By Jon McNaughton.

What does this mean to you?

BZ

Israel Vice PM: Military strike can hit all of Iran’s nuclear facilities

Speaking at Herzliya Conference, Moshe Ya’alon calls the possibility of a nuclear Iran a ‘nightmare to the free world,’ says explosion at Iranian missile base targeted missile system that would have threatened the U.S.

All of Iran’s nuclear faculties are vulnerable to a military strike, Vice Prime Minister and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya’alon said on Thursday, calling the potential of a nuclear Iran a “nightmare to the free world.”

But here’s the point:

Speaking of the possibility of a military strike of Iran’s nuclear facilities, the vice PM said that “the West has the ability to strike, but as long as Iran isn’t convinced that there’s a determination to follow through with it, they’ll continue with their manipulations.”

That said, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta commented on the issue, reported in The Washington Post:

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has a lot on his mind these days, from cutting the defense budget to managing the drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. But his biggest worry is the growing possibility that Israel will attack Iran over the next few months.

Panetta believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June — before Iran enters what Israelis described as a “zone of immunity” to commence building a nuclear bomb. Very soon, the Israelis fear, the Iranians will have stored enough enriched uranium in deep underground facilities to make a weapon — and only the United States could then stop them militarily.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t want to leave the fate of Israel dependent on American action, which would be triggered by intelligence that Iran is building a bomb, which it hasn’t done yet.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak may have signaled the prospect of an Israeli attack soon when he asked last month to postpone a planned U.S.-Israel military exercise that would culminate in a live-fire phase in May. Barak apologized that Israel couldn’t devote the resources to the annual exercise this spring.

President Obama and Panetta are said to have cautioned the Israelis that the United States opposes an attack, believing that it would derail an increasingly successful international economic sanctions program and other non-military efforts to stop Iran from crossing the threshold. But the White House hasn’t yet decided precisely how the United States would respond if the Israelis do attack.

The Obama administration is conducting intense discussions about what an Israeli attack would mean for the United States: whether Iran would target U.S. ships in the region or try to close the Strait of Hormuz; and what effect the conflict and a likely spike in oil prices would have on the fragile global economy.

Let me be blunt: there is only one reason that Leon Panetta would publicly proffer a timetable for Israel to potentially attack Iran. And that is to actively foil said potential attack by Israel, because the United States’ policy is to be uninvolved and to, instead, rely upon harsh language, sarcasm and “sanctions.” Mr Obaka would still rather “monitor” and be “concerned.”

And this in the face of new information indicating that Iran has no problem whatsoever in hitting the US on its own sovereign soil, as reported here by The Washington Post.

I’ve already written about the threatened closing of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and its likely results. That would be here, and here, and here, and here.

This may be a very dangerous and unstable summer on any number of levels. Be forewarned and forearmed.

BZ

Mr Obama is lowering taxes every day. He tells us this every day.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday that the nation’s homeownership rate fell to 66% in the fourth quarter, continuing a seven-year drop from a fourth-quarter peak of 69.2% in 2004.

At the same time, U.S. home prices fell 1.3% in November from October and were 3.7% below 2010 levels, the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index indicates.

Falling homeownership — and prices — reflect the worst housing downturn since the Great Depression. And while there are signs that the housing industry’s downturn may at least be nearing a bottom, the impact of the collapse will be evident for years to come, economists say.

If you’re actually stupid enough to believe that.

I suggest, first, that you check out the National Debt Clock. Just go there and watch it for a few minutes. A few minutes will be all you need.

According to The Hill, Michelle actually said:

First Lady Michelle Obama cited “remarkable progress” on the economy during a speech for a small crowd of high-profile Hollywood names in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening.

“In the last three years, we’ve worked hard to get out of this mess and we’ve made some remarkable progress,” the first lady told a group of about 135 supporters at a private campaign event for her husband. She listed President Obama’s accomplishments on healthcare reform, the removal of troops from Iraq and the repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” among other items on the list of “promises kept” touted by Obama’s reelection campaign.

Remarkable progress? Really?

Mr Obama happens to preside over the greatest national debt in the entire history of this nation, and the world.

And yet — the national debt has somehow, oddly enough, managed to increase by $4 TRILLION dollars under our glorious Mr Obama.

The national debt has increased faster under Mr Obama than any other president.

Imagine that.

Michelle: want to dispute that?

Right. Didn’t think so.

BZ

And this is news?

Jerry Brown has been lying to the electorate ever since his installation as current governor in 2011. And so has the Demorat-controlled legislature. It is unbridled and profligate spending, by Demorats, that has put Fornicalia in its current untenable and dangerous position, lowered its credit rating and guaranteed this March outcome.

There can be no doubt that this was done purposely by Demorat politicians.

It amazes me that people appear to be actually shocked at this outcome. What part of “you spend more than your revenues” do people not comprehend? Particularly in light of the fact that, unlike the federal government, Fornicalia cannot print its own money.

Out of every Fornicalia politician, State Controller John Chiang — yes, a Demorat himself — has had more balls than every other state politician combined. Yes, the John Chiang who, when Fornicalia didn’t reach a budget last year, had the temerity to withhold checks to politicians. And they sued! Because they were pissed! Because there were actual consequences to being stupid! How dare there be consequences! We’re Fornicalia politicians! We are inviolate! Untouchable! How dare you disturb our feeding!

Imagine that.

Fornicalia politicians continue to live in an alternate reality, one not encountered on this planet or in this dimension. In their reality, increased taxes create more jobs, increased regulations create a more perfect peace, and embracing illegal immigrants and paying for their schooling and medical care creates a symbiosis and greater vote base. [That much, however, in re the votes, is correct.]

More and more Fornicalians — or, as I should more precisely say, denizens — simply want more and more Free Cheese.

From my local newspaper, The Sacramento Bee:

January 31, 2012

Controller: State to run out of cash in March without action

California will run out of cash by early March if the state does not take swift action to find $3.3 billion through payment delays and borrowing, according to a letter state Controller John Chiang sent to state lawmakers today.

The announcement is surprising since lawmakers previously believed the state had enough cash to last through the fiscal year that ends in June.

But Chiang said additional cash management solutions are needed because state tax revenues are $2.6 billion less than what Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers assumed in their optimistic budget last year. Meanwhile, Chiang said, the state is spending $2.6 billion more than state leaders planned on.

The Assembly budget committee approved a bill today that would enable $865 million of borrowing from existing state accounts, Senate Bill 95. Chiang, after consultation with the Department of Finance and state Treasurer Bill Lockyer, is also seeking about $2.4 billion in delayed payments to universities, counties and Medi-Cal, as well as additional borrowing from outside investors.

Absent these actions, the state would fall below its prudent $2.5 billion cash cushion on Feb. 29, Chiang estimated. On March 8, the state would actually end up $730 million in the red. The state would be below the safe cash cushion for several weeks ending April 13, save for several days at the end of March.

Fornicalia politicians come and suck at the public trough, sue when their paychecks are withheld for not doing their jobs, and then act stunned when confronted with common sense and reality.

Again, did I mention: the state is controlled by Demorats. And business continues to flee Fornicalia — businesses huge and small — in droves, as documented in great detail here.

Imagine that.

Fornicalia Demorats are shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

BZ