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2-06-10	The Republican Brand by Tim Lambert Much has been made regarding the decline of public support for the Republican Party. That is primarily because of the spending and lack of fiscal restraint the Republicans were guilty of when they controlled congress under President Bush. Deja Vu a Nightmare for Democrats? The parallels to 1994 — the last time health reform died — are unmistakable. GOP Leaders Adopt Litmus Test of Values for Candidates In an unprecedented move, the Republican National Committee on Friday unanimously called on its chairman, Michael S. Steele, to "carefully screen" candidates for their adherence to conservative values before granting them RNC financial help. What's Provocative About the Tebow Super Bowl Ad by Star Parker Why are pro-abortion groups so up in arms about the Tim Tebow ad that CBS will run during the Super Bowl? Teen Pregnancy Hype by Rebecca Hagelin The mass media is a-buzz over the Alan Guttmacher Institute's “news” on teen pregnancy. Guttmacher and those who advocate free sex for teenagers seem almost gleeful as they misuse the statistics in an effort to destroy abstinence education programs and promote their condom cure-all mantra. Largest-ever Federal Payroll to Hit 2.15 Million The era of big government has returned with a vengeance, in the form of the largest federal work force in modern history. Armey Tells House GOP: Win Back the Tea-Partiers to Win Dick Armey left his former House GOP colleagues on Saturday with a sobering thought: They lost the tea-party activists in 2006, now go win 'em back. Tea Leaves: Republican Establishment Still Rules The widely anticipated civil war within the Republican Party is off to a decidedly dull start. Defying predictions from last year, early evidence suggests that party leaders and even most grass-roots activists are more interested in winning elections than in ideological bloodletting.
1-30-10	The People’s Republic of New York by Tim Lambert Just over three weeks ago Richard and Margie Cressey of Glen, New York, were arrested on charges of "endangering a child." What was their crime? They had been homeschooling their four boys for seven years ... and had not registered with the state! According to home school leaders in New York, the incident began with a visit from Child Protective Services, probably the result of an anonymous complaint. Shortly after that the Sheriff's office investigated, and the parents were arrested. Health Care Reform Dead? by Tim Lambert While much has been made about the death of President Obama's effort to "reform health care" since the election of Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts, it appears that the President and the Democrats have no plans to end their socialistic efforts. U.S. to Appeal Dismissal of Blackwater Charges: Biden The government will appeal a court decision to dismiss charges against Blackwater security guards accused of killing 14 Iraqi civilians in 2007, Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday. Young Activists Adding Fuel to Antiabortion Side by Robert McCartney I went to the March for Life rally Friday on the Mall expecting to write about its irrelevance. Isn't it quaint, I thought, that these abortion protesters show up each year on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, even though the decision still stands after 37 years. What's more, with a Democrat in the White House likely to appoint justices who support abortion rights, surely the Supreme Court isn't going to overturn Roe in the foreseeable future. Justice Kennedy Was Key to Conservatives' Win in Campaign Finance Decision by Robert Barnes If there was a new boldness from the Supreme Court's conservative majority in last week's landmark ruling on campaign finance laws, there was also an underlying and familiar truth. A Victory Over the Political Machine by Newt Gingrich “If the First Amendment has any force, it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech.” These are the words of Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority in a historic Supreme Court decision that began with a man, a movie, and a message that bothered the bureaucratic Washington machine. Thiessen and Amanpour by Erick Erickson I have written about this before. Marc Thiessen was on with Christiane Amanpour earlier in the week on CNN’s International network to discuss his new book. They had a heated confrontation that is well worth watching. Fight on Right Enlivens Utah Senate Race by Valerie Richardson On the list of endangered congressional incumbents this year, Sen. Robert F. Bennett is one of the last names you'd expect to see. A three-term Republican from conservative Utah, he's never been linked to any kind of scandal and won his last race with 69 percent of the vote. Don’t Mess with Texas, or Massachusetts! by Bill Murchison Between Austin and Boston there doesn’t seem normally a lot of … what should we call it? Consonance? Agreement of purpose and outlook, that sort of thing. Democrats' Bush-bashing Strategy Goes Bust After three consecutive losses in statewide races, some top Democrats are questioning a tactic aimed at boosting the party’s candidates in each of those contests: Bush-bashing. The Real Loser In The Massachusetts Election by Phyllis Schlafly Smarting from their surprise loss in the race to fill the U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, the Democrats are throwing their candidate, Martha Coakley, under the bus. They blame her for running a poor campaign that made losers out of Barack Obama, the Democrats, their bad health care bill and even Ted Kennedy in his grave. Biden's Son Adds to Democrats' Woes The political environment got worse for Democrats on Monday when Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s son said he'll pass on seeking his dad's former Senate seat in Delaware — the latest in a bad month for the struggling majority party. Florida Senate Race Leads Nation in Fundraising The Republican primary race for a Senate seat in Florida is one of the most watched in the nation, and the fundraising numbers released Tuesday morning are matching those lofty expectations. Wolf Seeks Panther Case Dismissal Probe A senior Republican on the House Appropriations Committee asked the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General on Tuesday to investigate "potential improprieties" in the department's dismissal of a civil complaint brought against the New Black Panther Party after its members disrupted a Philadelphia polling place in the November 2008 elections. German Homeschoolers Granted Political Asylum A German couple who fled to Tennessee so they could homeschool their children was granted political asylum Tuesday by a U.S. immigration judge, according to the legal group that represented them. The Heisman Trophy Winner Who Almost Wasn't by Bobby Eberle The career of University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is one of legend. Not only did he win the Heisman Trophy, college football's highest honor, as a sophomore, he was in the running for it during his junior and senior years as well. He led the Gators to two national championships and has displayed honor and integrity at every turn. Tea Parties Shake Up Political Races Across the USA A once-dismissed loose confederation of Tea Party activists opposed to big government, bailouts and higher taxes is causing heartburn for establishment candidates across the United States. Study: Teen Pregnancy Rate Increasing According to a new study by the Guttmacher Institute, the nation’s teen pregnancy rate rose three percent in 2006, the first increase in more than a decade. While the Institute—founded in 1968 as a division of Planned Parenthood—politicized the findings by touting them as evidence that “Bush administration” abstinence programs “do not work,” the increased pregnancy rate should draw the attention of every parent to the pressures their teens face in a hyper-sexualized culture that treats teen sex as a rite of passage. Republicans More Confident of Defeating Edwards in District 17 U.S. House Race Republicans are looking for their next targets. Fresh off their recent victory in Massachusetts, they are homing in on congressional seats held by Democrats they consider vulnerable, and they believe they may have one in Texas: the District 17 U.S. House seat.
1-23-10	The Ongoing Battle for Life by Tim Lambert Today (January 22) is the 37th anniversary of the infamous Roe v Wade decision by the U,S. Supreme Court that has had a dramatic impact on our society. Thousands will march today in Washington, D.C., in peaceful protest of those innocent children who have no choice and are torn from their mothers' wombs Live Free or Die by Tim Lambert The state motto of New Hampshire is Live Free or Die, and that seems appropriate for the actions by the home school community last week. Game Changer? by Tim Lambert Republican Scott Brown's victory in the race for Senate yesterday in Massachusetts is historic. He ran on a platform of being the 41st vote against the current Democratic plan to reform health care, while being careful to say that we need health care, but not the proposed plan, and that the process (behind closed doors, deal making, etc.) was wrong. Perry Says No to the Feds--Again! Much to the consternation of Democrats and liberals, Governor Perry has once again told the federal government Texas won't take its money because it would lead to more regulations and a loss of freedom for Texans. In this case, it is money for education and the Governor says Texas is not willing to give up control of its curriculum for money from the feds - to which I say AMEN! Brown Defeats Coakley in Mass. Senate Race Riding a populist tide of voter anger, Republican Scott Brown on Tuesday won the Senate seat held for 47 years by Democrat Edward M. Kennedy, giving the GOP enough votes to frustrate President Obama's health care reform plan — and perhaps his entire agenda. The Meaning of Brown by Charles Krauthammer On Jan. 14, five days before the Massachusetts special election, President Obama was in full bring-it-on mode as he rallied House Democrats behind his health care reform. "If Republicans want to campaign against what we've done by standing up for the status quo and for insurance companies over American families and businesses, that is a fight I want to have." Clyburn: 'Magic Number on Healthcare Reform is 50, Not 60'; Measure Not Dead by Michael O’Brien Healthcare reform legislation is "not dead by any means," Democrats' third-ranking leader in the House emphasized Wednesday. Jim “Wellington” DeMint: Winner by Erick Erickson Jim DeMint declared Obamacare to be Barack Obama’s “Waterloo.” It was. And like Napoleon, Obama is defeated (for now at least). Like Wellington, DeMint has been throwing the punches and scoring the points more effectively than many of his colleagues, which has them privately perturbed at the senator’s growing popularity among the GOP base. It’s the Enemy, Stupid by Andrew McCarthy It was health care that nationalized the special election for what we now know is the people’s Senate seat. But it was national security that put real distance between Scott Brown and Martha Coakley. “People talk about the potency of the health-care issue,” Brown’s top strategist, Eric Fehrnstrom, told National Review’s Robert Costa, “but from our own internal polling, the more potent issue here in Massachusetts was terrorism and the treatment of enemy combatants.” There is a powerful lesson here for Republicans, and here’s hoping they learn it. The Lessons of Massachusetts by Newt Gingrich The first lesson Republicans should take from Tuesday night’s victory is the GOP should run candidates everywhere this year and not worry about whether the district used to vote Republican. In Memoriam On this day 37 years ago, seven unelected lawyers (all male) spat on centuries of Western tradition, the plain text of the Constitution, and decades of precedent and declared that there existed in the Constitution a heretofore undiscovered right for women to kill their children in utero. No Manhattan Terror Trials? by Brian Faughnan According to Scott Brown’s pollster Neil Newhouse, one of the big reasons for Brown’s win was the concern among Massachusetts voters about Obama’s terror policies. It seems numerous Democrats have begun at least to consider, that voters may be distrustful of their poster on national security. How serious is the shift? Michael Isikoff says Congress may be ready to pull the plug on Manhattan terror trials. Chuck Schumer (D-NY): Free Speech Is Un-American by Moe Lane The Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday striking down limits on corporate and union spending in elections is “un-American,” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Thursday. High Court Unleashes Political Ad Spending In a decision with profound implications for the role of money in American campaigns, the Supreme Court on Thursday gave interest groups, unions and corporations the right to pour money into issue advertising in political races - reigniting the passionate battle over the influence of cash on the electoral process. Why the GOP Should Still Be Nervous by Jim Vandehei and James Hohmann Republicans are riding high in the wake of Scott Brown’s win, talking up an authentic resurgence for their party and a real chance for reclaiming power. Don’t bet on it. Did Tea Party Stir Brown's Victory? To hear some leading Democrats talk, Scott Brown’s campaign was fueled by the burgeoning tea party movement. AFL-CIO Poll Shows Union Households Boosted Brown Republican Scott Brown's victory in the Massachusetts Senate race was lifted by strong support from union households, in a sign of trouble for President Barack Obama and Democrats who are counting on union support in the 2010 midterm elections. Defense Set to Press Gay-Marriage Case Plaintiffs will likely rest their case Monday in the federal trial over California's Proposition 8, setting the stage for backers of the ban on same-sex marriage to open their line of defense.
1-16-09	It Ain't Over Till It's Over by Tim Lambert Democratic leaders from the U.S. House and Senate, by some reports, are finding it difficult to agree between the two different plans passed to "reform health care" by the two chambers. Miracle in Massachusetts? by Tim Lambert Something is afoot in New England. In the latest example of the strength of opposition to what the Democrats are attempting to force on the country with health care reform, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Scott Brown has pulled ahead of his Democratic opponent in the latest poll in that race - this in a state in which virtually no one gave the Republican challenger a snowball's chance of picking up the Senate seat held by Ted Kennedy for 47 years. Republicans Charge Lott-Reid Double Standard Top Republicans called for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to step aside Sunday — and accused the Democrats and the media of holding the GOP to a double standard on matters of race. Democrats Close Ranks Around Reid Democrats on Sunday rallied to the defense of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from a political firestorm caused by his newly reported remarks during the 2008 presidential campaign describing Barack Obama as "light-skinned" who chose to speak "with no Negro dialect." What's Going on in Massachusetts? by Newt Gingrich With one week to go, who will win the special election in Massachusetts to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D) is still anybody’s guess. But before a single vote is counted, we can be sure of this: The Massachusetts race is already telling us a lot about how unhappy Americans are with the liberal, big government agenda in Washington. The Man Who Would Keep Us Safe from Terrorists Would Rather Focus on Baptists Than Islamic Terrorists by Erick Erickson Had Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) not put a hold on the nomination of Erroll Southers to be the head of TSA, he might have been confirmed by the Senate without any serious digging into his background. God to Palin: 'You Go, Girl' by Ben Shapiro Over the weekend, former John McCain campaign strategist Steve Schmidt told "60 Minutes" something shocking about McCain's former running mate, Sarah Palin. It seems that when Schmidt met Palin after McCain selected her, he was surprised that she was so calm. Schmidt apparently asked her how she could remain so tranquil in the face of such a monumental life change. She responded, "It's God's plan." CEOs Trade Blame with Congress over Finance Crisis by Patrice Hill Wall Street clashed with Washington on Wednesday over the causes of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, with political leaders and financial chieftains trying to cast the blame on each other. GOP Money, Troops Pour into Massachusetts GOP candidates across the country are rallying behind Republican Scott Brown’s long-shot bid in the Massachusetts Senate special election, flooding his campaign with cash, ground troops and moral support as the unexpectedly tight race enters its final days. Chatting with Sarah by Bill O'Reilly The phenomenon known as Sarah Palin made her debut this week as an analyst on Fox News. You should have heard the braying from our competitors CNN and MSNBC. She's a dunce, they wailed, a conservative shill! Foaming at the mouth doesn't begin to describe the reaction. Are Republicans "Due"? by Thomas Sowell When a baseball player has come to bat after failing to get a hit twenty times in a row, some fans say he is "due" for a hit. But statisticians say he is no more likely to get a hit in this at bat than at any other time. In other words, there is no such thing as being "due."
1-09-10	'Tea Party' Head Warns GOP of Fla. Repeat A founder of the "tea party" movement said Wednesday he had a warning for Republican state leaders: Back conservative candidates or else other states will suffer the same backlash that toppled Florida's Republican Party chairman this week. Republicans Make President Obama Foil in State Races In governor’s races across the country, top GOP candidates are concentrating their attacks on the White House, the surest sign yet that Republicans see opportunity in nationalizing the 2010 election and a departure from the strategy that elected two Republicans to governorships in November. Top Democrats Head for the Exits The grim outlook for Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections just got a little worse. Four top Democrats — including veteran Sens. Chris Dodd and Byron Dorgan — all prepared to pull the plug on their campaigns in a 24-hour period that began Tuesday, and in the process, offered an unnerving glimpse at the perilous election year ahead. White House Cracks Down on Oil Drilling U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will announce today that drilling for oil and gas on governmental property must contend with increased scrutiny of the potential environmental impacts under requirement that will be imposed today, as revealed by three people with inner-knowledge of the plans. Steele's Side Pursuits Drive Away Big Donors Some wealthy contributors are shunning the Republican National Committee and donating instead to the other GOP campaign committees or directly to candidates - in many cases because of discontent with the leadership of Michael S. Steele, the party's national chairman. Brit Hume and Public Profession of Faith by hogan We conservatives spend a lot of time – on this website and elsewhere – fighting for freedom and limited government. We do so because we believe ourselves to be right –confident that if government will simply get out of the way, free men will prosper. If You Can Find a Better Deal, Take It! by Ann Coulter Someone mentioned Christianity on television recently and liberals reacted with their usual howls of rage and blinking incomprehension.
1-02-10	Cut the Power of the Family Courts by Phyllis Schlafly Do you think judges should have the power to decide what religion your children must belong to and which churches they may be prohibited from attending? We have long suspected that family courts are the most dictatorial and biased of all U.S. courts, routinely depriving divorced fathers of due process rights and authority over their own children, but this December a Chicago judge went beyond the pale. Democrats Revive 'Party of No' Attack Democrats are retooling and reprising their “Party of No” attack on Republicans in Congress after they unanimously rejected financial reform and health care bills in votes this month. Whose Tent Is Bigger? by Erick Erickson Had this been Christie Todd Whitman or a host of other Republicans, it would have been the lead story on the nightly news today. William Daley of the Chicago Clan, former Bill Clinton’s Commerce Secretary and Al Gore’s President Campaign Chairman in 2000, sees all sorts of apocalyptic warning signs on the horizon for the Democrats. Keep the Big Tent Big by William M. Daley The announcement by Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith that he is switching to the Republican Party is just the latest warning sign that the Democratic Party -- my lifelong political home -- has a critical decision to make: Either we plot a more moderate, centrist course or risk electoral disaster not just in the upcoming midterms but in many elections to come. The Best Christmas Present Ever: Senator DeMint Objects to the Appointment of the Conferees by Dan Perrin When Senator DeMint engineered, and Republican Leader McConnell actually objected to the appointment of the conferees, he was really handing the ball off to the left wingers — progressives if you will — and now they have their shot to either hold their own clan members who are against the Senate compromises and force them to vote No, or have their policy demands be ignored and take the crumbs from Senator Nelson’s and Senator Lieberman’s table. It's Not the Economy, Stupid! It's National Survival! by David Limbaugh The Washington Post's Dan Balz thinks that "with new priorities, Obama and Democrats can recover in 2010." Sorry, Dan; it's about more than priorities. It's a matter of their worldview. Warning, Satire Alert: Liberal Take on Terror! by Debra J. Saunders Gosh darn, I feel great to live in a country that gives full constitutional rights to a foreign national who, on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, was tackled by passengers and crew as he reportedly was trying to blow up the plane. Justice Department Moves Panthers Pursuer to South Carolina The veteran Justice Department voting rights section chief who recommended going forward on a civil complaint against members of the New Black Panther Party after they disrupted a Pennsylvania polling place in last year's elections has been removed from his post and transferred to the U.S. attorney's office in South Carolina. Ten New Reasons Why Obamacare Can Still Be Killed by Phyllis Schlafly New reasons emerge almost daily as to why Obamacare can and must be defeated. 1. The American people oppose Obamacare by almost two to one in the latest CNN poll. Other polls show lopsided opposition to passing either the Senate or House health care bill. Judge Dismisses Blackwater Case A federal judge, sharply criticizing Justice Department prosecutors, dismissed all criminal charges on Thursday against five former Blackwater guards accused of manslaughter in connection with an alleged massacre that left at least 14 Iraqis dead in Baghdad in 2007.
