Saint Louis Conservative

Saint Louis Conservative's new Favorite Judge

2011-05-24T13:36:00.001-05:00

Judge Robert H. Dierker, Jr., take a back seat. Though I'm still quite fond of Dierker's personal fight against red light cameras in the City of St. Louis (chronicled here and here), that fight was undertaken as an accused litigant in front of the bench.

Mark Neill has now taken up the fight as a judge behind the bench. Neill, like Dierker a Circuit Court Judge in the the City, ruled Friday that the City's red-light camera ordinance is unconstitutional and invalid. (Link to story here.)

As they say in some parts of the country, "Darn tootin'!"

Kudos to Judge Neill, SLC's new favorite!

Labels aside, 61% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all or most circumstances

2011-05-23T22:07:00.000-05:00

Though only 45% of Americans polled by Gallup labeled themselves as "Pro-Life," 22% said that abortion should be illegal in "all circumstances" and 39% said that abortion should be legal in "only a few circumstances." (Link to story here.)

While I do find it sad that 39% of Americans support legal abortion in most or all circumstances, I'm choosing to be positive today and happy that a significant majority of people oppose most abortions, despite what we see in the media. This is good news.

Keep talking. Keep persuading. The truth will win out and one day, some day, in some generation, with God's help, human beings will stop killing their children.

Need to see the body vanishes

2011-05-06T10:15:00.000-05:00

The debate over whether or not the U.S. government should release the photos taken of Osama bin Laden's dead body has made headlines all week. Many of those in favor seem to want to quiet those who would deny that bin Laden actually died. Others claim that seeing the body would provide them with closure. I don't understand that one but maybe it is true. On the other hand, those calls may simply be disguised voyeurism.

People arguing against the release of the photos argue that such photos could stir up Islamic extremists and cause problems for American citizens and our military. While that may be true, I really doubt that showing a photograph of an extremist's dead compatriot would incite the extremist more than the act of killing that same dead compatriot would. And, really, isn't it simply in bad taste? Disgusting?

In my mind, the only reason to release the photographs would be if there was some legitimate need to prove that America's military hit the right target. And, until now, that reason could have arisen. But the need is now gone . . .

"Al Qaeda confirmed the death of Osama bin Laden on Friday in an Internet message that vowed revenge on the United States and its allies." (Link to story here.)

So, our government says that bin Laden is dead. And al Qaeda says that bin Laden is dead. Seems like bin Laden is dead.

If you still want to see the photos, ask yourself "Why?"

And if you give an honest answer, you might be able to satisfy your sickness by renting "Faces of Death" instead.

If ever . . .

2011-05-02T09:17:00.002-05:00

If ever I was to rejoice at the death of another human being, it would be at the death of Osama bin Laden. But, as a Christian, I can't, and don't rejoice at the death of another, any other, human being.

On the other hand, today I do stand firm in the belief that justice - at least partial justice - has been done for the victims of the attacks on America in September 2001.

And I do rejoice that bin Laden is no longer in control of al-Queda and no longer able to give support, plans, direction, or funding to further terror attacks. One chapter in the fight has ended. And, without bin Laden, the world is changed for the better.

If the Obama 2012 Campaign turns out to be honest, we'll see more of this . . .

2011-04-04T13:23:00.000-05:00

Milton Friedman speaking the truth

2011-03-31T09:38:00.001-05:00

The latest on Air Claire

2011-03-21T22:14:00.001-05:00

Missouri's senior senator, Democrat Claire McCaskill, who you'll have the chance to vote out of office next November, recently admitted to improperly billing taxpayers for use of an airplane that she owned on political trips not government business.

Now it turns out that McCaskill - a former auditor - failed to pay $287,000.00 in personal property taxes on that very same plane. (Link to story here.)

Is Claire a crook? Or, best case scenario, she just can't keep track of "minor" things like taxes she owes. After all, $287,000.00 is just pocket change for McCaskill.

Either way, does she really deserve to keep her job representing our state in Washington?

Obama supports oil industry . . .

2011-03-21T21:59:00.000-05:00

1984: Reagan vs. Mondale
Could 2014 be as red?

in Brazil. Check out this link.

I wish this was hard to believe. But, for this guy, it seems to be par for the course.

Is it 2014 yet? I can't wait to see the electoral map turn uniformly red.

2011-03-06T13:53:00.000-06:00

If the White House press secretary says it, it must be true. Right?

2011-02-18T00:32:00.000-06:00

Check this out at Real Clear Politics . . .

"White House press secretary Jay Carney says the Recovery Act [a.k.a. the so-called 'stimulus' - SLC] added several million jobs and lowered the unemployment rate. According to Carney, the 'goals' of the stimulus package 'have been met.'"

Though Carney hasn't been on the job for long, he's definitely qualified. He can lie with a straight face.

The cuts go on

2011-02-18T00:24:00.001-06:00

Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to de-fund Barack Obama's Teleprompter.

Thursday, the House voted to de-fund eight "czars" working as advisors and who are, according to the bill's sponsor, Representative Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana), "unappointed, unaccountable people who are literally running a shadow government, heading up these little fiefdoms that nobody can seem to identify where they are or what they're doing." (Link to story here.)

The Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-Ohio), has thrown down the gauntlet saying, "Read my lips: We're going to cut spending." (Link here.)

I hope that you're right, Mr. Speaker. Too bad that the Democrats still control the Senate and the White House.

Kudos to Congressman Steve Womack (R-Arkansas) . . .

2011-02-16T23:46:00.000-06:00

for his proposal to eliminate government funding of Barack Obama's Teleprompter. (Link to story here.)

Mr. President, I hate to break it to you, you're no Ronald Reagan

2011-02-11T23:54:00.001-06:00

Barack Obama's attempts to morph his image, though certainly not his ideology, into that of Ronald Reagan Continues. Now, he's even taken to referring to himself as "The Gipper." Link here to see for yourself.

Mr. Obama, I remember Ronald Reagan. You're not him. Not even close.

Happy 100th Birthday to the greatest president of my lifetime

2011-02-06T23:58:00.000-06:00

Will America have any allies left once this guy gets done?

2011-02-04T22:22:00.001-06:00

After today's disclosure that the Obama administration sold out the people with whom we once had a special relationship; our closest (soon-to-be formerly closest?) allies . . . the British, I have my doubts. Apparently, in order to placate the bear, we agreed to tell the Russians about all the nuclear weapons that the U.K. keeps in its arsenal. Information that the U.K. holds as a state secret. (Link to story here.)

Obama's got to go. The incompetence (it's either that or anti-Americanism and I prefer to think positively) must end. January 20, 2013, can't get here fast enough. I just hope that there's enough respect for the United States left by then to salvage a coherent positive foreign policy.

Definitions matter and the media is liberal

2011-02-04T12:43:00.002-06:00

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is." - William J. Clinton

As our former president knew, definitions matter. So does the presentation of the question.

Joshua Greenman of the New York Daily News writes this piece today concluding that "Democrats don't control the media." And, to give Greenman some credit, I agree that Democrats don't control the media . . . but only as he defines the terms and poses the question.

Let's start with the question itself. Does anyone "control" all aspects of media? Of course not. It is not possible to "control" the dissemination of all viewpoints across all spectrums - to decide what is said, who says it, and how across every newspaper, radio station, television station, blog, and website in and out of the country. So, of course, it is quite easy to point to examples of the non-existence of a clear impossibility. And, Greenman does do that well. But who couldn't?

And how does Greenman define "the media"? Traditionally, I think, most folks would consider the "news" departments at newspapers, radio stations, and television channels to be a part of the media. Not the editorials or op-ed columnists. Not the disc jockeys or talk-show hosts. And not the weatherman or the stars on the sit-coms. You know, the media used to be all the folks who sometimes still claim unbiased neutrality and always used to claim it. But Greenman makes sure to include all possible outlets of information including Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin, neither of whom would fit into a traditional "media" definition, and neither of whom would ever claim to be neutral.

The truth is that liberals (if not Democrats) do dominate (if not control) almost every traditional media outlet (if not the entire media).

I'll give Greenman real credit for his column. It is an interesting take on the success that conservatives have had in labeling some policies and getting a message out through a formerly-upstart cable news channel and other new "media" channels. But the conclusion that these successes prove that liberal Democrats don't control the dominant ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, The New York Times, the Washington Post, the Associated Press, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and every other major newspaper in the country, is ludicrous. And, for now, despite the rise of alternative news outlets on cable and the internet, those old-school media outlets still matter.

If you don't believe me, watch the news tonight, or read any newspaper you can find today. Or, if you're looking for something objective, check the records of newspaper endorsements by party in recent elections.

Liberal bias exists in traditional media folks. The traditional media just hates it when we notice.

"Global weirding"

2011-02-04T00:22:00.000-06:00

Check out this piece from today's Boston Herald.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Too Bad

2011-01-28T00:02:00.000-06:00

Jim Talent, our state's one-time U.S. senator, won't be our state's next U.S. senator. (Link to story here.) And that's unfortunate. Talent would be the best person for the job. He has the experience, integrity, and conservative credentials to, again, be a great senator. He is a man of honesty and integrity. He is a man of intelligence ant thoughtfulness. In fact, he's probably too intelligent and thoughtful for Congress.

While Talent would have been the best candidate to replace current senator Claire McCaskill, McCaskill should not rest too easy. This is a reddish state already and one can sense the hue darkening. Several formidable Republicans are ready to enter the GOP primary for a crack at McCaskill in 2012 - a year that Republicans statewide and nationwide are fired up and ready to take back the majority in the Senate and to take back the White House. Ann Wagner, Sam Graves, Jo Ann Emerson, and Ed Martin have been mentioned. And Sarah Steelman has already thrown her hat in the ring. Just about the only Missouri Republican whose name hasn't been mentioned as a potential challenger for McCaskill is Brock Olivo. But give him time.

When the crowded Republican primary heats up in Missouri, let's hope that it remains civil. All of the GOP candidates should keep their eyes fixed on the true opposition in the race - McCaskill, Harry Reid, Barack Obama, and the Democrats . . . not each other. Keep in mind, all of you, that you agree on much more than you disagree. Don't get personal and wound the winner so badly that he or she can't manage to win in the end.

As for Talent, I don't think he'll be getting bored without a race to run. In addition to his other jobs and interests, it looks like he'll be keeping busy with the as-yet-unofficial Mitt Romney campaign for president. Good luck to you Jim - or should I say Secretary Talent?

Paul Ryan's GOP Response

2011-01-26T00:01:00.003-06:00

While it amazes me (and, frankly, embarrasses me when looking at my own life's accomplishments) that a 40-year-old man is Chairman of the House Budget Committee, I'm happy that Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) is on the job there. His response to Barack Obama's State of the Union speech was well-written and well-delivered. Great job Congressman Ryan. Keep up the good work!

Here's a representative and remarkable chunk of Ryan's speech (the full text of which can be read at this link):

"We [Republicans] believe, as our founders did, that 'the pursuit of happiness' depends upon individual liberty; and individual liberty requires limited government. Limited government also means effective government. When government takes on too many tasks, it usually doesn't do any of them very well. It's no coincidence that trust in government is at an all-time low now that the size of government is at an all-time high.

"The President and the Democratic Leadership have shown, by their actions, that they believe government needs to increase its size and its reach, its price tag and its power. Whether sold as 'stimulus' or repackaged as 'investment,' their actions show they want a federal government that controls too much; taxes too much; and spends too much in order to do too much."

Paul Ryan sounds like a man worthy of belonging to the party of Ronald Reagan. Now it is time to follow though!

State of the Union . . . listening to a president playing fast and loose with the facts

2011-01-25T23:37:00.000-06:00

In tonight's State of the Union address to Congress and the nation, Barack Obama put a the best face possible on his policies and proposals. But that's easy to do when you don't worry about being honest. The president's speech tonight was full of fibs. Don't take my word for it, check out what Calvin Woodward at the Associated Press had to say - link here.

Beware of the Wolf

2011-01-24T23:35:00.001-06:00

Ronald Reagan's birthday is approaching. On February 6, the Gipper would have been 100 years old. This pending centennial, apparently, has given USA Today cause to publish tributes from Reagan's admirers, like John Boehner, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, and Ed Meese. Even Sam Donaldson wrote a semi-positive remembrance.

But one tribute has taken me aback. Barack Obama penned this piece lauding the Reagan's leadership and legacy.

Has the ultra-liberal changed his thinking? Has the conservatism embodied by Ronald Reagan broken through and convinced Obama of the errors of his thinking? His philosophy and love of freedom? His view of government and its role in the lives of the American people?

Sadly, I don't think so.

And that brings me to the State of the Union address, which Obama will deliver tomorrow evening to a posturing group of politicians who think that sitting in a chair next to someone you disagree with makes a difference. But the biggest phony of the night will be the one reading the TelePrompTer. Obama, no doubt, will speak of bipartisanship and cooperation. Of moderating our difference and setting a new tone in Washington.

Blah . . . blah . . . blah.

It would be worth ignoring completely if it wasn't so dangerous. Faced with the fact of his policies' huge defeat in November and the power shift in Congress to the GOP, Obama is almost certain to paint himself as a moderate tomorrow night. But do not be fooled. The man lives and breaths liberalism. He's a tax-and-spend Democrat who has done and is doing everything in his power to socialize this country - emphasis now our healthcare system.

Ronald Reagan said "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."

Barack Obama is a far cry from Ronald Reagan. Beware of the wolf in sheep's clothing.

Global Warming Study "seriously flawed"

2011-01-20T00:22:00.001-06:00

Shockingly (sarcasm intended there), "a climate change study that projected a 2.4 degree Celsius increase in temperature and massive worldwide food shortages in the next decade was seriously flawed, scientists said Wednesday." (Link to story here.)

Shockingly (no sarcasm here) these "climate scientists" have admitted that the flaw existed . . . and the media is reporting it.

But, of course, it was just "an honest and common mistake."

Sickening Story

2011-01-20T00:12:00.000-06:00

Use caution before reading the story at this link. It is about a doctor in Philadelphia who operated a "clinic" performing late term abortions in the sixth, seventh, and eighth month of pregnancy. His methods are described in the story as "illegal" and "dangerous." His facility is described as "a filthy, foul-smelling 'house of horrors.'" Conditions were "barbaric."

Dr. Kermit Gosnell has been charged with eight counts of murder. One woman apparently died of an overdose of painkillers while awaiting an abortion. Seven babies, at least, were delivered alive and, then, when even 21st century America knows that it is wrong, killed. The details are in the article.

The story itself, of course, is sickening. What this man, and his employees, did is, of course, horrendous -barbaric - inhuman.

But what sickens me even more is the description of "a typical late-term abortion" that is given in the story for comparison with the murders with which Gosnell has been charged. How on earth can those "typical" procedures be described as anything less than horrendous - barbaric - and inhuman? Yet no other doctor faces charges?

May God forgive us all.

How long did the "new" tone last in Washington?

2011-01-19T23:50:00.003-06:00

Not very long for Democrat Steve Cohen.

The Whimpification of Language

2011-01-17T12:16:00.000-06:00

I remember a commercial from the 1980s featuring L.A. Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser describing pitching as "like climbing a mountain" or "going to battle." Hershiser's use of those analogies (similes?) irritated me at the time (believe it or not, I was more easily irritated back then) and I lashed out in verbal diatribes (since the blog had not yet been invented) whenever the commercial aired and anyone else was in earshot. "Shut up Orel! You've never climbed a mountain! You've never been in battle! How would you know what either one was like?"

So what does this trip down memory lane have to do with 2011? The Arizona shooting spree seems to be taking its toll on the English language, at least as used in public America these days. Apparently, language that when taken in any context as possibly or potentially or maybe-in-the-mind-of-a-sociopath violent is now taboo. Take, for example, House Speaker John Boehner's new way to refer to Obamacare. He used to call it "job killing" but now it is merely "job crushing." (Link to Ben Smith's Politico blog here.)

Apparently, no one is allowed to use the word "killing" in political discourse anymore. Even when it refers to the "death" of inanimate objects or ideas. How, ever, can the wonderfully-named city of Town & Country discuss how to control its rampant deer population? Or what would happen if a researcher today discovered a cure for cancer that "killed" malignant cells? I guess they'd have to "disable" those cells instead. Right?

English is not the most beautiful language in the world. It is certainly not the most logical. But it is certainly colorful. But, in the aftermath of a deranged man's act of violence, the political correctness crowed is trying to scrub some of that color from our language.

If John Boehner had been referring to an "employee killing" piece of legislation, that would be over-the-line. But no person in his or her right mind could possibly believe that a reference to a piece of legislation "killing jobs" is inciting violence. It doesn't even mention violence. How can it be violent to "kill" something that is not physical, not alive.

