the job market possibly be good news for Barack Obama??'.  Here's how.  Like we said, politics makes no sense, but there are many statistics that have been reliable in elections - and the unemployment rate is one of them.  If you haven't read this post before, take a minute or two to do so, and then rejoin us.... We'll wait.


    OK, 15 out of 16 elections, with the only exception being the disastrous 1968 for the Dems, are pretty solid stats.  The important number is what April was, and the answer to that is 8.1%... So, where the rate had jumped 2/10th since April, we are now back at Square One.  There are two jobs reports between now and Election Day, so the change in unemployment could be as tight as the race between Obama and Mitt Romney.  It's pretty simple: if Barack Obama is able to convince America that is headed in the right direction - even if it's only by 1/10th of a point - the undecideds that will determine a President could likely go his way.  


     We're not saying that is how it's going to go... But last month, we were pretty sure that Barack Obama was going down based on the same evidence.  Now it's all up in the air.   Do we think people will continue to leave by the hundreds of thousands into the Fall, thus improving Obama's chances? We doubt it.   However, with so many variables that play into the rate in flux, we don't know if we'll be at 8.1, 8.2 or 8.0% or under on November 6th..... It may not seem like a big deal, but every tenth of a point counts.


.

We Make it Official: Now Is the Time to Buy A Home!

The Numbers Show That Right Now Is THE TIME To Buy, Becuase It Isn't Going to Get Any Better - And We Put Our Money Where Our Mouth Is..


    Having a few friends who are Real Estate agents, you often hear that now is the best time to buy... The truth generally is there are better times to buy, and worse times to buy.  Generally.  Then, very rarely, everything falls into place that if you can afford it, you will NEVER do better than now.  From what we've seen in the Real Estate market, this may quite possibly be the best opportunity to buy a home in our lifetime.  In short, if you've been on the fence, get off it..


    Yes, not only are we telling you to do something if needed, just like a Stock Analyst who tells you he personally owns, we are taking our own advice.  After finally selling our home here in Florence, we just bought a home in Laurinburg, North Carolina.   Cheap - and at a rate that would make you puke a few years ago.  But why now? Easy.. The fear is always that people buy a house at a price before they've hit rock bottom, and at a higher interest rate. The housing numbers released in the past few weeks tell us that the housing bubble burst has ended for the most part. Here are a few factors that gave us the green light...

1. Interest Rates at an All-Time Low.
    This is the obvious one.. Back in the 80's I couldn't believe my Dad got a 4% VA loan when he bought his house in the 1950's. His mortgage back then? About $20 per month.... Well, rates have gone even lower than that now - but they're pretty much done. I started at 3.75% rate, but during the process, it actually dropped another 1/8 point to 3.625%, or 2.75 full points less than my last mortgage in 2007, when prices and rates peaked.  The difference between the two in interest? About $300 per month!  A key to fixing the housing crisis is right there - refinancing. But, credit is very tight, so who knows?


2. The Price Freefall is Over
     Yes, it always depends on what market you live in, but nationally, prices are beginning to recover slowly. In major cities all across the US, selling prices have risen, in part due to the lower interest rates (lower interest rate = lower payments = more house for your money).  If you're waiting it out to wait til home prices hit absolute rock bottom, we have advice for you - it's there, and may actually have passed. Jump on that house now, or live in regret.


3.  New Permits Are Up.
     It's been a buyer's market for years. My agent told me that a recent seller she had ended up bringing $14,000 in cash to the table to sell their house. To us, that' batshit crazy, but some do what they have to do.. There was a glut of available homes, but that is evening out at long last. That has given the sign to home builders that it's finally time to dust off the sawsall, and start making homes again. While it could cause a glut of available houses again, new homes and preowned homes don't always directly compete against each other. Time will tell, but it's a real good sign.


4. Renting is a Crappy Deal
    Again, it depends on where you live.  If you live in Manhattan, and can't afford $600,000 for a 700 square foot condo, you may want to rent.  In most other locations, renting is no longer a deal.  My house for example has a mortgage cost of $450 per month.  This is for a 4BR/2BA, 2259 sq ft home that needs NO updating or repairs, unless I want to.  To rent a home in the same area would be in the $750-800 a month range (and that's conservative). Most rentals in Laurinburg are pretty bad, so it's a no-brainer.  Basing the $350 per month savings with the $3500 down payment on it, and my house will break even in a mere TEN MONTHS.  After that, it's all gravy... The tight credit market caused many to be forced into the rental market, resulting in skyrocketing rental rates.  Buying is way smarter than renting right now...


I'm sure there are other factors that play into all of this as well - and my Realtor buddies will be glad to 'list' them. Sorry, just a little Real Estate humor.  We don't overblow things when it comes to buying or selling stuff, unlike the guys on TV, pushing Gold every five minutes... We're conservative fiscally, so when we say it's the Best Time Ever - much less a good time to buy - that's ringing the dinner bell.... Getting financing isn't the easiest thing right now. But if you can qualify, and have been thinking about buying a home, stop thinking and act..

.

Cartoons of the Week..

      Welcome again to our usual Sunday lineup.  Yes, it's all we've been doing lately, but there hasn't been time to do much else. We'll explain very shortly...  Luckily, the campaigns have started to heat back up, so we do have a few things to review in the political cartoon world.  With Paul Ryan being selected as Mitt Romney's VP choice, the discussion turned instantly, geared mostly by a coordinated talking points memo by the Democrats through Twitter.  But, at least he has taken the time to make a budget - something the Democrat controlled Senate hasn't done in three years plus..

  
Is there anything more pathetic than a old white guy in his 70's from Delaware saying Y'all?  Not to us.  We've been here 15 years, and the looks I got the first time I called someone 'Beau' was hilarious.  Rule of Thumb: If you were born above the Mason-Dixon line, don't ever use Y'all, Yonders or the like....

And what's the penalty for saying dumb stuff? They send you home for a week or two, and even let your wife campaign before you do... Apparently, there is a VP Time Out area - thought 'potatoe' doesn't appear to be scrawled on the wall....




.

Cartoons of the Week..

     Welcome again to our usual Sunday lineup... It's been a huge weekend, but the cartoonists work on a delay. So, you'll have to wait until next week to see their opinion on Paul Ryan's selection as Vice-President.  We don't expect much positive thoughts from them, but we always hope...  We did like this one to start off with.  Barack Obama does seem to be conjuring the ghost of Bill Clinton a lot lately, including putting him as a speaker at the upcoming convention.  Problem is, everything changes after 20 years.  It's kind of like thinking I picked up women a lot better when I was in college, so I should just dress like I did back then - except that I don't have a 32 inch waist anymore!  Times change, Mr. President.....

This one also caught our eye... To us, this lady seems like an Ann Romney fan.  Not being one to discuss social issues, we kind of agree with her.  It's still the economy, stupid....

But, Top Prize goes to this one... We feel really bad for all those people who live in tose swing states.  Getting barraged with all those commercials for the next 12 1/2 weeks must be like being stuck in the 7th circle of Hell...  We're not 'curious' about that at all.





.

Another Major Milestone For SC6 !

        On Friday night at about 900pm, we hit a big mark for blogging statistics when we had our 500,000th hit.... We have no way of knowing exactly who it was, but it was likely a spam hit for Canadian Viagra or someone using the photo of the Budweiser girls we posted a last year (it's our top read post at 3400+ hits).  It's actually much more than that, but Blogger only started keeping stats since 2009 - 4 years after we started...


    We've seen a lot along the way - two presidents, two governors, three Lt. Governors and a new Congressional district.  With our readership steadily increasing 15-20% per year, the only thing that can stop us is us - and we're very close to closing the tent on this puppy.  We expect after tomorrow night, we'll explain a bit more, but you never know what'll happen.  Thanks to our loyal readers for making us a success - although that total is approximately 1/3rd of what Will Folks claims to get in a single month!  But, as you know, we go for quality and giving well-thought out solutions.   Once again, thanks for checking in!

.
    

Today's Founders Quote: The Manners and Spirit of a People

"It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution."

- Thomas Jefferson, 1781.


    TJ is right on the money again... As much as the media and political machines control the debate, it is the people who control what is acceptable in our country, and how it operates.  The Chik-Fil-A situation was a great example of that.  No matter how much sides may disagree, most of us tried to respect each other's view, and their right to air them... When we fail to do that, we fail our country.

 
   One thing that doesn't fail us is Olivia Munn's beauty.  The Newsroom star is canker-free, with the most flawless skin you ever saw....  Vigorous indeed!


.

Cartoons of the Week ....

       It's another Sunday, and that means it's time for our usual Sunday fare... That is, if my laptop holds out. Yes, I dumped an entire Pepsi smackdab on the keyboard about an hour ago.  So far, so good - no sticky buttons yet.  For a week where Congress went on vacation (and did nothing, surprise), there were a few layover topics to cartoon about.  Yeah, the Olympics are going on, but aside from the badminton scandal (???), nothing THAT interestingly snarky occurred... However, Mitt Romney did finish up his tour in Poland - and as you can see, what we thought might happen did: no one paid attention.  Lucky him...

As for things that ACTUALLY affect your life, the drought continues across the Midwest and Deep South, though we seem in better shape here.  Expect higher food prices by Spring, if not sooner - and gas seems to already have followed..

Lastly, Chik-Fil-A Gate Rounds Two and Three took place this week... Everything has already been said - except that the cows are the only ones happy about everything. As for Camilla.... She's dealing with it.





.

Why Mitt Romney May NEVER Release His Tax Returns..

     

      Unless you've been living under a very large rock the past few months, you're well aware that seemingly anyone and everyone has been pressuring Mitt Romney to release his tax returns for the past ten years.  It's gotten so bad, Democrat punks like Harry Reid and former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (who got thumped by John Kasich in 2010, after Ohio's economy went down the toilet) are intimating without proof that Romney may have actually NOT paid taxes.... It's getting out of hand, but for those of you Republicans hoping to end the pressure by releasing the returns, don't hold your breath - it's probably not happening.


   Yes, Romney might have been able to diffuse this back in January by releasing all of those tax returns, but he wasn't a lead pipe lock to win the nomination, so he was likely worried it could cost him.  By the way, as usual, this whole mess was started by ourselves - namely Newt Gingrich.  One day, we'll stop eating our own during primary races, but this wasn't the year... If Romney were psychic, and knew he would have won the nomination anyway, we're sure he would have let them out back then.  Now, it's too late.  Why? Because no matter what Romney does, he can't win...


   What do we mean?  Simple.  While Republicans would be happy with Romney's fortrightness, it doesn't earn him any votes.  However, he would not be treated so nicely by the Democrats.. It's a fact when it comes to taxes - rich guys can't win.  Whatever numbers come out, the Democrats will manipulate them however it makes him look bad.  Say, Mitt paid $25 million in taxes at an overall rate of 33% in 2001... Will they say that? No way - they will only point out that he made $75 million that year, and that is EVIL... Yes, making money is a crime to some. 


   Do we think that is what it'll look like on his returns? We don't know, we're not his accountant.  But, we do know that superrich people - whether they earned it or not - are vilified by the political machine out of sheer jealously and the blind will to win at all costs.  We don't think Romney can win in this scenario at all, and if we were him, we'd ingore it as well.  Eventually, the 'where are the tax records?' calls will die down again, as REAL issues in an election take precedence.  We've heard the theory that Romney's taxes are like Obama's Birth Certificate.  We agree totally... BOTH are non-issues.  Thank God, Summer is flying by, and Labor Day - aka Election Ramp Up - will soon be here..... 


.

Today Was a Great Day For America ...

For Or Against Gay Marriage, You Have to Like This Week's Chik-Fil-A Debate That Played Out Across the Country....


     Just a quick note to mark Chik-Fil-A Day.. Not from the political perspective, because we try to avoid social issues.  But more so to celebrate as an American, and the display of our First Amendment rights.  Now, to get semi-political.... Our favorite comment was from Dana Moody-Shriver, who mused 'It would be nice to see lines at the polling stations like there were at Chik-Fil-A today in November.'   If only we got as excited about voting as we did about Chicken Filet Biscuits.....


.

Karma Bites London Mayor Boris Johnson In the Ass..

 

When You Resemble a Sheep Dog, You Might Consider NOT Picking On Mitt Romney, Because It Does Have It's Consequences.... 


     You want to know why we generally stay away from attacking people?  Remember, we said attack, not criticize - there is a difference.  It's because when you are nasty outwardly towards others, there is payback.  It's called Karma, and she is one mean bitch..


