Is It Hypocrisy? Or Is It Just Plain Stupidity?

Ok, all of you people driving around Salt Lake City with your cute little ‘I Buy Local First’ bumper stickers:  Do you really think it makes sense to put these stickers on the back of a JAPANESE CAR???!!!

Oh My God! Its So Stimulating!

OK, I cannot just keep silent on this stupid economic stimulus package. 

First of all, when did we go into recession?  I don’t recall a single quarter in the last three years where we had no economic growth.  For a recession to occur, we would have to have two consecutive quarters with no growth.  We still have growth.  Our growth has slowed, yes, but it is still growth.  Pundits on the news are going around throwing out this R word and scaring the crap out of people. 

Second of all, this whole thing really gained steam when the mortgage meltdown occurred.  Well, maybe the idiots who cant afford a house should have never been able to finance one in the first place.  If anything, this could help our economy in the long term as it may force banks to be more selective on who they finance. 

Third of all, is lower interest rates really the answer?  It seems to me that people going into debt are the ones who spark economic downturn.  Lowering interest rates may just cause our economy to tank years from now.  I made some really stupid credit decisions in my younger years and I am now paying for it in the way of a low credit score which leads to higher interest rates.  While this sucks for my wallet in the short term, it forces me to be selective on what kind of loans I apply for which leads to more money in my pocket in the long term.

Fourth of all, the governments lousy promised payment of $600 is like pennies in a glass.  OK, it may let me make one car payment but big freaking deal!  You really want to help people, give them thousands! 

Fifth of all, with the governments already low taxes and enormously high spending, this is only going to exacerbate the huge national debt.  With apologies to the baby boomer population, these tax cuts that W put through are going to bite my generation in the rear twenty years from now if spending is not drastically cut. 

 Im Eriq Kiltz and I approved this message.

It’s The Economy, You Moron

CNN did an interview with the current governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm regarding her states decesion to move up their primary contrary to the Democratic Party rules.  The Democratic Party punished them by taking away all their delegates to the Democratic National Convention.  Well, she almost started crying on CNN and talking about how her states economy is in such dire straights right now and they need an early primary to make the nation aware of their woes.   Ok, I have to sound off here.  First of all, Michigans economy has been tied to the auto industry for decades now.  That has not changed in some time and will not change in some time.  I would think that it would be prudent of the state government to entice other industries to Michigan so as to better weather downturns in the auto industry.  Or, those people can quit whining and move somewhere else.  Utah still has a red hot economy and im sure Governor Huntsman would love a larger tax base.  I took the initiative to move elsewhere when I was living in Kansas and had no real opportunity.  I moved to Utah with a car that barely ran, no job and only 900 bucks.  Seriously people, quit whining and take some initiative. 

 Now on to Mike Huckabee who I just cannot stand more and more every day.  CNN was asking candidates about how they would help people who are suffering financial hardship.  Mike Huckabee said that one of the first things he would do is to lower gas prices straight away.  Ok, fine but later in that interview he went on to say that we need to lower our dependance on foreign oil.  Mr. Huckabee, if you lower gas prices, people are just going to buy MORE GAS FROM SAUDI ARABIA!!!!!!!  If anything, we should raise gas prices so people stop driving so freaking much!

 Im Eriq Kiltz and I approved this message. 

Come See The Softer Side Of Hillary (And Other Thoughts)

I humbly opine that a tear does not a softhearted person make.  So, what are the voters in New Hampshire thinking by choosing Hillary?  Granted, Obama still made a strong 2nd but are the women in New Hampshire really so easily swayed that a tear leads to a vote?  Im targeting women because the exit polls indicate that women are where Obama lost votes.  Im not worried in the least.  2nd place is nothing to be upset about.  I still believe that Obama will be the next President of the United States.  Especially now that Bill Richardson has dropped out and John Kerry has endorsed him.  (Not that I have any love for John Kerry, quite the opposite in fact.)

 Speaking of Obama, im getting really sick of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy accusing him of being a Muslim.  First of all, Mr. Obama has repeatadly denied any faith in Islam.  He has made public proclamations to be a beliver in Christ.  Second of all, one year in a Muslim school does not automatically make Obama a Muslim.  Third of all, what is so horrible about Muslims?  With the exception of a few radicals, they are a peaceful and honorable religion.    I personally am more scared of some evangelical Christians than I am of Muslims. 

As I sit here in Starbucks writing this, a guy I know came up to me and we conversed for a time.  Seeing that I was writing a political blog, he wanted to discuss politics.  He indicated that he is rooting for McCain.  He seemed to have researched and informed himself about the candidates which I respect.  However, he made some comment about McCain having “experience”.  What the crap difference does “experience” make?  “Experience” has taken us to war.  “Experience” has cheated on his wife.  “Experience” has driven the economy into the ground on several occasions.  Do we really want or need someone else with “experience”?  I say no.  Obama has enough “experience” to understand how government works but not enough “experience” to have become a “politician” and therefore corrupt.  Speaking of McCain, I for one and getting tired of him telling people to vote for him because he was a POW.  Ok, I respect the man for serving his country and coming out of that situation alive but I am getting tired of hearing it.  I mean, seriously, I was mugged in El Paso once but you dont hear me asking for votes because of it.

Im Eriq Kiltz and I approved this message.

1 Down, 49 To Go. Or, As Mike Huckabuck Put It, “We’re Halfway There”.

I ponder my love for politics.  I find my self driving around aimlessly for hours listening to my Satelite Radio just to hear the latest political poll numbers on CNN.  Im the kind of sicko who walked around work all day on Jan 3 excitedly telling everyone that I was going to an Iowa watch party.  Who does that?  I went home after work to change clothes and, upon refreshing myself, immediatly left for said watch party (even though I was an hour early).  I eagerly sat down on the couch next to some lady whose name I cannot even remember.  I must be some kind of cultural oddity.  I actually spent the better part of an hour discussing the merits of various CNN reporters and anchors with this Jane Doe lady.  What other 25 year old actually knows who Soledad O’Brian is?  Imagine the suspense I felt when the first numbers came in…  OH NO! Obama was behind!.  Ok, calm down, only 2 percent of precints reporting, its going to be a long night.  More numbers came in, OBAMA LEADS!  More numbers came in.  THE LEAD WIDENS!  With 65% of Democratic precincts reporting, CNN projected Obama as the winner in Iowa.  The crowd goes wild!  (Seriously, you can see the picture of us going wild on page A7 of the Jan 4 Deseret Morning News which is my 12th appearence in a newspaper.)  Also projected was Mike Huckabuck as the Republican winner.  A disapointing if not unexpected result given the religious demographics of Iowa.  With 98% of the precincts in, Obama was the clear winner in Iowa.  Altogether, a nice beginning to what is sure to be a bitter playoff season. 

 I cannot wait until the New Hampshire Primary mere days away.  One can bet that yours truely will be present front and center with no less enthusiasm. 

 Im Eriq Kiltz and I approved this message.

Mitt Romney, How Do I Hate Thee? Let Me Count The Ways…

3 Reasons Mitt Romney must be stopped.

He is WAY out of touch with the American people.  I heard him on CNN today answering a question about what he likes to do with his spare time.  He said that he likes movies and has an extensive DVD collection.  Someone asked what his favorite movie is and he said “Well I doubt you’ve ever heard of it.  Its called ‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou?”  Are you freaking serious Mitt?  You really think that your choice of movie is so obscure that the average American would not have heard of it?  What kind of moron are you?  Freaking everybody has heard of that movie.

He makes statements which go against his faith to play politics.  Rather than go into detail on this one, I will just refer you to my previous post.

He is starting to play a dirty campaign with attacks against Mike Huckabee.  I have no love for Huck but its getting ugly out there.  As a Mormon, he should not be playing dirty.  If he cannot play nice then he should drop out of the race.  Look at my pick, Obama.  While his campaign isnt perfect, he has not fired nearly as many dirty shots at his main rival, Hillary, as Mitt has against Huck.

You know, there was a time where I didnt actually like Mitt, but I at least had respect for the guy.  I saw him as an honest person who would play fair and try to do what is right.  Now, I see him as nothing but a corrupt politician.  What a phoney.