Cutting Back

The First Phonies have their personal trainer fly in from Chi-town once a week?  Good grief - the next time Michelle is going on about locally grown food, just shoot me.  Better yet, fly in from a distant city to shoot me.  No, fly me to an exotic locale and shoot me there... ahh, forget it.

As to why this is news now, credit the power of the Times; the CBS Early Show featured the Obama's personal trainer 53 weeks ago, but no one cared:

(CBS)  Cornell McClellan can boast that he's got about the biggest celebrities you can as clients - the first couple.

McClellan, a personal trainer who owns a gym called Naturally Fit in President and Michelle Obamas' hometown of Chicago, is still helping them keep in shape - he flies to Washington about once a week, mostly to work with the first lady, but sometimes Mr. Obama, as well.

His suggested workout for ABC News emphasizes leg work, which is great for activating the growth hormones.

Comments

[Neo]

It’s interesting a Moody’s Analytics study is being quoted to suggest the U.S. House Republican plan to cut $61 billion in borrowing and spending this year would destroy 700,000 jobs over two years.

And yet the same Moody's study, authored by Mark Zandi, one of the architects of President Obama’s 2009 “stimulus,” says the Democrats will have to cut $400 billion a year if the economy is ever to stabilize.

So, it seems, the Republicans aren’t doing nearly enough. They should be cutting $400 billion in spending and let the private sector reorganize in a reality-based economy.

[lyle]

Looks like MO has been really successful on her buttocks-building exercises. Obviously, no local trainer can help her with those...

[clarice]

What's Reggie's job, then?

Why is this getting so much coverage now? Easy. People are sick of these phonies wasting our money and telling us to sacrifice. Really sick of them.

[DebinNC]

NYT: "
Mr. and Mrs. Obama both try to exercise for at least an hour every day, and Mr. McClellan says he usually sees them two to four times a week, depending on their schedules."

Does he stay in the WH? Do taxpayers cover his expenses elsewhere?

[Danube of Thought]

leg work, which is great for activating the growth hormones

I am calling--nay, I am howling--unadulterated bullshit here.

[Danube of Thought]

From Zandi:

Policymakers will eventually need to cut annual spending and/or raise taxes to shrink the deficit by $400 billion, bringing it down to a sustainable level at no more than 2.5% of GDP.

[MarkO]

I've said before that anyone who uses a trainer to prepare his horse for a cutting horse competition is not a cowboy, he's just a rich guy on someone else's trained horse. And so, anyone who uses a personal trainer, especially one who jets in, is not only not an athlete, he's not remotely in shape. Check the haunches. And, the purple lips. Not a good look.

[MarkO]

The growth hormones are activated by Balco.

[matt]

watch what the man does, not what he says. He is perhaps the greatest prevaricator in history.

[Rob Crawford]

Ok, sushi place has CNN On TV. On screen it says "Run for the Border" and something about Libya. Did the people of that country suddenly develop a craving for bad faux-Mexican food? Or am I missing something obvious?

[Rob Crawford]

Just saw an ad on CNN for a special report on the Rodney King beating. Timely!

(Or just stirring the pot?)

[reliapundit]

i think he is actually a courier/in-between-man/bag-man for obama and farrakhan and the machine et al.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

JSOnline reported:

Gov. Scott Walker on Monday afternoon responded to comments President Barack Obama made earlier in the day about the protests in Madison:

I’m sure the President knows that most federal employees do not have collective bargaining for wages and benefits while our plan allows it for base pay. And I’m sure the President knows that the average federal worker pays twice as much for health insurance as what we are asking for in Wisconsin. At least I would hope he knows these facts.

Furthermore, I’m sure the President knows that we have repeatedly praised the more than 300,000 government workers who come to work every day in Wisconsin.

I’m sure that President Obama simply misunderstands the issues in Wisconsin, and isn’t acting like the union bosses in saying one thing and doing another.

[Danube of Thought]

Huzzay! A doctor blasts the medical fraud in those phony sick notes.

[Army of Davids]

Payroll unemployment numbers out this Friday.

Thomas Donahue, head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, on the uncertainty, mandates, taxes and new regulation put upon business by the healthcare legislation...."it's a job killer".

[Ranger]

Over at The Corner

Union Power, By the Numbers

Here are the ten largest donors in U.S. politics as of February 7, according to OpenSecrets.Org:

ActBlue: $51 million

AT&T: $46 million

AFSCME: $43 million

National Association of Realtors: $38 million

Goldman Sachs: $33 million

American Association for Justice: $33 million

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: $33 million

National Education Association: $32 million

Laborers Union: $30 million

Teamsters Union: $30 million

...

Put another way, the list reads:

Democratic/Union Goon proxy: $51 million

Death Star, Inc.: $46 million

Union Goons (public sector): $43 million

The Committee to Re-Inflate the Bubble by Electing Democrats: $38 million

The Bankers Who Elected Barack Obama: $33 million

Democratic trial lawyers: $33 million

Union Goons: $33 million

Union Goons (public sector): $32 million

Union Goons: $30 million

Union Goons: $30 million

[RichatUF]

reliapundit-

Glad I'm not the only one.

[Jane (get off the couch - come save the country)]

Gee Ranger,

I thought the Koch brothers gave all the money. I am SHOCKED!

[Melinda Romanoff]

reliapundit-

That is covered between Durbin's and Guiterrez's respective staff members.

No need for the added expense and larger juice for the run.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Jane Russell has died.

[Pagar]

Jane, the Koch brothers are #83.
If Ranger and I are using the same list. LUN

[Neo]

A person is smart.
People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it.
Fifteen hundred years ago everybody knew the Earth was the center of the universe. Five hundred years ago, everybody knew the Earth was flat. Thirty years ago everybody knew if only Israel would recognize a Palestinian state, we would have peace in the Middle East. Ten years ago everybody knew that all Climate Change was due to man made CO2, and three years ago everybody knew that America would be post racial if only we had a Black President.
Imagine what you’ll know tomorrow.

[Jack is Back!]

Was it a NRO cruise Jane and Caro took last year?

I have signed up for the one this coming November and would like anyones opinion who have done this before.

[Boatbuilder]

I know for sure that guy in the article DoT posted Yesterday will get his Ferrari. And it won't run on algae. Courtesy of the rest of us taxpaying rubes.

[Thomas Collins]

Duke Snider has also rejoined eternity, Sara (Pal2Pal).

[Jane]

JIB,

That's it.

It's great. You will love it.

Caro and I are going to Normandy this spring on an NRO cruise.

There are two types - the big huge shin ding which are the November cruises. Last Nov it was Caro, Man tran,Mrs Man Tran, Another Barbara, Jean and I - and the November before JMH, Sandy Daze, Laura, Caro and I were all there. (have I forgotten anyone).

Last November, my third, I must have known 50 people (out of 800) and suspect on the much smaller river cruise this spring I will know the majority.

Caro has been on more than I.

( blogged both last November's cruise and Last spring to Portugal over at You Too.)

[Neo]

Last April, President Obama hosted an unprecedented Washington gathering of representatives from 47 nations, to discuss what he described as "the single biggest threat to U.S. security, both short-term, medium-term and long-term"--the prospect of a terrorist group acquiring a nuclear weapon.

But less than a year later, proposed budget cuts could badly hamper America's ability to counter that threat. Nuclear-security experts are expressing alarm about the potential impact of steep cuts to the country's nuclear nonproliferation program--as well as intense frustration at what they see as the White House's failure so far to push back against the cuts. Critics say rolling back nonproliferation funding could undermine a cornerstone of Obama's foreign-policy agenda.

[daddy]

More civility in Wisconsin:

After a Friday vote that went against his way, Wisconsin State Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) turned to his Colleague Rep. Michelle Litjens, (R-Winneconne) and said to her "You are fucking dead."

In an update Hintz has apologized:

“I apologized when I learned my comments may have been taken personally by someone.”

Hintz, BTW, was busted in a prostitution sting just last week.

[Boatbuilder]

Bushism of the day!

"...what he described as 'the single biggest threat to U.S. security, both short-term, medium-term and long-term'"

[daddy]

Jane,

Have you told Amy's daughter you'll be on a fairy boat? :)

Also, as it gets closer to your trip, please see if you can tell me a particular date you and Caro might be in Paris. I've got a new recipe for Martini's from Matt on the other thread that might be fun to try out en Paris with other vagabond JOMer's.

[Danube of Thought]

Boatbuilder, I sure hope you're wrong. If he can't raiseenough private capital to go forward, then he should fold his tent. As near as I could tell he'd got not taxpayer money at all so far.

[Danube of Thought]

Love--I mean love--that Walker statement.

[Jane]

Oh how fun Daddy - you must meet us in Paris. It's the end of April - actually I got something today. We leave April 28th - a martini with Daddy would be well worth coming a day early.

Let me know because I'm looking for flights.

I'm not sure Amy's daughter would get the fairy boat thing, but I'll test her next time I see her.

[Jane]

Dot,

Where is the Walker statement?

[narciso]

good reworking from 'Men in Black' Neo.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

TC: We noted Duke Snider's death here at home yesterday, giving proper respect to the passing of a Hall of Famer. My son used to see him at the Chaparell High School games, which is just a block from my house. He was there in support of his grandson.

[Jane]

Nevermind DOT - the one he said about bambi, right?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Scroll up Jane.

[Comanche Voter]

I figure that Moochelle must be doing a LOT of those leg exercises. Her backside is getting to look as big as the Graf Zeppelin. And her head seems to be a little fat too.

[centralcal]

The First Phonies and physical trainers make me nostalgic for some reason. Ann Althouse broke from Wisconsin politics tonight to post a little tribute to Jane Russell in a vintage clip of her from Gentlemen Prefer Blonds. I love that movie!

Jane, was as we all know, a really HOT brunette and I grew up loving her feisty earthiness.

RIP Jane Russell. RIP.

[caro]

Daddy, that would be great,as Jane says. Also, we are back in Paris on May 8 and would extend a day if that is better.

[daddy]

Thanks Jane & Caro,

Have no idea what my schedule will be for April or for May, and I don't have much seniority so I usually got about my 10th choice, but when I bid I'll see if I can get a layover in Paris somewhere near those dates. Would be big fun.

[narciso]

Feels like my college fraternity/professional society all over again, that's where I found
about cinnamon schnappes

[Jane]

How fun would that be!!

Any chance you can pick us up for the ride over?

[Pofarmer]

Does anybody have a link to the Obama comments Walker is referig to? I heard bozo saying something daft about "we shouldn't violate these workers rights" and my jaw about hit the floor. The man is an absolute buffoon.

[narciso]

Let's try that again,

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117073853.html

[sbw]

"Any chance you can pick us up for the ride over?"

Translation: How much would a box our size with air holes cost to ship. ;-)

[daddy]

"Any chance you can pick us up for the ride over?"

That would be even bigger fun!

Am just dashing out the door for the frightening but fun Double decker busride on the twisty, turny cliff rides over to browse Stanley Market.

Bye.

[Jane]

How much would a box our size with air holes cost to ship. ;-)

You got it! LOL

[Melinda Romanoff]

Jane-

Do you two have a place to stay in Paris, yet?

[Agent J. (formally known as "J"..]

Use the shipping container!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

If you will be in Paris on May 8th, that is May 7th here, so let me live vicariously and have a glass of wine in my name for my birthday.

[matt]

The High Court in the UK now says "there is no place for Christianity" in their law any longer. My comments LUN

[narciso]

Not a lot of speaking truth to power, over here, either, in the LUN

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Holder on the budget hot seat tomorrow as DOJ attorneys play video games and complain about how bored they are.

This is a hearing I want to watch.

[jimmyk]

Sara, you and I share a birthday. (I knew that already courtesy H&R, but since you mentioned the date....)

[caro]

We will clink one for you,Sara,and jimmyk,too.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I didn't realize that jimmyk. We share the date with Brian Kilmead too.

I now have reason not to dread yet another birthday. Thanks Caro. :)

[glasater]

Mr Collins (TC) and I share a birthday also.

[Frau Polizeibeamtin]

I put this on the wrong thread and share the same thoughts as Clarice:

"Did you all see the Obamas fly in their personal trainer from Chicago every week."

Then what exactly is *Reggie's* job or is that DADT?

[jimmyk]

Thanks, caro. I'm only 6 hours time difference, so you'll have to get an early start. :)

[bgates]

I don't understand what Reggie Love is doing in this conversation.

[Janet]

The Tatler via Instapundit - Koch industries speaking out

"Recent studies show that the poorest 10% of the population living in countries with the greatest economic freedom have 10 times the per capita income of the poorest citizens in countries with the least economic freedom. In other words, society as a whole benefits from greater economic freedom."

It reminds me of a bit in one of Dinesh D'Souza's books about a man in India wanting to come to America because he wanted to live in a country where the poor people are fat.

[Janet]

"pretend spending on a problem is the same as solving it."

What a great line. Hoven at Am. Thinker used it referring to the Dept of Defense, but it is so true about our society today.

[Janet]

I need Cornell and Reggie to look & feel my best.

[Captain Hate]

LUN for Clarence Thomas weighs in on the efforts of the left to attack him and the Supreme Court. Interesting that an opponent of the Citizen United decision rises to his defense; any other principled lefties out there? Bueller? Charlie Sheen?

