Redstate

Posted at 1:22am on May 9, 2008 A New Committee & "Young Guns"

By Whitehorse

In the focus on Republican congressional hopes & woes I bring this post.

Boehner's GOP fix: A new committee

Faced with dire predictions of an electoral bloodbath in November, House Republican leader John A. Boehner responded Wednesday by creating a committee to advise the National Republican Congressional Committee.

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Posted at 1:20am on May 7, 2008 Newt's Plea to Republicans: It's Time for Real Change to Avoid Real Disaster

By Whitehorse

The Republican loss in the special election for Louisiana's Sixth Congressional District last Saturday should be a sharp wake up call for Republicans: Either Congressional Republicans are going to chart a bold course of real change or they are going to suffer decisive losses this November.

I have to agree with Gingrich on this one. It may not mean that republicans retake the majority in November; (not many scenarios show that possibility) however, it could "stop the bleeding" & chart a course for retaking the majority in future elections and really doing something spectacularly good with that majority.

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Posted at 1:47pm on May 2, 2008 Democrat Congress Hostage Crisis: US Soldiers STILL Awaiting Rescue

More than 440 Days and counting, Pelosi and Reid set to exceed Iran's adventure in holding Americans hostage...

By haystack

Surely everyone remembers the 444 days of helplessness we all felt when Iranian goons took over our embassy, holding America (and that terrorist-hugging President that failed us so miserably when we needed him most) hostage? Well, according to Minority Whip Roy Blunt, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are about to BEAT that 444 number....and our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines still await help from home:

It has now been more than 440 days since the original supplemental was sent to Congress – while pieces were passed, the entire bill has languished. There has been more than enough time for Democrats to act. This bill must be passed before the Memorial Day recess and the shameful tactics of the Democratic leadership have only ensured its defeat.

Back in February, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell made very clear what was at stake regarding this supplemental bill:

“We need that money as soon as possible so there is no disruption to our warfighting efforts and not a disruption to our soldiers’ lives, both in the field and their families at home,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters during a news conference.

SecDef Gates also stated back in February that a delay in the supplemental “degrades our ability to operate and sustain our force at home and in theater and makes it difficult to manage this department in a way that is fiscally sound.” Defense Department Comptroller Tina W. Jonas (also back in February) suggested that "the Army will run out of money to pay troops in June and will be unable to fund operations in July if the department doesn’t receive the emergency supplemental funds soon."

The Army stated back in November that it "would have to furlough civilian employees and close bases if emergency supplemental funding earmarked for installation operations and maintenance wasn’t approved by Congress." [Ft. Bragg, anyone? Walter Reed's Building 18 perhaps?] As Morrell put it , “we are soon going to be confronted with the same situation we found ourselves in at the end of last year, having to look down the barrel of the frightening prospect of running out of operations and maintenance money, from which we pay our forces and do lots of other things in the global war on terror.”

Guess how important this is to Harry Reid (subscription required):

“I think we’ll do our best to finish this before the Memorial Day break, but if we don’t, it’s no big deal. There’s money there. I don’t know why there is a rush to judgment, this is moving along quite rapidly. We’re not behind schedule. Everything’s fine."

No big deal, huh? Ask the mom with 2 kids at home while Dad's at war if it's a big deal Harry, when she doesn't get that paycheck. In fact, hunker down in a firefight with no ammunition left and see if this is "no big deal" Harry...

More on the "shameful tactics of the Democratic leadership" below the fold...

Posted in Congress | Congress Fails America | Ineptitude | Supplemental Bill | The Costs of Partisanship | War — Comments (8)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 3:02pm on May 1, 2008 Nancy Pelosi's House strikes a blow against Higher Ed

By Erick

Who knew Nancy Pelosi was a closet conservative? Through her own inaction she has let the Higher Education Act expire.

The Senate had passed a one month extension while they work out details, but Nancy never bothered to do the same. Consequently, the legislation expired. The impact won't be substantial because of other laws, but a number of advisory committees, etc. no longer exist.

Well done!

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Posted at 9:32am on May 1, 2008 Keep this Obamination out of the White House

By trueblackman

Senator Barack Obama and his supporters claim that he is being treated unfairly as they seek to defuse the controversy surrounding his former Pastor Reverend Wright

Obama in the wake of the recent back and forth between himself and Reverend Wright finally chose to disown him and his radical accusations and statements, but this is only one of his many connections to radical elements in our society and now that the head is off the Trojan Horse, it is time to look deeper into it.

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Posted at 11:44pm on Apr. 29, 2008 The Pelosi Power Grab

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

I trust that those who worry about an imperial Presidency will strive to remember that we face the threat of an imperial Speakership as well. Of course, this maneuver should backfire; Senate Republicans will likely serve as a backstop to any legislation that circumvents the committee process in order to support their House colleagues. But let it be noted that there is no reason whatsoever to do this save Nancy Pelosi's desire to stick it to Republicans. And as I have noted before, all of this represents yet another broken campaign promise.

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Posted at 6:29pm on Apr. 29, 2008 Hillary Seeks Record $2.3 Billion in Earmarks

By patriotroom

It looks like Hillary is the reigning queen of pork. From The Hill.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has requested nearly $2.3 billion in federal earmarks for 2009, almost three times the largest amount received by a single senator this year.