12-26-09	The Bondage of Debt by Ken Connor In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, King Solomon details the differences in thought, word, and deed between a wise man and a fool. In addressing the foolishness associated with borrowing money, he makes clear the relationship between debt and servitude: No man can truly be free when he is bound by financial indebtedness to another. It's clear, however, that the danger of debt is something a majority of the American people—including members of Congress and our President—have yet to take seriously. Health Plans on Collision Course Despite a last-minute weekend deal that put the Senate on the brink of passing health care reform this week, liberal and moderate Democrats remain on a collision course over the bill, as both sides dug in Sunday for the next phase of negotiations. The Extraordinary Measures Needed to Kill the Bill — Updated with Vote Numbers The corruption of using the public treasury as a check book to buy the votes of Senator Nelson and Senator Sanders — in the face not only overwhelming public opposition, but also in the face of a public that now wants Congress to do nothing on health care — means that extraordinary measures are needed to kill ObamaCare. When Liberal Dreams Collide With Public Opinion by Michael Barone In the Bella Center on the south side of Copenhagen and in the Senate chamber on the north side of the Capitol, we're seeing what happens when liberal dreams collide with American public opinion. It's like what happens when a butterfly collides with the windshield of a speeding SUV. Splat. Sen. DeMint Battling NRSC Chair Cornyn over Conservative Primary Candidates Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is locked in a battle with National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) over the future makeup of the Senate Republican conference. Instead of Lending, Banks Focus on Covering Losses President Obama has been demanding that banks start lending again, but the unstated secret is that banks are not lending much because they are busy paying back their government aid and covering losses of $1 trillion or more on defaulting loans. Public Option Tensions Linger Just hours after a critical Monday morning vote in the Senate, Democrats were already talking about future changes to the health reform effort in hopes of calming a revolt among liberal activists. Senate Health Bill Aftershocks Begin Senate Democrats may not give final approval to their health care bill until Christmas Eve, but the parties have already moved on to the next fight: defining the measure in the minds of the public. Abortion Continues to Be Dividing Issue The Senate nudged its health bill toward tighter restrictions on abortion coverage, a change that left advocates on both sides of the issue unsatisfied. We Are No Longer a Nation of Laws by Erick Erickson If ever the people of the United States rise up and fight over passage of Obamacare, Harry Reid must be remembered as the man who sacrificed the dignity of his office for a few pieces of silver. The rules of fair play that have kept the basic integrity of the Republic alive have died with Harry Reid. Townhall Washington Beat Snow shut down most of DC this past weekend, but it didn’t stop Senators from passing another cloture motion on the health care bill that is widely expected to seal the deal on Senate passage of Obamacare. The bill will still be subject to two more cloture votes, which should be smooth sailing for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The tricky bit will come after Christmas, when the Senate bill is merged with the House bill and shoveled through by House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Griffith's Party Switch Illustrates the Death of Moderate Democrats by Dick Morris And Eileen McGann Parker Griffith’s decision to step out of line and refuse to drink the Democratic Kool-Aid illustrates the Achilles Heel of the Democratic regime in Washington: The radical reign of Pelosi and Reid is held up by pillars of moderate and conservative Democrats who come from districts that regularly vote Republican. Public Policy as Public Corruption by Michael Gerson Sometimes there is a fine ethical line between legislative maneuvering and bribery. At other times, that line is crossed by a speeding, honking tractor-trailer, with outlines of shapely women on mud flaps bouncing as it rumbles past. Dallas Morning News Defends Sen. Hutchison's Filibuster Vote Perhaps, the Dallas Morning News is seeking bailout funds from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who twice won the award for 'Porker of the Month' for her propensity to seize earmarks on the Senate floor for her home state of Texas. The Morning News could definitely use the financial assistance as it faces a dramatic drop in its circulation of readers. Alabama Slammer: Democrats Fret over Parker Griffith The outlook for the 2010 elections just grew dimmer for Democrats, with the abrupt announcement Tuesday that Rep. Parker Griffith, an Alabama freshman, was jumping to the Republican Party. What the Senate Gave Us by Michael Quinn Sullivan Early this morning the United States’ Senate took a sad step in taking the nation down a dangerous and ruinous path. At stake is nothing less than the very health of our Republic and the security of our economy. When Legerdemain Is Used to Pass an Unpopular Bill by Michael Barone It's time to blow the whistle on two erroneous statements that opponents and proponents of the health care legislation being jammed through Congress have been making. Republicans have been saying that never before has Congress passed such an unpopular bill with such important ramifications by such a narrow majority. Barack Obama has been saying that passage of the bill will mean that the health care issue will be settled once and for all. Parker’s Progress. The Curious Evolution of a New Republican Congressman by Repair_Man_Jack It was a bright and happy December day. Not a cloud was in sight, the weather was a balmy 60 degrees and Congressman Parker Griffith wanted to give Speaker Nancy Pelosi a Christmas present. It wasn’t the infamous “Mental Health Ticket” that he once offered to have Santa put under her tree. He has switched his allegiance from Democrat to Republican. He had several things to say about this yesterday as he prepared to celebrate Christmas at home. Dick Cheney on the Political Hot Topics of 2009 Human Events Editors Tom Winter and Jed Babbin interviewed former Vice President Dick Cheney, HUMAN EVENTS' 2009 Conservative of the Year, at his home on December 1. Here, edited, are highlights from the interview.
12-19-09	For Kay Bailey Hutchison, Staying in Washington to Fight Health Care Means Expediting its Passage Kay Bailey Hutchison, much maligned for campaigning in Texas during the health care debate, boldly announced that she would go to Washington and stay there to fight health care and kill it dead. Instead, today she accelerated it getting to the Senate floor in a bit of Senate gamesmanship. Senate Dems Reach 60 Vote Threshold on Health Bill Democratic leaders secure the support of Sen. Ben Nelson to provide the 60th and deciding vote for sweeping health care legislation in the Senate, capping a year of struggle and a final burst of deadline bargaining on President Barack Obama's top domestic priority. Coburn: Nelson Agreement with Leaders 'Threw Unborn Babies under the Bus' A number of Republican senators attacked an agreement reached between Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Senate Democratic leaders Saturday, saying it would lead to the eventual reversal of more than 30 years of federal law banning abortion funding. McConnell Not Backing Down on Health Overhaul as Votes Loom Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blasted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Friday morning for speeding a major healthcare overhaul through the upper chamber before Christmas. Final Senate Healthcare Bill Released by Reid in Drive for 60 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has unveiled a final version of his healthcare reform legislation containing a plethora of changes designed to lock down the 60 votes he needs to pass the historic legislation on Christmas Eve. Misusing Knowledge to Expand Government Power by Michael Barone Knowledge is becoming more specialized and more dispersed, while government power is becoming more concentrated," writes economist Arnold Kling in his new book, "Unchecked and Unbalanced." "This discrepancy creates the potential for government to become increasingly erratic and, as a result, less satisfying to individuals. Joe Lieberman Says No to Medicare Buy-In Sen. Joe Lieberman told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Sunday that he couldn’t support a new Medicare proposal floated as a compromise to the public option, a development that complicates the bill’s path towards passage before the end of the year. The Poll Republican Establishment Types Would Prefer You Ignore by Erick Erickson What are we told about conservatives by the Republican establishment? Let’s see: they need to be seen and not heard, they are hurting us with independents, their philosophy is outmoded, they stand for nothing but “no,” and if we move right the voters will reject us. The Very Necessary Republican Civil War by Erick Erickson Yesterday, in an interview with the St. Petersburg Times, I said in 2010 one of my big targets is the GOP establishment. Yep. It’s being characterized as a civil war. I prefer to think of it as a coup. It is time for the grassroots to take back the party. If a fight is necessary, I’m game for that. Queen Bee Hutchison Always Wants Her Cake and Eat It Too by hogan Known in Senate circles as the Senator who must have her way – even if it means a few tears in the leader’s office – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) is the queen of wanting to have it both ways. She wants to run for Governor of Texas without giving up her Senate seat. She wanted to move up Senate leadership without taking a risk to run. She wants to be the “conservative” in the primary, and the candidate with “broad appeal” in the general election. She wants to be pro-choice and pro-life. This leaves one scratching his head a bit. Celebs to Kids: America Stinks! by Drew Zahn Hollywood celebrities and education gurus have teamed together to distribute to schools across the country a dramatic new curriculum that casts American history as an epic march of victims seeking to shrug off the shackles of the warmongering, racist, capitalist, imperialist United States. Conservatives Grab for Tea Party Cash Conservative leaders are eager to turn Tea Party anger into election-year cash – and to do that, they’re launching a flurry of new political action committees aimed at collecting small-dollar donations from newly engaged anti-tax, anti-spending activists. Global Warming: They Will Never Be Convinced by Bruce Bialosky The release of some 3,000 emails hacked from the Climate Research Unit at East Anglia University illuminates the true intent of those in the forefront of one of the most complex scientific and political issues of our times: “Global Warming” (or, if you prefer, “Climate Change”). Manhattan Declaration Reveals Mainstream Values by Janice Shaw Crouse The recently-released Manhattan Declaration, a nearly 5,000 word document, explains how throughout history, Christians have steadfastly, persistently held to certain fundamental truths of their faith; these truths are not political, nor are they ideals newly imagined by bigots wanting to suppress other people. Polls Show Dems Might Lose Obama, Biden Senate Seats by Donald Lambro President Obama and Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. won't be on the midterm ballot next year, but their former Senate seats will be, and both races are now either tossups or leaning Republican in high-visibility contests. Great Myths of the Great Depression (Part II) by Wes Riddle Politics not only makes for strange bedfellows, it can make it hard to tell who’s wrapped up in sheets next to you. Contrary to the popular myth about Herbert Hoover being this laissez-faire capitalist and Franklin Delano Roosevelt saving the day with New Deal socialism, Hoover actually started interventionist policies that Roosevelt continued and intensified. LF 9: The Religion of Government by andyd When I came to the above sentence, it occurred to me that the same could be said for many of the most prominent liberal / progressive / statist politicians in today’s world. “Man-made global warming” is obviously one of the religions of today’s Democratic Party. If Abortion isn’t the most sacred of the faiths, it’s really far up there. But Jonah Goldberg points out the truth of the matter is that Hillary Clinton and others are true religious believers in the power of Government as a religion or a faith. Despite Claiming Otherwise, the NRSC Endorses Carly Fiorina by Erick Erickson I realize we’re playing adolescent word games with the NRSC when it comes to Carly Fiorina. Just last week, John Cornyn said the NRSC would not be endorsing anyone, including Carly Fiorina. A Bomb Goes Off in Florida by Erick Erickson Last night in Washington, close to one hundred leaders of the conservative movement gathered in a townhouse just down from the United States Capitol to hear Senator Jim DeMint and Florida Speaker Marco Rubio at a Senate Conservatives Fund fundraiser for Marco Rubio. Less Health Care for More Money by Ann Coulter The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof recently wrote a column about John Brodniak of Oregon, who developed a cavernous hemangioma, causing him great pain as blood leaks into his brain. Senate Democrats Subvert the Rules of Order by Erick Erickson We can only hope the Senate Republicans learned their lesson today. As so many of us have tried to tell Mitch McConnell for weeks and weeks and weeks, the Senate GOP must throw everything they can at killing the health care bill. Instead, we have seen the Senate Republicans working collaboratively with the Democrats on a series of messaging amendments that no one has paid attention to. Amid Rumbling Discontent, Dems Head for the Exits by Michael Barone While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scrambles to assemble 60 Democratic votes for health care legislation that, according to the realclearpolitics.com average of recent polls, is opposed by a 53 percent to 38 percent margin, several Democratic members of the House are scrambling for the exits on what is starting to look like a sinking ship. Welcome to the Democratic Party's Civil War by Michelle Malkin Seems like only yesterday the Washington establishment had proclaimed the death of the GOP. Pundits churned out public autopsy reports faster than the L.A. County Medical Examiner. Liberals gloated over the supposedly irreparable fissures between right-wing populists and Beltway Republican elites. Conservatism, we were told, was suffering brain death and heart failure. My, how quickly things -- ahem -- change. Conservative Republican Participation by Morton C. Blackwell Events of the past year should persuade every serious conservative that the Republican Party is the only practical party vehicle for us. For a year now, we have seen how much damage the left would do to America if they get their way. For the Good of the GOP, Will Charlie Crist Drop Out? by Erick Erickson The first survey in the Florida Senate race was 54-8 in Charlie Crist’s favor. When Rubio broke into the mid-teens, Charlie Crist’s campaign said that for the good of the GOP, Rubio needed to withdraw. The War on Christians and Jews by Gary Bauer At a time of year when faith is celebrated by most Americans, it may surprise some to learn that many students of faith and history believe we are living in a post-Christian age. It is not apparent at the local malls now so festively decorated, but it can be seen in some telltale cultural indicators. One of those is the number of attacks on people of faith, particularly Jews. For Franken, No More Mr. Funny Guy In the past month, Al Franken, the junior Democratic senator from Minnesota has publicly slugged it out with a GOP senator, privately rebuked another one and on Thursday took the unusual step of shutting down on the Senate floor a longtime member of his party's caucus: Sen. Joe Lieberman. When It Comes to Rewarding Inefficiency, Washington Puts Wall Street to Shame by Michael Medved The public feels rightly outraged at lavish pay-packages for executives in government-assisted companies that have blown billions in recent years. But why hasn’t the restive public developed comparable indignation regarding the shocking salary increases for an operation that’s been bleeding even more money: the federal government.
12-12-09	Ron Paul's Hour of Power by Patrick J. Buchanan The decades-long campaign of Ron Paul to have the Government Accountability Office do a full audit of the Federal Reserve now has 313 sponsors in the House. Sometimes perseverance does pay off. If not derailed by the establishment, the audit may happen. Republicans Push on 'Climategate' A series of embarrassing e-mails stolen from a British climate research center last month has wreaked havoc in the obscure academic circles of climate science. Critical Condition by Gary Bauer The healthcare “reform” debate in the Senate may well be in its final stages. Yesterday, President Obama rushed to Capitol Hill to give Senate Democrats a pep talk. The president reminded them of the historic significance of their work and urged them to stick together. According to various reports, he avoided discussing contentious policy issues and attempted to “stay above the fray.” Insiders Asking of McConnell: What’s the Strategy? by Erick Erickson Since coming to Capitol Hill, current Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has been recognized by some in the media as a master strategist when it comes to playing the legislative rules for all they’re worth. But, with amendments to the Obama government health care takeover sailing through the Senate almost as quickly as they’re read, some conservative insiders are wondering why the GOP is not taking advantage of Senate rules to slow down the votes and delay the final vote until after Christmas. Oliver North, Navy SEALs, Taurus Judge, Federalist 1, Sgt. Makerney by Mike Piccione The must read and forward to your friends' story is Sgt. Makerney -- Fights for Your Life, Then Fights for Hers. It is a never quit story that puts the Patriot in Guns & Patriots. We mention SAW’s in the article; this week’s video is a SAW in action. “Dirty Harry” by Gary Bauer Democrats just can’t contain themselves. When they start losing a debate, they resort to epithets. Yesterday, Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid went to the Senate floor and denounced opponents of socialized medicine by comparing them to defenders of slavery and opponents of civil rights. Global Warming in the Hot Seat by Ken Connor As world leaders prepare to gather in Copenhagen to discuss a global strategy for combating climate change-a strategy likely to involve a substantial growth of government power at the expense of individual and economic liberty-a shock wave of controversy threatens to shatter what many have come to view as settled science. “There is a worry that Sen. Nelson means business,” — Dem Aide says And all the kings horses, and all the kings men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again…OK, we aren’t there, yet. But the left is starting to flex its muscles and are beginning to be annoyed, and really concerned about all the compromises that have been made thus far. Great Myths of the Great Depression (Part I) by Wes Riddle Free market capitalism did not cause the Great Depression any more than teeth cause cavities. Instead, poor government policy played a central role in precipitating that disaster and perpetuating dire economic conditions. The Flathead Society by Cal Thomas British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has taken the route of many who would rather call names than have a serious debate about "climate change." He characterizes those who question "settled science" members of the "flat-earth" society. When people resort to name-calling it is a sign they have lost an argument. The Coming Wave by Leon H. Wolfe The online left has been busy selling the narrative over the last several month that the Democrats’ electoral problems are due to problems with their base. The theory being touted by the leading luminaries of the leftist fever swamps is that if only Democrats were more liberal, they’d be doing better in the polls. The only problem with this theory, of course, is that it represents the exact opposite of the truth. Public Option Compromise Takes Shape A potential deal took shape Monday that could eliminate the public option from the Senate health reform bill, as Democrats weighed big expansions of both Medicare and Medicaid in a bid to break an impasse over the government insurance plan Don’t Court Martial the SEAL Three by Jed Babbin December 7th is usually a day we remember the brave men who died at Pearl Harbor. Many of them died fighting, responding instantly to the cowardly Japanese attack that came without warning. This is a day to honor bravery, resolve and sacrifice. But this December 7th is different. High-stakes Duel between Rep. Paul and Bernanke Intensifies Rep. Ron Paul and Ben Bernanke are locked in a clash of titans. Paul, the 74-year-old House libertarian from Texas with the high-pitched voice, has fought for decades to kill off the Federal Reserve. U.S. Halfway to Kyoto Goals... With No Government Regulation by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann The worst nightmare of the left is about to come true: The United States is about to achieve the carbon emissions goals set by the 1997 Kyoto Accords. Once seemingly beyond reach, the United States is already halfway toward meeting the stringent Kyoto goals for reduction in carbon emissions without a cap-and-trade law or a carbon tax or carbon dioxide being declared a pollutant. Dems Agree to Drop Gov't-Run Insurance Option Democratic senators say they have a tentative deal to drop a government-run insurance option from health care legislation. No further details were immediately available. Is Gay Marriage 'Inevitable'? The same-sex marriage movement appears likely to end a banner year with a string of stinging defeats that opponents say have undermined a core proposition of the movement - that the acceptance of gay marriage is, sooner or later, inevitable. Harry Reid: Democrats Reach 'Broad Agreement' Senate Democrats have reached a "broad agreement" on a health reform bill, Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday night — a plan that would replace the public option in the current Senate bill with a new national insurance plan offered by private insurers, and a chance for older Americans to “buy in” to Medicare. ObamaCare = Abortions by Gary Bauer Last night, the United States Senate voted 54-to-45 to kill an amendment by Senators Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT). The Nelson/Hatch amendment would have prohibited taxpayer dollars from subsidizing abortions in ObamaCare. This vote virtually guarantees that the Democrats’ socialized medicine scheme will use your hard-earned money to pay for the destruction of innocent life. See how your senators voted. New Health Care Deal: They’re on the Run! by Dick Morris And Eileen McGann Faced with a massive center-right uprising, the Obama liberals have been forced to abandon a public option. But in doing so, they are throwing the Medicare program under the bus. Doubts Grow over Senate's Christmas Deadline for Health Bill Doubts are growing among Senate Democrats that they will be able to pass the healthcare reform bill by Christmas, although they remain publicly optimistic.
12-05-09	America as Texas vs. California By Ryan Streeter New Geography, the online magazine created by Joel Kotkin and others with a special focus on demographics and trends, has been tracking the implosion of California in an interesting way: by comparing it to Texas. Medicare Fraudsters Rake in Billions Medicare fraud is a multibillion-dollar business preying on an ever-increasing number of retiring baby boomers who often are being charged for medical treatments and products they don't need and for services they don't receive. South Carolina Rift Highlights Debate Over G.O.P. When Senator Lindsey Graham joined forces last month with Senator John Kerry on a compromise to the climate change legislation known as cap and trade, it was the last straw for the Charleston County Republican Party. Huckabee: 'Less than likely' I'll run in 2012 Mike Huckabee, the former Republican governor from Arkansas who has his own Fox show told Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday" that a 2012 presidential bid is "less than likely" and depends on whether Roger Ailes, the head of Fox News, keeps liking his show. Quiet GOP Tactic Stalls Top Obama Appointments Sen. Jim DeMint has locked a "hold" on President Obama's pick to head the Transportation Security Administration over concerns the nominee would undermine safety by allowing airport security screeners to unionize, the latest in a series of appointments stymied by Republican objections that are increasingly frustrating the Senate's Democratic majority. DNC Sends Out Oppo Research About Me to a Berkeley Grad Who Works for a Newspaper That Rooted for the Terrorists in Iraq by Erick Erickson I was a bit annoyed that the reporter working the DNC hit job on me didn’t bother calling me first, but then I read the dude’s bio and just felt sorry for him — the guy’s got the career trajectory of an anvil tossed out of a hot air balloon. Mafia-Style Health Insurance: An Offer You Can't Refuse by Dr. Paul Hsieh Suppose the mafia came to your town and forced everyone to purchase all their meals at mob-approved restaurants. The mafia would also select the menu items. Deputies' Ruse Fails to Hold Up in Court Two detectives suspected a couple were growing marijuana in a home, but there was not enough evidence to get a search warrant. So they came up with another plan after learning the couple had a child. Put More Lipstick on That Public Option Pig! by Rick Scott What are we up to now, six different names for the public option? Let us count the ways desperate Democrats have tried to re-brand, re-tool, re-name or re-invent what is, by all accounts, a plot that will ultimately force millions of Americans into the waiting arms of government health care bureaucrats. Frustrated Congressional Black Caucus Plays Hardball with White House The long-simmering family feud between the Congressional Black Caucus and the first African-American president burst into the open on Wednesday, with members boycotting a financial overhaul vote as a warning shot at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. As We Say in Alaska, "Go Sarah, Go!" by Eddie Burke Some people in the Lower 48 might be saying, "What is with you people up in Alaska?" You might be wondering why people in our State would kick Sarah Palin around like she's the enemy? Also, you must think some of us are crazy to file 20 Ethics complaints on our former Governor that were all dismissed? If you ask me, these people who filed the complaints are crazy! Why the GOP Will Take Both Houses in 2010 by Dick Morris While the smoke rises from the Capitol building where the health care debate proceeds, Obama is losing his political base on the left. Climategate? What Climategate? by John Fund The scandal involving leaked or purloined emails from the Climatic Research Unit at Britain's University of East Anglia finally reached Capitol Hill this week, but not in the way you'd expect. Democratic committee chairmen ignored the evidence of scientific skullduggery at the influential research unit, even as its head Phil Jones stepped aside this week to make way for an investigation. Pennsylvania: In-Home Schooling Popularity Slipping Across State Anne Cook is convinced she instilled a sense of lifelong learning in her five children by teaching them at home.
11-28-09	Main Street USA: Lions and Christians by Bill Murchison The perceived necessity of a Manhattan Declaration would have jarred the Pilgrims from prayerful contemplation of game birds and the like at harvest festival time, 1621. What -- religious liberty so uncertain a thing as to warrant, five centuries later, a 4,700-word document justifying Christian defense of Christian principles? Jihadist Propaganda by Gary Bauer A lawyer for one of the 9/11 Islamofascist conspirators facing trial in a federal civilian court in New York confirmed over the weekend what we suspected. He disclosed that the Gitmo thugs will plead not guilty and then use the trial as a platform to express their jihadist philosophy and to attack American foreign policy. Jim DeMint: A Tea Party Crowd Favorite If you’re an underdog conservative running for Congress, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) should be on your speed dial these days. Republican Governors: 'Opt Out' Unworkable Even with the "opt-out" option, Republican governors who gathered here last week weren't buying in to President Obama's plan to overhaul the nation's health care system. Thanks Giving: A National Tradition by S. Michael Craven As we, once again, approach this national day of “thanksgiving” I thought it necessary to reflect upon our nation’s long history of acknowledging and giving thanks to Almighty God. Lieberman Digs In on Public Option Sen. Joseph Lieberman, speaking in that trademark sonorous baritone, utters a simple statement that translates into real trouble for Democratic leaders: "I'm going to be stubborn on this." It Doesn’t Feel Like It, but We Are Winning the Fight Against ObamaCare — Updated by Dan Perrin You may feel like the political system is broken and the Democrats are not listening to the voters. You feel that way because it is true, the Democrats are not listening. But that does not mean the bill will not die — because it turns out that the two Independent Senators are listening. The Democrats' Health Care Delusion by Rich Lowry Saturday night's health-care vote in the Senate was a theatrical fizzle. Sure, Majority Leader Harry Reid made senators sit at their desks for their vote to create a sense of "history" -- but everyone knew that he'd get the 60 votes he needed to start debate on ObamaCare. How Health Care Reform Could Fall Apart Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid eked out 60 votes on a procedural motion to start the health care debate Saturday night – but there’s no guarantee he can pass a bill on the merits. How Does Knowledge Accumulate When The Scientists All Lie? Tony Kane wrote of the recent email hack aimed at Britain’s Climate Research Unit, University of East Anglia. In today’s Huntsville Examiner, his article “ClimateGate emails provide unwanted scrutiny of climate scientists” describes the professional practices rampant among the Western World’s scientific elite. Conservatives Seek Test for RNC Funds Eager to ensure that "tea partiers" don't undermine GOP candidates, conservative members of the Republican National Committee are pursuing the creation of a rule that would bar the Republican Party from funding candidates who fail a conservative litmus test. Will Time Magazine Apologize to Glenn Beck? by Ken Blackwell “Government Distrust and a Dead Census Taker.” That was the headline of a September 25th story in TIME about the death of 51-year old Bill Sparkman. Sparkman’s naked body had been found in a remote area of Harlan County, Kentucky, with the word “FED” scrawled on his chest. Sparkman had been hanged. Immediately, TIME and others began to speculate. Had Sparkman been hanged by anti-government, anti-Obama violent right wingers? TIME led the speculation, taking the opportunity to drag in Glenn Beck.
11-21-09	GOP Sees Little Outreach in Health Care Debate A year ago, two Republican lawmakers - one a crusty, outspoken conservative senator who is a close personal friend of President Obama; the other, a bright-eyed, wonkish Midwestern congressman - were invigorated by the new president-elect's promise to welcome different ideas on how to fix the nation's health care system. U.S. Troops Battle both Taliban and Their Own Rules Army Capt. Casey Thoreen wiped the last bit of sleep from his eyes before the sun rose over his isolated combat outpost. His soldiers did the same as they checked and double-checked their weapons and communications equipment. Ahead was a dangerous foot patrol into the heart of Taliban territory. Health Care NOT the Government’s Responsibility, Says America Ever since Barack Obama began his crusade for health care socialization, the meme in the media has been that “Americans want health care reform.” Do a Google search for that phrase and you’ll find story after story that trumpets that line, usually with no evidence to support it. Abortion, Health Care, and Socialism by Star Parker Contrary to a popular fallacy that science and religion are at odds with each other, it's quite the opposite. Science and religion are the best of friends. And like good friends, they complement each other and produce beautiful music together. GOP Weighs Filibuster of Judge Nominee Republicans who decried Democrats' filibusters of President George W. Bush's judicial nominees are now debating whether they should use the same tactic against one of President Obama's nominees, a candidate who they say has an antipathy toward Christianity and pro-life legislation. Worse Than Taxes by John Stossel Bill O'Reilly is mad at me because I'm not mad enough about taxes. Last week on "The O'Reilly Factor", we talked about California's and New York's enormous budget deficits and planned tax increases. Those states would have big surpluses had they just grown their governments in pace with inflation. But of course they didn't. Now the politicians act like their current deficits are something imposed on them by the recession. The Palin Experience by David Harsanyi These days, where you fall on the crucial issue of Sarah Palin tells the rest of us all we need to know about your character. You're either A) a scum-sucking, terror-loving elitist or B) a radical, tea bag-loving simpleton. RedState Interviews Gov. Sarah Palin by Erick Erickson I just had a terrific interview with Governor Sarah Palin this afternoon. Her new book, Going Rogue, came out today. I’d like to say we talked a lot about her book, but I did not get it until 10:00 a.m. and had family stuff to take care of. I gave it a quick thumbing through, but largely asked questions based on readers submissions via twitter etc. Don’t Let Them Vote for a Government Takeover of Health Care Before They Vote Against It by Senator Jim DeMint A defining moment is coming in this year’s health care debate. Yesterday, Democrat leaders announced they may soon bring Harry Reid’s new health care bill to the Senate floor in an effort to grant the President’s wish for a government takeover of our nation’s health care by Christmas. This is in spite of the fact that 99 senators have never seen Reid’s new bill that was written in secret. Reid even hinted he may rush to a vote before the bill’s been public for 72 hours, as even Democrats have demanded. The Left’s ‘Fair’ Trial by Erick Erickson I’ve seen a lot from the left in the last twenty-four hours that I, and conservatives in general, do not want to give Khalid Sheikh Mohammed a fair trail and that I, and the right in general, do not believe in our system of due process. U.S. Health Plans Have History of Cost Overruns As President Obama and Congress craft the largest national health insurance program since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965, they insist that the final product will add "not one dime" to the federal deficit. Dems Alarmed as Independents Bolt Mounting evidence that independent voters have soured on the Democrats is prompting a debate among party officials about what rhetorical and substantive changes are needed to halt the damage. Dixie Contests Crucial to GOP’s Civil War Two Southern races in 2010 could determine whether the staunchly conservative party base or the center-right establishment guides the GOP as it gears up for 2012 after next year’s state and congressional elections. Palin Met by Hundreds in Michigan Sarah Palin apparently had a point to make when she chose economically ravaged Michigan as the first stop on her heavily promoted book tour. President Plunge Polls and Palin by Aaron Gardner While Obama was taking a bow on his Asian Apology Tour, Quinnipiac released a new poll in which the President’s ratings also took a bow, h/t Ed Morrisey at Hot Air. Sarah and Barack by Emmett Tyrrell What would the mainstream media's response be if former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin described China's economic growth to an audience of students in Shanghai as "an accomplishment unparalleled in human history"? That is what the most inexperienced president in modern American history said in Shanghai this week. I wonder whether any of the assembled journalists choked. Sarah Palin Hits the (Book) Trail If Sarah Palin were running for president, this is where she’d come: The outskirts of a second city in the conservative heartland of Western Michigan, where thousands gathered Wednesday to see her, shake her hand and have her sign their copies of Going Rogue. Reid Plan Ups Pressure on Moderates Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid unveiled his $848 billion health reform bill Wednesday to broad support from fellow Democrats — and the move quickly turned up the pressure on the last few wavering moderates to support the plan, which includes a sizable chunk of deficit cutting. Holder Gets Hammered by Gary Bauer Yesterday I reported on Attorney General Eric Holder’s testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee about his decision to have five 9/11 conspirators, including mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, tried in civilian court in New York City. I was very proud of the way Republican senators on the committee aggressively questioned Holder about his decision. Below are highlights and some of my thoughts on the hearing. If A Senator Votes for Cloture, She Is Voting to Pass Health Care There is a study out today that is damaging to the Democrats efforts to pass health care in the Senate. On Saturday, when constituents cannot contact their Senators’ offices because they’ll be closed, the United States Senate will vote on a cloture motion to debate the health care legislation. This is important — a vote in favor of cloture on the motion to proceed (a parliamentary issue) is, in effect, a vote for the health care legislation. Sen. Graham Knocks Around AG Holder on KSM I know that Senator Lindsey Graham (R, SC) is not on a lot of people’s Christmas card lists, but this exchange between him and Attorney General Eric Holder was four minutes, forty seconds’ worth of pure schooling. Not filmed was the bit in the end where Holder was on the floor, looking for his teeth. Senate Health Care Bill Creates New Marriage Penalty Senate Democrats' health care bill would create a new marriage penalty by imposing a tax on individuals who make $200,000 annually but hitting married couples making just $50,000 more. Sen. Cornyn’s Statement on the Vote on the Nomination of David Hamilton U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, made the following statement prior to his vote on the nomination of Judge David Hamilton to the Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: “I will not support Judge David Hamilton’s elevation to the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. After close review, I believe Judge Hamilton’s writings and statements show an unwillingness to serve as a neutral arbiter of the law,” said Sen. Cornyn. The Republican Alternative by Peter Ferrara Democrats have been telling us all year that the Republicans have no health reform alternative. They are just the party of no! So we must have all been hallucinating when, lo and behold, just before the recent House vote on the Pelosi/Obama government health care takeover bill, there was a vote on…the Republican alternative. Who's Legislating Morality Now? by Andrew Tallman When I argue that abortion under most circumstances should be illegal, I am charged with trying to legislate morality.
11-14-09	Challenges for a Republican Renaissance by Star Parker Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele and the New York Yankees can look back on a good week. Maybe Steele deserves extra credit. The Swine Flu Boogeyman by Michael Fumento "The boogeyman will get you!" parents sometimes tell misbehaving children. With about 40% of parents saying "no!" to vaccinating their kids for swine flu, apparently health officials think turnabout is fair play. And the media seem happy to help. Divided We Fall by Erick Erickson The Democrats’ health care legislation passed the House of Representatives on Saturday by three votes. Under the Democrats’ plan, should you fail to obtain health insurance, you will go to jail for five years. Third-Party Candidacies, Last Resort by Gary Bauer Doug Hoffman’s narrow defeat in New York’s 23rd Congressional District special election was one of few blemishes in a nearly flawless Election Day for Republicans. But Hoffman’s strong showing — coupled with the successful uprising against Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava’s candidacy — will embolden some conservatives to consider abandoning the GOP and initiating a broader third-party movement. Prejudice, Denial and Fort Hood by James Taranto "We don't know all the answers yet," the Associated Press quotes President Obama as saying Friday about the Fort Hood massacre. "And I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts." Defense Nominee Won't Reveal Potential Conflicts President Obama's nominee for a top weapons-buying job at the Pentagon recently served as a paid adviser for a big defense contractor and is declining to disclose whom else he has worked for on a government ethics form designed to help the public guard against potential conflicts of interest. Fort Hood Suspect Was under FBI Probe in 2008 The FBI and the Army last year investigated contacts between a Yemen-based militant Islamist prayer leader and the Army psychiatrist accused of last week’s deadly shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, but they dropped the case after concluding that he didn’t pose a terrorist threat, a senior federal law enforcement official said Monday. Terrorist Pen Pals by Gary Bauer We now know that Fort Hood murderer Nidal Malik Hasan sent between 10 and 20 messages to Anwar al-Awlaki, an Islamofascist cleric known for his exhortations for Muslims to rise up and kill the infidels. Counterterrorism officials intercepted the communications but concluded (are you sitting down?) that the e-mails were probably part of a research project on post-traumatic stress disorder that the psychiatrist had been conducting at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Blind Diversity Equals Death by Michelle Malkin The violence at Fort Hood, President Obama told mourners on Tuesday, was "incomprehensible." The "twisted logic that led to the tragedy," he reiterated, may be "too hard to comprehend." If the Bush administration suffered a systemic failure of imagination on homeland security, the Obama administration is suffering a willful failure of comprehension. Conventional Wisdom Recycles Lies about Recent Elections by Michael Medved Mistakes, distortions and outright lies appeared so frequently in media coverage of the elections of 2009 that they made accurate analysis all but impossible. Pro-Abortion Senator Who Could Live with Stupak is Attacked by Net-roots & Caves by Dan Perrin The difference between the U.S. House and U.S. Senate debate on the Stupak amendment is stark. The pro-abortion Members of Congress in the House, and pro-abortion groups like NARAL and Planned Parenthood, rolled over and did not threaten to derail the bill because Speaker Pelosi asked them to. So they played dead. 'No Easy Way Out' for Democrats on Abortion by Alexander Burns The sudden spasm of intense debate over abortion on Capitol Hill this week threatens not only to stall the passage of health care legislation, but also to shatter the delicate cease-fire that has governed the abortion issue during the Obama era. Muslim Suffers Bruised Ego in Fort Hood Tragedy By Ann Coulter The massacre at Fort Hood last week is the perfect apotheosis of the liberal victimology described in my book "Guilty: Liberal 'Victims' and Their Assault on America." Democrats Divided on Abortion by Bill McLaughlin A funny thing is happening on the way to the impending health care showdown, as the Democrats try to turn the newly-passed House bill into something that can pass both Houses of Congress. Fort Hood Suspect Contacted Muslim Extremists Fort Hood shooting suspect Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan had been in contact with numerous Muslim extremists -- some of whom are under federal investigation -- before last week's rampage, two U.S. officials told The Washington Times on Wednesday. Fort Hood Shooting Suspect Sent Money to Pakistan, Texas Congressman Says An Austin congressman said Thursday that he has confirmed that Fort Hood massacre suspect Nidal Malik Hasan wired money to Pakistan, which Muslim extremist groups use as a base to raise funds and carry out terrorist attacks. Breaking News by Gary Bauer There are reports out of New York’s 23rd District of major voting irregularities. Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman may have conceded too early. Recanvassing has dramatically narrowed Democrat Bill Owens’ lead to just 3,000 votes, with thousands of absentee ballots still to be counted. RNC to Opt Out of Abortion Coverage The Republican National Committee will no longer offer employees an insurance plan that covers abortion after POLITICO reported Thursday that the anti-abortion RNC's policy has covered the procedure since 1991. Holder: Gitmo 9/11 Suspects Face Trial in N.Y. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Friday that self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be sent to New York for trial in a civilian federal court, and he expects to seek the death penalty. Former Clinic Director: Church Chilly to My Pro-Life Turn Abby Johnson, the former Planned Parenthood clinic director whose about-face on abortion prompted her to resign her job, says she's gotten flack for her decision from an unexpected quarter: her own church. Among Obama Aides, Debate Intensifies on Troop Levels The disclosure that the United States ambassador in Kabul has expressed written opposition to deploying more American troops to Afghanistan lays bare the fierce debate within the Obama administration over the direction of the war, even after weeks of deliberations and with the president on the verge of a decision. Palin Confirms Friction with McCain Staff The rumors are true, according to Sarah Palin: The McCain-Palin campaign was not a happy family. 4GW Comes to Ft. Hood by William S. Lind Last week’s shootings at Ft. Hood, in which thirteen U. S. Soldiers were killed and 30 people wounded, appear to be a classic example of Fourth Generation war. The shooter, U. S. Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, was a practicing Moslem. 9/11 Plotters May Walk by Gary Bauer Liberalism’s theories often sound good to the uninformed. But when liberals are in power and attempt to govern with those theories, the public usually wakes up. Here’s a good example. During the campaign, Barack Obama sounded like he had the moral high ground on Guantanamo Bay, claiming that the terrorist prison there violated our values. He vowed to close Gitmo and to try the terrorist thugs in civilian courts. Today the administration made good on half of that promise – Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other 9/11 conspirators are headed to New York City to be treated like American citizens and tried in civilian courts.
11-07-09	13 Killed at Texas Army Base; Psychiatrist Accused An Army officer opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas on Thursday, killing 13 and injuring 30, authorities said. The massacre left investigators scrambling to figure out what may have driven a mental health professional to go on such a rampage. The Media Will Downplay His Religion, But God Help Us if His Car Had a Talk Radio Station On by Erick Erickson As the sun set tonight, tragedy came to Ft. Hood. A muslim soldier began shooting other soldiers. What we know so far is that the soldier was a muslim and began yelling at his fellow soldiers statements in Arabic. The Fort Hood Massacre by Bill Murchison It makes no sense to see Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, as represented in at least one family account, as the victim of "harassment" by fellow soldiers (and therefore a candidate for "understanding"?) He's an officer. Jihad at Fort Hood by Gary Bauer Every American this morning should be outraged not only about the murderous rampage against U.S. soldiers in Ft. Hood, Texas, by Major Nidal M. Hasan, but also by the sickening effort of Big Media, and even some U.S. officials, to deceive us about what has taken place. Pelosi: Buy a $15,000 Policy or Go to Jail Today, Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Committee Dave Camp (R-MI) released a letter from the non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) confirming that the failure to comply with the individual mandate to buy health insurance contained in the Pelosi health care bill (H.R.3962, as amended) could land people in jail. Mood Sours Toward Both Parties by Salena Zito Would one-party domination in any combination of Tuesday’s off-year elections really indicate where this country is going politically? Election Countdown – Looking Good For Conservatives by Gary Bauer Off year election results are notoriously hard to predict, but we are feeling optimistic about potential gains in tomorrow’s races. The GOP Establishment Must Be Purged as the GOP Loses in NY-23 by Erick Erickson The race for NY-23 has taken a startling, exciting twist. Regardless of what happens on Tuesday, we know for certain the Republican candidate will not, after getting $900,000.00 in support from the Washington GOP Establishment, will not win. Scozzafava dropped out. Joe Scarborough: How History Repeats Itself by Erick Erickson There is something about New York’s 23rd Congressional District that reporters and the GOP establishment are ignoring. According to the PPP poll and the Sienna poll, Doug Hoffman is expanding the base of voters willing to vote for a conservative, not shrinking the base as the press alleges. Wall Street Journal Editors Should Explain by hogan Today, in editorializing about Scozzafava’s collapse, the normally astute editors of The Wall Street Journal join the ranks of those chronically infatuated with equating the supposed extremism of the right with that of the left. This apples-to-oranges nonsense is made only worse by the editors’ absurd acceptance of the “litmus test” argument about supposed conservative rejection of those who don’t “agree with them on every issue.” Marine Leads 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Fight Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway has emerged in internal Pentagon deliberations as the most outspoken opponent of permitting gay men and women to serve openly in the U.S. military, according to a former senior Pentagon official. Hold the Champagne: Happy Days Aren't Here Again by Michael Barone The recession is over, we are told. The Commerce Department announced Thursday that the economy grew in the third quarter of 2009 by 3.5 percent. Great, huh? Is the Republican Label Irrelevant? by Bay Buchanan According to a recent Gallup study, 40% of Americans view themselves as conservative, 36% call themselves moderate, and only 20% fall into the liberal category. While this may be great news for conservatives, the Grand Old Party did not fare so well. Can the Tenth Amendment Save Us? by Cal Thomas Does the U.S. Constitution stand for anything in an era of government excess? Can that founding document, which is supposed to restrain the power and reach of a centralized federal government, slow down the juggernaut of czars, health insurance overhaul and anything else this administration and Congress wish to do that is not in the Constitution? The Love Affair is Over: In 2008 Independents Proved They Weren’t Racist by Voting Obama. In 2009, Independents Vote GOP to Prove They Aren’t Socialist. by Erick Erickson New York’s 23rd Congressional District is, at this writing, too close to call, but it looks like the GOP Establishment’s candidate helped throw the race to the Democrat after the GOP spent $900,000.00 on her. That said, the Democrat’s lead keeps shrinking and there are 10,000 absentee ballots to count. We know for certain that if we combined the Republican and Conservative votes, that team would win. The Dede Media by Brent Bozell The New York Times editorial page is a perfect weather vane for the way the liberal media's hot air is blowing. In an Oct. 26 editorial called "Torching the Big Tent," they lamented: "The feeble pulse of moderation in the Republican Party is in danger of flat-lining in the Nov. 3 Congressional election in upstate New York." Virginia, New Jersey Races Showing Voters Changing Course by Michael Barone As the final votes were being counted, it was possible to draw some lessons from Republican Bob McDonnell's victory in Virginia and the close, three-way governor's race in New Jersey, never mind that White House press secretary Robert Gibbs has taken to saying that the elections don't mean much. The Off-Year Elections and the Politics of the Obvious by Emmett Tyrrell What strikes me about politics over the past couple of years is how obvious it all has been. In 2008, as the junior senator from Illinois campaigned across the country, demonstrating his gifts as a motivational speaker and community organizer, all one had to do was review his recent life to know that he was about to bring down on the country -- ever so incompetently -- the most left-wing government in American history. Need for Republican Unity Seen as Election Lesson by Stephen Dinan "Tea party" activists say Tuesday's elections show that the Republican Party needs conservatives for victory, but the results suggest solidarity is more important: unified Republicans steamrolled in Virginia, while they fractured in New York and lost a House seat that they had held for more than a century. GOP Schism Exposed in New York Election Adds Pressure to Pete Sessions' Campaign Chief Role It was a big election night for Republicans overall. But their lone disappointment – the loss of a New York congressional seat in a crossfire between moderates and conservatives – could portend struggles next year for GOP leaders. Tuesday's Suburban Vote Swing by Karl Rove Tuesday's elections should put a scare into red state Democrats—and a few blue state ones, too. Barack Obama was said to have redrawn the electoral map by winning Virginia last year with 53% of the vote. On Tuesday, Republican Bob McDonnell flipped the state back to the GOP, winning his election for governor with 59% of the vote. A Defeat Made in Washington by Kenneth Tomlinson Why the James Buckley scenario didn't quite pan out. On Election Day, veteran conservative leader David Keene was regaling friends with the story of how the Nixon White House manipulated a split in liberal opinion to help elect James Buckley to the U.S. Senate from New York. The Myth of '08, Demolished by Charles Krauthammer Sure, Election Day 2009 will scare moderate Democrats and make passage of Obamacare more difficult. Sure, it makes it easier for resurgent Republicans to raise money and recruit candidates for 2010. But the most important effect of Tuesday's elections is historical. It demolishes the great realignment myth of 2008. Blueprint for GOP Victories by Linda Chavez Democrats are having a hard time explaining away their big losses on Tuesday. First, the White House let it be known that President Obama wasn't actually watching election returns, choosing instead to tune into HBO's puerile documentary about his own presidential campaign. Talk about ego; the man just can't get enough of himself. Panel OKs Climate-Change Bill without GOP The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Thursday passed a sweeping climate-change bill, with none of the panel's seven Republicans participating in the 11-1 vote. The Forgotten Battle of World War II: Remembering the Aleutian Campaign by Dr. Paul Kengor Every Veterans Day presents an opportunity to commemorate those who served in some faraway place long ago, many of whom paid that ultimate sacrifice. World War II offers its share of remembrances: Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941; Normandy, June 6, 1944; the Battle of the Bulge, December 16, 1944; to name a few. GOP Tent Can ‘Be Big,’ but NY-23 Was a ‘Train Wreck’ by Mike Huckabee In the wake of Tuesday’s elections, what’s the future of the Republican Party – big tent or conservative enclave? Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and Republican presidential candidate in 2008, says there’s room in the party even for people like Dede Scozzafava, the liberal Republican who was effectively run out of her House race in New York’s 23rd District by conservatives. The Democrat ended up beating the Conservative candidate there.
10-31-09	Conservatives vs Republicans by Tim Lambert This morning the Republican nominee for congress in district 23 special election in New York dropped out of the race after weeks of contention leaving the field to the Conservative Party Candidate Doug Hoffman and Democratic Party Candidate Bill Owen. The story behind this situation is indicative of the condition of the Republican Party at the national level and what will happen if leadership of the Republican Party does not wake up. 'Doc-Fix' Battle Shows Problem with Health Reform Gimmicks by Bill McKenzie If you're in the camp of those of us who worry about the deficit, get up for a moment and stomp your feet. We finally have reason to cheer. Twelve Democratic senators and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman rose up last week with Senate Republicans and stopped their colleagues from passing along $250 billion in health care costs without a way to pay for them. New York’s Big Frapple by Jillian Bandes It’s been a lucky week for Conservative Party Candidate Doug Hoffman in the scorching race for New York’s 23rd Congressional seat, his poll numbers edging ahead of Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava after conservative outlets criticized her politics and ethics. Palin Endorses Conservative Party Candidate in N.Y. Race by Tom McGregor Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska, has gotten embroiled in New York state politics by endorsing a third party candidate in a divisive congressional race. Polling Polls: Americans Independent and Irate by Salena Zito A poll of opinion polls shows that Americans are undergoing rapidly changing attitudes. RealClearPolitics, a national polling aggregator, shows that Americans are becoming less and less thrilled about the direction of the country and with the job Congress is doing. Support has been peeling off steadily, says RealClearPolitics executive editor Tom Bevan. Health Reform Written behind Closed Doors By day, Democrats tout how open they have been while crafting a bill to reform the nation's health care system. By early evening, they're behind closed doors. Public Option Seen Buoyed by 'Opt Out' A leading Senate Democrat said Sunday that a health care proposal that lets states decide whether to participate in a "public option" insurance plan is close to gaining the 60 votes needed for passage, and a key moderate Democrat hinted at being open to such a plan. Dismantling America by Thomas Sowell Just one year ago, would you have believed that an unelected government official, not even a Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate but simply one of the many "czars" appointed by the President, could arbitrarily cut the pay of executives in private businesses by 50 percent or 90 percent? Dismantling America: Part II by Thomas Sowell Many years ago, at a certain academic institution, there was an experimental program that the faculty had to vote on as to whether or not it should be made permanent. Conservative in N.Y. Race Claims He's at 'Heart' of GOP Doug Hoffman says he's fighting for the "heart and soul of the Republican Party" by running as a Conservative Party candidate, so don't call him a spoiler. Reid Puts 'Public Option' in Health Reform Again Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday sought to assuage the left wing of his Democratic Party by deciding to include a government-run insurance plan in his health care reform bill, bypassing the lone Republican who supported the effort and ensuring a bruising political battle in pursuit of President Obama's top legislative priority. Gov't May Say Recession Over but Not Job Losses It's about to become official: The recession is over - but not the pain. The government will release figures this week expected to show that the economy has awakened from its deepest slump since the 1930s and is in the early stages of a recovery. But the following week, the government will issue another set of figures expected to show unemployment continuing to rise toward and possibly above a clearly recessionary 10 percent. Something Really Scary for Obama's Democrats by Wesley Pruden This is one Mr. Deeds who apparently isn't going to town. The collapse of the Democratic campaign for governor of Virginia speaks volumes - chapters, anyway - about what the body politic is trying to tell Barack Obama's Democrats. A Good Time to be a Conservative by William Kristol Bien-pensant conservative elites and establishment-friendly Republican big shots yearn for a more moderate, temperate and sophisticated Republican Party. It’s not likely to happen. And probably just as well. All Independent Candidates Are Not Created Equal by Michael Medved A third party vote is almost always an idiotic gesture that promotes enemies and punishes allies, but in next Tuesdays elections two strong independent candidates deserve serious consideration. One of them Doug Hoffman in New Yorks 23rd Congressional District could actually win his race and send a powerful message to the GOP and the country. Reid's Bait and Switch Tactics by Dick Morris and Eileen McGann Harry Reid had two problems. How would he get the health care bill out of the Senate Finance Committee without revealing the glaring potential fissures in his party over the public option on health care? And, how could he lend a veneer of bipartisanship to a one-party bill? Constitutionality of Health Overhaul Questioned by Donald Lambro On top of all the other obstacles facing President Obama in his quest to pass health reform is this one: Does the U.S. Constitution allow the government to require uninsured Americans to buy medical insurance or impose a tax penalty if they refuse? Scozzafava Contest a Bellwether for GOP Battle between Ideology and Electability by Dan Balz Is politics about standing for principles and fighting for them? Or is politics about winning elections and passing legislation? In an ideal world, politics is both of those things, but at the moment, both Republicans and Democrats face internal debates about the true nature of what it means to be a political party. It’s Still about Jobs, Jobs, Jobs The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the economy grew in the third quarter at rate of 3.5 percent, a sign that the U.S. is climbing out of the recession. Arkansas Legislature to Begin Study on Changes to Home School Law An interim study on changes to home school law by the Arkansas Legislature is set to begin on November 5, 2009 at 10:00 am. Eleven representatives from the public school sector will be there. Dee Black of the Home School Legal Defense Association and Jerry Cox of Family Council located in Little Rock Arkansas will be representing the interests of home school families. Representative Les Carnine (R) of Rogers is the Chairman of the committee engaging in this study. I'll Pass on "Opting Out" by Ann Coulter The Democrats' all-new "opt out" idea for health care reform is the latest fig leaf for a total government takeover of the health care system. Democrats tell us they've been trying to nationalize health care for 65 years, but the first anyone heard of the "opt out" provision was about a week ago. They keep changing the language so people can't figure out what's going on. Four Races Will Test the Strength of Obama's Majority by Michael Barone Five days from now the voters of New Jersey and Virginia will elect governors. Voters in the 23rd district of New York and the 10th district of California will elect new members of the House of Representatives to replace incumbents, a Republican and a Democrat, who were appointed to positions in the Obama Defense and State departments. National Conservative Campaign Fund Rallies Prominent Conservatives to Hoffman 15 prominent conservative leaders are out today joining RedState in making NY-23’s race between Doug Hoffman and the two leftists running against him a hill to die on for the conservative movement. Republican vs. Conservative by James Taranto You might have heard about the unusual election next week in New York's 23rd Congressional District. It's unusual for several reasons: It's taking place in an odd-numbered year, there was no primary, and there are three candidates. Tuesday's Elections and the Democratic Agenda by Karl Rove Democratic enthusiasm for President Barack Obama's liberal domestic agenda—particularly for a government-run health insurance program—could wane after the results of the gubernatorial elections next Tuesday in Virginia and New Jersey. GOP victories in either state will tell Democrats in red states and districts that support for Obama's policies is risky to their political health. Black Muslim Raids by Gary Bauer For two years the FBI has been conducting an undercover investigation of a group called Ummah (the brotherhood) made up mostly of African American converts to Islam. Ummah’s goal is to establish Sharia-law within the United States by any means necessary. Health Bill: 42 Studies, 214 Mentions of Taxes House Democrats' health care bill runs to 1,990 pages, costs $1.06 trillion, covers 96 percent of eligible Americans and demands the production of 42 studies on everything from whether post-partum screening should be required to using student loan programs to help recruit doctors. Breaking News from the RedState Morning Briefing by Erick Erickson In New York's 23rd Congressional District, Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava has withdrawn from the race, leaving only the conservative, Doug Hoffman, versus the Democrat, Bill Owens. Republican Scozzafava Drops Out of New York Congressional Race Republican state Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava has suspended her campaign for upstate New York's 23rd Congressional District seat, giving a possible boost to Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman against Democrat Bill Owens, Fox News has confirmed. California vs. Texas: America’s Future What’s the worst state to do business in? According to readers of Chief Executive magazine, it’s California. In the same poll, Texas won first place as the best state in which to put your headquarters.
