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National News
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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. |
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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.
| |