Purity. The word takes on a double meaning in the world of electoral politics. Within the Republican Party especially, the struggle between those searching for ideological purity and those carving out more practical, nuanced positions can be both entertaining and horrifying to watch. For the typical Evangelical/Tea-party activist, the word takes on a a very positive tone; such as "purified drinking water". On the other hand is the establishment who, when faced with the word, hears something far closer to the "race purification" doctrine espoused by the Fuhrer.
Unfortunately, the former is winning out in our party. Practicality and electability have taken a back seat to an ideological predictability that is so bold and disconnected with the American people as to virtually guarantee electoral defeat in November. In their one way tunnel of thought, the answers of our party brethren are always the same and never vary: Abortion? It's always wrong and never ok in any circumstance. Ever. At all. Gay marriage? It's destroying the country and threatening our children. Defense spending? No cuts, for any reason, at any time. Ever. Taxes? Get rid of 'em. The poor? Lazy. Women? Home makers. The courts? A beacon of truth and reason when we agree, activist and overreaching when we do not.
The purists can come no closer to a perfect candidate than Rick Santorum, former senator from Pennsylvania, who today is threatening the once seemingly inevitable nomination of Mitt Romney. And, of course, the problems with his candidacy are as predictable as his socially conservative, devoutly Catholic politics. He has compared homosexuality to polygamy and incest. He has said that women being allowed in combat rolls raises certain "emotional concerns". He has said that homosexuals should not be allowed to serve openly in the military. He has said contraception is dangerous to women. He has raised questions regarding the moral integrity of mothers who choose to have careers rather than be career mothers.
Regardless of how one actually feels about these issues, there is a skill in politics that good politicians learn, and learn fast. The art of learning when to shut one's mouth can be a very helpful skill. Only ideologues possess the kind of self righteous chutzpah required to actually say they believe homosexuals are as dangerous as men who have sex with their daughters or that working mothers are, somehow, subpar.
Needless to say, these issues would be unimportant if Americans at large actually agreed with Rick Santorum. The problem, of course, is that they do not. If the GOP is willing to nominate a man so comfortably out of the mainstream on these very sensitive issues then it is prepared to lose one of the most consequential elections in a generation. In the pursuit of everything these purists will gain nothing and insure the president's reelection.
It has been said, often grudgingly, that the establishment always wins in the nominating process. Let's hope that it does this time, at least.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Hook, Line and We're Sinking
Point of Order No. 4,321,458:
A recent study released by the Heritage Foundation states that the depedency index under President Obama has grown an astounding 23% during his reign er I mean presidency.
In just a mere two years 67 million (yes that's MILLION) people are now relying on federal aid in one form or another.
Investors.com explains "In 2010, for the first time ever, average spending on dependence programs per recipient exceeded the country's per-capita disposable income."
The Left would have you believe that the reason behind this spike is mainly the crap economy, but WE'RE NOT BUYING IT.
In true Demo fashion BO has to create a dependency among the voting base so he'll have something "positive" to discuss on the campaign trail & like a broken record we'll hear it over and over and over again...
In just a mere two years 67 million (yes that's MILLION) people are now relying on federal aid in one form or another.
Investors.com explains "In 2010, for the first time ever, average spending on dependence programs per recipient exceeded the country's per-capita disposable income."
The Left would have you believe that the reason behind this spike is mainly the crap economy, but WE'RE NOT BUYING IT.
In true Demo fashion BO has to create a dependency among the voting base so he'll have something "positive" to discuss on the campaign trail & like a broken record we'll hear it over and over and over again...
We'll hear such great hits as: " I belong to the party of social equality, the party that keeps you fed, in a warm home and at the doctors office if need be..." and the classic "A vote for me is a vote for your security, the Republicans can't WAIT to take these programs away!" You'll be sure to hear these aforementioned tunes on his next LP ScareTactics 2012 out this November. The CD will feature a duet with Joe Biden and Kanye West entitled "George W. Bush Still Hates Black People".
By creating this base of individuals who are largely dependent on the government Obama is attempting to solidify his next term. A few problems here 1) we're on to you 2) we're paying for it 3) we're sick of it.
Investors.com continues: "The report also found that spending on "dependence programs" accounts for more than 70% of the federal budget. That, too, is up dramatically. In 1990, for example, the figure stood at 48.5%, and in 1962 just over a quarter of federal spending went to dependence programs."
If these numbers are not making you feel very angry inside YOU'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. Start, because we are paying for this. You. Me. & Everyone else we work with because those receiving these benefits sure as hell aren't pitching in.... "fewer Americans pay income taxes, the report notes. Almost half (49.5%) didn't pay income taxes in 2009, the latest year for which the researchers have data. Back in the late 1960s, only 12% of Americans escaped the income tax burden."
Wake up America. November can not possibly get here fast enough. It's time to send a message to Washington & that message is Mr. President it's not karaoke night, it's election night. Pack your bags & give us back our country.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
The Implosion of Newt Gingrich
I can think of several reasons to oppose the candidacy of Newt Gingrich for the Republican nomination. From the mismanagement of his campaign thus far to his lack of any real organization on the ground and no money to speak of to his questionable ethics both in his professional and private life, there are numerous red flags being raised warning us of what a Gingrich presidency might look like. Exhibit A, however, is his arrogance and the anger management issues that come with it.
Last night, after losing to Mitt Romney in Nevada, the former Speaker of the House decided not to host a party and give a speech, as is traditional in these cases. Instead, the Speaker chose to hold a press conference in which he attempted to do what he does best; chastise the media and blame his campaign's failure on Mitt Romney's "dishonesty", calling him a "Soros candidate". The episode quickly disintegrated into an episode of a man desperate for any explanation of his poor performance other than his own inability to raise money, earn support and organize a GOTV campaign. Former GOP House leader Dick Armey, now Chairman of Freedome Works, has pity for Newt, but still calls Newt what he is, namely, a sore loser:
Of course, Newt's problem is not that he's incapable of being president. It's not that he is a poor debater. Nor is his problem that he is not intelligent or an important conservative thinker. Newt's problem is that he's not as smart or effective as he thinks he is, and after two subpar debate performances in Florida people are beginning to figure that out. If Newt Gingrich wants to have any chance of being competitive in this race again, he'd better figure that out for himself, and soon. Politics requires a certain arrogance if you are going to survive in the mine field of elected public life. But it also requires more humility, or at least feigned humility. Newt has neither feigned nor actual humility (which one might find odd for a man on his third wife).
The simple truth is that arrogance, not a determined desire to be president, is what is driving Newt's campaign. His over the top rhetoric as he grapples to explain to himself why he is losing is only making it worse. More from Mr. Armey:
It's time for Mr. Gingrich to take a page out of Mr. Romney's 2008 play book and step aside and make way for the GOP nominee.
Last night, after losing to Mitt Romney in Nevada, the former Speaker of the House decided not to host a party and give a speech, as is traditional in these cases. Instead, the Speaker chose to hold a press conference in which he attempted to do what he does best; chastise the media and blame his campaign's failure on Mitt Romney's "dishonesty", calling him a "Soros candidate". The episode quickly disintegrated into an episode of a man desperate for any explanation of his poor performance other than his own inability to raise money, earn support and organize a GOTV campaign. Former GOP House leader Dick Armey, now Chairman of Freedome Works, has pity for Newt, but still calls Newt what he is, namely, a sore loser:
Armey said that Gingrich’s criticisms of Romney were not helpful for either the GOP in November or Gingrich’s own campaign during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. “I feel bad for him. I think he’s digressed into a state of taking a second-rate campaign and turning it into a first-rate vendetta,” said Armey
Of course, Newt's problem is not that he's incapable of being president. It's not that he is a poor debater. Nor is his problem that he is not intelligent or an important conservative thinker. Newt's problem is that he's not as smart or effective as he thinks he is, and after two subpar debate performances in Florida people are beginning to figure that out. If Newt Gingrich wants to have any chance of being competitive in this race again, he'd better figure that out for himself, and soon. Politics requires a certain arrogance if you are going to survive in the mine field of elected public life. But it also requires more humility, or at least feigned humility. Newt has neither feigned nor actual humility (which one might find odd for a man on his third wife).
