Coffee Milk Conservative

How Liberal is Your Lawmaker?

2010-04-29T19:33:00.001-04:00

Want to know how liberal your Senator or Congressional Representative is compared to other members of Congress? National Journal has an interactive tool that rates lawmakers, on a conservative-to-liberal scale, based upon their Congressional voting record throughout 2009. Lawmakers are assigned scores for each of their roll-call votes on leading economic, social and foreign-policy issues.

The magazine determined that “long-standing ideological divides have persisted – and even deepened – in President Obama’s Washington.” That’s stating the obvious.

Scroll down on the landing page to access the tool.

A Tale of Two Protest Demonstrations

2010-04-29T11:00:00.006-04:00

The SWAT team is called out in Quincy, IL yesterday to control the Tea Party crowd protesting Obama's speech at the Oakley Lindsay Civic Center.

Meanwhile in Phoenix:

Teacher’s Helper – the Plan Book for Social Justice

2010-04-26T21:01:00.010-04:00

Teachers belonging to the nationwide Education Liberation Network (ELN) and the New York Collective of Radical Educators (NYCoRE) want to pass on their values to your children. They’ve published a handbook for educators – Planning to Change the World: A Plan Book for Social Justice Teachers. The book contains lesson plans designed to “help teachers translate their vision of a just education into concrete classroom activities.”

The recently-released book contains information and ideas “from teachers, college students and activists who, like you, struggle daily to put their values into practice,” according to the web site promoting the book. “As educators, our vision of teaching for liberation often gets buried under the everyday realities of teaching. Bombarded with paperwork, tests, curriculum mandates, we feel frustrated, overwhelmed, alone.”

Collaboration between the Education Liberation Network and the NYCoRE brings like minds together. The ELN is “a national coalition of teachers, community activists, youth, researchers and parents who believe a good education should teach people—particularly low-income youth and youth of color—to understand and challenge the injustices their communities face.” NYCoRE “is a group of public school educators committed to fighting for social justice in our school system and society at large.”

Planning to Change the World provides radical educators around the country with material to turn their daily lesson planning into a strategy for foisting their belief system upon their students. While the teaching of social justice may not be approved by local school boards and state education commissions, teachers subscribing to this ideology incorporate these lessons into their classroom instruction nonetheless.

Suggested topics and lesson plans include:

The Puerto Rican Nationalist Movement and activist Lolita Lebrón Sotomayor. “In 1954 Sotomayor traveled to the US Capitol building with a few comrades, unfurled the Puerto Rican flag and fired a round of shots inside the House of Representatives. Sotomayor remained imprisoned for 25 years until Jimmy Carter issued a pardon.”

Global labor rights. “Workers all over the world suffer from conditions that many would consider unbearable. These conditions are in part a result of corporations taking advantage of workers and their rights. The lessons on this website help students to understand how consumerism and corporate greed in the US affect workers around the world.”

The 10th anniversary of protests against the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle. “Popularly known as the Battle in Seattle, the protests against the World Trade Organization, the world's most influential trade-governing bodies, lasted for five days and were successful in disrupting the meetings.”

The book has been recommended by radical educators including the late Howard Zinn, and the current Superintendant of the Oakland Unified School District in California, Tony Smith. According to Smith, “To create a more just and equitable world we need new ways of engaging and working together; new ways to name and interrupt systemic oppression. To support this work we need new tools that are as practical as they are thoughtful. This social justice planner is one of those tools!”

Health Care: Somebody Must Have Lied A Lot

2010-04-24T14:17:00.006-04:00

H/T to Divine Ripples for finding this video. Witty and all too true.

New Web Site Encourages Kids to “Green” Their Parents

2010-04-22T15:25:00.001-04:00

Here’s one for the kids just in time for Earth Day.

The web site “Green My Parents,” which enlists children as environmental activists, launched today. The site is the portal to a nationwide program, based on the book “Green My Parents,” that encourages children to pressure their parents into adopting an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

From the site:

Green My Parents is a movement that activates & enlists kids to lead their families in measuring & reducing environmental impact at home & challenge their parents to share savings with kids.

Green My Parents connects the environmental crises directly to life at home through personal action, simple, creative and meaningful solutions, and learning the values of sustainability, health, family and money.

Green My Parents features fun “eco-assignments” that save money and the planet. Kids learn how to kill energy vampires, make their pets greener, and more. They grade their parents on saving energy, water and gasoline.

Members are encouraged to exert peer pressure on other children to get them to participate in the program. The promise of a financial reward is also key to motivating children to sign up.

According to the New York Times:

Green My Parents…designed a program that makes behavior change easy and economically rewarding for participants. Such a clear directive is key right now, given the general lack of success in communicating sustainability’s importance to the public. It should be abundantly clear that the average person isn’t going to act on behalf of polar bears, let alone take the time to understand cap and trade. By reaching out to kids, you’re reaching out to a population that most likely doesn’t need to be persuaded that there’s a problem and, significantly, that hasn’t had time to develop ingrained habits around daily acts like driving, shopping and showering.

Kids are urged not just to find ways to save money and energy but to negotiate with their parents for a percentage of the realized savings in return for their initiative.

Green My Parents is a definite win-win for the liberal progressive movement. They get to promote two significant ideologies to your children – global warming and wealth redistribution.

The program was launched via a free online workshop this morning and included distribution of the book, "Green My Parents." You may want to check your childrens’ backpacks – and secure your wallet – when the kids get home from school today.

Another Day, Another Vicious Liberal Attack on Sarah Palin

2010-04-21T22:31:00.000-04:00

Writing in The Atlantic, Andrew Sullivan launches into a nasty attack on Sarah Palin because she declined his request for an interview. Claiming that Palin avoids media scrutiny by hiding behind an exclusivity agreement with Fox News, Sullivan leads into his hit piece with the following:

Here's a revealing glimpse into how a delusional, incompetent, pathological liar has managed never to hold a real press conference and yet remains a credible public figure.

Sullivan then faults the media for failing to thoroughly investigate Palin’s background during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Every delusional, ignorant nutcase should have a chance to get away with running for national office. The problem here is the system - a system that allowed someone no-one knew anything about to get very close to being a 72-year-old's heartbeat away from the presidency, a system that deems some questions unaskable, a press that is more concerned with maximizing ratings and avoiding offence than in getting answers. This system is dangerous. If you construct a sealed media cocoon, and false narrative, and a massive money-machine, you can get further than most people imagine.

Delusional aptly describes Sullivan’s portrayal of Palin along with the media treatment she received. If he wanted to publish an article rooted in reality, all he had to do was substitute the name “Barack Obama” for that of “Sarah Palin.”

Two Trillion Bucks and What Do You Get?

2010-04-20T15:48:00.000-04:00

No recovery, but deeper in debt.

Halley’s Comet, Grace Kelly, and ‘The Shot Heard Round the World’

2010-04-19T20:14:00.000-04:00

I need a break from politics. Waco and the Oklahoma City bombing have been detailed in the news today, so here are some other facts about this day in history.

1775 – The American War for Independence begins at Lexington Common in Massachusetts, with the “shot heard round the world."

1782 - John Adams secures the Dutch Republic's recognition of the United States as an independent government and the house he purchased in The Hague, Netherlands becomes the first American embassy.

1897 - John McDermott of New York wins the first Boston Marathon won in 2:55:10.

1910 - Halley's comet makes a spectacular return trip.

1939 - Connecticut approves the Bill of Rights.

1951 – Gen. Douglas MacArthur ends his military career with an address to Congress. “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”

1956 - Actress Grace Kelly weds Monaco's Prince Rainier III.

1981 – The Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings play to a 2-2 tie after 32 innings. The longest minor league game ever played began on Saturday, April 18, and was suspended at 4:07 AM on April 19. The Paw Sox finally won 3-2 in the 33^rd inning during the next scheduled game between the two teams on June 23.

1982 – NASA names Sally Ride the agency’s first female astronaut.

General Electric’s Shady Alliance With the White House

2010-04-19T10:30:00.001-04:00

GE, which netted $10.8 billion in profits during 2009, paid $0 in taxes to the U.S. government. In fact, it received a tax benefit of $1.1 billion. This highly profitable company made sure all its business losses were written against its U.S. operations. So where are the cries of outrage from Obama and his Congressional cronies?

The following article from FrontPageMagazine.com describes the shady alliance between GE and the White House, which may also explain why the Democrats are keeping mum about the company's tax dodge.

Since 2008, General Electric has been cozying up to the Obama administration. The relationship is sure to result in financial gain for GE, while likely granting the company greater access and influence. The arrangements set forth are legal, but the potential impact the interconnections may have – and the blatant kickbacks that have been offered – should alarm Americans.

In a Washington Examiner op-ed, journalist Timothy Carney points out the eyebrow-raising ties between President Barack Obama’s team and GE’s leadership. According to Carney, “GE CEO Jeff Immelt sits on Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, and GE owns MSNBC, the network famously friendly to Obama.”

Immelts’s place on the board is concerning for a number of reasons. First and foremost, GE has been the recipient of bailout funds and stands to benefit from current and future contracts with the U.S. government. This may partly explain MSNBC’s highly favorable treatment of the Obama administration. With GE’s CEO sitting on Obama’s economic panel, it is no surprise that MSNBC rarely provides critical coverage of the administration. Furthermore, GE’s environmental business interests may explain why NBC recently joined Hollywood in inserting environmentally-friendly messaging into network programming. Furthermore, NBC promotes two annual campaigns — “Green Week” and “Earth Week” — that focus on environmentalism.

Media connections are just the tip of the iceberg. GE’s increased permeation into other sectors will have a more profound impact on policy and, in turn, Americans’ lives.

Read the rest of the article here.

Monday Morning Blues

2010-04-19T06:01:00.001-04:00

Five year-old Shirley Temple rocketed to fame in “Stand Up and Cheer,” 76 years ago today. Her musical debut begins at 4:53 in the video. Baby take a bow.

Suspension of Air Traffic Could Raise Temperatures Across Europe

2010-04-19T00:08:00.004-04:00

According to a report in the UK Mail online, the widespread grounding of planes in Europe – due to the eruption of Iceland’s Mount Eyjafjallajokull – could lead to an increase in temperatures across that continent. From the article:

A study conducted after commercial flights were grounded for three days following the September 11 terror attacks found the average daily temperature range in the U.S. rose markedly - exceeding the three-day periods before and after by 1.8c.

The grounding of flights in 2001 gave scientists a 'tarnished but golden opportunity' to study the impact that jet planes have on the climate.

They matched the weather over those three days with similar weather in September over that period, and found that the difference in daily high and nightly low temperatures in the absence of planes' contrails was more than 1c greater.

Scientists claimed this showed that clouds formed by the water vapour in the exhaust from jet planes have a small but significant effect on daily temperatures.

The researchers said that in regions with crowded skies, the clouds formed by the planes' water vapour worked like cirrus clouds to prevent days from getting too hot and trapping the Earth's heat at night.

I thought the carbon emissions produced by jet fuel contributed to global warming? Now I find out that water vapor – a byproduct of jet fuel combustion – helps to moderate the earth's temperature. Do you ever get the feeling that some people want to have it both ways?

Canadian Universal Hell-th Care Reality Check

2010-04-18T20:00:00.016-04:00

Now that we’re all to be saddled with Canadian-style universal health care, consider this story from the Canada Free Press about an 85-year old woman who required surgery for a broken hip. The operating hours at her local hospital in British Columbia had been cut. Orthopedic surgeons were in the middle of a fee dispute with the Interior Health Authority and limiting their on-call availability for emergency cases. Since her injury wasn’t considered life-or limb-threatening, the available options were to wait in pain for a future date to have her hip replaced, or to be transferred by ambulance to a hospital 3 hours away.

According to Canadian orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andre DeGreef, hip fractures aren’t always considered urgent cases, even among the elderly. “If there is no blood vessel or nerve involved, then it can wait a day or two. The only hassle is that it is painful. You can’t move and, with old people, they can easily get pneumonia and stuff like that.”

Have the rationing and shortages associated with Canada’s universal health care system made this doctor seemingly dispassionate about the pain and suffering of patients? Can we expect the same shortages, rationing and dispassionate treatment when the major policy provisions of Congress’ health care reform law firmly take hold?

Democrats Adopting Divide and Conquer Strategy to Pass Financial Regulatory Legislation

2010-04-18T12:20:00.006-04:00

Democrats have spent the past year publicly dismissing the Tea Party as a fringe political movement. So why are the White House and Congressional Democrats implementing a strategy to peel Tea Party support away from the GOP to gin up public support for their financial regulatory reform legislation?

From the Dow Jones Newswire:

The Obama administration and congressional Democrats hope to drive a wedge between tea-party activists and Republicans as part of their effort to secure passage of an increasingly partisan Wall Street overhaul measure, according to a strategy memo.

The two-page document, obtained by Dow Jones following a Thursday evening meeting between communication staff from the White House, Treasury Department and the House and Senate, is titled "Wall Street Reform Message And Tactics Agenda." It lays out the themes and messages Democrats will stress in the coming weeks as the Senate potentially takes up and votes on the measure, with the goal of President Barack Obama being able to sign legislation into law by Memorial Day.

Under the heading of "Themes," the memo lists as possible talking points "R's on the side of greed and excess," "Driving a wedge between R's and Tea Party," "Consumer protections," and "Real people who lost it all."

In addition to those specific themes, the memo also suggests Democrats have yet to settle on their broader sales pitch to the American public. "Can we link to jobs?" and "What work best?" are listed under the heading "Top Line Messaging," the first agenda item listed for Thursday's meeting.

The strategy memo suggests that Democrats and the White House plan to use a variety of third-party groups to help solidify support for the overhaul legislation. The document lists AARP, Consumers Union, "Pension Groups," "Small Business Majority," and "Whistle Blowers" on a list of "Third Party Validators."

For all their public posturing, it appears that Democrats recognize – and are afraid of – the power of the Tea Party movement. Their strategy however, proves they still don’t understand it. The Tea Party movement supports accountability and limited government. Congressional interference in the financial markets contributed to the economic meltdown. More government meddling is unlikely to garner support from those they hope to divide and conquer.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…

2010-04-17T17:20:00.003-04:00

…who loves himself best of all?

H/T Can This Goat Get More Fans Than Barack Obama?

Brace Yourselves, Here Come the Smears

2010-04-15T16:22:00.005-04:00

Image by Asterix611 via Flickr

The New York Times released its carefully massaged poll about the tea party movement, just in time for today’s massive tax day rallies. The Times solicited interpretations of the poll's findings from 13 primarily liberal political analysts and historians. Not surprisingly, the New York Times and it's political commentators miss the entire point of Taxed Enough Already and are setting the tone for news coverage of the nationwide rallies.

