Quote of the Day - Senator Cory Booker Edition

The first thing I did when I got my driver's license at seventeen is drive to Hawaii

Alrighty then.

Not quite Jesus as he walked on water, but close.  He drove across the Pacific Ocean.   How long does that take, I wonder?

I am sure those in New Jersey are quite proud.

@CoryBooker and the SNAP Challenge

Newark Mayor Cory Booker has decided to take the "SNAP Challenge" and purchase food with the money that would be the same as what he would get through the SNAP program.  This is a challenge I think more people should try.  But, there are few problems with how he is going about this.

The SNAP Program was never designed to be your only source of purchasing food.  SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  Hence the S standing for supplemental.

sup·ple·men·tal

 [suhp-luh-men-tl]  Show IPA

adjective

1.

supplementary.

2.

nonscheduled (  def 2 ) .

3.

(of a pleading, an affidavit, etc.) added to furnish what is lacking or missing.

As you can see, supplemental is meant to add.  The entire point of the program is allow low-income people to take their food budget and allow it to purchase healthier foods.  Fresh fruit and vegetables are very expensive.  Another reason that the program allows you to buy seed and/or plants to grow your own.  While that is not always possible depending on where you live, but most people can at least grow herbs in their kitchens.  If you think about it, herbs are very expensive, it can be over $5 for some basil or chives.  Growing your own in your kitchen (which I have done) is a very good way to cut costs.

If you look at the poor in this country and what they in their households on average you will find:

Amenities in Poor Families with Children. Poor families with children have more conveniences and amenities than other poor families. In 2005, the median amenity score for poor families with children was 16. We examined all poor families with children with an amenity score of 16 to determine which items appeared most frequently in these homes.

• These homes typically had both air conditioning and a personal computer.
• For entertainment, they typically had cable or satellite TV, three color televisions, a DVD player, a VCR, and a video game system, such as an Xbox or Play Station.
• In the kitchen, they had a refrigerator, a stove and oven, a microwave, and an automatic coffee maker.
• Other amenities included a cell phone, a cordless phone, and a clothes washer.[17]

These conveniences may be considered representative of the living standards of the median or typical poor family with children in 2005. **

Now, if they internet access, some sort of television package, video games, and cell phones obviously additional funds exist to pay for these items.  While it is possible that the cell phone is something that comes without cost, the rest of these items will have some sort of monthly expense.

It is wonderful that people who have not had to experience what it is like to try to feed yourself on SNAP Benefits goes out and tries to do it.  But they are not being intellectually honest if all they are spending is just the SNAP Benefit money.  One of the tweets I saw coming from the Mayor said he wouldn't be able to afford coffee.  Why?  Now there is no way to know exactly how much the average is that poor families put into their grocery budgets of their own money, but the chances are it is at least something.  If they can afford an X-Box, cable TV, multiple televisions, they are likely able to afford a canister of coffee.  I don't drink coffee, so I have no idea how much it costs, but I am sure you can get one for about $10 and that would last you for a few weeks.  Again, I could be wrong about that, but the cans I have seen in the stores are a good size and I would think that one can lasts for more than a week.

While I do believe that there is much talk by certain quarters that people on food assistance shouldn't be buying certain types of foods and that talk should stop.  As I said the entire point of the program is to buy fresh foods, leaner cuts of meat, and all around healthier foods.  Lets be honest, many people sell their EBT cards for cash.  So unless they are not eating for the balance of the month, they have other sources of getting food for their families.  Even with the homeless that I have worked with over the years, they have sources of income that allow them to get food on their own besides EBT and the meals that are served to them through various programs.

I respect what Mayor Booker is trying to do, but his outcome is not going to be the outcome that most poor families deal with on a monthly basis.  In many ways it is a publicity stunt.  Which is sad to me, that people use the poor for such purposes.

I also would suggest that the Mayor learn how to cook things from scratch, as it saves a great deal of money.  A pound of flour can go a very long way if you know what to do with it.  A small roasted chicken can get a single person three to four meals if you know what you are doing, and chicken freezes beautifully.  The bones make great stock for stews and soups.

You see I have been very broke in my life.  To the point that I had to move in with friends for a short time.  I had to learn to make do with little money and learn to stretch that money until the next pay-day.  So I do know what it feels like to have a limited amount of money to spend on food.  I also know that it can be done if you are wise in what you purchase, cook from scratch, and have freezer bags to protect your leftovers.

The problems that we have in this country, such as what to do to help the poor, won't be solved unless we are honest about them.  Only using the amount given for the EBT program to eat for two weeks isn't solving the problem, nor is it being honest about how they really live.

**Please note 2005 is last year that this information has been made public.

Looks Like Telling the Truth is not Welcomed in the Democratic Party - Cory Booker Gets Attacked by the Tolerant Left - Language Warning

Cory Booker, Newark Mayor, said yesterday on Meet the Press that he didn't like the attacks on Bain Capital or on Equity firms in general.  Unlike his counterparts in the party he understands that firms like Bain help virtually every person in this country.  Most 401(k) funds, pension funds, and other retirement funds have money invested in firms just like Bain.  Well run firms give good long term investments and revenues to your retirement plans.

But that is just too logical for the dems.  They went after Mayor Booker with a vengence:

@CoryBooker @dawn9476 @Bain Cory, ur political career is DEAD to us Dems unless u get ur ass back on TV ASAP & take back ur words re; Bain

@CoryBooker @dawn9476 @Bain Only Cory Booker can fix this mess that Cory Booker made! Your name is MUD today among the Dem/Obama twitteratti

I dont give a fuck who Booker thinks he is, he is NOT bigger than the POTUS. Stand united with Obama or get the fuck outta the way.

Now so-called PBO supporters are retweeting @goldietaylor A BLACK REPUBLICAN to defend Cory Booker?! AGAIN, WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU PEOPLE?!

.@CoryBooker You just let David Gregory destroy your career. It's what happens when you won't defend the person who would defend you.

Fucking Judas Iscariot. Fuck @CoryBooker He's made a deal. Get Romney in the WH and you get the NJ Gov mansion. He's their Black attack dog.

And of course the dems just can't help themselves and bring race into it:

@PragObots @CoryBooker Booker did this? U mean Booker is just another house nigger? 

#BookerWestSmileyCainWestHouseNiggers

@MWJ1231 @CoryBooker Mr. Booker is nauseating. he is just another hating jealous house nigger begging for table scraps.

The press is reporting that he has backtracked on his statement.  He has not, but the edited version of his video sure makes it seem that way.  Listen to the entire video and you will see that he has not backtracked.  He is still supporting the president, but he makes it clear that attacks on Bain are counterproductive.  There are people in this country that understand how important these firms are to lifeblood of our economy.

There is nothing wrong with making money.  After all who is going to pay for all that "free" birth control if no one is making any money?

Christie and Booker - "We've Got This" - Video

The Governor of New Jersey and the Mayor of Newark have a little fun and hilarity ensues: