Originally posted on 12/23/2009 at ConservativeCompass.com

It's not over 'til it's over.  On Thursday at 7:00 am Washington time, the Senate will vote Harry Reid's healthcare train wreck one step closer to reality.  The Republicans let the majority off the hook by agreeing to allow an early vote so everyone could go home for the Christmas holiday.  I'm glad the Conservatives are being so accommodating.  We wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone.  After all it's just a matter of changing healthcare, jobs and taxes FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES!

Thankfully, as in a Wagnerian tragedy, this thing isn't over until the fat lady sings, and she hasn't even taken the stage yet.  There is still time to get to these people, both Senators and Representatives.  Each house will need to vote this travesty into law, so we have more potential targets to receive our ire.  We aren't able to lavish millions of dollars on our lawmakers as Harry Reid did, so the only way we can get their attention is through the ballot.  We can withhold votes and send these carpetbaggers packing.  We need to make them acutely aware that we intend to do so, and we have to do it a lot over the next several weeks.

Luckily, there is a web site that will help you do just that.  If you follow this link , it will make contacting your lawmakers dirt simple.  Just input your name and address, and it will set up a message screen that will directly e-mail your Representatives and Senators.  There is a thoughtfully pre-written letter, or you can add and revise as you desire.  I urge you to do it now and do it often.  Even the dimmest politician has to eventually acknowledge the shifting tide of opinion and the wishes of the people.  The Democrats are riding high on the adrenaline rush of winning a skirmish.  When the realization finally hits that they will stand alone before the electorate, and be judged by their vote, the Liberal fortress may start to crumble.

This Christmas holiday, as you enjoy and do things for your family and loved ones, take a few moments to do something for their future.  Contact your lawmakers and remind them what a colossal mistake this legislation is.  Remind them that you are not a fool and you know when you are being hoodwinked.  Remind them that this bill got where it is with the thinnest of margins, bribery and backroom deals.  Remind them that it only  takes a few individuals to stand up and oppose this disaster.  Most of all, remind them that there is still room in Washington for heroes.

Originally posted on 12/20/2009 at ConservativeCompass.com

'Tis the season of giving, and no one gets into the generosity better than our lawmakers in Washington.  By the time you have your morning coffee on Monday, they will have laid the groundwork to spend over $2 trillion of your own dollars on you.  As Nancy Pelosi said, just call it a Christmas gift for the American people.  All I can say is:  "Thanks, but you shouldn't have.  No, really, you shouldn't have.

We started the week with the Omnibus 2010 spending bill, followed by the Dept. of Defense budget and jobs bill, and topped it off  like a cherry with the Health Care Bill they intend to pass regardless of how unpopular it might be.

According to the Heritage Foundation , the 2010 spending bill contained many brightly wrapped packages for Americans such as:

    * Provides an 8 percent discretionary spending hike for the third consecutive year;
    * Provides these spending hikes in addition to $311 billion in earlier stimulus funding for these discretionary programs; and
    * Includes approximately 5,224 earmarks, bringing the FY 2010 total to 8,939, with a pork-laden defense bill expected to push the final total over 10,000.

Assuming passage of the omnibus bill and a separate defense appropriations bill, the three-year-old Democratic congressional majority will have:

    * Spent $561 billion more than the baseline level for discretionary programs;
    * Pushed up the 2011-20 discretionary spending baseline by $1.7 trillion--nearly $1,500 per household annually; and
    * Been responsible for three of the five highest earmark years in American history.  Despite a $1.4 trillion budget deficit, this bill includes:

    * A 120 percent increase for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program;
    * A 30 percent increase for the Corporation for National and Community Service;
    * A 22 percent increase for the controversial Essential Air Service; and
    * A 9 percent increase for Amtrak.

Even before the omnibus bill was unveiled, the five appropriations bills that passed in October and November included:

    * A 67 percent increase for the Environmental Protection Agency's State and Tribal Assistance Grants;
    * A 38 percent increase for International Food Aid;
    * A 20 percent increase for the Transportation Security Administration;
    * An 8.4 percent increase for Lawmakers' Office Allowances;
    * An 8.1 percent increase for the National Endowment for the Arts; and
    * An 8.1 percent increase for the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Just a quick reminder for those with a short memory:

President Obama promised to reduce earmarks down to the 1994 level of 1,318. He then signed into law most of the 10,160 earmarks for FY 2009 and appears set to sign over 10,000 earmarks into law for FY 2010.

The President also pledged to veto defense earmarks and eliminate all earmarks with "no legitimate public purpose." Yet the President has not threatened to veto the pork-laden defense bill and is not known to have tried to eliminate a single earmark.

House Democrats pledged to reduce earmark spending to 1 percent of all discretionary appropriations (or approximately $11 billion).  However, the appropriations bills have already topped $11 billion in earmarks even before the defense bill is expected to add several billion dollars more.

House Democrats also promised to require that all House Members post their earmark requests online.  Dozens of lawmakers failed to do so by the deadline.  Many who did post their earmarks buried them in obscure parts of their office Web sites.

The crowning jewel of this spending orgy will occur in the dark of night when the Senate passes the health care reform bill in the wee small hours of Monday, December 21st.  They are doing so regardless of lack of public support and bipartisan criticism from both ends of the political spectrum.  They've got to give something, anything to President Obama to prove that they still can govern.  The fact that it will ultimately hurt the American people and that it accomplishes none of the original stated goals has become irrelevant.  After spending all this time, and committing all this money, it is better to pass lousy legislation than none at all, and the American people will be the beneficiaries of this holiday spirit of giving.  Merry Christmas!

Originally posted on 12/14/2009 at ConservativeCompass.com

If you think Senate Republicans are doing everything they can to stop Harry Reid's insane healthcare bill, think again.  Erick Erickson at RedState.com, in his blog post "Fight" lays out many different procedural tactics they could use to delay and derail this legislation.  Yet they are meekly presenting amendments and whining about being excluded from the process.  Excluded? Hell, who wants to be a part of this?

Erickson states in his blog post:  "The Senate, unlike the House of Representatives, has parliamentary rules and procedures that give the minority the ability to stall legislation. In fact, unlike the House, the minority have the ability to virtually paralyze the Senate."  You'd never know it by the way they have been conducting  themselves.

I am often perplexed when I see politicians do things that don't make sense.  The Republicans cozying up to this healthcare plan is lunacy to the Nth degree.  Rather than working to stop it, they seem willing to let it move forward with the addition of inconsequential Republican amendments.  Why would they do such a thing?  Erickson, in his post describes many ways that this thing could be stopped in its tracks, and at very minimum delayed until next year.  It is a must read for all Conservatives who think their interests are being served by Republicans in DC.

I believe that many Republicans want to change the political landscape in America for the next 20 years or more, and they intend to use this healthcare legislation as a vehicle for that change.  They are protesting and posturing, but ultimately, they are allowing the bill to slip toward approval.

The Democrats are turning a blind eye toward the more than obvious negative consequences of Reid's bill, and Republican Senators are more than happy to allow that to occur.  They won't put their names on it, but they won't ultimately stand in its way either.  There is nothing the Republicans would love more than to say "I  told you so" when it dawns on the American public that they have been had, and they are salivating at the thought of Democrats crapping and stepping in it.  Unfortunately, what's good for Republicans, is bad for America and it is time for our lawmakers to decide where their allegiance lays.

This unholy alliance will not work.  When you sleep with dogs, you wake up with fleas.  Conciliation, cooperation and participation will only backfire on those who are now putting their own interest above that of our citizens.  Republicans must demand a quorum, 51 Senators on the floor, and not allow dispensing with the rules.  They must insist upon roll call votes and motions of cloture on each and every amendment brought to the floor.  If this bill is passed before the Christmas recess, all is lost.  We need more time, and the only way to get it is to invoke parliamentary procedure at every juncture.

If you care about your healthcare and your wallet, contact Republican Senators at this website .  Not just your own, but all of them and especially the leadership of McConnel , Kyl , McCain , Grassley , DeMint and Inhofe .  It wouldn't be a bad idea to barrage Snowe and Collins either.  Tell them to step up and do their jobs for the American people.  If this bill passes, it won't mean a free ride for Republicans.  Rather, it will be obvious that they did not do everything in their power to prevent it, and they will share responsibility for its disastrous effects for years to come.

Originally posted on 12/12/2009 at ConservativeCompass.com

The past few months have brought us unprecedented federal spending with commitments for much more to come.  This Congress and Administration are hemorrhaging taxpayer money at a rate unsustainable for any country on earth.  And yet, we are not bashful about borrowing money from other countries to fill our insatiable capital need.  Our National Debt rolled over to 12 trillion, and there is no end in sight.  No one can possibly look at this situation and foresee improvement.  Regardless of partisanship, common sense should raise questions about the end game.  What happens when taxpayers are uniformly broke? What happens when our international creditors say "no more"?  What happens when the well runs dry? 

Omnibus bill
On Sunday (when no one is looking), the Senate will vote on the 2010 Omnibus Spending bill.  It is a travesty of waste and earmarks that will cost over one trillion dollars.  In a radio interview with Glenn Beck on Friday, Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah said:

I don't know how to put enough descriptors about how insane this process is, but they took six agencies, their appropriations, meshed them into one big, bad omnibus bill, I mean, this is seriously this is bad government at its worst. When the bill was originated, it was 1,088 pages, and it has to go to the rules committee before we as members of congress in the rank and file here can actually see it. It ended up being more than 2500 pages, and we voted on it roughly 24 hours after we got it. It represents half of the entire discretionary budget for the entire federal government, $446 billion, 2500 pages. There are 5,000 earmarks and at its baseline represents a 12% increase in spending for their base budgets, not counting the stimulus and all the other crap, a 12% increase over the base budget from just last year.

Examples of ridiculous waste cited by Chaffetz include: $17 million to Ireland "This was started by Tip O'Neill because we somehow as a country had to help Ireland", $3 million for bike racks in Washington DC (how many bicycles do you suppose there are in DC, and do they outnumber the limousines?), $600,000 for Sunset Boulevard beautification in California, $500,000 for the Elvis Presley Boulevard improvement in Tennessee and $1,948,000 is going to go to the Fish Lake Trail completion in the State of Washington (for those who don't know, that is a 23 mile mountain bike trail near Spokane).

Health Care Bill
Only in DC would they take a program like Medicare that is fundamentally broke and plan to expand it.  Only in DC would they tell the American people that this will lower healthcare costs and improve the level of care.  Only in DC would they try to convince us that Medicare is not really a government run program (here's a hint: it's broke).  This is just a stepping stone to the full blown Government option which will certainly eliminate private health insurance policies for all, to the tune of multi-trillions of taxpayer dollars.  If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until our Government runs it.

Cap and Trade
Those who are paying attention call it "Cap and Tax", because it will tax every American for their basic needs: food, shelter and transportation.  Once again, the poor will pay disproportionately, unless of course our Government decides to subsidize their expenses with more taxpayer money from everyone else.  An added bonus will be the increased price if items exported to other countries.  There is nothing like putting yourself at a competitive disadvantage with the rest of the world.  Just another example of this Administration's economic death wish.

Climate Change Reparations
Follow the money to Copenhagen.  All these international bandits want is more money, preferably from  America.  Wherever repressive governments have inflicted poverty, famine, and poor health upon their people, the universal solution is more money from the United States.  Call it reparations for 200 years of success born of a Constitution that guarantees freedom to our citizens.  Freedom to innovate, freedom to prosper, and yes freedom to fail.  Climate change is eternal (can you say: 1930's dustbowl and Iceage?).  Only by releasing the human ability to adapt to natural change can we hope to survive, and lining the pockets of despots and international criminals has nothing to do with that.

The ability to be a steward of the Earth, the ability to be charitable and the ability to face down evil are all predicated on internal prosperity.  We can't help others if we can't help ourselves first.  This Country is well down the path of financial ruin, which should bring no comfort to the rest of  the world.  They like us, are hugely dependent upon the economic engine of America.  In the end, when the money has all been squandered, what will they and we do when the well has finally run dry?

Originally posted on 12/06/2009 at ConservativeCompass.com

Senator Harry Reid is kicking the debate of his health care bill into high gear.  Knowing full well that his Democrat colleagues are not accustomed to working through both Saturday and Sunday, he figures after an entire weekend of work, they'll likely agree to anything.  The Republicans, no less subject to debate fatigue at least seem to be holding the line, fighting for more time and forcing the Dems to vote on some politically volatile amendments.  The Senate minority it turning up the heat on the Dems, but not nearly enough.

Republicans have been forcing Democrats to openly deal with the Medicare payment cuts that will be necessary to finance this health insurance reform they so desperately want.  The amendments in general, would protect billions in Medicare payments that Dems know must be sacrificed to help fund their "reform".  So far, the Democrats have defeated two such amendments, essentially voting to cut Medicare benefits, and a third is on the way.  Republican leadership is making them squirm, and these votes will help put many Dems out of office, but Conservatives in the Senate will need more than that to defeat this bill.

If the Republicans want to bring this thing to a screeching halt, all they have to do is force a vote on an amendment to make the "reform" effective immediately.  The Dems can't possibly agree to that for two reasons:  First, if they can't spread the expense of an eight year program over 10 years, the actual costs will become apparent for all to see.  Second the real results of this program, like employers dropping employee insurance plans in favor of paying a less expensive fine, won't be seen until after the 2012 presidential election.  If this bill's consequences were to become apparent immediately, Democrats will experience an election bloodbath in 2012 unprecedented in this Country.

If the Democrats defeat such an amendment, they are then in the position of having to explain to the American people why such a good, noble and necessary reform should be delayed four years, while another “million a year lose their health insurance” and scores of others “go bankrupt or die for lack of it”.  This is a case where they can't have their cake and eat it too.  Maybe they are just hoping to have been thrown out of office by the time the crap hits the fan.

It is virtually certain that Reid will attempt to force bill passage before allowing Senators to go home for the Christmas recess.  We need more time.  The American people aren't as dim as our lawmakers want to believe, and given enough time they are beginning to see this legislation for the stunningly expensive Government take over that it is.  Nowhere does it address reducing medical costs, it simply picks up the check using taxpayer money, and that is not good for anyone in this Country.

Polls show that the majority of Americans don't support this reform, (Gallup , Rasmussen ) yet Dems doggedly refuse to acknowledge that fact.  If they hope to stop this juggernaut, Conservatives in the Senate have to keep the heat on.  It is not enough for Democrats to simply own the bill, they have to also own all of its nuance and consequences.  It is time to crank the heat up to "high".

Originally posted on 11/27/2009 at ConservativeCompass.com

I am sure you are aware that the US Senate voted on 11/21/2009 to move for cloture of H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).  In doing so, they cleared the way to bring this bill to the Senate floor for debate.  The motion was passed on a straight party line, all Democrats and two independents for, and all but one Republican against (one not voting).  As if it weren't bad enough that lawmakers are moving this disastrous bill forward, they did so by handing out financial bribes to a fence sitting Senator in order to get the 60 votes required for passage.

No one is Washington seems particularly concerned or alarmed at this news.  In fact many are congratulating the lucky recipient of Senatorial largess for bringing home the bacon to the residents of her state.

Well, I am concerned and alarmed.  This is not the way Government is suppose to work.  Because it is politics as usual, doesn't make it right.  However, if that is the way it is going to be, let's just embrace it.  I think it is high time that everyone benefit from the duplicity of our lawmakers in Washington.  Toward that end, I would like to make the following proposal:  If you do not live in Louisiana, and your Senator or Senators voted in favor of the motion, I would like to suggest you send them an e-mail.  I've provided a sample below which you can cut and paste or modify if you wish.  The point is to let them know what chumps they are, and how they've been played by Harry Reid and the Obama administration.  Perhaps bringing to their attention the lengths to which Reid will go to pass this thing, will make them more reticent in future votes on the bill. Perhaps you also need to remind them what happens to public servants who do not properly serve the public. http://www.gallup.com/poll/124253/Say-Health-Coverage-Not-Gov-Responsibility.aspx

Here is a link to the e-mail addresses of all US Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
You can search by state.  There are even phone numbers listed if you want to call them directly.

Dear Senator _______________,
Last Saturday, November 21, you voted yea on the motion for cloture of H.R. 3590 thereby allowing the bill to be brought to the Senate for debate.  One of your colleagues, Senator  Landrieu of Louisiana also voted yea, and in return for her vote, her state will receive 300 million dollars in benefits for its citizens.  Since that time most politicians I have seen, are not shocked by this and are actually complimenting Senator Landrieu for doing what is best for her state.  After all "That is how it is done in Washington DC".  If that is the norm in DC, if that is politics as usual, I have a question for you:  In return for your yea vote, what did you secure for our state?  As you know, our state is battling unemployment, deficit spending, service cutbacks and we've got plenty poor people living here who could use a break.  Just what did you bring home to us in return for your vote?

I would appreciate an e-mail response to this question, and I don't mean one of those canned letters that is so generic as to not say anything, while reminding us what a great job you are doing.

Yours in freedom,
A concerned taxpayer and
resident of your state

Send this e-mail out now, we don't have a lot of time as the Senate meets again on November 30th.  If you do get an answer from your Senators, please forward it to me, (admin@conservativecompass.com) and I will post it here.

 

Originally posted on 11/20/09 at ConservativeCompass.com

Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama administration intend to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to trial in New York City for masterminding the 9/11 attacks.  If you don't know, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has openly and proudly admitted his direction and involvement in the terrible attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.

About the time I think this administration can't go further out into la la land, they conjure up another scheme like this.  What they hope to accomplish is murky at best  It is pointless and misguided, and no good can come from it.

This administration is intent upon conducting a media circus trial in New York, affording this defendant and a few others, all the legal rights and privileges given to any American citizen.  But what if our legal system exhibits one of its inexplicable quirks?  What if Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or any of his pals are found innocent for any reason?

When quizzed about such a possibility, The Attorney General said he is certain the men will be convicted, but even if a suspect were acquitted, "that doesn't mean that person would be released into our country."

"Certain the men will be convicted."  Wait a minute, time out.  Can we have a fair trial in this Country if the outcome is a certain conviction?  As if Holder's comments weren't enough, President Obama added that "I don't think it will be offensive at all when he's (KSM) convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him."