According to author Rick Pearlstein:

Watching the rise of the Tea Party movement has been a frustration to me, and not just because it is ugly and seeks to traduce so many of the values I hold dear.

Even worse has been the overwhelming historical myopia. As the Times’ new poll numbers amply confirm — especially the ones establishing that the Tea Partiers are overwhelming Republican or right-of-Republican — they are the same angry, ill-informed, overwhelmingly white, crypto-corporate paranoiacs that accompany every ascendancy of liberalism within U.S. government.

In a piece headlined “Hatred and Status Anxieties,” Boston College Professor Alan Wolfe writes:

A majority of Tea Party supporters (52 percent) think we pay too much attention to the problems of black people. It is notoriously difficult for surveys to capture racist attitudes because people who respond to them have learned to hide their true feelings. Nonetheless this survey documents the extent to which the unhappiness expressed by the movement’s supporters reflects an unease with the steps toward great racial equality their country has taken in recent years.

At the risk of sounding condescending, these people have lost all perspective. They know how to kvetch. They know nothing about what makes their country great. Instead of watching Glenn Beck, I would urge them to learn more about their country’s history — or to go and see a shrink.

From Columbia University Professor Alan Brinkley:

The other striking finding in this poll is the importance of race and diversity, something that Tea Partiers do not emphasize in their rallies and literature. But they show very clearly the racial anxiety that many of them appear to feel. This is not traditional racism, although there are almost certainly traditional racists within the movement.

The real issue, I believe, is a sense among white males that they are somehow being displaced, that the country is no longer “theirs,” that minorities and immigrants are becoming more and more powerful within society. And, of course, they are right about that. They just fear it more than many other Americans.

George Washington University Law Professor Paul Butler, writing about “Angry White Men”:

No student of American history would be surprised to learn that when the United States elects its first non-white president, a strong anti-government movement rises up. Still this is the 21st century, when old-fashioned racism is stigmatized by just about everybody. Thus the most virulent anti-Obama force in the country is smart enough not to frame its agenda around white supremacy — at least not explicitly.

I’m not mad at the Tea Party. If I were an old white Republican, and had money, and a young black man took over the government talking about change, I’d be scared too. My problem with Obama is that, so far, he hasn’t given wealthy white Republicans enough to be scared about.

From author Michael Lind:

Unemployment in the U.S. is at levels unknown since the Great Depression. Yet 70 percent of Tea Party supporters say that their own economic situation is “fairly good,” and only 14 percent have experienced “hardship.” Their rage is directed not at the Wall Street bankers who wrecked the world economy, but at politicians like Barack Obama who might help the poor.

Pitchfork-wielding populists like William Jennings Bryan they are not. They are more like the affluent members of the Liberty League who vilified President Roosevelt in the 1930s — a sullen, defensive mobilization of the Have-Somes who dread the Have-Nots. The Tea Partiers put the “petty” in petty bourgeoisie. They are disgruntled conservative Fox Republicans.

How many of these learned professors and illustrious writers do you think have actually attended a Tea Party rally? Or spoken with someone who identifies with the Tea Party movement? I think it's safe to assume that none of analysts quoted above have had any association with a member of the Tea Party.

CNN political analyst David Gergen however, did attend yesterday’s rally in Boston Common. He writes:

While there was some tough rhetoric from the platform, contrary to the notion that these rallies are filled with anger and bitterness, the mood was festive and friendly.

There were lots of homemade signs protesting taxes, health reform and big government — and notably, several proclaiming that being anti-Obama does not mean a white person is a racist. Clearly, many feel stung by what they see as misrepresentations in the press.

Gergen concludes:

There has always been a populist strain in American politics...harsh times deepen personal insecurity and frustration, and spirit of rebellion pushes to the surface. Many of these Tea Partiers are fearful of how the country is changing. Some circles look down upon them; it would be far wiser to listen, understand and find ways to heal.

CNN, the Arbiter of Credibility and Non-partisanship

2010-04-15T08:36:00.003-04:00

During a dog-and-pony show held for advertisers and their Madison Avenue agencies this week, CNN executives touted their network as the lone objective news source on cable. CNN Worldwide President Jim Walton told the advertisers, “We are the only credible, non-partisan voice left, and that matters. “ His assertion was echoed by CNN US President Jonathan Klein who said, “Our mission, our mandate, is to deliver the best journalism in the world, which puts us in a category of one.“

So just how credible and non-partisan is CNN when its news anchors smeared everyone participating in the Tea Party movement and rallies as “teabaggers,” fact-checked a comedy skit on Saturday Night Live, and claimed Sarah Palin was an unfit mother? The answer to that is in the numbers.

CNN’s viewership plummeted 30 percent in 2009. An average of 891,000 viewers tuned in during prime time programming. Ad revenue declined a modest one percent last year, but the network derives the majority of its revenue from cable subscription fees, not advertising. Additionally, CNN combines its financial results with those of sister network Headline News, so the decline may be even greater.

Compare CNN’s numbers to powerhouse Fox News, which generated a whopping 14 percent increase in ad revenue in 2009. FNC’s prime-time median viewership also climbed 19 percent to 2.13 million.

CNN executives can talk all they want about credibility and non-partisanship, but the truth is in the numbers. People don’t tune in to news and commentary they consider biased, offensive or dishonest. In the long run, advertisers are unlikely to continue spending their shrinking marketing dollars with an outlet that can’t deliver an audience, and CNN will continue its downhill slide into oblivion.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T08:33:00.002-04:00

"For I remember it is Easter morn, and love and life and peace are all newborn," ~ Alice Freeman Palmer.

On this beautiful day, best wishes to all of you, and your families, for a Happy and Joyous Easter.

Swim With the Fishes

2010-03-30T14:53:00.002-04:00

That term is taking on an entirely new meaning in Rhode Island.

The unrelenting rain that’s soaked the state over the past few days has local rivers at flood state; neighborhoods submerged; portions of interstate highways under water, and beach erosion along the shoreline.

This latest storm is exacerbating problems from other heavy, and prolonged, rain storms we’ve had this month. Calling this the worst incidence of state-wide flooding in a century, Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri has asked all residents to get off the roads by 5PM, as our main thoroughfare, Interstate 95, may be closed.

As for me, I’m on basement duty today. The water’s not too bad; seeping in slowly enough to direct it into the French drain. Rain, rain, go away…

Happy Passover

2010-03-29T15:46:00.000-04:00

To my friends who, with their families at sundown today, will remember God’s deliverance of the Israelites, I wish you all a Joyous Passover.

Monday Morning Blues

2010-03-29T09:21:00.004-04:00

It's another stormy day in New England with plenty of wind and rain. This is one of those days when you want to snuggle into the couch with a good book and listen to some Blues, like Lena Horne singing her signature song, "Stormy Weather," playing softly in the background. Forecasters tell us the weather will get better throughout the week and Easter Sunday should reach 70 degrees. Awesome.

Big Brother’s Heavy Hand

2010-03-27T16:26:00.001-04:00

Image by Public Citizen via Flickr

What happens when the economic realities of ObamaCare collide with the government’s false projections of lower health insurance costs? Big Brother’s heavy hand is used yet again to intimidate Corporate America.

Companies including AT&T, John Deere, Caterpillar, and AK Steel filed a restatement of earnings this week in compliance with SEC accounting rules. Those filings reflect the higher cost of health care-related liabilities and corporate taxes – ranging from $20 million to $1 billion dollars – due to the enactment of health care reform.

Incensed that Corporate America isn’t propagating the party line, House Democrats are calling the CFO’s of these corporations before a congressional committee to get their thinking straight.

From today’s Wall Street Journal:

This wholesale destruction of wealth and capital came with more than ample warning. Turning over every couch cushion to make their new entitlement look affordable under Beltway accounting rules, Democrats decided to raise taxes on companies that do the public service of offering prescription drug benefits to their retirees instead of dumping them into Medicare. We and others warned this would lead to AT&T-like results, but like so many other ObamaCare objections, Democrats waved them off as self-serving or "political."

Perhaps that explains why the Administration is now so touchy…Henry Waxman and House Democrats announced yesterday that they will haul these companies in for an April 21 hearing because their judgment "appears to conflict with independent analyses, which show that the new law will expand coverage and bring down costs."

In other words, shoot the messenger. Black-letter financial accounting rules require that corporations immediately restate their earnings to reflect the present value of their long-term health liabilities, including a higher tax burden. Should these companies have played chicken with the Securities and Exchange Commission to avoid this politically inconvenient reality? Democrats don't like what their bill is doing in the real world, so they now want to intimidate CEOs into keeping quiet.

Unlike all the closed door hearings surrounding the passage of ObamaCare, what do you want to bet that these hearings will be broadcast for everyone to see?

Cross-posted at Potluck.

Is There An Upside to ObamaCare?

2010-03-26T18:34:00.000-04:00

I’m trying to remain optimistic following the passage of ObamaCare. Daryl Luna at the Tenth Amendment Center gives us 5 reasons to look at the upside.

We know who our enemies are. For many, Bart Stupak and other “pro-life” Democrats were key allies in the battle to protect the rights of the unborn. . .his vote Sunday let any doubters know where he and his comrades stand on the issue of life.

This already has and will continue to drive the GOP toward a more conservative direction. If Lindsey Graham is opposed to government-run healthcare, it is not because he is philosophically committed to conservative governance. Rather, he opposed the bill because of public pressure and the frustration of being in the minority. That being said, I don’t care why as long as he opposes it when it comes time to act.

It has forced us to consider the issue of healthcare reform on a national stage once again. Healthcare reform is something that needs to be discussed. We need to head towards a no-government, market-based solution.

This could prove a valuable political tool in the midterm elections. I am hoping for true liberty candidates to have a shot at office (or at least be able to shake things up) because of the neglect of freedom carried out by our current representatives – now truly displayed by the healthcare reform debacle.

There will be a renewed emphasis on nullification and states’ rights. Our government has been out of control for well over a century. Rights have been trampled and the Constitution has been completely disregarded for far too long. States should resist this legislation, and nullification is the constitutional and proper answer.

As Luna notes, “the fight for freedom must be waged in both success – and failure.” With the public united in its opposition to ObamaCare, I’m optimistic that we’ll win the bigger prizes this November and in 2012.

Cross-posted at Potluck.

And the Left Says We’re Crazy

2010-03-25T22:04:00.003-04:00

I was reading some articles at a left-wing site, Alternet.org, and came away thinking, no matter how crazy the left says we are – they are out of their minds. Just for laughs, here are some of the headlines and a summary of the accompanying articles.

Not Feeling Well? Perhaps You're 'Marijuana Deficient'
“A handful of scientists have speculated that the root cause of certain disease conditions — including migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and other functional conditions alleviated by clinical cannabis — may be an underlying endocannabinoid deficiency.” Endocannabinoids are the “therapeutically active components in marijuana.”

Whenever I read articles like this I have to ask – how many constitutes a handful, and why are these speculative scientists always anonymous?

Media Bias Killed ACORN
And where’s that biased reporting coming from? Surprise, surprise, it’s the New York Times. The author writes that the NYT has “mistakenly reinforced falsehoods from right wing activists against the group.” The NYT, which barely covered the Giles-O’Keefe videos, isn’t liberal enough for this writer. If I could reach out to her, I’d let her know that all is well. ACORN hasn’t died, it’s just changing its name to MORE, as in give me MORE of your taxpayer money.

We Stand on the Cusp of One of Humanity's Most Dangerous Moments
This was an incomprehensible rant about the world as we know it coming to an end. It’s sort of a throwback to the 1960s military-industrial-complex conspiracy in which the evil rich take over the world and accumulate all the goodies, while the rest of us scrounge and starve.

According to the writer, “We stand on the cusp of one of the bleakest periods in human history when the bright lights of a civilization blink out and we will descend for decades, if not centuries, into barbarity." Whew, I think somebody needs a prescription for Prozac and he’d better hurry before Obamacare kicks in.

From the purveyors of global warming come the following:

Are Greedy Water Bottlers Stealing Your City's Drinking Water?
“Bottled water giants are stealing water from rural towns and cities, while their products are trashing the planet and putting a hole in our pockets.” So, how do you steal drinking water? If you turn on the faucet and water comes out, is that a crime?

Here’s what I would do if I despised money-making enterprises as much as the liberals, and was too cheap to buy bottled water and too lazy to recycle. I’d go into my kitchen, grab a glass, open the faucet, and pilfer whatever came out.

10 Ways Mother Earth Will Strike Back If We Don't Stop Our Wanton Destruction of the Environment
Written by a science-minded, world citizen, the writer says Mother Earth is planning on getting the last laugh on all of us who believe global warming is a hoax. If we don’t wise up, we’re in for an influx of climate refugees, as well as ecological dead zones, rising tides, methane suffocation, droughts, desertification, ice ages, deforestation, and holes in the magnetic field. Then we’ll all just burn up.

The good news is that we global warming deniers are “old and irrelevant” and eventually will fall by the wayside, allowing the true believers to save the planet.

Mandatory Health Insurance and Your Federal Tax Return

2010-03-25T11:39:00.002-04:00

Now that mandatory health insurance is the law, and the IRS will be enforcing compliance, here's what our federal tax forms may look like next year. Click full screen and scroll to line 12 on page 3 of this Massachusetts form. Note that if any resident can afford to purchase health insurance but fails to do so, he or she must pay a penalty.

Legislative Trickery – Why Obamacare Won't Reduce the Deficit

2010-03-24T15:50:00.000-04:00

The folks at Reason.TV break down the three reasons Obamacare won't reduce the deficit – legislative trickery, higher premiums, and bad accounting.

"Controlling" We The People

2010-03-24T09:49:00.001-04:00

There can't be any doubt about what the monstrous Health Care law is all about. According to Rep. John Dingell, D-MI, it's clearly about controlling We The People. H/T Hot Air.

Ignorance, Apathy and the State of the Union

2010-03-23T18:59:00.010-04:00

If you’re despondent over the state of the nation and wondering how we arrived at this point in our history, a CBS News poll released today may provide the answer.

According to the results, 36 percent of the respondents haven’t heard enough about Nancy Pelosi to form an opinion about her.

Fully one-half of the respondents haven’t heard enough about Harry Reid to form an opinion about him.

Another 54 percent of the respondents weren’t sure whether their Congressional representatives’ stance on the health care bill mirrored their own views.

The ignorance and apathy reflected by these poll numbers may explain why we are, where we are, at present. When enough people don’t care to educate themselves about politicians to whom they grant the power to enact laws that affect us all, then we end up with what we have today – a tyrannical government.