The simple truth is that arrogance, not a determined desire to be president, is what is driving Newt's campaign. His over the top rhetoric as he grapples to explain to himself why he is losing is only making it worse. More from Mr. Armey:
“I thought that last night was really sad for him,” said Armey about Gingrich’s Saturday speech. “Quite frankly again so much of Newt’s whole life is overstated, he overstates the case in such a hyperbolic fashion, it just looks vindictive.”And that's what it is.
It's time for Mr. Gingrich to take a page out of Mr. Romney's 2008 play book and step aside and make way for the GOP nominee.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Lifting The Veil: America Finally Meets Barack Obama
To those of us who are in full control of our mental capacities, this was a no brainer. We warned them, didn't we? But, late as it is, the America that elected Barack "Hope-n-Change" Obama to the presidency without knowing not a fleeting fact about him is finally awakening to a very dire fact: the Barry they created in their heads does not exist.
Exhibit A comes from one of my favorite websites, RealClearPolitics. Obama's average approval rating fell below the 50% threshold months ago, but has always been at least a couple of points above his disapproval rating. But now, for the first time in his presidency, Mr. O's average approval number is now tied with his disapproval rating at 47.9%. It's all down hill from here, ladies and gentlemen. My favorite pollster, Scott Rasmussen has his disapproval number at 57%!
Exhibit B comes in the form of the latest Gallup poll showing that 51% do not want Barry to be reelected. Poor, Barry.
So why has the public soured so badly on the president. The simple answer is that everything I said would happen has happened. He has betrayed the public trust with incalculable lies and a budget deficit larger than the budgets of small nations. He managed to do most of this with the passage of a single bill we all call "Obamacare". To uncover the lies told to get that 2,000 page clusterfark through Congress, we turn to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review in a piece titled "ObamaCare: The Ruse Exposed":
Beyond healthcare, Americans have watched for over 60 days now as oil spews into the Gulf of Mexico with absolutely zero direction coming from the White House. In his now infamous "Awful Office Address" a few days ago, Barry promised to address this problem the way he has addressed every single other problem he has faced in his presidency. He appointed a "czar" and formed a commission. And apprently, its not a very good commission either. Click the link to read about what a travesty this thing is.
Of course, we should have seen that coming, too, I suppose. His commissions' track records are spectacularly awful. The commission that Mr. Obama appointed to come up with a solution to our expanding budget deficit has...are you ready...this is really gonna throw you for a loop...run out of money!!!! That's right. The commission appointed by our fearless leader to propose solutions to lower the deficit is now running its own deficit. Who knew you couldn't spell "irony" without O-B-A-M-A?
It comes down to one word. Incompetence. Period.
I've said it once, twice, a million times and I'll say it again. Just elect conservatives and everything will be ok. I promise.
Exhibit A comes from one of my favorite websites, RealClearPolitics. Obama's average approval rating fell below the 50% threshold months ago, but has always been at least a couple of points above his disapproval rating. But now, for the first time in his presidency, Mr. O's average approval number is now tied with his disapproval rating at 47.9%. It's all down hill from here, ladies and gentlemen. My favorite pollster, Scott Rasmussen has his disapproval number at 57%!
Exhibit B comes in the form of the latest Gallup poll showing that 51% do not want Barry to be reelected. Poor, Barry.
So why has the public soured so badly on the president. The simple answer is that everything I said would happen has happened. He has betrayed the public trust with incalculable lies and a budget deficit larger than the budgets of small nations. He managed to do most of this with the passage of a single bill we all call "Obamacare". To uncover the lies told to get that 2,000 page clusterfark through Congress, we turn to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review in a piece titled "ObamaCare: The Ruse Exposed":
Enacting a law is one thing; implementing it is another. And early indications about ObamaCare's implementation via new regulations suggest this law will validate its critics' dire predictions.We already discussed his lies about the federal insurance mandate not being a tax a few days ago. Heck, we even had video to prove that one. The genius is not only terrible at leadership but he totally sucks at lying, too.
