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Thursday, December 10, 2009
Awaiting a Bigger Payoff?
Posted by: Carol Platt Liebau at 10:55 PM
Blanche Lincoln and Mary Landrieu, senators from Arkansas and Louisiana respectively, insist that -- contrary to Harry Reid's assertions -- there is no health care deal.  They claim to be waiting for the CBO to score the new bill.

In a sane world, this would make sense.  After all, how can any fiscally responsible human being vote for a bill that will create a back-door government option by expanding the Medicare rolls, when the program already is due to go bankrupt in 2017?

The problem, however -- especially given Landrieu's history -- is that both women may simply be waiting to see how big a payoff they can extract in return for their support.

Given that a CNN poll today found that more than 6 in 10 Americans -- and 2/3 of independents -- oppose the Senate bill, it stands to reason that Landrieu and Lincoln might figure that they shouldn't be supporting a turkey for free.




Thursday, December 10, 2009
Chuck Todd: Obama Won Peace Prize For Defending American Exceptionalism Or Something
Posted by: Greg Hengler at 5:32 PM
I can't believe Chuck Todd is trying to claim that Obama won the leftist Stanley Cup because he embraced the Bush Doctrine. H/T to Allah and Ed for creating the "or something" tail.






Thursday, December 10, 2009
Headline Of The Day
Posted by: Jillian Bandes at 4:56 PM
"Obama Explains His Peace Agenda to Skeptical Norwegians" from CNS News:
President Barack Obama -- a wartime president who has just ordered 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan -- was greeted by anti-war protesters and banners in Oslo, Norway, on Thursday.
 
The Associated Press reported that posters around Oslo feature a campaign image of Obama reading "Change?"  The posters refer to Obama’s expansion of the war started by President George W. Bush, a decision Obama made after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.


Tags: nobel



Thursday, December 10, 2009
Teachers Union President: Teachers Should Be Agents for "Social Justice"
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 1:22 PM
Unbelievable.  In this video, American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten describes how teachers and unions are the "center of communities" and should both serve as agents for "social justice."

Weingarten served as a member of this panel discussion, hosted by (you guessed it) John Podesta's Center for American Progress in October:


I wonder what she means by teachers needing to do "more than simply instruct children seven hours a day."  Hmmm...

Regardless, this "social justice" apparently doesn't apply to the nation's capital where a number of underprivileged minorities have benefited from the D.C. Opportunity Scholarships--a program that gave poor kids a chance to escape from the city's failing public schools--a program the president revoked earlier this year.




Thursday, December 10, 2009
Dean On Public Option: "Whatever We Call It Is Irrelevant"
Posted by: Greg Hengler at 1:15 PM
"The Howler" appeared on CBS's "Early Show" to share a wink, a nod, and a beautiful Mona Lisa Smile with his liberal viewers around America to let them know that Democrats are flexible regarding what the Public Option is labeled, but they are not flexible about the definition. Will the American people be fooled by the Democrat trick of relabeling the Public Option?






Thursday, December 10, 2009
Obama Administration: If Congress Doesn't Act, We Will
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 1:00 PM
Fox News reports that the Obama administration has some serious ambitions and plans to bypass Congress and enact a cap-and-tax system through federal regulations.  If Congress fails to act, the White House is now warning, the Obama administration intends to:

The Obama administration is warning Congress that if it doesn’t move to regulate greenhouse gases, the Environmental Protection Agency will take a “command-and-control” role over the process in a way that could hurt business. 

The warning, from a top White House economic official who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity, came on the eve of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s address to the international conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark. ...

But while administration officials have long said they prefer Congress take action on climate change, the economic official who spoke with reporters Tuesday night made clear that the EPA will not wait and is prepared to act on its own. 

And it won’t be pretty. 

“If you don’t pass this legislation, then … the EPA is going to have to regulate in this area,” the official said. “And it is not going to be able to regulate on a market-based way, so it’s going to have to regulate in a command-and-control way, which will probably generate even more uncertainty.” 

So if Congress won't pass the cap-and-trade bill which the public DOES NOT want passed, the Obama administration will step in and act, fully knowing that the EPA's regulations would hurt the nation's economy.

Nice.






Thursday, December 10, 2009
35% of Republicans Want to Impeach Obama?
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 12:45 PM
Less than a full year into his presidency, 20% of American voters favor impeaching Barack Obama, including 35% of Republicans, 15% of independents and 10% of Democrats--according to Public Policy Polling, a left-leaning Democrat-affiliated polling firm.

From the Washington Independent:

“I’m not clear exactly what ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ they are using to justify that position,” said PPP’s Tom Jensen, “but there may be a certain segment of voters on both the right and the left these days that simply think the President doing things they don’t agree with is grounds for removal from office.”

Without probing further it’s hard to say, but like the post-Iraq War opposition to George W. Bush, the first-year opposition to President Obama has included a lot of rhetoric about the president’s supposed violations of the Constitution. With Bush, it was war-related; with Obama, it’s Glenn Beck critiques like “where in the Constitution does the president have the right to take over a car company?”

These numbers seem pretty shocking--is the public that upset with Obama?  Or are left-leaning pollsters "pushing" polls to pressure Dems in Congress and the White House to get back to their liberal roots? 

Whatever the answer, the Lefty comrades over at the DailyKos seem pretty steamed:

Sorry, children, but Glenn Beck sobbing in front of a picture of Stalin or extremists screaming "sell-out" do not make a case of high crimes and misdemeanors. Elections count. Get over it.






Thursday, December 10, 2009
Dalai Lama Thinks Obama's Nobel Is Premature
Posted by: Jillian Bandes at 12:36 PM
The Dalai Lama won the prize 20 years ago:
I think if you are realistic, it may have been a little early but it doesn't matter, I know Obama is a very able person.
The Dalai Lama also expressed optimism about the President's approach to global warming, a possible ban on nuclear weapons, and his lack of depression.
If you are depressed and lost hope then, I think, at the end of our life we may develop regret.
He hopes to meet with the President in the next few months.


Tags: Lama   Dali



Thursday, December 10, 2009
5 Reasons Conservatives Should Back Huelskamp Over Wasinger in KS-1
Posted by: Dwayne Horner at 12:00 PM



Recently, my friend Erick Erickson wrote a blog post at RedState on the primary campaign in Kansas’ First Congressional District. It's a race that is close to me because of a large number of family members I have in Kanasas...and as Erick correctly noted, there are two conservatives in the race (interestingly, both are Catholic conservatives, as well). The difference I believe is that only Tim Huelskamp has a proven conservative record, and honestly, he has the most realistic chance of winning. Why? The following are 5 reasons why conservatives must line up behind Tim Huelskamp, or risk losing the seat:

1. Voting record - How often have we seen "conservatives" squish out once they are elected? Only one person in this race has a 13-year record of voting conservative in the legislature. Tim Huelskamp is one of the most conservative state legislators in the nation. In fact he is one of only 7 state senators in the nation to recently score a perfect 100 percent rating from Americans for Prosperity. AFP is an organization that I have worked with and admire greatly.

2. Money – Money isn’t the most important thing, but it does help. As of the last financial report, Huelskamp was in first place in terms of cash-on-hand, while Wasinger was in a distant fourth place.

3. Endorsements – Erick correctly noted that Huelskamp has The Club for Growth’s endorsement, while Wasinger has Fred Thompson’s. It’s also worth noting, however, that Rob Wasinger just received the endorsement of that great conservative luminary John McCain. Meanwhile, Huelskamp has received the endorsements of Concerned Women for America, Gun Owners of America, Ken Blackwell, Kansans for Life, the Club for Growth, Evangelical Leader and national radio personality Jay Sekulow and numerous Kansas Legislators.

4. Huelskamp actually lives in Kansas. Tim Huelskamp is a family farmer in Fowler, Kansas and has been in the Kansas state senate for 13 years. Wasinger, who has been plagued by the "carpetbagger issue," went to prep school in New England, college at Harvard, and then worked in Washington, DC for years (where he still owns a million dollar home in McLean, VA). Wasinger actually told RollCall, "A lot of people serve the state of Kansas in a variety of ways … "I was serving the people of Kansas in Washington, D.C." Wasinger’s move back to Kansas was a clear case of opportunism (he moved back once the seat opened up). This move, mind you, might work in some areas, but The Big First district of Kansas is one of the most rural districts in the country. Folks there know the score.

5. Leading the conservative fight – Campaigning is one thing, and voting right is another -- but only Tim Huelskamp led the fight to defund Planned Parenthood in Kansas. And while Wasinger was silent, Tim Huelskamp publicly opposed the nomination of Kathleen Sebelius as Health and Human Services Secretary. We don’t just need "conservative" talkers in Congress -- we need LEADERS like Pence, DeMint and Coburn, and Tim Huelskamp is of that same mold. Whether it’s defending the Second Amendment, or cutting taxes, or protecting life, Huelskamp is the conservative leader in Kansas.

While this Kansas House race may not get as much national attention as Crist vs. Rubio or Toomey vs. Specter, this seat is important – so important that it is one of only two House seats The Club for Growth has (so far) gotten involved in this cycle.

In his RedState post, Erick writes, "Let’s see who proves viability. We may have to weigh in to ensure across the board conservatives get the nomination." Erick is correct to say that conservatives must eventually rally around one of these two conservative candidates, lest they make the mistake of splitting the conservative vote and allowing liberal Republican Jim Barnett to win. But with just eight months to go until the primary election, I think the choice is now clear regarding who has viability. Conservatives must rally around the obvious choice, Tim Huelskamp. Wasinger can’t win – but he can play spoiler.






Thursday, December 10, 2009
Planned Parenthood: “That’s Not A Baby Growing Inside Of You”
Posted by: Greg Hengler at 11:53 AM
It does not get any lower than this. Pass it on:






Thursday, December 10, 2009
Re: Democrats: Debt Will Be Twice What We Expected, Looking to Raise the Country's Credit Limit
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 11:21 AM
America's debt is like a credit card, currently carrying an overdue balance of $12 trillion.  We are currently spending about $1.2 billion every day in interest payments alone.  More than HALF of the $9 trillion we're expected to rack up in debt over the next decade will just be INTEREST.  And now, to make things worse for the country's economic future, Democrats in Congress are arbitrarily raising the card's credit limit by another $2 trillion.

To avoid facing this issue closer to the 2010 election, as Jillian reported earlier, Dems are preparing to raise the national debt ceiling by $1.8 trillion by the end of this year.  In a completely absurd statement, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said, "“We’ve incurred this debt. We have to pay our bills."  Seriously, Democrats are the only people I've ever heard of who would charge more on a credit card in an attempt to pay it off.

I remember when I was 18 and heading off to college and I got my first card to start building my credit.  My parents told me at the time that I should use it sparingly and only ever charge things I know I have the money to pay for... smart advice Hoyer's mother apparently never gave him. 

Instead, Hoyer and other members of Congress insist on adding to our debt, despite the nation's checking account, completely overdrawn.





Thursday, December 10, 2009
Denied: GOP Rejects Reid Requests to Stall Debate, Attend Fundraiser
Posted by: Meredith Jessup at 11:15 AM
Just days after the Senate Majority Leader slammed the GOP, claiming Republicans had been stalling the health care debate and saying "'Slow down, stop everything...", Harry Reid turned heel and asked Republicans to forego holding important debates until next week so he could attend a fundraiser over the weekend.

"I understand the Republican leader doesn't want us to do health care; I appreciate that," Reid said this week.  "He and I have different positions on that.  I see no reason to punish everybody this weekend and I hope the minority will give strong consideration to the proposal that I've made."  ABC reports, however, that Reid's insistance on stalling the health care debate is not just his benevolence and love of lowly staffers:

It turns out Reid has a $1,000 plus per plate fundraiser scheduled for Saturday in New Orleans, according to one local paper, which also reports that Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA, a key swing moderate in the health care debate, will also be in attendance.

But Reid will not escape the health debate even in the Big Easy; the paper reports that Tea Party activists who oppose health reform are planning to picket the fundraiser.

This morning, Republicans rebuked Reid's request, saying they are "prepared to provide a platform for the debate as long as it takes."  Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, noted that "The majority leader said we would be working every weekend and we took him at his word."

"We expect to be here this weekend and we look forward to it. Republicans believe there is nothing more important we can do than stop this bill and start over... we are eager to continue the debate."






Thursday, December 10, 2009
"...an unvarnished, complete victory for people like me who have been arguing for a single-payer system."
Posted by: Garrett Murch at 10:54 AM
...so says Rep. Anthony Weiner, Democratic Congressman From New York, about the new health care "compromise" supposedly reached by Senate Democrats.  Weiner's comment was specifically about a key component of the deal that would allow expanding Medicare eligibility--in essence another way of creating a "public option". 

I don't know about you, but if single-payer proponents are praising Reid's "deal" as a victory for them, I'd be pretty scared!  This could be an even worse bill than what was previously proposed.  I'm sure more and more details will leak out in the days ahead...





Thursday, December 10, 2009
Obama's Nobel Speech Lasts Almost An Hour
Posted by: Jillian Bandes at 10:47 AM
Audiences were captivated dazed over Obama's marathon Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, which vacillated between affirmations of pacificm and violence. During his fifty-two minute diatribe, he justified increased military force in the Middle East, condemned "holy war," and said that peace without military reinforcement was meaningless.

“The purpose of military action extends beyond self defense,” said Obama, while citing MLK and Gandhi as the gold standard for international relations. Apparently, we need military force to back up what MLK and Gandhi wanted.... but Napoleon to carry it out.

Obama focused in on this notion of doling out consequences for lack of peace, as well as the priority of "not going it alone." Alltogether, he sounded fairly hawkish, for someone who just decided to surrender withdraw American troops at a pre-determined point.

Mostly, it seemed like he wanted influence.... some way, some how.
Our actions matter. We can bend history in the direction of justice.





Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Good Question About Climategate
Posted by: Jillian Bandes at 10:27 AM
Megan McArdle says that even if the data wasn't faked, it could be inherently biased.



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Comments Comments

NOTW
 Re: Awaiting a Bigger Payoff?
  By Molotov
arch
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By Molotov
Lousiana Purchase
 Re: Awaiting a Bigger Payoff?
  By NOTW
Constitutional Scholars wanted!
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By arch
One more thing Molotov,
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By arch
Molotov I am never scared!
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By arch
Molotov
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By arch
Munck
 Re: Teachers Union President: Teachers Should Be Agents for "Social Justice"
  By NOTW
Molotov. a suggestion for you!
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By arch
arch
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By Molotov
arch
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By Molotov
Molotov
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By arch
arch
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By Molotov
Molotov
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By arch
arch
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By Molotov
Must be...
 Re: Teachers Union President: Teachers Should Be Agents for "Social Justice"
  By Eric, from THE Republic of Texas
Molotov! Damn your stupid!
 Re: 66% Don't Think Obama Deserves The Nobel
  By arch
Molotov 12:30 AM
 Re: Teachers Union President: Teachers Should Be Agents for "Social Justice"
  By Bob Munck
Eric, from THE Republic of Texas 12:34 A
 Re: Teachers Union President: Teachers Should Be Agents for "Social Justice"
  By Bob Munck
arch
 Re: Re: Democrats: Debt Will Be Twice What We Expected, Looking to Raise the Country's Credit Limit
  By Molotov

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