10-24-09	Magic Numbers in Politics: Part II by Thomas Sowell t is understandable that many people do not pay nearly as much attention to political issues as they do to practical decisions that they have to make in their own lives. For one thing, they have only one vote among millions, so their influence on what policies the government will follow is in no way comparable to the weight of their decisions in their own personal affairs. Could a Wave Be Building? by George Will Demure Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, but since then has not made many waves. It might, however, be part of a political wave a year from now, thanks to a direct descendent of Benjamin Franklin. U.S. Troop Funds Diverted to Pet Projects Senators diverted $2.6 billion in funds in a defense spending bill to pet projects largely at the expense of accounts that pay for fuel, ammunition and training for U.S. troops, including those fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to an analysis. '09 Budget Deficit Tripled to $1.4 Trillion The federal budget deficit more than tripled to $1.4 trillion in the fiscal year that ended last month, the Treasury Department confirmed Friday. Relative to the size of the economy, the fiscal 2009 deficit was 9.9 percent of gross domestic product, the biggest shortfall since 1945. For each dollar of revenue, the federal government spent $1.67. Left's Rush Blitz a Cheap Shot by Diana West Before I get to the chilling implications for free conservative speech underscored by the vicious, public campaign to blackball Rush Limbaugh as a potential owner of an NFL team, I want to provide a little context about the pre-existing NFL comfort zone of expression. The Censorious Sound on the Left by Brent Bozell Rush Limbaugh was convicted of racism in a kangaroo court of "objective" media and dropped as a potential owner of the St. Louis Rams football franchise. His accusers claimed he once said slavery "had its merits" and that the assassin of Martin Luther King deserved a "Medal of Honor." The story circulated on the Internet and was eventually picked up by the major media, including both CNN and MSNBC. Thought While Shaving: It Just May be Huckabee’s Time by Tom Roeser As one who has either sat in an audience or on press row for 56 years...auditing speaking performances from Hubert Humphrey, Everett Dirksen and Ronald Reagan and through the campaign rosters of two midwestern states including Barack Obama here...I must say that the performance delivered by Mike Huckabee last night at the Illinois Family Institute (my presence due to Kirk Dillard who invited me as his guest, for which thanks) was unrivaled. McDonnell Confronts Climate Change Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert F. McDonnell said Saturday he thinks the globe is warming but wouldn't fix blame on man-made carbon emissions as its cause. Bipartisan Facade Can't Hide Health Plan's Flaws by Debra J. Saunders If the Democrats' health care package is so great, why are President Obama and Dem congressional leaders so hungry to share the credit for its passage with a Republican? Money and Meltdown (Part 6) by Wes Riddle It is time we address some fundamental issues about money. First, money didn’t originate with government. It originated amongst people who needed a way to exchange their goods indirectly, instead of through direct barter all the time. GOP to Orchestrate Health Attacks House Republicans are planning an interest-group strategy to try to stop a health care bill and will spend the next three weeks arguing that the Democrats' measure will be a bad deal for small businesses, senior citizens, and women and children. Tea Partiers, GOP Regulars Scuffle in N.Y. House Race Republican officials turned to a conservative icon and invoked an anti-tax pledge Thursday to salvage the slumping campaign of a New York congressional candidate competing with a more conservative third-party challenger, part of an ongoing battle between the fiscally hawkish "tea party" movement and the Republican establishment. The Race Card, Football and Me by Rush Limbaugh David Checketts, an investor and owner of sports teams, approached me in late May about investing in the St. Louis Rams football franchise. As a football fan, I was intrigued. I invited him to my home where we discussed it further. Even after informing him that some people might try to make an issue of my participation, Mr. Checketts said he didn't much care. I accepted his offer. Budget Tricks Rife in Health Reform Effort Advocates of health care reform are relying on budget manipulations to stick with President Obama's pledge to overhaul the system without adding to the deficit, critics on and off Capitol Hill say. Harry Reid Plan: 'Vaporize' 2010 GOP Opponent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is prepared to run a sharply negative campaign if that’s what it takes to win reelection next year, with a top adviser predicting that the Nevada Democrat will “vaporize” his Republican challengers with attack ads. Feds Threatened to Oust BofA Execs over Merrill Deal Government regulators threatened to remove top Bank of America executives if they backed out of a buyout of failing brokerage giant Merrill Lynch, and offered to provide taxpayer funds to compensate for Merrill's poor performance, according to company records obtained by The Washington Times. Justice Concludes Black Voters Need Democratic Party Voters in this small city decided overwhelmingly last year to do away with the party affiliation of candidates in local elections, but the Obama administration recently overruled the electorate and decided that equal rights for black voters cannot be achieved without the Democratic Party. TARP Watchdog: Full Repayment 'Unlikely' The auto industry, AIG and other struggling recipients of the government's $700 billion Wall Street bailout will make it "extremely unlikely" that taxpayers will receive a full return on their investments, says a new report by the Treasury Department's independent watchdog. American Idea by Walter E. Williams Americans are harder workers, more philanthropic, individualistic, self-reliant, anti-government than people in most other countries. We’ve turned what was an 18th-century Third World nation into the freest and most prosperous nation in mankind’s entire history. Throughout our history, United States has been a magnet for immigrants around the world. What accounts for what some have called American exceptionalism? Health Costs and History Washington has just run a $1.4 trillion budget deficit for fiscal 2009, even as we are told a new health-care entitlement will reduce red ink by $81 billion over 10 years. To believe that fantastic claim, you have to ignore everything we know about Washington and the history of government health-care programs. For the record, we decided to take a look at how previous federal forecasts matched what later happened. It isn't pretty. “Democrats’ Hidden Gas Tax” by Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison & Kit Bond There’s something the Democratic lawmakers who are pushing cap-and-trade legislation don’t want the public to know. The controversial climate-change legislation winding its way through Congress will impose a massive new national gas tax on the American people. CNN Explores Conservative Talk Radio, the Last 'Dark Continent' by Jim Lakely CNN, fresh off being dubbed a "real" news organization by the Obama White House, has embarked on a three-part series examining that bizarre and foreign cultural subset of America called conservative talk radio listeners. To those not in the liberal elite, they're known simply as "normal folks." Low Black-Voter Turnout Threatens Dems in Va., N.J. Races Voter doldrums - especially among blacks far less energized than they were for Barack Obama's historic presidential bid last year - pose problems for Democrats struggling in the governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey.
10-17-09	The James Buckley Scenario by Kenneth Tomlinson A couple of weeks ago, political handicapper Charlie Cook alerted his subscribers that "the situation for President Obama and congressional Democrats has slipped completely out of control." Politico asserted the Cook Political Report special "should send shivers down Democratic spines." Stakes High for Maine's Marriage Vote For an off-year election in a state only rarely in the national political spotlight, an upcoming referendum on same-sex marriage has dramatic potential to make history and to roil emotions from coast to coast. Lose at the Ballot, Push! for Payback at the Bench by Debra J. Saunders Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker opened the gates to hell this month when he ruled that strategists for Proposition 8 -- the 2008 ballot measure, passed by 52 percent of California voters, that limited marriage to a man and a woman -- must release internal campaign documents to measure opponents. ‘Conceptual Language’ Hides Health Care’s Costs by Michael Barone Some of the headlines in recent days are not worthy of belief. No, I'm not referring to the headlines that Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize, however odd that many seem to many (including, it seems, Obama himself). I'm referring to the headlines earlier in the week to the effect that the health care bill sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus will cut the federal deficit by $81 billion over the next 10 years. Show Me the Bill! by Robert Knight Do you think Congress should vote on bills without reading them? How about voting on bills that don’t even exist yet, except in fragments? Tea Partiers Turn on GOP Leadership While the energy of the anti-tax and anti-Big Government tea party movement may yet haunt Democrats in 2010, the first order of business appears to be remaking the Republican Party. Muslim Spies On Capitol Hill? by Gary Bauer Yesterday, a disturbing story was brought to my attention regarding our national security. A group of four House Republicans are calling for an investigation into a leading American Muslim advocacy group for placing interns in security-related Congressional committees. Making Us Less Safe by Gary Bauer At a time when the Obama Administration should be actively pressuring Iran to allow inspectors into its nuclear facilities, it has reportedly decided to allow Russia to inspect OUR nuclear sites. The plan was agreed to when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday. According to Fox News, this would “constitute the most intrusive weapons inspection program the U.S. has ever accepted.” Leveling Limbaugh The National Football League, in which each Sunday men weighing 365 pounds slam headlong into men weighing 245 pounds, has decided it can't handle Rush Limbaugh, talk-show host, age 58. C'mon guys, show some guts. Rush’s Rams by Elisabeth Meinecke For all the fuss over Rush Limbaugh’s attempt to buy the NFL’s St. Louis Rams franchise, you’d think he’d been torturing dogs or accidentally firing pistols in nightclubs.
10-10-09	Conservatism and The Commonwealth by David R. Stokes Evangelical Christian voter erosion away from the Republicans and toward the Democrats in 2008 was undoubtedly a significant factor in the election of Barack Obama. It didn’t work out too badly for those clinging to his coattails, either. "Change" GOP's 2010 Ally by Salena Zito If a flood of House seats now held by Democrats switches to Republicans in 2010, it will not be because of a seismic change in the country’s ideology. Senate Giant Killer Sees New Goliath: Reid The Republican who ousted the Democratic leader of the Senate in 2004 says Harry Reid finds himself in a similar predicament of representing a conservative-leaning state but leading a liberal party. Democrats: Republicans Are Rooting Against America During the Bush era, Republicans from Karl Rove to Joe Wilson questioned — in ways both veiled and overt — the patriotism of Democrats who challenged the administration’s Iraq policy, pre-war intelligence and surveillance programs. Dems See Rise in Jersey, Fade in Va. With a month to go until Election Day, national Democrats are increasingly optimistic about their chances to win the New Jersey governor’s race while cautious, or downright skeptical, about their prospects in the Virginia gubernatorial contest. Ron Paul and Gloria Steinem, Unite! by S. E. Cupp New York health-care workers are protesting the emergency regulation adopted this summer by the State Health Department making seasonal and swine flu shots mandatory. As well they should. So should good conservatives, libertarians – and yes – the pro-choice left A War of Necessity Turns Out Not So Necessary by Michael Barone "This is not a war of choice," Barack Obama told the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Aug. 17. "This is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9-11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al-Qaida would plot to kill more Americans. So this is not only a war worth fighting. This is fundamental to the defense of our people." Study: Bernanke, Paulson Misled Public on Bailouts Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and former Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. misled the public about the financial weakness of Bank of America and other early recipients of the government's $700 billion Wall Street bailout, creating "unrealistic expectations" about the companies and damaging the program's credibility, according to a report by the program's independent watchdog. Universal Coverage, Private Competition and Reduced Deficits by Lanny Davis Re-read that headline. I am not making this up. A health care bill exists that would accomplish what the headline says. Home School vs. Public School: What Are the Benefits? President Barack Obama sparked controversy earlier this week with the announcement that he believes American kids don't spend enough time in school. Mojave Cross Honoring Veterans Embodies Best Traditions of Our Nation by Ted Cruz and Kelly Shackelford From the first musket shots at Lexington and Concord, American patriots have fought to defend liberty. We rightly memorialize our fallen soldiers and remember their sacrifices that have kept us all safe. And yet Wednesday the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in Salazar v. Buono on whether a 75-year-old veterans' memorial in the Mojave Desert should be destroyed. GOP Faces Multiple Hurdles as It Aims for a 1994 Replay by Gerald F. Seib A big question hangs over American politics: Could next year be 1994 all over again? That was the year a bitter debate over health care led to a disastrous congressional election for Democrats, in which they lost 54 House and 10 Senate seats and ceded control of both chambers to the Republicans 34 Banks Don't Pay Their Quarterly TARP Dividends The U.S. taxpayers' investments in smaller banks are increasingly at risk. In a sign that more banks are under great pressure from the recession, 34 financial institutions did not pay their quarterly dividends in August to the Treasury on funds obtained under the Troubled Asset Relief Fund (TARP). Poll: Third of Parents to Shun H1N1 Vaccine As the first wave of swine flu vaccine crosses the country, more than a third of parents don't want their kids vaccinated, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. Key Democrats Align with Military on Afghan Buildup The Democratic chairmen of several key committees overseeing war policy, including the House Armed Services and Intelligence committees, say they back the military's request for a troop buildup in Afghanistan - despite House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's stance that Congress will not support deploying more U.S. forces. Doggett Upstages Texas Senators, White House on Judicial Nominations Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, upstaged Texas’ Republican senators — and the White House — Wednesday by announcing the selections for 10 candidates for federal judge, U.S. attorney and the U.S. Marshals Service, including four Hispanic nominees.
10-03-09	Life Chain Will Present Pro-Woman, Pro-Life Message to Millions in October Millions of Americans will be reminded of the pro-woman, pro-life perspective when they take to the streets on Sunday, October 4. That's because thousands of pro-life advocates in cities and towns across the country will be there to share the message with them. Senator: “We’ll do everything we can to stop people from breaking into (your) files.” by Tom Giovanetti Yes, it’s right there. On pages 195-196 (out of 1,107 pages), in Section 431, entitled DISCLOSURES TO CARRY OUT HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE SUBSIDIES of the “Affordable Health Choices Act”. This provision amends the Internal Revenue code, opens up taxpayer information to federal officials, requires your employer to also provide your financial information, and gives the Health Commissar wide discretion to ask for “other information” deemed necessary. On Julius Genachowski and Net Neutrality by Neil Stevens I am in danger of becoming a broken record on the issue of Net Neutrality in this space, but as aggressively as the Democrats are pushing the issue, it is a danger we all will have to live with. Once again, I will summarize the issue with a minimum of technological impediments to understanding. Bolton: Foreign Policy Now Big Problem The apparent escalation of Iran's nuclear-weapon program is the result of President Obama readily following the Bush administration's failed foreign policies while focusing on health-care reform, former United Nations Ambassador John R. Bolton said Monday. A Declaration of Independents in 2010 By Alex Isenstadt Independent candidates are poised to run serious campaigns for governor in at least a half-dozen states, a development that threatens Democratic fortunes in some of the bluest and most progressive-minded states in the nation. Plum Assignment Has Helped Hutchison, but Will It Now Hurt Her? It's often said that in Washington, there are three parties: Republicans, Democrats and Appropriators. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is a Republican, but she's also an appropriator — a member of the Senate committee that decides how to spend federal dollars. Abortion Funding Takes Center Stage in Health Care Debate Some moderate Democrats have joined abortion foes in pressing for votes to impose explicit restrictions. Abortion opponents in both the House and the Senate are seeking to block the millions of middle- and lower-income people who might receive federal insurance subsidies to help them buy health coverage from using the money on plans that cover abortion. Health Co-Ops Aren't the Answer by William Winkenwerder Congress is now backing away from creating the government health-insurance program, better known as the "public option." Instead, Montana Democratic Sen. Max Baucus is proposing to spend $6 billion to create government sponsored health-care co-operatives that he believes will create needed competition with private insurers. GOP Takes 'Targeted' Health-Care Approach Up against an overwhelming Democratic majority, Republican arguments against the health care reform plan so far largely have been limited to requests to slow down the process, maintain some fiscal restraint and make Democrats live up to President Obama's promises. Palin's Memoir, 'Going Rogue,' Out Nov. 17 That was fast. Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate, has finished her memoir just four months after the book deal was announced, and the release date has been moved up from the spring to Nov. 17, her publisher said. Republican Base Still Wild about Sarah Palin Despite a torrent of criticism from the media, Democrats and even some in her own party, Sarah Palin remains the hottest brand name in politics. Get Free Health Care -- In Jail! by Gary Bauer Senator Max Baucus’ (D-MT) latest “bi-partisan” healthcare bill has been criticized by Republicans and Democrats alike. The liberals in Congress are upset because it does not provide for a public option, while conservatives are upset that it still amounts to a government takeover of healthcare and forces individuals to buy healthcare coverage whether they like it or not. A large percentage of younger workers in our country are healthy and would prefer not to pay for healthcare coverage. Also, many wealthy Americans, who can afford to pay their own bills, don’t want to be forced to buy a policy they don’t need. Senate Panel Rejects Public Option Twice In a long-awaited fight that pitted Democrats against one another, liberal lawmakers failed twice Tuesday to insert a government-run health insurance program into the emerging Senate health care reform bill but vowed that the battle for a public option is far from over. Senate Finance Panel Has Votes to Pass Health Bill, Baucus Says Democrats on a key Senate panel backed off a plan to impose billions of dollars in new taxes on senior citizens with catastrophic medical expenses Wednesday and defeated Republican amendments on abortion, immigration and other divisive issues, aiming to bring a comprehensive health-care overhaul before the full Senate within two weeks. Gun Case Puts Focus on Sotomayor & Future Nominees The Supreme Court announced today that it will decide, in McDonald v. Chicago, whether the Second Amendment applies to state and local gun laws. That puts the focus on the Court’s newest Justice, Sonia Sotomayor, and on President Obama’s future picks for the Court. U.S. Panel Chides Holder in Panther Probe The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights asked Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Wednesday to name a Justice Department official to oversee the production of what it called "our overdue information requests" for documents in the dismissal of a civil complaint against members of the New Black Panther Party accused of disrupting a Philadelphia polling place in the November elections. Double Standard For Democrats by Gary Bauer Tuesday night, Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) spoke on the House floor about the healthcare debate. During his remarks, Grayson blatantly lied and attacked Republicans, saying, “If you get sick, America, the Republican healthcare plan is this: die quickly. That’s right. The Republicans want you to die quickly if you get sick.” Survey: Pro-life Views Gain under Obama Popular support for abortion rights has dropped seven points in the past year due in part to the election of a pro-choice Democratic president, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life said Thursday. Obamacare Pushing Voters to GOP by Donald Lambro The White House remains in deep denial about the growing unpopularity of President Obama's government healthcare plan. Recent polls not only show that a clear majority of voters disapprove of his government-run entitlement plan; they show that key groups who make up that majority - seniors and independents - are now moving away from the Democrats and toward Republicans in the 2010 election cycle.
