Paul Ryan's GOP Response

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!

Beware of the Wolf

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.

How is this okay?

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.

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

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 . . .

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.

Deal or No Deal

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.)

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

Obama loses his base

Link to story here.

Election Reflections . . . belated edition

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!

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!

And vote Republican.  Posterity will thank you.

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

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.

"Clear Frontrunner"

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!

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

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.)

Fox News Poll Shows Blunt by 8

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.

And Obama's new political advisor is . . .

Michael Dukakis.  (Link to story here.)

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

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

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.

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

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.

Robin who?

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.