Hurricane Irene About to Make Landfall Heading Toward North Carolina

Everyone please take precautions and be safe, Hurricane Irene is about to make landfall and is predicted to affect the areas of the Mid-Atlantic to New England.  Irene is reported at being 420 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, NC and has winds near 110 miles per hour, and was moving to the north at 14 miles per hour. When it finally hits land on Saturday, Irene is supposed to be a category 2 or 3 hurricane.

Pic: The Weather Channel

- Hurricane Irene poses an extraordinary threat and is one that no one has yet experienced from North Carolina to the mid_Atlantic to the Northeast to New England.

- Hurricane Irene is a high end category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale; however, Irene is expected to re-strengthen into a category 3 storm.

From ABC News, Hurricane Irene is predicted to cause billions in damages.

“This is going to have an impact on the United States economy,” Mayfield added.

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) noted the high value of property in major U.S. East Coast cities like New York, Philadelphia and Boston.

“We’ve got a lot more people that are potentially in the path of this storm,” FEMA Director Craig Fugate told the Associated Press. “This is one of the largest populations that will be impacted by one storm at one time. A little bit of damage over big areas with large populations can add up fast.”

Follow the path and get emergency advisories at NOLA … HERE, HERE and HERE (radar).

PLEASE BE SAFE!

Brian in a Blue State

Weekly Jobless Claims Rose 5,000 … Up Again to 417,000 as Obama Golfs

If it is Thursday, it must mean that the Obama weekly jobless claims are up again. Weekly jobless claims rose by 5000 to a seasonally adjusted 417,000. Terrible and unacceptable. As Americans file for unemployment, President Barack Obama golfs.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 417,000, the Labor Department said, but still nowhere near levels that would signal a recession.

Could there be any worse optics for an incumbent President who is sinking fast in the polls than to have more and more Americans file for first time unemployment benefits and the Barack Obama seen golfing and riding a bikes like he has a care in the word.

How out of touch could one man be? UNREAL, JUST UNBELIEVABLY UNREAL! Who will he blame next, Hurricane Irene? Oh that’s correct, the hurricane has not yet hit the US yet.

Brian in a Blue State

Daily Commentary – Thursday, August 25, 2011 – Pooch With Expensive Taste Eats 10K in Diamonds!

• Pooch With Expensive Taste Eats 10K in Diamonds!

Daily Commentary – Thursday, August 25, 2011: Download

Barack Obama Said in 2008, “Adding $4 Trillion to National Debt was Unpatriotic” … So Does is Obama Unpatriotic as Well

Search engines and YouTube are so unforgiving … Obama calls himself unpatriotic, by the associative property.

Remember in 2008 when then candidate Barack Obama criticized President George W. Bush for adding $4 trillion to the national debt, saying it was “unpatriotic” and also “irresponsible”?  Of course it took GWB 8 yeas to do this. President Barack Obama gas done the same in 2.5 years.  Does this make Barack Obama even more unpatriotic … Obama’s words, not our. Make no mistake about it, Obama has the most rapid increase of US debt than any US President ever.

“The problem is, is that the way Bush has done it over the last eight years is to take out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our children, driving up our national debt from $5 trillion dollars for the first 42 presidents — number 43 added $4 trillion dollars by his lonesome, so that we now have over $9 trillion dollars of debt that we are going to have to pay back — $30,000 for every man, woman and child.”

Brian in a Blue State

5 Year Old Elijah Holbin-Hudson Missing Since Tuesday, August 23, 2011 in Port Orange, FL (Believed to be with Grandmother Laurine Arnold)

5 year old Elijah Holbin-Hudson has been missing since Tuesday, August 23, 2011 in Port Orange, FL in the 3000 block of Sunset Cove Drive.  According to police he was last seen around 8:30 pm and his aunt reported him missing around 6:30 am the following day when the aunt awoke and realized he was no where to be found. Elijah Holbin-Hudson is believed to be with his maternal Grandmother, Laurine Sue Arnold of Spring Hill. They are believed to be traveling in a black Plymouth Duster, with Florida tag number AJV-N60.

Elijah Holbin-Hudson Missing, WFTV

“When she woke up, she noticed he was not there, and law enforcement authorities were notified,” Port Orange Police Department Capt. Frank Surmaczewicz said.

Investigators said they believe that Elijah is with his maternal Grandmother, Laurine Sue Arnold, 49

Description of missing Elijah Holbin-Hudson

Authorities said the boy is 3 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 45 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.

Laurine Arnold, suspected of abduction

Laurine Arnold’s Facebook.

Description of missing Laurine Arnold. It is believed that she may have entered the home through an unlocked door.

Arnold stands 5 feet 2 inches tall and has blond hair and blue eyes. She may be driving a black Plymouth Duster with Florida license plate AJV-N60.

UPDATE I: Looks very much like a family abduction where the maternal grandmother is not supposed to have contact with the 5 year old boy.

Elijah Holbin-Hudson disappeared from a home on Sunset Cove Drive where he was staying as part of a relative placement by Michigan authorities, Port Orange police Capt. Frank Surmaczewicz said.

The boy is believed to be with his maternal grandmother, Laurine Sue Arnold, 49, of Spring Hill, Surmaczewicz said.

The boy’s aunt called police Monday after Arnold showed up to visit with him. Investigators have not determined why Arnold is not supposed to have contact with her grandson, Surmaczewicz said.

