The claim by the Perry camp that this could save $483 billion in compliance costs is fatuous. You’ll have the same amount of paperwork sent out regardless. Showing me how this will save one penny in compliance costs anywhere. At least with Herman Cain’s plan, he: 1) gets rid of some taxes and 2) has the ultimate goal of getting rid of the Tax Code and replacing completely. There’s simply no reason to believe any compliance would go down under Rick Perry

Of course, the attack from liberals who say the plan benefits those who can afford to file their taxes twice is also silly. With most of us e-filling our taxes, good computer software can easily calculate whether it makes more sense to go under the Flat Tax or the normal system, just as my $20 Tax Software can calculate whether it makes sense for me to itemize or take standard deductions. However, the use of e-file also means the popular flat tax image of us filing our taxes on a postcard is also outdated because most of us don’t file paper.

Michael Dougherty of Business Insider lambasts the plan:

Perry’s tax plan would preserve all the confusion, waste, and market distortions in the current code, and add another layer. The politicians who manage that would get a new tax code to fiddle with as a bonus — one that has little substance beyond massively cutting taxes for the wealthy. Perry is selling simplicity to the GOP’s base voters — that’s the most appealing thing about a flat-tax — but most of these voters would actually pay less under the current more confusing code. ..

It’s difficult to imagine that Perry has the capacity to explain his plan with any sense of confidence. Mitt Romney’s economic plan may be over 50 pages long, but Romney can recite PowerPoint-style presentations spontaneously. Rick Perry forgets his one-liners halfway through delivering them.

Perry’s editorial outlining his plan didn’t even mention whether his team believed it was revenue-neutral. Does he care? Probably not. Does it matter? Of course not. This plan is only good for disqualifying the candidate who bothered to suggest it.

In theory, the optional nature of optional flat taxes are based on the idea that if people are given the choice they’ll choose the simpler code. In practice, what it represents is a way for politicians to act like they’re supporting tax reform without offending any of the interests that have learned to game the current code. Herman Cain raised a serious issue with his bold tax reform and Rick Perry provided an unserious response typical politician response just as Fred Thompson did.

The idea of an optional flat tax pretends that the problem with the current tax code is that it makes it hard for some individuals to do math. The true problem with the tax code are macroeconomics: It’s costly to the whole economy, retards economic growth, discourages investment and thrift, and has huge compliance costs.

Rick Perry’s tax plan won’t bring down the cost of taxes.

Rick Perry’s tax plan won’t lead to job growth.

Rick Perry’s tax plan won’t bring down the cost of compliance.

Rick Perry has given us the tax plan that won’t do anything.

The change in policy was announced last week by LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, who called it a question of “fairness” …

The new rules, Beck said, were an attempt to mitigate somewhat “the current reality, which is that for a vast number of people, who are a valuable asset to our community and who have very limited resources, their ability to live and work in L.A. is severely limited by their immigration status.”

I’m so glad the LAPD is focused on things like “fairness.” And not petty concerns like law enforcement or public safety.

Whether you agree or disagree with my political views, can we at least agree that we live in a time of disagreement? See how you feel about the following statement:

Government has a proper and legitimate role in our lives.

If you think that’s obviously true, you must be some kind of flaming liberal. If you think that’s laughably (sic), obviously false, then you’re an anarchist. Or the mighty John Galt.

In between, there are those who merely pretend that the very idea is ludicrous when it’s convenient, and go ahead and run (or manipulate) the government in a way that provides for their own self-interest, or bloviate about the horrors of government on TV and radio for entertainment purposes.

 

Get that?

Either you believe in a role of government honestly, you’re a sincere nut, or insincere scumbag who manipulates the government to your own ends, or merely pretends to be against government to earn a big fat paycheck on Cable Television. 

Yes, Tom’s view of the world comes in full-color cynivision, at least when it comes to the other side of the aisle.

 But, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help,” are words that will always have a welcome ear on the left. Because the left believes that they are making some contribution to the world by taking other people’s money and spending it to address problems that money will never solve.

Is there a role for government? Yes, it’s protecting our borders and protecting us from those who would do us harm. There are the legitimate roles laid out for the government in Article 1, Section 8 of the Federal Constitution.

There are legitimate roles for government in the construction of roads, and the maintenance of legitimate infrastructure. There is a role for state and local governments in education, as has been the case since the Founding era.

Perhaps, I can best define what I don’t think the government’s role should be:

It’s not government’s job to ensure that I have a nice retirement. It’s not their job to be my nurse maid, and take care of my health care. It’s not government’s job to protect me from the consequences of my own bad decisions. It’s not the government’s job to usurp the proper role of the family or the community. It is not their proper function to make us charitable or to decide that we should live in high density housing near the bus line. And quite frankly, it shouldn’t be any of the government’s business how much money I earned last year and who paid it to me. 

It is not that I want government to do nothing, but to do the right and necessary things. Our current state and federal government is a serpentine mess of departments and groups with sometimes redundant purposes. It is better to do a few things well, than many things poorly.

(Hat Tip: Viral Footage.)

With  all the garbage Stupak has taken, this is a pretty nice fringe benefit. If Carly Fiorina weren’t running for Senate, this would be a finalist for political web ad of the year.

(Hat Tip: Jill Stanek.)

Today we honor the men and women who are serving and have served our country.  Thanks to their dedication and sacrifice, we all live in the greatest free nation ever enjoyed in this world.  No one has sacrificed more to preserve our Republic and our freedoms.  We owe all of our veterans a great deal of gratitude.
 
As an Iraq combat veteran, I have seen firsthand the sacrifices and determination of our servicemen and women.  I have commanded and battled alongside courageous men, many of whom valiantly gave their life or were badly wounded fighting for a country they dearly loved.  I have returned home to speak with the families of those we lost and seen the unbelievable pain coupled with enormous pride that their son died doing what he loved and defending what he cherished.  
 
Veterans Day is our national day of recognition to say thank you to our sons and daughters who have served our nation in the Armed Forces.  I also believe that Veterans Day is a time to pay tribute and recognize the sacrifices of thousands of families who will not see their father this Thanksgiving or open presents with their mother this Christmas due to deployments.  
 
When our nation commits to a war, the ripple effect encompasses a nation. When I was in Iraq, thousands of Americans sent us candy and toys to hand out to the Iraqi children, school supplies and books to give to their schools. People also sent us pictures and letters of thanks by the hundreds from children of all ages, which we posted around my base.  I cannot tell you the number of times that I saw my Marines and Sailors reading the notes and looking at the pictures that were on the walls from school children and listen to them reminisce about home.  
 
We also received CDs, DVDs, toiletries, magazines, and the list goes on. These seemingly small tokens meant the world to us.  It told us that regardless of the political climate, Americans supported their troops.  
 
Many of you out there made living on the front lines a little easier for us.  So on this Veterans Day, I am also thankful for the countless Americans who brought home a little closer and made us feel appreciated.  These little acts of kindness let us know that our sacrifices were not in vain.  
 
Through untold courage and sacrifice, our Veterans have secured the liberty that the founding fathers sought to establish here in our country.  Whenever the nation has called, in times of darkness and danger as well as in times of peace and prosperity, our veterans have been there.  And they have proudly carried the torch of liberty for all to see.
 
May God bless our veterans, may God bless all who wear the uniform, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Semper Fi,
Vaughn Ward
Major  USMCR

Liberal “thinker: Oops, health care won’t solve the deficit.

Arianna Huffington calls for the Vice-President to resign. (Hat Tip: Stop the ACLU.)

Obama afraid of San Francisco. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.) 

Democratic invasion of privacy goes unpunished. (Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin.)

Sheriff Joe Arpaio will continue to enforce immigration laws.

Return to sender: Democrat returns money from Murtha. (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

Non-black students wins beauty crown and is subject to racist comments.  (Hat Tip: Education Watch.)

Despicable crank callers target military families. (Hat Tip: Red State.)

Apartment complex bans American flag. (Hat Tip: Stop the ACLU.)

Harry Potter for gay marriage? (Hat Tip: Pam’s House Blend.)

New York’s Lawless executive attempts to recognize same sex marriage.

Another assault on a pro-lifer.  (Hat Tip: Newsbusters.)

Student told to remove pro-life t-shirt during Obama speech.

Policeman confiscates pro-life sign with picture of Jesus on it.

Utah Legislature tries to close insane loophole.

A case about a drawing for a Kindergarten assignment is in its 10th year.

Bible verse ban leads to outpouring of public support.

Russian Pastor fined for worship.

Mob kills 11 Christians as Pakistan keeps blasphemy law on the books.

Second Amendment Update.

Liberals lose: Gen. Y finds investing enjoyable.

John Stamos advocates against child abandonment.

A one legged 9-year old sports phenom.

Music by Recent Rainfall via Music Alley.

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11:06 A.M. Cherilyn Eagar delivered a Don’t know if she has a chance, but wow.

10:56 A.M. UT. Rep. Car Wimmler gave an interesting speech. He  demanthat legislators were in session at a tea party event and a singer sang, “God Bless the USA.” A Democratic State Representative told Wimmer, “I respect your right to be here, but did you have to sing that God-awful song.” The audience broke out into boos demanding to know who had said it. Wimmer disclosed it was Ut. Rep. Christine Johnson. Wimmer also said he’ll introduce bills to have Utah not participate i n Obamacare and Cap and Trade if the bills pass. Not sure if it wo9uld work, South Car9lina tried nullification. The difference would be that Utah would be ignoring an unconstiutional law.

10:45A.M: Huckabee/Chaffetz 2012

10:41 A.M.”We’ve got to get ACORN.” Chaffetz has introduced a bill to have the post office do the census.

10:39 A.M. Lots of applause for auditingthe Federal Reserve.

10:37 A.M.: Senator Jason Chaffetz? I could see it.

10:34 A.M.Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Ut) is in the house. “Joe Wilson is a friend of mine.”

10:27 A.M.: A lady is speaking from the Utah Eagle Forum. She says the only way to take back America is to take back the Republican Party. This is a classic problem. The more local the leaders, the bigger the impact they have on your lives and the less people know about those who represent them.

10:21 A.M. Its Glenn Beck’s world. During hours 2 and 3 we’ll be hearing Beck’s coverage of the March on Washington. Also, Beck’s most recent and upcoming books were referenced.

10:10 A.m.-Sitting on Utah Capitol Steps where at least Andrea is in the shade. Just found out that there is free parking conveniently next to the Capitol. Makes walking kinda stupid, huh?

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The Obama Administration fires two Inspector Generals. (Hat Tip: Hot Air.)
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Before I do that, let me state this. Specter is our opponent. It is the duty of all good Republicans to do what they can to see Arlen Specter not re-elected and to take this Senate seat back for the Republicans. Those who are right now making a political martyr out of Senator Specter are doing a disservice to the Republican Party. The debate over Specter-Toomey ended yesterday. The job of Republicans now is to defeat Arlen Specter.

Alex asks:

1. Why are you celebrating Specter’s defection while championing Norm Coleman, who was ranked just as moderate as Specter in the National Journal’s 2007 rankings?

3. Which party does Arlen Specter belong in? Is he a DINO now? You praise Ben Nelson as being a reasonable Democrat. Is Arlen Specter a reasonable Democrat?

5. Tom Coburn once told me that he would not have welcomed Joe Lieberman into the party if he had wanted to switch. Do you agree?

The first question makes a poor assumption. It assumes that all that matters is the 2007 National Journal ratings. Specter has an entire career of screwing conservatives. Take a look at American Conservative Union Ratings and you’ll see that Norm Coleman has a career ACU rating of 68.83% v. 44.47% for Specter. In addition, while Coleman may be a moderate, he does share common cause with many conservatives on  the pro-life issues as well as other key conservative points. Coleman may have disappointed conservatives from time to time, but he hasn’t turned annoying conservatives into performance art as Senator Specter has.

With regards to Senator Specter, I would consider a Democrat capable of being reasoned with. The same category I’d place Senator Nelson and Senator Lieberman in. That doesn’t mean that I’d want either of these three gentlemen in the Republican Party. I’d like there to be people on the other side who I can genuinely respect as capable reasonable human beings and not just a party of shrill left-wing Zombies.  So I would agree with Dr. Coburn.

2. Are you aware that the ladies from Maine got more cut from the stimulus bill than any of the efforts of the likes of Jim DeMint?

And it’s still far too big. Once one begins talking about these hundreds of billions dollar bills, it really doesn’t matter. One might as well say, “Thanks to the ladies from Maine, they only shot you ten times rather than twelve times.” Great, but I’m still dead.

4. Do you agree with Jim DeMint when he says that he’d rather have a party of 30 senators who all think like him than a majority party with people like Arlen Specter in it? How, then, do you intend to pass conservative legislation?

Actually, DeMint didn’t says Senators who all thought like him, but rather, “”I would rather have 30 Republicans in the Senate who really believe in principles of limited government, free markets, free people, than to have 60 that don’t have a set of beliefs.”

I wouldnt’ agree with DeMint that far, because in that situation you lose 70-30. I’d like there to be 30 Senators like Jim DeMint and Tom Coburn, 22 like my Senators Jim Risch and Michael Crapo who are not always right but most of the time get it right and their hearts are in the right place, seven like Norm Coleman and George Voinovich who are squishy on some issues but can win their seats, and two like the ladies from Maine who we only keep around because we couldn’t possibly get anyone more conservative.

John Hawkins has a pretty good piece on this I’d reccomend:

The majority of Republican voters are conservative and we provide most of the money, the volunteers, the ideas, the energy, and the enthusiasm. We conservatives are involved with politics because we have principles and ideals we believe in deeply and want to see them implemented.

Cutting to the chase, we conservatives feel deeply betrayed by what has happened over the last 8 years. The GOP managed to get control of all three branches of government and other than a couple of great Supreme Court Justices, the Right has very little to show for it.

We suffered through Bush’s selection of Harriet Miers, the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, the GOP trying to force amnesty and open borders on the country, growing deficits, increasing government, a GOP sponsored takeover of banks, a President who refused to defend himself or conservatism publicly, and a “Republican elite” in DC who often seemed to hold their biggest supporters in contempt.

Let me give you a comparable example:

Imagine you’re the owner of a small business and you have a problem employee (the Republican Party). He shows up late. He takes two hour lunches. He won’t do his work. He makes fun of you to the other employees. It gets so bad that it affects your business and you start to lose money, but unfortunately, with the job market in your area, replacing him would be almost impossible.

Now, after a few months of this, how much patience are you going to have with this guy when you ask him why he isn’t doing what you told him to do? Zero, right?

Well, that’s where conservatives are with the Republican Party. We’re not interested in excuses. Exhortations to “be reasonable” aren’t going to work. After eight years of being sneered at by arrogant incompetents who owe their jobs to us, we’re not really in the mood for compromise.

Which brings us to the moderates in the GOP. Make no mistake about it, the GOP needs moderate voters and moderate politicians. We cannot expect a hard core conservative to win a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans 3 to 2. We can’t expect a Republican senator from Vermont or California to be as conservative as a Republican senator from Oklahoma or Georgia. Yes, people like this can make conservatives pull their hair out at times, but it’s impossible for us to have a majority or get things done without them.

However, the flip side to this is that moderates are not the majority of Republicans, they’re not ideologically coherent as a group, and they simply don’t bring enough manpower, money, or energy to the table to drive a successful political party. What that means is moderates have to be the Robin to our Batman. Conservatives, who have stronger beliefs, more numbers, and just bring so much more to the Party are not going to happily fall in line over the long haul in a moderate Republican Party.

Indeed, if moderates want to win and have seats, conservatives need to be happy at the results of the people they elected and you need a thriving conservative movement that’s actually accomplishing something worthwhile. If that’s happening, you don’t have huge challenges to moderates.

On moderates, I would probably also have a narrower of moderates in most cases, somebody in the Al D’Amato/Norm Coleman range (60-80%) rather than people like Specter.  And folks like Snowe and Collins can be tolerated only if that’s the best we can get.

In addition, I think there are some things that can generate some worthy pariah status. Speaking of which, Senator Olympia Snowe writes in the New York Times:

It is for this reason that we should heed the words of President Ronald Reagan, who urged, “We should emphasize the things that unite us and make these the only ‘litmus test’ of what constitutes a Republican: our belief in restraining government spending, pro-growth policies, tax reduction, sound national defense, and maximum individual liberty.” He continued, “As to the other issues that draw on the deep springs of morality and emotion, let us decide that we can disagree among ourselves as Republicans and tolerate the disagreement.”

OF course, Snowe quotes this to argue, “Hey, lay off on Collins and me like Reagan said.” It seems Senator Snowe hasn’t bothered to read the actual quote. It’d have some validity if Pat Toomey’s primary reason for a primary challenge to Specter was abortion, but it wasn’t. Voters began to call Specter “Benedict Arlen” when he voted for a $787 billion stimulus package that he, Snow, and Collins could have killed. This was the final straw for Pennsylvania conservative.

How can you claim to be for “restrained government spending” when you support $787 billion monstrosity that’s primary function is to be a Christmas tree for every liberal interest under the sun. This betrayal came in exchange for parochial Maine and Pennsylvania pork, unconcerned with the national interests. Don’t claim defense under any quotes about “restraining government spending” after voting for Obama’s stimulus.

]]> http://www.adamsweb.us/blog/specter-overkill/feed/ 0 http://www.adamsweb.us/blog/gmgovernment-motors/ http://www.adamsweb.us/blog/gmgovernment-motors/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:03:35 +0000 Adam Graham http://www.adamsweb.us/blog/?p=6548 Podcast Show Notes

Europeans put the kibosh on Brown-Obama big spending. (Hat Tip: Sister Toldjah.)

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White House fires CEO.

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Fireproof, American Carol and why Christians and Conservatives need to produce more films.

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You’d be excused if you felt like you fell down Alice’s rabbit hole with this story, only you’d soon discover that this Alice is named Andy, and it is quite real, indeed. Not long ago, Andy Stern, the radical chief of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), tried to sue members of an internal faction of his own union, the United Healthcare Workers (UHC). Stern alleged that the UHC was misappropriating funds. The suit was brought, conveniently enough, just before the SEIU convention held at the beginning of June, so that the worst possible light would be directed upon the insurgent faction of the SEIU just before they all came together to address the issues in dispute.

Well, as of June 222nd, US. District Court Judge John F. Walter threw out the SEIU’s lawsuit saying it was completely without merit.

The court ruled that SEIU had brought no valid legal claim against members of United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) and the case was dismissed without the need for a hearing. The ruling entitles UHW members to compensation fr≠om SEIU for costs incurred as a result of the illegitimate lawsuit. UHW will seek full compensation on behalf of the ten members named in the suit.

According to UHW’s Executive Board Member Rosie Byers, the lawsuit was only “PR stunt” initiated to “to silence reformers within the union.”

The charges made against local union members had no legal basis. The only purpose of this suit was to harass and discredit members of UHW who had spoken out against Andy Stern’s and Anna Burger’s backroom deals with corporations that hurt healthcare workers and our patients.î

Seems pretty obvious that Mrs. Byers is right on target with her claim. After all, if the suit was so baseless, Andy Stern’s own legal council would have been sure to make him aware of that fact. It is hard not to assume that he launched the lawsuit only in an effort to make the rest of his union membership feel that the UHW faction was illicit just before they arrived at the annual convention. This cloud over the UHW would have been sure to influence other union members that the UHW was untrustworthy and, therefore, would have discredited the UHW’s concerns and actions at that very convention.

It worked, too. Stern’s top heavy plan of cutting out local union representation in the operations of the union passed handily at the convention in June. And, now that SEIU prez Stern won and the convention is over, the nuisance lawsuit can be safely tossed aside.

Remember folks, this is the major union that backs Barack Obama. If they are this ruthless and anti-democratic in their own union to their own membership, what do you think they have in store for the rest of us?

In a follow up report to our earlier coverage, the Hudson Institute has unveiled its damning study on the largely ubiquitous insolvency of the pensions plans of the nation’s largest unions (download PDF here)

Excerpts:

At a time when unions are intensifying efforts to organize American workers, it’s troubling to see a widespread pattern of relatively poor performance among collectively bargained pension plans. They perform poorly relative to plans sponsored unilaterally by employers for nonunion employees. Equally disturbing, some pension plans for union officers are better funded than the plans for rank-and-file union members. The disparity raises this question: Do collective bargaining contracts lack provisions for the funding necessary to generate the generous retirement income that unions advertise?

…

Our analysis finds that pension plans for the officers and staffs of union were much better funded than those for the rank-and-file. On average, the 21 largest union pension plans had less than 70 percent of the finds that they would need to cover their total obligations, and none were filly funded. Seven were less than 65 percent funded. Yet 23 officer and staff funds from the same union had 88.2 percent of the funding they would need to pay promised pensions, including seven fully funded plans and another 13 with at least 80 percent of their required funds. Excluding the seven plans strictly for union office employees, staff funds had 98.4 percent of their required funds.

Unions have also been caught using their funds to achieve their political ends. In 2005, the Department of Labor wrote the AFL-CIO a letter telling it to reconsider such practices. Theoretically, pension funds are not permitted to make investment decisions based on politics or public policy. Using pensions as a political tool hurts union members because it may push their retirement funds into lower yielding investments. That diminishes investment returns and thus reduces resources available to pay promised benefits.

….

(My emphasis above)

This is a very interesting report that reveals how little unions really care about their own membership, the “little guys” that unions are supposed to be protecting. Unions have seen the draw of political power and found that bright, shiny object of far more interest then merely protecting the interests of their own members.

Congress must remove the restrictions it put on America’s oil-rich public lands. We must increase exploration and production of American crude oil, as well as increase American refining capacity. These steps will lower gas prices. Unfortunately, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is refusing to take up legislation that will increase American energy independence. That is why I am asking Idahoans to send me their fuel receipts, so that I can show Speaker Pelosi just how serious the energy crisis is for Idahoans.

Recently, I asked Idahoans to write me and tell me how high gas prices are affecting them. I heard from literally thousands of Idahoans, nearly all urging Congress to lift the ban on American energy exploration and drilling. The comments were extremely poignant. A Post Falls trucking company owner named Robert wrote, “high fuel prices are breaking me and this whole industry. After being on the road away from my home for 5 to 6 weeks at a time and busting my butt trying to stay afloat, I really don’t have to worry about gas prices because I don’t have enough money left when I get home to buy gas for my car.”

Jodi from Middleton wrote to tell me that it’s getting difficult to go anywhere, and being summer, she has to tell her kids that gas is too high to go to the park or the library. Jodi also told me that she’s paying $165 a week for groceries that used to cost $100 a week. Jodi said, “if gas goes any higher, we will lose our home.”

Mariya from Boise wrote plainly, “the government is stifling the nation’s economy.”

Well, Robert and Jodi and Mariya and all the others who have been writing my office asking Congress to do something are right. And yet Congress is not acting. Speaker Pelosi is refusing to take up legislation that increases American energy production. The legislation Congress has taken up so far is pure gimmickry, smoke and mirrors and political baloney.

Maybe if Speaker Pelosi hears directly from Idahoans, and sees just how much it is costing the families and businesses of our state, she’ll be more inclined to act. So I’m asking Idahoans today to engage on this issue in a way they never have. Save those gas receipts. Send them to my office, and I’ll make sure Speaker Pelosi gets them.

Here are the addresses for my offices. I hope you will take this opportunity to show Speaker Pelosi how important this issue is to you:

Boise Office
802 W Bannock, Ste 101
Boise, Idaho 83702

Caldwell Office
704 Blaine St, Ste 1
Caldwell, Idaho 83605

Coeur d’ Alene Office
610 W Hubbard, Ste 206
Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho 83814

Lewiston Office
313 D Street, Ste 104
Lewiston, Idaho 83501

As always, I look forward to hearing from you, getting your advice and ideas. I want to work with you in solving America’s current energy problems.

I made it through Week 3 of the President’s Challenge. Only 3 more to go.

We’ve got a good slate of weekend podcasts ahead. Here’s the schedule and we appreciate people joining us always:

Old Time Dragnet Show: “Big Poison”-Saturday Night 6:30 PM MT/8:30 PM ET, Call in and listen live @724-444-7444, Talkcast ID: 18797, or click here to listen online.

Truth and Hope Report: Weekend Update. We talk about the news of the day with information and perspective you won’t hear in the media stream press: Saturday Night 8:00 PM MT/10:00 PM ET, Call in and listen live @724-444-7444, Talkcast ID: 7251, or click here to listen online.

Old Time Radio Superman: Dinelli’s Protection Racket, Part Four: Sunday Afternoon: 1:30 PM MT: 3:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM MT/8:30 PM ET, Call in and listen live @724-444-7444, Talkcast ID: 11773 , or click here to listen online.

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There’s nothing like the threat of lost federal tax dollars to get folks to backtrack, even the anti-military radicals on the Berkley City Council.  (Hat Tip: Don Surber.)

A liberal college President chooses PC Concern over blood donation over saving lives.  (Hat Tip: Red State.)

And Britons who think Sherlock Holmes and Winston Churchhill was a myth.

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Fire is vital to the maintenance of life on Earth. Yet, fire can be dangerous when not properly controlled. As any camper will tell you, attempts to start a fire without the necessary ingredients is often useless.

Anger, like fire is an important part of our political process. Anger motivates people to seek justice, right wrongs, and correct problems. With no anger, our politics would be left in stagnation. We would be indifferent to injustice and we’d still have things like slavery. Anger’s not a bad starting point.

However, in politics anger alone can be a destructive force, when not balanced by a positive vision or not balanced by specific action to address the actual problem. Such as has been the case in the outrage over the immigration debate.

We find a lot of people upset over what Congress has tried to do about immigration but we’ve been short on constructive solutions. Some have given the solution of merely taking their ball and going home, refusing to vote to punish the Republicans as if increasing the number of Democrats will solve the underlying problem of illegal immigration.

Conservatives face a challenge in the 21st Century. We have thousands of Conservative leaders with different philosophies and no clue on how they’re going to term their long-term goals into reality. We’re like a football team with thousands of quarterbacks, each playing without a game plan throwing footballs in random directions and hoping for a touchdown.

Until then, the Conservative movement is at risk of following the Liberals into a fog of negativism. The greatest question that must be asked about governmental failures and problems is, “What are we going to do about it?” When that question predominates the Conservative movement, then we can become a constructive force for change rather than a nest of undirected anger and rage.

Worldnetdaily had a couple interesting stories on eminent domain from Florida.

First, we’ve got a city that’s suing its own citizens:

In what appears to be another case of eminent domain, with the city claiming an unchallengeable right to redevelop the quiet beachfront community, officials say they retained legal services after the rebellious residents collected signatures on a petition demanding the issue be put to a vote, WTSP-TV in Tampa-St. Petersburg reported yesterday…

According to the city’s charter, citizens can call for a vote on “any adopted ordinance,” but city officials decided to sue because they say the state won’t allow citizens the right to vote on a redevelopment plan like the one under consideration.

Same type of arrogance we’ve seen in Boise with the attempts to stop the Ten Commandments vote by splitting hairs over what’s an Administrative decision (a distinction made nowhere in law.) Lets be honest that City leaders don’t really like citizens over-rulling them, they’d rather get rid of these proposals that were put in place by refomers to give people a voice in what happens in their community. In Florida, its vital because people’s homes are at stake.

On the other side, Worldnetdaily has been enjoying the upsurged in interest since Kelo in these type of stories and their disappointed showed when a community gave up its battle to save their homes.

Headline:
Eminent ‘doughmain’:
Cash greases owners

With that, we’re going to get great unbiased coverage:

Martha Babson was among the critics in the television spotlight, but she is closing on a deal to sell her house tomorrow. She has been offered more than three times the appraised value of her $202,454 home by the son of Miami Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga.

Eminent-domain critic Martha Babson of Riviera Beach, Fla., has decided to sell her home (courtesy: South Florida Sun-Sentinel)

“The new boy in town is Wayne Huizenga [Jr.], and he’s coming through with practically a blank check book,” Babson told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “They bought the entire street and they bought the street north of me. … They are out all day making people offers. They are paying money nobody ever expected to see.”

Babson’s specific deal allows her to stay one more year in her house for free, before she moves to Gainesville, Fla., where she plans on working as a massage therapist.

“I can buy a house without a mortgage. I can have a car without a car payment,” she told the Palm Beach Post. “I’m so relieved.”

But Worldnetdaily had a story to tell! They wanted tearful people ripped from their homes, dang it! How dare you think of yourself, what about the muckraking press!

I’m glad for the residents in that area. To be fair, though. The reason Huizenga is paying this is really a “Pay Me Now” or “Pay Me Later” situation. The story got national publicity. What was going to follow months of hearings and process for the town to cease these homes was a costly court case. Huizenga was going to have to put off the project which was going to cost him money plus court costs, so he paid up big time.

I honestly have no problem with what the residents or Huizenga did. What you’re talking about is the private transfer of private property between private individuals. That’s freedom, that’s free enterprise.

I like my house, but if someone came and offered me 3 times its Market Value, I’d probably push for 3.5 and then take it. The problem is when the Government comes in and seizes my property under the idea of eminent domain and I get barely enough to pay off the mortgage and not enough for a downpayment. Or I fight their violation of the plain text of the fifth amendment and am forced to pay back rent for living in my own home. As its my home, its mine to also do with it as I please, including selling it to Wayne Huizenga for the right price.

As seen on The Florida Masochist

Linked to TMH Bacon Bits, Third World County, Cao’s Blog, Jo’s Cafe, Basil’s Blog

Eminent Domain

6:48-C-Span show its classic “people mulling about” coverage. You know I wonder if some day they’ll get a “best of” together on those.”

Others Live Blogging this Even:

6:55-The appointment of the escort committed were named. Interesting people will escort the President in including archopponents like Richard Durbin, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid, as well as Barack Obama.

6:56-Mrs. Bush welcomed to warm bi-partisan applause in the House Chamber.

7:03-The President’s running a little late.

7:05-”Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States.”

7:07-The President’s taking his time going through the crowd. Has to be relishing the warm welcome with all the garbage he puts up with the rest of the year.

7:09-The President starts out with a tribute to Coretta Scott King.

7:11-After a call for civility, the President declared “The State of Our Union is strong.” When exactly does a President say, “The State of Our Union” is weak?

7:14-Uh oh. Bush said that the elimination of tyranny from the World is vital to America’s future. Those who’ve read here a long time no that I disagree. Particularly when the panacea of Democracy is prescribed for freedom. Lots of Democracies end up corrupt and as dangerous to freedom with gargantuan government and strong men leaders (Hugo Chavez are you watching.) Sorry, but this is simplistic.

7:15-”We love our freedom and we’ll fight to keep it.” A message of defiance to Bin-laden as well as the Americans who’ve suggested negotiating.

7:16-”There is no peace in retreat, there’s no honor in retreat.” Bush answering our leftists friends who think throwing Iraq to the wolves is a policy.

7:19-Bush supreme confidence in our ability to win. “We are winning.” And at this moment, the heads of several leftist bloggers will explode in rage.

7:21-”Hindsight alone is not wisdom and second guessing is not a strategy.” Bush sticks it to the party of retreat.

7:26-Bush got into talking about other things other than Democracy such as the rule of law required for a free society. That’s good. Then, he got into telling new elected governments (including Hamas in the Palestinian Territory) how to govern.

I wonder whether anyone in any administration views Palestinian or Israeli elections as meaning anything. Regardless of what happens, we’re going to pressure the Palestinians to pretend to disarm and the Israelis to give up territory.

7:28-Bush talks about Iran. We respect you and respect your right to win your own freedom.

Translation: We’re not going in.

7:31-Bush defends wiretaps of international Al Queda communications. “We will not sit back and wait to be hit again.” This is pretty clear cut, common sense.

7:35-Bush has talked about isolationism time and time again. I don’t know how many times he’s used it, but its not apt. Except for some of the far far left, no one’s advocating isolationism. The question is whether we’ll engage the world as Naive ninnies or with a realistic understanding of the dangers we face in the world.

7:37-Call for Tax Cuts to become permenent. Because, personally I can’t afford them to go up, and I’m not alone.

7:38-Bush joins the call for Earmark reform, allying himself with Coburn and McCain. Bush also calls for a Line Item Veto Constitutional Amendment, which isn’t happening. Congress won’t pass it.

7:40-Oh, my gosh! Bush’s new solution for Social Security: A Bipartisan Commission to look at the impact of Baby Boomer retirement! With all due respect, Whupdee doo! Furthermore, he wants members of Congress to serve on the Commission as if to assure nothing gets done.

We don’t need more studies, we’ve got them out the wazoo, what we need are solutions.

7:47-”America is addicted to oil.” I’m sorry but this is weird to here from a guy who made his millions in oil. After that line, its golden as the Bush explains how the Administration’s taking steps for alternative energy and ending foreign oil dependence.

7:49-”Training 75,000 Math and Science teachers for advanced placement classes.” Excuse me, Mr. President? What verison of the Constitution are you reading? I don’t find these powers anywhere in mine.

7:52-”America’s not in decline.” Bush tells us to not to let America’s social problems cause us to think the best days are behind us.

7:53-The most partisan part of the speech. Celebrating Alito and Roberts, particularly after Democrats fought this so hard. Then, he thanked Sandra Day O’Connor for her service to the country as an activist judge. In my opinion, her greatest service was her retirement.

7:55-Bush calls on Congress to ban Human Cloning, creating Embryos for the purpose of experimentation and creating Human-Animal hybrids.

7:59-Bush calls for America to “finish well”, not quit half way. Invokes Lincoln and the Cold War.

8:00-”May God Bless America”

I think the speech will be fairly well received. It had some challenging moments. The President at some times sounded like he was trying to ram things into the speech. At other times, he sounded like a CEO, throwing out as many buzz words and nice-sounding programs as possible. He did score some good points, but I think its going to take more than this to get the White House’s momentum back.

Conservative Blogger
Blogs for Bush, Stop the ACLU, Michelle Malkin, Oblogatory Anecdotes, Radical Russ

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For, I have something so cool, so awesome, so Republican it beats anything you have.

Behold the wonder of:

The Donald Rumsfeld Doll-er-Action Figure from Talking Presidents. Rummy comes with a pair of glasses, a yellow tie and a pin stripe suit. Other than the fact that the pants seems to have been made for a doll with random bulges in his leg, the Rummy doll is everything you could ask of a Secretary of Defense Action Figure. Rummy comes fully loaded with 28 seperate sayings which is more than any of Talking Presidents other figures.

The best part was that it was a steal of a deal. Rummy Action Figures are advertised at $29.95 plus shipping and handling. How much do you think I paid for my brand new Rummy action figure? $20? $15? $10? No, I paid $5.00. Enough to make generation after generation of cheapskate Grahams jump for joy!

I got it at Big Lots in Boise, and there were a few left. I may go back and get the Dennis Miller doll as well , so that I can mix and match their outfits. j/k.

Linked to Conservative Cat

Linked to Basil’s Blog, Jo’s Cafe, and Don Surber

Rumsfeld, Action Figure

Courtesy of Instapundit, I found this interesting piece on New Editor. It seems that members of the staff of that great reformer Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Ma.) (of Shays-Meehan fame) up to and including his chief of staff didn’t like some information in his wikipedia biography, so they deleted it and replaced it with the official biography.

Wikipedia has caught this and explains what Meehan’s staff deleted:

The changes endorsed by Meehan’s Chief of Staff included removing mentions of the campaign money controversy involving Meehan, and Meehan’s broken term-limit promise. Also deleted was a reference to the size of Meehan’s campaign account, the largest of any House member at $4.8 million, according to the latest data available from the Federal Election Commission.

Somewhat hypocritical for Mr. Campaign Finance Reform, don’t you think? More importantly, this does raise a serious problem with Wikipedia. Wikipedia is unreliable because it can be changed by anyone at anytime for any reason. If ever people begin to rely on Wikipedia for information, an Orwellian nightmare is possible where the past is changed to suit the needs of the present.

That’s what Meehan’s staff did. The sad thing is that there wasn’t any real political fear involved in this. Meehan won re-election in 2004 with 67% of the vote and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. If such acts of deception will be perpetrated using Wikipedia by people who have no worries about re-election, what will happen where the stakes are much higher.

Meehan, Wikipedia

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Those were the days. How do we get back to the 19th Century? We can, as a society, move our World towards a smaller population. You have to understand that the change was not due to us having more children, but to us living longer. So, our goal must be the reduction of human life span. You can help. Here are a few simple ways:

1) Don’t Go to the Doctor for Illnesses

I’ve had a few bad Bronchial Infections that could have very well killed me and thus reduced the population of the Earth by one. Unfortunately, I was just too selfish and ended up getting modern anti-biotics, thus continuing to live and breate. Don’t make this mistake.

Added Benefit: Lower Healthcare Costs and Less Malpractice Suits.

2) Don’t Use a Refrigerator:

Unrefrigerated meat can go bad and carry all kinds of bacteria that can kill you. The use of refrigeration has unleashed the horrors of millions not dying of food poisoning and other food-borne illnesses. Taking this step also can save you on your electric bill.

3) Find Houses that Have Asbestos Insulation

Find them and live in them, and it’ll cut your lifespan. If it’s near a nuclear power plant, that’s a bonus.

4) Start Smoking

If you’re not smoking yet, start. If you are smoking, why aren’t you smoking more? Not only will smoking hasten the end of you blighting this globe with your existence, you also help provide revenue for such vital services as schools and Federal Buildings named after Robert Byrd.

5) Skip Pre-Natal Exams

Pre-Natal exams allow doctors to catch problems with a pregnancy and can save the lives of both mother. This is why you shouldn’t go, because not only are you helping a human being (you or your spouse) live but guaranteeing another one is born healthy. Indeed, 19th Century infant mortality as well as women dying in child birth were far more common. Skip the exams and use the money to start smoking another pack of cigarettes per day, particularly if you’re pregnant.

6) Start More Wars

Wars are nasty affairs that lead to the deaths of thousands upon thousands. Many innocents die from collateral damage in long drawn-out wars, which is why the population control liberal’s stated goal of avoiding wars and bringing world peace is so off-base.

As a citizen of the Earth who wants to save it from the horrors of having people on it, its your responsibility to call your Congressman and urge them to invade Iran, and while we’re at it throw in Belarus, Belgium, and India. Once the wars start, be sure to begin smoking an additional pack of cigarettes to support the destruction of the overpopulation problem.

7) Forget About Charity

Charities that work to feed the poor and the homeless come begging for your support and your answer should be, “No!” Stop giving to the United Way, the local food bank, and the Rescue Mission. Don’t even think about giving to an International Charity, so many of those missions can help alleviate the suffering of people which can help them live longer. Examples of such anti-Earth efforts includes AIDS relief in Africa. As that great humanitarian Ebenezer Scrooge observed the poor, “Let them die and reduce the surplus population.” If you must give to Charity, fund a library or the UN Population Fund (now there’s a group that knows how to manage money.)

Be a Single Curmudgeon:

Married people have longer lifespans, so don’t get married if you’re not. The longer you exist, the longer you eat up the planet’s vital resources. You can use the money you’d spend on your spouse to buy another pack of cigarettes each day.

9) Take a Deadly Contagious Disease and Infect Yourself With It:

Find a disease such as bubonic plague or Smallpox that has died out and get yourself infected and spread the disease around to as many people as possible. Gene Roddenberry thought it was pretty noble, he even made a Star Trek episode about it.

These steps may be cold, cruel, and heartless, but if population control is so important that we’ll sanction the destruction of innocent human life to achieve it than its important enough to be ruthless and uncompassionate. It is important enough to die for.

Linked to

Voteswagon, Bullwinkle Blog, Conservative Cat, Publius Rendezvous. Uncooperative Blogger, Point Five, Oblogatory Anecdotes, Stop the ACLU

Population Control, Satire

We, in the blogosphere have our disagreements, but sometimes something comes along that unites us and brings us together across lines of liberal and conservative, Republican and Democratic, fans of Frank Sinatra and fans of Barbara Streisand. In this case, at Pam’s House Blend (2005 Weblog Award Winner for Best LGBT blog), I found that we share an utter confusion over a young homosexual man in Arkansas who went to a Conservative Christian School and agreed to be bound by the following rules regarding his homosexuality:

* not to dress in women’s clothing
* not slap other players on the rear end if he played sports
* not hug or shake hands with other men for too long
* not “broadcast” his lifestyle
* not tell other students he was gay until he got to know them well.

Pam wrote:

Michael Guinn needs to wake up. Why did he go to this bible beating school in Arkansas?

Another Gay Blogger wrote:

I have trouble feeling any sympathy towards individuals in situations like Guinns. They put themselves in this position to begin with so why should the world heave and shift to one side over it? If JBU is a private university and therefore can set its own rules for how it wants its students to conduct themselves. It may seem victorian and stupid to us but as long as students are willing to adhere to it.

Well, it becomes apparent when you read the article, why the student did this:

Guinn said he became a Christian two years ago and chose to attend the university last fall because it’s in his hometown, and because he admired the unique bond the administration had with the student body and because, as the son of a faculty member, his tuition would be free.

Ka-ching. Free is hard to beat for all the benefits you get at a Christian College and John Brown actually looks like a darn good college as its been recognized by US News and World Report.

So, he was in and following the code of conduct, but what did him in was his Xanga, where he was quite open about being a homosexual. This lead to him getting expelled.

As you read the article, you have a sense the kid was trying to do the right thing. He’d decided he was going to be celibate and on campus kept to the code (from what he says) pretty strictly except perhaps for telling some people about his homosexuality and his blog that he really shouldn’t have.

Pam puzzled at the kid, I’ve got to puzzle at the way the School Administration handled it. The school new there was a problem with this guy’s homosexuality and they let him in anyway. They spent countless hours meeting with him time after time on this issue.

What was apparent is that they had an expectation that their students not be homosexual, not have that inclination, not be unrepentant about their involvement in that world. I don’t think that’s unreasonable. What was unreasonable was merely expecting him to pretend that was the case. I also think that while some of the rules such as those against wearing women’s clothing make sense, but others really present a problem.

If you want to help someone whose struggling with homosexuality, one key thing is to help them build healthy non-sexual relationships with other guys. Instead the school created a situation where you have this guy whose struggling with homosexuality wondering whether he’s shaking someone’s hand for too long.

From what I’m reading, it sounds like Guinn needed some friendship and discipleship, instead he got a warden and a bunch of jailkeepers, trying to balance protecting the purity of the student body AND allowing him in the college.

The truth is that he really wasn’t ready for this college and for the school to have admitted under these circumstances has done far more harm than good.

Also, I have to say something. Guinn was expelled because someone “anonymously” e-mailed the school about photos he posted on the blog. He also kept getting complaints sent about what he posted on his Xanga.

If whoever did this is reading this, I’d like to refer you to 1. Thessolonians 4:11:

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

Words to live by, particularly in the information age. It seems that there’s some malicious gossip, general griping, and gossiping. Mr. Guinn had the unfortunate habit of posting personal things on his blog. Yet, we all have our failings and temptations, most people are just better at hiding than Mr. Guinn was. By constantly tattling someone was being a busybody, sticking their nose where it didn’t belong in what amounts to little more than backbiting. The school has tried in its own imperfect way (and how else can we try) to show grace and mercy, yet what can I say for the person who was maliciously spreading this information with the idea of getting Mr. Guinn kicked out?

Was it a concern for Salvation that so moved them? Loving compassion? Or just pure anger and hatred? I leave that question to them. There is much to learn from the Michael Guinn case, the only question is whether people will be open to learn it.

AbortionPodcast

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Finally, a movie comes out that carries the Gospel as its theme, that presents Christians and even missionaries in a positive light, that shows how Christianity can transform a culture. And yet CHRISTIANS are boycotting it because it has a gay actor.

People, actors make no difference to the story! Actors are people who perform characters and recite lines that someone else has written for them. I agree that this gay actor now opening his mouth should not have been hired, but I doubt that the filmmakers knew his sexual orientation when they cast him or, since this is the first venture of a tiny, Oklahoma-based Christian company founded by a man who himself is so conservative he never even went to movies, were wise to the ways of Hollywood. If this had been made by the secular movie industry, such as those that made the Narnia movie, would there be such an outcry? If one of the actors in the Narnia movie were gay–as I’m sure must be the case–would that lessen the positive impact of the movie?

I noticed NO ONE commented on my story about “The End of the Spear.” Lots of you commented on the gay actor post, nearly all of you saying that having him in the movie does taint it for you. But there is nothing pro-gay in the movie, nothing negative, only morality, inspiration, and truth.

I would add only a couple things about this controversy. The first is that it seems that some people lack a solid understanding of what acting is. When you act, you’re not generally playing yourself. Tom Hanks, for example really didn’t serve in Vietnam and World War II, and he wasn’t followed by spies because he had one red shoe, nor did he really live in a women’s hotel disguised as a woman, nor was he trapped on a desert island for three years. These were all roles he played on the film.

Thus, actors by nature aren’t their characters, aren’t even necessarily like them at all. They’re playing a part. That’s the way movies work and if you want to complain about non-Christians getting hired in Christian films, think of Omega Code, think of the end times movies released by Cloud Ten, they all feature non-Christians playing in Christian films. Think Michael York in “The Omega Code”, Corbin Bernsen in “Judgment”.

In addition, Bruce Marchiano who played Christ in the Visual Bible visited my church last Summer and mentioned that a lot of the actors were Muslims because they were filming in Morocco.

If you want to go really extreme, you could apply Steve Camp’s Thesis #75 from his 107 Thesises:

75. We cannot partner with the unbelieving world in a common spiritual enterprise or ministry. To harness unbelievers and believers in a Christ-centered endeavor is to be unequally yoked. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

That’s kind of extreme, but if you apply that standard to any Christian movie, you can find fault in it because most of the time, they start out in a secular theater or require secular extras. Me, I’d rather look at it with the opinion that God can use anyone or anything to communicate His truths. He can use men of little or no chracter, and men who don’t believe in Him. Benjamin Franklin was a deist but was one of 18th Century Evangelist George Whitefield’s big promoters. So, I would definitely NOT encourage a boycott of this film.

Trackbacked to The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns

For every 100 babies born in New York City, women had 74 abortions in 2004, according to newly released figures that reaffirm the city as the abortion capital of the country…

That means 40 out of 100 pregnancies in the city ended in a planned abortion – almost double the national average of 24 of 100 pregnancies in 2002, estimated by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a Manhattan-based nonprofit group that researches reproductive health issues.

Here’s what I found interesting. New York was actually one of the first states to legalize abortions back in 1970. What has happened to New York’s political power in that time. After the 1970 Census, New York has 39 members of Congress, today it has 29. Yes, there are other factors, but the fact that people aren’t having kids and so many who do are having less than their Conservative counterparts is a demographic sign post the Democrats are ignoring. Going by 1970s Congressional Apportionment John Kerry would have won the last election with the states he won in 2004.

Thus is the power of the left’s foolishness. What we’re witnessing is the slow demographic decline of an ideological dinosaur that’s killing itself through the things it advocates and is too clueless to know it.