Now, whatever I can say about the Orel Hershiser commercial, his language was colorful and I still remember it about 25 years later.

Stop watering down our language! Stop making us sound like a bunch of P.C. wimps!

How should the U.S. government attack the deficit?

2011-01-15T15:53:00.000-06:00

CBS News Graphic

The American people are clear in their answer . . . reduce spending, don't raise taxes. That's according to CBS News. Check out the story here. Is anyone at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC listening?

How is this okay?

2011-01-13T11:48:00.002-06:00

That's my question for those accusing Sarah Palin of hate, divisiveness, and vitriol. Don't the posters themselves intentionally serve to enrage people with fear? Justify their violence? More so than Sarah Palin ever has.

These anti-Palin posters are showing up in San Francisco. Link to story here.

Sarah Palin responds to those blaming her for Tucson . . . and does it well

2011-01-12T23:52:00.001-06:00

Sarah Palin: "America's Enduring Strength" from Sarah Palin on Vimeo.

I've got a pool table Albert, you're welcome in my basement anytime.

2011-01-12T00:15:00.000-06:00

Onion SportsDome

Thankfully, I live on the west side of the Mississippi

2011-01-11T23:56:00.001-06:00

The Illinois House of Representatives voted today to raise the state's personal income tax from 3% to 5%. (Link to story here.)

Missouri needs to take a Wisconsin-like approach to this. Wisconsin's governor, Scott Walker (shown here), a Republican, has taken notice of the huge tax increase in a state that borders his - as it does Missouri (for anyone in Jefferson City who might not realize that) - and proposed tax cuts to entice business into his state. (Link to story here.)

The time is now to cut Missouri's personal and business tax rates, or eliminate them entirely. And let the boom begin.

Rest In Peace Major Winters

2011-01-11T00:26:00.000-06:00

Major Richard "Dick" Winters, a World War II hero who was featured in Stephen Ambrose's great book, Band of Brothers, and the HBO miniseries based on that book, died on January 2, near his "quiet piece of land" in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (Link here.)

May he rest in peace. And may his family and friends be comforted by the grace of Jesus Christ.

For any of you who have not see the miniseries, do not hesitate, watch it as soon as possible. It is the best production that I have ever seen on television. Kudos to Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg for that.

For any of you who have not read the book, do not hesitate. It is even better than the miniseries.

The Blame Game

2011-01-11T00:12:00.000-06:00

I spent some time in the car today, much of it listening to talk radio - everything from NPR to KMOX to 97.1. The hot topic this morning was Jared Loughner's Saturday shooting spree. That, of course, is a worthy topic. Thankfully, it is still an unusual and newsworthy event when a man takes out a gun, starts shooting, and kills six random people while injuring fourteen more, including a member of Congress. But folks across the dial weren't content to talk about the news - what happened and what we know. No, the talking heads were aghast over climate of American political rhetoric which they seem to blame for making this Loughner-nut act like the nut he is.

The media's focus today seems to be on Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, and Glenn Beck - blaming them (as the sheriff in Tucson did) for Loughner's actions. Those three, and other conservative voices, are vaguely blamed today and all to often for "divisiveness" or "hatred" or "vitriol" or "negativity". What that really seems to mean, though, is that they disagree with the media, the Democrats, and the folks who currently hold power in Washington, D.C., and want to keep it and acquire more.

Conservative voices are often discussed by their opposition without any reference to specifics. Take criticism spouted by Clarence Dupnik (quoted in the story linked above), the Pima County, Arizona, sheriff investigating the rampage: "The kind of rhetoric that flows from people like Rush Limbaugh, in my judgment he is irresponsible, uses partial information, sometimes wrong information. . . . [Limbaugh] attacks people, angers them against government, angers them against elected officials and that kind of behavior in my opinion is not without consequences."

What, Sheriff Dupnik, did Rush Limbaugh say that caused this nut to go off and start shooting? Did he suggest violence? Have you ever listened to Rush's show? Or have you just heard your friends second-hand criticism of what they think he said? What did he say that was irresponsible?

Limbaugh, Dupnik said, "angers" people against government and elected officials. But anger is not synonymous with violence. Anger, often - usually even, does not result in violence. What is wrong with anger in the context of political discourse? Nothing, of course.

Anger channeled to violence is wrong. But political rhetoric is not responsible for doing that particular wrong. Certainly not in this case.

Jared Loughner is - to the best of my barely informed knowledge - nuts. And Jared Loughner (or possibly his mental illness) is responsible for his actions.

Sanity and Respect for the U.S. Constitution return to Washington . . . Washington, Missouri, that is

2011-01-05T00:19:00.005-06:00

Kudos to Washington, Missouri. The Franklin County municipality has voted to drop red-light cameras as soon as the city's contract with the (for-profit) company that installed and operates the devices. (Link to story here.)

So, what's the reason? They don't, and didn't, prevent accidents.

Hooray for reality and the Constitution winning one for a change!

Unreasonable Search and Seizure Okayed in California

2011-01-05T00:06:00.001-06:00

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath and affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." So says the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Keep that in mind when reading this story from the San Francisco Chronicle. The story arises at the confluence of modern technology and the Fourth Amendment. It seems that every human being on the planet these days is carrying a cell phone. Typically one that does much more than make and receive telephone calls. Modern "smart" phones contain schedules, photos, video, financial documentation or access to such information, contact lists, call histories, text and data files, music, and much, much more. So what happens to those cell phones when a police officer confiscates it upon request. In California at least, the police can seize it and search its contents, without any limit.

That ability has passed constitutional muster at the California Supreme Court. Dissenting Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar aptly declared that "the decision allows police 'to rummage at leisure through the wealth of personal and business information that can be carried on a mobile phone or handheld computer merely because the device was taken from an arrestee's person.'"

It is patently, unambiguously, and ridiculously unreasonable for police to search the entire contents of a person's cellular phone or computer without warrant upon an arrest for jaywalking - or anything else for that matter.

Look, I'm no ACLU liberal - and I doubt I've ever before been accused of that. I don't believe that a drug dealer's Blackberry is sacrosanct. However, I do believe in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. If the police arrest a bad guy, and he's got a cell phone which likely has specific incriminating evidence on it, no problem. Get a warrant! Then have at it. Without probable cause and a warrant, however, the police need to keep their nose out of folks "effects".

Thankfully, the California decision is not binding nationwide. In fact, the Ohio Supreme Court issued a decision just over a year ago that reached the opposite conclusion. The issue is now quite likely to wind up at the U.S. Supreme Court. Keep your fingers crossed that the men and women in black robes will do their job and defend the Constitution whenever that time comes.

President Fiat strikes again

2010-12-29T23:58:00.000-06:00

Following up on yesterday's post, the Obama administration is once again committing to rule by decree . . . here's the lead paragraphs from this story from FoxNews.com:

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- After failing to get climate change legislation through Congress, the Obama administration plans on pushing through its environmental policies through other means, and Republicans are ready to put up a fight.

On Jan. 2, new carbon emissions limits will be put forward as the Environmental Protection Agency prepares regulations that would force companies to get permits to release [so-called - SLC] greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

Who cares if Americans don't want it? So what if Congress rejected this job-killing baloney. King Obama will just do it anyway by executive fiat.

Whatever happened to separation of powers? I guess they don't teach about that in Indonesian (or, apparently, even Hawaiian) grade schools.

The Ghost of "Christmas" Past

2010-12-28T23:47:00.002-06:00

I happened to drive past a St. Louis County auto dealership today and noticed three signs. One said "Happy Hanukkah". Another said "Happy Kwanzaa". And then, the third, said . . . what would you think? "Merry Christmas" maybe? Just a sales staff covering all bases - that might make some sense. But no, the third sign was the now ubiquitous "Happy Holidays"!

"Happy Holidays" has become the omnipresent, politically correct greeting for December. Stores don't have "Christmas" sales but "Holiday" sales. The word Christmas has become taboo in America. National reporters even apologize for using the term.

Now the PC-police removing "Christmas" from public places is bad enough, but "Christmas" is being removed from our private lives too . . . without many noticing. Over 1/3 of the "Christmas cards" that my family received this year did not mention "Christmas" at all. And only about 1/3 of the cards that mentioned "Christmas" actually had anything to do with the story of Christmas. The rest were about Santa and snowmen and presents.

What is happening? Why is it not okay to remember that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ? Why is it frowned upon to be a Christian and publicly celebrate a Christian holiday?

