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Friday, September 25, 2009
Linkin' Park ...
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 2:31 PM
Some cool links you might have missed ...

The Club for Growth
calls out big Republican spenders.

'Spanking lowers I.Q.' - Dr. Melissa Clouthier

'Camp David Syndrome': Explaing Obama's addiction to the Middle East peace process - Ken Blackwell, American Spectator

Obama's Swing-State Blues - Kimberley Strassel, Wall Street Journal

Kent Conrad: You're Too Dumb to Understand Health Care Bill - Rob Port, Say Anything Blog.

Merle Haggard on the government ... and UFOs - Andrew Griffin, Red Dirt Report

Giles: The ACORN Suit Is 'Silly' - Robert Costa, National Review

Christians attend Web Conference - Rachel Motte

And lastly, an Extreme Close Up of Jim Pinkerton





Friday, September 25, 2009
Bob McDonell's Iraq Vet Daughter Strikes Back
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 1:41 PM
Here's the new Bob McDonnell ad.  Does it work?






Friday, September 25, 2009
Why The Post Has Failed to 'Macaca' Bob McDonnell (...so far)
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 10:03 AM
http://johnstodderinexile.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/allen-football.jpghttp://66.147.242.84/~augusta2/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/bob-mcdonnell.jpg

A few weeks ago, the DC Examiner's Michael Barone astutely wrote,

In the 2006 campaign season the Washington Post ran more than a dozen front-page stories on Senator George Allen’s reference, at an August 11 campaign stop almost 400 miles from Washington, to an opposition campaign staffer as “Macaca.” One of these stories, perhaps, had enough news value to be worthy of the front page; the others were placed there with the obvious intent of defeating Allen and electing his Democratic opponent Jim Webb, who did indeed win by a 50%-49% margin.

Now there’s a campaign on for governor of Virginia, and the news editors of the Post seem to be using their front page once again to defeat the Republican candidate, Bob McDonnell, and elect Democrat Creigh Deeds.

Barone, of course, is not alone in seeing the parallel.  It could be argued that it was not coverage of the "Macaca" comment itself -- but the Washington Post's relentless daily assault on Allen -- which ultimately doomed his candidacy. 

Read More...




Thursday, September 24, 2009
Republican Mattie Fein Likely to Challenge to Jane Harman
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 3:06 PM
Mattie Fein (Steve Cohn/Steve Cohn Photography)

In 1994, 'Blue Dog' Democratic Rep. Jane Harman won re-election to her 36th district seat in California by a mere 812 votes.  As Republicans seek to turn 2010 into a similarly big year, Harmon may once again face a formidable challenge. 

Republican Mattie Fein, a political consultant and wife of prominent conservative lawyer Bruce Fein, has launched an exploratory committee to consider challenging Harman.  And while national Republicans are waiting to see what kind of organization she can build, there is some excitement about the possibility of running a credible and well-connected female candidate against Harman.  This is a point that does not escape Fein.

Read More...




Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Free Plaxico!
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 2:51 PM
http://weblogs.cltv.com/news/local/chicago/plaxicoburress.jpg

On November 29 of last year, former New York Giants star wide receiver Plaxico Burress entered a nightclub on Lexington Ave in Manhattan with a gun. 

He then proceeded to accidentally shoot himself in the leg with the .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol he had tucked in the waistband of his blue jeans.

Burress did not shoot anyone else, nor did he brandish the gun at the nightclub.  But because he was a celebrity -- and because of New York's strict gun sentencing laws -- on Tuesday, he was sentenced to two years in prison.  This is a travesty.

Because he is 32 years old, it is entirely possible his career is over.  But that's the least of his worries.  Prison life is never easy, but try doing it as a celebrity.  The best case scenario is that he is, for his own protection, isolated from the inmate population.  But being essentially alone for two years is a pretty harsh sentence, as well.

To be clear, I am not arguing that Burress was a boy scout -- or that what he did wasn't incredibly stupid.  It was.  But does anyone really think his "crime" warrants being sent to Rikers Island

In fact, this entire story raises a lot of questions for me, including...

... Isn't shooting yourself in the leg punishment enough?

... Does Burress' crime really warrant more jail time than Donte Stallworth and Michael Vick got for their, in my opinion, more serious crimes?  Stallworth and Vick did harm to other people (or animals).  Burress only harmed himself.

... Does anyone think that if he were just some 'regular Joe' that his sentence would have been this severe?  (Of course not, they were making an example of him because he is a celebrity).

... Does anyone think there's any chance Burress is a risk to ever do this again?

... Does anyone think that Burress will be a better person after serving two years in jail?

... Why aren't more prominent conservatives and 2nd Amendment groups speaking out on this?





Wednesday, September 23, 2009
'Shooting Down' Liberal Arguments With Twitter
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 2:20 PM
You normally wouldn't expect to find me at the HuffPost -- unless someone over there was attacking me, that is. 

But when my good friend Jose Vargas left the Washington Post to help launch HuffPost Technology and asked me to write a guest post about conservatives winning online, how could I say 'no'? 

Here's an excerpt of my post:

If politics is war, and words are weapons, then Twitter can only be compared to the AK-47. The weapon, of course, was revolutionary specifically because of its simplicity. While Americans made superior weapons, the rugged AK became a revolutionary icon. The reason, of course, was because anyone -- a farmer, a new recruit -- sadly, even a child -- could learn to use it in a matter of minutes.

Twitter is the same way. While liberals have invested countless dollars and hours creating "superior" infrastructure, Twitter essentially did the legwork for conservatives, building platform for conservatives to exploit.

Read the whole thing here.







Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Hutchison Campaign Accused of 'Selective Editing' ...
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 9:04 AM
The bitter campaign for Texas governor grew even more heated this week when Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's campaign was accused of dirty campaign tactics, some are saying has become a pattern.

First it was the unquestionably bad use of hidden code words on the Hutchison campaign website, such as "Rick Perry Gay"  -- now the campaign has been caught posting a video edited to take out of context a recent speech made by Governor Rick Perry.

Here's the story.  Texas has been recognized as a guidepost for how to minimize the negative affects of the bad economy. Now,  according to an HIS Global Insight report, Texas is being heralded as the state to lead the recovery from the recession.

It’s a point Governor Perry has understandably been trying to highlight in remarks around the state.  But Perry may have made a mistake in talking up the recovery too much, when he said:

"Why is Texas recession-proof?” ... “Just today, I think, Michael, you said someone had put out a report that the first state coming out of the recession is going to be the state of Texas, and I said, ‘we’re in one?’

On the surface, this makes Perry appear out of touch.  The problem, though, is the video leaves out the part questioning if Texas is in a recession thus putting the remarks completely out of context.  As KHOU.com reported,

A spokesperson for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison confirmed that her campaign videotaped a speech by Gov. Rick Perry in Houston Thursday, and released [only] a section of video in which the Governor questioned whether Texas is in a recession.

Was it a dirty trick, or just a case of normal campaign protocol?  After all, everyone -- including bloggers -- edits for time and content. That’s the question liberal-leaning blogger Paul Burka of Texas Monthly posed, himself (read his full comments by clicking on the link):

The tape was unquestionably edited after “Are we in one?” to eliminate the words, “but seriously….” So the answer to the [question] “Is the Perry videotape a dirty trick?” is yes.

As KHOU also reported, state senator Dan Patrick, who was at the event, agreed the KBH campaign distorted the message intentionally:

“Don’t take ten seconds out of a 30 minute speech and say ‘that’s what he meant,’” Patrick said. “What he was saying tied into what he said earlier-- that we created more jobs in 2008 than all other states combined, that Caterpillar moved its headquarters here and that 1,500 people a day move to Texas. He was talking about how Texas is still in relatively better shape than almost any other state.”

Campaigns have been known for “selective editing” of opponents speeches, but one would not expect this type of mistake being made by a senator who has been in politics most of her adult life. It only goes to highlight the perception that her campaign is either in trouble or that one part of the staff doesn’t know what the other part is doing. Either way, this coming to light cannot be good for Senator Hutchison...





Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Christian Leaders Call for Tough Sanctions on Iran
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 7:31 AM
Calling themselves, "Christian Leaders for a Nuclear-Free Iran," several prominent social conservatives have signed a letter to Members of the U.S. Congress, urging tough sanctions on Iran.

Signers include such luminaries as Pat Robertson of Christian Broadcasting Network, Charles Colson of the Prison Fellowship Ministries, Richard Land of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America, Gary Bauer of American Values, and Dr. John Hagee of the Conerstone Church in San Antonio -- and many more.

The letter urges,

"immediate action to address Iran’s program to develop and deploy nuclear weapons by imposing economic sanctions on foreign companies that: export refined petroleum products, including gasoline, to Iran; help maintain Iran’s domestic refining capacity; provide ships or shipping services to transport such products; underwrite those shipments; or finance or broker those shipments. The U.S. should also immediately initiate a boycott of any arms sales to Iran."

You can read the full letter here.

... This is interesting to me for several reasons, not the least of which is that during the Cold War, the three-legs of the conservative movement (social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, and national security conservatives) all found unique and legitimate reasons to unite around a shared objective:  Winning the Cold War

This letter, signed by numerous prominent social conservatives, implies the conservative movement might once again find a way to coalesce around a common foreign enemy.  At least, this letter implies there is potential for that to occur...





Monday, September 21, 2009
Beck: McCain Would've Been Worse
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 7:26 PM
During an interview with Katie Couric, Glenn Beck said he may have voted for Hillary Clinton had she won the Democratic nomination.  What is more, he says he thinks "John McCain would have been worse for the country than Barack Obama"...


Watch CBS Videos Online

The full interview is set to run at CBSNews.com on Tuesday at 7 p.m., EST.







Monday, September 21, 2009
Stephanopoulos Refers to Merriam-Webster to Prove ObamaCare is Tax Increase
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 3:18 PM
Without a doubt, my favorite part of President Obama's interview yesterday with George Stephanopoulos was when Stephanopoulos pointed out that, according to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, ObamaCare is a tax increase (start watching at around 3:10 mark) ...



TRANSCRIPT (begins at the 3:10 mark on the above video)

STEPHANOPOULOS:  ... during the campaign.  Under this mandate, the government is forcing people to spend money, fining you if you don't.  How is that not a tax?

 OBAMA:  Well, hold on a second, George.  Here -- here's what's happening.  You and I are both paying $900 bucks on average -- our families -- in higher premiums because of uncompensated care.  Now, what I've said is that, if you can't afford health insurance, you certainly shouldn't be punished for that.  That's just piling on.

   OBAMA:  If, on the other hand, we're giving tax credits -- we've set up an exchange, you are now part of a big pool, we've driven down the costs, we've done everything we can, and you actually can afford health insurance, but you've just decided, "You know what?  I want to take my chances," and then you get hit by a bus, and you and I have to pay for the emergency room care, that's...

STEPHANOPOULOS:  That may be, but it's still a tax increase.

OBAMA:  No.  That -- that's not true, George.  The -- for us to say that you've got to take a responsibility to get health insurance is absolutely not a tax increase.

What it's saying is, is that we're not going to have other people carrying your burdens for you any more than the fact that right now everybody in America, just about, has to get auto insurance.  Nobody considers that a tax increase.  People say to themselves, that is a fair way to make sure that, if you hit my car, that I'm not covering all the costs.

STEPHANOPOULOS:  But it may be fair, it may be good public policy...

OBAMA:  No, but -- but, George, you -- you can't just make up that language and decide that that's called a tax increase.  Any -- if I -- if I say that right now your premiums are going to be going up by 5 percent or 8 percent or 10 percent next year, and you say, "Well, that's not a tax increase," but, on the other hand, if I say that I don't want to have to pay for you not carrying coverage, even after I give you tax credits that make it affordable, then...

STEPHANOPOULOS:  I -- I don't think I'm making it up.  Merriam- Webster's dictionary:  Tax, "a charge, usually of money, imposed by authority on persons or property for public purposes."

OBAMA:  George, the fact that you looked up Merriam's dictionary, the definition of tax increase, indicates to me that you're stretching a little bit right now.  Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone to the dictionary to check on the definition.  I mean, what...

STEPHANOPOULOS:  Well, no, but...

OBAMA:  ... if what you're saying is...

STEPHANOPOULOS:  I wanted to check for myself.  But your critics say it is a tax increase.

OBAMA:  My critics say everything is a tax increase.  My critics say that I'm taking over every sector of the economy.  You know that. Look, we can have a legitimate debate about whether or not we're going to have an individual mandate or not, but...

STEPHANOPOULOS:  But you reject that it's a tax increase?

OBAMA:  I absolutely reject that notion.







Monday, September 21, 2009
It's Almost Like Pelosi is Wishing for Violence
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 8:23 AM
http://janeqrepublican.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/rep-nancy-pelosi.jpg

Back in June, CIA Director Leon Panetta suggested former vice president Dick Cheney was almost "wishing" for another terrorist attack on the U.S. 

Panetta's argument hinged on this premise:  Because Dick Cheney warned us that President Obama's policies made America less safe, Republicans might benefit politically if, in fact, Cheney were proven right.  And so, Panetta concluded that Cheney was probably hoping for another attack...

Of course, despite what Panetta may think, warning that Obama's policies might invite attack is entirely different from wishing for a terrorist attack.  In Panetta's world, warning something might happen is tantamount to rooting for it to happen.

Panetta's argument also cynically assumed Dick Cheney would rather lose 3,000 plus fellow Americans than to be wrong (though avoiding another attack does not prove we are less safe, anyway).  ... Still, that didn't stop the CIA Director from making such an irresponsible suggestion.

Fast forward to last week when, presumably referring to town hall meetings, protests, and talk radio, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said,

“I saw this myself in the late ’70s in San Francisco,” she said, referring to anti-gay laws and demonstrations. “It created an environment in which violence took place.”

She was, of course, referring to the assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, and warning that similar violence might take place today.

... While I would never suggest such a thing, logic seems to dictate that if Panetta believes Cheney's warnings mean he is "wishing" for a terrorist attack, then Pelosi's warnings might also mean she is "wishing" for violence.  After all, it is reasonable to assume that Democrats would benefit from her being proven right.  (Again, this according to Panetta's logic -- not mine).

The truth is that if anyone has incentive to avoid political violence -- particularly anything specifically aimed at the president -- it is conservatives.  As Glenn Beck recently said, "just one lunatic, like Timothy McVeigh, could ruin everything that everyone has worked so hard for, because these people in Washington won't pass up the use of an emergency. "

As liberal blogger Taylor Marsh wrote when applauded Pelosi, "Let it be noted for the record, with the gauntlet thrown down. Wingnuts who incite violence will be responsible."

The last thing conservatives want or need at this moment is to create martyrs, to be portrayed as extremists, and turn public opinion against them.  Conservatives are winning the debate, why would they want to spoil that?





Thursday, September 17, 2009
TIME Gives Glenn Beck 'The Limbaugh Treatment'
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 10:59 AM
Glenn Beck is the cover story of the new TIME magazine.  This is, no doubt, a sign of his amazing rise in popularity -- and his effectiveness.  But it seems like I've seen this all before ...

http://www.twolia.com/blogs/zoboxrox/files/2009/03/rush_limbaugh1.jpg

Hmmmmmm.....

 TimeGlenn_9.17.jpg

They seem to be giving him The Limbaugh Treatment!







Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Leadership Institute Launches CampusReform.org to Fight Liberal Bias on Campus
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 4:20 PM


Just in time for the new semester, The Leadership Institute, America's premiere conservative training organization, has launched CampusReform.org -- a new site designed to turn the tide against liberal bias on college campuses.

According to a release, CampusReform.org will include:

  • "a subsite for each of the 2,376 four-year colleges and universities in the country,"

  • "tools for student activists to review biased textbooks, rate leftist professors, and report liberal abuses on campus,"

  • "access to information on national conservative groups and legal organizations providing programs and services to students,"

... and much more.





Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Republican in Lead to Replace Judd Gregg
Posted by: Matt Lewis at 3:43 PM
According to Rasmussen, "Republican Kelly Ayotte leads Democrat Paul Hodes by eight points in an early look at New Hampshire’s 2010 race for the U.S. Senate."

Hodges is a Member of Congress who has recently taken heat for failing to hold any health care town hall meetings.  He also referred to opponents of ObamaCare as members of the "flat-earth society."

Every senate seat is precious these days, so Republicans are, no doubt, talking solace in the fact that they have a good shot at retaining the Gregg seat.




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Sister Mary Butch
 Re: Read Her Lips: You'll Pay For Abortions
  By Careful with that axe, Eugene
We all love Mother Theresa
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cottoneyed 7:10 PM
 Re: Capitol Goes Into Lockdown
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furthermore, pig puddle cretin:
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furthermore, pig puddle cretin:
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Lock Down?
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Unite
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liar can't even spell
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Dreadnuts
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The street punk, instills
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NeoTool
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Is Hedda Lettuce,
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set the cretin straight now:
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4:42pm
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Deadnuts..
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Rhymes with HUNT
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Arch
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