A Bully in the Sandbox

In January 2006, the terrorist group Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian elections over the Fatah. They did this in part by hiding the fact that one of their main goals is to wipe Israel off the map. As a result of that election, Israel (along with the United States, the European Union, several Western states, and the Arab states) suspended the foreign aid upon which Palestine depends. Aid would not be restored until Hamas met the demands of (1) recognizing Israel, (2) accepting agreements made by the defeated Fatah regime, and (3) denouncing violence. Yeah, that soooo didn’t happen.

Despite the sanctions, Hamas leaders were able to smuggle enough into the Palestinian territories to maintain basic services. Obviously, or they all would have starved to death. Or become refugees. They certainly wouldn’t have been able to stay there unless they were able to get some sustenance.

In December 2006, bullish Hamas decided that they would do a better job controlling Gaza instead of the Palestinian police. By June 2007, Hamas had accomplished its goal through several rounds of brutal attacks, culminating in a four day long ambushe that gained them control of the Fatah outposts. Hamas was then in complete control of the Gaza Strip, a tiny piece of land tucked between Egypt and Israel.

Ever since then, Hamas has been launching attacks on Israel. Hamas is sitting in their corner of the sandbox, pissed off that Israel is playing right next to them in the sand that they believe should be theirs. In Hamas’ opinion, Israel needs to be kicked out of the sandbox and wiped off the map. As any mean but relatively weak bully would do, they have been throwing fistfuls of sand at Israel in the form of bombs aimed at civilian cities in Israel along the Gaza/Israeli border.

I’m not sure of the thinking on this one… were they just trying to annoy Israel out of the sandbox? Or did they want Israel to believe the small (yet still devastating to those involved) attacks were warnings? A year and a half is an awful long time for a warning of bigger attacks to come, if you ask me. Under either circumstance, last Saturday Israel finally became fed up with the sand throwing. Israel stood up, walked over to the bully Hamas, and punched him square in the nose. It wasn’t unprovoked, or even issued without warning. The day before, Israel warned Hamas that he had better knock it off, or he’d get punched in the nose.

So now the world is watching this battle in the sandbox between a bully and someone that actually stood up for themselves and said, “Stop it. I have as much a right to be here you. You will not destroy me, even though you attempt to. I will no longer tolerate your sand throwing.”

Yet for some reason, almost every msm news story I’ve encountered has somehow managed to paint Israel as the bully. They’ve conveniently managed to overlook the fact that Hamas wants Israel destroyed. Oh yes, of course, you should always feed the hand that bites you. You should always give aid and refuge to people who want nothing more in the world than to see you and your countrymen dead. *insert eye roll here*

I’m content to let Israel kick the terrorist Hamas out of the sandbox. I hope I get to see it happen.

Speaking of politics…. How has President Elect Obama responded to this crisis? Well, he went golfing today on his fancy-shmancy Hawaiian vacation. Interesting… I thought you couldn’t vote “present” as President, but apparently you can from the Office of the President-Elect.

A Tale of Two Shoes

During a news conference in Iraq this morning, President Bush was attacked by an Iraq reporter who threw his shoes at Bush. The man shouted, "It is the farewell kiss, you dog."

The President ducked and avoided being hit by the Iraqi man's shoes, which were chosen as projectiles because soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture.

Of course the media is reporting, "The embarrassing incident marred a visit meant to show off the improved conditions since the troop "surge" dramatically reduced casualties to U.S. troops."

It seems to me that this proves the victory and triumph of the troop "surge" as only in a free society could an asshat like that get away with a such a shameful stunt.

Another Corrupt Chicago Politician? You Don't Say...

Notoriously corrupt Illinois politics got another notch in the scummy politician belt today. Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested this morning after allegedly attempting to sell the U. S. Senate seat that will be left vacant once Barack Obama is sworn in as the U. S. President.

Blagojevich was caught via wiretaps stating, "[the Senate seat]is a fucking valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing." He was also recorded saying that unless "I get something real good," he would appoint himself to the vacancy. "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself." According to surreptitiously recorded conversations, Blagojevich spoke with associates about the possibility of trading the Senate post for either an ambassadorship or a Cabinet post.

Of course Obama responded to the situation with his predictable and expected, "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening...It’s a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”

Interesting. Especially since less than a month ago, on November 23, top Obama advisor David Axelrod told Fox News in an interview, "I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."

Axelrod responded to the revelation uncovered by conservative pundits with his predictable and expected, "I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy." Obviously. *insert eye roll here*

It's well known that Obama owes a lot of people a lot of favors. You don't go from being a National Nobody to President within four years without a lot of help. I'm sure that Governor Blagojevich was one of those people. I don't know whether whatever political boost he gave to Obama's warp speed rise to the top was legit or corrupt, and frankly, at this point it probably doesn't matter. But something was revealed today, if you were watching closely...Many of us have been watching and waiting to see how Obama would attempt to pay back those favors, or if he would even try. I think that we now have our answer. Attempt to call in your favor from the new Prez, and you will be sorry.


I am currently undecided on whether this makes me like Obama more or less.

Incredible Story

I was just directed to this amazing story about a woman putting herself at tremendous risk to save the lives of others.