Jews stand up for Hanukkah. African-Americans even stand up for Kwanzaa. And it has remained okay to talk about both.

It is time for Christians to stand up for Christmas. In 2011, please, join me and boot the generic and oh-so-politically correct "Happy Holidays" and wish the world a Merry Christmas instead.

And, oh yeah, Happy New Year too.

Spending like nobody's ever spent before . . .

2010-12-28T23:03:00.002-06:00

From this story at CNSNews.com . . .

The federal government has accumulated more new debt--$3.22 trillion ($3,220,103,625,307.29)-during the tenure of the 111th Congress [that's this one, folks, the Pelosi-Reid Congress with Obama in the White House] than it did during the first 100 Congresses combined, according to official debt figures pulished by the U.S. Treasury.
. . .
The total national debt of $13,858,529,371,601.09 (or $13.859 trillion), as recorded by the U.S. Treasury at the close of business on Dec. 22, now equals $44,886.57 for every man, woman and child in the United States.
. . .
This Congress also outstripped its nearest competitor, the 110th, by an astounding $1.262 trillion in new debt.

President Fiat

2010-12-28T22:42:00.000-06:00

It comes as no surprise that one American president, South American that is, has embraced the power to rule by decree. That president is Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. (Link to story here.) But at least Hugo waited until his country's legislature officially gave him that power.

In North America, a president is ruling by executive decree and bureaucratic fiat as well. Of course, that president is the United States' own Barack Obama. Here are two recent examples . . .

#1: Remember the brouhaha over "Death Panels" originally included in the monstrous bill that brought us (or is bringing us) Obamacare. Without rehashing the details, suffice it to say that at the very least Obama and the majority of the Dems wanted end-of-life planning included in patients' government funded annual checkups. Pro-Life conservatives opposed and won the battle. The provision was removed before Obamacare passed.

But winning the battle is not winning the war. The death panels are back. The Obama administration has simply issued a new Medicare regulation enacting them. (Link to story here.) So much for the will of Congress. So much for the will of the people expressed through their representatives in a representative democracy.

But one is not enough . . .

#2: "Net neutrality." The Obama-controlled Federal Communications Commission has decided to jump into the field of internet communications and regulate those communications as it does television and radio. To date, standing alone, the reasons and the proposed regulations may even seem innocuous. But the fact of the matter is, the government regulating the free flow of information on the only communication outlet not controlled by the political left wing in America should cause some pause.

Now, certainly in a representative democracy, the will of the people on this issue should matter, right? Certainly our elected representatives in Congress would be the ones to determine whether or not a new field should be opened to government regulation, right?

Not in Barack Obama's America. Nope. Congress passed no law unleashing the hounds of the FCC on the internet. And, according to this Rasmussen poll, just 21% of American voters want government regulation of anything on the internet. A majority opposes such regulation in favor of a free market.

Welcome to America. You and I are the great unwashed. What you think doesn't matter - at least to President Fiat. He knows best. The great father looking out for us from the mountaintop. So he thinks.

The upcoming regime change in 2012 (actually January 20, 2013) can't come fast enough.

2010-12-19T22:15:00.000-06:00

2010-12-15T21:27:00.000-06:00

Have you ever seen such a rush to avoid representative democracy?

2010-12-14T23:31:00.000-06:00

Last time I checked, the American people decided to kick a bunch of Democrats out of Washington. The election was in November but the losers remain in office until January. That's the way it works. Every two years there is a lame duck session of Congress. But not every lame duck session tries to ram through legislation to enact the policy ideas that got those lame ducks fired in the first place. This one, however, seems to be doing just that. (Link to story here.)

The soon-to-be minority (at least in the House of Representatives) Democrats have pushed on "Don't ask - Don't tell." They've pushed on the so-called DREAM Act. And they've pushed on tax increases among other things.

Now, they've unveiled a $1.2 trillion (yes, that is with a "T") spending bill. It includes $8 billion in earmarks.

Certain issues, do, of course, need to be dealt with immediately and cannot wait for the new congressmen and women to take their seats in January - like taking definitive action to prevent the coming January 1 tax increase for all taxpayers.

On the other hand, most of the issues being raised by the Democrats are being raised now simply because they have no hope of passage when the breath of fresh air arrives (and takes over) in January.

But isn't Congress elected to do the will of the people? Apparently, Democrats don't think so.

Why elections matter . . .

2010-12-12T23:48:00.001-06:00

Meet Joe Pitts (R-Penn.). With the G.O.P. takeover of the House of Representatives coming in January, he will be the new chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. (Link to story here.) According to the National Right to Life Committee, Congressman Pitts has "made protection of the sanctity of innocent human life the cornerstone of his service in the House." And, even more impressive, a VP of the euphemistically-named Planned Parenthood Federation of America described Pitts as "as anti-choice as a member of Congress can be." That's good enough for me.

What "Planned Parenthood" is saying, in their typical doublespeak spin, is that Joe Pitts is Pro-Life. He won't support legalized infanticide and will do everything in his power to eradicate abortion or, at the very least, prevent your money and mine - taxpayer money, the only kind that the government has - from funding the wanton slaughter of children.

This is why we vote for Republicans. Now let us all hope and pray that with (some) power they can make a difference.

Too Close for Comfort

2010-12-09T23:39:00.000-06:00

The radical Islamist regime in control of Iran and the radical Communist regime in control of Venezuela have a common foe - us - and have become fast friends. So far, the friendship of these two states has been a nuisance but it is about to become downright dangerous.

According to this article, Die Welt, a German newspaper, has reported that "Iran is planning to place medium range missiles on Venezuelan soil." Iran will be building a military base in Venezuela and placing sort and medium range missiles there. "If a missile base can be opened in Venezuela, many US cities will be able to be reached."

The United States faced a similar threat in 1962. Lloyd Benson once said, famously, that Dan Quayle was no Jack Kennedy. Is Barack Obama?

Deal or No Deal

2010-12-09T23:14:00.001-06:00

No deal. Link here for details.

Or deal. Link here for possible new deal.

Unless there is a deal, your taxes will be going up in January. And you'll have the lame duck Democrat Congress to thank for that.

If that happens, I have a suggestion for the incoming GOP majority . . . House Bill #2* should be an immediate and retroactive reinstatement of the Bush tax cuts, with no additional spending attached. If Obama and the shrunken Dem majority in the Senate want to block that bill, be my guest.

(*HB #2 only because HB #1 is already spoken for . . . repeal of Obamacare.)

Kudos to D.C. . . . deja vu edition . . . sort of

2010-12-06T23:15:00.002-06:00

It appears that the GOP victories in November have given Barack Obama a new perspective. Tonight, an agreement has been reached to extend the Bush tax cuts. (Link to story here.) This was, by far, the most important thing on the agenda for the lame duck Congress. I suppose, technically, it is still on their agenda but I can't really see the Congressional Dems blocking their president's compromise. Failure to extend the tax cuts (a.k.a. a massive tax increase) would be a massive blow to the American economy. Washington, on this one, isn't failing. Thankfully.

Surprisingly, Obama's also seen the wisdom of cutting taxes. Apparently included in the deal is a cut of 2% from the Social Security payroll tax . . . from 6.2% to 4.2%. Wow. FICA's going to be taking less of our money. I can get behind that idea.

Now, the deal far from perfect. The Bush tax cuts are only being extended 2 years - so we'll have this fight again in the lame duck session of the 2012 Congress. And, the payroll tax cut is temporary too.

There are extensions of some tax credit programs too. I don't know enough about the specifics of those to comment (sorry, I just don't have the time).

But long-term unemployment benefits were extended for an additional 13 months as well. How working American taxpayers can continue to pay Americans who are not working for 99 weeks? That's just four weeks short of TWO YEARS folks . . . TWO YEARS! There's no money - but we're paying people to sit at home and watch Oprah or Days of Our Lives.

Enough, eventually, has to be enough.

But allow the criticism to wait for a little while. Take the deal and smile. Enjoy the boost in your paycheck. Spend it. And let's create an actual recovery.

Drawing the line on Political Correctness

2010-11-30T23:48:00.001-06:00

There's a big day coming up on December 25. Americans are in a festive mood. Some cities, even, are celebrating with parades - tradition, you see. But tradition is under attack by the forces of political correctness. See, for example, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Apparently, Tulsa, for years, has hosted the "Christmas Parade of Lights." But not anymore. Instead, they are holding the "Holiday Parade of Lights." (Just what holiday could that be? I wonder.)