9-26-09	New Government Policy Imposes Strict Standards on Garage Sales Nationwide The "Resale Round-up," launched by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, enforces new limits on lead in children's products and makes it illegal to sell any items that don't meet those limits or have been recalled for any other reason. Health Reformers Targeting 'Enemies' The plan for a series of grass-roots demonstrations Tuesday to promote President Obama's health care agenda calls for tightly scripted events and an "escalation" of efforts against "enemies" of reform. Campaign-Giving Restriction is Nullified A federal appeals court on Friday dramatically expanded the ability of politically oriented groups such as Emily's List or the National Rifle Association to raise and spend money to help candidates get elected to federal office. Values Voters Poke Fun at Health Reform Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, once considered a moderate by some social conservatives, was the headliner at the Values Voters Summit in Washington on Friday evening, quoting from the Bible and bringing the nearly 2,000 social and religious conservatives to their feet. Book Paints Unflattering Portrait of Hutchison as Taskmaster Former George W. Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer admits being enamored of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison when he arrived as a young staffer on Capitol Hill some years ago. Breitbart a Conservative Rebel with a Cause He is hybrid journalist, content wrangler, glib analyst. But most of all, Andrew Breitbart relishes running against the grain. For starters, he is an unabashed political conservative in a Hollywood dominated by liberals. Palin Marks First Ever Visit to Asia with Hong Kong Speech Sarah Palin, former U.S. Republican vice-presidential nominee, addressed a packed ballroom of mostly high-flying fund managers at a five-star hotel in Hong Kong Wednesday -- on issues ranging from the Alaskan fishing industry to the financial crisis to Sino-U.S. relations. McChrystal to Request More Afghan Troops The commander of U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, will make a long-anticipated request for additional troops by Friday after a controversy erupted over whether President Obama is still committed to a counterinsurgency strategy there. GOP Seeks 72-Hour Window to Read Bills Trying to capitalize on voters' anger at lawmakers this summer, Republicans on Wednesday launched bids in both the House and Senate aiming to force Democrats to let them have at least three days to read bills before they're put up for a vote. ACORN Sues Breitbart, Loses IRS Gig ACORN on Wednesday sued the duo who shot hidden-camera videos that are damaging the organization's reputation and the Web site that aired them, as the Internal Revenue Service broke off its partnership with the liberal community activist group. Liberal Lies About National Health Care, Part 5 by Ann Coulter Democrats lost Congress in 1994 because President Clinton failed to pass national health care. I'm not sure if this is another example of the left's wishful-thinking method of analysis or if they're seriously trying to trick the Blue Dog Democrats into believing it. But I gather liberals consider the 1994 argument an important point because it was on the front page of The New York Times a few weeks ago in place of a story about Van Jones or ACORN. A National Disgrace : Obama’s Harrassment of Freedom-Loving Honduras by E Pluribus Unum You may have missed this crisis if you get your news from the alphabet soup partisan media, who have mostly failed to cover it except to misrepresent it in favor of Obama. Cook: Voter Attitudes Hardening Against Democrat Congress by Brian Faughnan When it comes to the 2010 midterm elections, the conventional wisdom in Washington seems largely agreed a few central points: the Democrats are going to lose a bunch of House seats, and how many they lose will depend a lot on the economy and Barack Obama’s approval rating. In fact, in virtually any piece you read about 2010, you’ll see a significant caveat: Democrats will suffer less if the economy improves and Barack Obama’s favorability rating rises. Obama Health Care Plan Angers Seniors Across the country, amid the heat swell of the ongoing health care debate, many of the nation's gray panthers have a new fire growing in their bellies, attending town halls, writing letters, and shifting the balance of political power as polls show them moving to the GOP. ACORN Fights Back A week after undercover videotapes made it the butt of a national joke, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now is launching a three-pronged effort to rebuild its reputation and try to hold on to the millions of dollars in funding it gets each year from the federal government. Attorney to Terrorists Organizes Muslim Rally at Capitol A lawyer with a history of representing Islamic terrorists, including men connected to the 1993 and 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, is one of the chief organizers of a large Muslim prayer service intended as a show of American patriotism Friday at the Capitol. Can the Republicans win the House in 2010? by Michael Barone There’s starting to be some speculation that Republicans might recapture a majority in the House in 2010. That would require them to gain 40 seats—the exact number they needed to gain in 1994, the last time they recaptured a majority from the Democrats. From The Department of Completely Predictable Consequences by Dan McLaughlin New York Governor David Paterson discovers the gee-who-coulda-seen-this-coming fact that jacking up marginal tax rates is bad for the economy and not all that helpful to the budget. “Mmm mmm mmm:” New Details about the Dear Leader Song Video; Update: School Responds by Michelle Malkin In case you were wondering which school taught kids that “Barack Hussein Obama mmm mmm mmm” rap that I posted yesterday afternoon, here are some new details. Top Republican Withdraws from CIA Inquiry The top Republican on the Senate intelligence committee has pulled out of the panel's bipartisan review of Bush-era terrorist interrogation techniques, saying Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s criminal investigation into the CIA undermines the committee's ability to interview witnesses.
9-19-09	Capitol 'Tea Party' Rally Assails Big Government Tens of thousands of conservative "tea party" protesters brought their angry grass-roots movement to the steps of the Capitol on Saturday in a muscular political demonstration against big government spending, budget deficits, taxes and President Obama's sweeping health care plan. ACORN Fires Back at Critics after Sting Still, it came under fire during the presidential campaign after investigations of voter fraud in several battleground states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Mexico and Nevada. National Party Leader: Help for Texas Democrats Will Flow Next Year At a rare red-state gathering of Democrats from across the United States, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine said in Austin on Friday that the Democratic National Committee will help Texas Democrats gain ground next year, perhaps toward wiping out the GOP's 76-74 edge in the Texas House of Representatives. Maureen Dowd's Disgusting Insinuation that Joe Wilson Is a Racist Would Land Her in Court in Britain by Damian Thompson Nasty piece of work, Maureen Dowd. In the Barack Obama-worshipping New York Times over the weekend, she insinuated that Congressman Joe Wilson’s “you lie” outburst during the presidential address was inspired by racism. Speaking of Apologies: Hypocrisy Clouds Democrats’ Demand for “You Lie” Apology by Rep. John Carter It’s time for Democrats to start issuing an apology or two of their own. They’ve spent the past week clamoring for Congressman Joe Wilson’s apology, even though the President has accepted his apology, twice now. Democrats Lack the Votes to Pass Health Care Legislation in Latest Whip Count by Erick Erickson In a nutshell, the Democrats lack enough moderates to pass H.R. 3200 with the government option and if they ditch the government option, the Democrats would lack enough liberals to pass it. Mitch McConnell Smiled? by George F. Will Mitch McConnell, the taciturn Kentuckian who leads Senate Republicans, usually resembles Samuel Beckett's character Watt, who "had never smiled, but thought he knew how it was done." Last week, however, careful observers detected a trace of a hint of a shadow of a smile. Congressional Democrats were still at daggers drawn with one another, and the president's rhetoric was becoming CPR for the Republican Party. ACORN Watch: Charlie Gibson and the Ostrich Media by Michelle Malkin Several Chicago readers and Twitterers report that ABC News anchor Charlie Gibson told WLS-AM Chicago talk show hosts Don Wade and Roma this morning that the reason he hasn’t covered the ACORN scandal is that he didn’t know about it. Carter: Wilson's Outburst 'Based on Racism' Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst to President Barack Obama during a speech to Congress last week was an act "based on racism" and rooted in fears of a black president. Divide between Right, Mainstream Media by Michael Calderone & Mike Allen The right-wing media’s single-minded focus on a handful of targets over the past months and its success in pushing those stories into the mainstream have underscored the sharp divide between traditional news organizations and the bloggers and talk show hosts aggressively pursuing an ideological agenda on-line and on TV and radio. Updated: Baucus’s Bipartisan Bid Is Set Back, But Not Necessarily Over For the moment, at least, Max Baucus has come up short. Mr. Baucus, the Montana Democrat and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee who has led a months-long effort to develop bipartisan legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care system, is expected to unveil his plan Wednesday morning with Republicans not yet on board. Quick Take: Fight over Missed Votes Makes It Harder for Hutchison to Stay in the Senate If it wasn’t ACORN, it would have been something else. The fact that the first Senate vote Kay Bailey Hutchison missed since entering the governor’s race happened to be on ACORN — a group Republicans love to hate — was just a bonus. Dem Senator Warns of 'Big, Big Tax' on Middle Class in Baucus Bill It's not every day that you hear a Democratic senator charge that a fellow Democrat is proposing to raise taxes on the middle class, but that is what happened on Tuesday when Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., ripped into the health-care bill developed by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mt., the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. Lawmakers Back Officials Facing Jail for Prayer Two Florida school officials facing possible jail terms for praying in the presence of students arrive in court Thursday enjoying the support of more than 60 members of Congress. Home School: Making the Grade? by Megan Holland If Alaska parents want to home-school their child, no paperwork needs to be filed, no phone call made. No one need be told. Schooled at Home by Anchorage Daily News Editorial Staff Alaska has some of the most lax home-schooling laws in the nation, according to a report in Sunday's Daily News. Home schooling can be a highly effective option for educated, motivated parents who have the time and expertise to handle such a profound responsibility. However, our home-schooling laws are so lax, parents don't even have to notify the state that they have a school-age child whom they are educating at home, let alone show that their children are actually learning anything. In the Race from Race, Democrats Rebut Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter is 84 years old and three decades removed from the White House, but he still has the power to make Democrats run. Away from him, that is. U.S. Missile Shift Tied to Russian Nuke Talks The Obama administration Thursday implemented a seismic shift in U.S. security strategy, abandoning its predecessor's plan for ground-based missile defenses in Eastern Europe and possibly improving the prospects for a new nuclear arms reduction agreement with Russia. It's about Policy, not Race by Haley Barbour Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said in an interview that rising opposition to President Obama's free-spending policies has nothing to do with race, and dismissed rosy federal predictions that the recession is over as nothing more than "political happy talk." Christmas arrives early for Putin by Wesley Pruden Barack Obama looked Thursday to the lesson of Hiroshima. Sometimes one bomb won't do it. Nagasaki had to follow to "reset" relations with Japan. Six decades later, the Apology Bomb the president dropped on Moscow during his visit last May didn't do it, either. He had to drop another one Thursday. How Rogue Conservative Filmmakers Took Down ACORN For the longest time, conservatives were content to sit around and kvetch about the state of the culture, complaining about the ascendancy of Michael Moore and the double standards of the mainstream media when it came to documenting the foibles of the political parties. Who Lied? by Phyllis Schlafly The sanctimonious shock at Rep. Joe Wilson's, R-S.C., calling out, "You lie," when Barack Obama said the health care bill will not insure illegal aliens reminds me of the Casablanca police chief saying he was "shocked, shocked" to learn that gambling was taking place in the cafe. The Disgusting Race Card by Gary Bauer We saw it during the campaign, and now it has come roaring back in all of its demagoguery and ugliness – the infamous race card. Numerous liberal politicians and their Big Media allies are once again trying to demonize conservatives and shut down debate.
9-12-09	White House 'Green Jobs Czar' Van Jones Resigns Top White House advisers deflected questions Sunday about former "green jobs czar" Van Jones early Sunday, just hours after he submitted his resignation amid a growing furor over his previous statements and political associations. Progressives Decry Resignation of Van Jones The middle-of-the-night resignation Sunday of longtime Bay Area activist Van Jones as a White House environmental adviser left many progressives angry at the Obama administration for buckling to conservative criticism of Jones' controversial past comments and actions. Democrats Brace for Midterm Losses Few issues in American politics are as supercharged as health care, and when presidents choose to touch the subject, a surge of high voltage often scorches not only the chief executive, but his party in Congress. Timing Crucial for Hutchison on Quitting Senate to Run for Texas Governor As Congress returns today from summer recess, Kay Bailey Hutchison opens a final chapter in the Senate, assuming she sticks with her vow to quit soon to focus on her bid for Texas governor. Tea Party Express Roars to D.C. When the "tea party" movement kicked off in April to protest record federal spending bills, trillion-dollar deficits and higher tax burdens, its members were fiercely independent and opposed any suggestion that they bond with a larger umbrella group, preferring to work within their local communities. Texas Republicans in the U.S. House Get Flood of Mail, Calls over Health Care Bill It's no surprise that Democratic lawmakers got an earful about health care legislation when they went home this summer. But Texas Republicans in the House who have already denounced the legislation have also been bombarded by correspondence from highly informed constituents. Democracy on Display During August by Rep. Joe Barton August proved that thousands of voices uniting as one are an effective communication tool. This past month democracy has been on display here in the 6th District and across the country as people packed town halls, wrote letters, and jammed phone lines to express their thoughts on the future of the nation’s health care system. Will Government Jobs Keep Growing? by Tom Pauken “Government Jobs Have Grown Since Recession’s Start” was the headline of a recent story in The New York Times. The article cited a report from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government which stated that “state and local governments have expanded their payrolls and added 110,000 jobs” since the beginning of the recession in December 2007. Liberal Lies About National Healthcare: Fourth in a Series by Ann Coulter Only national health care can provide "coverage that will stay with you whether you move, change your job or lose your job" -- as Obama said in a New York Times op-ed. This is obviously a matter of great importance to all Americans, because, with Obama's economic policies, none of us may have jobs by year's end. GOP: Our Health Plans Ignored Congressional Republicans insist they have plenty of ideas for reforming the health care system from tort reform to expanding availability for insurance coverage to tax credits for small business and low-income Americans to buy private insurance. The problem, they say, is their solutions are not being taken seriously as Democrats push their own plans. Joe Wilson's Rallying Cry All eyes were on President Barack Obama entering Wednesday night's address to Congress, but a little-known South Carolina Republican may have done more than the president’s combative speech to unify besieged Democrats around health care reform. Democrats Dying for Good News are Grasping at Obama’s Health Care Illusions by Dan Perrin The Democratic party has massive pent-up demand for good news on health care — i.e., they haven’t had any and Obama’s brightly colored abstract art painting of a health care speech has temporarily put the Democrats in a trance like state. Senate's 'Gang of Six' Near Closure on Health Bill The Senate Finance Committee's "Gang of Six" is working to strengthen the citizenship requirements for obtaining health care coverage - a hot topic highlighted by Rep. Joe Wilsons "You lie!" outburst during President Obama's congressional address. GOP Provides Backing for Obama's War Effort Facing fire from his own party over the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, President Obama is getting cover from an unlikely source: Republicans.
9-05-09	New GOP Tactic: The Counter-Town Hall Republican challengers across the country have found a new way of capitalizing on the roiling emotions surrounding congressional health care town hall meetings. Experts See Double-Digit Dem Losses After an August recess marked by raucous town halls, troubling polling data and widespread anecdotal evidence of a volatile electorate, the small universe of political analysts who closely follow House races is predicting moderate to heavy Democratic losses in 2010. The Health Care Fight is Far from Over! by Texas Eagle Forum Over the past few weeks, you, along with thousands of your fellow American citizens, have done your civic duty and actively participated in and influenced the legislative process by attending the thousands of town hall meetings. Your patriotic opposition to the government-run health care proposal has successfully put the liberal majority and the Obama White House on the defensive, but they haven't retreated and surrendered yet! White House Fears Liberal War Pressure White House officials are increasingly worried liberal, anti-war Democrats will demand a premature end to the Afghanistan war before President Barack Obama can show signs of progress in the eight-year conflict, according to senior administration sources. Climate Change Legislation Postponed The once-delayed climate change legislation has been postponed again, spelling trouble for a top item on President Obama's legislative agenda. Cheney: CIA Torture Probe 'Outrageous' Former Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday called the Justice Department's decision to investigate whether CIA interrogators abused terrorism suspects after the Sept. 11 attacks "an outrageous political act" that "offends the hell out of me." Enough Is Enough, Harry by Sherman Frederick This newspaper traces its roots to before Las Vegas was Las Vegas. We've seen cattle ranches give way to railroads. We chronicled the construction of Hoover Dam. We reported on the first day of legalized gambling. The first hospital. The first school. The first church. We survived the mob, Howard Hughes, the Great Depression, several recessions, two world wars, dozens of news competitors and any number of two-bit politicians who couldn't stand scrutiny, much less criticism. Health-Care Anger Has Deeper Roots Recent town-hall uproars weren't just about health care. They were also eruptions of concern that the government is taking on too much at once. That suggests trouble for the president and his party, and fears of losses in next year's midterm election are likely to shape the Democrats' fall agenda. Obama's Lobbyist Curbs Are Political, Watchdog Told A former Treasury official has told the watchdog for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout program that President Obama's promise to restrict lobbyist access to the bailout was made purely for political reasons. CIA Interrogators Did Not Cross the Line by Thomas Sowell Britain's release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi-- the Libyan terrorist whose bomb blew up a plane over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988, killing 270 people-- is galling enough in itself. But it is even more profoundly troubling as a sign of a larger mood that has been growing in the Western democracies in our time. Ex-Bush Whistleblower Pans Dems Bunny Greenhouse, the Army contract director lionized by Democrats for exposing corruption during the George W. Bush administration, is now complaining that her efforts to win more protections for federal whistleblowers are being undermined by the Obama White House and Democrats in the Senate. Town Halls Dissuade Some on Health Plan Voters angry about Democrats' health care overhaul plans have managed to wrest commitments in August from a handful of lawmakers to oppose the reform bills and solidified the opposition of others -- raising new doubts about President Obama's hopes to pass a bill this year. Un-American and Unlawful White House Projects by Phyllis Sclaffly The Obama administration brags that Cash for Clunkers was a success because it revived the suffering auto industry. But who really benefited from this $3 billion program? Home-Schooler Ordered to Attend Public School "What if this were Muslims who don't want their children exposed to infidel thoughts?" he asked. "Can a judge come into my home -- even if my wife and I agree to home-school our children -- and say it's to their best interest to put them in government schools?" CIA Asks Justice to Probe Leaks of Secrets Besieged by leaks of several closely held secrets, the CIA has asked the Justice Department to examine what it regards as the criminal disclosure of a secret program to kill foreign terrorist leaders abroad, The Washington Times has learned. Gonzales Denies Supporting CIA Probe Former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales said Thursday that his previous assertion that it was "legitimate to question and examine" charges of CIA abuses of terrorism suspects did not mean he endorsed such an investigation. Nancy Pelosi: No Public Option, No Bill As the White House signals that it is willing to move forward on a health reform plan without a public option, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) sent a strong message Thursday evening: not so fast. School Speech Backlash Builds School districts from Maryland to Texas are fielding angry complaints from parents opposed to President Barack Obama’s back-to-school address Tuesday – forcing districts to find ways to shield students from the speech as conservative opposition to Obama spills into the nation’s classrooms. White House Tepid about Adviser Jones The White House offered the most tepid of endorsements Friday of Van Jones, the administration's top adviser on green jobs, after conservative critics began circulating videos of him using expletives to describe Republicans and comparing former President George W. Bush's calls for oil exploration to "a crack head trying to lick the crack pipe for a fix."
