Jimbo says he read and understood the ObamaKare bill, so I guess he approved this

Marriage penalty in Healthcare bill will cost couples thousands.

Sorry, but PR releases about constituent service don’t do it for me any more

Greenwich Time is out with another hard-hitting piece about our new Congressman and his attempts to help his constituents through the federal maze of bureaucracy. Fine – that was sufficient for re-election four decades ago, perhaps, but now I want to know what our elected rep is doing to cut that bureaucracy. So far as Jimbo Himes is concerned, the answer is nothing. So fire him and try someone new.

Uh oh, here comes global warming!

Jim Hanson, my favorite NASA climatologist and the one who promises us all certain death if we don’t stop all this nonsense right now says that the Climate Bill just passed is “worse than useless“. Now, I happen to agree with him, but I thought it would be useful to send our ace reporter Edgar Martins over to Congressman Jim Himes’ office to find out if he still was proud oh his vote for the bill.

“I sure am,” said Himes. “We’ve saved the world.”

Told that Hanson says differently, Himes took a step back. “Well look, I haven’t actually readthe thing, you understand, but our hearts were in the right place, and I’m disappointed that Hanson doesn’t give us credit for that. Okay, if it won’t do anything, so what? We’re talking about billions of dollars here, all under the control of Congress. You want to breath, in the future, you have to ask for permission, How cool is that?” He winked. “And if you think we’ll funnel billions through Washington without getting our sticky little fingers on it well, I’ve got a cottage in Ireland to sell you.”

Stupid is as stupid does

The kooks at Myleftnutmeg.com are swooning over Chris Dodd’s transformation from flunky of the banks to a “Consumer Advocate”. Why, the desperate Senator will no longer give the financial industry lobbyists the time of day during this election cycle and the Nutmeggers are all atwitter. The Iowa campaign, the decades spent in the trousers of the bankers, all is forgiven and forgotten, because Dodd has been reborn. Could they be that stupid? Rhetorical question.

In the meantime, the same folks are outraged over Jim Hime’s refusal to toe whatever their line is and they’re screaming betrayal. In this case, they’re probably right. Himes owes his puny political presence to the nutcakes and to discard them now while trying to creep slightly to the center pisses them off and does nothing to assuage the right. Those of us nuts over on this side of the debate are after his blood and no amount of pandering will earn our support. See the difference between right wing kooks and the leftnuts? We;re not as dumb.

The billions in stimulus funds flow mostly to Obama areas

As reported in USA Today, most of the stimulus funds are going to localities that voted for Obama and his crowd. The imbalance is so huge that most observers think it couldn’t be guided by politics – even the One isn’t that powerful, yet. But the lesson I take from this is even scarier: we’ve reached the tipping point, where the have-nots get to vote to tax the haves and reap all the benefits. Why care about taxes when it’s someone else paying them? As non-taxpaying voters assume the majority, there will be no stopping the looting until they’ve stripped their betters bare. Then, they’ll turn on themselves, which will be even uglier. Cos Cob Congressman voted for the Stimulus bill and supports it today, God knows why.

Ed Krumeich comes to his senses, withdraws from Selectmen’s race

Top lawyer and all-around-good-guy Ed Krumeich has dropped out of the Greenwich Selectmen’s race, just a few days after announcing his candidacy. Reached by For What It’s Worth’s intrepid photograher/reporter, Edgar Martins, Krumeich was happy to explain his reasons.

“I’m making big bucks here at Ivey Barnum an O’Mara”, the litigator explained, “and I couldn’t see trading that in for a chance to kiss ass in the Back Country and babies in Cos Cob. Besides, I’ve decided what I really want to be when I grow up is a Congressman like this Himes character. If I take his job, I can cut my workload to zero, my reading list below that, and spend my time boating on the Sound and going on International junkets. So look for another announcement in the coming weeks but, for now, I’m out of here.”

Good luck, Ed, with whatever you decide.

UPDATE: Krumeich’s office has just issued the followig press release:

Hi Greenwich, I appreciate speaking directly TO you, the people I serve, as your perpetual candidate.

People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing’s more important to me than our beloved town. Serving her people is the greatest honor I could imagine.

I want Greenwich to grasp what can be in store for our town. We were stolen from the Siwanoys because a drunken English criminal Jhn Feakes, providentially saw in this great land, vast riches, beauty, strategic placement on the globe, and opportunity. He boldly looked “West to the Future”. But he endured such ridicule and mocking for his vision for Greenwich – remember the adversaries scoffed, calling this “Feake’s Folly”. Feakes withstood such disdain as he chose the uncomfortable, unconventional, but RIGHT path to secure Greenwich, so Greenwich could help secure the United States.
People who know me know that besides faith and family, nothing’s more important to me than our beloved Greenwich.

Greenwich’s mission – to contribute to America. We’re strategic IN the world as the air crossroads OF the world, as a gatekeeper of the continent. Bold visionaries knew this – Greenwich would be part of America’s great destiny.

Our destiny to be reached by responsibly developing our natural resources. This land, blessed with clean air, water, wildlife, minerals, AND hedge funds. It’s energy! God gave us energy. And remember, only dead fish float downstream.

Jim Himes: I don’t care what’s in it, I’m voting for Obama Care!

Turns out both versions of Obama Care, Senate and House, contain provisions for billions of tax dollars to be spent on farmers’ markets, park lighting and walkways.

Jeffrey Levi … said that “it is easy to satirize’’ the projects, but they are needed to improve America’s health.”

Oh, we’re beyond satire by now and well into tragedy. But remember, to speak against Obama is to speak against America, so button that lip. Jim Himes has, and he’s glad he did!

It is to laugh

Health care bill far too long for House members to read it, laughs Democrat.

Barney Frank to introduce new Consumer banking bill that’s too long for anyone to read (of course, it hasn’t been written yet, either).

Connecticut’s own, Jim Himes, is all for it – everything. “Okay,” the freshman Goldman Sachs firee admitted today, “I didn’t read the Stimulus Bill or  the Energy Bill before voting for them and I sure as heck ain’t gonna read these, but I don’t have to – my leaders tell me what to do and I trust them completely. I came to Washington to hang my brain by the door, follow orders and get promoted, and that’s exactly what I intend to do, so screw off.”

Himes then cut the interview short to go boating with the Coast Guard on Long Island Sound.

I might just do this

Email I received from Obama’s camp. I have just started a Jimhimes blog but that’s got to grow a bit before i can properly annoy him. So a phone call now might be an appropriate filler. Any out of state readers who wish to also thank Jim, his number’s below.

chris —

We know that historic change is always tough, and enacting clean energy legislation is no exception.

But, with your help, on Friday the House passed a historic energy bill — a critical first step toward rebuilding our economy with good green jobs, reducing harmful pollution, and breaking our dependence on foreign oil.

Will you take a moment to thank Rep. Jim Himes for voting ‘yes’ on the energy bill, and ask for continuing support when the bill comes up for a final vote?

Rep. Himes’s number is 202-225-5541.

 If Jim Himes is not your representative, please click here to find your representative’s number.

This fight isn’t over. As the bill goes to the Senate in the coming weeks, you’ll play a critical role in showing our elected officials that their constituents are demanding a clean energy economy to build a strong future for our country. After decades of talk, now is our moment to make the change we fought so hard for a reality.

After you make your call, let us know how it went:

http://my.barackobama.com/energythankyou

Thank you,

Addisu

Addisu Demissie

They’re coming to take you away ha ha

Reader Cobra asked about the Jim Himes Memorial Carbon Tax bill’s requirement for energy audits of residential homes so I looked into it and by golly, it’s a doozy. So far, the best I could come up with is a copy of the Henry Waxman draft dated May 19, 2009 but I’m pretty sure this was what was enacted. The bill is here, all 926 pages of it, which doesn’t include the extra 300 pages slapped ontop at the last minute.

Energy audits begin in Section 204 (page 264) but the fun begins with Section 201 (p. 214), which establishes a new National Energy Efficiency Code. As of January 1, 2014 new homes must be 50% more energy efficient than today’s, with a 5% iincrease every three years thereafter until 2029, for a total reduction improvement of 75%. The law is mandatory on states and towns and here’s a chilling provision: it shall be a violation of this Act for any home owner or builder to occupy, permit occupancy or convey a building that does not meet this code. So much for the hippie who wants to build a dome or log cabin in the woods. For that matter, a tepee isn’t going to cut it, either. You fans of big government might want to consider the implications of a government large and powerful enough to reach out to the local building department of Lowell, Vermont and tell it to toss people out of their homes. Or perhaps you might not – it’s ugly.

Section 204 Mandatory energy audits and ratings. Applies to any home that undergoes a renovation or addition but in practice, will reach all existing homes that are offered for sale (banks and/or buyers have started demanding it in those few states who already have such programs). The state, acting through your building department, sends Elmer Fudd to your home to conduct an energy audit and develops an energy use label similar to that found on an automobile or icebox. It’s recorded in the land records. No mention of who wil pay Elmer to conduct this audit but you can bet it will be your property taxes. Now imagine what happens to the value of your house when you fail the energy audit. At the very least, it will give the buyer another means to knock down your price, and count on it, he’ll use it.

Implications. My immediate problem with this legislation is that it extends the reach of the federal government even further into our lives but for those who don’t share my Libertarian concerns, there are practical issues as well. Right now, foam insulation is at least 15% more expensive than fiberglass, “green” windows at least that much more than regular double-pained, and so on. But 15% more to insulate a house is just the beginning because Waxman et als want more than is even available now. If your 1969 house, renovated through the years, isn’t a teardwon now, it sure will be by 2014. Hope you like yur land’s value, because that’s what you’ll be left with.

I just browsed 70 pages or so of this 926 page bill which, as noted, swelled to over 1,200 pages in the wee hours of the night. Every page is filled with mischief, every page has new, expensive obligations for citizens of this country and only the lobbyists know what those obilgations are. I believe Mr. Himes owes his constituents the duty to take the entire bill home with him during the upcoming holiday break and read it, digest it and report back to us. There’s some startling stuff in here – did I mention new lighting standards? That starts at around page 271.

Jim Himes: I believe in magic

While admitting that he hadn’t actually read the thing, Cos Cob’s Congressman Jim Himes praised the carbon tax bill to a ladies tea group today,saying, “who cares if it’s flawed – it shows that our heart’s in the right place, and isn’t that all that matters? That’s how I ran Goldman Sachs and by golly, I sure as tootin aintabout to start messing with success now.”

Asked how he expected industry to develop an entirely new technology by 2012, Himes said he hadn’t a clue, but denied that was his business. “We’ve passed a law,” he pointed out, “so that means they’ll have to do it.

“If businessmen have certainty about (having to develop clean energy solutions) and the pace they’ll have to do it, they’re going to invest like mad.”

Himes also used to occasion to introduce his new energy and spiritual adviser, Doctor Negassi Hemloobwana, pictured below.

Jim Himes: “I heart Smoot Hawley!”

Trade war provision slipped into carbon tax bill in, as the NYT’s describes it, ‘”the dead of night”.

Jim Himes, Harvard Grad

What is it about Harvard that turns so many of its graudates into amoral schemers? George Bush II being a notable exception of course, but from Walter Noel to John Kerry to, now, Greenwich’s Congressmen Jim Himes, seemingly able minds go up to Cambridge and emerge as little conniving, ambitious weasels who abandon whatever morals and principles they had in order to climb to the top of their little world.

After graduating from Harvard (with a degree in Social Studies, but heck, it’s Harvard, man) Hime went to work for Goldman Sachs. It sounds as though he didn’t make partner since he left so early, but he must have done at least a few business deals with his betters and riddle me this: can you imagine any business deal involving Goldman Sac hs where, three hours before the transaction closed, the seller added a 300 page addendum to the 1,000 page contract and said, “this is part of the deal too – eat it” where the GS guys would have closed withut insisting on reading it?” I’m not Goldman quality but I did manage to negotiate my way through a number of business transactions over the years and I insisted on reading and understanding what was in the package before signing off on it on behalf of my clients. I would expect Mr. Himes to operate at at least that low level of watchfulness but he didn’t last Friday. Faced with what he and his bosses claimed was a transforming law, something that will effect our entire economy and every single resident of the United States, Himes scrawled his X on a bill he didn’t read and thus could not have understood.

Himes was elected pretty much on his promise that he wasn’t Chris Shays, which is fine, but he implied that his Goldman Sachs career, however brief, would be put to work for his constituents. Faced with his biggest vote so far, however, he punted and relied, I assume, on his social studies training at Harvard that taught him to follow authority so long as that authority was a large, Democrat-led government. What a wuss.