The Awakening!

By Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

Book of Obama Chapter 9

All through the first year of The Anointed One the people of the land did grumble.

"You are spending too much!"
"Increasing the debt!"
"The jobs are gone, make more!"
"The banks will fail again!"
"The car companies will fail!"
"HEALTH CARE!"

And did The Anointed One listen to the people of the land?  No He did not.  For He was told by Pelosi the Loud and Reid the Inept that they can do what they want, for the people will forget.

So while all through the Summer of Discord,. while tempers ran wild, The Anointed One just plowed forward with His own New Deal.

"We will push it through Congress!" The Anointed One shouted to His staff.  "We will force this on the people."  And the Progressives did laugh.

"We will change the nation, turn it into Europe-lite.  By the time We are finished, those idiots in the street will not be able to change it back."

"For Nanny is the name of the New Welfare Plan.  Total Cradle to Grave, We will do to them as well.  I know best, that everyone can see.  My way is the Right Way.  That is what I say it will be!"

All through the summer and into the fall, the warning signs were there for all to see, but The Anointed One became blinded to the truth.

He ignored the disaster of the Olympics, how His city of Chicago was turned down.  Or when He went to campaign for Virginia and Jersey of New, He couldn't turn those races around.

He put on the tears for the victims of Fort Hood, but refused to call it terror.
He ignored the Christmas bomber, it upset His plans for golf and fun that week.
But when His friend's son received a boo-boo, He ran back as fast as He could.
He partied day and night in the warm Hawaiin sands.

But on the eve of His first year anniversary.  He has received the worst news.
The Fiefdom of the Kennedy's:  Massachusetts has left the color blue.
The Fiefdom that old Joe the Bootlegger bought for his own son.  A piece of land that was the birthplace of the progressive slant.
The land of Harvard (the school The Anointed One attended.), of Barney the Frank and Kerry the Swiftboater, plus other illustrious names.
The Fiefdom of John the Martyr and Teddy the Lecher, both of Camalot fame, did hold court.  Those names plus Tips, remained true in count.

Yet of the day before the anniversary of the anointing by John of Roberts, the Holy Chief of Justice, where He was endowed with the Mantle of Power, did the news break unto Him.  His party just lost the Fiefdom of Massachusetts, and may never get it back.

There goes the New Deal for the Nation.  The Nanny must go!  The people have turned against us.  Our seats will be given to another.  The people have spoken in Massachusetts, a Fiefdom so blue it was nearly black.  The Kennedys don't run this Fiefdom any more.  The people have taken it back!

"We are fed up with your nanny, spending and lies.  You promised us openness on C-SPAN!  You said no smoke-filled rooms, transparency.  Yet you haven't delivered these.  What we want is good government.  Lower taxes, more jobs, less waste, less debt.  We didn't get that.  We want to feel safe when we fly.  Yet we don't feel safer too.  You treat those who cause harm to us like the common criminal.  Giving them rights they are not entitled to, setting them upon our shore.

For all these reasons and more, we have chosen our new champion Brown of the Body Politic.  He is our champion.  He is our Redeemer!"

The Anointed One reeled in horror.  He was the chosen.  He wore the Mantle of Power.  He was the one they had to worship.  He would see to it that the people would have this nanny nation to live on.

But it is too late for the false Messiah He has become, His oration will fail.  For the people of the nation have awakened.  Now they will just count the days to the next election where they can correct the mistake they made in 08!

Dedicated to the late Roger W. Gardner of Radarsite.  Massachusetts was his home state!

Cash for Clunkers Cost Taxpayers $24000: Taxpayers Paid $24,000 Per Clunker

The "wildly popular" government program called Cash for Clunkers rev'ed up auto sales until the program ended. In the end, Cash for Clunkers cost taxpayers $24,000 for each car sold.

Cash for Clunkers

According to a CNN report, 690,000 cars were sold using the "get free government money" program. The article says 125,000 of those sold were autos that would have sold anyway:

...the overwhelming majority of sales would have taken place anyway at some time in the last half of 2009 [Edmunds.com] That means the government ended up spending about $24,000 each for those 125,000 additional vehicle sales.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is not happy with the way Edmunds.com analyzes the Cash for Clunkers program.

A spokesman for Ford Motor Company attributes the program with kick-starting the economy. Edmunds.com says without Cash for Clunkers, October sales would be even higher.