     Ask London Mayor, Boris Johnson.. The guy with the hair that makes even Donald Trump ask 'WTF is with the Doo?', took a potshot at Mitt Romney last week before his city began it's hosting of the Olympics.. You've probably already heard it, so we won't review.  What he found out today is that anyone, anywhere can end up looking like an idiot..



     Mayor Johnson (why do we keep typing 'Major Johnson' by accident?) was the special guest at an event in London, where he agreed to run across the park on a zipline - like the pig in that GEICO commercial.  Well, instead of saying 'Pure Adrenaline' while squealing, Johnson's plus-sized posterior apparently was a bit too much to keep the zipline taught... He bowed the line to the point that it got stuck about 3/4 of the way across, leaving him stranded about 20 feet in the air...


    Johnson eventually got across, but he hopefully learned his lesson: at one time of another, we ALL look dumb.  Usually, it takes a bit longer....  but when you do such a good job of starting shit, God makes it easier for you to realize that for every negative action, there is an equal and opposite reaction... If you want to look at Hizzoner on the Highwire, here is the link. 


.

There Are Some Things That Even Jim Clyburn Can't Bear To Watch ...

While Having to Endure Nancy Pelosi's Partisan BS Will Make Anyone Cringe, There's One Thing That The Whipper Hates Even More....
  

     Time for one of those interesting little stories that we used to do all the time - you know, the ones you miss..... Not much is going on in politics right now, so we're left with amusing anecdotes.  Sometimes it's better that way.


     Listening to POTUS this week, we heard a neat little national clip of our own soon-to-be-former Congressman.  In an interview, he admitted that when it comes to Election Day, Clyburn can't bear watching the results.... At least not in public.  We hate to say it, but we apparently have ONE thing in common with each other.  Aside from that, we share nothing.


    No, he doesn't skip the returns altogether - he just prefers to be alone in a room, watching TV (MSNBC, no doubt - he's on there weekly!).  Why? He says he doesn't like all the distractions, but we think it's because you can't drink Jack Daniels & Diet Cokes all night in the Radisson Hotel Enchantment Room....


   Otherwise, we don't understand it.  Maybe he's being a team player, and can't tolerate watching his fellow Democrats getting their butts waxed every four years in South Carolina.  He sure can't be worried about himself losing.  If there's anyone who has a guaranteed seat, it's Jim Clyburn.  There is some bad news to it all.... as of this posting, everytime he has locked himself into that room, he's always walked out!  Maybe we'll get lucky this Fall....

.

Jay Carney Doesn't Have Justin Bieber Fever ...

Word Is Sasha and Malia Aren't Speaking to the WH Press Secretary After He Mentions Raising Justin's Taxes Next Year....


     There's a saying - watch what you say, because you NEVER know who you're going to offend... This week's boo-boo (aside from both Presidential candidates) came from White House Press Secretary and James Spader clone Jay Carney, who apparently forgot that you don't mention the president's friends when talking about taxes and millionaires...


    It occurred at Friday's WH Press Corps daily briefing.  Carney was going on his usual line to continue the Bush Tax Cuts, except for those making over $250,000 a year.  As usual, he mentioned various rich people who can afford paying more taxes, including Mitt Romney and Barack Obama, along with a very strange addition - teen heartthrob Justin Bieber.  Carney, who used to work for Joe Biden, seems to have inherited his old boss' penchant for not thinking on his feet..


    You see, Bieber is a not-so-secret crush of Sasha and Malia Obama.  He's even met a few times with the President. Oh, and we forgot another thing..... Bieber is CANADIAN!!!  We're not even positive he pays taxes in America, though we suspect he does.  Still, of all the people in the world to name, Bieber is certainly an odd choice.... Nice going, Skippy.  It did make us wonder one thing: while we're discussing millionaires and billionaires, did anyone else notice we don't hear about Warren Buffett or his secretary anymore???


   However, we will give kudos to Carney on on point.  To finish, he was asked to comment on Mitt Romney's rough first day in London, but he refused.  It's an unwritten rule that you don't comment on candidates while they are overseas, and Carney kept it, but that wasn't good enough for the White House reporter. About four times, she badgered Carney for a comment, stating that it applied to the campaign, and he owed it to them to comment.  Carney stood his ground, leaving the reporter without her red meat.  Think that there aren't reporters covering the White House that don't have their own agendas?  Think again....


.