Dave's Droppings

With all the observations and criticism about Barack continuing to spike the ball over the anniversary of the OBL takedown and seeing this comment on a friends FB post

“leaders in the military are taught “I” if things go wrong, and “they” if things go right, only to have politicians say “I” if things go right, and “they” if things go wrong? That is TOO big of a fundamental difference between the two cultures!”

It reminded me of another old paper I had written back around 1984 that was entitled “Criminal Negligent – Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs”.  The Professor teaching this History class was a HUGE JFK fan and was constantly allowing her political slip to show. To tweak her a bit (ok, more than a bit) I wrote this paper for the class. It had to have irridated her no end to read it and in the end grade the paper and A

Criminal Negligent: Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs

This short paper was on Business Cycles. My analysis at the back of the paper seems pretty precient given what has happened over the past few years.

Depression – The Business Cycle

I love how I opened the paper with a quote from Keynesian economist Paul Samuelson since he unknowingly pointed out the reason we are in this current mess

“Nothing like the Depression should ever occur again. It it does, the fault will come from unwillingness to take action, from a fixed belief in the validity of certain theories, and from a hope that what worked in an earlier generation will also work well again.”

Yep, Keynesians believe that their theories dug us out of the Great Depression (while ignoring the fact the rest of the world was in shambles and therefore we had markets to sell to).  So who exactly has a “fixed belief in the validity of certain theories”?

For those “nominally” on my side of the Political Aisle who rip and castigate as “Moderates” and not listening to the “Founders” those that understand the requirement to attempt compromise while still seeking to advance a conservative philosophy.

Consider this about the “Founders”. Great Britain certainly did not view any of them as “moderates” even thought they certainly had issues and differences among each other.  Just read the reports from the Continental Congress hashing out the Declaration of Independence. The Founders did NOT speak with one voice concerning the foundations that were laid down to establish this Nation.

Some were firebrands intent on rubbing King George’s nose in it and others did want a more moderate approach. In the end they worked to reach a compromise in the very language that birthed this Country.  Including moderation in language that resulted in the bloodshed of thousands of Citizens just a few short decades later.

So consider that when you rip your fellow travelers on the “right” because those on the “left” don’t view any of us as “moderate”. They view us all as barely one on step away from wearing jackboots and brownshirts.

The overwrought gnashing of teeth by those on the left over the possibility of SCOTUS striking down ObamaCare is beyond borderline psychotic.

When a shrew like Marueen Dowd writes something as inane as “accountable to no one once they give the last word” in referring to the Justices it just shows how dumb and desperate they are.

Hey, Maureen, you might want to take a look at the Constitution. The ENTIRE document.  Then you might notice that neither SCOTUS, POTUS (or his teleprompter) have the final say.  Who does? Well the answer can be found in the fact that if we don’t like something in the Constitution WE THE PEOPLE can amend it (unless of course you live in California where their Court can tell the population to pound sand – but I guess the lefts desire for DEMOCRATIC action only extends to action they agree with)

Try that and let’s see how many Americans really want to give complete control of our lives and choices to Politicians.

Its is disturbing that those who claim “no belief” want to ridicule and drive those with “belief” from the public square in the name of a separation of church and state while failing to grasp what Jefferson was writing about and to ignore not only our shared 1st Amendment protections but also the plain “no religious test” clause in the Constitution proper.

Regarding the Commerce Clause argument for ObamaCare.

There is a distinct difference between regulation of commerce and coercion of commerce.

In the 1992 New York v. United States decision the Supreme Court held that Congress cannot compel a State to enter into a contract. If they cannot compel a State how can they compel a citizen of that same State?

Swing Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote that to do so was:

“Congress has crossed the line distinguishing encouragement from coercion.”