If at least one-third of Americans are as indifferent and unengaged as these poll numbers suggest, then the road ahead of us is going to be more challenging than I thought. Voting corrupt politicians out of office – those who have proven they will stop at nothing to impose their will upon us – is tough enough. Battling ignorance and apathy, I’m afraid, will prove much more difficult in the long run.

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due

2010-03-22T16:18:00.000-04:00

I’m so angry today that I could spit nails. So I’ve decided to turn that negative energy around and do something constructive – thank each and every Republican in Congress for standing up for me and against Obamacare. By the end of the week, I hope to have sent an email to every Republican Senator and Representative expressing my gratitude for their efforts.

I think it’s important for Congressional Republicans to know that I appreciate what they’ve done to try and stop Obamacare during the past year. Additionally, I want them to continue to stand strong and united against immigration reform, Cap & Trade, the Fairness Doctrine, and any other legislation that attempts to radically transform our country. I’m grateful they’re the “party of no” and think they should proudly brand themselves as the party of “Hell No.”

My focus for the remainder of this year is the mid-term elections. I can’t think of anything more important than making sure that the radical Democrats are thrown out of Congress and Obama’s leftist agenda is stopped for once and for all.

Playing Catch Up

2010-03-22T13:43:00.000-04:00

I haven’t posted much this month. I’ve been under the weather for the past few weeks with severe muscle aches, fatigue and an inability to concentrate. Turns out the dosage for my statin (cholesterol-lowering) medication was the culprit.

I’ve found that I’m very sensitive to prescription medications and often have to go through a few variations before my doctor can find a medication and dosage that I can tolerate. I suppose I should be grateful that I went to the doctor before Obamacare kicks in. The decision regarding my medication was made by my doctor, and me, without government interference.

I have a lot of catching up to do this month and hope to get back on track this week. We all have a lot of work in front of us to stem the onslaught of freedom-robbing legislation that this administration and Congress have in store for us prior to the mid-term elections.

Patrick Kennedy Considers Future Senate Run?

2010-03-12T11:02:00.001-05:00

According to an article in yesterday’s WaPo, retiring Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy may consider a future run for Senator.

Still, he (Kennedy) notes that he is not retiring for good. "I consider it taking a sabbatical," he says. He will transfer his roughly $500,000 in campaign money to an interest-bearing account, which he says he might tap if he runs for the Senate someday.

The question here is – in which state do you suppose he’ll run for Senator? It’s highly unlikely Patrick would challenge either Rhode Island Senators Jack Reed or Sheldon Whitehouse for their seats. Those three are of the same liberal mindset and thick as thieves.

If I were a betting woman, I’d say Patrick will return to his home state of Massachusetts and run against Scott Brown in 2012. He refers to politics as “the family business,” and I’m thinking Patrick wants the “Kennedy Seat” returned to the family.

Laser-like Focus on – Healthcare

2010-03-11T16:34:00.002-05:00

If Obama said he would turn his laser-like focus on jobs, why is all his attention still centered on health care? Why is he traveling the country holding pep rallies for health care with hand-picked union supporters? Why does Obama keep calling Democrats to the White House to come up with new and insidious ways to push the much-detested bill through? Why did he hold the sham health care summit? Why is Obama running an online propaganda campaign – “Health Reform by the Numbers” – on the WhiteHouse.gov web site this week? Why have his last two weekly radio addresses centered on health care reform? Why have there been 41 posts about health care on the White House blog during the past 6 weeks?

Just wondering. . .

Chump Change

2010-03-03T09:39:00.001-05:00

While we’re pinching pennies, some members of Congress are pinching our nickels and dimes. According to the Wall Street Journal, legislators traveling overseas on government business are often pocketing money meant to cover incidental expenses.

Our lawmakers are provided with a cash advance of up to $250 per diem for meals and ancillary costs, such as local transportation and tips. House and Senate rules specify that these cash advances can be used only for legitimate expenses and any unspent monies are to be returned. Some legislators however, use the money to offset their spouse’s travel expenses or purchase artwork and gifts. Others simply pocket the cash.

Former Rep. Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican, said lawmakers often used leftover money "for shopping or to buy souvenirs to bring back to constituents. That's fairly standard."

Rep. Joe Wilson (R., S.C.) said he once bought marble goblets in the Kabul airport as gifts for constituents. Rep. Mark Souder (R., Ind.) said he dipped into his funds to buy a $200 painting of an estuary in Turkey, which hung in his office for a while and was now in his house.

Unlike most business travelers, lawmakers aren't required to obtain receipts or submit expense reports. Many of the legislators the Wall Street Journal interviewed, think any unused money is small potatoes and theirs to keep.

"I won't deny that sometimes I have a little left, but it's not much – maybe 80, 90, or 100 dollars," said Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D., N.C.).

"You are all concerned about nickels and dimes, and I'm not," said Rep. Alcee Hastings (D., Fla.). "You know, in a taxicab in Kazakhstan, I don't have time to get a receipt– I don't speak Kazakh."

Judging by Rep. Hastings’ comment, those nickels and dimes are evidently chump change to legislators – in both parties. Shouldn’t our elected representatives be held accountable for the expenses they incur when traveling on government business? If not, then we’re the chumps for letting them keep our change.

Cross-posted at Potluck.

The Tea Party Goes International

2010-02-26T11:29:00.001-05:00

Taking a page from the playbook of their conservative cousins in America, British conservatives are planning a Tea Party for this weekend. Organized in opposition to ever higher taxation and deficit spending, the inaugural Tea Party in England is scheduled for Saturday in the town of Brighton. British MEP Daniel Hannan, who is spearheading the Tea Party movement in England, writes:

The Tea Party Movement in the USA has demonstrated the huge scale of public opposition to excessive taxation. In the UK, tax is much higher and, in addition, British membership of the democratically unaccountable EU raises the issue of "no taxation without representation". From the Boston Tea Party to the Brighton Tea Party, it's time to demonstrate our opposition to excessive taxation.

Those attending the Brighton Tea Party will all be treated to a spot of – tea.

100 Reasons Why I Blog

2010-02-25T21:11:00.004-05:00

Ten months ago, my husband suggested I start blogging. In fact, he begged me to do so. He was tired of listening to my rants about politics. I also think he feared I’d take his flat screen TV out by lobbing an object at some talking head. To keep peace in my home, I took him up on his suggestion.

I still have a lot to learn about blogging – including how to trackback, as well as figure out what a ping is. While I’ve read up on these things, I still don’t get it and am open to quick tutorials, BTW.

The most enjoyable aspect of blogging however, centers around the friends I've made. Today I reached a milestone as my 100th friend jumped on board to follow CMC. They are the 100 reasons why I blog.

Over the past month or so, I’ve been remiss in acknowledging my new friends. So here’s a shout out to you and your blogs.

Quite Rightly @ Bread Upon The Waters and a fellow conservative chick blogger @ Potluck.

Maggie Thornton @ Maggie’s Notebook

Susannah @ Get The Big Idea

Fredd @ Fredd Spews

Lady Di @ Quick Wit

The Liberals Still Don’t Get It, @ where else but The Liberals Still Don’t Get It

Jules @ Journey With Jules

Mal @ The Malcontent

Sig94 @ Signal 94

Citizen 68 @ Citizen 68

Michael Wardell @ Wardell for Congress

Chicago Ray @ Chicago Ray Report

Wakefield Tolbert @ Wakepedia

Christopher @ Conservative Perspective

What Makes Us Right @ What Makes Us Right

We the People, who’s currently blogging from Iraq @ We the People

Jaded Fellow, whom you can find at The Jaded Outhouse and The Jaded Inhouse

Rake @ Divine Ripples

Tom @ Defend Rights Now

Carol @ Curly Willow Ranch

Toby, Mango's Madness, The Born Again American, and AZ Righty are new friends as well. If any of you blog, please click on my profile to send me an email with the name of your blog, so that I can follow you as well.

A View of the Health Care Summit from the Other Side of the Pond

2010-02-25T17:53:00.003-05:00

U.S. politics must seem tame to British observers compared to the often raucous proceedings of Parliament. Writing for the UK Times Online, Chris Ayers concluded the Health Care Summit was a snoozefest, but Obama sure did manage to look spiffy.

…it was mainly an opportunity to see how many conciliatory-looking poses Obama could strike while listening to his Republican opponents explain why the entire first year of his administration has been a gigantic waste of time, and why the telephone directory-sized health Bills produced by both the Democrat-controlled House and Senate should be fed into a shredder the size of Connecticut, before they . . . well, no one seems to know exactly what these vast pieces of legislation would do.

Throughout all this, Obama, looking incongruously glamorous in a crisp white shirt and blue tie — like Jamie Foxx chairing a convention of Pittsburgh cement contractors — gave an Oscar-worthy performance as the Concerned Listener.

He listened with his chin raised and his eyes narrowed. His listened with his head resting quizzically in one hand. He listened while scribbling furiously in his notebook. Indeed, it was only when one of his own allies began to speak — the purple-suited Nancy Pelosi, famed for her left-wing politics and fondness for private jets — that Obama’s camera-talent abandoned him, and he allowed himself to be filmed with his middle finger creeping over his lips, as if urging Ms Pelosi to shut the hell up and take the next Gulfstream back to California.

His frustration was understandable. After all, for a while, it seemed as though Senator Alexander might be getting the upper hand, and the viewer began to wonder if Obama’s gambit — to bore America into submission while getting another opportunity to look handsome on television — was about to blow up in his face.

Ayers concludes that the exchange between the President and Sen. Alexander regarding the cost of the proposed health care legislation enabled the Democrats to finally claim a moment of victory – if only anyone had been awake to actually witness it.

The Health Care Summit – This is Bi-partisan?

2010-02-25T11:39:00.012-05:00

So I'm watching the bi-partisan health care summit and what strikes me right from the start is the partisan tone immediately set by Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid.

Sen. Lamar Alexander gave an opening statement for Republicans in which he laid out ideas that his side of the aisle have repeatedly proposed, including portability across state lines and tort reform. In addition to recommending that Congress start over on health care reform, he also asked the president to agree to renounce reconciliation before the meeting starts. That request was ignored by Obama.

Pelosi and Reid both took shots at Sen. Alexander in their opening statements.

Pelosi said that "we don't have time to start over on the bill." She said the bill would reduce costs, provide greater access, and make the insurance companies accountable. Pelosi didn't say who the insurance companies would be accountable to, and that of course would be the government. She also claims the bill will create 400,000 new jobs. That's a new claim and I'd like to know where she came up with those figures.

Harry Reid told Lamar Alexander he's "entitled to his opinions, but not his own facts." He then quoted a Kaiser Foundation study that claims 50 percent of Americans would be disappointed or angry if Congress doesn't "do" health care this year. Reid conveniently did not quote the results of numerous polls that show the majority of Americans don't like the bill proposed by the Democrats. He also denied that reconciliation has ever been discussed, and added that Republicans have used it repeatedly. Reid then challenged Sen. Alexander saying, if you have ideas for making health care better, then let's hear it.

The statement by Reid that I found most telling was that Congress "has spent most of the last year talking about health care." With unemployment at 10 percent, this administration and Congress have ignored what the American people really want – and that's jobs. I thought Obama was going to make jobs his top priority this year, yet here we are focused on the abominable health care bill again.

This is unfolding pretty much as I expected it would. The Democrats intend to stand firm on their bill as they take issue with points raised by the Republicans. This is going to be a long day.

Duty Summons

2010-02-22T18:08:00.002-05:00

Jury duty that is. Today was Day One of my mandatory two days of serving in the Rhode Island Superior Court jury pool. Of 190 prospective jurors in the pool, only 24 were impaneled today.

The day was uneventful, sitting in an overheated room waiting for my number to be called. I hit the jackpot as the last prospective juror called to a civil case. I never made it to voir dire though. So back into the jury pool I went.

I’m hoping my number is called tomorrow, and often. Listening in on the voir dire process, even if I’m not impaneled, is better than sitting around in a stuffy room waiting for something to happen.

Monday Morning Blues

2010-02-22T09:01:00.000-05:00

With the Winter Olympics in full swing, here's Sarah MacLachlan's One Dream, which celebrates all the gifted athletes competing in Vancouver.

Dark Days in Europe: Anti-Semitism on the Rise

2010-02-21T18:24:00.005-05:00

This is bone chilling.

According to the Coordination Forum for Countering Anti-Semitism (CFCA), anti-Semitism is on the rise in Europe. A study released by the CFCA, a state forum that monitors anti-Semitic activities throughout the world, anti-Semitic attitudes, coupled with hostile acts committed against Jews, increased in countries including Sweden, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom, France, Poland, Italy, Spain and Greece during 2009.

From an article reporting on the CFCA’s findings at JTA:

France recorded the largest increase, with 631 anti-Semitic incidents in the first half of 2009 compared with 474 in all of 2008. Britain was next with more than 600 incidents in 2009. The Community Security Trust, which handles security for the British Jewish community, had recorded 541 incidents in 2008.

The incidents were notable as well for being more serious, according to the report, with hundreds being considered extremely violent. Eight murders were attributed to anti-Semitism.

The report cited the findings of a poll by the University of Bielefeld in Germany showing that 42 percent of respondents agreed that "Jews exploit the past to extort money." Poland and Spain were the countries with the highest percentage of respondents who agreed with the statement.

This data is backed up by the Pew Research Center's Pew Global Attitudes Project. In a report published in September 2008, the Pew Research Center found:

Forty-six percent of the Spanish rated Jews unfavorably. More than a third of Russians (34%) and Poles (36%) echo this view. Somewhat fewer, but still significant numbers of the Germans (25%) and French (20%) interviewed also express negative opinions of Jews. These percentages are all higher than obtained in comparable Pew surveys taken in recent years. In a number of countries, the increase has been especially notable between 2006 and 2008.

Recent incidents in Malmö, Sweden bear the findings of these reports out. A port town located in southern Sweden, Malmö was once home to 1,700 Jewish residents. Today the Jewish community numbers approximately 700.

In an article published on the Swedish news website, The Local:

Threats and harassment are becoming increasingly commonplace for Jewish residents in Malmö,in southern Sweden, leading many Jews to leave the city out of fear for their safety. Last year there were 79 crimes against Jewish residents reported to the police in Malmö, roughly double the number reported in 2008, according to the Skånska Dagbladet newspaper.

“That probably doesn’t tell the whole story because not everyone chose to make a report. Perhaps they fear they will add to an already infected situation,” Susanne Gosenius, a hate crimes coordinator with the Skåne police, told the newspaper, which has published series of articles about the growing anti-Semitism in Malmö.

In addition, Jewish cemeteries and synagogues have repeatedly been defaced with anti-Semitic graffiti, and a chapel at another Jewish burial site in Malmö was firebombed in January of last year.