Cash for Clunkers Data Secret: No Clunker Transparency

The "enormously successful" Cash for Clunkers program, also known as "CARS," cannot be confirmed as "successful," even a little bit, let alone "enormously" because the Obama administration will not reveal the numbers. There is no Clunker transparency.

Cash for Clunkers

The White House says the program is wildly popular after $1 billion of taxpayer money was used to provide cash rebates to clunker sellers as they turned in their autos with grievous gas mileage and purchased a nice car from ailing auto dealers, known as a clunker buyer, with a $4500 subsidy from the government. In one week the $1 billion was gone - thus, the wildly popular program. President Obama wants another $2 billion to fund the unloading of gas guzzling clunkers. However, there is no way to substantiate the bottom-line of the program. The Department of Transportation says it has the details on 157,000 "rebate requests," from dealers (clunker buyers) who floated the $4500 advance to the clunker seller. Obama is asking Congress for the additional $1 billion with no confirmation of the true details of the program. This from AutoBlog:

...the Obama Administration is reportedly now refusing to release C.A.R.S. records on the 157,000 rebate requests that it has received thus far. The Department of Transportation is still saying it will make this information available "soon," but hasn't given any specific time at to when it will do so. Without a glimpse into the full details of which cars are being sold and which are being traded in – and where all of this is happening – it won't be truly clear to see who is winning and who is losing with the initiative. We have some ideas, of course, but we'd like to see the big picture already.

Hyundai claims that gas mileage on the roads will improve by 60 percent once the clunkers are off the streets - due in part to "83 percent of the vehicles being traded in are trucks, SUVs or vans and 86 percent of the new vehicles being bought are passenger cars."

If these numbers indicate how CARS shoppers will continue to buy new vehicles for the life of the program, Hyundai believes that, annually, the U.S. will reduce fuel use by 69 million gallons, save $170 Million in fuel costs and reduce CO₂ emissions by 600,000 metric tons thanks to the legislation.

If 157,000 clunkers have been purchased at $4,500 each (and there is an option for only a $3,500 rebate) then the taxpayers has spent about $708 million or less, with about $50+ million in administrative costs, leaving about $250 million languishing somewhere. Forget that the program may be successful. Let us stand on principle and allot no more money until the facts are known, including knowing when and if the dealers have been reimbursed. Photo credit: AutoBlog

Cash for Clunkers Taxed: CARS Dealers Rebate Taxed

Clunker sellers will not be taxed on the rebate they receive from Clunker buyers. Clunker buyers, however, will be taxed - but guess what, this is the government and the government originally informed participating dealers that the rebate monies they receive back from the program (assuming they do) will not be taxed.

Cash for Clunkers

Participating dealers did not learn of this plan until Monday July 27th.

...the government bureaucracy responsible for administering the CARS program -- conducted a webinar for automobile dealers last Monday. During that session, retailers were reportedly told that the federal rebate cash they'd be receiving would be non-taxable. Now, for the buyers trading in so-called clunkers, this is indeed the case. Unfortunately for car dealers, however, it appears that NHTSA got the explanation wrong. ...the IRS issued an advisory bulletin yesterday confirming that yes, the federal rebates dealerships receive for CARS trades count as taxable gross income.

A dealer who is also an accountant points out that dealers paying tax on the rebates is as it should be. "...the CARS cash simply counts as a normal payment to the retailer, and thus is taxable." That makes sense, but what does not made sense is that the NHTSA got it wrong, and gave incorrect advice. Some dealers may have wanted to make a decision based on being taxed, while dealing with a huge, enormously disorganized government program that is time consuming and almost impossible to navigate. After all, "time" is worth something. Another consideration may be the time period that the dealer has money tied-up, awaiting government reimbursement. What do you think? Visit the National Clunker Memorial Gallery

Beck CARS Warning: CARS Website Steals Computer, CARS Steals Personal Information (Video)

It's a wonderful thing. The "government" has given away another $2 million of taxpayer money to help Americans buy a new car, after turning in their gas guzzling clunker in the Cash for Clunkers program. See video below.

Glen Beck

Glen Beck has logged on to the site and found a warning that is significant, and if you have no plans to visit the CARS website, because you will not use the CARS program - nevertheless, you need to know what your government is doing to everyone who visits and hits the "continue" button. You'll see the following on your computer screen at CARS.gov:

Privacy Act & Security Statement This application provides access to the DoT CARS system. When logged on to the CARS system, your computer is considered a Federal computer system and is property of the United States government, any or all uses of this system [your computer] and all files on this system [your computer] may be intercepted, monitored, recorded, copied, audited, inspected, and disclosed to authorized CARS, DoT, law enforcement personnel, as well as authorized officials of other agencies, both domestic and foreign.