[Neo]

Evidence outlined in a Pentagon contractor report suggests that financial subversion carried out by unknown parties, such as terrorists or hostile nations, contributed to the 2008 economic crash by covertly using vulnerabilities in the U.S. financial system.
The unclassified 2009 report “Economic Warfare: Risks and Responses” by financial analyst Kevin D. Freeman, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times, states that “a three-phased attack was planned and is in the process against the United States economy.”
While economic analysts and a final report from the federal government's Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission blame the crash on such economic factors as high-risk mortgage lending practices and poor federal regulation and supervision, the Pentagon contractor adds a new element: “outside forces,” a factor the commission did not examine.“
There is sufficient justification to question whether outside forces triggered, capitalized upon or magnified the economic difficulties of 2008,” the report says, explaining that those domestic economic factors would have caused a “normal downturn” but not the “near collapse” of the global economic system that took place.
Suspects include financial enemies in Middle Eastern states, Islamic terrorists, hostile members of the Chinese military, or government and organized crime groups in Russia, Venezuela or Iran. Chinese military officials publicly have suggested using economic warfare against the U.S.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Do you two have a place to stay in Paris, yet?

Mel,

I think depends on if we stay an extra day. So no. What do you suggest.

[Captain Hate]

And so, anyone who uses a personal trainer, especially one who jets in, is not only not an athlete, he's not remotely in shape.

Exactly; the guys in the best shape I've seen work their asses off to do it by themselves because it's hard work. I suppose that professional athletes do it because they know that having attained the level they aspired that it would be easy to start slacking off and lose their edge because they have a lack of self-discipline. Plus it's a status thing. BOzo is, at best, a glorified gym rat who loves to sniff the jocks of real athletes. He uses a personal trainer because it lets him bullshit with somebody that real athletes use and act like he's something he's not. Kind of like his entire life.

Btw, does anybody watch the show "Chicago Code" on Fox? Last night they had a character who was a thinly disguised version of Ayers.

[narciso]

One realizes the source of this, and the usual denials from the expected parties, but
WTF, in the LUN

[centralcal]

Good morning. Woke up to some good news today - Mark Steyn has returned to National Review - hooray.

[SWarren]

Hah!! Salazar finally caves. LUN

[Captain Hate]

LUN for Porch and Mustang

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Ya gotta love this:

Passing the time at the Justice Department playing video games

Attorney General Eric Holder testifies in front of a House Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday. Chairing that Subcommittee will be Representative Frank Wolf (R-Virginia) to hear Holder ask for huge spending increases for the Civil Rights Division. The Justice Department has been stonewalling Congressman Wolf for over a year about the corrupt New Black Panther voter intimidation dismissal. Holder’s seat would be hot.

But Hans von Spakovsky in Tuesday’s Washington Examiner just made Holder’s seat even hotter. He has this bombshell open letter to Congressman Wolf called “They’re playing games, literally, in the Justice Department” in the Tuesday Washington Examiner.

It contains details about Holder’s management of the Justice Department that hard working (or out of work) Americans aren’t going to like:

* “This is also the same Justice Department division where, during a Voting Section staff meeting called to address chronic tardiness, numerous attorneys demanded permission to arrive at work up to 30 minutes late without penalty. Others wanted to work from home.”

* “reports from lawyers inside DOJ, [] tell of Voting Section attorneys so bored that many spend the day playing computer Solitaire, watching videos, and venting at the lack of activity.”

You can tune in at 9 a.m. EST Tuesday to see what an Attorney General looks like when he tries to defend huge budget increases for a government component that hasn’t done much for over two years, except perhaps sharpen Solitaire skills.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Capn'

I watch it - but I tivo it when it happens and watch it later so I haven's seen this week yet.

[Henry]

From Wispolitics budget blog (LUN) the Dems / unions are going nuts ahead of Walkers budget address (4:00 central time).

"Assembly Democrats have started back up an unofficial hearing on the budget repair bill." For a bill that already passed their chamber -- perhaps a hearing on their own boorish behavior is more appropriate.

"Milwaukee's BizTimes is reporting that Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley has issued a legal opinion that says pension changes in Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill are likely unconstitutional." I guess home rule provisions protect looting.

Wlaker hinted that his budget would reduce state aid to local govt & schools will be reduced by $1 billion, plus $1.4 billion in cuts in services. Should be interesting later today.

[narciso]

From Neo's link, didn't Paulsen's memoir say the Russians and the Chinese, had been pushing on the subprime issue, as I recall.

[Captain Hate]

Jane, let me just say that it would be great, at least in this case, if life would imitate art.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Oh good Capn' - the flashdance version.

Henry,

DO you think the dems will return? It's pay day after all.

[narciso]

This is what I was talking about, back then I
felt we were in a Michael Thomas novel, maybr
this was true, in the LUN

[Melinda Romanoff]

Jane-

If you can swing it, this hotel is lovely and is in between two different subways. Behind the Assembly National (their Congress), it's super safe and down the street from the Rodin Museum and around the corner from Les Invalides.

There are other nearby hotels, that we haven't stayed in but wanted to, that I'll dig up.

The only thing you really have to prepare for is a Sunday night dinner, not as much as you would hope is open.

I'll e-mail you more, as I dig it up.

(I'm in the middle of a rather intensive piece of research at the moment, much careful and precise reading involved.)

[Melinda Romanoff]

Ooops.

[Porchlight]

Thanks, Cap'n. Sounds like Lucinda is happier than usual these days. Well, more power to her, as long as I don't have to listen to the music. :)

[Janet]

OT The No-Go Rape Zones of France: 751 and Counting

The video with the article is really scary. The idea of immigration without assimilation just leads to the ruin of nations. The video says something like... the majority is treated like the minority.

[Janet]

"pretend spending on a problem is the same as solving it."

another example - “Black lawmakers on Monday said GOP-proposed budget cuts would move the country in the opposite direction of the civil rights movement.”

[Henry]

Jane, will the fleebaggers return? I haven't heard a single pundit say they will, and a couple interviews with various fleebaggers on TV show them as proud of their actions.

[Captain Hate]

Ok Porch, I've gotta hear your Lucinda stories. Either email me at my name (one word w/o spaces lower case) at ameritech dot net, or send me a FB message (but you're not on there, no?)

[Janet]

Alright, how can we sneak in & get our paychecks?

[Boatbuilder]

DoT--regarding the algae-powered Ferrari guy--while I am ever-hopeful,the combination of Massachusetts, Panetta, and "energy independence" raises all sorts of flags. I forsee some diversion of federal subsidies for corn/ethanol and swichgrass to the Massachusetts algae farms. Nobody will miss $50 million or so. I am somehow reminded of the episodes in the Aubrey-Maturin novels where Captain Jack gets slowly and inexorably bilked by the "alchemist" who promises to turn lead to gold.
In any even, I suspect that there are a number of Goldman-Sachs pigeons who can be gently persuaded to invest as well.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Jane or caro-

The seven bucks for one of these little books is worth its weight in gold. Every Parisian street is covered, with its nearest Metro stop, so you can travel the city on a multi-day Metro pass.

More later.

[Porchlight]

Cap'n, I am on FB - I'm friends with Janet, Ann, Mark and a few others here - please find me if you can. I've got a B&W childhood photo as my profile pic. I honestly don't really have any Lucinda stories, but it's clear we do need to hash this out. ;)

[Captain Hate]

a couple interviews with various fleebaggers on TV show them as proud of their actions.

This isn't surprising at all; a significant number of commiecrats supported Clinton, not because of anything the red-nosed predator did positive for the country, but his ability to trick Repubs. That's one major difference between their side and ours.

[Captain Hate]

Done Porch; I think I found you on Janet's friends list.

[Henry]

Janet, thanks for the cartoon, I needed that!
: )

[Sandy Daze]

"Progressive" Rallyists Call for Lynching of Clarence Thomas

. . . in their own words. 2 Feb 11 in Palm Springs CA.

Take good care,
Sandy

[Sue]

A friend was notified last night that her 25 year old son was killed in Afghanistan. There were 2 others killed with him. I am looking at the front page of Fox News. Nada. Zilch. I can find out about the new Dancing With the Stars cast. Man, this sucks.

[Jack is Back!]

So, now we know where all those 60's and 70's free speech, tie-dyed, anti-war protestors ended up; as Dem pols and teachers in Wisconsin, that's where.

I still think this little escapist charade has done irreperable damage to the Dems across the country and so does Charilie Cook.

[narciso]

Hey, I found you, too, Porch

[clarice]

Dinnr last night went off well. Unfortunately my pic of the Congressman holding a note reading "Clarice won" got lost in the ether. Or something. So *drat Jane still is ahead.

[Porchlight]

Cool guys - I gotta dash to work but I will catch up with the FB when I get there.

Congrats on the dinner, Clarice! It sounded marvelous.