Enough already. If a city wants to throw a Hanukkah Parade, be my guest. If a city wants to throw a Kwanzaa Parade, have at it. What the heck - if a city wants to throw a Festivus for the Rest of Us , go for it.

But by the same token, if the folks in Tulsa want to have a Christmas Parade, the easily offended and their "do-gooder" sympathizers should get out of the way.

Oklahoma Republican Senator Jim Inhofe, the former mayor of Tulsa who participated in the parade for years, has drawn a line. He refused to participate last year and won't again this year, or ever, until Christ is again recognized as the reason for the celebration. (Link to story here.)

Well done Senator Inhofe. Keep up the fight.

You gotta love the House . . . thankfully the gavel will be passed in January

2010-11-30T23:24:00.004-06:00

Obama loses his base

2010-11-23T22:42:00.002-06:00

Link to story here.

Election Reflections . . . belated edition

2010-11-22T21:51:00.002-06:00

Well, it has become clear for all to see - including me - that anyone depending on a regular blog fix should look elsewhere. However, if you want to read something good once in a while, stay tuned. I promise not to go away (Lord willing and the creek don't rise) without telling you all that I'm gone.

So here we go, belatedly, with SLC's reflections on the November elections. I haven't been so happy with an election result since 1994. This was, of course, an even bigger victory. (Though I must admit that my mood was even better in 1994 for two reasons . . . that one came as more of a surprise but, more importantly, it was because I heard the results on CNN while on vacation in Spain.)

In January, Republicans will take a decisive majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and a significant minority in the Senate. In the Missouri General Assembly, the GOP has an overwhelming numbers advantage.

It is time to lay the the groundwork both in our state and nationally but anyone who wants real change needs to take a look at the Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City and the White House. There are still significant stumbling blocks in the persons of Jay Nixon and Barack Obama. Keep 2012 in your sights.

In the meantime, Roy Blunt and the other Republicans given our trust and sent to Washington have to draw a line on spending. The government must realize that we're broke and start cutting the budget in real ways. It won't be easy but it must be done. If the Democrats won't go along, that's their choice. Let them defend a government shutdown caused by their insistence on borrowing more money and adding it to our children's and grandchildren's tab, or printing it and devaluing the dollar.

Republicans in Washington must also target Obamacare. All of it. Repeal the monstrosity. Only then will we be in a position to negotiate substantial but incremental, reasoned, and conservative changes to America's healthcare system. Changes that would improve the private system rather than scrap it entirely and replace it with a Socialist single-payer government behemoth. A repeal of Obamacare should be the first one passed by the new House. And its repeal should be tacked onto other bills sent to the president's desk. Again . . . and again . . . and again. Let Obama be responsible for veto after veto if he must.

The Jeff City Republicans have a chance to make a real difference too. I heard Arthur Laffer on KMOX a while back, talking about a proposal to repeal Missouri's income tax in favor of a new, and surprisingly low, sales tax (coupled with refunds to cover the tax on purchase of necessities). Slashing income taxes would likely draw business like pigs on . . . well, you know.

And, I read in Sunday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch about another pro-Missouri jobs measure that will be pushed by GOP in the General Assembly . . . the Right to Work. Simply put, passing a Right to Work bill would prevent labor unions from automatically deducting or taking (some might say stealing) money from non-members paychecks and workplaces covered by union contracts. It sure seems like a good idea to me.

So, here's to the GOP for the next two years and beyond. Push the agenda to save America and build Missouri. If you can't get everything you want, get what you can. But don't settle. 2012 is not too far away.

Congratulations!

2010-11-02T19:34:00.004-05:00

Senator-elect Roy Blunt
Missouri

Senator-elect Rand Paul
Kentucky

Senator-elect Marco Rubio
Florida

Senator-elect Ron Johnson
Wisconsin

Senator-elect Mark Kirk
Illinois

Don't forget to vote!

2010-11-01T22:47:00.000-05:00

And vote Republican. Posterity will thank you.

Sam Bradford . . . a good sport

2010-10-27T21:50:00.001-05:00

The Rams QB donned a Mizzou jersey today, paying off a bet with his formal rival, Mizzou alum Danario Alexander following Oklahoma's loss to the Tigers on Saturday. (Link to story here.)

The Nation's Village Idiot . . . a.k.a. Joe Biden

2010-10-26T23:12:00.000-05:00

According to the Vice President, "every single great idea that has marked the 21st century, the 20th century and the 19th century has required government vision and government incentive."

Every single great idea since 1800 . . . every single great idea for 210 years . . .

Does he really believe that Henry Ford's assembly line came about because of Washington's vision instead of his own capitalistic ingenuity?

Bill Gates wrote BASIC because of a government stimulus program?

The Frisbee? Rock and Roll? Fantasy football?

And this guy is next-in-line for the presidency.

But there's something deeper to learn from the Village Idiot's latest random thought . . . this is the way many, many, powerful Democrats think . . . we can't (and don't) live without government intervention, without the government taking care of us, without our "betters," the ruling class in Washington, running our lives for us.

Individuality is at stake. The time is here to remove Democrats from power as soon as elections allow.

NATO making a deal with the devil?

2010-10-26T22:53:00.000-05:00

Word today that the United States and NATO have apparently agreed to "cooperate" with Russia and seem to be accepting Russia's permanent occupation of the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions of the sovereign nation of Georgia, which the Bear invaded two years ago. In exchange, Soviet-er-Russian helicopters will, once again be fighting in Afghanistan. (Anybody remember Rambo III?)

Have we made a deal with the devil?

"Clear Frontrunner"

2010-10-25T22:01:00.000-05:00

After months of campaigning, Roy Blunt remains "the clear frontrunner" in Missouri's race for the U.S. Senate. In fact, according to the latest poll from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and KMOV, Blunt's lead is extending. (Link to P.D. story here.)

Only eight days to go until the biggest, most-important mid-term election in the nation's history. Let's hope November 2, 2010, is the day America pulls back from the brink of Euro-style Socialism.

Keep the pressure on Roy!

Catching up . . .

2010-10-11T15:37:00.000-05:00

I clipped a couple of articles from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch last week and didn't find the time to write about them. Thinking that I would have time, I didn't bother to note the date that the article appeared either so I apologize for no links. But each article bothered me.

The first article was headlined "Stimulus payment sent to the dead, imprisoned." According to the Associated Press story, $18,000,000.00 in "stimulus" payments were sent by the federal government to 72,000 dead people last year. 72,000! See, you don't need to worry about Washington bureaucrats running the entire American healthcare system. They're efficient and on-the-ball!

The second article (also from the AP) contained the positive-spin headline "TARP repayments help cut deficit slightly." Yet the year's budget deficit remains, get this, "a little under $1.3 trillion [YES, TRILLION - WITH A "T"]." But here's the kicker . . . "that means the government borrowed 37 cents out of every dollar it spent." Who is going to pay that back? Obama? Pelosi? Or you, me, and our kids and grandkids?

Why can't Sergey Brin, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates just get along?

2010-10-11T15:22:00.000-05:00

Or, more directly, why can't Google's "Blogger," my Apple computers at home, and the PC world just get along? What do I mean, well, 3 of my last 4 posts were rather dependent on embedded videos. Without those videos, they just don't make much sense. And, much to my surprise, the videos aren't viewable if you've got a PC. They're there and working fine on my Macbook and iMac. So, from now on, I'm going to try to provide a link to the videos that I post. If you can't view it on my site, follow the links.

Sorry for any confusion to the blogosphere.

Why is Roy Blunt smiling?

2010-10-06T20:47:00.003-05:00

Because according to the latest poll (this one from CNN and Time Magazine) he's beating Robin Carnahan by 13 points.

Does anybody know what happened to $162 million of our money???

2010-10-06T20:40:00.000-05:00

The federal government doesn't. "Recipients of 352 federal [so-called] stimulus contracts, grants and loans have failed to report how they spent the money, the status of their projects or how many jobs were funded, according to the Office of Management and Budget." Those 352 payouts are totaled $162,000,000.00 of our money. Poof! Gone!

And the Democrats want more stimulus. Vote them all out in November. Every one you can.

(Link to story here.)

Where's my Stimulus?

2010-10-05T22:03:00.000-05:00

Equal time for the Carnahans

2010-10-05T22:00:00.001-05:00

Chuckles from 24th State .

Fox News Poll Shows Blunt by 8

2010-10-05T21:51:00.000-05:00

Despite Robin Carnahan's efforts (if standing in a cow pen and propping up cardboard cutouts of her opponent, Barack Obama, and Nancy Pelosi can be considered "efforts"), Roy Blunt has a commanding 8 point lead in the latest poll from Fox News.

That's the headline. And it is great news. But there is even better news in the poll results. Missouri is breaking conservative!

58% of Missourians disapprove of Obama's performance as president (and 53% believe that Carnahan agrees with Obama too often).

A whopping 40% are "angry" about "the way the federal government is working." Another 29% are "dissatisfied."

58% (again) want Obamacare repealed (while only 35% want to keep it in place).

And 51% of Missourians "support the Tea Party movement."

If this is what big media considers a "battleground" state, it is going to be a great November.

Rupert Murdoch and the Oxymoron

2010-10-01T00:02:00.000-05:00

Today, Rupert Murdoch testified on Capitol Hill in favor of immigration "reform." (Link to story here.)

He was right in stating his belief that "All Americans should have a vital interest in fixing our broken immigration system so we can continue to compete in the 21st Century global economy."

He was right to support "complete and proper closure of all our borders to future illegal immigrants."

But he lost me when he called for amnesty under the popular euphemism - "a path to citizenship" - to be given to "responsible, law-abiding immigrants who are in the U.S. today without proper authority."

Anybody else spot the problem in that statement? Anybody who didn't?

"Immigrants who are in the U.S. today without proper authority" are, by definition, NOT "law-abiding."

Real reform of the immigration system is necessary, yesterday. But since we can't turn back the clock, let's start by sealing the borders now and sending home as many of those law-breaking immigrants who are in the U.S. today without proper authority as possible.

Even Ziggy knows the inevitable truth about Obamacare

2010-09-30T09:33:00.002-05:00

September 29, 2010

And Obama's new political advisor is . . .

2010-09-28T22:15:00.000-05:00

Michael Dukakis. (Link to story here.)

Why should I vote for Republicans across the board in 2010?

2010-09-23T20:44:00.000-05:00

Here's the answer . . .

Or, at least it is the preamble to the answer. Check out this link and download the entire plan. Judge for yourself . . . do you want to vote for the current status quo in Washington . . . or Republicans who take A Pledge to America.

The time is now for the people to take back Washington. GOP in 2010.

Up, Up, and Away . . . taxes that is

2010-09-23T20:25:00.000-05:00

In what should come as a shock to no one, but may actually shock some of you "moderates" and "independents" who fell under the spell of Obamamania in 2008 and created the current one-party federal government in Washington, the Democrats are raising taxes on "almost everyone." Yes, indeed. I'm not kidding. If Congress doesn't pass a bill to keep taxes at their current levels by the end of 2010 yet the Democrats who possess overwhelming majorities (for now) in both houses of Congress have "abandoned plans to vote before Election Day" on the issue. (Link to story here.)

That leaves your wallet in the hands of a lame duck session that will still be led by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. In other words, don't hold your breath.

Where have you gone????

2010-09-23T20:09:00.002-05:00

Nowhere really. Just busy. Tired. Etc.

So, here's the deal. I started this blog to get things off my chest. If it draws readers, great. If not, well, I still need to get things off my chest. So, if you like what you see, check back from time to time. There might be something new. No promises, though, I'm still busy, tired, etc.

A question for Stephen Hawking

2010-09-03T07:43:00.002-05:00

According to physicist Stephen Hawking, God did not create the Universe. "Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing." It is "because there is a law such as gravity, the Universe can and will create itself from nothing." (Link here.)

But here's my question for Professor Hawking . . . why is there a law such as gravity? Who created it?

Crystal Ball says . . . Republicans take the House of Representatives in November and may take the Senate too!

2010-09-02T23:11:00.001-05:00

Get out your crystal balls. Not just any crystal balls, though, only the new "Crystal Ball" prediction from the "typically cautious [so says U.S. News & World Report] Larry Sabato, head of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics." Sabato says that the GOP has a "good chance to win the House by picking up as many as 47 seats, net." (Link to U.S. News report here.) Republicans only need a gain of 40 for a majority.

Honestly, in my opinion, it would take massive complacency, fraud, or a big October/November surprise to keep the House in Democrats' hands.

But the real news is in the Sabato's Senate predictions where, to gain control, Republicans need a net gain of 10 seats. 9 would split the Senate down the middle but vice president Joe Biden could break the tie in favor of the Democrats. And gaining 10 seats when only 19 seats currently held by Democrats are up for election is a tall order but according to Sabato:

"In the Senate, we now believe the GOP will do a bit better than our long-time prediction of +7 seats. Republicans have an outside shot at winning full control (+10), but are more likely to end up with +8 (or maybe +9, at which point it will be interesting to see how senators such as Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, and others react). . . . The inescapable conclusion is that the Senate is on the bubble, with only a slight lean at Labor Day toward Democratic retention."

So, why should we care about Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball? According to U.S. News, "Sabato has a near flawless record of accurate predictions."

Don't count any chickens yet. Don't get complacent. Don't start infighting.

Fuel up the GOP bandwagon and push for a Republican rout in November.

In Missouri, that means Roy Blunt! Roy Blunt! Roy Blunt!

For those of you reading from across the river in Illinois, it means Mark Kirk! Mark Kirk! Mark Kirk!

THE most important thing that you can do for your country in 2010 is vote Republican on November 2. I can't say that enough.

stltoday.com covering for Robin Carnahan?

2010-09-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to the story. Note that the story covers a blunder by the Missouri Secretary of State and the headline correctly lambasts the "error." But, just who is the blundering, error-prone Secretary of State? Don't look to the story, the answer isn't in there. It is Robin Carnahan . . . the Democrat's candidate for U.S. Senate. stltoday.com and its parent, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, apparently don't want to call attention to that fact . . . but I will . . .

Robin Carnahan's office made "a counting error" and "nearly left a qualified independent candidate for State Senate off the November ballot."

"Little evidence" for Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's global warming claims.

2010-08-31T21:17:00.001-05:00

So says the InterAcademy Counsel. (Link here.)

Who do you believe, the IPCC or the IAC? The guys who claimed that the Himalayan glaciers would melt by 2035 or the guys who didn't?

Either way, their ain't no consensus!

(By the way, I know that was grammatically incorrect. Allow me a little poetic license, okay?)

Recycle Government - Gateway to November

2010-08-31T21:04:00.000-05:00

The "Tea Party" is coming to the Arch grounds in St. Louis on September 12, 2010. For details, click here or here. Make plans to come on out and show your support for limited government.

Obama administration advocating "reeducation"

2010-08-30T19:23:00.000-05:00

From Steven Portnoy at ABC News: Since Americans haven't embraced the healthcare reform blunder know as Obamacare, "Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the Obama administration has 'a lot of reeducation to do' heading into the midterm [elections]." (Link here.)

Now, I'm sure, Secretary Sebelius didn't know what "reeducation" really means in the 20th and 21st century. Of course not.

Another congressional Democrat in ethical trouble

2010-08-30T14:45:00.000-05:00

And, in other shocking news, the sun rose in the east this morning and is on track to set in the west this evening. (Link to story here.)

Not-so-shockingly, Post-Dispatch editorial is way off base

2010-08-25T12:32:00.000-05:00

I rarely read the local newspaper's editorial page. Why bother? I suspect that most St. Louisans could predict the Post-Dispatch's editorial position quite easily by reviewing the daily talking points from the Democratic National Committee and leaning a bit to the left. However, for some reason, today's lead editorial, which was headlined "President Pariah" caught my eye.

This editorial criticises Robin Carnahan for keeping her distance from Barack Obama and his policy "achievements" and advocates embracing the president's policies. No surprise there, and nothing really remarkable. But the piece continues and argues that "Ms. Carnahan . . . should be hammering on the fact that today's economic woes, record deficits, and record income disparity between the rich and the rest of America are in large part a function of decisions made on the Republicans' watch over the last 10 years: $2.1 trillion in tax cuts, a trillion dollars worth of wars conducted off the books and $373 billion in unfunded Medicare expansion."

This, of course, is right out of the old Democrat playbook . . . blame George W. Bush. And, you know what, I agree. President Bush and the Republicans spent too much when they were in power. True. No doubt about it. But lets take a look at the approximately $3.5 trillion in spending that the Post chooses to cite - not to discuss the merits of tax cuts, or the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, or the expansion of Medicare (which it would surprise me if the Post didn't endorse at the time) - but in comparison with the levels of spending since the Democrats have captured the White House.