Wow, that seems really cut and dried.  Never mind that the defense will claim that admissions were obtained under duress and torture.  Never mind that we will have to wrangle over his status:  Terrorist?  Enemy combatant?  Misunderstood freedom fighter?  Who knows?

Holder should be aware, that his position as the top legal prosecutor in this Country gives his comments immense weight. What ever the case, he appears to be playing fast and loose with our criminal justice system, and the results could be devastating.  I am shocked that this Country's chief prosecutor doesn't realize you can't prejudice a trial by declaring the outcome in advance.  With Holder making a public statement like that, how do we seat an unbiased jury?  Perhaps a change of venue to the moon would be in order here.

KSM's attorneys could argue that a fair trial is impossible in New York or even in the United States.  If that change of venue were to be granted, America will forever lose control over the fate of any and all captured terrorists.  This trial is in serious peril of ending in acquittal or mistrial.  What then?  Do we deport him?  Turn him loose in San Francisco?  What?  Can you imagine the world wide outcry if the United States goes to great lengths to extend legal rights to KSM before and during the trial only to deny those rights after the verdict is in?

President Obama, and Attorney General Holder, must know in our Country, by definition you cannot have a fair trial if there is no possibility that the defendant will be found innocent, and yet they are painting themselves into a legal corner from which there will be no escape.

Originally posted on 11/13/09 at ConservativeCompass.com

When does the Obama administration begin?  Twelve months?  Eighteen months?  Two years?  Just tell me so we can stop with the mantra "It was much worse than we thought" and "Bush left us in a mess".  I am far from an apologist for President Bush, but for all his shortcomings, he didn't leave the United States many trillions of dollars in debt, with double digit unemployment and fighting a foreign war with the apparent goal of protracted stalemate.  More troubling still, Islamic extremists have become emboldened enough to strike us on American soil once again.  I just want to know on what date I can lay this train wreck squarely in the lap of this administration and Congress, and start holding them accountable for the consequences of their mis-management and irresponsibility.

Further, in return for the billions we've spent in "stimulus money", the American people have received:

Banks that still refuse to loan money for fear that they will be audited by the Government and found to have insufficient capital.

People driving new cars that were subsidized by taxpayers at over $20,000 each.

One million phantom jobs "saved or created", while four million real jobs vaporized.

A future tax burden that will hurt small business, chase big business offshore and assure increasing poverty and dependence upon Government for the American people.

A published unemployment rate of 10.2% which is bogus because it doesn't include people who have fallen off unemployment as their benefits were exhausted or the self employed sitting at home watching Oprah.  I'm betting it's closer to 16-19%.

Ownership of a big shiny car company.

Dependence on foreign oil that hasn't decreased one gallon since February 2009.

A toxic business climate in which companies are paralyzed by fear of the unknown, and crippled by lack of short term capital and onerous regulation.

A Government that presumes to tell us what the fruit of our labor is worth, based on some skewed sense of social justice and "fairness".

I could go on...

Where does it end?  On the horizon we've got Cap and Trade legislation that will increase energy costs for Americans while redistributing wealth to foreign countries.  We've got the health insurance reform bill that will destroy medical care for 80% of Americans just to cover 10%.  There will be immigration reform that I predict will offer some kind of amnesty or sanctuary to illegals in this Country (and get them that health care).  We've got school districts that want to feed not only breakfast and lunch to school kids, but dinner to
them and their families as well.  I've even seen the suggestion that we nationalize sick leave to cover all American workers because of the H1N1 virus.  What's a few more bucks anyway?

Where does it end?  When the ink runs out on the printing presses?  When the money in your wallet, bank account and 401-K isn't worth the paper it is printed on?  When we level the playing field to the point that no one succeeds, excels or triumphs in this Country anymore?  When we all succumb to inefficiency, mediocrity and corruption in a Government that controls every aspect of our lives from cradle to grave?  

The American people are concerned.  Largely, they haven't gotten what they voted for.  They want to believe in their President, but frankly he scares them.  People have a real concern about the future.  If they're out of work, they know how ineffectual our Government has been dealing with the economy.  If they are working, they live with the daily knowledge that things can change in a heartbeat, and there is no indication for anyone that things are going to get better soon.

So where does it end?  It ends where Americans draw the line.  When they finally say "enough is enough".  When they tell their lawmakers loud and clear that paybacks are hell and their pink slips are in the mail.  It ends when we start voting them out, and those remaining realize that being a Congressman or Senator is not a lifetime appointment.  It ends where citizens care enough to take back this Country and return its governance to people who love it and the principles it was founded upon.  It ends when we decide it ends.  We just have to muster the resolve to fix something that has gone terribly wrong.

Originally posted on 11/06/09 at ConservativeCompass.com

One thing is for sure about this week's election results:  Everyone has an opinion.  What does it mean?  What effect will it have on 2010 and 2012?  Is this a wakeup call for the Liberals and Democrats?  Is it an invitation to Conservatives and Republicans to become over confident?  Was it simply a replay of patterns we have seen for years?  It may be all of those things including a figurative warning shot across the bow, but who's ship is being fired upon?

There were some notable Republican victories to be sure, but don't read too much into that.  The Democrats are quick to think this is all about them.  They flatter themselves.  In reality this election was a referendum against "politics as usual" and any politician that doesn't get that, R or D is in for some trouble.  At the town meetings we could only shout.  In an election, we can end a career.

This isn't really about red or blue.  It is about dissatisfaction with our current leadership.  The American people are tired of duplicitous, corrupt, self-serving lawmakers.  Americans are tired of being lied to and they’re tired of seeing elected officials say and do whatever is necessary to remain in office.

This is the democratic extension of the Tea Party Movement.  Everyone whether they have had their say or not, will now and forever speak with their vote.

If politicians want to survive this movement, it is very simple.  All they have to do is stop lying to the American people.  They need to tell the deadbeats in our society to get off their butts and work hard for what they want just like everyone else.  They need to stop trying to take the rewards of that hard work from those who are successful, only to distribute to those among us who refuse to provide for themselves.

They need to understand that the solution to social problems is not the formation of 111 new federal agencies.  They need to know that the success of a program is not judged by the number of digits in front of the decimal point, but by careful consideration of its consequences and results.

The events of this week were indeed a shot across the bow of any politician who has forgotten that the American people sign their paycheck, and that they hold office at our will.  Their political affiliation will not be refuge, only integrity and common sense.

Originally posted on 10/25/09 at ConservativeCompass.com

It has been a reoccurring theme in many of my posts that the Obama administration is playing a game of massive misdirection.  I've been imploring American Conservatives to keep their eye on the ball, and pressure on their lawmakers.  I've been reminding our citizens to avoid diluting their energy by dealing only with the things that are truly important.  Over the last several months however it has become almost impossible to ignore the troupe of "useful fools" populating the White House, and I believe that is by design.  No matter how capricious or senseless it may appear, nothing this administration does happens without careful planning and calculation, and this collection of whackjobs is no coincidence.

President Obama isn't a fool and he wouldn't surround himself with them if he didn't have a reason.  His group of Czars and advisors is the screwiest collection of radicals, leftists and revolutionaries ever to collect a Government paycheck, and he knows it.

Valerie Jarrett, Eric Holder, Cass Sunstein, Van Jones, John Holdren, Kevin Jennings and many more, must have been vetted by a White House that not only knew of their backgrounds, but sought them out, and today revels in their radical views.  Only when they become a liability as did Jones, does this administration relieve them of their "duties" and send then to work at some Liberal think tank.  

I know this sounds crazy, but it is almost as if the President maintains this batch of unrepentant miscreants just so they can take the heat and distract attention from what is really going on in Washington.  It seems every time Obama wants a little cover for his pet projects, one of these useful fools suddenly comes under increased scrutiny.

So although these people are dangerous and disturbing to anyone who loves America, believes in our Constitution and is a patriot, we have to be careful about allowing them to occupy too much of our attention and energy.  When this administration ultimately and inevitably runs its one term course, these kooks will be history, and their ideas and philosophies will be relegated to obscure academic publications.  The big things however, health insurance reform, cap and trade, immigration law and nationalization of our largest business sectors will have far reaching effects for many years to come.  That is what we need to be watching.  That's what you gotta' get excited about.  Don't wait for another round of town meetings.  We have to stay after that other batch of fools, the members of Congress who think we aren't watching.

Originally posted on 10/17/09 at ConservativeCompass.com

In one of my posts a couple weeks back, I criticized the Republicans for not having a viable alternative health care proposal.  Further research has proven me to be inaccurate in that charge.  I was convincing enough however, to have my blog post picked up by NPR online.  It's funny what those people will believe if it supports their agenda.  At any rate, while my original point was that the Republicans haven't been widely promoting their proposals and amendments, there is a Democratic engineered reason that they look as if they have brought nothing to the table.

First, let's be clear:  The Republicans presented HR-3400 (Empowering Patients First Act) to Congress back in July of 2009.  It was immediately sent to the House Appropriations Committee to die a quiet death without seeing the light of day in the House. In addition, in spite of all the President's talk about "bipartisanship", the Democratic controlled Congress has thwarted every Republican attempt to add amendments to various health insurance bills working their way through the House and Senate.

This total freeze out of Republican input is not surprising in the context of what Nancy Pelosi and the House did back in January of this year, prior to President Obama's inauguration.  As described by Connie Hair in a January 5th article at HumanEvents.com :  

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to re-write House rules today to ensure that the Republican minority is unable to have any influence on legislation. Pelosi’s proposals are so draconian, and will so polarize the Capitol, that any thought President-elect Obama has of bipartisan cooperation will be rendered impossible before he even takes office.

In reaction, the House Republican leadership is sending a letter today to Pelosi to object to changes to House Rules this week that would bar Republicans from offering alternative bills, amendments to Democrat bills or even the guarantee of open debate accessible by motions to recommit for any piece of legislation during the entire 111th Congress.

With this backdrop of House majority thuggery, is it any wonder the Republicans are reluctant to sign on to Democratic bills?  Why should they support any legislation they've had no input on?  I can't say I disagree. 

This isn't about being obstructionist or the "Party of no".  This is just the same as Pelosi's pre-preemptive rules change in January.  It is politics, pure and simple.  They are saying loud and clear that the Dems have a majority and can pass this disaster if they want, without bipartisan support.  They are telling the Democrats to do what is best for our Country, and if that includes passing this legislation, they can own it, and we'll see how it all shakes out in 2012.

Originally posted on 10/10/09 at ConservativeCompass.com

The Norwegians have exercised their yearly ritual attempt to show their relevance in the world wide picture.  They awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama, not apparently for his accomplishments, but rather for what they hope he will accomplish.  Admittedly I am not a scholar of the Nobel Prize, but I think this approach is a bit of getting the cart ahead of the horse.  Even Obama's most ardent supporters were left scratching their heads over the announcement, but the Nobel committee's past winners list should leave no one surprised by the capriciousness of this current decision.

In many ways it appears as if the Nobel Committee is trying to guide and formulate a future agenda by awarding their prize to particular individuals.  Some past winners include:

Al Gore and the IPCC  (2007)
"for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change"

Jimmy Carter  (2002)
"for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development"

UN and Kofi Annan  (2001)
"for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world"

Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin  (1994)
"for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East"

It's a good thing they don't rescind the award for future failures.

Additionally one might ask:  If the Nobel Committee is so smart, how come they missed the most famous and celebrated peace activist of all time, Mahatma Gandhi?  He was nominated on several occasions, but never received this revered award.  If you want to see a piece of skillfully crafted spin, I recommend you read the Committee's own explanation at: http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/articles/gandhi/index.html .  They even go so far to suggest that they left the Peace Prize un-awarded one year to honor him.  "Thanks a lot."

So here we are today with the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to President Obama.  Never mind that the nominations had to be submitted only 12 days into his new administration.  Never mind that the Prize is to be awarded for accomplishments of the previous year.  Never mind that the world doesn't seem any more peaceful than it was under the previous President.  Never mind that Obama's previous year was spent as a Senator from Illinois who was campaigning non-stop for the office of President...  I present to you:

Barack Obama  (2009)
"for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples"

In his own words, Alfred Nobel wrote in his will:

"The capital shall be invested by my executors in safe securities and shall constitute a fund, the interest on which shall be annually distributed in the form of prizes to those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind."

Notwithstanding those crazy Norwegians, I must have missed something.

Originally posted on 10/03/09 at ConservativeCompass.com

The news broke today that Late Night television host David Letterman has been the victim of an extortion attempt by someone threatening to expose his sexual trysts with various co-workers.  Ordinarily his conduct really wouldn't be newsworthy except for the half-wit trying to get rich quick by shaking Letterman down.  Over the past year, David has had an issue with Sarah Palin, using her and her family as fodder for many jokes both humorous and in some cases cruel.  Now that his private, personal life has become public, I thought it would be interesting if Sarah Palin were to send him a letter of support and condolence.  It might go something like this:

Dear David,

I can't tell you how sorry I am that some deranged person has violated your privacy and exposed you and your family to public ridicule and scrutiny.  Believe me when I tell you, I know the pain and heartache that one endures when personal matters become public through no fault of their own.  We, as public figures expect a certain amount of interest in our lives and families.  We don't however expect to have our lives laid bare for all to see and criticize.  There are limits of decency that all too often are set aside by people in pursuit of financial gain.  David, I know you will persevere and put this behind you.  Time will dull the sting of these personal violations of your privacy and hopefully the future will offer you and your family the appropriate separation of public and private life that everyone deserves.

God Bless,
Sarah

Originally posted on 09/30/09 at ConservativeCompass.com

Today I had an epiphany.  It was as if the sky opened up and revealed to me the basic fundamental universal truth of humanity, responsibility and our relationship with our Government.  The debate over Government controlled health insurance reform has presented to me a matrix by which we can structure our society now and for the future.  It all comes down to one simple concept, that of "God given rights".

While listening to a radio call in program, I heard someone make an impassioned case that quality health care is a God given right to everyone regardless of their socio-economic standing or ability to pay.  He totally rejected the concept of for profit business with regard to doctors, hospitals or insurance companies.  In his world, some high moral authority is charged with deciding what is right and fair for American citizens and
business.  Strangely, it is all starting to make sense to me.

I'm so on board with this guy, that I would like to add a few suggestions for other areas of human need that could be interpreted as "God given rights".

I believe that access to food and shelter is a "GGR".  We can't allow fellow citizens to starve or live under the stars just because they aren't gainfully employed.  Let's mandate that grocery stores must give free food to anyone who's family is living under four times the poverty level.  There are also plenty vacant houses and apartments around.  Why doesn't our Government just buy them up and give them to people who have no place to live?  In addition, since we don't want them to lose their homes because they can't pay property taxes, we should waive, subsidize or just cover the cost of taxes related to shelter.

In addition, all Americans have a right to be comfortable and safe in their homes.  That is why Government should make electricity and gas free to all who can't afford it.  Phone service should be a right as well, you know for safety and security.  I'm only suggesting land lines, not cell service...that would be crazy.

The right to work is important.  Everyone who wants a job, should get one.  If work is not available, or the worker is unqualified, the Federal Government could set up "job banks" just like Detroit.  Job bank participants can earn a wage while sitting in large Government cafeterias and doing cross word puzzles all day, just like Detroit.

The ability to travel freely is a "GGR".  Everyone needs a vehicle and fuel to run it.  How about a "clunkers for the poor" program and gas vouchers or Government paid credit cards?  Better yet, we could provide hybrid vehicles for the poor.  Social justice and green too!

It is a "GGR" for every citizen to be informed.  For that reason, the Government should cover the costs of not just the converters, but also cable television and Internet access for all Americans who can't afford it.

Everyone has a right to look good.  How about covering the costs of make up and tattoos?  Maybe cosmetic surgery?

Shoes, nobody should have to go barefoot in this Country.

Wow!  I'm feeling so good about myself helping all these downtrodden citizens.  Power to the people!  Stick it to the Man!

Silly, I know, but it brings us to an interesting point.  Who presumes to determine what is a right for Americans and how it will be paid for.  What happened to the virtues of hard work, education, innovation and paying your own way?  As has been the case time and again with this administration, those virtues are becoming irrelevant.  This invasive Government and Liberal administration insists on choosing winners and losers, and in doing so destroys our free market and blurs the line between right and wrong.  We do have "God given rights" to be sure, but they have nothing to do with forcing others to pick up the check for goods or services we desire.

Originally posted on 09/16/09 at ConservativeCompass.com

Jimmy Carter continues to remind us why he presided over the most lackluster, embarrassing single term of any modern President.  Why anyone listens to him or finds him newsworthy is beyond me, but his nutty comments this week have the main stream media buzzing.  I guess race pandering, especially when dished by an ex-president is simply too delicious to pass by, so the major networks gave it more time than deserved.  In doing so, they largely ignored real news about illegal ACORN activity, the war in Afghanistan going badly, medical professionals overwhelmingly opposing the Government health care plan, or the estimated costs of Cap and Trade being many times more than the White House was admitting.  At any rate, the favorite pastime of Liberals, name calling, has taken center stage and the American people are becoming weary of this worn out tactic.

Ex-President Carter asserted in an interview, that anyone in America who disagrees with Obama's policies, does so because they are racists and don't believe a black man should be running this Country.  This comment is so patently stupid, it doesn't really deserve acknowledgment.  However, it has started a mini-avalanche of similar sentiments from other officials trying to defend this administration by ignoring the true issues and redirecting criticisms of substance into the straw man of racial discrimination.

I get a sense that the impact of such language is waning with the American people.  After all, we've been called Nazis, hate-mongers, flat earthers, obstructionists, mobs and so on.  The words of racial hatred, a powerful weapon for so long, are losing their ability to shock, intimidate and coerce.  Increasingly, the purveyors of verbal terrorism are finding their rhetoric is losing its power to control, and they must confront the facts and argue the actual issues.

Ironically the people in this Country who clamor the most for a level playing field, aren't interested in playing the game if they don't have a trump card ready to toss in when their arguments fail.  I believe that Jimmy Carter is wrong.  I believe that the majority of citizens who disagree with President Obama's policies, do so because they don't agree with the intent or consequences of those policies.  I also believe it is time for Liberals like Carter to stop using race as an excuse, and hatred as a defense for lousy policy.  It is time for them to join the rest of us, and judge President Obama by his ability, political philosophy and content of character...  Not the color of his skin.