8-29-09	Double Jeopardy for CIA Interrogators by Tim Lambert A column today by Gary Bauer talks about the political decision by President Obama's Attorney General to appoint a special investigator to examine the CIA interrogators who were responsible questioning terrorists and obtaining information to prevent the death of Americans in future terrorist attacks in this country similar to the attacks on 9/11 2001. Murrysville (PA) Couple Challenges Home-School Law A Murrysville couple, long at odds with the Franklin Regional School District over the home-schooling of their now-grown children, filed a lawsuit in Westmoreland County Wednesday seeking a ruling to overturn laws that give public school districts the right to oversee home education. Interrogators Got Valued Info, Could Face Charges The Obama administration Monday appointed a special prosecutor to pursue criminal charges against CIA employees who interrogated some of al Qaeda's hardest core members, while releasing documents showing individuals subjected to the tactics provided life-saving intelligence that disrupted numerous terror plots ranging from an anthrax attack on Westerners to a massive bombing of U.S. troops in Africa. Small Businesses Turn Against Health Plan Over the course of two years, the annual health insurance premiums at David White's auto shop in Bar Harbor, Maine, more than doubled from $23,000 to $47,000. Prosecuting the CIA Mr. Holder had it right the first time. His about-face yesterday, compounded by his release of a 2004 internal CIA report on that agency's handling of terrorists, opens a political war that President Obama, the CIA and above all the country will live to regret. 'Historic' Deficit a Political Thorn The federal budget deficit will hit a record $1.6 trillion this year, a figure that could threaten President Obama's agenda, complicate 2010 congressional campaigns and set up big political battles over government spending. Health Care Struggle is About Freedom by Star Parker President Obama took his case for what he now calls “health insurance reform” to the faith community. He made his pitch in a phone call, also broadcast over the Internet, to clergy who called in and logged on from around the nation. Exploiting Kennedy’s Death by Gary Bauer The first news most Americans heard this morning was the announcement that Senator Ted Kennedy had passed away after his 15-month battle with brain cancer. The second thing most Americas heard was a shameless attempt by Big Media “talking heads” and liberal politicians to exploit his death by suggesting that America should honor the senator by stopping the debate and passing “healthcare reform.” New Hampshire Court Orders Christian Homeschooled Girl to Attend Public School A Christian homeschool girl in New Hampshire has been ordered into government-run public school for having "sincerely held" religious beliefs -- and the Alliance Defense Fund is troubled by the ruling. The Opportunity of a Century by Phyllis Schlafly Speaker Nancy Pelosi said one correct thing: health care legislation is our "opportunity, not of a lifetime, but of the century." Passage of the bill she supports would put us forever on the road to trillions of dollars in debt, bankruptcy, and European mistakes; defeat of the bill will safeguard the unique American recipe for liberty and prosperity. Healthcare Reform Bill = Loss of Privacy A free-market think tank is warning that the House healthcare bill could potentially give thousands of federal employees access to citizens' financial records. Death Penalty Sought for Illegal Alien Murder Suspect Prosecutors in Los Angeles are seeking the death penalty for a 20-year-old illegal alien gang member charged with the brutal murder of a promising high school athlete. It was a crime one immigration reform activist says should have been prevented. High Hurdles to Prosecute CIA Prison Abuses: Experts by Jeremy Pelofsky A decision by the U.S. attorney general to probe deeper into alleged CIA abuse of captured terrorism suspects may not land anyone in jail, and it could just produce more headaches for President Barack Obama who wants to move on. The Fall Guy by Kimberly A. Strassel In the game of political football that is today national security, spare a thought for CIA Director Leon Panetta. Quarterbacking is hard enough without getting sacked by your own team.
8-22-09	Ronald Reagan Warned Americans Against 'ObamaCare' In 1961, Ronald Reagan joined the American Medical Association in opposing the Democratic Party's attempt to force socialized medicine on the American people. President Reagan's advice is just as relevant today as it was then. Obama Cronies In Disarray by Gary Bauer While many politicians are enjoying the August recess with their families, Administration officials were busy contradicting one another on healthcare this past weekend. Washington liberals have been shocked at the public resistance they are facing in their hometowns. The pressure is getting to them, and that is evident by the missteps leading proponents of ObamaCare have been making. Eagle Forum Urges Grassroots Not to Fall for Co-Op Compromise Washington, D.C.-Eagle Forum, a conservative public policy organization founded by Phyllis Schlafly, urges grassroots Americans not to fall for the Obama Administration's recent hints that they may drop the public option from the health care bill and replace it with a "co-op compromise" that is more popular with some House Blue Dog Democrats and moderate Senate Democrats. Finding No Buyers for Snake Oil by Wesley Pruden Master politician that he is, Barack Obama is a lousy calculator. He spectacularly misjudged the American public's appetite for a government nanny. Or maybe he miscalculated the power of his slippery tongue to sell government snake oil. 29 Species Considered for Endangered List The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that 29 species - plants, insects, mollusks and one fish - will be considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Freedom-minded Americans Will Not Go Quietly by Bill Murchison The town hall turmoil now on display shows how, when the dogs of political war are loosed, they can ruin the carpets and chew up all the furniture in the house – even in a placid place like Texas. Are You An Immoral Un-American Evil Monger? by Gary Bauer You know things are getting desperate for the Left when Democrats suddenly “get religion.” That’s what happened yesterday as President Obama turned to the leaders of the Religious Left to help him sell healthcare reform to an increasingly skeptical public. Big Government, Big Recession by Alan Reynolds There’s no evidence for the theory that state spending has shortened this or any other slowdown. ‘So it seems that we aren’t going to have a second Great Depression after all,” wrote New York Times columnist Paul Krugman last week.

8-15-09	What The Health Care Bill Actually Says by John David Lewis What does the bill, HR 3200, short-titled ‘‘America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,” actually say about major health care issues? I here pose a few questions in no particular order, citing relevant passages and offering a brief evaluation after each set of passages. Recycling the Contempt by Wesley Pruden Recycling is so popular that even our congressmen, unaccustomed as they are to practicing what they preach, do it. They're reaching back into the dark past to recycle contempt. Never waste a crisis, even if you have to manufacture the crisis. Health Care Furor at Fever Pitch Besides blasting Republicans, the Democratic National Committee is attacking insurance companies in its latest TV ads to promote President Obama's health care overhaul, accusing the industry of shamefully putting profits above Americans' health. Abortion Will Be Covered by Gary Bauer We have been warning for some time that the healthcare reform bill would likely include taxpayer subsidies for abortion-on-demand. In recent days, many folks have emailed us responses they have received from their members of Congress who deny that abortion is being covered in the bill. At least one congressional liberal is now publicly suggesting otherwise. Back To Bizarro World by Gary Bauer When President Obama first waded into the public debate over healthcare reform, he insulted pediatricians by suggesting that they were ripping out children’s tonsils for extra cash. In New Hampshire this week, he suggested that some doctors are cutting off feet, rather than encouraging diabetes patients to lose weight. Both the AMA and the American College of Surgeons shot back. A Price to Pay for the Town Hall Rage by David S. Broder Watching the muscular tactics being used in congressional town meetings by some opponents of health-care reform, I keep thinking somebody should remind the Republican leaders who are reveling in the scenes about Bruce Alger. Reject White House Eeffort to Squelch Health Debate by Newt Gingrich and Nancy Desmond Just months after Islamic terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon with the deadliest attack on American soil in U.S. history, Attorney General John Ashcroft attempted to establish a “TIPS” program in hopes of catching any future terrorists Pace of Stimulus Spending Plummets Stimulus bill spending has slowed to a trickle, despite President Obama's June order to his Cabinet to speed it up. Palin Target Renounces Care Rationing Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, the White House official targeted by Sarah Palin and other conservatives as an advocate for health care rationing and "death panels," said Thursday his "thinking has evolved" on the need to decide who gets treated and who does not.
8-08-09	Economy Seen Improving in Third Quarter The U.S. economy performed better than expected during the second quarter, but revised data revealed that the intensity of the economic downturn has been much greater than economists thought. States' Woes Could Drag Democrats Down A new government report out Friday showed the economy shrinking less than expected last quarter — raising hopes that the recession might end soon. Geithner, Summers Hedge on Tax Hikes Wavering on an emphatic promise he made in the spring, top White House economic adviser Lawrence H. Summers would not rule out middle-class tax increases Sunday as a way for the Obama administration to pay for a sweeping health care plan. Republicans Closing Gap in Polls Nine months after Republicans suffered their worst political defeat in decades, President Obama and the Democrats are slipping in the polls and the Republican Party is expected to make gubernatorial and congressional gains in the 2009-10 election cycle, according to pollsters and election analysts. Blue-State Blues by Ross Douthat We know because he said so, in the first of many famous speeches, that Barack Obama doesn’t see Red America or Blue America — he only sees the United States of America. But as the president contemplates his faltering poll numbers and his stalling health-care push, he might want to consider a more colorful perspective. Charlie The Tax Man Cometh! Yesterday I warned you about the tax hikes the Obama Administration will likely impose on middle class Americans. Despite White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs’ protests to the contrary, there is mounting evidence that these tax increases are inevitable. Poll: McDonnell Widens Lead in Va. Race Republican candidate Robert F. McDonnell has opened a decisive lead over state Sen. R. Creigh Deeds in the Virginia gubernatorial race, according to the latest poll, released Tuesday. Cornyn Calls On White House To Stop Compiling Political Enemies List In a letter to President Obama, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, expressed serious concern about the White House’s new program requesting Americans to forward email chains and other communications opposing the President’s health care policies. Cornyn is seeking assurances that the program is being carried out in a manner consistent with the First Amendment and America’s tradition of free speech and public discourse. Obama Loses Favor in Va., Could Hurt Deeds State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds stands to raise a pile of cash and energize his party's base at his first joint appearance with President Obama on Thursday, but it's an open question whether it will do anything to help his faltering gubernatorial campaign. Cornyn Is Confident that Republicans Could Keep Hutchison's Seat Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Wednesday that he is "very confident" that Republicans will hold on to the Senate seat expected to be vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison for her run for governor.
8-01-09	Pelosi vs. The People by Gary Bauer House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went on CNN Sunday to talk about healthcare reform. She was adamantly upbeat, saying, “When I take this bill to the floor, it will win. We will move forward, it will happen.” Pelosi also said that she doesn’t care how despised she is. Cornyn Is So Right That He's Wrong Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee requested a week's delay in voting on Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court, and time's up. The vote is scheduled today and will largely follow party lines. Med Center Leaders: Slow Down on Health Reform In their first unified voice on the subject, Texas Medical Center leaders Monday sent a message to Congress as it tries to reform America's troubled health care system: slow down. Conrad, Dodd Tied to VIP Loans Despite their denials, influential Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad and Christopher J. Dodd were told from the start they were getting VIP mortgage discounts from one of the nation's largest lenders, the official who handled their loans has told Congress in secret testimony. Backlash: Democratic Dangers Mount Democrats giddy with possibilities only six months ago now confront a perilous 2010 landscape signaled by troublesome signs of President Barack Obama’s political mortality, the plunging popularity of many governors and rising disquiet among many vulnerable House Democrats. Debate Tests Reid’s Leadership Style Sen. Harry Reid said Tuesday that health care reform is probably “the most difficult legislation … in the last century because it affects literally everybody in America.” Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Is Not Health Care Reform by Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) When most Americans talk about the need for health-care reform, they’re usually talking about the need to address rising health-care costs; they aren’t talking about the need for taxpayers to subsidize abortion. In fact, a November 2008 Zogby poll revealed 71 percent of Americans oppose government-funded abortion. A Minimum Wage Equals Minimum Jobs by John Stossel The media are never better at displaying their economic illiteracy than when they report on the minimum wage. Bully Boys: A Brief History of White House Thuggery by Michelle Malkin Six months into the Obama administration, it should now be clear to all Americans: Hope and Change came to the White House wrapped in brass knuckles. Questions For Your Congressmen by Gary Bauer t’s been a very busy time here in Washington. Fighting ObamaCare has dominated our work in recent days. In fact, we’ve published more than a dozen items on ObamaCare in this daily report in the past two weeks. We were able to stop the march of Big Government socialism for a while. But with news that the “moderate” Blue Dog Democrats have cut a deal with liberal House leaders, ObamaCare is on the move once again. The battlefield now shifts from Capitol Hill to each congressional district, and we’re calling in reinforcements – YOU! ObamaCare On Life Support? by Gary Bauer As I’ve stated before, polls are just a snapshot in time and they can and do change. It’s also not unusual for polls to give you conflicting information or even contradictory results. But here’s something that we can safely say without any fear of contradiction: ObamaCare is on life support; the American people do not want it. No. 3 at Justice OK'd Panther Reversal Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli, the No. 3 official in the Obama Justice Department, was consulted and ultimately approved a decision in May to reverse course and drop a civil complaint accusing three members of the New Black Panther Party of intimidating voters in Philadelphia during November's election, according to interviews. House Dems Break Health Impasse House Democratic leaders Wednesday cut a deal with rebellious moderates to advance a stalled health care reform bill, only to meet fresh roadblocks from more liberal members in the bid to pass President Obama's top legislative priority. Hutchison Says She'll Resign from Senate in Fall to Seek Texas Governor's Office U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison announced Wednesday that she plans to leave the Senate this fall in her bid to challenge Gov. Rick Perry, paving the way for a rare special-election free-for-all for the Senate seat she has held for 16 years. Blue Dogs Pulled in Two Directions Color it blue, this latest House deal to keep health care reform moving: Blue Dogs, Blue Cross-Blue Shield and all the blues sung by rural, middle-income and working-class families if no relief comes on medical insurance. Lawmakers Seek Refiling in Panther Case Congressional Republicans on Thursday escalated their criticism of the Justice Department for dismissing a controversial voter-intimidation case, demanding that civil charges against the New Black Panther Party be restored. They also renewed their request to interview career attorneys who disagreed with the administration's decision to dismiss the charges. Obama Aides Clash over Sudan Policy A dispute over policy toward Sudan has exposed a significant rift between two of President Obama's closest advisers. Quit Your Job, Sen. Hutchison by Amarillo.com Editors U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is inching closer to a critical decision that in the long run should bode well for Texas.
7-25-09	Mayo Clinic Says “No” To ObamaCare by Gary Bauer Yesterday, the Mayo Clinic, one of the world’s most recognized hospitals, announced its opposition to the healthcare reform bill now under consideration in the House of Representatives. In a bluntly worded statement posted on its health policy blog the Clinic left no doubt about what it thinks of the Obama/Pelosi socialized healthcare plan. Here are some excerpts: Abortion Roils Already Tense Health Debate A coalition of anti-abortion groups is set to open a new front against Democrats’ efforts to restructure American health care, claiming the plans open a back door to publicly financed abortions. A Better Remedy for Health Reform by Barton and Burgess The president and many Democrats are urging Congress to quickly pass their idea of health reform because they say it is key to economic recovery and better health. We fail to see how creating scores of new bureaucracies will revitalize anything except the governing class in Washington. Pro-Gun Amendment Rejected The gun lobby suffered a rare defeat on Capitol Hill as the Senate on Wednesday narrowly rejected a measure to allow gun owners to carry concealed firearms across state lines. Senate Denies Obama Health Plan by August Senate Democrats defied President Obama on Thursday by scuttling plans to vote on health care reform by August, abandoning the president's timeline amid trouble coming to consensus with the White House on how to pay for it.
7-18-09	Palin to Stump for Conservative Democrats Brushing aside the criticisms of pundits and politicos, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she plans to jump immediately back into the national political fray — stumping for conservative issues and even Democrats — after she prematurely vacates her elected post at month's end. It's Cornyn's Time to Shine When confirmation proceedings start Monday for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, it will be Texas' soon-to-be senior senator who will emerge to persistently press the federal appeals court judge about her 17-year judicial record. Franken, a Clown for All Seasons, Arrives in Time by Wesley Pruden We've never had an Official U.S. Senate Pornographer before, though pornographic behavior is frequently the entertainment provided to the public by the world's oldest deliberative body. So Al Franken, the answer to Harry Reid's prayer, should fit right in. Going Alamo: Why Jobs and Companies are Flocking to a Big Small-Government State by Keven D. Williamson If you want to know where the future is headed, look where the people are going. And if you want to know where the people are going, check with U-Haul. Here's an interesting indicator, first noted by the legendary economist Arthur Laffer: Renting a 26-foot U-Haul truck to go from Austin to San Francisco this July would cost you about $900. Renting the same truck to go from San Francisco to Austin? About $3,000. In the great balance of supply and demand, California has a large supply of people who are demanding to move to Texas. There's a reason for this. The Fake Cheney/CIA Scandal by Gary Bauer For three days the Left and its media allies have been in full-throated attack mode against former Vice President Cheney, the Bush Administration and the CIA. They are claiming that there was a secret program at the CIA to kill Al Qaeda operatives and that Cheney ordered the CIA not to inform Congress about the program. This is actually being treated as “breaking news” and partial justification of Nancy Pelosi’s outrageous charge that the CIA routinely misleads Congress. Don’t get sucked in by the media hype. This isn’t a scandal. It is an attempt to demonize everyone in the Bush/Cheney Administration, and ultimately throw some good people in jail. Dems to GOP Nominee: Will the Defendant Please Rise? by Ann Coulter Every time a Democrat senator has talked during the Senate hearings on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor this week, I felt lousy about my country. Not for the usual reasons when a Democrat talks, but because Democrats revel in telling us what a racist country this is. 2010 by Peter Ferrara Next year's elections are going to produce a political earthquake. That is because we currently suffer the most left-wing government in our nation's history. After just 6 months in office, the flower children that rule Washington in overwhelming numbers are already smashing through all records regarding federal taxes, spending, deficits, and debt. Health Bill Would Deliver Pre-Reagan Tax Rates Small-business owners are warning that the economy would suffer under a health care bill proposed by House Democrats, which would drive tax rates for high-income taxpayers to levels not seen since before President Reagan's tax reform of 1986. Sotomayor Is Grilled on Abortion and Gun Rights Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor sidestepped questions on abortion, gun rights and gay rights Wednesday -- including whether a state could forbid aborting a 38-week-old fetus -- leaving both conservative and liberal activists troubled. Poll Shows Falling Support for Health Care Reform Public support for congressional efforts to reform America's health-care system is declining, according to a report released Wednesday by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Zogby International. CBO: Health Care Reform to Increase Federal Cost Congress' budget watchdog warned Thursday that Democrats' health care bills would not lower skyrocketing costs and would drive up government spending, undermining one of President Obama's chief arguments for the overhaul.
