Things are looking worse for Obama in the matter of Gerald Walpin, the Inspector General fired by Barack Obama after Walpin began digging into AmeriCorps. According to Byron York, who has done yeoman’s duty on this story, AmeriCorps feared bad press by Walpin’s investigation. The program, being one of both Barack and Michelle Obama’s favorite programs, couldn’t afford to be tainted.

Walpin was fired.

Now a large group has come together to defend Walpin’s integrity after the Obama administration started smearing him for his refusal to go quietly.

Here is a letter (PDF) signed by, among others, 4 former U.S. Attorneys, 3 former Federal Judges, 1 former Attorney General, 1 former Counsel to the President (Clinton), 1 former Special White House Counsel for Ethics (the same position as Eisen), 1 former NYC Police Commissioner, 1 former law school dean, and 5 currrent and former Presidents of the Bar Association of lawyers in the Second Circuit and the President-elect.

Some notable signers include: former U.S. Attorneys Otto Obermaier, John Martin, Zachary Carter, and Andrew Maloney; Former Federal Judges Michael Mukasey, Abraham Sofaer, and John Martin; Former Attorney-General Michael Mukasey; Former Counsel To President Bernard Nussbaum; Former Special Counsel to President for Ethics Richard Painter; Former NYC Police Commissioner Robert McGuire; and Former Law School Dean Monroe Freedman; Former and current Presidents of Federal Bar Council and President-elect Robert Giuffra, Stephen Edwards, Bernard Nussbaum, George Yankwitt, Mark Zauderer, and Robert Anello.

Now, here is another key troubling aspect to this whole story. Unbeknownst to anyone save the culprit until after the stimulus bill was signed, someone put in a provision to the stimulus bill effectively neutering all but the most persistent Inspectors General. The provision, which created the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, or RAT Board,

would oversee the in-house watchdogs, known as inspectors general, whose job is to independently investigate allegations of wrongdoing at various federal agencies, without fear of interference by political appointees or the White House.

The RAT Board could insist that an Inspector General cease an investigation. As Byron York noted at the time he wrote about this provision, “a determined inspector general can probably get his way, but only after jumping through bureaucratic hoops that will inevitably make him hesitate to go forward.”

Walpin might have been too persistent for Barack Obama.

After weeks of criticism from both Republicans and Democrats that Barack Obama had taken many varied positions on Iran, the White House sought to admit the criticism was true.

From the actual White House website with no alterations whatsoever:

(click the image for a larger view)

Consider this an open thread.

First, we need to be clear on the facts — not the media speculation:

• Sanford did tell his staff and family where he was going.
• Because he was traveling without a security detail, it was in his best interests that no one knew he was gone.
• His political enemies — Republicans at that — ginned up the media story.
• When confronted by a pestering media, things went downhill.
• Again though, at all times there was no doubt that Sanford’s staff and family knew where he was.

Now, here is all you need to know about this whole entire story — the reaction from the erstwhile Republicans angry at Sanford for not being a fiscal squish and from the media all go back to their core belief that without Sanford manning the barricades of government at all times, the government will collapse and people will starve, die, and forget how to read and write.

That’s it.

But that did not happen. Life in South Carolina went on. The world did not end. Government did not go off the rails. That the media and politicians would react as they did says more about their world view than anything else.

It is refreshing that Mark Sanford is secure enough in himself and the people of South Carolina that he does not view himself as an indispensable man.

Sanford’s lies spread through his office and out to the rest of us.

The left is linking to this post to laugh at it. What they are missing is that most of us tend to give people the benefit of the doubt — even people like John Edwards.

We live in a fallen world and we ourselves are fallen. I am disappointed in Sanford, but not angry. The default for politicians seems to be unchaste. All we can do is work for ideas and try to find men of good character to fight for those ideas.

I think one thing I have noticed in the past five years is that Democrats and Republicans tend to elevate politicians to such a level that there is no accountability. It is insular. There is no support group, no small group of friends, and no authority that can guide, admonish, and correct politicians privately.

We have each other. I’m off in a bit to hang out with friends from my Bible Study. Sanford probably has none of that. I’m sure John Edwards did not. Nor Bill Clinton. Nor John Ensign.

What Mark Sanford did was wrong. He needs to go in a dark hole somewhere where no one can see him or hear him and rehabilitate himself. On the bright side, I doubt his indiscretions will affect the FisCon movement. The left is going to spend the next week making Sanford into the second coming of James Dobson to smear real marriage advocates and social conservatives — positions Sanford was rarely vocal on.

Blessed is the Lord God Jehovah who brings forth bread from heaven, water from rocks, and men like Mark Sanford from the dust of the earth. His will be done.

No thanks.

It’s not that I don’t want the GOP in charge, it’s just I’ve never seen running against a personality to be an effective approach. God knows Jim Marshall would be toast in GA-08 if running against Nancy Pelosi were a winning strategy.

And perhaps we don’t need to make it about incumbent personalities, but actual, factual, challengers to Democrat incumbents.

Oh, and, unless it was intended to be a soft launch, this is the proverbial impact.

With all the reports of a missing Governor Mark Sanford whose staff and wife allegedly have no idea where he is and have not heard from him, I figured it was worth checking in with his office. His Communications Director sent us this statement:

The governor put in a lot of time during this last legislative session, and after the session winds down it’s not uncommon for him to go out of pocket for a few days at a time to clear his head. Obviously, that’s going to be somewhat out of the question this time given the attention this particular absence has gotten. Before leaving last week, he let staff know his whereabouts and that he’d be difficult to reach. Should any emergencies arise between the times in which he checks in, our staff would obviously be in contact with other state officials as the situation warrants before making any decisions.

For the record, Governor Sanford is hiking part of the Appalachian Trail.

One must wonder what Mitch McConnell paid or did to have the Washington Post’s Perry Bacon, Jr. write this total fluff piece on Mitch McConnell.

When he was fighting campaign finance reform a decade ago,  Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was dubbed Darth Vader by his critics. He embraced the nickname, even announcing “Darth Vader has arrived” at a news conference.

Well, when the article starts out with a gross distortion of the facts, we can only conclude that McConnell is desperate to hang on to power and distract from his failures as the Senate Republican Leader.

What gross distortion?

“Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was dubbed Darth Vader by his critics,” writes Perry Bacon, Jr. today.

“The Kentucky curmudgeon who dubbed himself the Darth Vader of campaign-finance reform is whipped, and he knows it,” wrote Jonathan Alter in Newsweek on April 9, 2001.

“Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican who aptly describes himself as the “Darth Vader” of the campaign finance debate,” wrote the Kansas City Star on April 8, 2001.

“The antipathy is well known between Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the self-described Darth Vader of campaign finance reform, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who recently likened his presidential campaign to the adventures of Luke Skywalker,” wrote Mary Lynn Jones in the Hill on February 16, 2000.

Yes, Common Cause gave Mitch McConnell the designation once, but it says more about McConnell that he had to embrace and recycle the nickname for anyone to pick it up and use it “against” him.

Now Perry Bacon, Jr. in his fluff piece, recycles it to make McConnell seem more than the limp wristed leader he has been lately.

Read More →

Per my post below, the Perry Campaign has set up a Kimbia widget to contribute to his campaign. I highly encourage you to do so. Just as an editorial note, in this and all other cases, RedState is not raising the money. I’m recommending you support Rick Perry and the form below is processed by his campaign via the power of the internets.

A lot of people like Rick Perry, but not all those people think he deserves re-election as Governor of Texas, a position he has held for going on ten years. He is being challenged in the GOP primary by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, not because she has new ideas, but because she thinks it is her turn.

And that’s part of Perry’s problem. He has been at it for about a decade, ever since George W. Bush left for the White House. But it is also to his advantage. In an interview with Perry over the weekend, he said, “The ten years argument doesn’t hold water. If a company has been going strong for ten years, the shareholders don’t toss out the CEO.” He’s right and were he a CEO his management style could be viewed positively — 1000 people a day are moving to Texas for low taxes, jobs, and growth.

In fact, in a down economy overall, the Lone Star State still shines bright.

Read More →

Remember how no White House Easter Roll had been streamed on the internet until Barack Obama got to the White House, even though George Bush had done the same thing?

Remember all the other examples of Barack Obama declaring something a first, despite George Bush, Bill Clinton, or some other President having done it first?

Well, news comes out today that the census will ask about same-sex marriages next year.

This is “a first.” Well, to be precise, no state had same-sex marriages in 2000. But the Obama administration is spinning it as another first. Except, it is not really. The 2000 census asked about same-sex partnerships, the only thing that existed at the time.

I have a long list of blogs that I read and, frankly, I haven’t read any of them in a very long time. I’ve gone from reading about 100 a day to about 5 a day. I spend most of my time these days reading news sites and doing the behind the scenes stuff that keep us going.

It’s time to get back in the habit.

This morning I have deleted the entire list of blogs that I keep in my blog folder. Consider this an open thread restricted to one topic — list those websites, blogs or otherwise, that you think I should be reading.

I will rebuild my blog folder based on the list.

When you sleep with another man’s wife, you deserve what you get from that man. If he wanted you to pass special legislation adding his grandmother to Mt. Rushmore and buying him a new pony, you shut your $@^@#! mouth and you do it.

If he wants the rest of us to hold you down while he beats the ever living crap out of you, you consent.

You have no business attacking this man’s integrity, character, judgment, or intentions.

Now go find a dark hole somewhere, climb in, and we will tell you when you are allowed back out. Until then, shut the hell up and give the man and your own wife whatever on earth they demand.

In the meantime, I’m going to go throw my branding iron with the letter A in the fire to get it hot.