In the next paragraph she even cut to the matter of timeliness with this observation:

“We must initially reject respondents’ suggestion that, because the take-title provision will not take effect until January 1, 1996, petitioners’ challenge thereto is unripe. It takes many years to develop a new disposal site. All parties agree that New York must take action now in order to avoid the take-title provision’s consequences, and no party suggests that the State’s waste generators will have ceased producing waste by 1996. The issue is thus ripe for review.

How would an Unconstitutional forced subsidy of waste producers be any different that a forced subsidy to Insurance companies?

“Such a forced transfer, standing alone, would in principle be no different than a congressionally compelled subsidy from state governments to radioactive waste producers.”

Considering the Federally imposed penalty/tax (depending on the forum that the Administration is arguing in front of) for not entering into this coerced contract Justice O’Connor also held

“In this provision, Congress has not held out the threat of exercising its spending power or its commerce power; it has instead held out the threat, should the States not regulate according to one federal instruction, of simply forcing the States to submit to another federal instruction. A choice between two unconstitutionally coercive regulatory techniques is no choice at all.”

So for those caught up in the nonsense that the Supreme Court should follow precedence here ya go.

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=CASE&court=US&vol=505&page=144

I get irritated having to clear up for non-members false doctrines presented by other members.

This is a weakness of mine but it irritates me when people expound on “The Gospel According To Them”

Especially when they try to equate ALL the words spoken by another member – even if a Church leader as being doctrine.

Really liked some of the references and observations on this page. Yes I do see the irony pointing to someone else’s observation on the “Gospel According To Them” but then the guy that wrote that page does have a disclaimer

From the Church’s site:

• 2 lbs boneless Pork shoulder
• 8 oz Chorizo sausage
• 2 med Red Potatoes, cut into 1/2″ cubes
• 1 C chopped Onion
• 14.5 oz can diced fire-roasted tomatoes, undrained
• 3 can Chipotle peppers i adobo sauce, chopped
• 1 T Adobo sauce
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 t dried Thyme leaves, crushed
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 t dried Mexican oregano, crushed
• 1/2 t Salt
• 1/4 t Sugar

Trim Fat from the pork and cut into 1″ cubes

Cook Chorizo over med-high heat until well browned. Transfer Chorizo to paper towels to drain

Combine Pork, chorizo, potatoes, onion, tomatoes, chipolte peppers, adobo sauce, garlic, thyme, bay leaves, oregano, salt and sugar in the corckpot.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours

Discard the bay leaves, skim the fat form the liquid. Remove the pork from the liquid. Shred the meat and return to the cooker.

Serve with tortilla chips and garnish with avocado and queso fresco

Serve it either as a “stew” or over some wide egg noodles

• 2.5 lbs Beef Rump Roast
• 2 T Paprika
• 1/2 t Smoked Paprika
• 14.5 oz can diced Tomtoes, undrained
• 14.5 oz can beef broth
• 3 Med Onions (halfed and cut into 1/2″ slices
• 3 Large Carrots, chopped
• 12 oz jar roasted Red sweet Peppers, drained and cut into 1/2″ strips
• 1/4 C water
• 2 T cornstarsh
• 8 oz Sour Cream

Trim fat from the meat and cut into fourths and place in crockpot. Combine Paprikas and sprinke over the meat.

Add the tomatoes, broth, onions, carrots and sweet peppers.  Cook on low for 10 hours.

Skim fat from the top of the liquid. Remove meat from the pot and tear into corse shreds. Return meat to the pot and turn heat to high. Whisk together the water and cornstarch. Stir into the pot, cover and cook for 30 min. Stir in the Sour Cream. Salt & Pepper to taste.

LONG time in the crockpot but oh so tasty!

• 16 oz Dried Black Beans
• 8 C Water
• 6 smoked Ham Hocks
• 4.5 C Chicken broth
• 3 med Onions, chopped
• 3 Jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 T Orange peel, finely shredded
• 3/4 C Orange Juice
• 3/4 C Dry Sherry
• 1/4 C snipped Cilantro

Rinse beans. Place in a large saucepan with the water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and sit covered for 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans again.