The facts are this, from the time that George W. Bush took office in 2001 until he left in January of 2010, the national debt increased by $4,899,100,310,609. That's roughly $4.9 trillion. That's bad, no doubt about it, but President Bush was in office for eight years. Barack Obama has been in office for only 19 months. In those 19 months, the national debt has already increased by another $2,736,401,236,918. That's worse - and by a substantial margin.

During the Bush administration, the national debt increased at a rate of $1.68 billion per day. But in the first 579 days of the Obama administration, the national debt has increased at a rate of $4.73 billion per day. Almost $5 billion per day!

When it comes to government spending, the Democrats are Barry Bonds and the Republicans are Jack Clark. It is disingenuous for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to criticize the spending record of George W. Bush and the Republican Party yet advocate embracing Obamaism.

I would give Robin Carnahan credit for running away from Obama if I believed that her run was anything more than a desperate and deceitful ploy in an election campaign. But, alas, that's exactly what it is.

Blunt's lead widening

2010-08-24T23:49:00.001-05:00

Check out the latest Rasmussen poll showing Roy Blunt leading Robin Carnahan in Missouri's Senate race by 11 percentage points, 51-40.

Don't get complacent folks, but the wheels seem to be falling off the Carnahan bandwagon.

Did anybody have a have a child in 2010?

2010-08-24T23:38:00.000-05:00

I did. And, according to the Congressional Budget Office, she's already in debt . . . big time . . . and its getting worse. For full details, link here, but here are some lowlights:

The personal share of America's public debt for each child born this year is $29,178.00.

On their tenth birthdays, in 2020, their share of the debt will have risen to $49,694.00.

By the time most of them graduate from high school, in 2028, each of those children's debt share will be $80,650.00.

When these kids reach age 30, their share of the federal government's debt will be $166,500.00.

And, get this, "if government spending is not immediately restrained, our nation's public debt is projected to increase from $9.1 trillion in 2010 to $122.8 trillion by 2050. As a result, when children born today reach 40 years old, their share of the U.S. public debt will be $279,738--an increase of 859 percent above what it is today. For a family of four, the total household debt share would be approximately $1.119 million."

Sorry baby.

Another reason to keep this blog anonymous . . .

2010-08-23T23:24:00.000-05:00

Link here.

Robin who?

2010-08-23T23:18:00.000-05:00

Powerful national Democrats were in St. Louis this weekend. Robin Carnahan appeared with none of them. (The photo above is from 2009.)

And when those powerful Democrats spoke, in Missouri, where Carnahan is involved in a hot and extremely important U.S. Senate race, none of them mentioned her name. Not Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, not DNC chairman Tim Kaine, not Vice President Joe Biden. (Tony Messenger noticed . . . link here .)

Why not? Because Robin Carnahan is pretending that she's not like Sebelius, or Kaine, or Biden, or their leader, Barack Obama. It is an illusion. Let's not be fooled. Robin Carnahan is a rubber stamp waiting to happen. Whether she appears with the liberal Democrats of Washington or not . . . she's one of them.

Federal Judge blocks federal funds for destruction of human embryos . . . for now

2010-08-23T22:47:00.001-05:00

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth has issued a preliminary injunction stopping the Obama administration's policy allowing the National Institutes of Health to fund embryonic stem cell research on new cell lines, a.k.a. experimentation on newly slaughtered children. (Link to story here .)

Kudos to you Judge Lamberth. But, his ruling is not final and whatever final ruling the judge makes is subject to appeal.

Nevertheless, this is good news, at least for the time being.

.gov equals .propaganda

2010-08-18T12:25:00.001-05:00

The Obama administration is abusing its power and mis-using government resources including Recovery.gov and HealthReform.gov for dissemination of politial propaganda. So says Representative Darrell Issa (R-California). Issa produced a 37-page report documenting abuses of those websites. (Link to story here.)

Such abuses, of course, come as no surprise to any observer of the current crop of Democrats in Washington. (And isn't that a sad commentary on the state of the country?)

The truth is this . . . nothing, not a single word that comes from the mouth (or website) of anyone associated with the current regime can be taken at face value. It's all spin.

Doubt it all. Doubt them all. And do all you can rid the government of every Democrat you can in November.

It is time to change the Fourteenth Amendment

2010-08-08T22:42:00.002-05:00

Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution begins . . .

All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States . . .

That language, and court cases interpreting it since the late 1800s, has granted American citizenship to anyone born within the borders of the United States, whether the parents of the child are present legally or not. As you might imagine, birthright citizenship has created quite an incentive for foreign nationals to be here when children are born. Reports are that at least 60,000 babies are born to illegal immigrants every year - in Texas alone. (Link here.) That's 60,000 feet (120,000 feet, technically) blocking the door from hitting the lawbreaking parents' rear-ends on their way out of the country since it is much more difficult (if not impossible) to deport the illegal immigrant parents of U.S. citizen infants. And we sure can't deport the babies.

I'm for a robust, vibrant, and big-hearted LEGAL immigration system (coupled with real enforcement of immigration laws and sending those folks who are here illegally home, post haste). But birthright citizenship, as it now stands, is out of hand. The fix is simple, though the way complex . . .

The time has come to amend the beginning of the Fourteenth Amendment to read:

All persons born in the United States to a legal resident mother or father and all persons naturalized in the United States are citizens of the United States . . .

The quest revisit the notion of birthright citizenship is gaining some traction. (Link to story here.) The time has come.

Happy Birthday Barack and Robin!

2010-08-04T15:03:00.000-05:00

Did you know today was Barack Obama's birthday? And Robin Carnahan's? Both are 49 years old today.

With only the best of intentions (and not to not-so-subtly highlight that Obama and Carnahan are two peas in the same pod), the Missouri Republican Party delivered a birthday cake to Robin Carnahan's Clayton office today. (As reported by Jake Wagman at stltoday.com - link here.)

Obama spends $700,000.00 of OUR MONEY to convince America that Obamacare is a good idea

2010-08-04T14:29:00.000-05:00

If the cost of Obamacare wasn't high enough already, the federal government is spending $700,000.00 on nationwide television advertising featuring Andy Griffith to convince you that you really should like it. (Link to story here.)

Yes, your federal government, is spending money again - even more money that it doesn't have. And a few hundred thousand dollars may not seem like much these days, but it is, again, and this is important, hundreds of thousands of dollars that the government doesn't have - on top of hundreds of billions or trillions to be spent on Obamacare.

Matlock won't be able to convince the American people that this is a good idea. And, even liberals supporting this fiasco ought to realize, $700,000.00 can't buy enough lipstick for this pig.

Proposition C . . . a message to Barack Obama and the Democrats

2010-08-03T22:41:00.000-05:00

Missouri's Proposition C, purportedly allowing Missourians to "opt out" of Obamacare's mandatory healthcare coverage provisions, is passing with overwhelming numbers. (Link here.)

Legally, that probably won't matter as federal law will preempt the new state law but that wasn't the point of Proposition C. The point was to send a clear message to the advocates of the Democrats' healthcare "reform" package that was wheeled, dealed, and lied into law earlier this year. Consider the message sent.

But, unfortunately, I doubt that the intended audience is listening. How long has it been since the Democrats in Washington gave a [darn] about what us common folk out in the country thought? Have they ever? I don't see much evidence that Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi or their ilk are very concerned about what we think.

I am curious to see if the message gets through closer to home. What will the Democrats' newly-minted nominee for the U.S. Senate say about Obamacare now that the voters she's courting have spoken with such a loud voice?

I'm curious but that's about all. Robin Carnahan is an Obamite, through and through. Whatever she says now, she'll be saying to get elected. If elected, she'll be a rubber stamp for the Obama agenda. (For fun, check out this link.)

Seriously, the elections this November matter - a great deal. Missouri needs Roy Blunt. America needs Roy Blunt.

I can't say it enough. And I'll be saying it often for the next three months.

"Let's remember, our rights and our privileges flow from our creator and not from our member of Congress."

2010-08-02T23:18:00.000-05:00

-Tim Pawlenty, in Iowa this weekend. (Link here.)

Maybe somebody should tell Elena Kagan.

It's full steam ahead on embryonic stem cell trials in humans!

2010-07-30T23:24:00.003-05:00

Despite the fact that the use of embryonic stem cells in animals has raised health concerns for the recipients of the treatment . . .

Despite the fact that the use of adult stem cells in humans is already treating human disease without those health concerns . . .

