This whole 'green' thing is coming unraveled

It’s time for someone to call bovine scatology on this whole climate change thing. Here we are in the midst of one of the worst winters on record and the folks who brought you manmade global warming are now telling us ‘climate change’ is the biggest threat to the planet. I, for one, am not going to allow them to get away with it.

First of all, let’s get back to their original theory. They told us we were producing too much carbon dioxide. They said it was a greenhouse gas. The reason they called it a ‘greenhouse gas’ was because they say it acts like a greenhouse and heats up the planet. There’s no doubt that we’re producing more CO2. In fact, that’s the whole idea. It’s preferable to carbon monoxide. That’s why we have catalytic converters on our cars.

Well, now they’re saying this same CO2, which was supposed to heat up the planet and we were all going to die, is causing climate change. In other words, this same CO2 is making the planet cooler when they were telling us it was making the planet warmer. No. I’m sorry. You’re not going to be allowed to skate on that one. Either CO2 is making the planet warmer or it’s not. It can’t do both.

John Kerry was at it again saying, “There is no Planet B.” Pity. If there were we would certainly put him on it. Then he tried to make it a religious issue by saying, “When it comes to the fundamental health of Earth, folks, we’d better stick to the Creator’s original plan.” Yeah, John. The original plan was we’d have dominion over the earth. That doesn’t mean we trash the place. It means we use it to the betterment of mankind, which is exactly what we’re doing.

You see, CO2 is not a pollutant. Had we spent as much time on cleaning up our air and water we’d have that problem licked by now. Instead, we’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars chasing a phantom. These environmentalists drive electric cars thinking they’re saving the planet when in fact these coal-fired cars are getting their power from the electric grid. Hardly the greenest way to go.

And that’s another thing. Can we now dispense with this whole ‘green movement’ thing. Like any fad, it’s really starting to look old. ‘Go green’ is starting to sound like ‘groovy.’ Save the planet. It’s far out, man.

Now that we know that NASA not only monkeys with current temperature data but has gone back to the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s to manipulate temperatures to make them cooler so today looks warmer, it’s only a matter of time before this whole scam comes crashing down. Too many people are too heavily invested in the myth to change now. That’s why you hear hysterical rantings like ‘climate change is a greater threat to the planet than terrorism.’ It takes a complete idiot to believe that.

Now, I’m the first to admit that weather is not climate. A few weeks of unusually cold weather does not a pattern make. However, 15 or more years of data do create a pattern. That short-term pattern is a cooling planet. Does that mean it won’t move in the other direction at some point? No. It just means that if you’re trying to draw a correlation between rising carbon dioxide levels and a warming planet, there is none.

Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions but they’re not entitled to their own facts. But facts have never seemed to matter to these folks.

Phil Valentine is the host of the award-winning, nationally syndicated talk radio show, The Phil Valentine Show.

And the 'Victim' Oscar goes to...

I must admit it. I love movies and I love the Oscars. I just love everything about filmmaking. Each year my wife and I are glued to the tube from the first celebrity to walk down the red carpet until the acceptance speech for Best Picture. Yes, I know Hollywood is made up of a bunch of leftists and each year I hold out hope that the winners will just graciously accept their statuette, thank their family, friends and co-workers — and maybe even God — and leave the stage before the awkward orchestra

music begins.

But I could tell it was going to be a tense night when host Neil Patrick Harris made a joke about Oprah. He pointed out that the 8 films up for Best Picture grossed over $600 million. He then observed that American Sniper, all by itself, was responsible for over $300 million of that. He said, "To put it in perspective, everyone on this side of the theater is the 7 other nominees and American Sniper is Oprah." She seemed not to understand the comparison so, after a moment, Harris had to explain it to her. "Because you're rich." Oprah didn't like that one bit. Why? Because Oprah prefers to see herself as a victim. To her, I'm sure, it was all just part of the so-called Oscar snub of Selma.

Take John Legend, who won Best Song, for writing Glory with rapper Common for Selma. During his acceptance speech he made the insane comparison of murderers and rapists to slaves. He said, "There are more black men under correctional control today than there were under slavery in 1850." Yeah, John, and over 90 percent of those murderers are locked up for killing black folks. He and others referred to "the struggle" and said it was far from over, which drew a standing ovation from Oprah. The struggle, Oprah? Really? You're the richest woman in the world and you're acting like you live in Selma in 1965.

Common added, "To whom much is given, much is required." Of course, he and John Legend will return to their gated homes to polish their Oscars but what are they really doing to keep all those black men out of jail other than complaining? What are they doing for the victims of black-on-black crime? How, pray tell, are these multi-millionaires somehow "down with the struggle?"

And this is just an aside but it needs to be pointed out. David Oyelowo, who played Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma was overcome with emotion as if he had any connection whatsoever to slavery or civil rights. His parents are Nigerian and he was raised in Oxford, England. There's absolutely no chance that his ancestors were slaves and none of his people ever went through "the struggle" in America. In fact, there's a much better chance that his ancestors were slave traders rather than slaves. Perhaps his tears were tears of guilt.

The low point came during Common's rap in the middle of Glory when he dared include Ferguson and "hands up" while rapping about Selma and the civil rights march. MLK, Jr. was a hero. Michael Brown was a thug. Did Dr. King strong-arm rob a convenience store just before leading a march across the Edmund Pettis Bridge? Did he reach inside a cop car and try to steal the gun of a police officer? This kind of thing simply sullies the image of the civil rights movement. Such comparisons can lead young people today to assume that the folks marching 50 years ago were just a bunch of criminals and they weren't. That was a real struggle. Burning down a town because a guy attacks a cop and gets killed is not.

There's nothing wrong with tugging at the heartstrings. There's nothing wrong with calling attention to a cause. The problem is going to the well too often. That's the way it felt with all the "woe-is-me" talk from folks who were obviously not missing any meals. Maybe that's the reason Selma didn't win Best Picture. Cry for Martin Luther King, Jr., cry for Rosa Parks, but don't cry for Oprah.

Phil Valentine is the host of the award-winning, nationally syndicated talk radio show, The Phil Valentine Show.

The left and their college obsession

The left thinks it’s found Gov. Scott Walker’s Achilles heel and they are locked in on the target like a laser beam. Howard Dean was leading the charge telling MSNBC, “the issue is how well educated is this guy and that’s a problem.” A problem for Howard Dean and the college snobs but, let’s face it, Howard Dean has a degree from Yale and most Americans think he’s a buffoon.

Howard Dean doing his now-famous
'college cheer' that sunk his
presidential campaign.

It’s important, however, that the left has brought this subject to the forefront. This is a discussion we need to have. President Obama has led a movement in this country that pretty much says if you don’t have a college education you’re worthless. What he and the left haven’t calculated is that less than 40 percent of the population even has a two-year associate degree. That leaves 60 percent of the people out there potentially offended by this assault on Gov. Walker.

The problem is Scott Walker has been wildly successful as the governor of Wisconsin. He’s overcome huge opposition and a recall election and his success dwarfs that of Howard Dean’s tenure as governor of Vermont. Yes, there’s an element of jealousy involved in the attacks but it mostly stems from fear. Some of the most successful people in the country lack a college degree and if Scott Walker starts a trend of presidential candidates who run on their track record rather than what they did before the age of 22 then the liberals are in big trouble.

The bigger issue is how people without college degrees are treated. I had a friend once tell me that he’d rather his daughter be a lesbian than not finish college. Of course, if she goes to one of these exclusive liberal arts schools he just might get his wish. Greg Gutfeld from Fox News had a great point. He said about college, “You no longer learn how to think, you are told what to think.” That’s absolutely the truth. I spend half my time trying to counter what my two oldest are picking up at college rather than engaging in thoughtful discussion about all the wonderful things they’re learning.

Gutfeld made the very candid point that many people go to college as a delay tactic, because they haven’t figured out what they want to do with their lives. He counted himself in that number. That’s certainly not to say that people should be discouraged from going to college. It’s only to say that people who choose another path shouldn’t be looked down upon.

For me, the proof is in what you did with your life after the age of 22. I could take up this entire column space with successful people who either didn’t attend college or didn’t finish. Names like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison of Oracle and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook fame. Michael Dell of Dell Computers never finished college nor did Brian Dunn who started Best Buy, John Mackey of Whole Foods or Anna Wintour of Vogue. Ditto for Ralph Lauren and Ted Turner.

Ironically, Obama’s senior advisor, David Plouffe, dropped out of college to run political campaigns. He only completed his degree in 2010, an afterthought to his political success. Karl Rove, derided by liberals as “Bush’s Brain” didn’t finish college but certainly finished two successful presidential campaigns. You can add Faulkner and Cronkite and Twain and Fitzgerald to that illustrious list.

I guess a degree from one of the Poison Ivy League schools might get you a job as a community organizer. Or, maybe, you can leave early and be a successful governor.

Phil Valentine is the host of the award-winning, nationally syndicated talk radio show, The Phil Valentine Show.

Words you can no longer say on campus

If you’ve visited the campus of the University of Michigan lately you may have noticed a poster campaign. It’s called the “Inclusive Language Campaign” and it’s anything but. It’s a crusade to ban language the PC police have deemed offensive. Some you can understand like “fag” or “retarded” or “raghead.” But that’s the problem with people who are offended. Once they get started there’s no end to their intolerance.

Another word they want to ban is “gypped.” Must’ve gotten complaints from the extensive gypsy population at Michigan. Here’s a head-scratcher: “ghetto.” They ask, “If you knew that I grew up in poverty, would you still call things ‘ghetto’?” Probably. Especially if I knew it hacked you off.

“Illegal alien” is verboten even though that’s what someone who broke into the country is. Don’t confuse them with the facts. They’re on a roll. Like banning the words “crazy” and “insane.” No doubt it would offend the crazy people who came up with this insane idea.