The Democratic presidential candidate’s staggering request comes at a time when Congress remains engaged in a heated debate over spending federal dollars on parochial projects.

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Posted at 2:26pm on Apr. 28, 2008 If gasoline climbs to $10/gal., I'm buying a horse.

By scottbomb

This article is truly frightening. I drive a Honda Civic which gets about 30 mi./gal. If these folks are right, it may soon cost me about $120 to fill my tank. My gasoline will therefore cost more than the rent on my apartment. Dear God, please let me buy a horse. I doubt I'll be able to talk the apartment management into it so I may have to move.

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Posted at 11:26am on Apr. 26, 2008 More Fingerpointing at Rep. Wm. Jefferson (D-LA) and Brother Mose

By Vladimir

In 2004, one of the partners of high-powered New Orleans law firm Adams and Reese was caught having transferred some $30 million from a clients' trust account into his personal Swiss bank account.

Not blogworthy.

Of course, this guy was a "gaming" specialist, and the alleged web of intrigue extends to former Governor and current Federal "guest" Edwin W. Edwards (D) and associates.

Not blogworthy.

But this scrumptious little tidbit is buried in the article, which should be of interest to my fellow RedStaters: in the process of giving back the $30 million and getting right with Jesus, said barrister claimed knowledge of seven-figure bribes paid to Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) and his brother and partner-in-crime Mose Jefferson, with the intention of influencing Jefferson protege and disgraced former New Orleans DA Eddie Jordan. Furthermore, he alleges that the information was turned over to Federal prosecutors and ignored.

HI-YO! Please read on...

Posted in $90000 | Congress | IN HIS FREEZER!! | Mose Jefferson | William Jefferson — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:43pm on Apr. 25, 2008 What's the price of gasoline, Nancy?

She doesn't have a clue.

By Mark Kilmer

From where I sit and type these words, gasoline is $3.59/gallon at the nearest Sheetz. The Speaker of the People's House – to whom we fondly refer with her given name, Nancy – just told TV talkshow host Larry King that it was $2.59 on average but higher in California. King corrected her: the national average is $3.50. She said, "Oh, it's $3.50. It's down 6-cents."

In orbit without a clue, Nancy soldiers on.

Here'a the vid:

Posted in clueless | Congress | Nancy Pelosi — Comments (40)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 4:58pm on Apr. 23, 2008 Is Nancy Pelosi bored, or is she loopy?

or: Experiments in better government.

By Mark Kilmer

Speaker Nancy is either bored or loopy. Here's what she's planned:

*** Media Advisory ***
…
Pelosi to Hold Weekly Press Conference Tomorrow, Celebrate Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
…
Washington, D.C. To celebrate Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is inviting members of the Capitol Hill press corps and staff to bring their children to her regular weekly press conference tomorrow, Thursday, April 24. Following the regular Q&A, the Speaker will take a few questions from the children.

There are some members of the DC press corps, unfortunately, about whose reproductive ventures I'd sooner remain ignorant. Will these kids be brainwashed into asking about the evil, mutant Bush Administration? What does she tell these innocents if they ask her about San Francisco?

Over at Famous DC (linked above), they "hope this made for TV train wreck is televised." If it's embarrassing, it won't be, so I hope it's not. Then again, C-SPAN will cover it; Brian Lamb's that kind of guy.

And after they're done asking questions, can these kids pretty please replace the Congressional majority's leadership for a few days? I'd expect better things of Speaker Jennifer, age 6, and Majority Leader Bobby, age 11, than we're getting from this current bunch.

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Posted at 2:41pm on Apr. 22, 2008 Forced enrollment vs individual choice in the health care debate

By Sen David Vitter

Last week was the third week of the Senate Freshmen Republican’s health care initiative and I went to the floor to talk about individual choice in health care.

Each American family has its own unique needs and concerns as they relate to health care, and I believe it is clear that the government should be providing incentives for these families to choose to enroll in a plan that most fits their needs, instead of forcing people to enroll in health care plans.

Congress should be pushing for reform that provides families with a wide array of choices, not advocating for compulsory insurance coverage laws that would place a bigger burden on those middle-class families who are in the most need of assistance in obtaining access to medical care. This is the first step toward a government-run, ‘one size fits all’ health care system, and that is something that would send health care down the wrong path in our country.

This week, the initiative continues with a discussion on medical liability reform.

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Posted at 3:30am on Apr. 21, 2008 Fresh From the Hopper

By ddws

Here are some of the most notable and contentious pieces of legislation that have been been dropped in the bill hopper and introduced into Congress in the past couple of weeks. They include proposals for dealing with record gas prices, the legal status of marijuana, online gambling, and government spending. There's still time left in this session for Congress to take up some of these issues -- if you support or oppose any of these bills, track them with on My OpenCongress and start organizing a push to influence Congress.

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Posted at 3:28am on Apr. 21, 2008 Fresh From the Hopper

By ddws

Here are some of the most notable and contentious pieces of legislation that have been been dropped in the bill hopper and introduced into Congress in the past couple of weeks. They include proposals for dealing with record gas prices, the legal status of marijuana, online gambling, and government spending. There's still time left in this session for Congress to take up some of these issues -- if you support or oppose any of these bills, track them with on My OpenCongress and start organizing a push to influence Congress.

Posted in Congress — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »