It’s been a while, but some photos deserve a “Caption of the Day” post. What would be your caption to this beauty?

Amidst the slogans and chants emanating from impromptu communes across the country, the only clear message from Squatting is that banks suck and Squatters are entitled. Other than that, Squatting Any Street’s message has been incoherent. Yet no internal chant or external criticism can define Squatting with the clarity of a single photo taken at Squatting Los Angeles.

Plainly, this protester is upset. His sign implies that the greedy banks, the greedy rich, and the responsible people all suck. The wealthy become rich when everyone else gets hosed. End of discussion. 

His view is common among Squatters. The mythical possibility of legislating economic fairness has consumed leftist orthodoxy since hotdogs became synonymous with ballpark concessions. Yet foreclosure, while an undesirable course, is the natural result of an unpaid mortgage. Squatters may believe banks foreclose indiscriminately to pad their bottom line. But with real estate values in decline, what profit is there for banks to possess properties worth less than their liens? 

Notice the Squatter’s contrasting message. If the banks got rich while homeowners were unfairly foreclosed, from what were the banks bailed out? Their profits? One Squatter with one sign exposes a fatal flaw common to Squatters. It’s impossible for banks to simultaneously be both rich and poor. Expressing anger toward both circumstances is putting two and two together and coming up with six. 

Only a failing bank can receive a government bailout. When a solvent institution receives government funds it is a subsidy. Truly, neither subsidies nor bailouts are part of a free market economy. But there’s a distinction between them. Is it too much to ask Squatters to determine their message before they protest? Anyway, TEA Partiers were railing against both personal and corporate entitlement long before the first Squatters pitched their tents.

 A single sign has illustrated the degree to which Squatters have missed the point. They blame free markets and capitalism for bank profiteering on both sides of the housing bubble. But banks can’t simultaneously be rich enough to be greedy corporations and poor enough for bailouts. The concept contradicts itself. Government’s “fair” lending regulations drove banks to issue risky loans. Government then mitigated the risk with subsidy assurances. The housing crash wasn’t the fault of free markets or capitalism. It began, grew, and culminated with government’s usurping of the free market. 

Squatters should realize that without the federal government’s politically-driven manipulation of the housing market the banks wouldn’t have issued so many ill-advised loans, the housing bubble would never have existed as it did, and Squatting Any Street would be as academic as the nearest tent city.

(Thanks Matt Drudge for the pic)

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Let’s see how many newsworthy items you can combine with this photo: (All references between BP, the World Cup, and Barack Obama are purely intentional)

> “Soccer balls and oil spills: Two things the Brits can’t contain.”

> “We know who’s butt is going to get kicked tonight.”

> “BP’s environmental safety plan – as trustworthy as a British goalkeeper.”

> “Hey ma, look – no hands.”

> “I wish I could get the first half of this game back.”

> What’s big, green, and really makes a mess of things?
a) BP
b) Incredible Hulk reruns on TVLand
c) British keepers

Does this portend the proverbial sinking ship?

I just couldn’t resist resurrecting a feature from the good ol’ days. (Thanks, Neil, for the tip.)

Did no one in the White House PR or political offices stop to think how completely ridiculous this would look? Can you imagine how the dems and the MSM would have roasted GWB if he’d shown up to speak at an elementary school with a teleprompter? I’ve used one myself and I understand sometimes they are absolutely necessary, and perhaps today’s speech is important enough to merit its use. But why then give the speech at an elementary school?

Let the captions fly. Best caption by this time tomorrow gets a free book of their choice.

From World Net Daily:

On his 100th day in office, President Obama will be “crowned” in messianic imagery at New York City’s Union Square.

Artist Michael D’Antuono’s painting “The Truth” – featuring Obama with his arms outstretched and wearing a crown of thorns upon his head – will be unveiled on April 29 at the Square’s South Plaza.

According to a statement released about the portrait, “The 30″ x 54″ acrylic painting on canvas depicts President Obama appearing much like Jesus Christ on the Cross: atop his head, a crown of thorns; behind him, the dark veil being lifted (or lowered) on the Presidential Seal. But is he revealing or concealing, and is he being crucified or glorified?”

Apparently Mr. D’Antuono missed this or maybe he was deceived when Obama said:

“A light will shine down from somewhere. It will light upon you. You will experience an epiphany and you will say to yourself, ‘I have to vote for Barack’.”

Either way, this imagery frightening and sacrilegious to the highest degree. If Obama were a true believer, don’t you think he would ask for this painting not to be displayed?

Update: Per WND, Michael D’Antuono has canceled the display of this painting due to “overwhelming public outrage.”