The president repeatedly promised Americans that they'd be able to keep their existing health coverage under ObamaCare. Yet an early regulatory draft -- of his administration's own making -- predicts that in just three years, changes that employers will have to make will put 51 percent of workers into plans subject to new federal requirements.
Those changes will raise -- not rein in -- costs. And employers will have to keep modifications to deductibles, co-payments and benefits within a narrow range -- defined by unelected bureaucrats -- or lose their "grandfathered" plans' exemptions from those otherwise mandatory changes.
Beyond healthcare, Americans have watched for over 60 days now as oil spews into the Gulf of Mexico with absolutely zero direction coming from the White House. In his now infamous "Awful Office Address" a few days ago, Barry promised to address this problem the way he has addressed every single other problem he has faced in his presidency. He appointed a "czar" and formed a commission. And apprently, its not a very good commission either. Click the link to read about what a travesty this thing is.
Of course, we should have seen that coming, too, I suppose. His commissions' track records are spectacularly awful. The commission that Mr. Obama appointed to come up with a solution to our expanding budget deficit has...are you ready...this is really gonna throw you for a loop...run out of money!!!! That's right. The commission appointed by our fearless leader to propose solutions to lower the deficit is now running its own deficit. Who knew you couldn't spell "irony" without O-B-A-M-A?
It comes down to one word. Incompetence. Period.
I've said it once, twice, a million times and I'll say it again. Just elect conservatives and everything will be ok. I promise.
Friday, June 18, 2010
You Lie! Episode 19,435
First of all, an admission on my part. I do not, in point of fact, know that this is actually Barry O's 19,435th lie. In all fairness, the number is probably much, much higher than that. But I mean, c'mon, I can't be expected to document every lie he tells at a time when he's averaging 5-8 per day. I'm only one man!
Anyway, h/t to Hot Air for moving this to the forefront. It appears that the Obama Administration is preparing a defense against the various states suing the feds over Obamacare that flies directly in the face of a promise our fearless leader made during his push for nationalized medicine. During the campaign to turn American into Europe, Barry made a big spectacle of himself on national television promising that the individual mandate (the part of Obamacare that forces everyone to buy health insurance) is not a de facto tax. But, as with all of his promises, this one, too, has an expiration date.
First, the evidence. Here's Barry on ABC with George Stephanopolous insisting that the mandate does not equal a tax:
Anyway, h/t to Hot Air for moving this to the forefront. It appears that the Obama Administration is preparing a defense against the various states suing the feds over Obamacare that flies directly in the face of a promise our fearless leader made during his push for nationalized medicine. During the campaign to turn American into Europe, Barry made a big spectacle of himself on national television promising that the individual mandate (the part of Obamacare that forces everyone to buy health insurance) is not a de facto tax. But, as with all of his promises, this one, too, has an expiration date.
First, the evidence. Here's Barry on ABC with George Stephanopolous insisting that the mandate does not equal a tax:
OBAMA: No. That’s not true, George. The — for us to say that you’ve got to take a responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase. What it’s saying is, is that we’re not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you anymore than the fact that right now everybody in America, just about, has to get auto insurance. Nobody considers that a tax increase.So, there's Mr. O arguing with former Clinton staffer George Stephanopolous about rather or not the mandate equals a tax increase. Obviously, Mr. O says, "No, absolutely not a tax increase." So, what has changed since that interview took place? Obamacare is not the law of the land, so now he doesn't have to lie about it anymore. American Spectator has the story in a piece titled Obama Admin. Argues In Court That Individual Mandate Is A Tax:
People say to themselves, that is a fair way to make sure that if you hit my car, that I’m not covering all the costs.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But it may be fair, it may be good public policy…
OBAMA: No, but — but, George, you — you can’t just make up that language and decide that that’s called a tax increase. Any…
STEPHANOPOULOS: Here’s the…
OBAMA: What — what — if I — if I say that right now your premiums are going to be going up by 5 or 8 or 10 percent next year and you say well, that’s not a tax increase; but, on the other hand, if I say that I don’t want to have to pay for you not carrying coverage even after I give you tax credits that make it affordable, then…
STEPHANOPOULOS: I — I don’t think I’m making it up. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary: Tax — “a charge, usually of money, imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes.”