The upswing in anti-Semitism is attributed to an increase in left-wing and right-wing extremism, coupled with radical elements within the growing Muslim communities in Europe. Although anti-Semitism isn’t pervasive – as it was in the years leading up to the Nazi Reich and WW II – dark days are indeed descending upon Europe again.

Angel, over at Woman Honor Thyself, also addresses the problems facing the Jewish community in Malmö, as does William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection.

Here We Go Again: 1,000,000 Voices to Pass Healthcare Reform

2010-02-21T16:09:00.001-05:00

Beginning tomorrow, a coalition of progressive advocacy groups, including MoveOn.org, Progressive Congress, SEIU, Health Care for America Now, and Democracy For America are mobilizing members to bombard Congress with emails, calls, faxes, tweets, etc., to support passage of Health Care reform legislation. D-Day is this Wednesday, the day before the televised so-called, bi-partisan health care summit.

From the Daily Kos:

On February 24th, the day before the Presidential Healthcare Summit, we will deliver to Washington D.C. a scream they will never, ever forget.

1,000,000 VOICES FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM: A VIRTUAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON

We'll do this via calls, faxes, Tweets, Facebook, emails, telegrams, balloon drops and carrier pigeons. Whatever. It. Takes.

On the MoveOn 1,000,000 Voices Virtual March on Washington web site, which will go live early in the morning of February 24th, you'll be able to use their incredible tools to contact Congress and the Senate and to take the action of your choice--call, email, fax or write.

Some of you have asked about what message to deliver. The overall message is very, very simple. PASS HEALTHCARE REFORM.

The call-in effort will be to ask for these items below in the reconciliation fix, and directing these calls at the House and the Senate.
Inclusion of the public option
The Medicare buy-in
Fixing the excise tax
Getting rid of the Nebraska Cornhusker Kickback deal
National exchange
Drug re-importation
Drug price negotiation in Medicare part D
Increasing subsidies

While I think Congress has grown immune to these campaigns, especially since most minds are made up on this issue, it can't possibly hurt to get those phones, emails and faxes fired up again to push back against this initiative.

Parents Behaving Badly

2010-02-21T13:15:00.000-05:00

I just returned from brunch with The Dude at a neighborhood restaurant. Small place, maybe 10 booths total. Just as we were being served our meals, a couple with two young boys sat at the booth behind us. The children looked to be about 3 and 5 years old. Throughout the meal these children had good fun screaming, running through the restaurant, and banging their little bodies against the back of their seats.

The only admonition I heard from their mother was, “sit your a$$ down.” Not the best approach.

The behavior of these boys was annoying, but they’re children and don’t know any better. They need guidance from their parents as to what behavior is acceptable, and what is unacceptable.

So, why do some parents refuse to teach their children proper manners? Why do they decline to correct them when they misbehave? Have we reached a point where we need to hand out books on parenting in the maternity ward?

Conservative Chicks Chatting...and Blogging

2010-02-20T08:00:00.008-05:00

Some shameless self-promotion here.

A group of 11 conservative female bloggers have gotten together and are now blogging at Potluck. I count myself fortunate to be included. The other Potluck bloggers are:

Adrienne from Adrienne’s Corner

Pat from And So It Goes In Shreveport

Anne from Backyard Conservative

Carol from Carol’s Closet

Fuzzy at Fuzzy Logic

Obi’s Sister, where else but from Obi’s Sister

PJ Mom from Political Junkie Mom

Jill from Pundit & Pundette

Mary Sue from Ruby Slippers

And the newest addition to the crew, No Sheeples Here.

Check out their well-written sites and join us for some Potluck as well. Commentary encouraged.

DHS Loses Nearly 300 Weapons; Some Recovered From Felons and Gang Members

2010-02-19T19:11:00.001-05:00

How’s this for a devastating assessment – the Department of Homeland Security did not adequately safeguard and control its firearms during FYs 2006 through 2008 reporting 289 firearms as lost. While some of the reported losses were beyond the officers’ control, most occurred because officers did not properly secure firearms.

Big oops!

An audit conducted by the DHS Office of Inspector General determined the department’s management and oversight of safeguards and controls over firearms were not effective.

No kidding!

From the report:

Personnel did not always sufficiently safeguard their firearms and, as a result, losta significant number of firearms between FY 2006 and FY 2008. The lost firearms created unnecessary risk to the public and law enforcement personnel; in some cases state and local law enforcement officials recovered lost DHS firearms from felons and gang members.

36 firearms (15%) were lost due to circumstances beyond the control of the officers. For example, CBP lost firearms when Hurricane Katrina made landfall and ICE lost a firearm during an assault on an officer.
28 firearms (about 11%) were lost even though officers stored them in lockboxes or safes.
179 firearms (74%) were lost because officers did not properly secure them.

The following examples further demonstrate the inappropriate practices some officers used to store firearms in vehicles and residences:

A Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer left a firearm unsecured in an idling vehicle in the parking lot of a convenience store. The vehicle and firearm were stolen while the officer was inside the store. A local law enforcement officer later recovered the firearm from a suspected gang member and drug smuggler.

A CBP officer left a firearm on a toolbox in the bed of a truck, and the firearm fell off when the officer drove home. Law enforcement officials later recovered the firearm from an individual who resisted arrest and assaulted the arresting officer.

An ICE officer left an M-4 rifle and a shotgun unsecured in a closet in his home; subsequently, both firearms were stolen during a burglary. State and federal law enforcement officers later recovered these firearms from a felon.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer left a firearm on the bumper of a vehicle, which fell off as the officer left his place of employment. A civilian found the firearm and turned it over to the local police.

Other CBP and ICE officers left firearms in places such as a fast food restaurant parking lot, a bowling alley, and a clothing store. Although our review focused on CBP and ICE, other components described similar incidents. For example, a TSA officer left a firearm in a lunch box on the front seat of an unlocked vehicle; the officer realized the firearm was stolen when he returned to the vehicle 2 days later. Officers may have prevented many of these losses had they exercised reasonable care when storing their firearms.

Some things need no comment from me. Bureaucratic incompetence, speaks for itself. H/T the Judicial Watch Blog.

Sour Grapes at the Winter Olympics

2010-02-19T16:56:00.001-05:00

I enjoy watching the figure skating events during the Winter Olympics and tuned into last night’s mens final. The worst performance of the evening was that of Russian skater and silver medalist Yevgeny Plushenko – not on the ice, but off.

Following the awards ceremony, Plushenko said, “You can't be considered a true men's champion without a quad (jump). For someone to stand on top of the podium with the gold medal around his neck with just doing triple jumps, to me it's not progress, it's a regress because we've done triples 10 or even 20 years ago. Obviously, Evan (US skater and gold medalist Evan Lysacek) needs the medal more than me, maybe because I've got one already."

It’s unfortunate that Plushenko marred an otherwise exciting event with his sour grapes comments. I’ll bet there were many competitors in last night’s competition who would have been grateful to head home with an Olympic medal, regardless of its color. Turns out Plushenko, the self-proclaimed bad boy of men’s figure skating, is nothing more than a crybaby, blaming others when things don’t go his way.

Governing Without the Consent of the People

2010-02-18T18:42:00.000-05:00

Scott Rasmussen has a new poll out today, and the majority of those surveyed say the politicians in Washington govern without the consent of we the little people.

According to Rasmussen Reports:

The founding document of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, states that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Today, however, just 21% of voters nationwide believe that the federal government enjoys the consent of the governed.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 61% disagree and say the government does not have the necessary consent. Eighteen percent (18%) of voters are not sure.

However, 63% of the Political Class think the government has the consent of the governed, but only six percent (6%) of those with Mainstream views agree.

Seventy-one percent (71%) of all voters now view the federal government as a special interest group, and 70% believe that the government and big business typically work together in ways that hurt consumers and investors.

That helps explain why 75% of voters are angry at the policies of the federal government, and 63% say it would be better for the country if most members of Congress are defeated this November. Just 27% believe their own representative in Congress is the best person for the job.

Among voters under 40, 25% believe government has the consent of the governed. That compares to 19% of those ages 50 to 64 and 16% of the nation’s senior citizens.

From an ideological perspective, most moderate and conservative voters say the government lacks the consent of the governed. Liberals are evenly divided.

This poll seems to confirm that a political tsunami is indeed headed for Washington in November; especially when little more than one-quarter of respondents support their own representative in Congress. On November 3^rd, I expect the political landscape will be littered with the wreckage of incumbents. No wonder a growing number of politicians are opting to retire from political life.

MoveOn.org Actively Targeting Congress for Passage of the Fair Elections Now Act

2010-02-17T15:03:00.002-05:00

While our attention has been diverted by deficit spending and health care legislation, the Left has been launching an offensive in support of the Fair Elections Now Act. The bill would create a new public funding system for congressional elections by imposing fees on government contractors and media corporations. Those fees would ultimately be passed along to taxpayers.

Spurred on by the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizen’s United case, MoveOn.org is currently urging followers to drop a bag of potatoes off at their Congressional representatives’ offices to encourage support for the Fair Elections Now Act. The organization considers the Schumer-Van Hollen bill, which would require public disclosure of corporate spending – and ban spending by foreign corporations and government contractors – to be small potatoes. Instead, it wants those contractors to be taxed to support election financing.

The Fair Elections Now Act was introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, and sponsored by Reps. John Larson, D-Conn., and Walter Jones Jr., R-NC. Politicians and activist organizations supporting this bill claim it will mitigate the influence of corporate funding on the federal election process. According to Hans A. von Spakovsky, a former commissioner on the Federal Election Commission and visiting scholar at the Heritage Foundation, the bill will result in higher taxes for you and me to fund candidates we don’t want to support.

From Heritage.org:

The bill would allow candidates to opt into a public funding program if they raised a minimal amount of money from home-state residents. The key difference between Durbin's congressional proposal and the existing presidential matching system is that the funding for the chief executive races is completely voluntary – via taxpayer check-offs on tax returns. Durbin would fund his new program by taxing government contractors.

The Senate and House bills are taking the mandatory funding route for a very practical reason: The American people won't fund it voluntarily.

The House version of the bill, sponsored by Reps. Larson and Jones, would be funded by broadcast spectrum sales by the Federal Communications Commission (like the analog channels being given back to the FCC by television stations switching over to digital channels), a limited source of funding. That money is currently going into general Treasury revenues and some deficit reduction.

Taxing government contractors or using spectrum sales may sound innocuous, but it will simply make government more expensive, giving taxpayers less bang for their buck. Contractors will necessarily incorporate the cost of the tax into their government bids, effectively passing the costs on to the Treasury. Using spectrum sales for political campaigns will also take away revenues that would otherwise fund existing government programs or reduce the deficit, robbing Peter to pay Paul. Durbin may call it a tax on contractors, and Larson may believe spectrum sales are free money, but both concepts are ultimately a tax increase for rank-and-file taxpayers.

Such a tax also raises significant constitutional concerns. The First Amendment guarantees the right to not associate with individuals whose political beliefs we do not share. Forcing individuals to subsidize political candidates with whom they vehemently disagree violates this associational right.

More than 35 liberal advocacy groups are supporting this bill including: MoveOn.org, SEIU, Greenpeace, NOW, Campaign for America’s Future, Campus Progress, Chesapeake Climate Change Action Network, Friends of the Earth, Healthcare Now, and Progressive Future. While the potato gambit may seem silly, many of these groups have a "call to action" on their web sites regarding the Fair Elections Now Act. If they're pushing this hard to get this legislation passed, you know it has to be bad news for the integrity of our electoral process.

Hannity Tonight: John Loughlin, Rhode Island GOP Congressional Candidate

2010-02-15T18:16:00.001-05:00

Tonight John Loughlin, the Republican congressional candidate for the people’s seat from Rhode Island – held by Patrick Kennedy for 16 years – will make his first national media appearance on the Sean Hannity Show.

Loughlin is a small business owner, a 26-year veteran of the National Guard and Army Reserve, and a former public affairs officer for NASA. During his military career, Loughlin was called to active duty twice; on Christmas Day in 1995 to Germany and Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Joint Endeavor, and then again in 2003 to train units deploying to Iraq. He also remains active with veteran’s groups.

John supports strong a national defense, lower taxes, limited government, and a free market economy. The following are remarks Loughlin made when he announced his candidacy two weeks ago.

Our nation is at a crossroads. We face many challenges, both foreign and domestic.

We are fighting two foreign wars, and our troops deserve the support and funding they need to defeat the radical Jihads who want to destroy our way of life and cause our collapse as a nation.

To keep America safe and secure, we must never let down our guard, and we must treat our adversary for what they are - not as ordinary criminals, but as enemies in wartime. That means military justice, not civilian court trials where they are granted the right to remain silent and the right through the legal process to obtain sensitive information.

When it comes to terrorists, we should be getting information from them, not the other way around.

Our military strength must be matched by a strong economy at home, where the free market principles that built the American economy are nurtured and preserved. Government has a role to play, but it also has to know when to step out of the way.

I believe a competitive America is one where taxes are low and spending is kept in check. Today, our national debt is an unthinkable $12 trillion and the President's new budget forecasts trillion dollar deficits as far as the eye can see.

And what has all these spending gotten the people of Rhode Island? Nothing. Not one new job. We continue to struggle with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

At a time when we need jobs, Congress has passed bailout after bailout, all financed by the overburdened American taxpayer. Billions have been paid to Wall Street banks to cover executive bonuses. The pet projects of Senators and Congressmen are prioritized over all other needs.

I am running for congress because I believe money and resources are best used when they remain in the hands of the people. I believe good government requires us to move the debate over the issues of the day out of the backrooms and into the open. I believe if we don't act now to curb spending and borrowing that we risk an even bigger economic crisis. I believe the best social program is a good job that pays a decent wage. I believe in duty, honor and country, and in maintaining America's leadership position in the world.

I believe you (Rhode Islanders) deserve a Congressman who will always remember that our greatness as a nation rests with its people, not its government.

We Are a Representative Republic; Not a Democracy

2010-02-15T11:07:00.000-05:00

I want to pull my hair out when I hear politicians and pundits refer to our country as a democracy. We're not. The U.S. is a representative republic. The difference is important.

I figure President's Day is a good time to post this primer, which explains the difference and why our founding fathers made the choices they did.

Happy...

2010-02-14T07:06:00.001-05:00

Valentine's Day everyone!

Buh-Bye Patrick Kennedy

2010-02-12T12:29:00.008-05:00

As a Rhode Islander, here’s my take on Patrick Kennedy’s announcement that he's retiring. WOOHOO!!!

Kennedy has been my elected representative from the First Congressional District for 16 years. He’s often been an embarrassment to the state and was undeservedly elected to the seat because he’s a Kennedy.

While I’m elated he will no longer be my Congressman, I sort of wish he had stayed in the race for a few reasons. I would have enjoyed seeing him forced into a debate with his first real challenger in years – Republican John Loughlin. As you may have guessed from some of Patrick’s recent statements, he has difficulty expressing himself. I also believe his father dictated how he should vote. Without Teddy around, I doubt Patrick would be able to speak knowledgeably about any issues facing Rhode Island – and the country – today.

I also think this election would have garnered national attention, which in turn would have spurred grassroots donations to the Loughlin campaign. Loughlin is a lot like Scott Brown and I’ll be blogging about him throughout the year. I attended his campaign kick-off announcement last week and think he’ll be a strong candidate against whomever the Democrats field.

The most amusing take I’ve read about Patrick’s announcement comes from the AP:

“The only Republican in the race, State Rep. John Loughlin, has been working with Brown's campaign team, the Shawmut Group, and was raising money. But Kennedy was heavily favored to win the race: Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 4 to 1 in Rhode Island. Loughlin has little statewide recognition, and Kennedy had four times as much campaign cash on hand coming into the year.”

Au contraire, Associated Press. Kennedy was not heavily favored to win the race. Independents far outnumber Democrats in Rhode Island, just as they do in Scott Brown’s Massachusetts. If a poll recently released by local ABC affiliate WPRI-TV is any indication, Kennedy was in serious trouble and he knew it. According to the poll, “nearly 6 in 10 registered voters in the First Congressional District would consider another candidate or vote to replace Kennedy.”

Rhode Island has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country at 10.3 percent. People are hurting and very unhappy with the Democrats in – and the policies coming out of – Washington. Now that Patrick is out of the race, things are about to get interesting around here.

Pot, Meet Kettle

2010-02-11T17:51:00.003-05:00

Asked about Sarah Palin during a guest appearance on The Larry King Show last night, Joe Biden said, “I like her. She's an engaging person. She has a great personality. I don't agree with what she says and I think some of the things she says are not, well.... you know, it's sort of like, some of the comments made are just so far out there. I just don't know where they come from.”

Sarah Palin’s comments are “out there,” but everything Joe says makes a ton of sense. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Here are some of my favorite Biden-isms from the past two years.

During the 2008 campaign, Biden remarked, “In Delaware the largest growth in population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go (into) to a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.” Okay, we’ll take your word for it.

Last fall, Biden advised his family to avoid travel on airplanes and subways to prevent exposure to the H1N1 virus. “I would tell members of my family - and I have - that I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now.” Oooohh, that was reassuring.

While on a campaign stop in Missouri, Biden encouraged wheelchair-bound State Senator Chuck Graham to “Stand up Chuck, let them see you.” What can I say, it’s classic Joe.

Regarding the $787 billion stimulus package, Biden said, “If we do everything right, do it with absolute certainty, we stand up there and make really tough decisions, there’s still a 30 percent chance we’ll get it wrong.” Math and English are not Joe’s strong suits.

Addressing a crowd during another campaign rally, Biden claimed, “Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice president of America, and quite frankly might have been a better pick than me.” Not likely she would have been any worse.

On the subject of the financial crisis, Biden explained, “Part of what a leader does to instill confidence, to demonstrate that he or she knows what they’re talking about, and communicates to people if you listen to me and follow what I’m suggesting, we can fix this. When the stock market crashed Franklin Roosevelt got on television….” Um, Joe had no idea what he was talking about.

In reference to placing a higher tax burden on anyone making over $250,000 annually, Joe said, “We want to take money and put it back in the pockets of middle class people. It’s time to be patriotic, time to jump, in time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut.” Ah, so that’s how liberals define patriotism.

And my all-time favorite is Biden’s remark about Barack Obama. “You’ve got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man.” Yeah Joe, but can he read a teleprompter?

Politically Incorrect Word of the Week

2010-02-11T06:22:00.004-05:00

Every week, it seems, people get their knickers twisted over the use of a particular word that has been deemed politically incorrect. This week the word is “professor,” but only when it precedes the name Barack Obama.

From the Inside Higher E d web site:

Watching the “professor Obama” label bandied about again, one of the president’s longtime mentors (Harvard Professor Charles J. Ogletree) says he doubts it will gain traction outside of Tea Party rallies.

Ogletree, founding and executive director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, says he sees the “professor” label as a thinly veiled attack on Obama’s race. Calling Obama “the professor” walks dangerously close to labeling him “uppity,” a term with racial overtones that has surfaced in the political arena before, Ogletree said.

“The idea is that he’s not one of us,” Ogletree says of the professor label. “He has these ideas that are left wing, that are socialist, that he’s palling around with terrorists -- those were buzzwords, but the reality was they were looking at this president as an African American who was out of place.”

Thomas L. Haskell, a professor emeritus of history at Rice University, agrees that racial bias may be implicit in the attack on Obama’s professorial past.

“For me and a lot of other academic types, we identify with Obama precisely because he is an intellectual,” Haskell says. “But what does that mean to John Q. Public? I don’t know. John Q. Public may be frightened of these people, especially because this particular intellectual is a black.”

So the racist label rears its ugly head again. Referring to the president as “professor” may be snarky, but it is not racially motivated. Governing isn’t an intellectual exercise, it’s more like a street brawl – you have to get down and dirty. The president doesn’t appear comfortable with the mechanics of governing and passes the dirty work off to Congress and members of his administration, hence the characterization.

Maybe we should just eliminate the word racist from our vocabulary since it’s used so freely to describe anyone with whom we disagree. The real meaning behind this word is being diminished by overuse and generalization. Political correctness, coupled with dishonest accusations of racism, are meant to censor free speech, especially dissenting opinions.

Where in the World is Al Gore?

2010-02-10T11:29:00.000-05:00

The Guru of Global Warming sure has been quiet this past week. While the mid-Atlantic has suffered through two massive snow storms with some areas buried under four feet of snow, we haven't heard a peep from Al Gore. Now if a hurricane blew through the mid-Atlantic, or a heat wave enveloped the region, the King of Cap & Trade would sound the global warming alarm. In the midst of two blizzards though, Al is as silent as the falling snow. What's up with Al, snow cat got his tongue?

We’re All Just Nitwits

2010-02-09T23:27:00.010-05:00

Joe Klein strikes again.

The Time Magazine blogger and columnist is on another rant about us dumb conservatives. Two weeks ago he characterized us as stupid for not understanding how beneficial the $787 billion stimulus package has been for the economy. This week he called conservatives – who are fed up with political elitism – “nitwit populists.”

Posting a predictable diatribe against Sarah Palin’s address at the Tea Party Convention, which he described as “anti-intellectual drivel,” Klein provided us dumb, anti-elitist, nitwits with a history lesson about the evils of populism.

Populism, as a movement has a sorry history – it emanates from anger and often ignorance, and quickly devolves into bigotry and hatred.

The right-wing populism of the past thirty years has been accompanied by a celebration of ignorance, a nativist anti-immigrant fury and, more recently, among some evangelicals, by the undue celebration of Israeli expansionism…

Anti-elitism is as American as apple pie, and a good thing, too, in most cases. This is a democracy; the more democratic it has become, the better. Those who celebrate Sarah Palin's lack of knowledge as a form of "authenticity" superior to Barack Obama's gloriously American mongrel ethnicity and self-made intellectuality are representatives of a long-standing American theme--the celebration of sameness, and mediocrity, in a country that has succeeded brilliantly because of its diversity and restlessly eccentric genius . Happily, it has almost always been a losing theme. And, indeed, in the truest sense, it can be called anti-American.

It’s ironic that Joe Klein would prove our point about elitism. He’s arrogant and egotistical. He considers himself to be superior to – and smarter than – those he refers to as “melanin-deprived pickup truck owners.” He’s incapable of having an honest conversation with his readers. He resorts to mocking those who voice opposing viewpoints.

Klein also, sadly, does not understand that we do not live in a democracy. We live in a representative Republic. When our elected representatives spend our money without restraint or results, treat us with hostility, and ignore our wishes, we nitwitted conservatives vote them out of office. When elitist journalists talk down to us, and are dishonest in their reporting, we stop subscribing to their publications, which may explain why Time’s readership declined a whopping 34.9 percent in 2009. When we stop buying, so do the advertisers. No revenue, no magazine, and eventually no more Joe Kleins in the media.

Monday Morning Blues

2010-02-08T09:50:00.000-05:00

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, Sarah (Sassy) Vaughan, sings My Funny Valentine.

Tebow Super Bowl Ad Controversy: Much Ado About Nothing

2010-02-08T00:54:00.004-05:00

The highly publicized Pam and Tim Tebow Super Bowl spot turned out to be much ado about nothing. And pro choice activists look rather silly – and petty – for raising a ruckus about the 30-second advertisement sponsored by the Christian ministry and pro life advocacy group, Focus on the Family.

The Tebow spot was genuine and humorous. The message was delivered – not in the ad itself – but in all the discussion leading up to its airing during the Super Bowl. I’d rack this up as a public relations coup for Focus in the Family. Their message was aired and spread by their critics. That's smart marketing.

Celebrating Reagan

2010-02-06T05:00:00.001-05:00

Today marks the 99th birthday of President Ronald Reagan. The Reagan Library and Foundation will stream a live webcast commemorating Reagan's birthday from 10:30 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. PST.

Bitter Patrick Kennedy Lashes Out at Scott Brown…..Again

2010-02-05T12:08:00.009-05:00

Sen. Scott Brown has definitely gotten under Rep. Patrick Kennedy’s skin. Rather than graciously acknowledge Brown’s win in Massachusetts last month, the Rhode Island Congressman lashed out at the newly-minted Senator this week, even calling his election “a joke.” Could it be that Patrick believes the senate seat Scott Brown won actually does belong to the Kennedy family?

From The Hill.com on Wednesday, February 3:

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) said Tuesday that Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts has been “way overblown.” Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), disputed the assertion that voters in Massachusetts’ are very liberal.

“This whole notion that it’s a liberal state -- how many Republicans do I have to mention who got elected up there?” Kennedy said, citing Republican governors such as Mitt Romney, Paul Cellucci and William Weld.

Kennedy added, “This (Brown's election) is way overblown. Bottom line is, it just served a lot of people’s political interests to spin this story the way they wanted it.”

Then, from The Hill.com yesterday, we have the following story:

Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) castigated Brown for having pushed to be sworn in ahead of schedule to permanently fill the Senate seat left vacant by the congressman's father's death in August.

"Brown's whole candidacy was shown to be a joke today when he was sworn in early in order to cast his first vote as an objection to Obama's appointment to the NLRB," Kennedy said Thursday.

"Seven out of ten of Brown's voters were labor households and he stressed that he was independent and while he was originally scheduled to be sworn in next week, they moved it up to today so he could cast his first vote, the most anti-labor, the most anti-what his constituents thought they were voting for when they voted for him," Kennedy said.

"This is where he shows that when they need him, he's in the tank for the Republicans," Kennedy said.

Patrick Kennedy appears to be taking Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts personally. Maybe he thinks the liberals in Massachusetts repudiated the memory of his father by awarding Ted Kennedy’s seat to a Republican. Whatever his motivation for the bitter criticism, Kennedy would be well advised to refocus his attention on Rhode Island, rather than Massachusetts. A recently released poll indicates that Kennedy’s in Congress may soon become an extinct species.

A Lesson in Civility

2010-02-04T15:44:00.005-05:00

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington this morning, the president said, “We need to find our way back to civility.” While I agree with the sentiment, I do find the statement fairly humorous coming from Obama. After all, this president has freely attacked ordinary citizens for disagreeing with his policies.

Rather than lecture us about civility, Obama would be more effective if he practiced what he preaches. If he sincerely wants to set aside the bitterness, perhaps the president should consider emulating Ronald Reagan, whose birthday we celebrate on Saturday.

The following article reminds us that Reagan knew how to bridge the political divide with humor and civility. Written by John Taylor, it appeared in the Springfield, Penn., County Press in June, 2004.

In the eighties I spent considerable time in Washington, and as I watched the ceremonies leading up to President Reagan's funeral, I reflected on what I saw of his presidency. I kept comparing those years to the years that followed.

The most striking difference in my mind is in the lowering of the conduct of our politicians and media; today it is not the same world. Although in many areas he was single minded, Ronald Reagan was the personification of civility. His detractors, though very vocal and strong in opposition, as the opposition should be, were not as full of rancor and malice that is the keystone of political debate that now exists in America. Every issue is slanted. Events are always put through the spin cycle. Poll numbers decide what stance to take, not convictions.

The main problems are: those who espouse single issues to the detriment of accomplishing anything; those who represent blocs of voters and special interests; those who don't know what they stand for and flip flop all over the place; and those that interpret opposition as obstructionism. Everything is not black and white. Democracy cannot exist without compromise. The art is to know how to do it without bending your principles. It requires a vision of what is needed to serve the people.

What we need are more Ronald Reagans. Reagan knew how to compromise. When his agenda was threatened, he took the half loaf of bread rather than going hungry. He said that he could come back the following year and try to get the other half. He kept a steady dialogue with the opposition, who were in the majority in Congress during his presidency, worked with them, and things were accomplished. Now it seems every issue is partisan and is met with malice and spite. I would like to see us return to the political environment of the eighties.

Ronald Reagan was a gracious man of civility and kindness, and a master politician. His political opponents may have not like his agenda; nevertheless, he got things done. And there are few of us, the New York Times excepted, who would not like to see us return to those days.

SOTU: A Supreme Exhibition of Dishonesty and Arrogance

2010-01-28T05:25:00.009-05:00

I forced myself to listen to the president’s State of the Union address last night. What I heard was a reiteration of the same distortion of the facts this administration has been feeding us for the past 12 months. I can’t cover every misrepresentation Obama made, but here are a few that stood out.

The president claimed that 2,000,000 people, who would have lost their jobs due to the economic downturn, were still employed thanks to the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They included teachers, police officers, firefighters, and construction workers. Interestingly, these are all union jobs. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the primary beneficiaries of the stimulus package are also his staunchest supporters, the unions.

The assertion that 2,000,000 million jobs were created or saved is also debateable. The CBO estimates the number falls between 650,000 and 1.5 million and is not necessarily attributable to the stimulus package.

To further prove his point, the president said “Talk to the small business in Phoenix that will triple its workforce because of the Recovery Act. Talk to the window manufacturer in Philadelphia who said he used to be skeptical about the Recovery Act, until he had to add two more work shifts just because of the business it created.”

I recommend the president talk with the former owners and employees of the 58,721 businesses that filed for bankruptcy during the 12 months ending September 30, 2009. While the stimulus bill paid for an airport for John Murtha, a highway for Harry Reid, and other non-essential projects that produced short-term jobs, overall unemployment topped 10 percent in 2009.