Ever been in a painfully embarrassing situation and said, “And I just wanted to die?” Don’t. According to these idiots “these words carelessly diminish the experience of people who have attempted or committed suicide.” Not that I want to pile on someone who’s tried to off themselves but are we supposed to give them a medal?

It doesn’t stop with just a simple campaign to control language. Students who live on campus are “urged” to take part in a workshop called “Change It Up!” Just think of it as a mini-re-education camp. They say the purpose is to build a “safe, inclusive, and respectful” community but it’s really just about control.

Of course, this is not just some student-led initiative. The University of Michigan is all in on this nonsense. A university spokesman told TheCollegeFix.com that the program is designed to “encourage individuals to commit to creating a positive campus community.” Sounds rather pansified to me. (I’m sure that would get me flogged by the campus PC police.)

You wanna hear just how nutty these people are? They don’t want you to say “work the kinks out.” Why? They say it’s rooted in racism because it refers to kinky hair. Actually, “working the kinks out” refers to a wire or hose, usually a garden hose. You straighten it out so that it works properly. It has nothing to do with hair. I can speak for all Curly-Americans that this is not offensive in the least.

They say that “who’d you sleep with to get that job” is offensive because it belittles anyone who’s ever been sexually harassed. You think I’m kidding. I wish I were kidding.

You can’t refer to the Asian guy as “that Asian guy” because “that guy is more than his race.” Well, no kidding, you thin-skinned weenie. Nobody’s saying he isn’t. It’s just a way of clarifying that you’re not talking about “that black guy” or “that white guy.” At least I didn’t call him “oriental.” Those rugs must be victims of some serious racism. 

You can’t ask anyone “can you teach me how to twerk?” because “people of privilege consume, appropriate, and reject the culture of minority communities at their convenience when it’s trendy.” That’s just so stupid it doesn’t even deserve a response.

This is the product of a hypersensitive group of people who are in for a very rough life. Words hurt because you allow them to hurt. Once you reveal your weakness there are those who will mercilessly take advantage of it. Not saying that’s necessarily right, it’s just a fact.

Phil Valentine is the host of the award-winning, nationally syndicated talk radio show, The Phil Valentine Show.

Obama's 'I cut the deficit by two-thirds' lie

President Obama unveiled his proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts October 1. The first thing that strikes you is its enormity. It’s a $4 trillion budget. Are we bringing in $4 trillion? No, we’re bringing in about $3.5 trillion, which was the amount of his first budget. But I thought he was cutting the deficits, you ask. He is when compared to the huge deficits of his first five years. I often call it the rogue fireman syndrome. The rogue fireman sets your house on fire then comes back in the fire truck to put it out and calls himself a hero.

Let’s look at the facts. The deficit George W. Bush’s last year in office was around $458 billion. That was largely because of the bank and auto bailouts. Obama not only continued those bailouts but added the now-infamous “stimulus” spending. What it did was accelerate the debt. Now, keep in mind that Bush’s last deficit was $458 billion. Obama’s first deficit was $1.4 trillion. That’s a trillion more than what he inherited or three times the last Bush deficit. 

And the stimulus was supposed to be a one-time thing, right? Obama made it an ongoing part of the budget, which meant that we not only ran a deficit his first year of $1.4 trillion but the next it was $1.3 trillion and the next $1.3 trillion and the next $1.1 trillion. When it hit $680 billion the fifth year he then claimed he had cut the deficit in more than half, which he had, but he didn't mention that he had tripled the deficit his first year in office.

Another way to put it in perspective is to look at this year’s projected deficit. It’s roughly $582 billion. That’s well over $100 billion more than George Bush’s last year in office when he was bailing out businesses left and right. We’re supposed to be in a recovery and we’re still spending like we’re trying to head off a recession.

Obama’s proposed budget for the fiscal year starting October 1 gives us a $474 billion deficit. These are the White House’s own figures. They estimate that by 2020 the annual deficit will be $554 billion. What this means is the amount we pay each year just on interest on the debt will triple. Some economists estimate that by 2030 we’ll be paying 40 percent of the money coming into the treasury just to service the debt. In other words, 40 percent of the money that could be spent on defense or social programs or whatever you like will, instead, go to pay the interest on the debt. And that’s just the interest. It doesn’t pay the debt down one dime. In fact, we’re looking at half-trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see. That means that by 2020, in just 5 years, our debt will be over $20 trillion.

Let’s face it, there’s no way we pay back the money we owe now. At $18 trillion it would take us six years to pay it off if we used every cent that’s coming into the treasury in taxes. And, of course, not only are we not using any of the money coming in to pay off the debt, we’re hemorrhaging by about $500 billion a year.

And what does Obama propose? Tax the rich and the corporations and continue to spend money like there’s no tomorrow. At this rate there may be no tomorrow. If there is, it’s going to look considerably worse than today. And he, quite frankly, just doesn’t care. 

Phil Valentine is the host of the award-winning, nationally syndicated talk radio show, The Phil Valentine Show.