A question for Democrats . . . How long can you continue to blame George W. Bush with a straight face?

It appears that the war in Afghanistan is, apparently, becoming more and more difficult.  Barack Obama is the commander-in-chief but, according to his spokesman, he's not responsible.  Robert Gibbs said today that the Afghanistan war "was underresourced, underfunded, undermanned and ignored for years."  (Link here.)  In other words, it's all Bush's fault.

The war goes poorly - it's Bush's fault.  The economy falters - it's Bush's fault.

Seriously, how long can they get away with that "explanation"?

Shame on Britain

What's the price of a nation's integrity?  If we're talking about Great Britain . . . $24 billion.

America's "friends" in Britain (and our "allies" in the global war on terrorism) agreed to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Libyan terrorist responsible for bombing Pan Am Flight 103 and killing 270 people, for money.  A bribe from Libyan dictator Moammar Qadaffi.  (Link to story here.)

America's "thanks" go out to Gordon Brown and his Labour Government.  Think about this story the next time that you decide to fill up at a BP station.

China vs. Church

If you believe in God, check out this story and then see how you feel about the Chinese government owning most of our national debt.

Sixteen Percent

The real rate of unemployment in the United States has climbed to 16% (16%!!!).  (Link to story here.)

Trying my best to hold my tongue

The death of Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) is a MAJOR political story.  I've been trying to refrain from insensitive political commentary though the Democrats' formerly filibuster-proof majority is history.  

But instead of simply mourning the loss of a human being, the Democrats are already using Kennedy's death.  With Obamacare failing with voters nationwide - for good reason - the Dems are hoping to resuscitate their hopes for socialized medicine by dedicating the cause to Kennedy.  (Link to story here.)  But, no matter what you call this healthcare reform plan, Obamacare or Kennedycare . . . it is still a horrible idea that the country can't afford.  As President Obama might say, "You can put lipstick on a pig . . . it's still a pig."

Using a man's death as a political tool is distasteful.  And, it could backfire, as it did for the Democrats in 2002, following the death of Paul Wellstone.

Trust nothing . . . dirty tricks abound

Edward Kennedy, 1932-2009

May God have mercy on his soul.  Rest in peace Senator Kennedy.

Can Mr. Smith get to Washington anymore? Nope. But he can get to jail.

In 2004, Jeff Smith ran in the Democratic primary against Russ Carnahan (and others) for the congressional seat vacated by the retirement of Dick Gephardt. His effort was became the subject of a documentary titled "Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?". The movie, apparently, is a behind-the-scenes look at how this novice, upstart, idealist nearly defeated a member of a Missouri political dynasty. I suspect that the filmmakers weren't given access to all the action going on behind the scenes like when Smith "authorized 'a close friend' to raise money for a committee that paid for fliers with an anonymous attack against Carnahan." (Link to Post-Dispatch story here.)

Today, that same Jeff Smith, the underdog idealist (who parlayed his failed run for Congress into a State Senate seat) plead guilty to two felony conspiracy charges of obstruction of justice relating to investigations into those anonymous fliers. He's now facing 15 to 21 months in federal prison.

Does anybody know if there is a federal prison in Washington?

Now that's a stimulus plan - Part Deux

In May, Pfizer announced that it would provide free Viagra to men who lost their jobs and health insurance. I posted on that bit of news mostly because I thought it was funny to call that program a "stimulus plan." Juvenile, I know. What can I say?

Now comes news that the government's actual stimulus plan is full of spending on sex research. Examples cited in the New York Post include studies on "barriers to correct condom use," adolescent "hookups," and "drug use as a sex enhancer." (Link to story here.)

Aren't you all glad that spending billions of dollars that we don't have to fund vital government functions like these?

Deja vu all over again?

The Democrats leader in the U.S. Senate, Harry Reid (D-Nevada) is poised to lose his bid for re-election in 2010.  (Link to story here.)

Could it be Tom Daschle revisited?

Senator Hypocrite

Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) wants to have Massachusetts law changed to allow the governor to appoint a new Senator to fill his seat if he should die before the end of his term.  That used to be the law . . . until 2004 when Kennedy himself pushed a change to require a special election to fill a vacant seat in the Senate.

What's different?  Today, the governor of Massachusetts is a Democrat.  In 2004, the governor was a Republican.

(Link to story here.)

Policy, not Politics

Barack Obama is blaming the vast right-wing conspiracy for his failure to pass healthcare "reform."  Yesterday, he appeared on talk radio and said:

"I think early on, a decision was made by the Republican leadership that said, 'Look, let's not give him a victory, maybe we can have a replay of 1993, '94, when Clinton came in, he failed on health care and then we won in the mid-term elections and we got the majority.'  And I think there are some folks who are taking a page out of that playbook."  (Link here.)

Unfortunately, that's how liberals think - playbooks and politics.  And because they think like that, they think that conservatives and Republicans do too.

The vast and growing opposition to Obamacare is not coming from political considerations but from policy considerations.  I would be happy to give a Democrat president a political victory if that victory came by implementing a conservative policy.  But Obamacare is pure, unadulterated, big government liberalism - socialism by another name.

We oppose the policy, Mr. President.  We oppose you - and your party - because you support this bad policy.

Terrorist receives hero's welcome in Libya

This man . . .

is Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, a Libyan terrorist who was convicted in 2001 of being the terrorist responsible for this . . .

the 1988 downing of Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland.  All 259 people on board the plane, and 11 more on the ground, were killed.  Al-Megrahi was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.

Today, Scottish authorities released al-Megrahi and he returned to Libya.  Where he received this . . . 

a hero's welcome.

So much for Libya joining the family of nations.

This is an example of what the forces of freedom are up against in the Middle East . . . and around the world.

Obama honors NASCAR

"While President Obama is meeting with some of NASCAR's greatest drivers, he may come to find out that the only think he has in common with NASCAR Nation is a shared love for steering hard to the left."       

-Ken Spain, National Republican Congressional Committee

"Always love your country - but never trust your government!"

-Robert Novak

May he rest in peace.

McCaskill Healthcare Forums

Claire McCaskill issued this press release today announcing three more town hall meetings on healthcare "reform."

Senator McCaskill calls these events "Listening Forums."  Missouri conservatives from Hannibal, Moberly, and Kansas City (or those who can get to those locations) should turn out in force to make sure Claire hears what she ought to hear.  Unlike many of her liberal colleagues, McCaskill seems like she might actually be willing to represent her constituents.  Let's make sure she knows what that means on Obamacare.

This fight isn't over.  Far from it.  Keep up the pressure.

"It appears that President Obama is making great progress on climate change, he is changing the political climate in the country back to Republican."

-Tim Pawlenty, Republican Governor of Minnesota (Link to source story here.)

Memo to the GOP:

Gallup's out with a new poll today showing that 40% of Americans identify themselves as "conservative" or "very conservative."  That's a higher percentage than the self-identified moderates (35%) and a much higher percentage than the folks who, sadly, are still either "liberal" or "very liberal" (21%).  And conservatives outnumber liberals in all 50 states!

That should be good news for the country.  But, unfortunately, the conservative movement has not translated into a majority "Republican" country.

Why is that?  Because the Republican party has, repeatedly, abandoned conservatism.  The nomination of John McCain in 2008 was the latest example.  

So, here's the lesson that needs to be learned . . . embrace conservatism.  Stand for something other than compromise, moderation, and "reaching across the aisle," and the GOP can be a powerful force once again.

Why the rush? Now you know.

On July 15, 2009, I asked why Barack Obama and his fellow liberals were trying to rush their plans for healthcare "reform" (a.k.a. socialized medicine) through before Congress took its August recess. Answering my own question, I wrote, "As with everything Obama, [Obamacare's] popularity is fading fast. And time allows folks to actually read the proposal and see the devil in the details. Typically, members of Congress head home during the recess. Away from Washington, they speak with and hear from real people, constituents, people who don't want the government to manage any more of our lives, including our healthcare system."

Turns out, I was right. (Be sure to keep that in mind when reading the rest of my posts.)

Today comes news that the Obama administration is ready to back away from the so-called "public option" of government run health insurance. (Link to story here.) And, without inclusion of a "public option" Democrats are signaling that this so-called reform effort may die on the vine.

So far, public opinion seems to be Orlando Pace in his prime and Obamacare a hyped and ballyhooed freshman defensive end.

Stand firm for Freedom America.

"The trouble with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money."

-Lady Margaret Thatcher