In regards to the deficit, the president was quick to point out that he inherited a $1 trillion deficit. What he omitted was the cost of the pork-laden programs he has approved, which have added another $1 trillion plus in just a single year. And he has more big spending programs in the pipeline, which will further increase the deficit.

The president also talked about transparency and said Congress and the White House need “to end the outsized influence of lobbyists, to do our work openly.” He’s right, they should – but they don’t.

We know health care negotiations have been conducted behind closed doors. The president has also reneged on his promise to post all legislation online for 5 full days before being moving forward. Additionally, Obama, Pelosi and Reid have cut deals with lobbyists from hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, big labor, and the AMA to garner support for their health care bill.

Speaking of health care, the president declared his plan would reduce costs and premiums and decrease the deficit. The so-called deficit reductions are the result of creative accounting. The plan is to immediately tax the wealthy, tax medical devices, tax “Cadillac” plans – except for union members – and impose fines upon those who don’t buy health insurance. Then three years down the road, the actual benefits will kick in. Ten years of taxes versus seven years of benefits equals creative accounting methods devised to come up with a deficit neutral plan. As far as reducing costs and premiums, if that is indeed the case, the tradeoff is health care rationing.

Obama also said “If anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. I'm eager to see it.”

That’s yet another fabrication by the president. Republicans have repeatedly called for tort reform and plan portability. The president and the Democrats have discounted those ideas. They’ve also locked Republicans out of all health care negotiations. Obama has met with the Republican congressional leaders once during 12 months in office. His claims of bipartisanship and willingness to listen to suggestions by the Republican caucus are blatantly untrue.

In regards to national security, the president claimed he has been focused on terrorism from the day he took office. Unfortunately his focus is misdirected. He needs to stop treating terrorists as lawbreakers and begin prosecuting them as enemy combatants.

Aside from the obvious misrepresentations made during the speech, one other moment caught my attention. The president’s attack on the Supreme Court justices, in this venue, was unprecedented and disrespectful. Are there any limits to this man's arrogance and willingness to engage in thug-style politics?

I was pleased to see Justice Alito, seated in front of Obama, clearly say, “That’s not true.” Although Justice Alito was responding to the president’s criticism, he could very well have been commenting about the entire speech. For indeed, much of what Obama had to say this evening, was far from the truth.

Time to Stop Pelosi and Reid For Once and For All on Obamacare

2010-01-27T08:21:00.006-05:00

The plan is afoot by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi to surreptitiously pass Obamacare by both houses of Congress, despite overwhelming public opposition. According to Dick Morris:

Senate Democrats will go to the House with a two-part deal. First, the House will pass the Senate’s Obamacare bill that passed the Senate in December. The House leadership will vote on the Senate bill, and Pelosi will allow no amendments or modifications to the Senate bill.

Behind closed doors, Reid and Pelosi have agreed in principle that changes to the Senate bill will be made to satisfy liberal House members — but only after the Senate bill is passed and signed into law by Obama. This deal will be secured by a pledge from Reid and the Senate’s Democratic caucus that they will make “fixes” to the Senate bill after it becomes law with Obama’s John Hancock.

According to my source, Reid will provide to Pelosi a letter signed by 52 Democratic senators indicating they will pass the major changes, or “fixes,” the House Democrats are demanding. Again, these fixes will be approved by the Senate only after Obama signs the Senate bill into law.

Reid also has agreed to bypass Senate cloture and filibuster rules and claim that these modifications fall under “reconciliation” and don’t require 60 Senate votes.

There's still time to contact Blue Dogs who are facing a tough fight in the upcoming midterm elections to express your outrage at the House and Senate leadership who are trying to sneak this bill through. Dick Morris is specifically targeting the representatives below. We can also help by calling and faxing the following:

Mike Arcuri, New York - Ph: 202-225-3665, Fax: 202-225-1891
Christopher Carney, Pennsylvania - Toll Free: 866-846-8124, Fax: 570-585-9977
Kathy Dahlkemper, Pennsylvania - Ph: 202-225-5406, Fax: 202-225-3103
Baron Hill, Indiana - Ph: 202-225-5313, Fax: 202-226-6866
Steve Kagen, Wisconsin - Ph: 202-225-5665, Fax: 202-225-5729
Paul Kanjorsky, Pennsylvania - Ph: 202-225-6511, Fax: 202-225-0764
Dan Maffei, New York - Ph: 202-225-3701, Fax: 202-225-4042
Allan Mollohan, West Virginia - Ph: 202-225-4172, Fax: 202-225-7564
Tom Perriello, Virginia - Ph: 202-225-4711, Fax: 202-225-5681
Nick Rahall,West Virginia - Ph: 202-225-3452, Fax Unlisted
Mark Schauer, Michigan - Ph: 202-225-6276, Fax: 202-225-6281
Zack Space, Ohio - Ph: 202-225-6265, Fax: 202-225-3394

Reviving the Constitution

2010-01-25T16:09:00.001-05:00

Hillsdale College is sponsoring a free, online Town Hall, "Reviving the Constitution," this Saturday, January 30th, from 9:00 a.m. till 3:00 p.m., EST. You can register to take part here. If you're unable to spend 6 hours on your computer to participate on Saturday, a webcast will be archived for on-demand viewing following the event.

Billed as a "Constitutional Town Hall that will celebrate the principles that make America great," six presentations are scheduled. These sessions will explore our country's foundational principles; the meaning of the Constitution; and the rise of the progressive movement and its rejection of the principles of the founding fathers. After each presentation, the speaker will invite comments and questions from citizens around the country.

The Town Hall is sponsored by Hillsdale College's Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship.

Monday Morning Blues

2010-01-25T11:09:00.001-05:00

It's a stormy Monday in New England. If you enjoy blues, this Stormy Monday is brought to you by Blues greats Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Scam, Scam, Scam

2010-01-24T10:44:00.004-05:00

Sums up climate change rather succinctly, doesn't it?

During a European Parliament session this week, Godfrey Bloom, UK Independence Party representative, labeled Al Gore a "snake oil salesman and a crook." He then asked his fellow parliamentarians, "When are you all going to wake up, (global warming is a) scam, scam, scam."
Hear, hear, Mr. Bloom.

Scott Brown’s Family Exposed?

2010-01-22T16:37:00.006-05:00

That was quite the feat of investigative journalism the muckrakers at the Huffington Post came out with today. In the rush to dig up dirt on Sen. Scott Brown, the HufPo reported that his wife, Gail Huff, actually wore a bikini. While acting in a music video. In 1984! The HufPo headlined her appearance in the video as, racy.

The intrepid reporters at HufPo also unearthed a family photograph of the senator standing with his daughters, who are clad in – bikinis. Add these revelations to Brown’s nude photo spread in Cosmo in 1982, and what are we to think? Is it possible the Brown family is fit and have a healthy attitude about their bodies? As my Irish grandmother would say, “saints preserve us!”

If liberals want to embarrass Sen. Brown, they’ll have to do better than this. The Cosmo spread is old news – nearly 30 years old. The music video by an unknown rock band should have been left buried in the 1980s. And millions of families have vacation photos in which their daughters are dressed in bikinis, so what's the big deal?

Now if Sen. Brown fathered a child out of wedlock with his film producer mistress while his wife was battling cancer, then paid his mistress off out of campaign funds – and continually lied about the entire sordid affair – that would be news. If he drove his car off a bridge and left his young female companion to drown while he ran away – and continually lied about it – that also would be news.

But photographs of the Brown family women wearing bikinis constitutes news? They’re kidding, right? Have liberals suddenly turned into prudes? If this is the all the left-wing media can come up with to discredit Sen. Brown, then I’ll be laughing all the way to the midterm elections.

Here's One for You Michelle Bachman

2010-01-22T10:34:00.004-05:00

Every time I hear the audio clip of Sen. Arlen Specter admonishing Rep. Michelle Bachman to "act like a lady," I crack up. Specter ought to be the poster boy for term limits. He's proof that an extended stay in Congress breeds arrogance and contempt.

I'm on a musical kick this week, but whatever, I'm happy. In honor of Michelle Bachman, an oldie but goodie from one of my favorite Motown groups, The Temptations.

Waterloo?

2010-01-21T14:44:00.000-05:00

Today Nancy Pelosi delivered the bad news to liberals, "In its present form without any changes, I don't think it's possible to pass the Senate (health care) bill in the House. I don't see the votes for it at this time."

Last July, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC, said, "If we're able to stop Obama (on health care reform), it will be his Waterloo. It will break him and will show that we can, along with the American people, begin to push those freedom solutions that work in every area of our society."

Since conservatives are compassionate, I've included the above clip to help cheer up all those liberals who are facing their Waterloo today.

What Goes Around, Comes Around

2010-01-20T22:33:00.002-05:00

Isn’t it remarkable that Democrats, who have been tone deaf when it comes to their own constituents, clearly heard the people of Massachusetts last night?

Democrats in both houses of Congress were backpedaling today on their party’s plan to ram their corrupt health care reform legislation down our collective throats. These are politicians who instructed their staff to hang up on constituents who called to oppose the bill. They resorted to name-calling and bullying to quiet dissenting voices. And when opposition reached a fever pitch, they disconnected their phone and fax lines, and blocked email.

It’s extraordinary these politicians couldn’t hear the opposing voices in their own backyard, but the reverberations of the voters in Massachusetts came through loud and clear. Come November, they’ll be getting a taste of their own medicine — and rightly so — when their constituents turn a deaf ear to their pleas for re-election. What goes around, comes around.

Congratulations Mr. President

2010-01-20T09:54:00.007-05:00

Dear Mr. President,

Congratulations on the one-year anniversary of your inauguration. In honor of the occasion, I have a gift for you. His name is Scott Brown. He's from Wrentham. And he drives a truck.

Although Scott doesn't represent me directly, he does represent me — and millions of Americans just like me — in spirit. I'm sending him to fight against your progressive agenda, curtail your excessive spending, and put an end to your plan to transform America.

I truly hope you like your gift, which should arrive in Washington shortly.

Respectfully,
One Ticked Chick

Gas Up the Truck; Senator Brown Heads to Washington

2010-01-19T21:33:00.003-05:00

It's a new day in America. Newly-elected Sen. Scott Brown, R-MA, plans to head to D.C. "without delay" to occupy the People's Seat.

Let this election serve as a formal notice to liberals — Democrat and Republican alike — "the American people are coming and we're coming for you!"

Can Scott Brown Influence the Outcome of California’s Midterm Elections?

2010-01-19T13:14:00.005-05:00

Uber liberal San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom seems to think so. He’s warning his fellow liberal politicians that the Massachusetts senate race is a referendum on the Democratic party’s progressive policies. The backlash isn’t limited to Massachusetts, he cautions, and will put liberal candidates at risk in the California midterm elections.

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

“Regardless of the outcome (of the Massachusetts senate race)... this should be a gigantic wake-up call to the Democratic Party - that we're not connecting with the needs, the aspirations and the desires of real people right now,” said Newsom.

"We better get our act together - and quickly. “Voters are so angry. They don't feel that we're paying attention to their needs, in terms of their jobs, and what's going on at the grassroots, in their neighborhoods.”

Conservatives have been dismissed by liberals as racist extremists and the Tea Party movement as Astroturf, and worse. Newsom however, now believes that the Tea Party accurately reflects the real discontent voters are feeling toward Democratic incumbents and their big government, big spending policies.

“There's real intensity and fervor out there, as represented by the Tea Party. At our own peril, we dismiss these tea parties as ... some sort of isolated extremism. ... It's not.”

The real people have been trying to send a message to their elected representatives for the past nine months and have been met with derision and contempt. Scott Brown’s candidacy is proof that voters in even the bluest of states know when enough is enough. The politicians are a little late to the Tea Party and deserve what’s waiting for them at the ballot box in November.

Blame Bush for Obama’s Economic Policy Failure

2010-01-19T06:00:00.008-05:00

Why is Obama’s economic policy failing? It’s George Bush’s fault, of course. According to New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, the Obama administration should place greater blame on Bush for America’s economic problems.

From Krugman’s column:

The Obama administration’s troubles are the result not of excessive ambition, but of policy and political misjudgments.

Mr. Obama didn’t do what Ronald Reagan, who also faced a poor economy early in his administration, did — namely, shelter himself from criticism with a narrative that placed the blame on previous administrations.

He could have pointed out, repeatedly, that the continuing troubles of America’s economy are the result of a financial crisis that developed under the Bush administration, and was at least in part the result of the Bush administration’s refusal to regulate the banks.

But he didn’t. Maybe he still dreams of bridging the partisan divide; maybe he fears the ire of pundits who consider blaming your predecessor for current problems uncouth — if you’re a Democrat. (It’s O.K. if you’re a Republican.) Whatever the reason, Mr. Obama has allowed the public to forget, with remarkable speed, that the economy’s troubles didn’t start on his watch.

As I blogged about previously, the number of voters who blame Bush for the country’s economic problems are decreasing, while those who hold Obama accountable are on the rise.

According to a Rasmussen poll released last week, 51 percent of voters nationwide continue to fault Bush for our economic woes. That’s down from a high of 62 percent who held Bush accountable six months ago. Not surprisingly, 85 percent of democrats hold this view, while independents are evenly split on the question of accountability. Six months ago, 27 percent of voters attributed the failing economy to the policies of the Obama administration. Today 41 percent of voters hold Obama accountable.

Contrary to Mr. Krugman’s assertion, Obama’s economic policy is the problem. Pinning the blame on Bush is a red herring meant to divert our attention from this administration’s failures. Americans expect accountability, not excuses, from their elected representatives. The blame Bush mantra coming from the Obama administration is increasingly falling on deaf ears.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King

2010-01-18T12:45:00.001-05:00

"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.'

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, 'My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.'

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!'"

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., August 28, 1963

Monday Morning Blues

2010-01-18T06:00:00.010-05:00

When I was a child, I detested getting out of bed on Monday mornings to go to school. My attitude hasn't changed much as an adult. If you're like me, you need a little something to chase those blues away on Monday. As an old movie fan, I thought this number from Easter Parade might help get your week started with a smile.

Coakley Political Ads as Uninspiring as Her Campaign

2010-01-17T23:37:00.003-05:00

As the Massachusetts special senatorial election gets down to the wire, the local airwaves are being flooded with Scott Brown and Martha Coakley campaign ads. I’d say the Coakley spots outnumber those for Brown by two-to-one. For a campaign that has so much special interest money behind it, I’m surprised the Coakley ads are as uninspiring as her campaign. I thought all that money would have bought something slick and exciting.

I find the ad featuring Ted Kennedy’s widow, Vicki, the most puzzling. Vicki endorses Coakley using the words, “it’s not the Kennedy seat, it’s the people’s seat.” I also heard that repeated by Obama today. I’m surprised the Coakley campaign would reinforce Scott Brown’s message by repeating it. Perhaps they think if they repeat it often enough, people will believe that Martha Coakley – and not Scott Brown – uttered the most memorable line of the campaign.

The other problem with the Vicki Kennedy endorsement is Vicki herself. I don’t believe the people of Massachusetts have a special connection to her. She’s a Washington insider with no association whatsoever to the days of Camelot, or to Massachusetts.

Like all conservatives, I'm hoping that Tuesday's election proves that we still have a voice in our government. A win by Brown will demonstrate that the ballot box is more powerful than special interests, influential political families, ideology and party affiliation.

Pelosi Agenda Will Lead Dems to Victory in the Midterm Elections!

2010-01-15T23:30:00.029-05:00

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi never ceases to amaze me. In a fundraising email sent out to supporters today, Pelosi denied Republicans are gaining momentum and claimed the Democrat agenda is moving America forward. Posted at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee web site, Pelosi writes:

“I'm sure you've heard the same media coverage I have: "Republicans have the momentum...Democrats are in disarray...the Tea Party movement is sweeping America."But that is just hype and hyperbole. You and I know better - together we are moving America forward.

January 20th marks the one-year anniversary since President Obama took office and the pundits and Republicans are in full blown "spin mode" attacking the President and claiming he has lost support.

You have stood with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in the past, and I need you to stand with us again today. We need to renew 10,000 members by January 20th to show the world that Democrats are united, determined and focused on standing up for Main Street against Republican extremists and powerful special interests.

The hype and hyperbole are obvious, and all attributable to Madame Pelosi. Republican extremists? Powerful special interests? Support for Obama is strong?

So what do you think? Is Nancy Pelosi –

A: Simply engaging in some wishful thinking?

B. Frighteningly out of touch with reality?

C: Under the influence of an extremely potent hallucinogenic drug?

Republican is a Dirty Word

2010-01-15T10:18:00.003-05:00

Gotta love this mock Coakley campaign ad. Did you know that Scott Brown is a Republican?! H/T Mark Steyn and Michael Graham.

Seeing is Believing

2010-01-13T16:06:00.007-05:00

It took the Coakley campaign 18 hours to come up with this whopper.

Martha Coakley claims she didn’t see an altercation between her PR consultant Michael Meehan and Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack following her fundraising stop in D.C. last night. She is, however, asserting that staffers for her opponent Scott Brown are stalking her.

According to The Boston Herald:

“I know there were people following, including two from the Brown campaign who have been very aggressive in their stalking,” Coakley told reporters during an appearance at Kit Clark Senior Services in Dorchester. “I’m not sure what happened. I know something occurred, but I’m not privy to the facts. I’m sure it will come out, but I’m not aware of that.”

“I do know that the Scott Brown stalkers who have followed me around and the people at that press conference ... were incredibly aggressive about trying to get in my face,” Coakley said. “I didn’t see what happened so I can’t say.”

I've watched the video. I've seen the photograph. Seeing is believing.

Coakley Thugs Unmasked?

2010-01-13T11:51:00.010-05:00

So who were the thugs manhandling Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack last night following Martha Coakley's D.C. fundraiser? They appear to be members of her public relations team.

Look at the first smiling face you see in the video in last night's post. That's clearly David Di Martino, pictured above. Di Martino is CEO of Blue Line Communications Group, a DC-based political PR outfit. According to the bio posted on his firm's web site, "David has served on the staff of Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), John Kerry (D-MA), the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and former Representative Tom Barrett (D-WI)."

The guy who allegedly knocked McCormack to the ground and is seen pushing him against a storefront window? That's Di Martino's partner, Michael Meehan, president of the firm. Meehan has "served in senior roles for U.S. Senators John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, Maria Cantwell and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, two presidential campaigns, two U.S. House offices and congressional campaigns in 25 states," according to his online bio.

Let me give these two jamokes a little advice from my 20 years of PR experience. Rule number one. Don’t slug the reporter. He’s liable to broadcast your assault all over the internet, sue you and your firm for big money damages, and destroy your client’s reputation. Let's see how they spin this one.

Coakley Campaign Plays Rough

2010-01-12T22:50:00.005-05:00

If you ever had any doubt that thug politics are in play in the democrat party, just take a look at the above video. That's Weekly Standard reporter John McCormack being pushed around by a "member of the Coakley campaign."

According to McCormack, he was manhandled as he tried to pose questions to U.S. Senate Candidate Martha Coakley following her fund raiser in D.C. this evening. Coakley responded to a question from both a CNN and a Fox News reporter, while ignoring McCormack's questions.

After Coakley finished her answer, she began walking away from the restaurant, and I walked behind her asking why health care industry lobbyists were supporting her at the fundraiser. She didn't reply.

As I walked down the street, a man who appeared to be associated with the Coakley campaign pushed me into a freestanding metal railing. I ended up on the sidewalk. I was fine. He helped me up from the ground, but kept pushing up against me, blocking my path toward Coakley down the street.

He asked if I was with the media, and I told him I work for THE WEEKLY STANDARD. When I asked him who he worked for he replied, "I work for me." He demanded to see my credentials, and even though it was a public street, I showed them to him.

Coakley staffers told me they didn't know who the man was who pushed me, though by every indication he was somehow connected to the campaign.

I wonder – did Coakley's thug ask McCormack if he was ok because he didn't want to be sued if he injured him, or was he disappointed that he didn't hurt the reporter?

What A Class Act

2010-01-09T02:55:00.003-05:00

Did I say class? I meant what an ass.

Democrat political strategist James Carville thinks airport body scanners will enhance his manhood. During a discussion of the TSA and new airport security measures on a local D.C. talk radio program, Carville said, “Let me buy a card, then go and measure my penis, and let me get on the airplane.”

Two things I know for sure. I wouldn’t want a seat next to Carville on a plane. And it’s a scanner Jimbo, not a magnifying glass.

Finger Pointing Will Not Be Tolerated

2010-01-06T20:34:00.008-05:00

If our national security wasn’t such a serious issue, I’d call Barack Obama’s “finger pointing” comment laughable.

After meeting with his national security team yesterday, Obama said the failure of the intelligence community to connect the dots regarding BVD bomber Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab was “a screw-up that could have been disastrous.” A tragedy was averted "by brave individuals, not because the system worked, and that is not acceptable. While there will be a tendency for finger pointing, I will not tolerate it."

We had a near-disaster on Christmas Day precisely because of the policies of Barack Obama. He denies that we're engaged in a global war on terror, calls terrorist acts “man-made” disasters, and sends GITMO detainees back to their Middle Eastern countries of origin for art therapy. He insists enemy combatants be read Miranda rights on the battlefield and prosecuted in a court of law rather than military tribunal. Waterboarding is out and lawyering-up is in. Thanks to this administration, the jihadists know America is no longer tough on terror.

Further compounding the danger of the president’s soft stance on terrorism and national security, is his appointment of neophytes to run our security and intelligence agencies. CIA Chief Leon Panetta occupies his time with inter-agency infighting and throwing his own agents under the bus. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano targets veterans and ordinary American citizens for surveillance. And our vindictive Attorney General Eric Holder is hell bent on prosecuting the CIA and Bush administration. Is it any wonder our security and intelligence communities failed to connect the dots where Abdulmutallab was concerned when they’re busy pursuing everybody and anybody except actual terrorists?

Obama’s initial reaction to the BVD bomber was to caution us, yet again, not to rush to judgment. Abdulmutallab was merely an isolated extremist. Only when the polls showed the American public to be outraged by his apparent indifference to the entire matter did we get a righteous president, ostensibly angered by the security lapse.

Throughout his first year in office, Obama has attempted to deflect criticism of his policy failures by pointing the finger at George Bush. Initially he tried to blame Bush's security measures for the near-disaster on Christmas, but now it’s the sole fault of the intelligence community.

It is Obama's seeming unwillingness to acknowledge the obvious fact that we are engaged in a fight for our lives against Islamic radicalism and terrorism – and to act accordingly – that lead to the attempted bombing of Northwest flight 253. If there’s any finger pointing to be done, it will be done by us, the American public who are no longer willing to tolerate the president's policy of denial. It’s time for Obama to accept responsibility for his national security failures and get serious about our safety. We’re not willing to put our country at risk for the sake of political correctness.

Post Script: Today Mr. Obama admitted that we are at war with Al Qaeda. Nice of you to finally recognize what the rest of us have known for years, Mr. President.

Thank Goodness, Rush Limbaugh Released from Hospital

2010-01-01T19:58:00.000-05:00

Hallelujah! Saying he received "the best health care the world has to offer," Rush Limbaugh was released from Honolulu's Queen's Medical Center this afternoon. Following an angiogram, doctors did not find any evidence he suffered a heart attacked. Below is a video of his remarks.

Happy Midterm Elections Year!

2010-01-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Woohoo! 2010 is here and this is where the pedal meets the metal. It's midterm elections year and time to send the liberal snobs in Washington packing. So here's a toast to my friends who are all working so hard to return this country to sanity. I wish you all a happy and safe holiday and year to come. And to our brave servicemen-and-women, I hope this New Year keeps you safe and healthy, and brings you home to your family and friends soon.

Good Riddance 2009

2009-12-31T16:32:00.003-05:00

And welcome to the year of the midterm elections.

A year ago, I would not, could not, have imagined the horror show that awaited us in 2009. An out-of-control Congress worked hand-in-hand with the administration to put us trillions of dollars in debt. They stifled debate and shut down opposition to pending legislation, passed bills they didn’t even bother to read, and verbally attacked ordinary citizens. In short, they put our country in grave danger.

This past year I’ve been called a racist, brown shirt and nazi by those elected to represent me in the halls of Congress. I’ve been labeled un-American and a right-wing extremist. My president has encouraged friends, neighbors and co-workers to report my fishy activities to the White House. My opinions have been ignored by a corrupt ruling class who believe they know better than I, how I should live my life.

I’ve watched as Senators have been bribed to support health care legislation that is not supported by the majority of Americans. I’ve seen disgraceful behavior on the floor of the Senate by a junior Senator, whom I believe stole the election in his state. I’ve listened to House representatives wax poetic about the brutal regime in Cuba. I’ve been disgusted by Congressional tax cheats and Senators who received sweetheart mortgage deals, and haven’t been investigated and censured by their fellow Senators and representatives.

And in the midst of all of the mayhem, I've been nauseated by the MSM who have been complicit in the march toward socialism. These sad excuses for journalists have reverentially called Obama “God” while laughingly dismissing me as a teabagger. They’ve ignored the Tea Party movement, the scandal surrounding Acorn, and the hoax that is climate change. They are petty, small-minded propagandists who are completely devoid of integrity, which no doubt, is why they hope the government – or should I say the taxpayers they so gleefully insult – will financially bail their failing enterprises out.

The best thing about 2009 is that ordinary Americans are standing up and saying, I’m mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. We’ve attended Tea Parties and peaceably demonstrated at our state houses and at the Capitol in Washington. We’re supporting conservative candidates on the local, state and federal level. We’re combatting years of leftist activism with newly energized conservative activism. We’re working diligently to save our country from those who would destroy it.

In this year of the midterm elections, my greatest hope is that we will be saying good riddance to the Leftist elitists in Congress who have blatantly ignored the will of the people and sold our country out. November is only 11 months away and we have a lot of work ahead of us to insure a conservative win. So Happy New Year my friends, let's make this the year we restore common sense, accountability and a representative government to America.

A Big Fat F

2009-12-31T01:35:00.005-05:00

In another one of his self-absorbed moments, Barack Obama gave himself a B+ for his performance as president during 2009. If his health care reform bill had passed, he claims he would have deserved an A-. Now that the first year of his presidency is drawing to an end, I’m giving him a BIG FAT F for FAILURE, FARCE and FRAUD.

Obama’s economic policies have been an outright disaster. From the pork-laden stimulus bill, to his meddling in the financial and automotive markets, and his astronomical run-up of the deficit, Obama’s misguided plan to bolster the economy has been an abject failure. His policy of spend, spend, spend, has eroded consumer, private sector and international confidence in our economy, which has sent the dollar into a free fall while unemployment skyrockets.

The president’s pet domestic projects also rate an F. Obamacare is a travesty that will increase the deficit and our taxes, while limiting access to quality medical care. Cap + Trade will cause additional harm to the economy and further erode capitalism by giving the government even greater control over the private sector.

Obama’s stance on national security is an outright farce. He spent the better part of this year jetting to and fro, bowing to Saudi princes, joking with dictators, and apologizing for imagined American transgressions. Meanwhile his Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is on the lookout for soldiers returning from tours of duty in the Middle East and conservatives with pro-life bumper stickers, rather than focusing her attention on the real terrorists – you know, the Islamic jihadists. And Attorney General Eric Holder is more interested in prosecuting the CIA than those responsible for the tragedy on 9/11.

This administration’s cavalier attitude toward national security has lead to more brazen attacks against our country, including Maj. Nidal Hassan’s cowardly attack upon fellow soliders at Ft. Hood, and the BVD Bomber’s attempt to bring down a Northwest Airlines jet on Christmas Day. When national security is treated as an exercise in political correctness, we are all at great risk.

Obama began his presidency promising a new era of transparency and bi-partisanship. He was going to put an end to the divisiveness and business-as-usual in Washington. What a fraud. The Obama administration engages in dirty Chicago-style politics. His enforcers make deals behind closed doors and threaten politicians and private business enterprises alike. His brand of politics is a far cry from what we expected when he promised transparency.

As for uniting the country, Obama has done just the opposite. This country is more divided today than it was a year ago. Rather than living in a new era of bi-partisanship, we’re living under totalitarian one-party rule. And as far as business-as-usual in Washington is concerned, well it’s worse than we could have imagined. The level of corruption is breathtaking.

It was foolish of Mr. Obama to grade his performance as president. His opinion isn't relevant. Ours is. And when 2012 rolls around, we'll all be able to mark our ballots with the grade he really deserves.

After a Long Silence, Back to Blogging

2009-12-30T13:38:00.003-05:00

Well.

After three weeks of silence, I’m finally returning to blogging.

My hiatus was unplanned.

Blogging provides me with an outlet for my frustration with policies and politicians I disagree with. It also gives me the opportunity to join in on the conversation and communicate with like-minded people. At times anger and frustration get the better of me, but generally I try to express my opinion without resorting to name-calling and spewing vitriol all over the pages of this blog.

After months and months of debate over health care and other issues – and listening to the never-ending litany of insults coming from those elected to represent me in Congress – I was feeling overwhelmed by anger. While my break from blogging was unplanned, it was necessary for my peace of mind.

