Randy Richardson (Richardson)

HUBBA HUBBA and thanks Connie and Bill...taking better care now, Sue is clear, but i still test hot. Not felling bad, just a cough but will try not to use the Med. BItter taste lass all day Sue said.

Still can throw....not any better though.

Dick Storey

Randy--glad you two are doing better.  Damn virus anyway!

W Leggett

FOR DICK STOREY TO COMMENT ON 

Appeals Court Deals Biden Administration Significant Loss

Joe Biden's vaccine mandates are not having much success in the courts.

It turns out that you really are not permitted to force people to put a needle in their arm.

A case initiated by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has held up, and it is not good news for the Biden administration.

Too Much

The question at hand was whether this administration could force government contractors to get the vaccine for doing business with the government.

The decision came down from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The ruling stated, "We decline the government's invitation to construe as authorizing the President to ignore the limits inherent in the Property Act's operative provisions in favor of an 'anything goes' pursuit of a broad statutory purpose."

Cameron celebrated the decision, stating, "We argued that the federal contractor vaccine mandate is unlawful and that the Biden administration does not have the authority to impose such a sweeping mandate on Kentuckians."

He continued, "For over a year, the Biden administration has fought against us, but the court has agreed with our legal arguments and has halted the federal contractor vaccine mandate for Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee."

My statement on the Sixth Circuit's ruling in the federal contractor vaccine mandate case: pic.twitter.com/tvOacerhzK

— Attorney General Daniel Cameron (@kyoag) January 12, 2023

The lawsuit originated in November 2021, which is when the order was halted by the Biden administration while this all plays out in the courts.

In addition to Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee joined the lawsuit.

There is little doubt the administration will take this to the Supreme Court, but I really do not see the court overturning two lower court decisions.

History has shown they either decline the case and refer it back to the lower court or hold up the decision if it is has been consistent.

 Appeals Court Deals Biden Administration Significant Loss

Joe Biden's vaccine mandates are not having much success in the courts.

It turns out that you really are not permitted to force people to put a needle in their arm.

A case initiated by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has held up, and it is not good news for the Biden administration.

Too Much

The question at hand was whether this administration could force government contractors to get the vaccine for doing business with the government.

The decision came down from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The ruling stated, "We decline the government's invitation to construe as authorizing the President to ignore the limits inherent in the Property Act's operative provisions in favor of an 'anything goes' pursuit of a broad statutory purpose."

Cameron celebrated the decision, stating, "We argued that the federal contractor vaccine mandate is unlawful and that the Biden administration does not have the authority to impose such a sweeping mandate on Kentuckians."

He continued, "For over a year, the Biden administration has fought against us, but the court has agreed with our legal arguments and has halted the federal contractor vaccine mandate for Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee."

My statement on the Sixth Circuit's ruling in the federal contractor vaccine mandate case: pic.twitter.com/tvOacerhzK

— Attorney General Daniel Cameron (@kyoag) January 12, 2023

The lawsuit originated in November 2021, which is when the order was halted by the Biden administration while this all plays out in the courts.

In addition to Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee joined the lawsuit.

There is little doubt the administration will take this to the Supreme Court, but I really do not see the court overturning two lower court decisions.

History has shown they either decline the case and refer it back to the lower court or hold up the decision if it is has been consistent.

Randy Richardson (Richardson)

Thanks Dick, and showed OK this AM!!!

W Leggett

https://twitter.com/i/status/1614706946573230083

Dick Storey

Bill—you asked for my comments. So I'll give it a shot (no pun).

I have not followed the litigation about covid-19 vaccine mandates at all. In my opinion, it is largely a waste of time. I do hear most reqirements have a way out for people to opt out, such as those unfortunate folks who biologically or psychologically just cannot take the vaccine or stand the needle. Of course, some object for political and/or religious reasons. Okay; but---

As a populace, we should keep the potential danger of increased spread in mind:  The more individuals sick with a virus, the more the viral population may mutate and form variants. And so on as I wrote recently. This fall/winter/spring Covid-19, flu and RSV viruses are rampant in many areas of the world. There are several theories about why and how.

Now, our grade-school grandson lives with us. The school system requires a number of vaccinations for a student to attend class. Or for someone to work at the school.  I’m told they have a occasional parent or employee protest. I am not aware of (or even searched for) reliable data on objections or resolutions.  Maybe someone seeing this has a reference.

 I can tell you, to no one’s surprise, grade school kids and crowded classrooms are incubators of virus and bacteria populations. And the little rascal students are not overly hesitant about bringing the “bugs” home to share—we get them all. In fact, we all caught covid in early fall 2021 but most symptoms were fairly mild and the vaccine probably kept us out of the clinic and a hospital. Many of his classmates were infected as well and they had to quarantine the entire group at no small expense or hassel. Guess where the infectious virus probably came from. His teacher, on the first day of class. She allegedly rebuffed the vaccine, became quite ill and subsequently missed a couple weeks of school.  Yes, we’ve been told she had tell-tale symptoms shortly before school started.

P.S. I hope the latest storms missed you!!!

P.P.S. Hi Marie—if your food service offers chili dogs with cheese and mustard can we sign up for it?

W Leggett

DICK THE STORMS, SO FAR, I HAVE REPLACED 16 FEET OF FENCE, AND THE METAL ROOF ON MY PATIO, TOOK A BEATING. I WILL DO THE REPAIRS THIS SUMMER.

HAVE 24 FEET OF NEW WOOD FENCE PANEL'S BEING DELIVERED TOMORROW ALONG WITH A METAL POST TO USE. THE GROUND IS SOFT SO I CAN USE MY POST DRIVER. It's A LOT EASIER TO GET THE JOB DONE. THEY DIDN'T HAVE METAL CONNECTIONS FROM THE POST TO THE FENCE SECTIONS. 

​​​​​​

Dick Storey

What fun Bill. Given it has taken us months to get some building materials I am surprised you could get the fencing, well most of it. Especially when these things must be in high demand. Remember when we could go in a hardware store with a handful of quarters and come out with a bag of supplies?  Now, it is in with a bag of quarters  (or silver dollars), and out with a handfull of supplies.   Lumber?   Oh my.  A bag of fives in & a couple sticks out. 

W Leggett

DICK, I SHOP AT LOWE'S, HAVE A LOWES CARD, 99 % OF THE EMPLOYEES KNOW ME. THEY ALL SAY HI. ETC. I FLIRT WITH ALL THE FEMALES, MARRIED OR SINGLE.  I SHAKE HANDS WITH THE GUY'S. I HAVE A GRIP WITH MY RIGHT HAND. THEY LIKE TO INTRODUCE ME TO NEW GUYS; I STICK OUT MY HAND AN GRIP IT AS HARD AS I CAN. THE REST OF THEM STAND BACK, AN SMILE. KNOWING WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. THEN THEY START LAUGHING. HELL, I AM HAVING IT DELIVERED TOMORROW. ONE-DAY SERVICE. 

W Leggett

Marie Gaines (Harris)

KEEP THE POSTS COMING !

Randy Richardson (Richardson)

Happy Birthday Jerry and Bill.....sooo do either of you remember celeprating together back in Ros. It didn't take much of an excuse to enjoy a cold Coors back then Bill remember the good ole BX Lawn and Garden area that they sold beer at, the treated us well!

W Leggett

Bill Williams

Randy Richardson (Richardson)

And Tom, have a great one...Are you stil Dirt Biking?

Randy Richardson (Richardson)

Speaking of the 60th, are we having one???? Could be anywhere.

Marie Gaines (Harris)

KEEP THEM COMING!  MY COMPUTER AND BRAIN ARE ALMOST GONE, SO NOT RESPOND MUCH, BUT I DO READ THEM! 

Clark Walter

Just a quick note to all my RHS 63 friends. I enjoy reading all the info, including the political stuff, and thank Bill and others for administering this website.  

Dick Storey

Hello Clark.  Maybe enjoy this ( I know it is too long):

The debt ceiling tussle:

Why do far-right members of congress oppose a prudent legislative action that has been done so many times under both republican and democrat presidents (dozens of them)? Why do they want to harm the good people of this country, maybe trigger a recession, to further their own oblique, misguided, egocentric political agenda? How much of this is because “15 round McCarthy” gave away the shop to get the gavel? (Yes, there are also a few on the far-left in congress who propose imprudent ideas as well. Defund the police for example.)

I swear. Hardline politicians & demagogs.

Note:  CNN and others said failing to fix this could mean cuts or even loss of such things as military compensation, Medicare payments and social security checks (gulp-some of this would hit most of us). It was likened to getting a credit card bill and choosing not to pay it. Would that be illogical and self-destructive?

------------------------------------

Pls see the Washington Post today—good read.

U.S. begins ‘extraordinary’ steps to avoid debt ceiling  (control + click to follow link)

The Treasury Department is poised to take defensive action to prevent a default that could do “irreparable harm” to the economy.

---------------------------------

Source: NY Times     https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/us/politics/debt-limit-economy.html

WASHINGTON — The United States hit its debt limit on Thursday, prompting the Treasury Department to begin using a series of accounting maneuvers to ensure the federal government can keep paying its bills ahead of what’s expected to be a protracted fight over whether to increase the borrowing cap.

In a letter to Congress, Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said the government would begin using what is known as extraordinary measures to prevent the nation from breaching its statutory debt limit and asked lawmakers to raise or suspend the cap so that the government could continue meeting its financial obligations.............. Ms. Yellen said. “I respectfully urge Congress to act promptly to protect the full faith and credit of the United States.”

The milestone of reaching the $31.4 trillion debt cap is a product of decades of tax cuts and increased government spending by both Republicans and Democrats. But at a moment of heightened partisanship and divided government, it is also a warning of the entrenched battles that are set to dominate Washington, and that could end in economic shock.

Newly empowered House Republicans have vowed that they will not raise the borrowing limit again unless President Biden agrees to steep cuts in federal spending. Mr. Biden has said he will not negotiate conditions for a debt-limit increase, arguing that lawmakers should lift the cap with no strings attached to cover spending that previous Congresses authorized.

Treasury officials estimate the measures that they began using on Thursday will enable the government to keep paying federal workers, Medicare providers, investors who hold U.S. debt and other recipients of federal money at least until early June.

-------------------------

Debt ceiling fight set to "cross the Rubicon"

Source: Axios.  https://www.axios.com/2023/01/19/debt-ceiling-fight-biden-congress-republicans

White House and congressional Republicans are drawing battle lines in the fraught and perilous debt ceiling debate — with each side becoming more entrenched in their refusal to negotiate with the other.

Why it matters: The perennial fight to hike Uncle Sam's $31 trillion credit limit — a charade that Wall Street abhors — is being amplified by a Congress with a narrow GOP majority that's digging in against hiking the debt limit, which the Biden administration on Wednesday branded "economic vandalism."

• Normally, investors see a gridlocked government as a good thing, preventing either major party from implementing dramatic changes.
• But this time, the stalemate raises the prospect of the world's largest economy defaulting on its debts, igniting a firestorm in global markets at a time when a U.S. recession seems like a growing possibility.

Between the lines: The debt ceiling debate is an avatar of what some have argued is a U.S. democracy that's become increasingly polarized, ungovernable, incapable of tackling major challenges — and could be on the verge of outright destabilization.

• For years, markets have presumed that a U.S. debt default "is unthinkable, and we have agreed. But this time … the threat will become a major market concern within months," Greg Valliere, chief U.S. policy strategist at AGF Investments.

The intrigue: Washington's partisan skirmishes over the debt limit have been the norm for years. Financial blogger Josh Barro noted on Wednesday that extraordinary measures have been deployed at least nine times in the last 20 years.

What they're saying: Bank of America noted last week that "failure to raise — and breaching — the debt ceiling could bring far more economic pain and is the fiscal policy equivalent of crossing the Rubicon."

• Once the clock runs out, the government could miss interest payments or cut spending on key programs.
• "This would likely trigger a downgrade by credit rating agencies, as was the case in 2011 during the last debt ceiling showdown," BofA added.

The bottom line: Global bond yields have already been spooked by the Federal Reserve's fight against inflation, which has driven up borrowing costs.

Also See “The Debt Limit Through the Years” at https://bipartisanpolicy.org/debt-limit-through-the-years/

AND

US hits debt ceiling, threatening economic outlook

Source: Fox Business News  https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/us-hits-debt-ceiling-threatening-economic-outlook

“The debt ceiling, which is currently around $31.4 trillion, is the legal limit on the total amount of debt that the federal government can borrow on behalf of the public, including Social Security and Medicare benefits, military salaries and tax refunds......... House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who won the gavel after 15 rounds of voting by making compromises with some of the party's most conservative members, has indicated Republicans could push for spending cuts to the federal budget before helping to raise the debt ceiling. ................... If the U.S. failed to raise or suspend the debt limit, it would eventually have to temporarily default on some of its obligations, which could have serious negative economic implications. Interest rates would likely spike, and demand for Treasurys would drop; even the threat of default can cause borrowing costs to increase, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

While the U.S. has never defaulted on its debt before, it came close in 2011, when House Republicans refused to pass a debt-ceiling increase, prompting rating agency Standard and Poor's to downgrade the U.S. debt rating one notch (among other serious problems).

-------------------------------

What do you think?

Rowland Greenwade

I think that "insanity" has been described as "doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome."  All we R's are asking for is an honest debate on what we can do differently in the future to address the problem of our national debt.  I think I saw a report yesterday that it amounts to over $237,000 for every US household.  Do you have such a nest egg to pay this off?

W Leggett

W Leggett

ROWLAND, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A FEW D" ALSO BUT THEY ARE TO BE SCARED TO SAY SOMETHING. 

All we R's are asking for is an honest debate on what we can do differently in the future to address the problem of our national debt. 

Dick Storey

Well hello Rowland, good to hear from you again. I hope you are doing well. And rooting for the 49ers.

I agree, but suggest the more reasonable members of congress, from both parties, should actively lead honest debates of the issues.

Insanity in politics surprises you???? 

A problem, as I view it, is the few unreasonable ones who seem to be able to hold things up because, because, well     ..........  ???  Is it at least partially due to the media giving them a lot of attention and press time, which I would suggest they crave, and thus, unfortunately, they gain disproportionate influence?  Currently, it seems more the Rs than the Ds (although some Ds are in the news a lot). Or is it because the Rs now have a slim majority in the house? Or, is it a deep MAGA influence? The reasonable members, of both parties, fear the unreasonable ones? And so on.

Under Trump, the debt ceiling was raised three times, with no debate on cutting such programs as social security, Medicare or military benefits.  Why now? At this point, when the world economy is fragile and Putin’s war is very expensive (but our support is clearly necessary)? Of course, the staggering debt is appalling, shameful, discreditable. But how to “fix” it? Default is not the answer.

To the nest-egg question—no, but maybe we could borrow it from the government. 😉

This short article explains some things Note the “creative way out” remark: Cutting, even delaying, Medicare, social security and/or government pensions is foolishly cruel, not creative—we pay or paid for these things.

What the U.S. Hitting the Debt Ceiling Means for You

Source: Time magazine online at https://time.com/6248656/what-debt-ceiling-means-for-you/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sfmc&utm_campaign=newsletter+brief+default+ac&utm_content=+++20230120+++body&et_rid=207190982&lctg=207190982

Below are some interesting comments lifted from the article.

The U.S. hit its debt ceiling of $31.4 trillion on Thursday, raising economic concerns about what happens if lawmakers can’t reach a deal to pay the U.S. government’s debts. The Treasury Department has begun using a series of “extraordinary measures” to avoid a government default on its debt, which buys the U.S. about six months to either raise the debt ceiling or come up with a creative way out.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said she doesn’t anticipate Americans will feel the effects before June, but that Congress needs to negotiate a solution fast. No one knows what would happen if the U.S. defaults on its debt, which would be a historic first, but experts warn it would likely ripple into a global financial crisis.

Whenever tax revenue doesn’t fully cover government programs, such as defense spending, social programs, and government salaries—which it has every year since 2001—the government must borrow money, but it’s restricted by a set limitation on how much debt the U.S. can incur. Per the U.S. Constitution, Congress needs to approve all borrowing, so Congress implemented the debt ceiling over a century ago to avoid approving each new debt. Since then, lawmakers have raised the debt ceiling dozens of times.

A similar standoff to raise the debt ceiling in 2011 downgraded the U.S. credit rating for the first time, and there was a huge push to sell off stocks. The threat alone of reaching June without a solution may scare investors into pursuing international equities and foreign government bonds. A default would likely cause investors to lose confidence in the U.S.’s ability to pay its bonds, which have historically been viewed as some of the safest investments.

“Nobody knows for sure what will happen, because it’s never happened before. We’ve had these debt ceiling standoffs, the treasury has done these extraordinary measures before, and the standoffs have always gotten resolved,” Swanson says.

..... if the government defaults on its debt, that could cause delays in Social Security and Medicare payments, along with other key programs like veterans’ benefits and SNAP food assistance.

To address the debt ceiling, House Republicans have begun discussing spending cuts to social programs. Some Republicans have discussed cuts to Social Security and Medicare, though the party is far from united behind that strategy.

 “​​If Social Security payments were to be delayed, the voters would go completely ballistic,” Swanson says. “That would be politically very costly to both parties and I think none of them want that to happen.” He is  a professor of economics at the University of California, Irvine.

Rowland Greenwade

Dick, for someone who eschews affiliation with a certain political party that begins with a "D", you certainly know how and where to find qnd espouse its talking points.  You seem to have way too much time (Magazine?) on your hands apparently snowed in in Montana.

Best as always,

Rowland

PS:  No one reads Time Magazine today, or anymore!  What are you...a child of the 60's?

W Leggett

WE ARE A GENERATION THAT WILL NEVER COME BACK.

A generation that walked to school and then walked back.

A generation that did their homework alone to get out asap to play in the street.

A generation that spent all their free time in the streets with their Friends.

A generation that played hide and seek when dark.

A generation that made mud cakes.

A generation that collected sports cards.

A generation that found, collected and washed & Returned empty coke bottles to the local grocery store for 5 cents each , then bought a Mountain Dew and candy bar with the money.

A generation that made paper toys with their bare hands.

A generation who bought vinyl albums to play on record players.

A generation that collected photos and albums of clippings of their life experiences as a Kid.

A generation that played board games and cards on rainy days.

A generation whose TV went off at midnight after playing the National Anthem.

A generation that had parents who were there.

A generation that laughed under the covers in bed so parents didn't know we were still awake.

A generation that is passing and unfortunately will never return no matter how hard we try.

I loved Growing up when I did. it was the best of times.