7-11-09	Palin Fires Back at Critics on Twitter Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin used her Twitter page Sunday to fire back at critics seizing on her decision to abruptly resign from office this month and to rebut speculation of an FBI investigation. For Reid, 60 is the Loneliest Number Oh, the burdens of a Democratic supermajority. After eight months in limbo, Al Franken is poised to be sworn in as the 60th Democratic senator — cause for celebration among party activists, the lefty blogosphere and his fellow Democrats planning to give him a hero’s welcome at Tuesday’s caucus lunch. A Free-Market Approach to Health Care Reform What exactly would a free-market approach to health care reform look like? Quite simply, it relies on those time-tested building blocks of marketplace efficiency: competition and choice, says Michael Tanner, a senior fellow with the Cato Institute. We Need to Reduce Emissions in Congress In the last week of June, the House of Representatives passed a bill intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050. The bill is a long way from becoming law. Palin And “Blood Sport” by Gary Bauer During her surprise weekend announcement, Sarah Palin bemoaned that American politics increasingly looks more like “blood sport” than it does legitimate debate. I agree. Thanks to figures like Saul Alinsky and his “Rules for Radicals,” the Left has put together a “kill machine,” funded by ideologues like George Soros, that is capable of destroying anyone who stands in the way. In recent months, Palin was the target of 15 ethics probes, all of them baseless, which cost her hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees to defend against. Sarah Palin Attorney Warns Press on 'Defamatory Material' Ratcheting up her offensive against the news media, Gov. Sarah Palin’s attorney threatened on Saturday to sue mainstream news organizations if they publish “defamatory” stories relating to whether Palin is under federal investigation. GM Takeover Part of Broad Federal Role Capping a series of bold government actions to rescue failing corporate giants, the White House has won approval of its restructuring plan for General Motors Corp., putting the government on track to take ownership of the storied automaker by the end of the week. Déjà Vu All Over Again by Gary Bauer Laura Tyson, an economic advisor to President Obama, is suggesting that the nation needs a major economic stimulus plan devoted to infrastructure spending to help the anemic economy recover. No, you’re not having déjà vu; the administration is laying the ground work for Stimulus II. Believe it or not, Tyson says the $787 billion stimulus bill was “a bit too small.” Democrats Stuck in Stimulus Jam President Barack Obama says there’s “nothing” he “would have done differently” about his economic stimulus plan, but one of his top outside economic advisers says the plan was “a bit too small.” Republicans Bring Knife to Gunfight & Lose Again by David Kahane One of the most terrifying moments of my political life came last summer at the Republican convention in St. Paul. No, I don’t mean seeing John McCain careering around the Xcel Energy Center like Eyegore in Young Frankenstein, as he reached across the aisle to his erstwhile friends in the media and got his hand bitten off. Rather, I’m referring to the aftermath of Sarah Palin’s outrageous acceptance speech, which whipped up the Rotary Club delegates into a frenzy of white-boy fury that not even heckling by a brave Code Pink embed could deter. McCaul Race Garners Attention as Dollars Pour In Austin Democrat Jack McDonald continues to show strength in his possible challenge to Republican U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, saying Tuesday that he raised more than $322,000 in the second quarter of the year. Texas, Other States File U.S. Supreme Court Brief Challenging Handgun Bans In a brief filed Tuesday with the U.S. Supreme Court, the top legal officers in Texas and 32 other states said state and local handgun bans violate Second Amendment protections allowing individuals to keep and bear arms. Breaking News by Gary Bauer Just minutes ago, the Associated Press reported that the state of Massachusetts has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. This is the one law that currently protects the people of 30 states who voted to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman from being forced to recognize homosexual marriages being performed in Massachusetts. Forgetting Sarah Palin by Ann Coulter Sarah Palin has deeply disappointed her enemies. People who hate her guts feel she's really let them down by resigning. She's like the ex-girlfriend they're SO over, never want to see again, have already forgotten about -- really, it's O-ver -- but they just can't stop talking about her. Democrats Shy Away from Health Care Tax Cracks in President Obama's health care reform plan formed Wednesday as his August deadline appears to be slipping away amid angst from Democrats over taxing employer benefits to help pay for the $1 trillion makeover. Palin: Not Down and Not Out by Gary Bauer Like a few other intrepid souls, I have received a lot of grief for my defense of Sarah Palin’s decision to resign the governorship of Alaska.
7-04-09	Ruling Reverses Sotomayor in Firefighter Case Casting a wary eye on affirmative action, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that white firefighters faced unlawful discrimination when their city threw out a promotion test after not enough minorities did well on it. Vulnerable House Dems in GOP Sights Republicans believe a handful of junior House Democrats may have taken a career-ending vote by supporting the controversial energy bill last week and are planning to launch an ad campaign in targeted districts to try to seal their fate. Franken Declared Minnesota Senate Victor Democrats picked up a crucial vote for President Obama's agenda in Congress as the Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously declared challenger Al Franken the winner over incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman in their epic, eight-month legal battle for the Senate's last vacancy. Sarah Palin Story Sparks Republican Family Feud A hard-hitting piece on Sarah Palin in the new Vanity Fair has touched off a blistering exchange of insults among high-profile Republicans over last year's GOP ticket - tearing open fresh wounds about leaks surrounding Palin and revealing for the first time some of the internal wars that paralyzed the campaign in its final days. Roberts Court Shifts Right, Tipped by Kennedy Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. emerged as a canny strategist at the Supreme Court this term, laying the groundwork for bold changes that could take the court to the right even as the recent elections moved the nation to the left. GOP Forum Airs Health Care Issues Calling the debate on health care reform a seminal moment for domestic policy, three Republican U.S. senators brought the GOP case to the Texas Medical Center Tuesday. What's So Super About a Supermajority? by Carl Hulse Senate Democrats are about to reach the magical threshold of 60 votes, allowing them in theory to sweep aside Republican delaying tactics. But the arrival of that 60th vote, in the person of Al Franken of Minnesota, is not likely to make the party's very real difficulties in advancing contentious legislation disappear. A Sarah Palin Rebound? by Chris Cillizza After enduring months of derision within Republican circles for her role as the party's 2008 vice presidential nominee and her uneven performance as a national figure this year, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is experiencing something of a rebound among the D.C. chattering class in the 48 hours since the release of a very tough profile on her in Vanity Fair magazine. Congressmen Call Energy Bill 'Disastrous' The American Clean Energy and Security Act that barely passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week is either the first major step in curtailing the emission of gases believed responsible for global warming or will lead to "the complete annihilation of the oil industry in the United States." Confidence in Stimulus Plan Ebbs, Poll Finds Barely half of Americans are now confident that President Obama's $787 billion stimulus measure will boost the economy, and the rapid rise in optimism about the state of the nation that followed the 2008 election has abated, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. All-Black D-Day Battalion Vet No Longer Forgotten Samuel J. Harris knew he wasn't dead. But on June 7, his morning newspaper suggested otherwise. The 88-year-old Washington resident read in an Associated Press story that the last known survivor of an all-black World War II U.S. Army unit had received the Legion of Honor from the French government. But he, too, had served in the 320th Anti-Aircraft Barrage Balloon Battalion and was, therefore, confused. In Political Ads, Christian Left Mounts Sermonic Campaigns Randy Brinson, a conservative political consultant in Alabama, has been fielding anxious calls for weeks from business interests across the South. Their concern is massive ad blitz on Christian and country-music stations across 10 states. The ads, funded by a left-leaning coalition, urge support for congressional legislation to curb greenhouse-gas emissions -- by framing the issue as an urgent matter of Biblical morality. Climate Vote Threatens Some Democrats' Careers Rep. Thomas Perriello relishes an energy fight with Republicans - even here in the rural Southside. The freshman lawmaker understands the potential consequences that he and other vulnerable Democrats face for backing a sweeping climate-change bill, and rather than ducking the issue, he's embracing what may have been the toughest vote of his young political career. IOUs Spell Uncertainty for California Small Businesses Business consultant Katrina Kennedy has taken her young son out of preschool and put a family vacation on hold. Dairyman Mike O'Kelly is wondering whether he is going to have to let employees go. Massachusetts: A Model Not to Copy by Phyllis Schlafly The Obama-Kennedy health plan is modeled after the Massachusetts plan which, when adopted, many applauded as innovative and destined for success. In fact, the Massachusetts plan has been a massive failure and is a model for what not to do. Palin to Call It Quits as Alaska's Governor Republican Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska stunned her state and the political world Friday by announcing she will resign her post at the end of the month, igniting speculation about what the move means for her political future and her viability for the GOP's presidential nomination in 2012.
6-27-09	Hard Times, but Not in the House While businesses across the country are cutting back, members of the House saw their own office budgets increase by an average of 7 percent between 2008 and 2009. Democrats Urged to Play Down 'Global Warming' House Democrats neared a deal Thursday on a bill to combat global warming, but a top party strategist warned that to sell any plan to voters they'll need to change the way they pitch it -- including curbing the use of the term "green" jobs and even talk of "global warming." U.S. Attorney Nominee Won't ID All Clients The criminal defense lawyer nominated by President Obama to be the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey is declining to identify more than half of his private clients on government forms designed to help the public guard against potential conflicts of interests. U.S. Contacted Iran's Ayatollah before Election Prior to this month's disputed presidential election in Iran, the Obama administration sent a letter to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling for an improvement in relations, according to interviews and the leader himself. Bid to Expand Knife Ban Doesn't Cut It with Critics Hunters, whittlers and Boy Scouts, beware - your knives may soon be on the government's chopping block. The Obama administration wants to expand the 50-year-old ban on importing "switchblades" to include folding knives that can be opened with one hand, stirring fears the government may on the path to outlawing most pocket knives. Climate Bill Targets Hot Tubs and Light Bulbs The Democrat-led House pressed Thursday for enough votes to pass landmark legislation that would combat global warming by forcing U.S. companies to reduce their carbon-dioxide emissions, expanding expensive renewable-energy sources and trimming consumers' choices on new light bulbs and hot tubs. The Hot One from the Democrats by Wesley Pruden You can't blame the Democrats for hurrying to enact their hot-air legislation. The public is finally paying attention, recognizing the global warming crisis for what it is, a giant scam that will cost every American plenty. The globe isn't warming - it's actually cooling, in fact - and there's no crisis.
6-20-09	GM's Deal Erased Many Average Americans' Savings When people think of "bondholders," they imagine tycoons. J.P. Morgan. Warren Buffett. Even the fictional Gordon Gekko of "Wall Street" fame. In fact, tens of thousands of the bondholders of General Motors Corp. are not rich at all — and never were, even before the value of their bonds collapsed in the months leading up to the giant automaker's bankruptcy filing. Rural Democrats Differ with Barack Obama Angered by White House decisions on everything from greenhouse gases to car dealerships, congressional Democrats from rural districts are threatening to revolt against parts of President Barack Obama’s ambitious first-year agenda. Bush Takes Swipes at Obama Policies Former President George W. Bush fired a salvo at President Obama on Wednesday, asserting his administration's interrogation policies were within the law, declaring the private sector -- not government -- will fix the economy and rejecting the nationalization of health care.
6-13-09	Big Government & Religion Could the rise in government spending—from economic stimulus to health care reform to education spending—endanger the vitality of religion in America? That’s a question University of Virginia Professor W. Bradford Wilcox discussed recently in the Wall Street Journal. The study’s authors, Anthony Gill and Erik Lundsgaarde, found an “inverse relationship between religious observance and welfare spending.” Sarah Palin In, Then Out, Back In - and Now Again Out of Fundraising Dinner After being invited — for a second time — to speak to the annual joint fundraiser for the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Palin was told abruptly Saturday night that she would not be allowed to address the thousands of Republicans there after all. Palin Fends Off Ethics Charges "My investigation has uncovered no evidence that the governor or her husband received anything of value in exchange for the governor wearing the Team Arctic jacket when she acted as the official starter of the 2009 Iron Dog," said Thomas Daniel, the investigator. "I also note that most jackets worn by Alaskans have a company name or logo on them." Predicting the End of Recession: Texas to be an Early Riser by Bill Dedman If you want to be in the right place when the recovery starts, that place may be in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Texas or Washington. USA Today Reports: 4 States Yet to Agree to National Education Standards for Rigor Fifty states, 50 different sets of academic standards. Right? Maybe not for much longer. Dismayed that students are slipping further behind their international peers, 46 states have agreed in principle to develop a set of rigorous criteria — the Common Core State Standards Initiative — designed to prepare high school graduates for college and the workforce. Kids who are taking algebra I, for example, would be expected to learn the same material whether they’re in Massachusetts or Mississippi. How Value Added Taxes Threaten American Prosperity by Laura Elizabeth Morales It’s summer time and you were hoping to take a much-needed vacation with your family; in fact, your vacation has been planned for over a year now. Your family lives comfortably, but money is tight with a kid in college and another in high school. You work well over 40 hours a week to make ends meet and this vacation is finally a chance to get free from the concrete jungle of your downtown office. Bank Bailout Fund Underwrites Automakers The Treasury Department's bank bailout fund is starting to look more like an automaker bailout fund as the United States gets deeper into the car business and banks work furiously to cut their ties to the government and return their bailout money. Supreme Court Backs Judges' Recusals in Big Donors' Cases The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that judges must step aside in cases involving their large political contributors, prompting renewed calls for Texas to change a system in which judges raise money to run in partisan elections. U.S. House Restricts Ethics Probes When Democrats made their case during the 2006 elections about why they should control Congress, they offered up Republican lawmakers like Mark Foley and Rick Renzi as examples of the "culture of corruption" they wanted to rid from Washington. Pay-Go's Promise Routinely Broken by Washington The pay-as-you-go rules President Obama is resurrecting as a solution to runaway federal spending have been repeatedly violated by Congress and the White House, allowing hundreds of billions of dollars to be spent without the required spending cuts or tax increases. Military Warns Against Detainee Transfers Military intelligence officials have quietly told Congress they advised against transferring 25 of the 60 Guantanamo Bay terror detainees deemed eligible for relocation by the Obama administration, including five who are considered to be highly dangerous and likely to return to the battlefield. Mirandizing Terrorists? by Gary Bauer The Weekly Standard and Fox News are reporting today that the Obama Administration has “quietly” ordered the FBI to read highly-valued terrorist suspects their Miranda rights at U.S. military detention facilities in Afghanistan. If you have watched any television crime show you are probably familiar with the Miranda warning.
6-06-09	When Democrats Derailed a GOP Latino Nominee by Byron York Unless something entirely unforeseen happens, confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor will be a lovefest for the Democrats who run the Senate Judiciary Committee. Va. GOP Fills Out Fall Slate; Conservativism Applauded State Sen. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II won the Virginia Republican convention's nomination for attorney general Saturday, electrifying delegates with a speech decrying the state of the Republican Party and proving that conservatives still have a voice in the party. General Motors Files for Landmark Bankruptcy General Motors filed the largest ever industrial bankruptcy Monday morning under a strategy mapped out by the White House to quickly reorganize the venerable Detroit company in two to three months. Poll: Most Oppose Closing Gitmo Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to closing the detention center for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay and moving some of the detainees to prisons on U.S. soil, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. GOP Eyes GM Takeover as Election Tool Republicans plan to use the government takeover of General Motors Corp. as ammunition in their bid to defeat congressional Democrats next year, saying its a glaring example of big government intrusion into the marketplace that will rankle average voters. Colin Powell and the Failure of Moderate Republicanism by Jeffrey Lord Colin Powell doesn’t get it. Neither do moderate Republicans, which is why there are an increasingly fewer number of them left. IRS Files $800,000 Lien on '04 Kerry Campaign The Internal Revenue Service has filed a tax lien seeking more than $800,000 from Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign, escalating a dispute over payroll taxes that the lawmaker's office blames on faulty government paperwork. A Major Force in Education -- Homeschooling in America by Albert Mohler The U.S. Department of Education has released its periodic review of schooling in America, and it offers a revealing look at the growth of homeschooling. The picture of contemporary homeschooling offers some real surprises and raises some new questions. First Amendment Victory: Federal Court Strikes Down Florida’s “Electioneering Communications” Law Arlington, Va.—In a major victory for free speech, U.S. District Judge Stephan Mickle today issued an opinion striking down Florida’s “electioneering communications” law—the broadest regulation of political speech in the nation. The ruling frees community groups and educational non-profits across Florida and the nation to speak about candidates and issues on the Florida ballot without registering with the government and navigating bureaucratic red tape. Kansas Abortion Doctor Killed during Church Dr. George Tiller, a Kansas physician who provided late-term abortions, was fatally shot Sunday morning at his church in Wichita, in the first fatal act of anti-abortion violence in 11 years. City and Police Propose Curfew to Curb Youth Crime People younger than 18 committed more than a quarter of all crime in Columbia last year, though they make up less than a fifth of the city’s population.
5-30-09	Pelosi Refuses Queries on CIA Dispute n her first news conference since accusing the CIA of lying to her about the use of harsh interrogation techniques, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday refused to answer questions on the controversy, telling reporters only that she stands by her earlier statements. Dick Cheney's Compelling Witness by Editors of The Washington Times An extraordinary scene played out Thursday with what amounted to a Lincoln-Douglas-style debate between a popular sitting president and an unpopular former vice president. The former veep won, hands down. Powell Says GOP Must Expand Its 'Very, Very Narrow Base' Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said Sunday that he will not leave the Republican Party, although he thinks its future is threatened by a shift too far to the political right. California Court Upholds Gay-Marriage Ban The state Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, but also decided that the estimated 18,000 gay couples who wed before the law took effect will stay married. Justice Sotomayor? by Gary Bauer Today, President Obama announced Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor as his nominee to replace retiring liberal Supreme Court Justice David Souter. We know Judge Sotomayor is a liberal who once declared that the courts are “where policy is made.” Obama assured us during the campaign for the presidency that he would appoint judges with “empathy” – judges who knew, in the president’s words, “what it’s like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old.” Sotomayor certainly fits that description. Coming This Summer: Health Care Wars by Newt Gingrich The Washington battle that will most directly and profoundly affect you and your families’ lives is the battle for the future of our health care system, which will play out this summer.