Candid Conservative Mom

I've Moved!

2009-10-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

My writing can now be found at www.candidconservative.com

Whew! What a Week!

2009-06-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

People are still protesting in Iran over the sham of an election. People like Neda are dying while protesting. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of Musavi. But people should have the right to vote for their leader, and they should not be killed for protesting.

North Korea has nukes, and according to Japan, has plans to fire at Hawaii in early July. I don't think that those are the kind of fireworks we want on Independence Day.

ABC will air an ObamaCare infomercial tomorrow night, and the Republicans or anyone with an opposing viewpoint is explicitly not invited. So much for unbiased media reporting. They aren't even trying to hide it anymore.

California is bankrupt, and instead of cutting some massive pork projects, they're cutting tax exemptions and closing state parks.

Several people were killed in a DC train crash.

And Perez Hilton got punched in the face.

At least one thing in the news this week made me smile!

"It Won't Be Six Months In..."

2009-06-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

Remember that warning from gaffe-tastic VP Biden during the 2008 election?

Can we safely say that the President is being tested, and he definitely made the cutoff. It's only been five months. Predictably and unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be passing at the moment.

From Iran-

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won re-election in a landslide, a feat which US officials say is, "not credible." The Iranian government tried to shut down communication between its citizens to prohibit them from organizing protests, but it didn't matter. The people are protesting, riots are erupting, and people are dying.

Biden commented this morning-

Vice President Joe Biden says he has doubts about whether Iran's presidential election was free and fair, as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims from his landslide victory.

Biden says the U.S. and other countries need more time to analyze the results before making a better judgment about the vote. He says the administration's interests are the same as they were before the vote -- ending Iran's attempts to develop a nuclear weapon and its support for terrorism.

The vice president says he's disturbed by the way the Iranian government seems to be suppressing speech and cracking down on crowds protesting Ahmadinejad's re-election.

Biden says there are lots of questions about the election, but that the U.S. doesn't have enough facts to make a fair judgment. He wonders whether the outcome is an accurate response of the Iranian people.

Well, I'm glad that the administration is "looking into" the obviously rigged election that kept in power a man that hates Americans, and to whom our President gave the go ahead to persue nuclear power. As long as, you know, they promised not to make weapons out of it. After his bogus re-election:

Ahmadinejad consigned Iran's nuclear dispute to the past, signaling no nuclear policy change in his second term, and warned that any country that attacked his own would regret it.

"Who dares to attack Iran? Who even dares to think about it?" he said at a news conference.

So I guess the Iranian policy of developing nuclear weapons and lying about doing so won't be changing. I'm guessing that that the Obama Administration policy of pretending like it's not happening still stands as well. Ahmadinejad even mocks and dares us to try and stop him. This is some seriously scary stuff.

Meanwhile over in North Korea-

North Korean officials have announced that they are enriching uranium and building a nuclear bomb. They also "threatened war if its ships are stopped as part of new U.N. sanctions aimed at punishing the nation for its latest nuclear test." They added, "An attempted blockade of any kind by the U.S. and its followers will be regarded as an act of war and met with a decisive military response."

How is the US responding to the news that North Korea has atomic weapons and enough materials to make at least one nuke? You'll all feel very safe to know that the State Department has firmly wagged it finger and said, "No, no, no!"

I wonder when the apology tour for the US provoking these great and diverse nations into building devastating weapons will begin.

Free Healthcare?

2009-06-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

There are two types of "free." Free as in freedom, and free as in beer.

Some things are essentially free. Rainbows, wildflowers, hugs and kisses from loved ones, and sometimes, a beer from a friend who says, "Don't worry about it, I've got this one."

As Americans, we are free citizens. It's right there in the Declaration of Independence, a document that laid out the reasons why it was important for the colonies to break away from Britain's "unwarrantable jurisdiction." The Constitution lays out our freedoms; we are free to chose our own religion, to speak our minds, to assemble and petition, to own firearms, to raise our children as we see fit, to vote for a representative government, and we are even free to drink that free beer.

There has been a lot of discussion recently about socialized or "free" healthcare being introduced to the United States. Free healthcare? Where in the world are we going to find enough doctors (who, by the way, are trying to pay off an average of $140,000 in medical school debt each) willing to work for free in order to make sure that every American (or illegal immigrant pretending to be an American) has healthcare?

As a stay-at-home-mom, I work my tail bone off everyday. I'm the maid, the nanny, the chef, the chauffeur, the counselor, the life coach, the activities director, the secretary, the referee, and sometimes if my husband is lucky, I'm other things as well. ;-) I do it all for free, without being paid, because of my unbreakable and unending love for my family. But as much as I love my family, it is hard to do it all for free. Really hard. So I have to ask myself, "If it's hard for me to work for free for my family, whom I love and cherish more than anything on the planet, how hard is it going to be for doctors to work for free for people they don't even know?"

Free healthcare is an impossibility. There is no such thing as free beer. Your friend paid for it. Maybe he did it because it was his turn to buy, or maybe out of generosity or appreciation for your friendship. But he didn't do it because the bartender said, "Sir, you make twice as much money as this man, so it is only 'fair' that you buy his beer for him."

That's what our government is trying to do regarding healthcare. It isn't going to be free, because someone is going to have to pay for it (estimated cost is 1-1.5 trillion dollars over the next 10 years.) Doctors and nurses need to be paid, along with the scientists that develop new drugs, the engineers that build medical equipment, the architects that design hospitals, and even the janitors that keep the toilets clean. Taxes are going to skyrocket. Everything will be taxed, from the CO2 we breath out (double tax if that breath included nicotine), to sodas, and of course, to incomes.

It isn't going to be free either, with "legislation that would require all Americans to have health insurance, prohibit insurers from refusing to cover pre-existing conditions and place other restrictions on the industry."

I'm a grown up. I like my freedom. I like choosing my doctor, and I like that doctors can refuse patients. I like being free to choose my car, my vocation, my religion, my food, and my home. I like that all Americans have those freedoms, even if they choose differently than me. It's precisely that freedom that makes our nation great. An entrepreneur is free to make or improve something, investors are free to fund it, and consumers are free to purchase it.

Our government is sliding down the slippery slope of oppressive power. Obama wants to tell us what to eat, what to drive, how to run our companies, and what medical treatments we may receive. Oh sure, we'll still have a "choice," but the taxes will be so crippling that it will "necessarily bankrupt" us. As history has shown us over and over, everybody's a loser in a tyrannical state. The Cubans aren't driving 50 year old cars and dying of malnutrition because they like it that way.

Comments

2009-06-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

I have decided to moderate my comments before they are posted to my site. I cannot tolerate disturbing and hate-filled comments posted by people that have nothing better to do than check my site several times daily in order to bash my beliefs and convictions based on nothing other than their disagreement with the topic.

If you disagree with me, by all means, please comment, and I will approve your comments (and maybe even rebut them!), so long as they are sincere and mature. I will not allow a few nuts leaving "hate comments" to destroy any constructive dialogue with my readers about issues Americans are obviously passionate about.

What's With All the Women Bashing?

2009-06-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

First, Playboy published an online article that pointed out ten beautiful, conservative women, and then the author described how he would like to "hate-f*ck" them. Playboy pulled the article after some public outrage that they were promoting rape. Playboy's statement said something along the lines of, "We have supported women's rights for the more than 55 years we've been in business, but only if they're naked and need an abortion." Ok, maybe I added that last part.

Liberal reporter Bonnie Erbe was asked by Smart Girl Politics Mama Lion Teri Christoph to come to women's defense on this issue, because regardless of political conviction, we need to come together and stand up for our gender. Bonnie's response? Well, she thought it was distasteful, but one woman in particular, Michelle Malkin, invited and deserved the attack. Seriously? No one deserves to have others fantasize about raping them.

Then, a few nights ago, Letterman made horrendously distasteful comments about Sarah and Willow Palin's trip to New York. He said that Governor Palin looked like a "slutty flight attendant," and then he took a shot at Palin's daughter, saying, "during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez." Willow is fourteen years old, by the way.

The Palins of course shot back, saying the comments were inappropriate and despicable. Letterman responded by saying that he had meant to refer to Palin's elder daughter Bristol, who is 18 and a new mom. Oh yeah, that makes it better. Excuse me while I roll my eyes.

And yesterday, Carrie Prejean was striped of her Miss California title yesterday, with the Miss Universe organization citing her inability to fulfill contract obligations as the reason for the firing. Prejean maintains that she did indeed fulfilled her obligations, was respectful to all parties involved (including sad, angry little semi-man Perez Hilton), and was shocked to learn of the firing. She even said the meanest thing I've ever heard her say, "They don't like me. From day one they wanted me out and they got what they wanted."

Stories like these make my blood boil. They demean women, and they need to stop. I do not want my two daughters growing up in a world where hate-f*ck lists and tasteless "jokes" about 14 year olds getting knocked up by grown men are culturally acceptable.

Cap and Trade Will Prohibit Innovation in Energy

2009-06-02T13:36:00.000-07:00

The 648 page American Clean Energy Security Act of 2009 is currently being considered by Congress as a way to usher in a new era of clean green energy, and a plethora of jobs along with it. This is the Cap & Trade program (scam) that Obama spoke of over a year ago that would "bankrupt the coal industry," and "necessarily cause energy prices to skyrocket."

I'm confused. Seriously, head-scratching, slack-jawed, eyes-darting-through-space-as-if-trying-to-pull-comprehension-from-thin-air confused. How exactly is a government run program that will bankrupt the coal industry (why aren't they entitled to a bailout, by the way?) and cause energy prices to skyrocket going to be good for our economy? Talk about a bad time for Joe Sixpack. First, he gets fired from his job at the coal plant because his boss couldn't afford to pay him anymore, due to the new fees he must pay for the privilege of producing carbon emissions. Then, a few weeks later, Joe's electricity is shut off because, being unemployed and all, he can't afford to pay his electric bill that has doubled or even tripled in cost. His old boss had to make up the cost of the new government fees by laying off portions of the work force, and by raising his prices to the consumer.

Where does that money go anyway? It will subsidize the green energy market, which will then ensure that green energy never becomes successful. Why feed and care for a cow when your neighbor is forced by the government to bring around a fresh pail of milk every morning?

Do you know what's going to create green energy? People actually wanting it. Mother Necessity and all that. Here's a little reminder for you that will having you humming along all day:

If people really wanted green energy, they would pay for it, even if it cost more. If enough people stopped purchasing *dirty* energy, it would no longer become profitable to produce it. It would then become necessary for the coal plants and oil refineries to step out of the way of the newer, cleaner form of energy production.

Now some people might say that new methods of producing cleaner energy need a *gentle nudge* from the government through the American Clean Energy Security Act of 2009. They may say, "It's not fair that it costs more to produce green energy, and it's not fair that consumers have to pay for the extra cost. Therefore, the government must step in and regulate energy production, for our own good."

Phooey. I don't think the energy industry needs any help from government. People will buy green energy when they want it, and if it's a better product than our current energy produced mainly from coal and oil, our country will slowly begin to make the transition to the newer forms of energy production. And guess what? As the new energy gained popularity, the price would begin to decline, making it affordable to the middle class.

Before 1908, automobiles were playthings of the rich, costing upwards of $3,000 (average income was less than $500 per year). Thanks to the innovation and determination of one man, Henry Ford, the automobile ownership finally became achievable for the middle class in 1909, with the Model T, costing $850. By the 1920s, the price had fallen to $300. The government didn't step in and force production of automobiles. Cars were a better mode of transportation than a horse and buggy. The market demanded an affordable car. People like Henry Ford produced it. When the market demands clean energy, I promise you in the American spirit of ingenuity, an entrepreneur like Henry Ford will deliver us clean energy at an affordable price.

Until then, I'm begging our representatives, senators, and President Obama to please get down off their elitist high horses and stop making decisions "in the best interest of the people." I'm not sure how much more of your help we can take.

The Judicial Branch

2009-05-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

Today, the California Supreme Court met to discuss whether or not they would uphold the decision made by the electorate last November to constitutionally define marriage as between one man and one woman. Thankfully, the court decided to stick to the rules and not legislate from the bench.

There's a reason that the court system is called the judicial branch, and not the legislative branch. Justices that sit on the California bench are appointed by the sitting Governor, not elected by the people as a representative. In California, voters are given the opportunity once every twelve years to vote if a particular justice should be retained, but if that justice is booted, the current Governor is the one that gets to make the nomination for the replacement.

Needless to say, justices do not necessarily represent the will of the people they preside over. That's why we have representatives. Representatives run for office. They tell us why they think they'd represent us well. If they do a lousy job, we vote for the other guy the next time around (two years for the State Assembly, four years for the State Senate).

The legislative branch is the one that represents the people and has the authority to propose amendments to the California Constitution. The Governor (also an elected official, I'd like to point out) also has the power to propose amendments, as well as individual citizens that may propose new legislation by popular petition.

The judicial branch is there to make sure that the laws, as stated in the constitution, are upheld. That's it. They don't get to make up their own laws. They don't get to wake up one morning and decide to overturn a constitutional amendment that went through the proper legal channels and has become law. That's not their job.

So the idea that the California Supreme Court even had a vote on whether or not to overturn the will of the people on the issue of homosexual marriage is ludicrous. Geez, this is stuff I learned in my junior high government class! California sure is nutty sometimes.

At least our President (a Harvard Law School graduate) knows that the role of the judicial branch in policy is to uphold it, not to create or alter it. Or does he?

I will seek someone who understands that justice isn't about some abstract
legal theory or footnote in a casebook; it is also about how our laws affect
the daily realities of people's lives, whether they can make a living and
care for their families, whether they feel safe in their homes and welcome
in their own nation...I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and
identifying with people's hopes and struggles, as an essential ingredient
for arriving at just decisions and outcomes. -President Obama, May 2009, on what he will look for in potential US Supreme Court Justice

I want a Justice that follows the rules. Hasn't anyone in the government read The Lord of the Flies? Don't they know what happens when the supposed leaders start making their own rules? I don't want to ruin it for you, but I can ensure you that chaos ensues.

Let's just hope that Sonia Sotomayor (Obama's pick to replace the retiring Justice Souter on the US Supreme Court) understands her job description, and rules with a firm and fair hand, giving no biased rulings based on things like gender or race.

Somehow, I doubt it. Take a look at what she said in 2005:

And as far as impartiality is concerned? Here's what she had to say about that:

I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences
would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t
lived that life. -Sotomayor, 2001

Like Ralph on the final pages of The Lord of the Flies I weep for, "The end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of a true, wise friend." Ralph's friend was the bespectacled Piggy, who was chased off a cliff by bloodthirsty young boys in pursuit of his fire-starting glasses. My friend's name is Justice, and once our country has empathetic judges that legislate from the bench on the basis of race and gender, she too will be chased off a cliff and flung to her doom.

Dear California Voters,

2009-05-18T21:31:00.000-07:00

I was planning on having an elaborate post for you all on why I plan to vote against all the propositions in the special election tomorrow. However, a teething baby has ruined my plans. Because my responsibility to be a good mother comes above my responsibility to be a good blogger, the post is not to be.

For the record, this conservative chica is voting a big fat NO on all the props tomorrow.

We don't need more of our tax dollars to be poured into the infrastructure, we just need it to be better spent.

Please, can we let the sea lions go before we let the firemen go?

The money is there already, it just needs to be better budgeted.

Please vote NO tomorrow and force the CA legislature to reallocate bureaucracy bucks into bucks that will actually do some good for our bankrupt state.

Nancy Pelosi- Liar or Lunatic?

2009-05-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

Maybe all that Botox has seeped into her brain. It would certainly explain the selective memory she seems to be suffering from.

In case you haven't been keeping up with the news in the past few weeks, the issue of torture has become a hot button topic. It turns out that evil US soldiers were *gasp* pouring water over terrorists' head in Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp in order to gain information about our enemies.

A few weeks ago, Speaker of the House Pelosi (aka The Wicked Witch of Washington), very firmly assured anyone that would listen that as of 2002, she had absolutely no idea that this enhanced interrogation method (or any other) was being used on terrorists detained at Gitmo.

That is until the CIA released documents clearly stating that she had, in fact, been briefed on the situation. So what did the Speaker have to say about that? She backpedaled and said that she had not been briefed on the interrogation tactics until 2003.

Rep. Jane Harmon (D-CA) was also briefed in 2003. Harmon didn't think it was right to throw water on America-hating terrorists heads, so she drafted a letter to the CIA’s general counsel to express “profound” concerns with waterboarding. (Side note- I also have profound concerns with waterboarding, particularly that it probably isn't as effective as pulling out fingernails or being repeatedly hit with a stun gun. These people hate America and want to see us all dead; why the heck wouldn't we do our best to get information from them about possible-and preventable-future attacks?)

According to the Pelosi confidant, the newly elected minority leader was told about the briefing, and that Harman was drafting a protest letter. Pelosi told Sheehy (a Pelosi aide) to tell Harman that she agreed with the letter, the Pelosi insider said. But she did not ask to be listed as a signatory on the letter, the source said, and there is no reference to her in it (This somehow reminds me of junior high, when I told Jessica to tell Ben to tell Matt that I thought it he was cute).

Since this information has come to light, the crazy Pelosi camp has stated that she didn't protest directly out of respect for "appropriate" legislative channels.

I don't know about you, but if I come face to face with something atrociously misaligned with my morals, I say something. I write letters. I blog about it. I make my voice heard, and let people know that something is happening that I do not agree with. I don't glibly spout off whatever the political ideal of the moment is. Following 9/11, people were scared, and wanted to be kept safe, even if the cost was getting a few POW's a little bit wet. After more than seven years of safety, Americans are forgetting what it's like to be afraid, and pandering Pelosi has no problem saying what she thinks people want to hear in order to get re-elected.

Nancy Pelosi is either A) A liar-how many times has she had to eat her words at this point? or B) A lunatic-and a raving one at that. My guess? A little from both column A and B.

What a Week! (And it's only Tuesday)

2009-04-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

Swine Flu

To think that just a short week ago, the vast majority of us were blissfully unaware of the H1N1 strain of the flu, which is a blend of genetic material from pigs, birds and humans. Wow, that must have been some party!

Several cases of the illness (but no deaths) have been reported in the United States, with most of the sickies having recently returned from trips to Mexico, where the virus is suspected to have claimed 159 lives thus far.

Maybe we should, um, close the borders to prevent unnecessary exposure of the swine flu to Americans. I wonder what inept Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano would say to that plan of action? She doesn't like it much. In a press conference, she stated "We're already doing passive surveillance at the border. You would close the border if you thought you could contain the spread of disease, but the disease already is in a number of states within the United States."

Wow, what would make her call for the Mexican border to be closed? A horrific drug war that's killed dozens of American Citizens caught in the crossfire in the past few months? Oh wait... Speaking of Napolitano, here's a fun site to check out- firejanetnapolitano.com

Air Farce One

Thousands of people evacuated from buildings on both sides of the Hudson yesterday after a 747 was spotted flying just 1000 feet over Ground Zero. You can imagine the terror felt by those in New York as they remembered the 9/11 terrorist attacks in Manhattan and DC less than a decade ago.

Turns out that the plane was one of the two that serve as Air Force One, the President's personal aircraft. What was it doing flying so low to the NYC skyline? Come on, do you really need to ask? Photo op.

The Air Force apparently had permission for the 10a.m. flyover, but no one bothered to warn the masses. Whoops.

Arlen Specter
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter officially switched teams today. He now bats for Team Democrat. This came as no surprise to many, as the stimulus supporting moderate has made no secret of his liberal leanings. A few of my favorite comments on Twitter-

@Crevek: Would I be mixing metaphors if I said it is a glorious day that Arlen Specter has finally come out of the closet?

@snarkandboobs: Upset about Specter. I mean, where else are we gonna find a completely unreliable vote and someone to quote irrelevant Scottish law?

@TLOT: NEWSFLASH: Specter leaves GOP, joins DNC, everyone says "He was in the GOP?"

Lingerie Bowl

And to top it off in sports news, San Diego is now the proud home of the San Diego Seduction, a Lingerie Bowl Team. I have not yet been officially asked to join the team.

Miss California

2009-04-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

During the Miss America Pageant last Sunday, Miss California Carrie Prejean may have sacrificed the crown in exchange for her honesty on a hot button topic- homosexual marriage.

Prejean was asked by celebrity blogger Perez Hilton (who is incidentally is openly gay), "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?"

The drop dead gorgeous and obviously courageous Prejean might have briefly wavered, but stuck to her convictions and replied, "Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage...And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be - between a man and a woman. Thank you very much."

Perez has since called her a "dumb bitch" on his infamous website. Hmmm... what happened to, "Dissent is patriotic," which was the war cry of the left for the eight year duration of the Bush Presidency? On that note, Carrie is not even technically dissenting, since she stands with the majority of Californians that voted yes on Prop 8 last fall.

I have to wonder what would have happened if she had worded her response differently, perhaps saying, "I agree with President Obama on this issue. I believe that marriage is the union between a man and a woman. Now, for me as a Christian — for me — for me as a Christian, it is also a sacred union. God’s in the mix... Because historically — because historically, we have not defined marriage in our constitution. It’s been a matter of state law. That has been our tradition. I mean, let’s break it down. The reason that people think there needs to be a constitutional amendment, some people believe, is because of the concern that — about same-sex marriage. I am not somebody who promotes same-sex marriage, but I do believe in civil unions. I do believe that we should not — that for gay partners to want to visit each other in the hospital for the state to say, you know what, that’s all right, I don’t think in any way inhibits my core beliefs about what marriage are. I think my faith is strong enough...that I can afford those civil rights to others, even if I have a different perspective or different view."

Guess what? That italicized text came directly from the Chosen One's silver tongue last summer during the Saddleback Presidential Forum.

Just some food for thought.

Smart Girl Politics Meet and Greets

2009-04-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

If you're near one of these areas, stop by and say hello!

San Diego
The Vine
1851 Bacon St
(between Newport Ave & Niagara Ave)
San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 222-8463
theobvine.com
4 pm local time

Northern VA
Continental
1911 N. Fort Meyer Dr.
Arlington, VA 22209
6:00-? pm

Houston:
Berryhill Baja Grill
1717 Post Oak Blvd.
Houston, TX 77056
6:00-? pm

New York:
Sheraton Mahwah Hotel
1 International Boulevard
Route 17 North
Mahwah, NJ 07495
6:00-? pm

Orlando:
The White Wolf Cafe
1829 N. Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32804
6:00-? pm

Raleigh:
Mimi's Cafe
1115 Walnut Street
Cary, NC 27511
6:00-? pm

Atlanta:
La Paz
2950 New Paces Ferry Rd. SE
Atlanta, GA 30339
6:00-? pm

Lansing:
Tavern on the Square
206 S Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
6:00-? pm

Miami/Ft. Lauderdale:
The Blue Martini Lounge
2432 E. Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
6:00-? pm

Chicago:
Exchequer Restaurant and Pub
226 S. Wabash
Chicago, IL 60604
2:00-? pm

Keep it Classy, MSM!

2009-04-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

The main stream media has almost collapsed into a fit of giggles this week over the Tea Parties held around the country and, at last count, attended by hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Why is a massive, peaceful demonstration by freedom loving Americans cause for such hysterics?

For CNN, MSNBC and other media outlets, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use the word "teabagging" in a sentence.

Teabagging, for those who don't live in a frat house, refers to a sexual act involving part of the male genitalia and a second person's face or mouth.

Wow. Very mature. Almost as mature as someone that uses the argument, "I won," when people don't agree with him, or smirks while he slyly flips off his opposition as he's accepting victory.

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is standing by the reports released by the DHS last week warning law enforcement across the country of violent right wing extremists and our penchant for violence.

And sure enough... the DC Tea Party was shut down temporarily due to those violent right wing extremists. Someone had the gall, no, the audacity, to *gasp* throw a box of tea bags at the White House! Granted, in today's world, that wasn't a very smart move. But if that was the most violent thing that happened at the hundreds of protests on Wednesday, I don't think that the DHS has a leg to stand on.

The People are Speaking...

2009-04-15T17:50:00.000-07:00

... Are our elected officials listening?

By the way, that first chick making her voice heard is yours truly. :-)

Right Wing Extremeist Tea Parties

2009-04-14T23:32:00.001-07:00

I have to start this post with a conversation I had with a friend earlier this evening.

Friend- "So what are your plans tomorrow?"

Me- "It's the 15th tomorrow... I have a tea party to go to!"

Friend- "What are you going to do with your kids while you're there?"

Me- "Well, they'll probably be there with me..."

Friend- "What?? I worry enough with you going to these things! Do you really think they're safe there?"

Me- *laughing* "I've been to two of these things already and seriously, it seems like half the women there have their small children with them! It's been a really great time to connect with other like-minded individuals."

Friend- "If you're sure... I trust you."

These tea parties have been wonderful. They really have been. I know they are protests, but really, they are just American citizens coming together to make a point that there are MANY of us that do not agree that the way to end the current recession is spend more money and invite more government oppression into our lives.

I have met so many caring, passionate people at the two tea parties I've attended in the past month, and I hope to meet many more tomorrow on Tax Day, April 15th. There has been no violence, no secret HuffPo or ACORN plants (that I know of), and nothing but love and pride for the freedom that our country stands for. I would be proud to have my daughters stand by my side and voice the opinion that We the People want the opportunity to work hard and achieve something of our lives.

Even my five year old daughter understands that it is wrong to take something from someone that has earned it and give it to someone that has not. "But why don't those people work hard like you and Daddy?" She has asked me on more than one occasion.

My answer? "Sometimes people can't work Baby, and when people have hard times, other people should help them. Like we give money and clothes and toys to people that don't have a lot."

Her response?

"But Mommy, if they can work, they really should."

Yes Darling Daughter, they should. Have I taught you yet the term "enabling"?

Anyway, back to my point. The Tea Parties have been the most wonderful expression of our Constitutional rights that I have ever personally witnessed. And then I read a report from the Department of Homeland Security warning law enforcement officials across the country of right wing extremism and even racism.

Ok, let me get this straight. The President of the United States of America can pal around with "God DAMN America" pastors and "We didn't do enough" domestic flag burning terrorists, but the tea party protesters are the dangerous ones? People that just want the freedom to choose their own job, doctor, and schools for their children? Oh man, watch out for those right wing nuts! All they want is FREEDOM from an oppressive government.

We can't have that, now can we?

Random Mish Mash of Thoughts

2009-04-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

I've been MIA while working on a charity event for my daughter's school, so I thought I'd post some thoughts that have gone through my brain since my last post.

I was already less than thrilled with Obama's Leno appearance. I was aghast when he poked fun at the Special Olympics. "It's like — it was like Special Olympics, or something," he said in reference to his bowling game.

The man doesn't seem to have a filter. Every time he's separated from his beloved teleprompter, he blurts out something completely inappropriate and unbecoming of his position. He was barely in office when he blurted, "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about doing any seances."

He has to be the world's worst gift giver. British PM Gordon Brown gifted the new President with an ornamental pen holder made from the timbers of the Victorian anti-slave ship HMS Gannet and a first edition of the seven-volume biography of Churchill by Sir Martin Gilbert, among other things. In return, Obama allegedly gave Brown a "special collector's box" of 25 classic American DVDs. DVDs which are unplayable in the UK without special converters.

Do we even need to talk about the Ipod/Queen fiasco?

Speaking of the Queen... I cannot believe that Michelle O. touched her. I understand that many people may not be aware of proper protocol regarding royalty, but as First Lady, you think she'd have brushed up on her What To Do When You Meet the Queen Skills.

Meanwhile, while Michelle wasn't showing enough respect to her Majesty, the POTUS was busy bowing at the waist to the king of Saudi Arabia. Are you kidding me? When I heard this, I honestly thought it was a joke, or a conspiracy theory. But I've seen the video. It's a clear bow. Anyone that says otherwise would probably try to argue that guns kill people, or spoons make people fat.

No wonder no one is investing in anything these days! We have a President that is so impetuous that he runs around showing himself subservient to leaders of conflict ridden countries, thinks it's entirely appropriate to give unplayable DVDs to PM Gordon Brown, goes around firing CEO's of private companies(GM), taxing the bonuses of those that had nothing to do with this financial mess other than have the misfortune of working for a company that received bailout money (AIG), and is refusing to accept repayment from the companies that want to give the money back!

It all seems like a bad dream. This administration has gone so far off the edge of sanity that people are finally starting to wake up. Little by little, the glitter is wearing off, and all that's left is a swarmy deceiver with no real experience, no conscience, no patriotism, and no desire to help anyone but himself.

Let's start taking our country and our freedoms back. I want freedom to fail. If I have freedom to fail, it also means that I have freedom to succeed.

Attend a Tax Day Tea Party rally this Saturday, and a Tea Party Protest next Wednesday, April 15th. For more information about finding one in your area, visit here.

Obama Makes History Yet Again

2009-03-18T09:59:00.001-07:00

Although he's only been President for two months, Obama has already shattered many records set by previous leaders of the free world. Even in his first day in office, he managed to win the unofficial "Most Money Ever Spent on an Inauguration." Heck, his election itself made history, as he is the first black man to win the position.

He's had more criminals appointed to his cabinet than any other president in the history of our great country. One of them, Tim Geitner, actually had the balls to not step down, as Richardson and Daschle did. Attorney General Eric Holder openly calls US citizens cowards and implies that we're all racists. Judd Gregg withdrew his nomination for commerce secretary not because he himself is a nasty dude, but because he just couldn't stomach the Obama Administrations plans for America.

He's spent more of our money in two months than George W. Bush spent in eight years.

I suppose this new record breaker seems like small beans in comparison to everything President Obama has accomplished since January, but it is definitely worth nothing. Tonight, he will become the first sitting president in history to appear on a talk show.

Wow, what a cool guy! Too bad coolness does not end recessions, create jobs, keep citizens safe, nor divert disasters such as ice storms, Mexican drug lord slayings, and shooting sprees in Alabama.

Coolness does not equal greatness. Celebrities should not become presidents. Can we please try to remember that in 2012?

AIG Bailout Mess

2009-03-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

So many people are up in arms about the 165 million dollar bonuses promised to AIG execs. In the MSM, I've heard such comments as, "It's not fair!" and, "Why should we reward failure?"

Why indeed?

Maybe politicians should have actually read the policies and contracts in place when they decided to hand over $170,000,000,000 in tax payer funds. That's money out of our paychecks. Even if you're part of the 40% or so of working Americans that don't pay income taxes, it's money out of your boss's paycheck, and guess what? That's less money he has to pay you. Don't be bitter if you don't get that raise this year, just be thankful that you still have a job.

Now that the deed is done, pay the AIG people the money that was promised them. Let it be a lesson. Next time, please read the fine print. And the lesson for you, John and Jane America? In 2010, let's vote some people into office that actual care about us "little people" just trying to make a living, ok?

California, Say Hello to the Delta Smelt!

2009-02-28T11:34:00.000-08:00

Why should you say hello to this ugly, slimy little sea kitten? Because he is the reason your water bill is going through the roof and may be the cause of water rationing soon, as Governor Schwarzenegger declared California in a state of drought emergency.

All reports in the mainstream media are claiming that after three years of practically record low rainfall, of course there isn't enough water for all of us to use and enjoy to our hearts' content. It is true that we haven't seen as much rain as usual in the Golden State these past few years, but anyone that knows anything about geography knows that much of California is a desert climate, and historically has seen cyclical shortages of rainfall.

So why are we now in a state of drought emergency? In addition to a few years of less rainfall than average, there are California court-ordered restrictions on pumping from the *environmentally sensitive* Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, home of the smelt! We wouldn't want those ugly little buggers to go extinct, after all.

Save the Smelt!

Save the Smelt at the expense of all the repercussions that will come from cutting California residents off from one of their main water supplies. Not only will you be paying more for that precious H2O commodity, but you'll be paying more for unemployment of others, as farmers are forced to abandon their crops and fire their workers. No water=no plant growth. Also, get ready to pay exorbitant amounts of money for those groceries that do make it to your local supermarket. They were grown with expensive California water, or they were transported in from afar; either scenario will jack up the price.

Say Hello to the Smelt?

I say GOODBYE Smelt!

San Diego Tea Party

2009-02-27T12:13:00.000-08:00

San Diego took part in a nationwide Tea Party Protest today in protest to the Obama Administration's bailout plan.

It was a great turnout, and amazing to see so many opposed to the redistribution of hard earned wealth to slackers working part time at McDonald's.

Speaker Michael Crimmins

Speaker Leslie Eastman

We even had a sailboat in attendance! The sign says, "Repeal or Retire."

Some of the crowd

Protesters lined the streets

Keep it up conservatives! Keep it real, keep it honest, but keep it LOUD!

Importance of Education & How You Can Help

2009-02-20T05:32:00.000-08:00

No doubt about it. Our current educational system has cultivated a generation of self-important and politically correct young adults that can barely read, write, or add, but gosh darnit, don't they feel good about themselves? Oh wait, according to some in the new administration, (*cough* Eric Holder *cough*), only black students should feel good about themselves; white students are cowards because they don't talk enough about how cool it is to be black. (Can you see me rolling my eyes from where you're sitting?)

Our children are being dumbed down in government run schools. Study after study after study show that American students are falling further and further behind their foreign counterparts. Teachers are limited on how much work they may assign their students, social awareness trumps personal responsibility, school nurses can't hand out aspirin but can direct pregnant teens to an abortion clinic, and students incapable of constructing grammatically correct sentences or adding two three-digit numbers together without a calculator keep on donning those caps and gowns to receive their diplomas.

What's our new prez going to do to improve our educational system? With $100 billion set aside in the latest "stimulus" package for education, you'd think the government could improve education drastically. Unfortunately, as history has shown, throwing money at a problem rarely makes that problem go away. It's sort of like using a pail to dump water out of a leaky rowboat... sure, you can keep the boat from sinking (for awhile) but if you don't plug the leaks, it will keep filling back up and your arms will get very, very tired.

I'm not sure Obama really wants educated, critically thinking adults in his audience anyway. Afterall, it was the idiotic youth vote that got him elected (although not this 26 year old youth, you all know I voted for Sarah Palin ;-)). Imagine if all of those young people had stopped to think about the ramifications of electing a power hungry socialist that attended a black supremist church for 20 years, kicked off his political career in a domestic terrorist's living room, had a wife that was ashamed to be an American until her husband was nominated for the Presidential ticket, and wants to sit down for milk and cookies with Ahmenajad (you know, that Iranian leader with nukes and a desire to obliterate the US from the map). A well educated audience might have questioned his double speak, even to the point of telling two different cities that he was rooting for their team to win the world series! Seriously, is that important enough to lie about?

Besides, Arne Duncan, the former Chicago schools chief, is now heading up the Department of Education. And we all know how great the schools in Chicago are (again with the eye rolling! I just can't seem to help myself).

So what's a parent to do in these dire educational circumstances? Sit back and relax while the government tells you what's best for your child? Not this parent, that's for sure! As our eldest daughter neared schooling age, my husband and I took stock of our options. We could put her in a government run school, and supplement at home. We could put her name in the lottery for a coveted spot at a nearby covertly Christian charter school. I could homeschool her, but that would've involved too many prescription drugs (no, not Ritalin for her, Lorazepam for me). We could look into private school. Months of research, phone calls, school visits, and prayer later, we fell in love with The Cambridge School.

The philosophy-

The Cambridge School employs a classical, Christian approach to learning, which is a time-honored approach to learning used throughout the Western world by the 16th century, and which remained the norm until at least 1850.The method is known as the Trivium, which imparts the basic tools of learning to the student and introduces them to the life of the mind. The Trivium is applied to every academic discipline, meaning every subject has its grammar, logic, and rhetoric.Becoming educated in any subject involves knowing its basic facts and principles (grammar), ordering and analyzing relationships concerning those facts (logic), and communicating conclusions in a clear, persuasive, and winsome manner (rhetoric). This three-phase model works because it focuses on the way children learn best at each stage of life and builds on the foundation of previous stages. Thus, it prepares students to become life-long learners who can think for themselves. And in today's culture, such skills are increasingly valuable precisely because this educational model is the exception rather than the rule.

Now everyone knows the major downside to private education: the cost. It eats a substantial chunk of our monthly income, but it is a sacrifice that we are willing to make. Although the Obamas practice school choice (their elementary age daughters attend the prestigious Sidwell Friends to the tuition tune of $28,442 per year, per girl), it's a case of, "What's good enough for thee isn't good enough for me." Obama does not support the use of vouchers, which would allow parents of school aged children to take a portion of the money that the state has allocated for their education and spend it at the school of their choice.

I know we are blessed to not need tuition assistance at this point in time. We don't take fancy vacations, we don't go out on fancy dates, I clean the house, cook the meals, chauffeur the kids, and shop frugally. Heck, right now I'm writing this piece on a three year old laptop with a screen that blinks out if I don't keep a clothespin on the upper left hand corner. Life would be much easier financially if we didn't pay for our daughter to attend private school, but we get by just fine.

There are many that cut every corner, but still can't afford to participate in school choice. These are families with hard working parents and eager to learn kids, who just want to be given the opportunity to attend the school of their choice, The Cambridge School. For those students, the school offers some tuition assistance... which of course is paid for by...wait for it...fundraising! You knew I had to be selling something, right? Wrapping paper? Cookie dough? A snugi, perhaps?

How about a chance to win a dream car for only $25? Did I get your attention? (in my best cheesy Billy Mays impression) For the low, low price of $25, you will receive by mail or in person 1 raffle ticket as confirmation of your entry, with its partner being entered into the drawing to take place on April 4, 2009 at the Cambridge Auction and Gala. The grand prize winner will receive his or her choice of one of 4 dream cars or $25,000 cash.

But wait! There's more! Spend $100 on a bundle of tickets, and receive not 4 chances to win, but 5! That's right, Folks, for just $100 dollars, you will receive 5 raffles tickets! With sales being capped at 3,000 entries, your chances to win the grand prize or one of the smaller cash prizes are higher than the chance you're wearing a snugi right now. And be honest, that warm fuzzy feeling that you get from doing something good (like donating to a stellar cause) is all you really need to be a winner! Ok, warm heated seats in a brand new luxury car might trump a warm fuzzy heart on a cold winter morning...

No need to be present to win. Void where prohibited by law.

Download your forms here, enter "Hannah E." as the Cambridge Referral Name, and mail or fax it in to the school.

All proceeds directly fund the Tuition Assistance and Language Arts programs(Mandarin, Latin, and Spanish) which help ensure a diverse and vibrant student community and well-rounded academic programs.

The Inconvenient Truth About the Pork-Free Stimulus Bill

2009-02-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

I know that there are a lot of folks out there who've been saying, 'Oh, this is pork, and this is money that's going to be wasted,' and et cetera, et cetera. Understand, this bill does not have a single earmark in it, which is unprecedented for a bill of this size. ... There aren't individual pork projects that members of Congress are putting into this bill. -President Obama, February 10, 2009.

Really, Mr. President? No pork in the stimulus? Well then, how do you define some of the ludicrous expenses tucked in this behemoth of a bill?

Some left-wing pet projects included in spending frenzy
-$50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts
-$380 million in the Senate bill for the Women, Infants and Children program
-$300 million for grants to combat violence against women
-$2 billion for federal child-care block grants
-$6 billion for university building projects
-$15 billion for boosting Pell Grant college scholarships
-$4 billion for job-training programs, including $1.2 billion for “youths” up to the age of 24
-$1 billion for community-development block grants
-$4.2 billion for “neighborhood stabilization activities”
-$650 million for digital-TV coupons; $90 million to educate “vulnerable populations”

Laudable goals? Maybe. Goals that should, in this citizen's opinion, be achieved through charity and not government, but either way you look at it, none of these items will do much to stimulate the economy. By the way, ACORN will be eligible to apply for and receive a good portion of this money. If there ever really is any transparency, as the Prez has promised, I'm sure we will see millions, if not billions go to voter fraud. I have a feeling that that transparency is going to be rather opaque.

Some items that will benefit Washington D.C. infrastructure
-$150 million for the Smithsonian
-$34 million to renovate the Department of Commerce headquarters
-$500 million for improvement projects for National Institutes of Health facilities
-$44 million for repairs to Department of Agriculture headquarters
-$350 million for Agriculture Department computers
-$88 million to help move the Public Health Service into a new building
-$448 million for constructing a new Homeland Security Department headquarters
-$600 million to convert the federal auto fleet to hybrids
-$450 million for NASA (carve-out for “climate-research missions”)
-$600 million for NOAA (carve-out for “climate modeling”)
-$1 billion for the Census Bureau

Is our capital falling down? This list sure makes it seems so! New buildings for everyone! Ooh, and new cars too! Let's get those cute trendy little Priuses! And, after you drive your new car to your new work building, go ahead and sit down at your new computer!

Seriously? How is bankrupting my children so that government employees can have nice things going to stimulate our economy?

Here are few other wealth redistribution goodies
-$89 billion for Medicaid
-$30 billion for COBRA insurance extension
-$36 billion for expanded unemployment benefits
-$20 billion for food stamps

Now I'm really stumped. Anyone want to explain to me how providing extra free stuff (health care, food, and just plain cash) for the unemployed is going to encourage them to get a job?

Even more random spending
-$4.5 billion for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
-$850 million for Amtrak
-$87 million for a polar icebreaking ship
-$1.7 billion for the National Park System
-$55 million for Historic Preservation Fund
-$7.6 billion for “rural community advancement programs”
-$150 million for agricultural-commodity purchases
-$150 million for “producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish”

Amtrak is getting a cut of this? Do you know when the last time Amtrak produced a profit was? Decades ago! I wish I could suck at my job and still get paid! Must be nice. Hmmm, maybe the $850,000,000 for money-pit Amtrak was thrown in because Joe Biden's son Hunter sits on the board? Say it together boys and girls- nepotism!

And speaking of ridiculous expenditures, why exactly are we spending money on a polar icebreaking ship? Haven't the dems been saying for years that the ice caps are melting?

Speaking of ice, the above bullet points are just the tip of the iceberg on this $838 billion dollar package meant to stimulate our economy by proving jobs to out of work Americans.

I believe Shakespeare said it best through Juliet;

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself."

Only this stimulus is not even close to Romeo of dear perfection. It is pork. Let's call it like it is, okey dokey? After all, President Obama, you were the one that called for a new era of responsibility and transparency.

Hot Topic

2009-02-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

Did you hear about the baby botched abortion of a 23 week old fetus? The autopsy revealed that the baby's lungs had filled with air, proof of a live birth. The umbilical cord was cut, and the live baby was tossed into a bio hazard waste receptacle. No, not in Mexico or China. No, not pre-Roe v Wade. This happened in Florida in 2006. Read about it here.

As a general rule, I tend to keep quiet on the abortion issue on here. But the revelation of this baby killed and tossed in a garbage can to die, coupled with President Obama lifting the ban on federal funding for international groups that promote or perform abortions as a method of family planning in other nations, have riled me enough to speak out on the topic.

Abortion has long been hailed by liberals as a legitimate form of family planning. Pro-choice, they call it, the choice of a woman to be pregnant or not. Well, I am absolutely, 100% pro-choice in this arena. Of course a woman can chose to not be pregnant! All she has to do to make this choice a reality is to not have sex. "But that's unrealistic!" the liberals tell me. I'm pretty sure that God gave us free will, reason, and (even if sometimes limited) intelligence to make the best decisions we can. If a woman so desperately doesn't want to become pregnant, to the point that she would pay someone to suck her unborn baby out of her womb with a vacuum, then I respectfully suggest she keep her legs shut, as abstinence is the only 100% effective form of birth control.

The botched abortion baby caused tears to roll down my cheeks, in sadness at that little life ended. Who knows who that little could have grown up to be? Who knows the impact that little girl might have had on the world? And then I became indignant. Why was it perfectly legal and acceptable to kill that helpless little girl only moments prior to when it become a crime scene? Why was that baby denied the right to life simply because she still lived in her mother's body? What magical thing happened the moment her skin hit the air for the first time? How did every cell in her being cease to be part of her mother's body and transform into a separate person? I'm afraid the science of that eludes me.

It's so tempting to be persuaded by the argument that it's just part of a woman's body, and we should all have control over own bodies, but that's not what abortion is about. Legalized abortion puts the power to end another being's life without just cause into the hands of every pregnant woman.

We are living in an era of bailouts. Is anybody responsible for the decisions they make anymore? Every time a decision is made, there are consequences to that decision. Eating too much ice cream will cause you to gain weight, making risky business decisions might cause you to go bankrupt, and having sex (even with protection) might cause a pregnancy. Today we have liposuction, government bailouts, and abortion, all which take away the decision maker's responsibility for living with the consequences of their decisions and actions. How can anyone be held accountable, or taught to learn from their mistakes when they are never forced to face any consequences?

I do not believe abortion falls under the umbrella of women's rights, and I certainly don't see any discrimination in taking away a woman's right to chose whether or not she wants to end the life of her progeny for no good reason. Abortion isn't about women's rights, even though it's touted as the pinnacle of it. Women's rights are suffrage, right to contraceptives, equal opportunity, equal pay, right to own property, right to an education, right to enter into legal contracts, or any other thing that a man has a right to. A man does not have the right to chose whether or not to end his unborn child's life, so why should a woman?"

Every time I hear of abortion, my heart cries out for the victims. For the babies that never got to take a breath of air, for the mothers that have been lied to about the development of their baby in utero or unduly pressured by others, for the fathers that were told it was none of their business, and for countless others that have been hurt and are still suffering from abortion. And it makes me absolutely ill that my tax dollars are now being used to fund abortions overseas.

Let's put an end to fetuscide, shall we?

Nancy Pelosi

2009-02-04T10:51:00.000-08:00

Nancy claims that we lose 500 million American jobs each month we don’t pass her $1 trillion pork barrel spending boondoggle. That's pretty hard to do in a country with just over 300 million men, women, and children.

Update

2009-01-29T13:19:00.000-08:00

Even though the Stimulus passed the House yesterday, we still have something to celebrate. Every House Republican voted NO to the stimulus, and we got 11 Democrats as well!

Way to grow some, GOP! Let's keep it up.

Melt the Phones

2009-01-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

We still have time to call our Reps and let them know how we feel about the bogus stimulus package! Click Me

Even if you're sure your Representative opposes it, call anyway and show your support so that they may stand strong and not be swayed by the Chicken Littles insisting that they *reach across the aisle*. The sky is not falling, and this package is certainly not an umbrella.

Last Fall, Citigroup received $45 billion of the tax-payer funded bailout. Since being bailed out, Citigroup has laid off 75,000 workers, but they have managed to plunk down $50 million for a new FRENCH made luxury private jet. Your tax dollars at work, ladies and gentlemen. Keep it from happening again; this stimulus has no more oversight than the last one.

Call right now, it takes less than 3 minutes!

What's the best way to stimulate the economy? Infuse it with much-needed new cash by providing across-the-board tax cuts for ALL taxpayers, reducing the corporate tax rate of 35 percent, the second highest in the world, to 25 percent or less, and keeping or reducing the capital gains tax rate of 15 percent. After all who do you trust to spend your tax money…politicians and bureaucrats or you? -Libby Wright (http://swineline.org/2009/01/27/melt-the-phones/)

So Much For...

2009-01-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

Transparency-

Mr Obama has pledged to end the culture wars on social issues that have riven American politics for a generation and did not allow television cameras to film him signing the executive order reversing the Bush abortion funding ban on aid agencies abroad, in order not to provoke pro-life groups.

Bipartisanship-

He faces mounting criticism over his $825 billion economic stimulus plan, from Republican leaders who say the legislation has been drawn up without the input which Mr Obama had promised to allow them.
The president responded with a clear signal that he is prepared to ram the bill through without the bipartisan consensus he promised to construct, telling Republican leaders from the House of Representatives: "I won. I'm the president."

National Security-

Republicans are also criticizing Mr Obama's decision to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp with no plan for the detainees still incarcerated there and for forcing the CIA to follow stricter rules on interrogations. The revelation last week that 60 former inmates have returned to terrorism - and that one is now deputy leader of al Qaeda's Yemeni branch - was unfortunate timing for the President.

Ethics-

Having announced new ethics rules banning lobbyists serving in his administration, the president was immediately forced to make an exception for his deputy defense secretary William Lynn, who has lobbied for the defense industry giant Raytheon.

So, is he going to break all of his campaign promises? Or is he going to keep the ones that will cause irreparable harm to our way of life? I have a feeling it's going to be a rough four years.

Changing His Tune

2009-01-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

Last June, then Senator Obama gave a moving speech as he accepted the bid for the Democratic Presidential Nominee. In that speech, he gave hope to millions by saying, "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."

Throughout his campaign, Obama drew massive crowds of people hungering for change, moved Oprah to tears, and sent tingles down Chris Matthew's leg. He eloquently read the teleprompter, promising a better way of life for America. A life with free health care, low unemployment, clean green energy, an end to the war in Iraq, affordable housing and higher education, and lower taxes for 95% of Americans, just to name a few. No wonder so many people voted for him! I would've too, if I had taken him at his word and not questioned his success rate in his career so far, studied how he planned to implement those goals, or looked at history to see if such implementation had been successful in the past. The only thing Obama has been successful in is getting elected. He planned to improve American life by expanding government involvement and spending, and taxing the rich to pay the poor. FDR's New Deal, which was a tremendous expansion in government, has now been proven to have prolonged the Great Depression by as much as 10 years.

I don't blame those who fell for Obama's seductive promises. My great grandmother used to say alluring lies fall sweetly on the ears. Everyone wants to live in an ideal society. I consider myself a pragmatist in knowing that an ideal society is not possible on this Earth; that utopia is reserved for Heaven. During his two year campaign for President, Barack Obama promised that utopia could be here and now.

Today, Senator Obama is now President Obama, elected by American people like Peggy the Moocher, who famously declared, "I never thought this day would ever happen. I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage. You know. If I help [Obama], he’s gonna help me.”

Now is the time for Obama to make good on his promises, to keep his word to America, to restore our image as the "last, best hope on Earth." To bring our troops home, to end our dependence on foreign oil, to provide jobs with decent wages, free health care and respectable retirements to all Americans...and to get a puppy for his daughters.

Since his monumental election November 4th, Obama has, in almost every public appearance, felt the need to remind his adoring public of the difficult times we are facing as a nation, and of the long, hard journey that lies ahead of us. It is a very different tune from the one he sang when he was courting the public for their votes, when he was full of hopeful and beautiful rhetoric about the change he was going to bring about in the country.

In his inaugural speech this morning, Obama again reminded us that, "we are in the midst of crisis," and that "our economy is badly weakened." And then he broke his campaign promise of growing a government that would assume responsibility for the health and welfare of its citizens, and laid that responsibility upon the people. He stated, "For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

Interesting. He almost sounds like a conservative with that attitude of encouraging citizens to help one another rather than relying on government assistance. I for one am happy that he seems to be breaking his pie-in-the-sky promises of a government that can do everything short of wiping tushies for Mr. and Mrs. America, but I wonder how his scores of admirers feel about his new song.

Well, at least one promise will be kept. The First Family is now accepting applications for First Dog. Ok, not really. But it would be funny if they were.

CA Tax Refunds to be Delayed...

2009-01-16T15:38:00.001-08:00

My husband and I have never relied on tax refunds. I know many people that get so excited each year when they open that big refund check from the government. I have gotten blue in the face trying to explain to them that it is not a "check from the government", but rather the government paying them back the money that they themselves loaned Uncle Sam.

If you get a tax refund check, it means that you had too much money withheld from your paychecks throughout the previous year. That's money that you earned, the government borrowed, and then gave back to you, without the benefit of even the slightest bit of interest. Tell me, have you ever borrowed money from someone without having to pay it back with interest? Ok, maybe your parents...

California has been spending taxpayer money like it's controlled by zealous liberals (oh wait, it is!) for years, and now we can no longer borrow the money from special funds or Wall Street investors due to the current credit crunch. State Controller John Chiang has decided that the best way to make up some of the $41.6 billion deficit is to deny repayment of the interest-free loans that California citizens so generously, or unwittingly, provided.

It's a good thing that I wasn't looking forward to that repayment check! I urge everyone that got a large refund on their taxes last year to take a look at their withholding status, and make sure that they are getting paid the money that they earned and are owed with each paycheck.

Let Them Eat Cake

2009-01-14T14:20:00.000-08:00

The Age of Obama draws nearer with The Chosen One's Inauguration less than a week away. On January 20th, 2008, the new Prez will kick off his reign in style, to the tune of $160,000,000 (according to recent estimates). This far exeeds the $42,300,000 spent by George W. Bush in 2005, and the $33,000,000 spent by Bill Clinton in 1993.

For someone so intent on robbing the rich to give to the poor (Increasing taxes on top earners to hand out welfare checks to those 40% of Americans that already get a governement break by not paying taxes), I'd have thought he'd want to tone down the frivolous spending a bit. I would much rather see the transfer of power take place with a handshake in the Oval Office.

As I was Saying...

2009-01-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

The Intelligence & Terrorism Information Center has a report on Palestinian rockets and mortar shells fired into Israel for the past 8 years, including this chart showing the rapid increase in attacks since Hamas took power in Gaza. Just thought I'd share.

A Bully in the Sandbox

2008-12-31T13:10:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-12-09T14:25:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-08T17:10:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-20T12:44:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

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.

2008-11-09T13:32:00.000-08:00

“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

2008-11-07T17:26:00.000-08:00

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,

2008-11-06T10:08:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-05T12:39:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-11-04T20:06:00.001-08:00

...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."

2008-11-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

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?

2008-11-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

2008-11-03T19:10:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-02T21:20:00.000-08:00

Not sure whether to laugh or cry over this video!

California State Propositions

2008-11-02T16:48:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

“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?

2008-10-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

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)

2008-10-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

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)

2008-10-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

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?