Despite the fact that harvesting embryonic stem cells requires the death and destruction of a live, growing, human fetus . . .

And despite the fact that scientists are concerned the company proposing the trial hasn't done the requisite animal testing . . .

Barack Obama's Food and Drug Administration has approved an application for a clinical trial injecting cells derived from aborted children into other human beings. (Link to story here .)

Why the rush?

Abortion advocates, like Obama and most (if not all) Democrats, are on the wrong side of the moral debate. And they know it.

They're desperately seeking to plant the "necessity" of killing babies to cure disease into the American psyche. They're rushing embryonic stem cell research because they can't afford to have ethically-derived, adult stem cells curing all the diseases reserved as "moral" justification for aborting children.

This is making me sick.

Won't - Can't - Then who will?

2010-07-28T22:51:00.000-05:00

The government of the United States won't guard our national borders, enforce our immigration laws, and protect America from the scourge of illegal immigration.

State governments, at least according to a federal judge in Arizona , can't do the job.

That leaves me wondering . . . who will?

Or, sadly, is the cause lost? And the country with it?

Not a happy Sunday for Robin Carnahan

2010-07-25T23:04:00.000-05:00

Why not?

The top of the page, very bold headline in the very Pro-Carnahan St. Louis Post-Dispatch read: "POLL SHOWS BLUNT IN LEAD." (Link to story here - if the website is actually working.)

Now, of course, those of us paying attention have been reading that writing on the wall for some time now but it is great to see the liberal local newspaper confirming that Roy Blunt is up six points in the race for the United States Senate.

The Post is also reporting that in the same poll 57% of Missourians disapprove of Barack Obama's performance as president. That bodes well for Blunt (and Missouri). Only 37% approve of Obama's job performance.

Here's a not-so-subtle message to the 9% of Missouri voters who disapprove of Barack Obama's job performance but, apparently, aren't lined up behind Roy Blunt quite yet . . . Robin Carnahan would be vote in the back pocket of Barack Obama for remaining length of his presidency.

It is time to lend your support. Put on that Blunt bumper sticker. Donate if you can. Tell all your friends and get out to vote. The GOP needs the seat. And Missouri needs Roy Blunt.

Bart Stupak must be proud . . . U.S. Government to fund killing of Pennsylvania children

2010-07-14T20:06:00.001-05:00

It has now been reported (link here ) that the Obama administration, despite empty promises and even a sham of an Executive Order to the contrary, has decided to use American taxpayers' money - yours, mine, and even Bart Stupak's, to fund abortion in Pennsylvania.

The liar-in-chief, a.k.a. Barack Obama, had promised that under Obamacare, "no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions."

So much for Obama promises. Would you like your Obamacare vote back Bart?

Eric Holder tells the truth about Immigration

2010-07-07T20:19:00.000-05:00

From the front page of today’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch under the headline “U.S. battles Arizona law in suit over immigration” . . . “The Justice Department, contending that immigration is a federal responsibility, sued Arizona on Tuesday and asked a federal court to halt the state’s new law aimed at illegal immigrants.

“Attorney General Eric Holder said the lawsuit was prepared after extensive consultation with law enforcement officials and civil rights groups that oppose the state law.

“’Setting immigration policy and enforcing immigration laws is a national responsibility,’ Holder said.”

This story sent me over the edge and dragged me out of my self-imposed hiatus. Two important points need to be made:

First, the Obama administration prepared this lawsuit “after extensive consultation” with people and groups “that oppose the state law.” Maybe they should be consulting some of the folks in Arizona dealing with the reality of failed immigration enforcement. Maybe they should be consulting with some people who support the law before deciding to attack it. Maybe there is a way for Washington and Phoenix to work together. In a rational world, there would be.

Second, the lawsuit is based on the reality that the federal government is supposed to be protecting America’s borders. Attorney General Holder’s words, “setting immigration policy and enforcing immigration laws is a national responsibility,” could not be more true. Unfortunately, they miss the point of the Arizona law entirely . . .

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT MEETING ITS “RESPONSIBILITY.” Until it does, someone must, and Arizona is trying. Whether their approach is perfect or not is a matter for another day.

If the federal government wants the states to stay out of immigration enforcement, the federal government should enforce our immigration laws and protect America’s borders.

A big victory for the Constitution and Americans

2010-06-30T06:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that the Second Amendment prohibits state and federal governments from banning possession of guns. Though this right should seem obvious to all. It was only upheld by a 5-4 vote. But a win is a win.

The art of the Chicago deal. What did they know? And when did they know it?

2010-06-24T21:41:00.001-05:00

Testimony today in the Rod Blagojevich's corruption trial revealed that Blago's inner circle believed that Barack Obama knew about an offer from the then-governor to appoint Obama-friend Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate in exchange for Obama appointing Blago to a cabinet post, preferably Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Link to story here.)

Would that really surprise anybody? Americans elected a Chicago politician to the White House. Shouldn't America have expected him operate like a Chicago politician?

To what end I'm not sure but Blagojevich's attorneys are now seeking access tot he FBI's notes of an interview with Obama on the subject since today's testimony raises "the issue of President Obama's direct knowledge and communication with emissaries and others regarding the appointment to his Senate seat."

I think that the public has the right to know this cadre of Chicago politicians knew. What did Obama know? What did Rahm Emanuel know? And when did they know it?

And, now that I think about it, what did they do with that knowledge?

He learned from the "best"

2010-06-24T21:10:00.002-05:00

Click here to read "The Smoking Gun" on Al Gore's Clintonesque sexcapades.

But, no worries Al, you're a Democrat.

If only . . .

2010-06-02T07:11:00.000-05:00

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, claims that her favorite word is "the Word." The Word made flesh through Jesus Christ. (Link here.) "And that Word is," Pelosi continued, we have to give voice to what that means in terms of public policy that would be in keeping with the values of the Word."

I certainly wish that Ms. Pelosi would live up to that.

She should, especially since she realizes that "we have to make sure we're prepared to answer in this life, or otherwise, as to how we have measured up."

Maybe it is time to stop supporting the widespread destruction of human life Madam Speaker.

Barack Obama's Priorities

2010-05-31T16:08:00.001-05:00

Today is Memorial Day, "a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service." It is a day that, traditionally, the President of the United States attends a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Today, Barack Obama sent Vice President Joe Biden in his place because he is on vacation in Chicago. (Link here.)

While attendance at the ceremony in Arlington is "traditional," it is not mandatory for presidents to attend. Some do, some do sometimes, and some don't. But the real galling thing is not that Obama skipped the event. In fact, I give him credit for attending a ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, but America is at war in Iraq and in Afghanistan. And there is a major ecological disaster continuing in the Gulf of Mexico yet Barack Obama is on vacation . . . again. This is Obama's second vacation since the BP Oil rig exploded on April 20.

Two vacations in just over a month. Now, don't get me wrong, I think the country would be better off if Obama took a lot of LONG vacations over the remainder of his term but the question must be asked . . . just what are Obama's priorities?

Now to the true priority of the day . . . to the men and women who died in service of this great country . . . may you rest in peace. And to those of us who live in freedom because of their sacrifice . . . may we never forget.

In case you're wondering . . .

2010-05-13T23:19:00.000-05:00

this blog is still alive. And so am I - just very busy these days, baseball games, meetings, kids, and, occasionally, even work at my paying job. So I haven't been keeping up with the daily blogging duties. And now summer is just around the corner. I don't expect to find more time. So, to all my loyal readers out there, sorry for the days to come. I won't be posting every night - or even every Sunday through Thursday night - as was my typical practice. But I won't go far. Posts will appear from time to time, maybe even often (who knows?), whenever I find the time or the impulse to write.

Please, no tears. (And Robin Carnahan shouldn't jump for joy either.) By the time election season heats up, I'll be back in the regular swing of things.

Justice Kagan?

2010-05-09T23:22:00.003-05:00

It appears that Elena Kagan will be the next justice of the United States Supreme Court. She clerked for Thurgood Marshall, worked for Bill Clinton, and currently serves as Barack Obama's Solicitor General. And, she's only 50 years old.

Chances that this could be a good thing for conservative principles? Or the country?

Why the left-leaning media hasn't said much about polls in Missouri's U.S. Senate race recently . . .

2010-05-09T23:11:00.001-05:00

The above table from Real Clear Politics shows a pretty clear trend in Missouri voters from Democrat Robin Carnahan to Republican Roy Blunt. Shouldn't that be newsworthy? Where are the media reports?

Well, I suppose that goes without saying.