I am saddened and incredulous that she did not win the Nobel Peace Prize over the candidate that did win it...

I've Become an Addict

To Twitter!

Here's a great Twitter for Dummies post by another very cool Jen. Although she might be a tiny bit cooler if she were a Jenny like me, but I digress...

As if I needed yet another reason for my crackberry to become more firmly welded to the end of my arm, I now receive snippets from friends, politicians, and pundits I admire, leading me to interesting articles and blog posts, answering my questions, and generally keeping me informed.

This morning my husband laughed at me when he caught me at 6:30 am nestled under the warm blankets in bed, tippity-tapping away on my pink BlackBerry Pearl, checking on my Twitter before even getting up to pee.

What can I say? This tweetaholic needed her fix.

Change We Can Believe In!

The United States Cabinet came into existence with George 1 (the first George, you know, that Washington guy), who appointed 4 people to advise and assist him in his duties. The appointments were Thomas Jefferson to Secretary of State, Alexander Hamilton to Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Knox to Secretary of War (which essentially became the Secretary of Defense in 1947), and Edmund Randolph to Attorney General.


That was 1789. In 2008, The Cabinet consists of the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments-the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, and the Attorney General. Other positions have in recent years been given Cabinet-level rank and influence, and include the Chief of Staff, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of the National Drug Control Policy, and the U.S. Trade Representative. 21 positions to be filled with 21 people who's job it will become to be the President's eyes and ears, to assess the needs of their respective departments and advise the President to act beneficially to American citizens. Those 21 people, appointed and led by a man that we the people elected, will shape the policies of our country over the next four years.


It has been interesting to watch our President-Elect begin to fill those Cabinet positions after winning the election on the campaign slogan, "Change we can believe in." In his nomination victory speech, he mentioned change 16 times and concluded with this messianic blurb that sent a chill down the spine of every conservative in the country,

"The journey will be difficult. The road will be long. I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations. But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people. Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth. This was the moment - this was the time - when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals. Thank you, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America."

So who has The Chosen One chosen so far? Here are some official and widely speculated picks thus far:

Secretary of State- Hillary Clinton: Can't get any more Clintonite than a Clinton! Interesting choice for SOS, since she and Obama sparred fiercely on foreign policy issues throughout the campaign. Clinton was a supporter of the Iraq War, which Obama has vehemently opposed and has happily bashed any supporters for their apparent idiocy.

Secretary of the Treasury- Timothy Geithner: President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Wonderful, the chief architect of last spring's $30 billion Bear Stearns bailout that kicked off the current entitlest bailout shenanigans. Guess all Detroit has to do is make it through to January 20th...

Attorney General- Eric Holder: The Justice Department's No. 2 when Bill was president. Holder failed to stop the Clinton Presidential pardon of Marc Rich. Marc Rich the felon, the one hiding out in Switzerland, the one on the FBI's Most Wanted List, the one who's former wife and mother of his children had made large donations to the Democratic Party and the Clinton Library during the Clinton Administration. Yup, our likely new Attorney General failed to either recognize or stop (or both) a Presidential pardon bought and paid for in full. Get ready to see Tony Rezko back on the shady streets of Chicago.

White House Chief of Staff- Rahm Emanuel: A senior advisor to Clinton from 1993 to 1998. In the White House, Emanuel was initially Assistant to the President for Political Affairs and then Senior Advisor to the President for Policy and Strategy. He was a leading strategist in the unsuccessful White House efforts to institute universal healthcare and many other Clinton initiatives.

Secretary of Health and Human Services- Tom Daschle: Former Senate Majority Leader during the Clinton Administration, and a backer of that administration's failed health-care effort of the early 1990s. Wow, Obama sure has appointed a lot of people that were unsuccessful in implementing one of his biggest promises-socialized healthcare. What makes him think they'll be successful this time around?

Secretary of Commerce- Bill Richardson: Served as U.N. ambassador under President Bill Clinton and later as his Secretary of Energy. While heading the Energy Department, Richardson publicly named Wen Ho Lee (an employee at the Los Alamos National Laboratory) as a suspect who might have given nuclear secrets to the Chinese government. Lee was later cleared of charges and awarded a settlement by the Federal Government for the accusation. Richardson was criticized by both parties for his shoddy handling of the espionage inquiry.

Secretary of Homeland Security- Janet Napolitano: Appointed by President Bill Clinton as US Attorney for the District of Arizona in 1993. She later won election and served as the Arizona attorney general, and she is now serving her second term as the Governor of Arizona. As head of the Department of Homeland Security, Napolitano will be responsible for protecting our borders to keep terrorists out as well as responding to natural disasters. Throughout her term as Governor, she has consistently vetoed anti-immigration legislation that would have denied in-state tuition and day care for illegal aliens, made English the official stat language, allowed state and local police officers to enforce federal immigration laws, and rejected the Matricula Consular from Mexico as a valid form of identification (FBI officials have said these are "easy to forge" and a "major item on the product list of fraudulent document trade currently flourishing across the country and around the world."). What she has done on immigration reform is to implement some of the nation's toughest sanctions against businesses that employ undocumented migrants. Wonderful, punish the business owners that were forced to accept the easily forged Matricula Consular as an official form of identification rather than punish the illegal immigrant. Do people really think that punishing the employers rather than the criminals will stem the flow of illegals flocking to our country? They'll just forge a new ID and get a job somewhere else. Maybe as Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano can concentrate on tracking down and putting out of business the specific person that sold Iran enough uranium to build a nuclear bomb rather than keeping the suicidal terrorists carrying that bomb out of our country.

Change we can believe in?

School Choice

Earlier this year, Obama's campaign issued a statement that said, "Senator Obama has always been a critic of vouchers...Throughout his career, he has voted against voucher proposals and voiced concern for siphoning off resources from our public schools."

Vouchers would allow parents to take part of the money allocated for their child to attend the public school that they are districted for, and use that money at the school of their choice, including private schools. The concept of school choice is essentially a free market for education, where teachers and administrators would be forced to provide an excellent education to their students, or risk losing them (and the funds that come with them) to the school down the street. Obama is concerned that by allowing parents to make the best decision regarding the education of their children, they will do just that and yank their kids out of under performing schools and put them into ones where teachers have to rely on job performance rather than tenure if they want to keep that paycheck coming.

By Obama's thinking, a much better plan would be to pour endless amounts of cash into schools where teachers are tenured and receive automatic pay raises, providing little incentive for them to work hard and do their job well (after all, why bother trying if there's no motivation?), and where unruly students often disrupt their classmates learning because it's practically impossible to discipline these days lest we hurt that student's precious self-esteem. No wonder our current education system is such a mess!

I'm so glad to hear that Obama, a self-proclaimed man of his word, is going to enroll his two elementary aged daughters into the DC public school system, one of the worst in the nation. Hopefully, by not taking funds away from the public school system, he will lead the way to show our nation that vouchers are not needed because school choice is not needed. The government is much more knowledgeable than parents in deciding which school their children should attend, and if we could all just head to that government advice, the system would be fixed, right?

Wait, what's that? The Obama girls will be attending an exclusive private school? Huh. I thought that public schools were good enough for American children. I guess just not good enough for Obama's children. If only we all had the means to practice school choice, something that the Obamas themselves have chosen to do.

“Unfortunately, I think people thought they were making a statement about what their view of same-sex marriage was. I don’t know if it was clear that this meant that we are amending the Constitution to diminish freedom in our state.” Nancy Pelosi insinuating that the voters of California were too stupid to figure out what they were voting for by saying Yes to Prop 8.

“This whole area, years ago, was really redneck.” John Murtha on his constituents in Pennsylvania.

"And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Obama shares his opinion on Pennsylvania residents.

Why oh why do you guys elect people that demean, insult, and mock you? Come on people, have some integrity!

Hope

Obama's swift ascent to the top job in the world has been made possible by a four letter word. HOPE. Hope for change. Change brings hope. Hope for more change. Well, you get the picture. I had hope that America would question The Chosen One's insane ideologies and see through his eloquence to his sadly lacking resume. No such luck.

But I still have hope.

Hope that as a nation, we can finally move past the idea that rampant racism still exists in our country. Of course there will always be pockets of individuals that believe people of color, or women, or people of a certain age (either too young or too old) are unable to achieve greatness due to those facts. But America has voted to say, Race is not an issue. We don't care about the color of his skin, we want him as our leader! In a way, I am glad that our first dark-skinned President is so lacking in achievements, because now no one can say that a black man had to work ten times harder than a white man to achieve the same level of success.

I have hope that the middle east will not implode on itself. I don't have hope that we won't be attacked by terrorists at regular intervals like we have under the leadership of Presidents soft on foreign policy and domestic defense, but at least we won't have a middle east sized hole in the planet. The appointment of Rahmbo, oops I mean Rahm Emanuel, to Chief of Staff sends a clear message to Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan that Obama does not have Muslim loyalties. If he did, he never would have chosen a Hebrew speaking Israeli as his Gatekeeper.

I have hope that Obama figured out how to graft twenties onto a sycamore so that money can now literally grow on trees. I take that back, it would be wiser to use bamboo as the host plant since it grows so rapidly and the greenies will be happy because it's a sustainable resource. I have hope for this prospect because it seems to be the only solution for funding the trillion dollars or so that he wants to spend on things like socialized health care and welfare checks to 40% of the population.

Mostly, I have hope that Obama's presidency will push the GOP back to the right where it belongs. President Bush's intense unpopularity coupled with McCain's loss last Tuesday have shown that Americans, despite their claims, do not want a moderate in office. Let's resurrect the Republican Party, remember the principles it was founded on and seek to uphold those values.

After it's inception in the mid 19th century, the Republican party promoted policies for the swift growth of industry, railroads, mines, and prosperous business that led us to become a dominant world power by the 20th century.

Our first Republican President ended slavery because ALL men were created equal. Republicans passed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the very same one that had been blocked by the Democrats in 1875, the one that guarantees the right of equal access to all citizens in all public accommodations -- whether or not owned or controlled by the government. Susan B. Anthony, one of the most famous advocates for female suffrage was a Republican. She didn't live to see the 19th amendment, because it wasn't until Republicans gained control of the House and Senate that the bill was able to be passed into law. Jackie Robinson, the man that stood on a baseball field and changed pro-sports forever was an outspoken Republican.

Republicans opposed the New Deal, which has been credited with dragging the depression on for years longer than it would have had the free market been able to correct itself without government interference. Our modern hero Ronald Reagan slashed taxes and implemented supply-side economics to yank our country out of a Democrat-induced recession, took down the Berlin Wall, dissolved the USSR, and put the first woman onto the US Supreme Court.

I have hope that Republicans will get back to their conservative roots, fighting for equality for every American to have the freedom and opportunity to pursue their dreams. After four years of Obama, we're going to need it.

Dear Anonymous McCain Campaign Insider,

You have come forward since your candidate's defeat with the most preposterous blame game I have ever witnessed. "Palin is at fault!" you scream, desperate to point the finger anywhere but at McCain's socialist-lite agenda, poorly run campaign, or unwillingness to play hard ball with his opponent.

You claim that this woman didn't know that Africa is a continent, not a country, wasn't aware of the countries involved in NAFTA, threw daily hissy fits over media reports, refused to take direction or accept coaching for interviews, and acted like a credit card carrying ditz on numerous shopping sprees.

I find it difficult to believe in this age of technology that not one person has caught any of that evidence on audio or video tape. I find it hard to believe that someone inclined to throw tantrums on a daily basis is the same person who took down the corrupt members of her own party in her own state, and renegotiated deals with the Big Boy oil companies to benefit her constituents rather than to continue to line the pockets of the Oil Elite. I find it difficult to believe that someone so materialistic is the same person that gave up a private jet as one of her first acts as Governor of Alaska. I find it difficult to believe that you truly had Sarah's best interest at heart when you fed her to the lions named Gibson and Couric rather than letting her appear on The O'Reilly Factor, even after Bill apparently begged for the opportunity. I find it difficult to believe that someone as bumbling as you're trying to portray her would possess the wherefore all to finally get the bill passed and the groundwork laid for the Alaskan pipe dream of the Alaskan pipeline, after thirty years at a standstill.

And now, our sweet Sarah has come out and apologized, saying, "If I cost McCain even one vote-I'm sorry." She should be apologizing to President-Elect Obama, saying, "I'm sorry I cost you your landslide victory."

Sarah Palin pumped more energy into the Republican party than we've seen in two decades. McCain's campaign was dead in the water by late summer, right up until he announced Sarah as his running mate. She injected her charm and spirit into McCain's rapidly sinking run for the White House, attracting Obama-sized crowds to rallies (where interestingly, the people chanted, "Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!" not, "John McCain! John McCain!") and significantly boosted campaign funds. McCain's campaign raised $47 million last August; $10 million of which came in the last three days of the month after McCain announced he had chosen Sarah to be his vice presidential running mate.

I know you are bitter, Insider. You're probably upset that *Caribou Barbie* possesses the natural ability to inspire and lead, the determination to get the job done, the fearlessness to stand up for what is right even when standing alone, and to do it all with a flawless appearance and a baby on her hip. It must be difficult to constantly be around someone that has something that you feel rightfully belongs to you.

Let me let you in on a little secret: Name calling and finger pointing will get you no where, it will only make you look small and petty. Please go put on your grown-up pants, apologize to Governor Palin for your childish behavior, and thank her profusely when she inevitably forgives you and brushes it off her shoulder like she has so many other groundless attacks. If you play your cards right, you may even end up with a shot at White House Receptionist in 2012.

Sincerely,
A Sarah Palin Supporter

Deflowered!

Someone calling him or her self The Masked Man commented on my Kool-Aid post this morning. It has sense been deleted, but never fear, I have saved it for posterity! When I decided to publicly voice my thoughts and opinions on politics, I knew this sort of thing was coming (it always does on either side of the issue), but who knew it would come so soon? I almost feel a little sense of pride in my *Hateful Reader Response* deflowering.

Stood by long enough. You Are a HORRIBLE CLOSE MINDED BIGOT.

You are a spoiled little girl who doesn't understand that more so many people are suffering around you. You've always had Daddy's money or Your Husband's Money while people around you can't even afford a car to LIVE in. I don't give a shit about the fact that you think you are better than people because your family has money to send people to college or to send a daughter to a private schools. The fact remains,you have been given options most of America hasn't seen. I can't believe your daughter is going to be raised to believe the horrible things you guys do.

You keep talking about how horrible it will be to live in this country under Barack Obama... I have a solution. You should leave it. Just leave. People are losing jobs and losing homes. People who never did anything wrong, good people, are being forced into terrible situations and you and your spiteful family are more interested in yourselves than your common man.

You post videos that show support for common Republican Hateful Thoughts like Sexism, Homophobia, Racism, Greed, Greed, Greed! You are only as good as the things you support. If you post a video with any of those things, you are sexist, racist, homophobic, Greedy, Greedy, Greedy. Jennifer, YOU ARE A TRUE MONSTER!

Wow, what a way to stand up for what you believe in and make a case for your point of view- anonymously post hateful things that are so far from the truth that it's laughable! I actually feel bad for my fantastic, intelligent, well-educated liberal friends because you, Masked Man, risk giving them a bad name with your barely coherent babbling and name calling. President Elect Obama would be ashamed of your behavior.

But wait! There's more! I immediately went to make my family blog private, and The Masked Man had commented on a post about my five year old daughter's class trip to the pumpkin patch.

MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT YOUR DAUGHTER LEARNS TO GET AWAY FROM YOUR SKEWED SENSE OF LOGIC AND ETHICS, AND CAN BECOME WHAT HER FAMILY NEVER WAS, HUMAN!

Oh yes, you've won me over with your eloquence now!

What a joke.

PS- don't mess with my children.

I Sure Hope that Kool-Aid Tasted Good...

...because you took the rest of us down with you.

In the words of my good friend Esther- Good night!

I Will Not Say, "I Told You So."

If Senator Obama wins the election today to become the next President of the United States, I believe that the magic pixie dust surrounding him will slowly start to disintegrate. As he enacts some of his far left policies and the repercussions begin to hurt American lives, there are going to be people that cry out, "How could we know this was going to happen?"

I'm going to be tempted to say, "I told you so." But I don't need to. It's already been said.


When energy costs skyrocket, when gas is $8 a gallon and electricity rates are doubled, I'll say, "Obama told you so."

When I was asked earlier about the issue of coal…under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket…even regardless of what I say about whether coal is good or bad, because I’m capping greenhouse gasses, coal power plants, natural gas…you name it…whatever the plants were, whatever the industry was, they would have to retro-fit their operations. -Obama, Jan. 2008

When we're attacked by middle eastern terrorists on a regular basis (like we were during the Clinton Administration), I will say, "Biden told you so."

Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking. We’re about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America... Remember I said it standing here if you don’t remember anything else I said. Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. -Biden, Oct. 2008

When people diagnosed with cancer have to wait weeks or months to begin treatment due to the slow moving process of socialized, universal health care, I'll say, "Obama told you so."

I am absolutely determined that by the end of the first term of the next president, we should have universal health care in this country...The time has come for universal health care in America. -Obama, Jan. 2007

When unemployment goes up because businesses are unable to afford his income and capital gains tax hikes, while at the same time actually paying their employees, I'll say, "Obama told you so."

I will raise CEO taxes. There is no doubt about it. -Obama on CNN, May 2008

When Obama appoints questionable characters to his cabinet and to the US Supreme Court, and grants Presidential pardons to monsters that should be locked away from society, I'll say, "Obama told you so."

In both his (Jeremiah Wright) case and Father Pfleger's case, they've done great work in the community, and I worked in some very poor communities. That's how I got to know these folks because I was working in these neighborhoods. Obama, Sept 2008

I've been fighting alongside ACORN on issues you care about my entire career. Even before I was an elected official, when I ran Project Vote voter registration drive in Illinois, ACORN was smack dab in the middle of it, and we appreciate your work. Obama speaking to ACORN, Nov. 2007

[It] never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth … It didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the founding fathers in the Constitution. -Obama's view of the Supreme Court, Sept. 2001

When people start to wonder why the alcoholic dad down the street (the one whom everyone suspects is molesting his 9 year old daughter but no one can prove it) is getting a welfare check from the government paid for by a small business that had to lay off half a dozen employees to provide that check to that man, I'll say, "Obama told Joe the Plumber."

It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everyone. -Obama, Oct. 2008

When people start to wonder if he was ready to become the leader of the free world, I'll say, "Obama told you so."

I was elected yesterday. . . . I have never set foot in the U.S. Senate. I’ve never worked in Washington. And the notion that somehow I’m immediately going to start running for higher office just doesn’t make sense. So look, I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years, and my entire focus is making sure that I’m the best possible senator on behalf of the people of Illinois. . . . I am not running for president in 2008. -Barack Obama, Nov. 4, 2004

Why Vote Democrat?

Back in May, Obama congratulated Senator Hillary Clinton on a campaign well run. He did that oh-so-sly-to-13-year-olds trick of scratching his face with his middle finger, to flip her off without actually having to take responsibility for it.

Watch it-



Today, he did the same thing to McCain, in the same congratulatory speech, in the same try-to-prove-that-I-did manner.

Watch it-




Please tell me this childish moron isn't going to be running our country for the next four years.

Election 911

Not sure whether to laugh or cry over this video!

California State Propositions

Prop 1A-Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train

Prop. 1A asks voters to approve the issuance of $9.95 billion of general obligation bonds. This would partially fund a $40 billion, 800-mile high speed train under the supervision of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. The train would run between San Francisco and Los Angeles, with Anaheim, California, designated as the southern terminus of the initial segment of the high-speed train system. Estimates are that the train system would be completed in 2030, and that it would take passengers between San Francisco and Los Angeles in about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

I'm voting NO. Our state government is already operating at a substantial deficit and to take on this substantial debt would be irresponsible considering that there is no guarantee the project will ever be completed, there is no current business plan, the actual cost likely to reach $81 billion, and the estimates that Prop 1A supporters have made as to how many riders the system would have are grossly overstated, so the system, if built, will have less revenue, and huge unpredicted cost overruns.


Prop 2-Standards for Confining Farm Animals

Prop 2 will create a new state statute that prohibits the confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.

NO to this one as well. If a person feels bad for the chicken, they can spend their money buying cage-free eggs. Since when did a chicken's right to stretch its wings become more important that an unborn child's right to life anyway?

Prop 3 -Children's Hospital Bond Act

Prop 3 authorizes $980,000,000 in bonds, to be repaid from state’s General Fund, to fund the construction, expansion, remodeling, renovation, furnishing and equipping of children’s hospitals.

NO. California passed Prop 61 in 2004, which authorized $750,000 for the same purpose. Half that money remains unspent, why do they need more already?


Prop 4 -Abortion Waiting Period and Parental Notification Initiative

Prop 4, aka Sarah's Law, would prohibit abortion for unemancipated minors until 48 hours after physician notifies minor’s parent, legal guardian or, if parental abuse has been reported, an alternative adult family member.

YES, because if my fourteen year old daughter got pregnant and thought the only solution was to kill her unborn child, I'd want to know about it and present her with some options that Planned Parenthood might have skipped over.


Prop 5-Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act

Prop 5 requires California to expand and increase funding and oversight for individualized treatment and rehabilitation programs for nonviolent drug offenders and parolees. It reduces criminal consequences of nonviolent drug offenses by mandating three-tiered probation with treatment and by providing for case dismissal and/or sealing of records after probation. It limits court’s authority to incarcerate offenders who violate probation or parole, and shortens parole for most drug offenses, including sales, and for nonviolent property crimes. It creates numerous divisions, boards, commissions, and reporting requirements regarding drug treatment and rehabilitation and changes certain marijuana misdemeanors to infractions.

NO. Is there really such a thing as non-violent drug trafficking? Just say no to this "Drug Dealers’ Bill of Rights"


Prop 6-Safe Neighborhoods Act

Prop 6 targets youth for adult incarceration by deeming any youth 14 years or older who is convicted of a "gang-related" felony must be tried as an adult, targets poor people by requiring recipients of public housing subsidies to submit to annual criminal background checks and withdrawing the housing subsidies of people with recent criminal convictions, targets illegal aliens by denying bail to those that are charged with violent or gang-related crimes and requires local sheriffs to inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the arrests.

YES, because I got the above information off a website opposed to Prop 6. God forbid teenagers old enough to be in a gang and kill/rape/steal cars/*insert felony of your choice here* should be deemed old enough to be tried as an adult. This is not a case of an 8 year old getting ahold of Daddy's gun and accidentally shooting his little sister. And how dare we take away government subsidised housing from criminals, or report the crimes of illegal aliens to ICE! Geez louise!


Prop 7-Renewable Energy Initiative

Prop 7 would require California utilities to procure half of their power from renewable resources by 2025. California utilities will be required to increase their purchase of electricity generated from renewable resources by 2% annually to meet Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements of 40% in 2020 and 50% in 2025. Under current law, investor-owned utility companies must comply with an RPS of 20% by 2010

NO for the same reason as Prop 2. I'm a supporter of the free market when it comes to consumables like eggs and energy. Plus, it's not good for our economy at all. It will force small wind and solar companies out of the market by excluding renewable plants smaller than 30mw from counting towards the new requirements. Nearly 60% of contracts under California’s renewable requirements are with these small providers; forcing these companies out will eliminate a major source of clean power and thousands of jobs. It contains a provision that virtually guarantees that electricity consumers will pay 10% above market rates for renewable power forever - even when the costs of solar and wind sources become more competitive.


Prop 8-California Marriage Protection Act

Prop 8 will amend the state constitution to say "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California".

YES. It protects children from being taught things in public school that greatly differ from views held by some parents. If they can take Christmas out of schools because it offends some atheist parents, they should take homosexuality out because it offends some Christian parents. It also protects religious universities, adoption providers, psychologists, doctors, and photographers from prosecution for practicing their religious convictions.

Prop 9-Victims' Rights and Protection Act of 2008

Prop 9 amends the State Constitution and various state laws to expand the legal rights of crime victims and the payment of restitution by criminal offenders, restrict the early release of inmates, and change the procedures for granting and revoking parole.

YES. Crime victims should not be victimized a second time by the courts.


Prop 10-California Alternative Fuels Initiative

Prop 10 would set up a rebate program to give a rebate to people who purchase vehicles that are powered by fuel sources other than regular gasoline, as well as a rebate for people who buy fuel-saving vehicles (like the Toyota Prius). The state government would pay for the rebates, up to a total of $5 billion.

NO. Give yourself a big ol' green pat on the back if you buy a Prius, but don't expect me to slap a greenback in your hand if you do so.


Prop 11-Voters FIRST Act

Prop 11 would change the process that is undertaken once every ten years of setting (which sometimes means re-drawing) the geographic boundaries of the state's 120 legislative districts and four Board of Equalization districts. At present, the task of setting these boundaries falls to the state legislature itself. If Proposition 11 passes, that task would instead be given to a new, 14-member commission.

This one's tough... The ACLU supports it, Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi oppose it. Hmmm... I'm going to say YES. Because the Legislature draws their own districts and, essentially chooses their own voters, 99 % of incumbents are reelected to office. As a result, they have very little incentive to be responsive to constituent concerns or make tough policy decisions – and they remain beholden to special interests, rather than voters. Plus, I can't imagine ever agreeing with Barbara Boxer or Nancy Pelosi on anything.


Prop 12- Veteran's Bond Act of 2008

Prop 12 authorizes issuance of $900 million in bonds to create a fund that assists veterans who are purchasing farms, homes and mobile home properties.

YES, because I have a soft spot for vets that have served to protect our country. The loans provided are repaid by the loan holders at no expense to the taxpayers. There have never been any costs to the taxpayers under the previous authorizations. Plus, the program helps reinforce the housing market in California and Cal Vet loans generate thousands of housing industry-related jobs resulting in millions of dollars in annual payrolls.

Democratic Definition of Wealth Drops Dramatically

“What I’ve said is I want to provide a tax cut for 95 percent of working Americans, 95 percent. If you make more — if you make less than a quarter million dollars a year, then you will not see your income tax go up, your capital gains tax go up, your payroll tax. Not one dime.”—Obama Oct 15, 2008.

“To deal with our current emergency, I’ll launch a rescue plan for the middle class that begins with a tax cut for 95 percent of working Americans. If you have a job, pay taxes and make less than $200,000 a year, you’ll get a tax cut.” Obama Oct 28, 2007.

"What we're saying is, that $87 billion tax break doesn't need to go to people making an average of $1.4 million; It should go to middle-class people, people who make $150,000 a year." Biden Oct 28, 2008

"What Obama wants to do is he is basically looking at $120,000 and under among those that are in the middle class, and there is a tax cut for those." New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a top surrogate for the Obama campaign, Oct. 31, 2008

"Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practise to deceive!" Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, 1808

The trouble with lying, or frequently shifting position is that it is often difficult to keep everything straight. Who's telling the truth about Obama's real plans for taxing Americans? Bill Richardson? Joe Biden? Barack Obama? And if it's Obama, which time was he telling the truth? When he said $250,000 or $200,000? And why can't he do math? Each time he insisted that he wanted to cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans- either one of his figures is incorrect, or not a single person in this country makes between $200,000 and $250,000.

The Democrats' web of deception is so entangled that they can't even keep their story straight on one of their key points. Boy, I really hope that no one slips up and *accidentally* says $50,000 instead of $250,000 when officially implementing that new tax plan...

Instead of hoping that Obama finally picks a number somewhere above your income level (or your boss's for that matter, because let's face it, he or she may have to cut your job to pay for the tax hike), why don't we elect someone that understands how to grow an economy, and has consistently voted to lower taxes for all income levels?

Vote for consistency, honesty, integrity, and most of all for your livelihood this Tuesday.

"President" Obama will take care of your family?

He won't even take care of his own family!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5042571.ece

In Senator Obama's best selling memoir, Dreams from My Father, he describes a beloved “Auntie Zeituni,” the daughter of Mr Obama’s grandfather Hussein Onyango Obama. Ms. Onyango is disabled, using a "metal stick" to help her walk, and currently resides in a Boston SLUM.

Some beloved aunt...

Biden Folds Under Tough Media Questions (10/27/2008)

In a TV new interview last Thursday, anchor Barbara West asked some questions that much of the public has been wondering about the practices and beliefs of the Democratic ticket, but hence far has been too afraid to ask.


Barbara West- "Aren't you embarrassed by the blatant attempts to register phony voters by ACORN, an organization that Barack Obama has been tied to in the past?

Biden's answer- "I am not embarrassed by it, we are not tied to it, we have not paid them one single penny to register a single solitary voter, we have the best get out the vote operation in modern American history. We registered the voters ourselves, and so there is no relationship. I'm embarrassed for anybody in ACORN who went out there and registered somebody who shouldn't be registered. But I'm not embarrassed because of our campaign, we haven't paid ACORN a single penny to register a single voter. Those are the facts.

West- "But in the past, Senator Obama was a community organizer for ACORN, he was an attorney for ACORN, and certainly in the senate he has been a benefactor for ACORN."

Biden- (chuckles) "How has he been a benefactor for ACORN? He was an organizer. John McCain stood before ACORN not long ago complimenting them on the great work they did, does that make John McCain complicitous in any mistake ACORN made? Come on, let's get real here."

Wow, Sarah Palin would've been raked over the coals had she ever been caught in such blatant truth shifting. One of Barack Obama's first big "community organizer" jobs involved ACORN in 1992. Obama also trained ACORN employees, represented ACORN in court, and worked with and protested with ACORN. His campaign donated $800,000 (that's 80 million single pennies, FYI) to ACORN this year for voter registration efforts. And, ACORN even canvassed for Obama this year.

Ms. West got a little bit tougher with another question- "You may recognize this famous quote: From each according to his abilities to each according to his needs, that's from Karl Marx. How is Senator Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to spread the wealth around?"

Biden laughed himself out of the unusually tough interview asking in response, "are you joking? Is this a joke?"

"No," responds West.

"Is that a real question?" Biden continues.

"That's a question." West said.

With a chuckle, Biden firmly tells West, "He is not spreading the wealth around. He's talking about giving the middle class an opportunity to get back the tax breaks they used to have."

"We think middle class tax payers should get a break, that's what we think," Biden added. "That's a ridiculous comparison with all due respect."

Obama himself has said that he intends to redistribute the wealth, and has stood by those remarks with pride! A radio interview from 2001 proves that socialism is not a new line of thinking with Barack, but a long time foundation of his beliefs. Then State Senator Obama, talking about the civil rights movement and Supreme Court, said: "I think where it succeeded was to invest formal rights in previously dispossessed peoples so that I would now have the right to vote, I would now be able to sit at the lunch counter and order [and] as long as I could pay for it I would be OK. But the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society." (emphasis mine)

Just last month, Obama told Joe the Plumber- "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody that is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. I think that when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everyone."

Some days after this heinous comment about stealing from the hard-working rich Americans and handing the cash over to low-income earners (many of whom are deadbeats, for lack of a better term), Obama made an appearance on Good Morning America with interviewer Robin Roberts. She asked him if he had any regrets about his "spread the wealth" comment to Joe the Plumber. Obama's response? "No, not at all."

The infamous father of socialism Karl Marx's socialist/communist agenda can be summed up as, "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." Isn't that exactly what Obama has been touting? Tax the rich, give it to the poor! Left-wingers are proud of their socialist leader, but are afraid to be linked with the father of the reform that they're trying to bring to America. Why can they spew the lie that "Socialism works!" but not give credit to it's founder, Karl Marx?

But wait! Barbara West still wasn't finished with her pointed questions. She then proceeded to a question about foreign policy and defense of our country. West asked, "Now you recently said, 'Mark my words, it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama,' but what worries many people is your caveat, asking them to stand with him, because it's not going to be apparent initially that he's right. Are you forewarning Americans that nothing will be done and that America's days as the world's leading power are over?"

Biden responded, "No, I'm not at all. I don't know who's writing your questions."

Senator Joe was so riled by the interview that his campaign canceled a scheduled interview between West and Joe's wife Jill Biden, citing the "unprofessional interview" with Joe Biden as reason for backing out.

Biden couldn't answer direct questions posed by a 60 year old female TV news anchor. My brother Steve does a killer impression of Cartman from South Park, and I can't help but hear his voice in my head saying, "Screw you guys, I'm going home." What a baby! If he thinks that Barbara West is a bully, how is he going to respond in negotiations (you know, those sit down chats without preconditions) with Kim Jong Il of North Korea, Vladimir Putin of Russia, or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran? If he scoffs at them, calls them bullies, and picks up his toys and heads home, American lives will be in danger in a way that I'm not sure our country has ever witnessed before. 9/11 was a drop in the bucket compared to what these regimes want to do to America, and if they are not kept at bay, they will stop at nothing to destroy us.


Keep that in mind on November 4th.


Watch the interview yourself-

Bar Stool Economics (10/22/2008)

Perhaps you've seen this tax analogy before, but I thought it would be worthwhile to share it here.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten
comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go
something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day
and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them
a curve.
"Since you are all such good customers", he said, "I'm going to reduce the
cost of your daily beer by $20". Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the
first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about
the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall
so that everyone would get his "fair share?"

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that
from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up
being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair
to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work
out the amounts each should pay.

And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to
drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their
savings. "I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man. He
pointed to the tenth man, "but he got $10!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too.
It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"

"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back when I
got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.

The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat
down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they
discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of
them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our
tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from
a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just
may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the
atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

It been touted (over and over and over) that under Obama's proposed *spread the wealth* tax plan, 95% of Americans will receive a tax break. Personally, I think it's pretty tricky to provide a tax break for people that already pay no income tax. He should start calling it the Robin Hood Plan- as in, tax the rich and give it to the poor! Obama doesn't plan to cut the bill for the tenth man at all; in fact he is going to substantially raise it, and redistribute that wealth to other (poorer) Americans.

If Obama's tax plan comes to fruition, this is a very real possibility of what the ten men in our story will pay:
The tenth man now pays $75 instead of $59.
The ninth now pays $17 instead of $18.
The eighth now pays $11 instead of $12.
The seventh now pays $6 instead of $7.
The sixth now pays $1 instead of $3.
The fifth now drinks for free, instead of paying $1.
The third and fourth, who used to drink for free, now receive $2 each.
The first and second, who also used to drink for free, now receive $3 each.

Yes, you read that right. Those 40% of Americans that currently pay no income tax will now be receiving money just by existing; money that was provided by the top 5-10% of earners. That is not a tax cut, that is a handout. You can't cut something that doesn't exist.

Furthermore, I doubt that the tenth man has huge piles of money just laying around, waiting to be turned over to the government. This man has two choices; make more money (by raising prices on the products or services he sells), or spend less (by laying off some of his work force). Oh wait! He does have a third option. Picking up his operation and moving to a more inviting environment down the street (Mexico) or across the lake (China).

So the question we're left asking is this- If you were the tenth man under Obama's tax plan, what would you do? And what will the ramifications be for our country?