I turned off the news and talk radio. I logged onto the Internet a few times, but chose not to look at any news stories or blogs. Instead I focused all of my attention on Christmas, which provided me with the sense of peace and well-being I needed.

For all of my blogging friends, I hope your Christmas was merry and bright, your Hanukkah happy, and that you enjoyed any other holiday you may have been celebrating over the past week. I’m grateful to those friends who stopped by my blog to wish me well. I'll be catching up on your posts over the next week.

I also appreciate those who signed on as "followers" of this blog over the past few weeks while I was silent. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to thank those who hit the follow button.

Since there's no time like the present, here's a shout-out to Rake at Divine Ripples who brings a faith-based perspective to his blog. Welcome also to Lady Di who blogs at Quick Wit. I’m so glad to be in the company of another conservative New Englander, Lady Di. There’s also No Subject at Nada Subject whose rallying cry is Give 'Em Hell. Amen to that No Subject! Finally there’s Murray Montgomery. I’m not sure how Murray found me, but I appreciate his joining in. If you have a blog Murray, please let me know so I can post it here.

Just Words, Just Speeches at West Point

2009-12-02T13:20:00.006-05:00

After 94 days of dithering, the president has finally decided to send 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan. His speech was pretty much what I expected – bashing Bush, appeasing the Left, and lacking any real substance. Three things he said though, grabbed my attention.

Firstly, the president stood before the best and the brightest at West Point and told them the cost of war may include their lives, but it won’t include unlimited funding. That statement is stunning. It’s also shameful coming from an American president. If Obama’s not in it to win it, then let’s bring the troops home. How can we expect any soldier to fully concentrate on the mission when they know the clock is ticking, the president isn't committed to succeeding, and costs take precedence over their lives?

The president also said that America will speak out for the rights of those live under tyranny. America has always been a voice for those who seek freedom. I wish I could say the same about our current president. Obama let two weeks pass before saying anything about Iranian citizens who were being murdered by their government while protesting in the streets of Tehran. His administration is chock full of admirers of Mao, Chavez and Castro – ruthless dictators who have executed millions of their own citizens. The president's actions speak louder than his words.

Finally, Obama said that he’s forged a new alliance between America and the Muslim world. Not so, says Fouad Ajami, a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. In an article in the Wall Street Journal yesterday, Ajami writes:

Mr. Obama's election has not drained the swamps of anti-Americanism. That anti-Americanism is endemic to this region, an alibi and a scapegoat for nations, and their rulers, unwilling to break out of the grip of political autocracy and economic failure. It predated the presidency of George W. Bush and rages on during the Obama presidency.

Steeped in an overarching idea of American guilt, Mr. Obama and his lieutenants offered nothing less than a doctrine, and a policy, of American penance. No one told Mr. Obama that the Islamic world, where American power is engaged and so dangerously exposed, it is considered bad form, nay a great moral lapse, to speak ill of one's own tribe when in the midst, and in the lands, of others.

The crowd may have applauded the cavalier way the new steward of American power referred to his predecessor, but in the privacy of their own language they doubtless wondered about his character and his fidelity. "My brother and I against my cousin, my cousin and I against the stranger," goes one of the Arab world's most honored maxims. The stranger who came into their midst and spoke badly of his own was destined to become an object of suspicion.

Last night’s speech at West Point was more of the same empty rhetoric from Obama. Hillary Clinton was right, he’s all “pretty speeches and no substance,” which is dangerous for our country.

What a long strange trip it’s been

2009-12-01T16:06:00.000-05:00

Whew!

After nearly two weeks of family obligations, followed by another week that included a minor eye procedure, a birthday, and Thanksgiving, I’m back to blogging – finally. The Chick’s Dude, who had intended to fill in for me, didn’t find blogging nearly as interesting as we do. Hence, 10 days of no posts. But I forgive him; he’s got a lot on his plate and also had to devote a significant amount of time to family matters.

I’ll spend this week catching up on everyone else’s blogs and getting in a few posts of my own. There’s a lot that’s happened over the past three weeks that has sent my blood pressure skyrocketing, but no sense focusing on what’s already happened. My only comment about recent political events is that Sen. Kent Conrad, D-ND is an ass.

I see there have been a few changes over the past few weeks in the conservative blogosphere. Snarky Basterd has his own domain now and Candle has signed on as a contributor. Heh. Congrats Candle. I love SB’s satirical point of view and Feed Your ADHD is a must-read for me.

After a two month absence, The Fat Scribe has returned, thankfully. Welcome back JG, I’ve missed your entertaining commentary. And Janie Lynn is blogging now as well at Disinformation You Deserve. Welcome JL; the more conservative voices in the blogosphere the better.

Mainstream Media Misinformation, A Parody

2009-11-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

In the tank for the libs, the MSM conveniently forgets to report the real news in this parody. Enjoy.

Hey There Obama

2009-11-19T08:11:00.001-05:00

Lots of different versions of Hey There Obama on the Internet. I like this one.

Subsidizing Congress, Part 3 - Excessive Perks

2009-11-18T08:30:00.031-05:00

Last week I received official mail from one of my senators who was letting me know how hard he’s been working on my behalf to pass legislation I’m firmly against. His newsletter was mailed to me courtesy of the franking privilege, which allows members of Congress to send official correspondence to their constituents free of charge.

In addition to the cost borne by taxpayers, the problem with franking is that it provides incumbent members of Congress with an unfair advantage at election time. We pay the postage for our Congressional representatives to bombard us with official mail throughout the campaign season. Their opponents however, have to bear the cost of the postage for every flyer they send to us. Unless they have a healthy war chest, a well-funded PAC on their side, or are independently wealthy, an opponent cannot afford the cost of frequent campaign mailings.

Franking is just one of the many perks that members of Congress receive and we finance. Do you ever wish you could find a great parking space at the airport, or within a mile of your big city office building, and not have to pay for it? Maybe you’d appreciate someone else paying your freight to this year’s out-of-town family reunion? Or how about getting your employer to kick in on the cost of lunch five days a week?

Well, we provide all of that for our congressional representatives and much more. We subsidize reserved parking for members of Congress at Dulles International and Reagan National Airports. We also provide them with free parking at the U.S. House and Senate office buildings.

Meals at the Congressional dining rooms are financed in part by taxpayers, as are the on-site health clubs. Taxpayer’s also foot the bill for their elected representatives to attend out-of-town organizational caucuses. That’s like paying for someone to attend a family reunion. We pick up the tab for Congressional staff members to attend these caucuses as well.

We also finance the trips members of Congress make back to their districts, overseas, and on official business. Plus we’re paying for aircraft and chauffeured limousines to ferry our Congressional representatives hither and yon.

Along with these perks, every member of Congress receives millions of dollars in allowances for office expenses, personnel – including administrative, clerical and legislative staff –and furniture, paintings and plants. If you own a business, especially a small business, you know that these costs, along with business travel, parking expenses, and meals are substantial. Sure you get some tax write-offs, but Congress receives all these amenities scot free.

While millions of Americans simply try to make ends meet, Congress – which created the economic mess we’re in today – continues to enjoy the privileges of office they’ve commandeered for themselves. Billions are spent on generous salaries, pensions, perks, allocations and subsidies.

Considering there are 237 millionaires in Congress, how about they get off the public dole and pay for their own indulgences. And the next time you go to the voting booth, you may want to remember all of the money and power members of Congress have appropriated at your expense and vote accordingly.

Subsidizing Congress, Part 2-Health Care

2009-11-17T08:30:00.007-05:00

We’ve all been actively engaged in the debate on health care. Those of you reading this blog have most likely attended tea parties and town hall meetings, and contacted your Congressional representatives a bazillion times to oppose federal government takeover of the health care system.

Congress is willing to impose government control over our medical care and decisions. But if the proposed system is so great, why won’t they give up their benefits and enroll in a government operated system? That’s an easy one – they’re not willing to limit the choices and care they currently receive.

Members of Congress can obtain health insurance coverage for themselves and their families through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. This program offers a wide choice of health plans, at varying price points and coverage levels. Lawmakers can choose competing plans from insurance companies and managed care providers. And they only foot the bill for a percentage of the monthly premium. We pick up the tab for the remaining amount.

In the District of Columbia, for example, the Cadillac of all family plans costs $1087.82 per month. This plan includes dental and vision benefits. The government, meaning you and me, pays $752.08 of that premium every month. Our elected representatives pay the remaining $335.74.

Lawmakers can also purchase life insurance through the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance program. Taxpayers subsidize that as well, paying one-third of the total cost of the premiums.

Then we have the Office of the Attending Physician. For a yearly fee of $503, our Congressional representatives can pop into the office for x-rays, lab work, physical therapy, and routine examinations. Four Navy doctors and a support staff of nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists and lab technicians provide the medical care and the taxpayer, once again, subsidizes the cost of that care.

Finally, members of Congress have the privilege of receiving both outpatient and inpatient treatment at the Bethesda Naval Hospital, or at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. According to the National Taxpayers Union, lawmakers “receive inpatient care at the minimum flat daily rate, even if intensive care treatment is required.”

Lawmakers want to keep their preferential medical treatment and insurance subsidies while subjecting the Average Joes and Janes of America to rationed care and ballooning premiums. Congress should have to suffer the consequences of their reform measures along with the rest of us. And when they’re enrolled in the government plan, they can pay for it themselves. We already pay them a salary, no reason why we should have to subsidize their health insurance as well.

Tomorrow we'll cover other excessive perks of office that you pay for and Congress enjoys.

Subsidizing Congress, Part 1-Pay & Pensions

2009-11-16T08:30:00.011-05:00

You might be pleased to know that in the “worst economy since the Great Depression” your congressional representatives voted to forego their automatic pay raise for 2010. Other than your elected representatives, do you know anyone who receives a guaranteed annual salary increase? I don’t.

In the real world, people receive pay raises based on job performance and corporate profitability. The same was true with Congress. According to the 27th Amendment to the Constitution, Congress cannot raise its pay without an intervening election. In other words, if the people reward your performance by returning you to office, you can vote on the record to raise your Congressional salary.

That all changed in 1989 when Congress awarded itself automatic salary increases under the guise of a Cost of Living Adjustment or COLA, which was embedded into an Ethics Reform Act. At that time, members of the House and Senate earned $89,500.

After appropriating a $4,700 pay increase for themselves this year, the salary for House and Senate members is now $174,000. The Speaker of the House is paid $223,500, while the House Majority and Minority leaders receive $193,400.

We’re shelling out more than $92 million of our tax dollars in salaries for people whose job performance is below par and who think nothing of running record-breaking deficits that will bankrupt the country. But that’s not all. Members of Congress also receive pensions.

Congressional pensions are determined by a combination of factors: tenure, other federal government service, retirement age, and average salary upon leaving Congress. The longer you hold your congressional seat, the more money the taxpayers shell out for your retirement, which is surely another argument for term limits.

While members of Congress contribute to their pension plans, those contributions cover approximately 20 percent of the actual average lifetime pension payout, according to the National Taxpayers Union (NTU). We’re on the hook for the rest.

The average congressional pension is estimated at $50,000 per year. A lawmaker who retires at age 60 with 15 or 20 years of service is likely to collect at least a million dollars in inflation-compensated lifetime pension benefits, again according to the NTU.

I don’t think Congress should be entitled to automatic pay raises. Nor do I think they should be entitled to most of the perks they’ve appropriated for themselves. If we want to put a stop to nanny state entitlements, and chip away at the deficit at the same time, then let’s start with Congress.

This week I’ll cover more of the perks of office that Congress enjoys on your dime. Tomorrow we'll look at health care and associated benefits.

The MSM Love Obama, A Parody

2009-11-14T08:30:00.001-05:00

I hadn't come across this parody of the MSM proclaiming love for their messiah, Barack Obama, before. Matthews and Olbermann will crack you up. Enjoy.

Organizing for Obama

2009-11-13T08:30:00.038-05:00

One more observation about Organizing For America (OFA). When Obama claims that he isn’t concerned whether he’s a one-term president – don’t believe it. OFA has been politically active since his election.

The organization has built a massive neighborhood-by-neighborhood operation to influence lawmakers and legislation, and to campaign for the president’s policies. Currently they’re recruiting volunteers and paid staffers in all 50 states.

Rather than work in conjunction with local democratic party officials, OFA is organizing a distinct and separate political group. One that will have boots on the ground long before campaigning for the 2012 presidential election begins, and one that can siphon off funds that contributors would normally give to the state democratic party.

In this video, Obama is recruiting Americans to join OFA.

Patriotism, Penn & Teller Style

2009-11-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Since we honored our veterans yesterday, here's an oldie but goodie. Penn & Teller provide their audience with a brief lesson about patriotism.

Be Back Soon

2009-11-11T14:30:00.001-05:00

I'll be away from real-time blogging for the next 10 days, attending to family stuff. But I've put together some fun videos you may not have seen before. I've also scheduled some posts about the spendthrifts in Congress.

The Chick's Dude will be filling in for me, responding to comments and getting in on the conversation, although I won't count on him to do it every day. When family calls you have to respond, but I'll be back soon.

Honoring Our Veterans Today

2009-11-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

Today we honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. A great way to mark this day is with a visit to the Veteran’s History Project at the Library of Congress.

Created by Congress in 2000, the Veterans History Project includes first-hand oral histories, correspondence, photographs, and artwork from World War I through the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. The Project chronicles the personal recollections of veterans and their families during times of war.

The individual stories of citizens who were actively involved in supporting war efforts, such as industry workers, USO personnel, flight instructors and medical volunteers, are also included.

The collection is wide-ranging and features a diversity of subjects and personal stories about women at war, family ties, military intelligence, disabled veterans, African-American war experiences, and military medicine, among others. The Project is on-going and all wartime veterans and their families are invited to submit first-hand accounts of their experiences.

Administration's Blame Bush Policy Losing Steam

2009-11-10T09:03:00.005-05:00

The administration’s long-standing policy of blaming the country’s economic woes solely on former President George Bush is beginning to ring hollow. According to a recent Rasmussen Reports survey, 49 percent of Americans hold Bush accountable for the country’s economic problems, while 45 percent fault Barack Obama.

One month ago, 55 percent of those surveyed held Bush responsible for the economic crisis and only 37 percent placed the onus on Obama’s economic policies. While the democrats blame Bush and Republicans blame Obama, independents are evenly split on the question of accountability.

Other findings by Rasmussen include:

For nearly four-out-of-five voters, the bigger problem for the country is not their unwillingness to pay higher taxes. It’s their elected representatives’ refusal to cut government spending.

Sixty-two percent of Americans say it’s always better to cut taxes than increase government spending because taxpayers, not bureaucrats, are the best judges of how to spend their own money.

For the first time in recent years, voters trust Republicans more than Democrats on 10 key electoral issues, including the economy, regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports.