From Reuters: President Obama went to Buffalo yesterday to talk about small business initiatives from his legislation that he thinks will be of benefit to them. And, he'll do some of his standard Republican bashing. For a guy who campaigned as the 'post partisan' candidate, he has come full circle. Unless you didn't believe that claim in the first place. Just another compliment to himself from he who thinks most highly of himself.
The Reuters account of the Buffalo trip also described the president as 'knocking' Republicans. The report mentioned that Obama would tout Congress working to pass more legislation to create jobs.
There was the token mention of the president meeting with and thanking NYC police from the presidential flacks as he went on to Manhattan for a top dollar fundraiser at the St. Regis. Maybe he wanted to make it look like something more than standard fundraising. "After they drove the car into the ditch, made it as difficult as possible for us to pull it back, now they want to keys back. No! You can't drive. We don't want to have to go back into the ditch. We just go the car out." The 185 donors present heard more - what even the ABC News reporter said "painted the Republican party in unflattering light, as the party standing in the way of reform". "They've done their best to gum up the works to make it look broken. To say no to every single thing".
Is it the Republicans "making things look broken"? I think an increasing unemployment percentage number and more hired for government jobs than private sector jobs speaks for the "broken" economy. It was the job of the GOP to say no to the bloated and ineffective stimulus/spending bill and the rest of the power grabbing legislation that the American public was strongly against. The Democratically controlled Congress and President refuse to acknowledge how unpopular their agenda is and strong arm members of their own party to pass bad legislation.
Repealing Obamacare will be at the top of the GOP agenda as they take back control of Congress in November. He knows this and said, "I'm confident that as long as we're able to get our message out, with your help the American people aren't going to let that happen." He asks for help from donors when he is in a tight spot but doesn't listen when they disagree with the agenda.
Of Nancy Pelosi, he said at this DCCC fundraiser, "Nancy Pelosi, that's one tough lady. And, she's so elegant. Even as she's ripping your heart out. If you mess with her." Pelosi introduced him that evening. He loves the violent hyperbole. It's the Chicago way of doing politics.
President Obama has only held one-third of the question and answers sessions with the press that former President Bush held in his first year in office. Another campaign pledge from Obama is broken - that of being the 'most transparent' administration, ever. Instead, what we have is an administration and Congress so determined to push forward a radically leftist agenda, against the wishes of the majority of the American people, that major legislation has been written in complete secrecy. Speaker of the House Pelosi, who promised the highest level of transparency before Obama did, even said that they had to pass Obamacare so that we could all see what is in it. Imagine if Republicans had taken 1/6 of the entire American economy and thrown it to the wind as this legislation did. Would the press have been so complacent?
Maybe the absence of press conferences is bringing about some truth telling from the media - those who are now being a bit more honest about the tone and comments coming from the president towards political opponents. Maybe they are beginning to wake up a bit and feel a bit used. Without the open cheer leading from the press, Obama would have never been elected to the office of President in the first place.
Are they embarrassed yet?
Friday, May 14, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Obama Delivers Commencement Speech at Hampton College
President Obama gave a commencement speech to the graduates of Hampton College over the weekend. This historically black college was the setting for the President to berate the influence of technology in our lives. That is ironic, considering this president benefited mightily from online support and technology while he ran for the office of President. And, this administration enjoys touting available web sites to push their agenda.
This is the President that balked at the notion of giving up his personal Blackberry. This is the President who regularly addressed supporters online during the last campaign. This is the President who allowed - perhaps encouraged - his flacks to mock his opponent John McCain as they sought the presidency for his lack of computer skills. See, he's older and just not cool for Team Obama.
Perhaps Obama is now re-thinking the whole technology thing. A quote from his latest USA Today interview: "There are always costs in doing big things." That was his reaction to the fact that his agenda has produced "huge financial and political costs".
Perhaps the thin skinned president is not fully appreciative of the freedom that technology presents to Americans. He, ever the narcissist, is distressed over the instant quotes and stories that are produced on the Internet and on around the clock cable news and talk radio. He doesn't appreciate criticism. His administration even feels comfortable in shutting out the press - for example, trying to keep FOX News at arms length - and ducking out to catch his daughter's soccer game with the press pool reporter. The president hasn't held a press conference since last July. All of this from the guy who promised to have the most transparent administration ever.
Technology is freedom. Children in schools and readers in public libraries benefit from computer access. Moms on the go keep in touch with family members with cell phones. And, yes, a president is held more accountable if more questions are asked and investigated. Citizen journalists are not the enemy. He said, "Some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction" in blogs and talk radio. He doesn't speak to the fact that often his spokespeople frequently characterize claims as false when the opposite is true. The recent battle over Obamacare is prime example. Much of the opposition's claims have been proven true though Team Obama would have you believe it is all crackpot hyperbole.
It is hard to believe a president so tech savvy would bemoan the gadgets in our lives.
And, why did the man who claimed to be the post-racial candidate use the word 'emancipation' in his commencement speech? Was it because it was a historically black college? He extolled the virtues of Dorothy Height and her refusal to be denied a college education. That was legitimate. He equated iPods and Xboxes with slavery. "...information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation."
Mr. President, information is power, not a distraction.
This is the President that balked at the notion of giving up his personal Blackberry. This is the President who regularly addressed supporters online during the last campaign. This is the President who allowed - perhaps encouraged - his flacks to mock his opponent John McCain as they sought the presidency for his lack of computer skills. See, he's older and just not cool for Team Obama.
Perhaps Obama is now re-thinking the whole technology thing. A quote from his latest USA Today interview: "There are always costs in doing big things." That was his reaction to the fact that his agenda has produced "huge financial and political costs".
Perhaps the thin skinned president is not fully appreciative of the freedom that technology presents to Americans. He, ever the narcissist, is distressed over the instant quotes and stories that are produced on the Internet and on around the clock cable news and talk radio. He doesn't appreciate criticism. His administration even feels comfortable in shutting out the press - for example, trying to keep FOX News at arms length - and ducking out to catch his daughter's soccer game with the press pool reporter. The president hasn't held a press conference since last July. All of this from the guy who promised to have the most transparent administration ever.
Technology is freedom. Children in schools and readers in public libraries benefit from computer access. Moms on the go keep in touch with family members with cell phones. And, yes, a president is held more accountable if more questions are asked and investigated. Citizen journalists are not the enemy. He said, "Some of the craziest claims can quickly claim traction" in blogs and talk radio. He doesn't speak to the fact that often his spokespeople frequently characterize claims as false when the opposite is true. The recent battle over Obamacare is prime example. Much of the opposition's claims have been proven true though Team Obama would have you believe it is all crackpot hyperbole.
It is hard to believe a president so tech savvy would bemoan the gadgets in our lives.
And, why did the man who claimed to be the post-racial candidate use the word 'emancipation' in his commencement speech? Was it because it was a historically black college? He extolled the virtues of Dorothy Height and her refusal to be denied a college education. That was legitimate. He equated iPods and Xboxes with slavery. "...information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation."
Mr. President, information is power, not a distraction.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Arizona Gov Brewer Responds to POTUS
Los Angeles has now become the largest of U.S. cities to vote yes on a boycott of the state of Arizona. The California State Senate President, Darrell Steinberg, told an interviewer today that he approves of this vote because the law signed by Governor Brewer allows police to stop anyone simply because of the color of their skin and demand proof of legal citizenship. This is how the rabid left portrays the action taken out of desperation by the leaders in the state of Arizona. They are determined to make political hay out of a governor trying to make a bad situation better in her state. The state is desperate for federal help and it is being ignored.
Well, except for the 'joke' President Obama told to the swell politicians and journalists and celebrities present at the White House Corespondents Dinner. His punch line was to the effect of "and we all know what can happen to you in Arizona". What a knee slapper. Almost as good as his predator drone joke, which if he was George W. Bush would have been enough to send Democrats into impeachment language. Remember how they all reacted to Bush's skit of looking for wmd in the Oval Office? But, President Wonderful gets a pass.
Here is a devastating video put out from Governor Brewer in direct response to the Obama "joke":
I am not entirely convinced that the law signed by the governor was the best that could have been done. I am, however, entirely sympathetic with the people of Arizona, especially as a resident of the south east part of Texas. We, too, need help with illegal immigration. That is the key, the illegal part of the immigration. We are still a nation that welcomes immigrants. As long as they come in through the front door and follow the law, we welcome newcomers here. It really is as simple as that.
Governor Perry says that he appealed to the federal government - back to the Bush administration - for help along the Texas and Mexico border. No response from either the Bush or the Obama administrations. There are parts of our border now that have become war zones over drug trafficking and human smuggling. How long before other states follow suit with Arizona?
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Elena Kagan Chosen for SCOTUS
Obama, according to his spokespeople, wanted to nominate someone who would be a different kind of nominee. Kagan falls short of this goal. If she is seated, and there is little doubt that she will be, the Supreme Court will be comprised solely of Catholics and Jews. All graduates of Harvard or Yale, there will remain only one black on the bench, Clarence Thomas who was placed there by a Republican president. Though Obama made a point of boasting that the Supreme Court would be comprised of three women now, the first woman was seated on the court by a Republican president.
From The Washington Post:
On the other hand, Kagan is by no means a radically different pick from any of the court's current members. In some ways, she would add to the cloistered, East Coast mentality of the current court. Her lack of judicial experience could be a negative, especially with a public that thinks being a judge is pretty important.
Many of the current justices hail from New York, or have ties to the city. All but one are from east of the Mississippi River. Picking Kagan does not send a message that Obama wants the court to represent the country better geographically.
Conservatives are noting the irony of a liberal Democrat president nominating a liberal Democrat who has a less than stellar record of hiring minorities. From RedState.com: Kagan, whose leadership at Harvard Law marked an unprecedented expansion of the program’s faculty, hired 32 tenured and tenure-track faculty. With one exception, all were white; only seven were women.
“Because Kagan does not have a record and because her tenure at Dean is offered as one of her qualifications for the Supreme Court, it is more than fair to ask where racial inclusion figures in her judicial philosophy,” wrote Guy-Uriel Charles, the founding director of the Duke Law Center on Law, Race and Politics. “Kagan’s hiring at Harvard is one of the few data points that we have on how she might think about racial inclusion.”
Kagan is not an outside-the-box nominee. She is very much the same old same old. If she is gay, she is not 'out' so that will not be touted. I hope Republicans rise above that. Her personal character is not in question. It is her ideology that must be questioned. Democrats do love their racial/gender/ethnic politics yet this nominee will be known as one who hasn't been a judge. That is her one difference from the others on the bench now.
Kagan previously lamented the process of confirming a Supreme Court nominee. She is on record for claiming that little is really determined of a nominee's true positions from the confirmation process. This could be interesting now that she is the nominee. She has very little paper trail and no experience on the bench of which to determine how she may rule on the court. She received a bi-partisan nod when going through the confirmation process for her current position as Solicitor General. At the time, she was said to be Obama's future Supreme Court choice. This nomination does not come out of the blue.
From the reports out there now, it would appear that Kagan is the best that Republicans can hope for from this president. Obama was no more likely to nominate anyone with conservative cred any more than George W. Bush was likely to nominate anyone with liberal cred. Since the administration of Bill Clinton, Supreme Court picks have been solely on ideology and to think otherwise is foolish. And, remember, we have the true legacy of Ted Kennedy - the nasty, contentious confirmation hearings now considered the norm - to thank.
Kagan appears to have a history of bringing in conservative thought into the process. As Dean of Harvard Law School, she hired conservative professors. Not a lot but at least some. She will have to deal with her participation in trying to ban military recruiters from the grounds of Harvard and her perceived hostility to the military. We will see Obama flakes coming to her defense over this issue.
Now is the time for scrutiny of Kagan's record and decisions. Now is the time for open and fair questioning.
From The Washington Post:
On the other hand, Kagan is by no means a radically different pick from any of the court's current members. In some ways, she would add to the cloistered, East Coast mentality of the current court. Her lack of judicial experience could be a negative, especially with a public that thinks being a judge is pretty important.
Many of the current justices hail from New York, or have ties to the city. All but one are from east of the Mississippi River. Picking Kagan does not send a message that Obama wants the court to represent the country better geographically.
Conservatives are noting the irony of a liberal Democrat president nominating a liberal Democrat who has a less than stellar record of hiring minorities. From RedState.com: Kagan, whose leadership at Harvard Law marked an unprecedented expansion of the program’s faculty, hired 32 tenured and tenure-track faculty. With one exception, all were white; only seven were women.
“Because Kagan does not have a record and because her tenure at Dean is offered as one of her qualifications for the Supreme Court, it is more than fair to ask where racial inclusion figures in her judicial philosophy,” wrote Guy-Uriel Charles, the founding director of the Duke Law Center on Law, Race and Politics. “Kagan’s hiring at Harvard is one of the few data points that we have on how she might think about racial inclusion.”
Kagan is not an outside-the-box nominee. She is very much the same old same old. If she is gay, she is not 'out' so that will not be touted. I hope Republicans rise above that. Her personal character is not in question. It is her ideology that must be questioned. Democrats do love their racial/gender/ethnic politics yet this nominee will be known as one who hasn't been a judge. That is her one difference from the others on the bench now.
Kagan previously lamented the process of confirming a Supreme Court nominee. She is on record for claiming that little is really determined of a nominee's true positions from the confirmation process. This could be interesting now that she is the nominee. She has very little paper trail and no experience on the bench of which to determine how she may rule on the court. She received a bi-partisan nod when going through the confirmation process for her current position as Solicitor General. At the time, she was said to be Obama's future Supreme Court choice. This nomination does not come out of the blue.
From the reports out there now, it would appear that Kagan is the best that Republicans can hope for from this president. Obama was no more likely to nominate anyone with conservative cred any more than George W. Bush was likely to nominate anyone with liberal cred. Since the administration of Bill Clinton, Supreme Court picks have been solely on ideology and to think otherwise is foolish. And, remember, we have the true legacy of Ted Kennedy - the nasty, contentious confirmation hearings now considered the norm - to thank.
Kagan appears to have a history of bringing in conservative thought into the process. As Dean of Harvard Law School, she hired conservative professors. Not a lot but at least some. She will have to deal with her participation in trying to ban military recruiters from the grounds of Harvard and her perceived hostility to the military. We will see Obama flakes coming to her defense over this issue.
Now is the time for scrutiny of Kagan's record and decisions. Now is the time for open and fair questioning.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Senator Bob Bennett Loses to Tea Party Mania
Two term Senator Bob Bennett of Utah lost out on his bid for re-election Saturday. During a tearful concession speech he alluded to the poisonous atmosphere of the political times. Across the country the mark of a new wave of conservatism is taking root. The current meme in the national press is the claim that Bob Bennett is the first causality of the new wave.
This is wrong, as is usually the case when the media tries to describe anything conservative in this country. The first causalities of the Tea Party movement and a new wave of Americans demanding fiscal conservatism, not just social conservatism, were felt in New Jersey, Virginia, and Massachusetts earlier in this year. The problem with Bennett is that he was part of the group that justifies bad votes by claiming they know best. Even during the concession speech Bennett claimed he would cast the same votes - clearly he still doesn't understand the message.
A quote from George Will on ABC's Sunday show:
This is an anti-Washington year. How do you get more Washington than a three-term senator who occupies the seat once held by his father, a four-term senator, who before that worked on the Senate staff and then as a lobbyist in Washington? He's a wonderful man and a terrific Senator. But the fact is, he's going against terrific head-winds this year and he cast three votes: TARP, stimulus and an individual mandate for health care. Now, you might like one, two or all three of those, but being opposed to them is not outside the mainstream of American political argument.
Yes, this is an anti-Washington year. Bennett's fatal mistake was voting for the stimulus when clearly the public outcry as the Tea Party took to the streets in bigger and bigger protests told all of the elected officials not to vote for it. Then, if he was forgiven for not grasping the public outrage right away, he should have gotten the message after last summer's town halls and protests against Obamacare. By working with Democrats to craft together an alternative but agreeing to leave in the individual mandate shows he is clueless.
There is potential for the Tea Party movement to bring in too many candidates with no experience or firm grasp of crafting public policy. To run simply to boot out the incumbents is not productive if the incumbent is a worthy candidate for re-election. Time will tell soon enough if this will be the case. In the meantime, Bennett is the poster boy today. Maybe he grew too comfortable in office. Maybe he arrogantly did not take seriously the will of the people he served. This is the problem with those who do not know when to step aside.
Bennett originally said he would be a two term Senator, should he be entrusted by the voters with office. He broke that promise and ran for a third term. He should have quit when he was ahead.
This is wrong, as is usually the case when the media tries to describe anything conservative in this country. The first causalities of the Tea Party movement and a new wave of Americans demanding fiscal conservatism, not just social conservatism, were felt in New Jersey, Virginia, and Massachusetts earlier in this year. The problem with Bennett is that he was part of the group that justifies bad votes by claiming they know best. Even during the concession speech Bennett claimed he would cast the same votes - clearly he still doesn't understand the message.
A quote from George Will on ABC's Sunday show:
This is an anti-Washington year. How do you get more Washington than a three-term senator who occupies the seat once held by his father, a four-term senator, who before that worked on the Senate staff and then as a lobbyist in Washington? He's a wonderful man and a terrific Senator. But the fact is, he's going against terrific head-winds this year and he cast three votes: TARP, stimulus and an individual mandate for health care. Now, you might like one, two or all three of those, but being opposed to them is not outside the mainstream of American political argument.
Yes, this is an anti-Washington year. Bennett's fatal mistake was voting for the stimulus when clearly the public outcry as the Tea Party took to the streets in bigger and bigger protests told all of the elected officials not to vote for it. Then, if he was forgiven for not grasping the public outrage right away, he should have gotten the message after last summer's town halls and protests against Obamacare. By working with Democrats to craft together an alternative but agreeing to leave in the individual mandate shows he is clueless.
There is potential for the Tea Party movement to bring in too many candidates with no experience or firm grasp of crafting public policy. To run simply to boot out the incumbents is not productive if the incumbent is a worthy candidate for re-election. Time will tell soon enough if this will be the case. In the meantime, Bennett is the poster boy today. Maybe he grew too comfortable in office. Maybe he arrogantly did not take seriously the will of the people he served. This is the problem with those who do not know when to step aside.
Bennett originally said he would be a two term Senator, should he be entrusted by the voters with office. He broke that promise and ran for a third term. He should have quit when he was ahead.
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Friday, May 07, 2010
Updating the Perry vs White Race for Governor
From an update by the Republican Party of Texas:
Former Houston mayor and Democrat gubernatorial nominee Bill White launched a $400,000 media buy in Houston this week. Why is Bill White blowing so much money to advertise in the city where he was mayor, six months before the election? Probably because in spite of his best efforts, his real record is getting out, and that record isn't pretty.
The Houston that Bill White left behind is deeply in debt. Bill White's successor has had to hike water rates for residents by as much as 30%, and she has contemplated furloughs for city workers including fire fighters and police, along with other cuts in city services. The Houston METRO is engulfed in a scandal that centers on the two members who were hand-picked to be on that board by Bill White.
Today, president and CEO, Frank J. Wilson resigned from METRO.
From Mark Miner of the Rick Perry for Governor campaign: “Refusing to release his taxes for his years in public service is just one example of dishonesty from Bill White, who hides the fact that he supports Obamacare, that he believes cap and trade doesn’t go far enough, that he joined a group of mayors against gun rights, and that his fiscal mismanagement left Houston with more debt per capita than California. With a record like this, no wonder Bill White is on the run.”
Some pundits of Texas politics say this will be an interesting race. Perry is ahead in the latest polls by four points or so. Democrats like to say that Texas is a purple state now but most political geeks in the state tend to stick with the Texas-is-a-red-state meme. Bill White is a multi-millionaire and has the financial advantage over Perry. It will be interesting to watch how he spends tons of his own money while doing the aw-shucks man of the people routine on the campaign trail.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Obey Retires
It is a bit ironic that longtime U.S. Representative David Obey announced his retirement from elected office yesterday. Last night Karl Rove spoke to an audience about his new book and told some interesting behind the scenes stories from the Bush presidency years. One particularly compelling story was that of the day of 9/11/01.
Part of the story involved those who were on board Air Force One as it tried to bring its passengers back to Washington. He spoke of the professionalism of the Secret Service agents and of the unknown - not knowing when another attack or attempt on the life of the president would come. The reporters covering the trip - originally a trip to Florida and a classroom visit as the president was working on No Child Left Behind legislation - were tense, as was everyone. One noted reporter who completely lost control of his emotions as the jet landed safely in Washington is now the chief of staff for Vice President Biden. Rove never mentioned the man by name.
One of the questions asked of Rove by an audience member was what advice he would give to a young person considering a life in politics. Rove said the person should finish school, get a degree, and then go on about his/her life. The person should find what it is that he/she wants to do in life. Be active in the community. Volunteer and work for local candidates. Then, if the opportunity arises, and politics is still a passion, then run for office. Someone planning a life in elected office is in for disappointment. To plan to run in a specific year or to attain elected office at a specific age is not a path to happiness. And, it is important to live where you are happy.
Rove pointed to the fact he was once in favor of term limits but now is not so strident. However, for politicians to stay and make it a life's total body of work is not a good thing. The case of Rep Obey is a prime example.
Obey has served 21 terms representing a district in western Wisconsin. For forty years he has been an ardent cheerleader for every liberal spending project that came down the pike. His district is mostly a conservative one but he is Obey remains thanks to union support and a large war chest. He faces tough re-election prospects this time from a young (age 38) conservative known for his stint on a reality television show. Obey claims he was ready to retire back in 2001 but was angered by an 'arrogant' President George W. Bush. He claims Bush would not bow to the spending projects Obey wanted to put on the legislative agenda. So, Obey decided to stay for the eight Bush administration years. What a stupid claim to make.
From The Washington Times:
Mr. Obey said he would have retired eight years ago but for an encounter with Mr. Bush at the White House that so infuriated him that he vowed to outlast the president.
The congressman said the top Democrats and Republicans on the House and Senate appropriations committees met with White House officials after Sept. 11, 2001, to present a list of areas that needed more funding. The president dropped in on the meeting and, according to Mr. Obey, rejected the list, saying he'd already figured out how much the country would spend.
"If I hadn't experienced that meeting and experienced the absolute stubbornness of the Bush administration on that occasion, I would have left this place a long time ago," he said.
Obey has succumbed to a common illness on Capitol Hill - an insufferable ego and inflated sense of importance. That is the result of all those decades of 'public service'. It is way past time for him to go and live off the handsome retirement package he'll receive for his decades of 'public service'. And the irony is lost on him that the current administration makes the Bush administration look like complete appeasers. The Obama administration and the Democratic leadership on The Hill do not even try to disguise their utter contempt for the minority party and do not include them in any legislation negotiations. Is there any wonder that the atmosphere is so poisonous? Obey has had a heavy hand in it all.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
RNC Chairman Focuses on November
RNC Chairman Michael Steele congratulates the winners of the various primaries held yesterday.
Countdown to Victory in November
Yesterday, May 4, officially marked the six month countdown to the November elections. Today, I would like to congratulate each and every Republican nominee who won their primary in Indiana, North Carolina, and Ohio and who will help bring the Republican Party to sweeping victories in five months, three weeks, and six days.
This fall, the GOP will field an All-Star team of candidates who are committed to the conservative ideals of lower taxes, fiscal restraint and controlling the deficit. We are excited to offer strong nominees who will represent the voice of America – your voice – in Washington, D.C., and state capitals across the country. These candidates will offer real alternatives to the big-government, reckless-spending, job-killing agenda of the Democrats.
•Hoosier Dan Coats will work to turn the seat of retiring Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) red, bringing us one seat closer to our ultimate goal of retaking the Senate.
•In North Carolina, Senator Richard Burr will continue to provide the steady Republican leadership that the state and the country need to defeat the leftist agenda of President Obama.
•Gubernatorial candidate John Kasich and Senatorial candidate Rob Portman will lead the Republican ticket in Ohio that will help turn this economy around and create the jobs that are so desperately needed.
The clock is ticking on the days of one party rule in D.C. We know the country craves the kind of leadership that will bring us back to the economic growth, fiscal responsibility, and limited government that has made us so successful in the past. Republicans stand ready to lead the United States to future prosperity and I am confident that Americans across the ideological spectrum will turn out in droves to put our candidates into office and get our country back on track.
So, again, congratulations to all the candidates who won the Republican nomination, you have our full support – the countdown to November 2nd is on!
Countdown to Victory in November
Yesterday, May 4, officially marked the six month countdown to the November elections. Today, I would like to congratulate each and every Republican nominee who won their primary in Indiana, North Carolina, and Ohio and who will help bring the Republican Party to sweeping victories in five months, three weeks, and six days.
This fall, the GOP will field an All-Star team of candidates who are committed to the conservative ideals of lower taxes, fiscal restraint and controlling the deficit. We are excited to offer strong nominees who will represent the voice of America – your voice – in Washington, D.C., and state capitals across the country. These candidates will offer real alternatives to the big-government, reckless-spending, job-killing agenda of the Democrats.
•Hoosier Dan Coats will work to turn the seat of retiring Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) red, bringing us one seat closer to our ultimate goal of retaking the Senate.
•In North Carolina, Senator Richard Burr will continue to provide the steady Republican leadership that the state and the country need to defeat the leftist agenda of President Obama.
•Gubernatorial candidate John Kasich and Senatorial candidate Rob Portman will lead the Republican ticket in Ohio that will help turn this economy around and create the jobs that are so desperately needed.
The clock is ticking on the days of one party rule in D.C. We know the country craves the kind of leadership that will bring us back to the economic growth, fiscal responsibility, and limited government that has made us so successful in the past. Republicans stand ready to lead the United States to future prosperity and I am confident that Americans across the ideological spectrum will turn out in droves to put our candidates into office and get our country back on track.
So, again, congratulations to all the candidates who won the Republican nomination, you have our full support – the countdown to November 2nd is on!
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
In Reporting On Terrorist Shahzad, Reality Bites
The Obama administration does it again. A terror attack is thwarted in Times Square on a Saturday night as thousands are walking around, enjoying the weekend, and the Obama spokespeople refuse to call it what it was. They again were slow to even label it a terrorist act.
The difficulty in appreciating the 'no drama Obama' public face is that it comes off as indifference. It comes off as cowardly in the face of danger. It does not come off as cool or mature. To show a bit of emotion would be refreshing. Obama waited until the event was well over to speak words written by others as he responded. Then, in order to avoid criticism as they took for the lame first response during the time of the Christmas underwear bomber incident, Attorney General Holder held a press conference at 1:30 AM when the capture was announced but took no questions. Then Team Obama sent out every member of the administration remotely responsible for response to this latest act today to do a mega press conference to appear to be all hands on deck. It's all about appearances for these people. The heavy influence of advertising and publicity superstars is evident. The president is on camera virtually almost every single day yet during the most serious of times, he is absent. It is just bizarre.
Those concerned with the politically correct response to danger look as though they live in another world. Here are a couple of examples:
Mayor Bloomberg said in an interview when asked if the terrorist could have been 'home-grown': "Home-grown, maybe a mentally deranged person or somebody with a political agenda that doesn't like the health care bill or something. It could be anything."
As illustrated HERE,some in the leftist mainstream media opening wish for any extremist but a Muslim extremist to be the perpetrators of violence to that their own bigotry can bear out. To the majority in the bloviating liberal press and media, to be conservative is to be a loon on the fringe.
Tea Party people have been savaged in the press. To hear the logic of the media people, they are violent racists who are enraged that a black man (or half black) is in the White House. So blinded by their rage, they have taken to the streets with their guns to spit on Congress members and threaten violent retribution. What is not told during media reports or press accounts covering liberal protests, for example the marches in support of illegal immigration, is that these are the protests and marches that turn violent. These are the events where law enforcement is attacked and injured, where businesses are vandalized, where participants physically attack counter-protesters as well as verbally abuse them. Somehow it is always the Tea Party crowds that are 'ugly' and 'divisive'.
Kudos to the law enforcement agencies that worked together and captured Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized U.S. citizen. Shahzad is from Pakistan, where his wife and young children still live. He is a 30 year old man from a wealthy family but in personal financial difficulties here, according to press reports. As an American citizen, he was Mirandized and does continue to talk to investigators. He was captured 53 hours after he ran from the scene of the burning SUV at JFK airport attempting to fly to Dubai.
So, no, the terror suspect is not an angry white guy from a Tea Party rally protesting the socialization of our country's social programs and industries. I don't know that I've read how Shahzad feels about Obamacare.
Eventually even the media folks will have to face the real world and all the ugly truths.
The difficulty in appreciating the 'no drama Obama' public face is that it comes off as indifference. It comes off as cowardly in the face of danger. It does not come off as cool or mature. To show a bit of emotion would be refreshing. Obama waited until the event was well over to speak words written by others as he responded. Then, in order to avoid criticism as they took for the lame first response during the time of the Christmas underwear bomber incident, Attorney General Holder held a press conference at 1:30 AM when the capture was announced but took no questions. Then Team Obama sent out every member of the administration remotely responsible for response to this latest act today to do a mega press conference to appear to be all hands on deck. It's all about appearances for these people. The heavy influence of advertising and publicity superstars is evident. The president is on camera virtually almost every single day yet during the most serious of times, he is absent. It is just bizarre.
Those concerned with the politically correct response to danger look as though they live in another world. Here are a couple of examples:
Mayor Bloomberg said in an interview when asked if the terrorist could have been 'home-grown': "Home-grown, maybe a mentally deranged person or somebody with a political agenda that doesn't like the health care bill or something. It could be anything."
As illustrated HERE,some in the leftist mainstream media opening wish for any extremist but a Muslim extremist to be the perpetrators of violence to that their own bigotry can bear out. To the majority in the bloviating liberal press and media, to be conservative is to be a loon on the fringe.
Tea Party people have been savaged in the press. To hear the logic of the media people, they are violent racists who are enraged that a black man (or half black) is in the White House. So blinded by their rage, they have taken to the streets with their guns to spit on Congress members and threaten violent retribution. What is not told during media reports or press accounts covering liberal protests, for example the marches in support of illegal immigration, is that these are the protests and marches that turn violent. These are the events where law enforcement is attacked and injured, where businesses are vandalized, where participants physically attack counter-protesters as well as verbally abuse them. Somehow it is always the Tea Party crowds that are 'ugly' and 'divisive'.
Kudos to the law enforcement agencies that worked together and captured Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized U.S. citizen. Shahzad is from Pakistan, where his wife and young children still live. He is a 30 year old man from a wealthy family but in personal financial difficulties here, according to press reports. As an American citizen, he was Mirandized and does continue to talk to investigators. He was captured 53 hours after he ran from the scene of the burning SUV at JFK airport attempting to fly to Dubai.
So, no, the terror suspect is not an angry white guy from a Tea Party rally protesting the socialization of our country's social programs and industries. I don't know that I've read how Shahzad feels about Obamacare.
Eventually even the media folks will have to face the real world and all the ugly truths.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Harris County DA Pat Lykos Sees Progress
Today I heard Pat Lykos, Harris County District Attorney, speak. She spoke of her innovative ideas and progress in her office.
With a staff of 600 and only 68 investigators, there is more than enough work to go around. Harris County, the third largest county in the country, with 34 municipalities, is more diverse and challenging than just about any other spot in the country. Currently, due to budget restraints, there is a freeze on new hiring.
A program called "Do the Right Thing" is now in place in schools and receiving rave reviews from teachers. The program targets children in eighth grade that are affected by violence. There is a writing component in the program that teachers are very supportive of and it allows the students to relay their personal experiences.
In the revised and renewed Victim's Rights Program, a caller no longer goes right to voicemail. Now a caller speaks to a real person on the other end of the line. Lykos uncovered corruption in the form of theft in the program. Restitution payments - money orders - from as far back as twenty years were found to have not been sent to the victims involved. A clerk in the program was cashing the money orders for herself - over $200,000 worth - and is now awaiting sentencing for her actions.
Lykos has created a Child Endangerment Division and was the first in the nation to prosecute a case involving an adult male and an 11 year old girl involved through video gaming. He reached out to her through her Playstation use.
The District Attorney's office has an active Animal Cruelty Unit. Dog fighting is a big problem in the county. Particularly disturbing is the number of children brought to these fights. Lykos spoke of the documented link between animal cruelty in childhood and adult crime.
The District Attorney's office is now collecting a database of international gangs operating in the county. Lykos said that virtually every international and domestic gang is represented in Harris County.
Lykos has placed as a priority working with the mayor to put in place an independent crime lab. No one wants innocent people to be prosecuted.
When asked by an audience member if illegal immigrants comprise the majority of those committing criminal acts, Lykos said that the number of DWIs are disproportionally committed by illegal immigrants.
Members of the audience were surprised to learn that DPS sells personal information on those applying for a drivers license. Credit card companies wanted the information made available and the Texas state legislature complied. Now her office is working on introducing legislation to allow Harris County to opt out of this.
Lykos would like to introduce a pilot project for the mentally ill in the county. She spoke of the need for housing for this population and the need for the ability to transition those in need back into society. She believes this can be accomplished by educating those in a transition program and if not, provide housing for those not capable of caring for themselves. Locally, Lykos praised the efforts of the Salvation Army and Star of Hope. She also praised the Boy Scouts for their work in the county.
Harris County is the beneficiary of a new District Attorney who is passionate about her work and thinks outside the box for solutions. Tough job. Smart woman.
With a staff of 600 and only 68 investigators, there is more than enough work to go around. Harris County, the third largest county in the country, with 34 municipalities, is more diverse and challenging than just about any other spot in the country. Currently, due to budget restraints, there is a freeze on new hiring.
A program called "Do the Right Thing" is now in place in schools and receiving rave reviews from teachers. The program targets children in eighth grade that are affected by violence. There is a writing component in the program that teachers are very supportive of and it allows the students to relay their personal experiences.
In the revised and renewed Victim's Rights Program, a caller no longer goes right to voicemail. Now a caller speaks to a real person on the other end of the line. Lykos uncovered corruption in the form of theft in the program. Restitution payments - money orders - from as far back as twenty years were found to have not been sent to the victims involved. A clerk in the program was cashing the money orders for herself - over $200,000 worth - and is now awaiting sentencing for her actions.
Lykos has created a Child Endangerment Division and was the first in the nation to prosecute a case involving an adult male and an 11 year old girl involved through video gaming. He reached out to her through her Playstation use.
The District Attorney's office has an active Animal Cruelty Unit. Dog fighting is a big problem in the county. Particularly disturbing is the number of children brought to these fights. Lykos spoke of the documented link between animal cruelty in childhood and adult crime.
The District Attorney's office is now collecting a database of international gangs operating in the county. Lykos said that virtually every international and domestic gang is represented in Harris County.
Lykos has placed as a priority working with the mayor to put in place an independent crime lab. No one wants innocent people to be prosecuted.
When asked by an audience member if illegal immigrants comprise the majority of those committing criminal acts, Lykos said that the number of DWIs are disproportionally committed by illegal immigrants.
Members of the audience were surprised to learn that DPS sells personal information on those applying for a drivers license. Credit card companies wanted the information made available and the Texas state legislature complied. Now her office is working on introducing legislation to allow Harris County to opt out of this.
Lykos would like to introduce a pilot project for the mentally ill in the county. She spoke of the need for housing for this population and the need for the ability to transition those in need back into society. She believes this can be accomplished by educating those in a transition program and if not, provide housing for those not capable of caring for themselves. Locally, Lykos praised the efforts of the Salvation Army and Star of Hope. She also praised the Boy Scouts for their work in the county.
Harris County is the beneficiary of a new District Attorney who is passionate about her work and thinks outside the box for solutions. Tough job. Smart woman.
Saturday, May 01, 2010
About the Deepwater Horizon Accident
President Obama plans to come to the Gulf coast on Sunday, according to published reports. Only yesterday did his cabinet members go and survey the situation. Then they held a photo op with Governor Jindal. The Obama administration realizes now that it has been slow off the mark and are in full over-compensation mode.
Only today is it formally announced that someone from the Coast Guard has been named to head up the operations with the national effort.
Here is an interesting interview with a survivor from the blow out. The man called into the Mark Levin radio show to tell his story.
The irony, of course, is that BP has for the past several years now, blitzed the televisions of America with commercials claiming to be the 'green' energy company. Within the industry, among the working professionals, there have been conversations of the hazards of the cost cutting methods of the company. BP was not literally drilling for oil - they hired Transocean to do that. The rig is owned by Transocean and the workers were mostly Transocean personnel. That is how the oil drilling industry works.
Full disclosure: my husband commissioned the Horizon's sister rig, Nautilus, in the Korean shipyard when the two were built, several years back. A photo from his website of the Nautilus has been used in news reports about the Horizon. My husband is an engineer in the oil drilling industry.
We are now 11 days out from the event. So to say that the administration has been slow in its response is an understatement. I do not begrudge any sector of the economy that sees a tragic event receive presidential attention. However, this event was obviously ignored initially. The president didn't even make a statement for more than 24 hours, though the search was on for eleven men. Not to be cynical but it is probably no coincidence that it was an accident that occurred offshore from a red state - Louisiana - and the Republican governor were the ones needing assistance, not a state that voted for Obama in 2008. Obama had time to campaign across the country for his agenda, to eulogize the coal miners in West Virginia, to go on a weekend getaway with Michelle, and to carry on his normal schedule in Washington. It is legitimate to criticize the response from him and his administration.
HERE is a good site to watch for updates on the situation on the Gulf coast.
It is interesting to note the reaction from the press since the tragedy happened. During other events, especially during the years of the George W. Bush presidency and especially during the Hurricane Katrina days, everyone was pointing fingers and yelling about the perceived slights from Washington. Silence now. Fortunately, this time Louisiana has a Republican governor that knew what to do. And, he demanded attention from Washington.
The knee jerk reactions that have since happened do not help. Talk of shutting down drilling? Talk of 're-thinking' a previously announced expansion of offshore drilling? That is neither leadership nor sound judgement. This was a horrible accident within a dangerous profession. Those who bring our energy to us know that this was a fluke - a slap from nature. It was unpredictable and there was no escape for those eleven souls directly in the line of the explosion.
BP will bear the cost of this disaster. The Transocean crew will be under scrutiny for their work performance. It should be noted that this rig and BP were given an award last year for safety. They were scheduled to receive it again this year. The oil drilling industry is the most regulated and taxed of any American industry.
Let the investigation go forward. Support those working to contain the oil spill. Hold in your thoughts those who work offshore - the oil drilling workers as well as the fishermen. Our Gulf coast needs you.
Only today is it formally announced that someone from the Coast Guard has been named to head up the operations with the national effort.
Here is an interesting interview with a survivor from the blow out. The man called into the Mark Levin radio show to tell his story.
The irony, of course, is that BP has for the past several years now, blitzed the televisions of America with commercials claiming to be the 'green' energy company. Within the industry, among the working professionals, there have been conversations of the hazards of the cost cutting methods of the company. BP was not literally drilling for oil - they hired Transocean to do that. The rig is owned by Transocean and the workers were mostly Transocean personnel. That is how the oil drilling industry works.
Full disclosure: my husband commissioned the Horizon's sister rig, Nautilus, in the Korean shipyard when the two were built, several years back. A photo from his website of the Nautilus has been used in news reports about the Horizon. My husband is an engineer in the oil drilling industry.
We are now 11 days out from the event. So to say that the administration has been slow in its response is an understatement. I do not begrudge any sector of the economy that sees a tragic event receive presidential attention. However, this event was obviously ignored initially. The president didn't even make a statement for more than 24 hours, though the search was on for eleven men. Not to be cynical but it is probably no coincidence that it was an accident that occurred offshore from a red state - Louisiana - and the Republican governor were the ones needing assistance, not a state that voted for Obama in 2008. Obama had time to campaign across the country for his agenda, to eulogize the coal miners in West Virginia, to go on a weekend getaway with Michelle, and to carry on his normal schedule in Washington. It is legitimate to criticize the response from him and his administration.
HERE is a good site to watch for updates on the situation on the Gulf coast.
It is interesting to note the reaction from the press since the tragedy happened. During other events, especially during the years of the George W. Bush presidency and especially during the Hurricane Katrina days, everyone was pointing fingers and yelling about the perceived slights from Washington. Silence now. Fortunately, this time Louisiana has a Republican governor that knew what to do. And, he demanded attention from Washington.
The knee jerk reactions that have since happened do not help. Talk of shutting down drilling? Talk of 're-thinking' a previously announced expansion of offshore drilling? That is neither leadership nor sound judgement. This was a horrible accident within a dangerous profession. Those who bring our energy to us know that this was a fluke - a slap from nature. It was unpredictable and there was no escape for those eleven souls directly in the line of the explosion.
BP will bear the cost of this disaster. The Transocean crew will be under scrutiny for their work performance. It should be noted that this rig and BP were given an award last year for safety. They were scheduled to receive it again this year. The oil drilling industry is the most regulated and taxed of any American industry.
Let the investigation go forward. Support those working to contain the oil spill. Hold in your thoughts those who work offshore - the oil drilling workers as well as the fishermen. Our Gulf coast needs you.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Charlie Crist Cracks - Runs as Independent
Florida Governor Charlie Crist has made a decision. He has decided to run as an Independent instead of as a Republican in the race for the open U.S. Senate seat. Crist, despite months of insisting he would never run as anything but a Republican, looking the cameras straight-on and denying any thoughts of running as an Independent, sees the polls and knows the truth. He cannot beat Marco Rubio. Instead of seeing the race through, or simply dropping out, Crist has decided the race is all about his ego and not the people of Florida.
Crist and his record as governor are not so popular with Republican voters. At a time when the GOP was fighting President Obama on a massive government spending/stimulus bill, Crist decided to align himself with Obama. Now the infamous photo of 'the hug' has come back to haunt him. When Obama went to Florida to rally support for the bill, Crist was a willing useful idiot. He appeared on stage with Obama and hugged it out. Instead of strongly disagreeing with the wasteful allocation of federal dollars, as Texas Governor Perry, for example, did, Crist sided with the liberal Democrats in Congress. Texas accepted federal monies but did not accept all that was available and voiced opposition to strings attached that would prove detrimental to states' budgets in coming years. Republicans expected better from Crist.
Some will look at the move in simplistic terms. The truth is, though, Charlie Crist isn't scorned by the GOP for being a moderate. He is scorned for being a nothing. He is the worst kind of politician - a man of no principle. He is proving again to be only out for himself and his career.
From The Note at ABC News: Deeper than ideology, or even hugs: “The more complicated truth, say top GOP officials from both wings of the party, is that an ornery conservative base is expressing its disgust for Republicans who have both flagrantly defied the party and who represent a distrusted political establishment,” Politico’s Jonathan Martin reports. “GOP officials, preparing for Crist’s move Thursday, said his unambiguous play for political survival wouldn’t reveal fissures within the party as much as it would underline the problem he already has -- that he’s the ultimate play-the-angles pol.” While it is obnoxious of reporter Martin to describe the conservative base as 'ornery', he is accurate in his description of Crist. It is all about survival.
Crist has not exactly accumulated a stellar record as the leader of the state of Florida. Now reporting is uncovering some not so above board deals given to friends of Crist. It is not just frustration towards incumbents but frustration towards incumbents going along to get along. It is expected that our leaders know when to say no. It is expected that our leaders know that simply throwing tax payer money at problems doesn't get the results needed. Republicans are waking up across the country and demanding the party principles make a comeback to guide the way forward. Crist is the wrong kind of moderate - he spends like a liberal. Moderates can still win re-elections if the candidate has a history of fiscal conservatism.
How he has fallen. Just last year he was 30 points up over unknown, outside of Florida, Marco Rubio. Then misstep after misstep for his own political gain continued. He was against offshore drilling before he was for it and now he is against it again. He went back and forth with the teachers' unions. He is a leaf in the wind.
Now, Republicans who donated to his campaign in good faith, taking the man at his word that he was running as a Republican, are asking for the money returned. Senator Cornyn, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who endorsed Crist early on in the campaign, is requesting a refund of $10,000. Senator Cornyn thinks his request is just the beginning.
The race will be interesting. We can only hope the victor is not the Democrat in the race.
Crist and his record as governor are not so popular with Republican voters. At a time when the GOP was fighting President Obama on a massive government spending/stimulus bill, Crist decided to align himself with Obama. Now the infamous photo of 'the hug' has come back to haunt him. When Obama went to Florida to rally support for the bill, Crist was a willing useful idiot. He appeared on stage with Obama and hugged it out. Instead of strongly disagreeing with the wasteful allocation of federal dollars, as Texas Governor Perry, for example, did, Crist sided with the liberal Democrats in Congress. Texas accepted federal monies but did not accept all that was available and voiced opposition to strings attached that would prove detrimental to states' budgets in coming years. Republicans expected better from Crist.
Some will look at the move in simplistic terms. The truth is, though, Charlie Crist isn't scorned by the GOP for being a moderate. He is scorned for being a nothing. He is the worst kind of politician - a man of no principle. He is proving again to be only out for himself and his career.
From The Note at ABC News: Deeper than ideology, or even hugs: “The more complicated truth, say top GOP officials from both wings of the party, is that an ornery conservative base is expressing its disgust for Republicans who have both flagrantly defied the party and who represent a distrusted political establishment,” Politico’s Jonathan Martin reports. “GOP officials, preparing for Crist’s move Thursday, said his unambiguous play for political survival wouldn’t reveal fissures within the party as much as it would underline the problem he already has -- that he’s the ultimate play-the-angles pol.” While it is obnoxious of reporter Martin to describe the conservative base as 'ornery', he is accurate in his description of Crist. It is all about survival.
Crist has not exactly accumulated a stellar record as the leader of the state of Florida. Now reporting is uncovering some not so above board deals given to friends of Crist. It is not just frustration towards incumbents but frustration towards incumbents going along to get along. It is expected that our leaders know when to say no. It is expected that our leaders know that simply throwing tax payer money at problems doesn't get the results needed. Republicans are waking up across the country and demanding the party principles make a comeback to guide the way forward. Crist is the wrong kind of moderate - he spends like a liberal. Moderates can still win re-elections if the candidate has a history of fiscal conservatism.
How he has fallen. Just last year he was 30 points up over unknown, outside of Florida, Marco Rubio. Then misstep after misstep for his own political gain continued. He was against offshore drilling before he was for it and now he is against it again. He went back and forth with the teachers' unions. He is a leaf in the wind.
Now, Republicans who donated to his campaign in good faith, taking the man at his word that he was running as a Republican, are asking for the money returned. Senator Cornyn, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, who endorsed Crist early on in the campaign, is requesting a refund of $10,000. Senator Cornyn thinks his request is just the beginning.
The race will be interesting. We can only hope the victor is not the Democrat in the race.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
POTUS Campaigns For Financial Reform
The problem with a president who continually campaigns for this and that, who never stopped campaigning even after he won the election, who lives in a state of perpetual campaigning, is that the people are simply tired of him. We are tired of the daily barrage of photo ops and the trips here and there that are to signal his concern for the average American.
After going to North Carolina for a 'getaway' vaca with Michelle, just like any ole average couple, he dropped by the home of Reverend Billy Graham. This was their first meeting. Do the Obamas understand that average Americans do not agree that Graham's son, Franklin, should have been disinvited to the national prayer breakfast for speaking out about fanatic followers of Islam immediately after the attacks of 9/11/01? Both Grahams were present for the visit. This year, by the way, Franklin Graham was the chair of the event to which he was disinvited.
A protest against the impending Obama visit drew over 1,000 people, though we would not know about it from the standard media coverage. Here is an article from a local newspaper.
After going to North Carolina for a 'getaway' vaca with Michelle, just like any ole average couple, he dropped by the home of Reverend Billy Graham. This was their first meeting. Do the Obamas understand that average Americans do not agree that Graham's son, Franklin, should have been disinvited to the national prayer breakfast for speaking out about fanatic followers of Islam immediately after the attacks of 9/11/01? Both Grahams were present for the visit. This year, by the way, Franklin Graham was the chair of the event to which he was disinvited.
A protest against the impending Obama visit drew over 1,000 people, though we would not know about it from the standard media coverage. Here is an article from a local newspaper.
We have seen the thin skin of the president as he is criticized. In Iowa, he mocked his audience of supporters because he didn't receive any applause for mentioning 'hard choices' that will have to be made to improve the economy. This is his habit. He uses the 'hard choices' argument to pave the way for raising taxes and breaking his premier campaign pledge of not raising taxes on anyone making less than $250,000, then $200,000. Seems this is the cut-off for the 'rich' versus regular working Americans in the mind of President Obama. Only the lemmings bought that pledge but there are numerous sound bites from the campaign trail to point to the fact that the president repeatedly made that promise. The 'debt commission' is the cover for his excuse to bilk everyone, 'rich' and poor alike, for more taxes to waste in Washington as he continues his big government power grabs.
Here is an interesting take on the Obama method. It is a sign of impeding doom for his presidency that he does not feel the need to strive to appear in the best possible light. He possesses a personality that enjoys tearing into his opposition - the more personal the attack, the better - and that is not complimentary to his office. Traditionally, the vice president is sent out to do the president's bidding. If Obama change means resorting to lowering the standards of the office, then we all are the lesser for it.
A little human interest story HERE tells of some behind the scenes action. Seems a 'local hire' by ABC News covering the Iowa event got into a bit of trouble with the Secret Service agents and sent along to the local law enforcement people.
Obama told the audience in Quincy, Illinois, "I do think at a certain point you've made enough money." That is his opinion of the Wall Street crowd. I ponder, has he said the same to his pal, Oprah, the billionaire? Or maybe his big supporter, Warren Buffett? Or George Soros? HERE is a clip of his speech. To say it is disturbing for the president to give voice to his opinion that business success is somehow wrong - that there are limits to how successful a person can be - would be an understatement. We are a capitalist nation. America is the land of opportunity and no one is a better example that Barack Obama. What would be his reaction is, say, the next president told him that since he has achieved the highest position of power in the world and made millions along the way by capitalizing on his own rise to power, then he is not entitled to any more profits - such as those he is sure to receive at a future date from books he and his wife will write upon leaving office? Would he be ok with that? Of course not. He should demand nothing less from others than what he expects for himself.
Obama supporter Buffett does not agree with the financial reform bill for which the president is campaigning. He is more in line with some of the GOP opposition to items in the bill. Senator Ben Nelson, from the state of Nebraska - Buffett's home - was the lone Democrat to vote with the GOP to keep the bill from going to the floor for debate. He held out for changes along with the GOP being spurned by the president. As it is written, the financial reform bill is another lengthy hodge podge - more than 1300 pages - that has solely partisan support. The only bipartisan support is seen in its opposition. Is this yet another piece of legislation that politicians will tell us must be passed so that we may see what is in it?
A Book Review
"A Century Turns" by William J. Bennett
Published by Thomas Nelson
This book is easy to read and not at all as dry as one might expect a book about the years between 1988 to 2008, from an historical standpoint. A key factor in the author's writing style is that he has first person reference to many of the events. He provides the reader with behind the scene tidbits yet does not project a judgemental observation.
Bennett describes events from his own life and how history has shown his views to be correct or not. For example, he describes the decision of Bill Gates to drop out of Harvard and form Microsoft. Bennett was a proctor at Harvard during that time and advised Gates to stay in school. Bennett also tells about a meeting with George W. Bush during the time Bush was considering people as a running mate. Bennett declined Bush's inquiry when asked if he was interested in the vice president slot of the ticket in 2000.
This book is a refreshing look back at events that have shaped our country as described in honest and thoughtful language. The book cuts through the bias from media reports of events and provides some honest reporting of history. Bill Bennett has a natural gift of storytelling and combines it with a true appreciation of our nation's history. The reader is the beneficiary.
I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.combook review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This book is easy to read and not at all as dry as one might expect a book about the years between 1988 to 2008, from an historical standpoint. A key factor in the author's writing style is that he has first person reference to many of the events. He provides the reader with behind the scene tidbits yet does not project a judgemental observation.
Bennett describes events from his own life and how history has shown his views to be correct or not. For example, he describes the decision of Bill Gates to drop out of Harvard and form Microsoft. Bennett was a proctor at Harvard during that time and advised Gates to stay in school. Bennett also tells about a meeting with George W. Bush during the time Bush was considering people as a running mate. Bennett declined Bush's inquiry when asked if he was interested in the vice president slot of the ticket in 2000.
This book is a refreshing look back at events that have shaped our country as described in honest and thoughtful language. The book cuts through the bias from media reports of events and provides some honest reporting of history. Bill Bennett has a natural gift of storytelling and combines it with a true appreciation of our nation's history. The reader is the beneficiary.
I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Arizona Enacts Illegal Immigration Legislation
President Obama has instructed Attorney General Holder to look into a potential
federal challenge to the new law in Arizona to deal with illegal immigrants. When the bill was signed into law by the governor, Obama weighed in that is was "misguided". As is his pattern, Obama weighs in without the full context of a subject.
I would argue that it is 'misguided' for the Federal government to stay on the sidelines and not correct the problems faced by border states like Arizona. I would argue that it is 'misguided' for the President of the United States to insert himself into the argument before he has read the actual bill. While it is obvious that the Democratic leadership in Washington no longer feels obliged to read legislation, I would argue that not reading bills is also 'misguided'.
Frank Antenori, Arizona State Senator, said, "in Arizona, we actually read bills". He claims the new law does not allow profiling, that those here illegally would come under scrutiny only if stopped by police for suspicion of unlawful acts. He said the law 'uncuffs' the hands of law enforcement so that detention is possible if someone is suspected of being in the state illegally.
Arizona State Senator Russell Pierce, the author of the legislation, said that parts of the Arizona law are the exact wording from Federal legislation. Unfortunately, the Federal law is not enforced. From Sedona Biz : Russell Pearce is the author of S.B. 1070, which requires officials and agencies of the state and political subdivisions to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws and establishes crimes related to illegal immigration. It specifies requirements for employers who assert an entrapment defense for intentionally or knowingly employing an unauthorized alien.
Pearce is one of Arizona’s most outspoken advocate for stopping the illegal invasion, securing our borders and enforcing our laws. In 2004 he was the architect of The Citizen’s Initiative known as Proposition 200, also known as Protect Arizona NOW (Arizona's Citizens and Taxpayers Protection Act), to require: Arizona's Fair and Legal Employment Act; Arizona’s Employer Sanctions legislation, the toughest work site enforcement bill in the nation to stop illegal employers and to protect jobs for Arizonans.
In 2009 he was recognized as the number one legislator, “Hero of the Taxpayer” by the Americans for Prosperity, a taxpayer’s watchdog group. He has been consistently rated in the very top every year he has been in the legislature. As a State legislator he was recognized by the Goldwater Institute as the number one legislator who proved to be the strongest ally against government encroachment on liberty.
He was one of only seven legislators in the nation and the only one in Arizona to receive the "Hero of the Taxpayer" award by the American Tax Reform Association, a national taxpayer and limited government association. He is currently Chairman of the Arizona Senate's Appropriations Committee and proudly states that, “I am the gatekeeper, not the gift giver. Taxpayer money comes from the hard labor of Dads and Moms."
I tend to agree with Jeb Bush. He looks at it from a practical approach. Jeb Bush said in an article published by Politico: “I think it creates unintended consequences,” he said in a telephone interview with POLITICO Tuesday. “It’s difficult for me to imagine how you’re going to enforce this law. It places a significant burden on local law enforcement and you have civil liberties issues that are significant as well.”
The law appears to be unconstitutional as well. The fourth amendment states: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Democrats, like Obama and Holder, work the issue of illegal immigration as a way to gin up their base and hope to use it as a battering ram for electoral success. This is the lowest form of politics - it exploits the poor and hopeless as well as American citizens directly affected by the consequences of illegal immigration.
It is easy to understand what led up to the action taken by the Arizona legislature and Governor Brewer. Frustrated from years of willful neglect from those in Washington tasked with keeping our borders secure, the state of Arizona is in chaos. Murders on ranches that bump up to the border with Mexico, as well as other criminal activity have overwhelmed the state's law enforcement. No serious effort from the federal level has been used since the days of Ronald Reagan. To now demand, however, that even legal citizens carry their paperwork on their person just in case an officer of the law suspects they might be an illegal immigrant, is not the answer.
The top requirement of the federal government is national security. Secure the borders. Enact a path to citizenship. Immediately deport those here illegally that commit crime. Whether those in office in Washington wish to confront these solutions or not, it has to be done. It is time for Washington to enforce the laws already on the books.
Leadership comes from the top down. This act was not done because the people of Arizona are racist or bitter or hateful people. It occurred as a last resort.
federal challenge to the new law in Arizona to deal with illegal immigrants. When the bill was signed into law by the governor, Obama weighed in that is was "misguided". As is his pattern, Obama weighs in without the full context of a subject.
I would argue that it is 'misguided' for the Federal government to stay on the sidelines and not correct the problems faced by border states like Arizona. I would argue that it is 'misguided' for the President of the United States to insert himself into the argument before he has read the actual bill. While it is obvious that the Democratic leadership in Washington no longer feels obliged to read legislation, I would argue that not reading bills is also 'misguided'.
Frank Antenori, Arizona State Senator, said, "in Arizona, we actually read bills". He claims the new law does not allow profiling, that those here illegally would come under scrutiny only if stopped by police for suspicion of unlawful acts. He said the law 'uncuffs' the hands of law enforcement so that detention is possible if someone is suspected of being in the state illegally.
Arizona State Senator Russell Pierce, the author of the legislation, said that parts of the Arizona law are the exact wording from Federal legislation. Unfortunately, the Federal law is not enforced. From Sedona Biz : Russell Pearce is the author of S.B. 1070, which requires officials and agencies of the state and political subdivisions to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws and establishes crimes related to illegal immigration. It specifies requirements for employers who assert an entrapment defense for intentionally or knowingly employing an unauthorized alien.
Pearce is one of Arizona’s most outspoken advocate for stopping the illegal invasion, securing our borders and enforcing our laws. In 2004 he was the architect of The Citizen’s Initiative known as Proposition 200, also known as Protect Arizona NOW (Arizona's Citizens and Taxpayers Protection Act), to require: Arizona's Fair and Legal Employment Act; Arizona’s Employer Sanctions legislation, the toughest work site enforcement bill in the nation to stop illegal employers and to protect jobs for Arizonans.
In 2009 he was recognized as the number one legislator, “Hero of the Taxpayer” by the Americans for Prosperity, a taxpayer’s watchdog group. He has been consistently rated in the very top every year he has been in the legislature. As a State legislator he was recognized by the Goldwater Institute as the number one legislator who proved to be the strongest ally against government encroachment on liberty.
He was one of only seven legislators in the nation and the only one in Arizona to receive the "Hero of the Taxpayer" award by the American Tax Reform Association, a national taxpayer and limited government association. He is currently Chairman of the Arizona Senate's Appropriations Committee and proudly states that, “I am the gatekeeper, not the gift giver. Taxpayer money comes from the hard labor of Dads and Moms."
I tend to agree with Jeb Bush. He looks at it from a practical approach. Jeb Bush said in an article published by Politico: “I think it creates unintended consequences,” he said in a telephone interview with POLITICO Tuesday. “It’s difficult for me to imagine how you’re going to enforce this law. It places a significant burden on local law enforcement and you have civil liberties issues that are significant as well.”
The law appears to be unconstitutional as well. The fourth amendment states: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Democrats, like Obama and Holder, work the issue of illegal immigration as a way to gin up their base and hope to use it as a battering ram for electoral success. This is the lowest form of politics - it exploits the poor and hopeless as well as American citizens directly affected by the consequences of illegal immigration.
It is easy to understand what led up to the action taken by the Arizona legislature and Governor Brewer. Frustrated from years of willful neglect from those in Washington tasked with keeping our borders secure, the state of Arizona is in chaos. Murders on ranches that bump up to the border with Mexico, as well as other criminal activity have overwhelmed the state's law enforcement. No serious effort from the federal level has been used since the days of Ronald Reagan. To now demand, however, that even legal citizens carry their paperwork on their person just in case an officer of the law suspects they might be an illegal immigrant, is not the answer.
The top requirement of the federal government is national security. Secure the borders. Enact a path to citizenship. Immediately deport those here illegally that commit crime. Whether those in office in Washington wish to confront these solutions or not, it has to be done. It is time for Washington to enforce the laws already on the books.
Leadership comes from the top down. This act was not done because the people of Arizona are racist or bitter or hateful people. It occurred as a last resort.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Obama Pleads for a Get Out the Vote Effort by DNC
Watching this youtube delivered by President Obama for the DNC, we learn that the Democrats are indeed quite concerned over predicted upcoming electoral losses in November. He does this video as a get out the vote effort.
What is evident is that the script is classic Obama - referencing the challenges he "inherited" and dividing voters by race and sex. He references the importance of getting blacks and hispanics and women to the polls so that they will vote for the Democratic candidates. How do they feel being taken for granted by the Democratic party?
What is evident is that the script is classic Obama - referencing the challenges he "inherited" and dividing voters by race and sex. He references the importance of getting blacks and hispanics and women to the polls so that they will vote for the Democratic candidates. How do they feel being taken for granted by the Democratic party?
Monday, April 26, 2010
Will POTUS Eulogize Those Lost On the Deepwater Horizon?
Is it cynical to assume President Obama went to West Virginia to eulogize the coal miners who lost their lives on the job because West Virginia supports a Democratic governor and union jobs? Or was it because it was a good venue to push for his reform measures in a new energy bill slated to go to the Senate floor this week? Just wondering if he would also appear at a memorial service for the oil drilling rig workers who died, also doing their job last week?
Maybe Team Obama should remember the political fallout over the politicization of the Paul Wellstone funeral in Minnesota for the Democrats trying to capitalize on death.
Maybe Team Obama should remember the political fallout over the politicization of the Paul Wellstone funeral in Minnesota for the Democrats trying to capitalize on death.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Cynical POTUS Decries Cynical Politics of Financial Bill
One week ago the SEC filed suit against Goldman Sachs. For a year and a half, Goldman Sachs has been under investigation for its part in the financial difficulties facing our economy. Why did the SEC choose last Friday to file suit? Even the least cynical of political observers are nodding agreement with the rest of us- it was all about trying to jump into the administration's next large item of their agenda: financial reform. Standard courtesies typically extended were foregone. The CEO of Goldman Sachs learned of the decision through the media, not from the SEC. Typically, a firm is given a heads-up by the SEC if action will be taken. Not this time. This time, it was The New York Times that received the heads-up. And, to further make the process sleazy, the filing of the suit was done during trading hours, not after hours as is customary.
All of this action led up to the president's visit to NYC yesterday to scold Wall Streeters and try to act as though he is righteously indignant about their business practices. It was a dud of a speech and not well received, as one would imagine. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you and your party. The CEO of Goldman Sachs attended the farce of an event.
As is his habit, the president used his favorite straw men in talking about opposition to his bill as it now stands. What he didn't bother to talk about was the fact that Senate Majority Leader Reid has decided he doesn't need no stinkin' bipartisan support for it and is trying to speed up the vote. The House has passed it and now Harry is under the gun. The reason for little bipartisan support as it now stands? Reid is insisting on leaving in a permanent $50 billion slush fund to be administered by the Executive branch, for bailing out those deemed 'too big to fail". The GOP wants it taken out and so does, as a matter of fact, the president. Reid and his fellow Democrats in the senate leadership wants it left in. That is the biggest hurdle now.
On Goldman's visits to the White House:
Goldman's connections to the White House and the Obama administration are raising eyebrows at a time when Washington and Wall Street are dueling over how to overhaul regulation of the financial world. And this -
Goldman is retaining former Obama White House counsel Gregory Craig as a member of its legal team. In addition, when he worked as an investment banker in Chicago a decade ago, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel advised one client who also retained Goldman as an adviser on the same $8.2 billion deal
It's just all a bit too cozy to allow the president to allege that it is in any way only the GOP that is in bed with the Wall Street titans. That stereotype no longer applies within the framework of financial reform debate. In truth, recent election cycles have shown it is the Democratic party that receives more campaign contributions than the Republican party. Obama snarls about the 'fat cats' on Wall Street as he takes their campaign contributions, hand over fist. In the 2008 election race against John McCain, Obama's campaign received just under $1 million dollars from Goldman Sachs employees alone.
How about the staunchest of Democrats - the union 'fat cats' - and their relationship to this administration? The Heritage Foundation tells that tale: Big labor's ties to this White House are already well documented. Less known is just how close Obama administration interests align with the big firms that benefit most from the TARP bailout. The Washington Examiner reports that at Goldman Sachs, the nation's largest investment bank, four of the five in-house lobbyists were Democratic Capitol Hill staffers -- the remaining one gave $1,000 to Hillary Clinton last election.
Goldman Sachs stock is down 15% since the action taken last Friday. The vote by the SEC to pursue the lawsuit right now went along party lines - the three Democrats voted for it, the 2 GOP members voted against the decision to move now on it. It's a purely political stunt to increase pressure on Republican senators to vote yes to the president's bill.
So far in 2010, 62% of political contributions by Goldman Sachs employees have gone to Democrats. The White House denies the obvious link between a Google search of the words "Goldman SEC" and the paid sponsorship link that takes the searcher first to a website raising money for Obama. This proves that it is an orchestrated attempt to influence the public, paid for and implemented in advance of the Friday announcement.
There is no fix for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacles in this bill. Long ago these two programs were shown to be problematic at best. In 2003, then Treasury Secretary John Snow warned of serious problems with mortgage regulations and the need for a fix. In 2005, the very people writing the new bill were the ones denying any problems from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Democrats blocked any fixing then and now. They were against regulation before they were for it.
The whole 'coincidence' stinks. And the president's call for an end to "cynical" politics in his speech? Laughable. And so very predictable.
All of this action led up to the president's visit to NYC yesterday to scold Wall Streeters and try to act as though he is righteously indignant about their business practices. It was a dud of a speech and not well received, as one would imagine. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you and your party. The CEO of Goldman Sachs attended the farce of an event.
As is his habit, the president used his favorite straw men in talking about opposition to his bill as it now stands. What he didn't bother to talk about was the fact that Senate Majority Leader Reid has decided he doesn't need no stinkin' bipartisan support for it and is trying to speed up the vote. The House has passed it and now Harry is under the gun. The reason for little bipartisan support as it now stands? Reid is insisting on leaving in a permanent $50 billion slush fund to be administered by the Executive branch, for bailing out those deemed 'too big to fail". The GOP wants it taken out and so does, as a matter of fact, the president. Reid and his fellow Democrats in the senate leadership wants it left in. That is the biggest hurdle now.
On Goldman's visits to the White House:
Goldman's connections to the White House and the Obama administration are raising eyebrows at a time when Washington and Wall Street are dueling over how to overhaul regulation of the financial world. And this -
Goldman is retaining former Obama White House counsel Gregory Craig as a member of its legal team. In addition, when he worked as an investment banker in Chicago a decade ago, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel advised one client who also retained Goldman as an adviser on the same $8.2 billion deal
It's just all a bit too cozy to allow the president to allege that it is in any way only the GOP that is in bed with the Wall Street titans. That stereotype no longer applies within the framework of financial reform debate. In truth, recent election cycles have shown it is the Democratic party that receives more campaign contributions than the Republican party. Obama snarls about the 'fat cats' on Wall Street as he takes their campaign contributions, hand over fist. In the 2008 election race against John McCain, Obama's campaign received just under $1 million dollars from Goldman Sachs employees alone.
How about the staunchest of Democrats - the union 'fat cats' - and their relationship to this administration? The Heritage Foundation tells that tale: Big labor's ties to this White House are already well documented. Less known is just how close Obama administration interests align with the big firms that benefit most from the TARP bailout. The Washington Examiner reports that at Goldman Sachs, the nation's largest investment bank, four of the five in-house lobbyists were Democratic Capitol Hill staffers -- the remaining one gave $1,000 to Hillary Clinton last election.
Goldman Sachs stock is down 15% since the action taken last Friday. The vote by the SEC to pursue the lawsuit right now went along party lines - the three Democrats voted for it, the 2 GOP members voted against the decision to move now on it. It's a purely political stunt to increase pressure on Republican senators to vote yes to the president's bill.
So far in 2010, 62% of political contributions by Goldman Sachs employees have gone to Democrats. The White House denies the obvious link between a Google search of the words "Goldman SEC" and the paid sponsorship link that takes the searcher first to a website raising money for Obama. This proves that it is an orchestrated attempt to influence the public, paid for and implemented in advance of the Friday announcement.
There is no fix for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacles in this bill. Long ago these two programs were shown to be problematic at best. In 2003, then Treasury Secretary John Snow warned of serious problems with mortgage regulations and the need for a fix. In 2005, the very people writing the new bill were the ones denying any problems from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Democrats blocked any fixing then and now. They were against regulation before they were for it.
The whole 'coincidence' stinks. And the president's call for an end to "cynical" politics in his speech? Laughable. And so very predictable.
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