OBAMA: George, the fact that you looked up Merriam’s Dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that you’re stretching a little bit right now. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gone to the dictionary to check on the definition.
Late last night, the Obama Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss the Florida-based lawsuit against the health care law, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction and that the State of Florida and fellow plaintiffs haven't presented a claim for which the court can grant relief. To bolster its case, the DOJ cited the Anti-Injunction Act, which restricts courts from interfering with the government's ability to collect taxes.So basically since he can't win a straight up constitutional challenge to Obamacare, he will now call the mandate a "tax" in order to get around it. This is the pennacle of arrogance, ladies and gentleman. He should be impeached or impaled. You decide.
The Act, according to a DOJ memo supporting the motion to dismiss, says that "no suit for the purpose of restraining the assessment or collection of any tax shall be maintained in any court by any person, whether or not such person is the person against whom such tax was assessed." The memo goes on to say that it makes no difference whether the disputed payment it is called a "tax" or "penalty," because either way, it's "assessed and collected in the same manner" by the Internal Revenue Service.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Accountability
Not long after the healthcare bill passed the Senate and was signed into law by our fearless leader, Barry O, I was told the true story of a woman's disenchantment with Mr. Obama. Her sentiments seem to me to be a problem with no solution. Let me explain.
The afore mentioned woman is black, voted for Obama, but has found herself completely outraged (outraged!) that Mr. O could do something like nationalize the healthcare industry. You see, this woman works in a very particular sect of the insurance industry which stands to be shoved out of existence by ObamaCare if it actually gets carried out in its entirety. I found her disenchantment difficult to understand. Indeed, Barry had made a nationalized healthcare system a cornerstone of his campaign. Had this hapless woman simply not believed him?
No, she just wasn't listening. And it's high time people like her were called out on it. The time for subtlety with these people is over. They blindly voted for someone because he was handsome (gag me), eloquent and "fresh" (whatever the hell that means) and black. She can be proud to know she was part of a group of millions of Americans duped into voting for someone based on nothing short of a gut feeling and now the country is paying for their gross negligence, willful ignorance and racial bloc voting. She wanted to be a part of history, damn the consequences.
And that's about what it boils down to. Accountability. I was listening to some talking heads on one of the cable news channels. They were having a round table discussion on who should be held acccountable in the government for the oil spill disaster and the government's poor response. Not one of them had the correct answer. Because if you're a conservative like me, and you believe that ours is a government "of the people, by the people and for the people" then it's quite simple to determine who is responsible. Who put this man into office? Who, despite all of our most dire warnings about his inexperience and opportunism (to say nothing of his God complex), decided they would cast caution to the wind and vote for him anyway? It is a group comprised of people like the woman mentioned above.
They deserve our scorn and nastiness. They deserve to be cursed in public. They deserve to be reminded everyday until this national nightmare is over that they are responsible for the dismantling of our values and culture. I would love to be able to tell you that I think we should rise above that and take the moral high road. But I can say beyond doubt that when it comes to policy and preserving our most cherished values as Americans, I honestly have no use for these people.
Do you?
EDIT: This post has been edited from it's original publication, however no substantive changes have been made.
The afore mentioned woman is black, voted for Obama, but has found herself completely outraged (outraged!) that Mr. O could do something like nationalize the healthcare industry. You see, this woman works in a very particular sect of the insurance industry which stands to be shoved out of existence by ObamaCare if it actually gets carried out in its entirety. I found her disenchantment difficult to understand. Indeed, Barry had made a nationalized healthcare system a cornerstone of his campaign. Had this hapless woman simply not believed him?
No, she just wasn't listening. And it's high time people like her were called out on it. The time for subtlety with these people is over. They blindly voted for someone because he was handsome (gag me), eloquent and "fresh" (whatever the hell that means) and black. She can be proud to know she was part of a group of millions of Americans duped into voting for someone based on nothing short of a gut feeling and now the country is paying for their gross negligence, willful ignorance and racial bloc voting. She wanted to be a part of history, damn the consequences.
