http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson Fri, 29 May 2009 22:35:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Far too often, government has looked to excessively regulate immigration into this country. However, to date there has been no true “conservative” immigration plan. The "Leave Us Alone" principle many conservatives adopt towards government, and its role in governing, seem to be forgotten when discussing "conservative" immigration policy. Conservatives argue it ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2009/05/29/conservative-immigration-reform-is-right-next-to-unicorns-and-leprechauns/ Dear Senator Specter, WHY? Sincerely, Republican Hope http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2009/04/28/open-letter-to-sen-specter-rd-pa/ How about paying tax on that 99-cent music download? The new pair of shoes you just ordered online? What about a tax on viewing online streaming videos? That’s right – the effort to tax binary code is underway. For years, the internet has flourished as a ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2009/04/23/etax-bankrupting-our-way-beyond-the-digital-age/ With just about every move by the Federal Government having the average American scratching their head, Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) has decided to begin their own series titled “REALLY!?!? with American for Tax Reform” modeled after the famous Saturday Night Live sketches. Every week, ATR will find the ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2009/04/16/new-blog-series-really-with-americans-for-tax-reform/ The recent push to “go green” by many industries in America was a theme that echoed throughout President Obama’s endless campaign rhetoric. However, what Obama didn’t tell his listeners was just exactly who America would be “partnering” up with to make this dream a reality. Let there be no doubt that ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2009/04/09/obama%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%9cgreen-jobs%e2%80%9d-mean-another-kind-of-%e2%80%9cgreen%e2%80%9d-for-the-unions/ A new blog series created at Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) called, "I Told You So" pokes fun at the outrageous policies being implemented at the federal and state level. These common sense posts draw very simple, but obvious conclusions on several policy issues. What's great about this new ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2009/03/26/atr-to-congress-i-told-you-so/ At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, DC this past week, conservatives young and old gathered to discuss strategy and show-off their latest innovations. I was asked to talk very very briefly about "card check" and the Employee Free Choice Act. Here's the clip! Or click here to visit AWF's ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2009/03/02/cpac-2009-worker-freedom-discussed/ Dear Gov. Jindal - What happened? Sincerely, Republican Hope PS - In all due respect, we love what you're doing in New Orleans...but wow, that was unfortunate. http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2009/02/25/a-open-letter-to-gov-jindal-comments-welcome/ If you're like me, you wish there was something to do while listening to the Obama-ganda tonight. Well now there is. From the people who brought you the Taxpayer Protection Pledge (which almost saved California from higher taxes), and the famous "Wednesday Meeting", comes a new play-at-home game that is fun ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2009/02/24/play-o-bingo-with-obama-tonight/ If you were good this Christmas, you might get candy or that new toy you wanted. For those who were a bit naughty, the presents might resemble lumps of coal or switches. But what do you get if you were very naughty...but...happened to give $600 million to the left? Well, Santas Pelosi ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/12/11/big-labors-christmas-wish-list-if-you-gave-600-million-youd-expect-some-darn-nice-gifts-too/ On 12/02/08, the Heritage Foundation released a document entitled, “Ensuring Access to Affordable Health Insurance—A Memo to President-Elect Obama,” written by Stuart Butler and Nina Owcharenko. It’s a serious document, and one which Heritage hopes will serve as a keynote for conservative action on health care reform over the next ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/12/10/heritage-foundation-wrong-on-healthcareagain/ As if anyone needed any more proof that Governors Perry (R-TX) and Sanford (R-SC) are anything less than awesome, they go on WSJ and condemn the state bailouts...awesome! In a blog post today, ATR says In today's WSJ, Perry and Sanford express their opposition to state bailouts saying: ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/12/02/atr-governors-perry-and-sanford-are-awesome/ Today is the 30th birthday of government driven ethanol mandates - so Happy Birthday inefficiency and command-and-control energy policies! I for one will be celebrating this at a press conference at the National Press Club as part of a Food Before Fuel campaign. First, let's a take a moment to examine ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/11/18/happy-30th-birthday-ethanol-subsidies/ Influential DC insider Grover Norquist is known for many things. Being president of ATR, sitting on the board of the NRA, and running the famous Wednesday meeting. However after today, there might be another point added to that list. According to The Washington Times, Grover Norquist sent a letter to the ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/11/17/grover-asks-feds-for-700-billion/ Below are some various trends and stats that I have compiled from the 2008 Presidential election. Surprisingly, the Catholic shift. Not surprising, the immigration shift. Talk about messaging. Seriously, just take Latino immigrants. Catholic, family-centric, hard-working, familiar with small businesses, and until we piss them off, most likely to be ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/11/12/gop-dont-have-bush-syndrome-actually-le/ As you know, this election decides many things: Do unions become puppet masters of Congress and the White House? Will our taxes go up? What about my 401(k) stability? Healthcare? Immigration? And more... Well, ATR has put together some educational voter guides on energy, taxes and labor. Enjoy! McCain vs. Obama ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/11/04/remembervote-smart/ Guess what...If Barack Obama's tax hike had been in place since 2001, he would have paid over $250,000 more in income taxes than he actually did. This assumes that the 33% bracket stayed at 36%, and that the 35% bracket stayed at 39.6%. Here's the breakdown: 2001 - $420 2002 - ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/10/27/obamas-tax-gap-is-over-250kpay-up/ Recently, in Human Events and in the DC Examiner I have referred to this election as the "Worker Freedom" election - indicating that this election will either make-it-or-break-it for Big Labor. Yet with the millions, or even billions, of dollars the business community and some trade associations represent, this election ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/10/22/the-right-way-for-the-business-community-to/ This election has been called many things. Grover Norquist has called it the "401(k) Election." Some groups are calling it the "Take Back the Flag Election." However the Alliance for Worker Freedom is calling it the "Worker Freedom Election." Yesterday, AWF released a 15-variable matrix that compares John McCain and Barack Obama ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/10/15/mccain-vs-obama-the-worker-freedom-election/ If George McGovern went on the record today, as opposing card check, supporting states rights, supporting the Health Care Choice Act and signed ATR's Taxpayer Protection Pledge promising not to raise taxes...would you vote for him? Given the current climate today, I would have to think long and hard about that ... http://www.redstate.com/brian_m_johnson/2008/10/10/would-you-vote-for-george-mcgovern-if/