Goodness. It reminds me of a female colleague on my local city council who always gets on a high horse about wasting time on frivolous matters, then getting upset at a city employee referring to a “gentlemen’s agreement.”

Senator Boxer, you see, did not like being called “Ma’am” by a General.

So the men have no problem with “Sir,” but Miss Boxer does not like “Ma’am.”

We now must all start calling her “Ma’am,” and here are some delightful Dora the Explorer big girl panties (my 3 year old endorses them) you might want to send Senator Boxer.

The best address is 1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111. If nothing else, it’s San Francisco. If she can’t use them, I’m sure some guy in San Francisco can.

John Barrow (D-GA) is in one of those swing districts that in 2010 will be very vulnerable. Barrow, for years, has had trouble balancing his liberal tendencies with his more conservative district. Thus far he has done it successfully. But it has gotten harder and harder to the point where he can’t make up his mind what he regrets.

I’ve submitted legislation to reduce Macon’s City Council from 15 members to 11 members by getting rid of Post 1 seats.

In Macon, there are 5 city wards, with 3 posts in each ward. The first post runs city wide. In addition to my effort to shrink the size of Council (the largest in Georgia except for Atlanta’s), I’m also pushing legislation to make Council elections nonpartisan. Macon is the only municipality in Georgia with partisan elections.

Naturally, Councilwoman Elaine Lucas considers it all racist.

The funny thing is that, should the legislation to downsize Council pass, our majority white Council would become majority black because there are more white Council members in post 1 seats.

Additionally, calling her bluff, I’m preparing an amendment to get rid of post 3 seats, which are elected inside the wards, instead of post 1 seats. I’m a post 3 seat so I’d be getting rid of my own spot, but it is for the good of the whole organization.

Post 3, like post 1, is demographically majority white.

Councilwoman Lucas, though, still sees racism in the effort to make City Council majority black. She is the gift that keeps on giving.

Gentlemen (Ladies, you’ll have to pardon me):

Megan Fox explains modern American politics.

With her body.

Go here now.

Consider this an open thread . . . just not that open.

The House Democrats tonight have denied Republicans the opportunity to offer any amendments at all on spending bills.

Any.

This is the first time in the history of our Republic that this has happened.

Senate Republicans should stick up for their House brethren and shut down the Senate as the House GOP is now pretty much powerless.

Call your Congressman at 202-224-3121 and ask him to vote NO on H.R. 2346.

Just got this from the Hill:

The Conference Report includes new language telling the U.S. representative at the IMF to use their “voice and vote” to oppose the provision of loans to state sponsors of terrorism. Yet this language raises more questions than answers.

For example:

• At G-20 Summit the U.S. committed to provide $100 Billion for the New Arrangements to Borrow (included in the Supplemental), but also committed to make the program more “flexible.” While the IMF has not finalized the new flexibility for the program the discussion has centered on allowing more discretion for the managing director of the IMF to authorize transactions. Depending on how it is implemented it is unclear whether or not this new flexibility could deprive the United States of the opportunity to use its voice and vote to object to certain transactions.
• In addition, at the G-20 Summit the U.S. committed to supporting an allocation of $250 Billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to be distributed proportionally to ALL IMF Members. This action does not require Congressional approval provided that it is proportional for all Members. So while the language in the bill directs the IMF to oppose the provision of resources specifically to state sponsors of terrorism, the US and the IMF are moving forward with a policy that would have that exact effect because it would provide resources to all IMF Members, including state sponsors of terrorism.

These questions are exactly why IMF funding should proceed under regular order and not be included in an emergency supplemental that is not subject to amendment.

According to the online left, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is whipping Republican votes for H.R. 2346, the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act.

You need to get your members of Congress to toe the line on this. We need to defeat this bill.

The GOP had been signaling it would vote en masse against the legislation. That Hoyer is getting Republican votes means he can’t get enough Democrats to go along with bailing out European banks.

Folks, this is bad news.

Go here. Put in your zip code in the box on the right. Get your Congressman’s name and direct phone number.

Call and tell your Congressman to vote NO on H.R. 2346.

We cannot have Republicans voting to bail out European banks via the International Monetary Fund.

As you all know, between now and Friday we are giving away one copy a day of the Ultimate Man’s Survival Guide.

It is the perfect gift for Father’s Day and we’ll FedEx it out to you — no guarantee it gets there in time for the big day though.

In any event, here is today’s contest:

We’re focusing on the corrupt nature of Chris Dodd on the front page of RedState today. It’s very clear the man is a walking indictment waiting to happen.

So the contest today: One copy of Ultimate Man’s Survival Guide. to the person who writes the best user diary today about Chris Dodd.

We’ll be the judge. Our decision is final.

Get cracking. In addition to doing good work taking on Chris Dodd, the best diarist gets a free copy of a cool book.

Now have at it.