No notice that once you leave the site, your personal information will magically disappear, no longer be stored in the clutches of "the government." My imagination isn't nearly creative enough to think of all the ways the government can use your information and then track you afterwards. Of course, they will - at least some of you. Otherwise, why would they take charge of everything on your computer? Here's a couple of things the U.S. government under the Obama administration might consider doing now that they know you a bit better - just guesses, of course: 1) If you have outstanding warrants for about anything, I bet the "law enforcement" mentioned above will come knocking on your door. I think that's a good idea, because if you have outstanding warrants, you and law enforcement likely need a meet-up. Maybe some dead-beat moms and dads will be brought to justice through the government theft of personal information. 2) If you are a local councilman, or just an ordinary person with a clunker in the garage, and you've been copying Governor Mark Sanford's love letter to his paramour and emailing them to your illegal love, you'll likely be disgraced and lose your council seat, or whatever. 3) If you have a boss you really, really dislike and are prone to rant on the web under a pseudonym, where you think no one will find your missives...beware. Is there someone out there wanting to blackmail you? Does your company employ a web sleuth to find disloyal workers? If so, the sleuth's job just got easier. If your company is a government contractor, you may have a target on your back. 4) Have you googled an embarrassing medical situation that you wouldn't tell a soul about? Oops! 5) Have information about your children's school activities on your computer, your child's age, anything about their friends? Would you want anyone to have access to that information? I've omitted financial records. None of us want those exposed. Here's the thing: you think none of the above could happen? Gird your loins. Your government is willing and able to steal your personal information. I know, I know. You will not participate in the program, but doesn't it make you incredibly angry that your government will do this? Am I over-reacting? Tell me what you think. Thank you to Glen Beck.

Cash for Clunker Problems: Clunker Dealers not Paid, Out of Funds

Dealers participating in the "Cash for Clunkers" program may not be getting government reimbursement in a timely manner. The program, designed to jump-start auto sales, is having problems. Adam Lee is a dealer in southern Maine who accepted 100 clunkers and is owed $450,000 from the government. To date, he has received no reimbursements. Mr. Lee, who owns Lee Auto Group, thinks there must be others who have not been paid. Lee stopped accepting clunkers at four of his dealerships. On July 22nd, the Department of Transportation had "processed" 16,351 transactions in the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) totalling $68.9 million worth of rebates from 22,300 dealers. The government allowed $1 billion for the program which will expire on October 31st or if the money runs out sooner. The $1 billion is to include all administrative costs. Today, July 30th, Congress announced plans to "suspend" the "cash for clunkers" out-of-fear that the $1 billion could be quickly consumed in rebates for new car purchases. So, is there really $1 billion funded for the program, and how much of that $1 billion will go to the administrative cost of the program? Edmunds AutoObserver says that as of the morning of July 30th, "$858 million remained to fund the clunkers." Confusion reigns. The day before the program became active, the EPA got in the act and changed-up the specifications needed for mileage qualifications for the program. After clunker-sellers signed their paperwork, and the EPA did their thing, questions remain. The Department of Transportation switchboard is lighting up with some 56,000 calls each day. Some dealers are blamed for not calculating the rebate correctly: is it $3,500 or $4,500? One clunker-seller complains that the dealer gave him $4,500 when only $3,500 was due and surprise, surprise - the dealer wants his $1,000 back. Another complaint: the dealer charged the clunker-seller $1,100 of the rebate for administrative costs. And supposedly, other clunker-buyers are charging interest on the vouchers. Can we identify another administration with such blatantly irresponsible policies? I'm thinking...still thinking...no, I think we cannot. Okay, not everyone agrees with me. Michael Jackson, chief executive of AutoNation, Inc. says the program was an "absolute success." 'It's a great stimulus to the economy." But after just one week, the money is nearly, and perhaps completely, exhausted. That's not success, that's poor planning when auto dealers are in the middle of a huge promotion. No word on who pays the promotional expenses. No word about the cost to administer Cash for Clunkers. Photo above courtesy of the National Clunker Memorial Gallery