Place beans in slow cooker. Add ham hocks, broth, onions, jalapenos, garlic, orange peel, orange juice and sherry

Cover and cook on low for 10 hours

Remove Ham hocks and once cooled pull meat from the bones, tear into shreds (it will be falling off the bone so this is not an issue!). Discard the bones and transfer the meat back to the slow cooker and stir in the cilantro

Serve over rice in a bowl

Simple and flavorful sandwiches

Pork

• 3 lb boneless Pork Shoulder roast
• 1 C Onion, chopped
• 3/4 C Green Sweet Pepper, chopped
• 1 t Dried Thyme, crushed
• 1/2 t Dried Rosemary, crushed
• 1/2 C Chicken broth

Barbeque Sauce

• 1 C Balsamic vinegar
• 3/4 C Ketchup
• 1/3 C Brown Sugar
• 1/4 C Honey
• 1 T Worcestershire sauce
• 1 T Dijon mustard
• 1 clove Garlic, minced
• 1/2 t Ground Black Pepper
• 1/4 t Salt

Coleslaw

• 1 lb bag of shredded Cabbage
• 1/2 C Marzetti’s coleslaw dressing

Place pork in a crockpot on low for 10 hours or on high for 5 hours.

Remove meat from Crock and shred. strain the liquid and discard. Return meat and vegetables to the crockpot and mix with the Barbeque sauce.

Serve on slider-sized buns (I like to use King’s Hawaiian sweet rolls) and top with coleslaw

Government spending to make the economy grow is like a pilot flying on instruments not wanting to believe his attitude gauge. He’s sure the gauge is wrong and he is not inverted. Right up until the moment he climbs into the ground.

The economic gauge is telling us the same thing and they keep pulling back on the stick hoping to gain more altitude when I’ll they are really doing is pushing us over into a nose dive to death.

Cuban Flank Steak Sandwiches

• 2 lg Onions, cut into thin wedges
• 1 1/4 t Cumin
• 1 1/4 t black pepper
• 1 1/4 t granulated garlic
• 1 1/4 t Onion powder
• 1 1/4 t dried Oregano, crushed
• 1 t Crushed Red Pepper
• 2 lb Flank Steak
• 1 1/4 C Beef broth
• 1/3 C Lime Juice

Place Onion in slow cooker with the broth and lime juice
Combine the spices in a bowl
Cut the meat crosswise into four pieces and rub with the spice mix
Place meat into the slow cooker
Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours
Move meat to cutting board to shred
Return meat to slow cooker to keep warm
Spoon meat onto rolls and top with Picadillo Relish

Relish
In a large skillet place over medium heat

2 T vegetable oil

Add

• 1 1/2 C chopped Onions
• 3/4 C Chopped Red bell peppers
• 3/4 C chopped yellow bell peppers
• 6 cloves minced Garlic

Cook and stir until veggies are tender (about 5 min)

Add

• 1 15-oz can Black beans (rinsed and drained)
• 1 C chopped tomatoes3 T Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 t packed Brown Sugar
• 3/4 t Cinnamon
• 1/4 t crushed Red Pepper

Stir and cook for about 2 more minutes

Cool and serve the relish on top of the sandwiches.  Add a little Monterey Jack cheese too

Yum…

• 5 lbs Beef Short Ribs
• 1 14.5-oz can Beef Broth
• 1 12-oz can Dark Beer
• 1 med Onion, cut into wedges
• 1/4 C Molasses
• 2 T Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 t dried Thyme, crushed
• 1 t Hot sauce
• 1/2 t Salt

Place ribs in crock pot. Add broth, beer, onions, molasses, vinegar, thyme, hot sauce and salt

Cover and turn heat on. 11-12 on low (setting I use) or 5-6 on high

Transfer ribs and onions to a platter. Skim fat from the slow cooker and use the cooking liquid as a sauce to ladle over the ribs and onions. Serve with a baked or mashed potatoes