And that's about what it boils down to. Accountability. I was listening to some talking heads on one of the cable news channels. They were having a round table discussion on who should be held acccountable in the government for the oil spill disaster and the government's poor response. Not one of them had the correct answer. Because if you're a conservative like me, and you believe that ours is a government "of the people, by the people and for the people" then it's quite simple to determine who is responsible. Who put this man into office? Who, despite all of our most dire warnings about his inexperience and opportunism (to say nothing of his God complex), decided they would cast caution to the wind and vote for him anyway? It is a group comprised of people like the woman mentioned above.
They deserve our scorn and nastiness. They deserve to be cursed in public. They deserve to be reminded everyday until this national nightmare is over that they are responsible for the dismantling of our values and culture. I would love to be able to tell you that I think we should rise above that and take the moral high road. But I can say beyond doubt that when it comes to policy and preserving our most cherished values as Americans, I honestly have no use for these people.
Do you?
EDIT: This post has been edited from it's original publication, however no substantive changes have been made.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
George Bush, Barack Obama and an Oil Spill walk into a bar...
It's come to this folks. After 57 (or is it 58? 59? Who's keeping count anymore) days of oil spewing relentlessly into the Gulf of Mexico with absolutely no leadership from the White House, the people of Louisiana in a recent poll have declared they are much happier with the way Bush handled Katrina than the way Obama is handling the oil spill.
The PPP poll released today spells trouble for a president already knee-deep in an oil-filled ocean of incompetence. If you thought the hundreds of millions of barrels of oil that will end up in the Gulf is bad, take a look at this absolutely unmitigated disaster:
Anyway, for an example of real leadership look no further than Louisiana's conservative, Republican governor, Bobby Jindal. The same poll has his approval rating at 63% (65% on his handling of the spill itself). We can probably expect that number to climb now that the good Governor has decided to stop waiting on Barry and actually take matters into his own hands, ordering the Louisiana National Guard to begin building barrier islands to protect the state's coastline. Because, seriously, you can only holler for help for so long before your state's new motto becomes "Just do it."
This, the healthcare debacle and his absolutely clueless foreign policy will not be forgotten by history. Barack Hussein Obama will be regarded as one of our nations worst and most ineffective presidents. Ever. I hate to say "I told you so" but...
The PPP poll released today spells trouble for a president already knee-deep in an oil-filled ocean of incompetence. If you thought the hundreds of millions of barrels of oil that will end up in the Gulf is bad, take a look at this absolutely unmitigated disaster:
Our new Louisiana poll has a lot of data points to show how unhappy voters in the state are with Barack Obama's handling of the oil spill but one perhaps sums it up better than anything else- a majority of voters there think George W. Bush did a better job with Katrina than Obama's done dealing with the spill.Straining to hit their stride and assert control over this situation, Mr. Obama did what he always does. He gave a speech. But not just any speech. This speech was so useless even the White House press room (aka, MSNBC) wasn't buying it. Seriously, folks, this stuff is too good to make up. When even Chris "I've Got a Tingle Up My Leg" Matthews is saying you have "no sense of executive command" then you've really gone beyond the realm of mere incompetence. I mean, c'mon, it's Chris Matthews we're talking about here.
50% of voters in the state, even including 31% of Democrats, give Bush higher marks on that question compared to 35% who pick Obama.
Overall only 32% of Louisianans approve of how Obama has handled the spill to 62% who disapprove. 34% of those polled say they approved of how Bush dealt with Katrina to 58% who disapproved.
Anyway, for an example of real leadership look no further than Louisiana's conservative, Republican governor, Bobby Jindal. The same poll has his approval rating at 63% (65% on his handling of the spill itself). We can probably expect that number to climb now that the good Governor has decided to stop waiting on Barry and actually take matters into his own hands, ordering the Louisiana National Guard to begin building barrier islands to protect the state's coastline. Because, seriously, you can only holler for help for so long before your state's new motto becomes "Just do it."
This, the healthcare debacle and his absolutely clueless foreign policy will not be forgotten by history. Barack Hussein Obama will be regarded as one of our nations worst and most ineffective presidents. Ever. I hate to say "I told you so" but...
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