Anyone with information can contact the Port Orange Police Department at 386-756-7400.

For more updates, and to provide your thoughts and opinions, go to Scared Monkeys Missing Persons Forum: Elijah Holbin-Hudson.

UPDATE II: MAP OF LOCATION CHILD WENT MISSING (A) AND ADDRESS OF MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER (B).

Hat Tip: Klaas

Steve Jobs Resigns as CEO of Apple Inc

Hmm, Steve Jobs has resigned as the Chief Executive Officer  of Apple.  Tim Cook  was named the new CEO and Jobs was elected Chairman of the Board. Jobs has been battling pancreatic cancer and had taken a leave of absence due to his medical condition. Jobs returned to Apple in March to help launch the iPad 2, so it cant be that unexpected that he step down again.

Apple’s Board of Directors today announced that Steve Jobs has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, and the Board has named Tim Cook, previously Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, as the company’s new CEO. Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

“Steve’s extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world’s most innovative and valuable technology company,” said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple’s Board. “Steve has made countless contributions to Apple’s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple’s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration.”

Statement from Steve Jobs:

“I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know,” the 55-year-old legendary co-founder of the company said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, that day has come.”

Thanks Steve, I remember my first Apple computer.

Brian in a Blue State

Only 37% Job Approval in Florida and Think President Barack Obama Deserves Reelection in 2012

In the 2008 Presidential election, Barack Obama won Florida 51% to 48% and picked up an important  27 electoral votes. That was then, this is now. If early polling in Florida is any sign of things to come for 2012, Obama and the Democrat party are in serious trouble in this swing state.

Yes, it is early in the polling season and things could change; however, President Barack Obama finds himself in a deep hole in the battle ground state of Florida.   A recent MAGELLAN poll has only 37% believe that Barack Obama should be reelected, while a whopping 57% believe he should not be. The poll also has Floridians at 37% job approval for Obama, while 57% disapprove. How does one come back from a 37% reelection number?  Its early, but this polling is so dismal, one has to take notice especially when the polling sample was 42/39/19, Democrats/Republicans/Independents.

Do you think that Barack Obama deserves to be re?elected, or do you think that
Barack Obama does not deserve to be re?elected?
Deserves to be re?elected ……………………………………………… 37%
Does not deserve to be re?elected ……………………………….. 57%
Undecided/No opinion …………………………………………………….. 6%

Read more

Some Martha’s Vineyard Residents Tell Obama to “Go Home, He’s Ruining my Vacation”

It would seem that not all in Martha’s Vineyard are happy that Barack Obama is vacationing there. Some think that it send the wrong message while millions are out of work, some want him to go home and others said that Obama is ruining their vacation. Watch the Jesse Watters’ video below via The Factor and Bill O’Reilly, classic.

After the third straight year in a row of vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard, Barack Obama might be wearing out his welcome. No worries, at best he has one more year of vacationing there, then you get your island back after the 2012 election.

Ya really have to laugh when a couple of the interviewees stated that the Vineyard is not really a posh vacation spot. I wonder where they vacation … Monte Carlo?

Brian in a Blue State

Illegal Immigrant Nicolas D. Guaman Charged in Hit & Run Death of 23 Year Old Massachusetts Man

How brilliant does Obama’s new laws of easing the deportation of illegals look now?

It would appear that Nicolas D. Guaman of Milford, Massachusetts was doing the job that Americans were not willing to do. The 34 year old illegal immigrant was charged with the hit & run death of  23 year old Matthew J. Denice. So how is it again that Obama only wants to deport illegals from the US who have committed crimes? Let’s show how ridiculous Obama’s new edict, a backdoor amnesty attempt without a vote from Congress, looks. Last week Guaman was a “no” on the deport list, today he is on the deport list  and an American is dead.

An illegal immigrant who allegedly killed a 23-year-old Massachusetts man in a hit-and-run accident Saturday is being held on $100,000 cash bail, the Milford Daily News reports.

Nicolas D. Guaman, 34, of Milford, Mass., was arrested Saturday after his vehicle struck Matthew J. Denice, who was on a motorcycle, according to police. Guaman’s pickup truck had allegedly dragged Denice’s body a quarter-mile, the newspaper reports.

Judge Robert Calagione entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Guaman in Milford District Court on Tuesday.

Texas Governor Rick Perry Surges into the Lead in Latest Gallup Poll

Texas Governor Rick Perry to the head of the pack …

The latest Gallup poll has Texas Governor Rick Perry surging into the lead in the GOP race for the Republican nomination for president with 29%. Similar to last weeks Rasmussen poll, Rick Perry has a double digit lead in Gallup, far outpacing Mitt Romney 17%, Ron Paul at 13% and Michele Bachmann at 10%.  The American Spectator has some nice geographic analysis.

Perry crushes Romney in the South 39 percent to 12 percent while trailing the former Massachusetts governor by just one point in the East. Perry has also taken a toll on Bachmann, who does no better than tying Paul in any region of the country and trails all three of them in the Midwest, even though that’s where she does best. Perry also beats Romney 33 percent to 16 percent among conservatives, while Romney has a single-digit lead among moderate to liberal Republicans.

Perry seems to have traction in the polling since he entered the GOP race on August 13. Quite interesting how well the Texan polled in the East against former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Interesting indeed, don’t mess with Texas.

Brian in a Blue State