I am writing this post because of some of the posting and especially the commenting I am starting to see here at Red State. I have been here over 5 years. I am not sure exactly when I started. I think it was 2003 or 2004, but I know it was in that time frame. I remember the post announcing Erick being hired full time as the Editor here. So, needless to say I have seen a lot. I just want to pass on some advice or if you will, suggestions based upon all the things I have learned over the years. The Moderators will correct me if I miss state anything since, like our candidates, I am not perfect either.

One of the first rules of thumb is constancy. It is very very easy to go back to last year and find a comment or a post where you take an opposite position on an issue. That can prove embarrassing and will destroy an debate point quickly. The best way to avoid any problems like this is to develop a sound fundamental reasoning behind your positions. If candidate ‘X’ was wrong on a response to an issue and can factually be proved, and they do not take it back. It is okay to say you won’t support that candidate due to that problem. However, if the candidate you are supporting makes the same error will you be consistent? Does that makes sense?

I have also found that there is a right way and wrong way to respond to people with different opinions, and it is okay to have different opinions. Please just adhere to the first rule of thumb when explaining your reasoning. Then the next thing to do is to allow for the fact that you may be wrong and may have to “eat” your words metaphorically. To slam someone with an absolute statement (referred to as using pointy sticks) is a painful thing to swallow if you are shown to be wrong. It is far better to make statements where you say, “I disagree with you because….”, rather than saying, “No, they are just a jerk because ….”, or, “I will take my ball and go home if I have to….”. Well, you get the point I hope.

I have found that this site is very constructive to help me formulate why I believe what I believe. It has allowed me to understand my positions and debate them in face to face discussions. I emphasis the word “Discussions”. One of the first things you learn is that slamming someone with an absolute is the greatest way of slamming the door on communications. If you want to persuade you need to learn how to discuss an issue and the tactic of leaving no room for movement on an issue will lose the person you are trying to persuade instantly. They will become defensive and shut you out. An example is that I am an absolutist when it come to the right to life. I will not budge even a little bit. However, when discussing it I still deliver a soft sell and explain why I believe the way I do without making the other person feel threatened or defensive. This takes practice to know how to do but its worth it.

Lastly, I will recount my experiences with the 2008 election cycle, and for those here who remember that, they can tell you it was a bit intense here. I was a Fred Thompson supporter, I still am for that matter, but he is not running for office. There was a lot of painful back and forth over what a Conservative was suppose to believe, just as it seems to be repeating itself here now. Needless to say, Fred Thompson lost and John McCain won the nomination. That was a bit hard for me to swallow. Even after the convention I was still a Fredhead and disliked McCain. (You can transpose those names to Perry and Romney if you like for the proper illustration. For the record, I am a Perry supporter) I got thumped by the Moderators several times in 2008 and got threatened with banning once. I mellowed out and allowed myself to fade into the back ground and grumbled for awhile. Then I slowly started to come back and started commenting again. Without getting into details, I learned a lot back then. I am finding that it all seems to be repeating itself here again during this campaign. Something tells me it will repeat itself again in 2016. The bottom line, this is the ugliness of how political sausage is made. I definitely learned that you can take pride in the process in all its ugliness and make the best sausage you can and then be proud of the end product. Even if the end product is not exactly what you wanted in the beginning, you can be glad you had a hand in making it. If you don’t participate in the process, the heavy dose of “conservative” seasoning you wanted, will not be added at all.

However, taking your ball and going home is only for those who can’t handle the heat or can’t handle the ugliness. Most importantly, it will only ensure your seasoning won’t be put in the recipe at all.

Remember, its okay to have disagreements. Discuss the reasons why you feel the way you feel and defend them logically and consistently. However, once you walk out of the kitchen and into the dining room to serve the sausage, serve it with a smile, even if it is not exactly what you wanted in the beginning. In the end, it is far far better than that liberal sausage you will end up eating if you don’t get the customer to buy yours (ours).

…and put away the pointy sticks. They are not needed here. This is a team endeavor.

There is a web site created by the US Government that gives you everything you need. In fact, it is created and maintained by The US Census Bureau. It is the “The 2012 Statistical Abstract The National Data Book”. It is the central clearinghouse for all facts and information on the US Government.

However, there is one problem. As of October 1, 2011, the site will not have any additional information posted to it. Yup, budget cuts. Of all the things to cut, one of the first to go is a web site that informs the public on all the pertinent facts and figures the citizenry needs to easily stay informed.

Thankfully, at least the information that is there will stay there for the time being, but no new information will be posted there. I wrote my Senator and Congressman and asked them why transparency had to be one of the first things on the chopping block when it is a minimal budget item. We need to keep in mind that the Census Bureau is an agency administered under the White House. I am certain one of the first things the democrats in charge want is minimal information availability to document the damage they have done, especially going into a devastating election season for them.

It is amazing what is there. There is everything from economics data, job data, federal outlays down to the detailed function as well as finance data down to the county level across the country. There is election data, education data, law enforcement and prison data, and I can go on and on. It’s all there, but not anymore. The administration decided it was not important for us to receive this information anymore.

The.Most.Transparent.Government.Ever!

I Submitted a Question to CNN for the Presidential Debate.

I seriously do not expect my question to be asked, but if it does get asked by some miracle, it would be hugely instructive of the economics acumen of the presidential candidates. It would also be huge for the voters in the primaries in their decision making on who to vote for and why.

The question is real simple:

All, if not most of the Republican candidates have presented, or at least spoke about their ‘plans’ to put American’s back to work. I would like to ask each of the candidates what underlying economic principles they used in guiding the development of their plans.  Do they use Keynesian economic principles, or do they use Milton Friedman style economic principles, and why?

To have a candidate that can actually know the difference in the styles of economic principles would be huge, never mind for them to be able deliver a coherent answer as well.

Like I said, I do not expect the question to be asked, but I would give a lot to be able to get it put to them and hear their answer. Erick, if this could be included in your sit down with any of the candidates who except your offer, that would be great too. I would just love to hear their answer.

Here is hoping and not expecting the changie thingie. I know it won’t be asked.

It seems that Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) has made a very public error on his position with Social Security.

In a Fox News story, he is quoted as calling Social Security a “pyramid scheme”. Twice! However, that is not the problem, except he gave a great campaign sound bite to a Democrat opponent. The problem came at a town hall meeting. Yup, you guessed it, he dodged the question when asked about his statements. He didn’t want to address it.

I have a little advice for Rep Joe Heck. Here is how I suggest you answer the question:

“Yes, I said it and I meant it. Using the dictionary definition, the financial structure of Social Security meets the definition of a pyramid scheme. However, that does not mean I intend to abolish or diminish the Social Security System. I point out the financial structure only to emphasize the need to change it. The same goes with changing the current Medicare financial structure as well. They are going bankrupt right now…..”

Then you go on to outline the financial trouble both systems are in with basic numbers, and then outline how you believe it should be reformed. Then offer a more detailed presentation in the future, then contact Congressman Ryan for help with presenting the data at another town hall meeting.

See, that is not so hard, is it Rep Heck? It is called standing by your principles and articulating your vision. It is far better than cowering when criticized. If this is how you respond to pressure, you may as well announce your intention to not to seek reelection or switch to being a Democrat. Backing down to pressure is only going to get easier and the ability to actually stand on principle only gets harder each time you back down.

However, this is only my opinion. Please take it for what it is worth. Your on your own now.

In an article on the Foxnews website, there is a story that just raises all kinds of alarm bells and the makings of a major scandal. The title of the story says it all: “ATF, DOJ Launch Damage Control Effort Over Growing Project Gunrunner Scandal”.

It seems under the watchful eye of the Dept of Justice, the ATF was supervising the purchase of AK-47′s in Arizona by “strawman buyers” for the drug cartels in Mexico. It seems this was allowed to go on to the tune of thousands of guns. The gun shop owners asked agents directly if the should stop selling them, and the agents expressly told them to keep selling them so they could track them. The only problem is that they didn’t track them and they didn’t stop the sales.

It was conceived after the bureau was criticized for not conducting more complex investigations on straw buyers — people who were allowed to purchase guns legally in the U.S.– who illegally transport  guns into Mexico and sell them to cartels.

So rather than just take down low-level straw buyers here and there, the agency hoped by ‘letting the guns walk’ the sales would lead investigators to cartel members higher up in the organization.

However, whistle-blowers say that never happened.

The worse part is that many of these guns have already been tied to a lot of murders, rapes and robberies!

Now everyone is scurrying to damage control. The Justice Dept lawyers is refusing to answer Sen. Charles Grassley’s questions. Sen. Patrick Leahy is refusing to hold hearings or allow the posting of the documents to the Senate web site. The ATF is already instructing agents to make sure “good news stories” are delivered to the press to counter act possible bad press that may occur.

Now the question is this President Obama’s Iran-Contra? This really has that kind of potential. As they say, it is the coverup that is worse than the crime and the coverup is already starting.

-My How Times Have Changed-

The United States, as a result of the election result in November 2010, has taken a turn into the ridiculous, if not just plain surreal. However, this may not be such a bad thing at this point. Please allow me to explain.

If you look at the current reaction to the Republicans in Congress opening the new session with a reading of the constitution, most Americans would be a bit dumbfounded or amazed, or probably both could more aptly describe it. The reaction in the news media is another gift from the state controlled media and the political left in my opinion. One of the things that has characterized the last two years in this country’s politics is that the mask has been removed from the left and the news media. Americans can now see them openly for what they are, and see their disdain for this country and its founding.

Alex Altman in his Time Magazine article openly laments the “Cult of the Constitution”. In this article it is lamented that the Constitution is flawed and is needing to change with the times:

“The Constitution is a remarkable document, and eminently worthy of the reverence heaped on it, but it’s also flawed. Despite their genius, the framers were fallible. Law professor Sanford Levinson wrote a book called “Our Undemocratic Constitution” which points out some of these flaws-including its treatment of slavery, which the House papered over today.”

But the notion that our governing document should never evolve has always struck me as mildly insane.

I suppose he forgot that there is an amendment about abolishing slavery. I do believe the amendment process is where the “evolving” is suppose to occur, but I am certain that is not what is intended here, but I digress on that point.

Mr. Altman is making the same classic case that was made by the Washington Post columnist, and MSNBC contributor Ezra Klein by stating on air,

“My friends on the right don’t like to hear this, but the Constitution is not a clear document. Written 100 years ago, when America had 13 states and very different problems, it rarely speaks directly to the questions we ask it. The Second Amendment, for instance, says nothing about keeping a gun in the home if you’ve not signed up with a “well-regulated militia,” but interpreting the Second Amendment broadly has been important to those who want to bear arms. And so they’ve done it.”

The left will bend the words to mean what they want them to mean and will make any argument so as to include dismissing the document itself to justify what they want to do to this country. Even the left leaning members of the Supreme Court had the audacity to use the law of another country to justify one of their rulings. The founder’s original intent is only an obstacle to be over come and it is not something to be considered. That scares me.

The really interesting part is that five years ago, the news media and the members of the left, did not feel so dismissive about the Constitution. In the wake of the New York Times articles by James Rison making it publicly known that the United States has an eavesdropping program for suspected terrorists, and that there was another article exposing a program to track terrorist financial transactions, the left and the news media were apoplectic. Even though the programs were legal, it didn’t matter to them. It was another tool to use to hammer the president whom they despised. This is where the screaming for President Bush’s impeachment reached a fever pitch for violating the Constitution. It seems that they felt that these programs were violating the constitutional right to privacy and unreasonable search and seizure of the combatants we are fighting. That boggles my mind. At this time, the Constitution was a sacred document to be upheld, even if they are enemy soldiers on the battle field, but the constitution is always sacred when it serves their purposes. Otherwise, on another day it is a living and breathing document that must change with the times so that it doesn’t get in the way of their transformation of this country into a socialist utopia. Situational ethics is a beautiful thing to the left.

I was listening to Rush Limbaugh, and he played an audio clip of a journalist who said that maybe it is good that the Republicans are reading the Constitution because it will remind them of the right to privacy of Americans. He  obviously has not read it since he did not know that it does not not explicitly state that the constitution. The right to privacy, established in Griswold vs Connecticut, like the separation of church and state are court decisions that derived these terms. The right to privacy was established in Most Americans who get a public education are also ignorant of these basic matters too. It appears that he needs to read it himself, as do a great many other people.

However, most of the members of the Democrat party and the news media, but I repeat myself, did not stay for its reading in Congress. The open display of contempt for that document and dismissal for what it contains is on full display for everyone to watch. Most democrats did not even attend the reading, though some attended and participated. One Democrat Congressman “objected to the reading of the Constitution on the house floor! The mask is still off and the American people are still watching. Everyone is seeing the press and the members of the Democrat party are not hiding it. Why should they hide it? These people are not afraid to remain in the open about it. They do believe that the victory in 2008 shows that they are correct in their beliefs.

However, the “advisers” have sold them a bill of goods in the form that all that was wrong in the 2010 elections was the “message didn’t get out” or “the message was not framed right”. Oh the message got out and the framing wasn’t the problem. The problem is that they do not understand that the American people are not so dumb. Ronald Reagan was absolutely correct; we can trust the American people to make the right decisions. He knew it, and so do I, the problem, or in our case, the blessing is that the Democrats and the left do not get it. It is the gift that keeps on giving. I think it is safe to say that people are not missing what is on display.

The only concern that I have is that the establishment Republican members of Congress don’t forget that their being watched. They are the ones that worry me.

I am not a pollster, nor do I pretend to be by any measure. However, I have been reading the articles about the Gallup Generic Ballot and historical accuracy and what it means this year.

I just say a Gallup Generic ballot article, by way of Drudge, that is just startling by any measure.

To sum it up: Republican 55% / Democrat 40% / Independent 4%

That translates to a 15 % spread! Wow!

Moe and Neil, I will gladly love to see how this translates. You know this better than me. I do know that this is huge. Does this translate to 60 or 70 seats? Maybe more?

I’ll stand back out of the way now.

In the face of the coming November elections, many issues are confronting us, as well as their possible implications. They will become obvious the closer we get to that day. On the Republican side of the isle, we have the prospects of a feckless Republican leadership that still does not “get it”. You can reference the posts out the new version of the “Contract with America” that resembles more a convoluted mess of meaningless words. However, there is another problem that confronts us as well. Everyone wants to know what the Democrats will do to blunt Republican control of Congress. The lame duck session will have enormous implications.

In 1801, John Adams, a Federalist, was a lame duck President. Thomas Jefferson, the Democratic-Republican President Elect was waiting to take office. In an effort to blunt what Thomas Jefferson may do as President, Congress passed the “Judiciary Act of 1801” and John Adams signed into law. John Adams then set to appointing new judges to fill the new positions created. Obviously, all these appointments were Federalists. These new judges were known as the “Midnight Judges” because it was said that Adams was signing appointments at midnight, the night before Jefferson’s inauguration.

What may not be known to the layman is that this is what led to the infamous Marbury vs Madison Supreme Court case. Mr. Marbury was one of three individuals appointed the day before Jefferson was inaugurated.

We already have a clause in the health care law that prohibits its repeal accept by a super majority of a two thirds vote. This is an attempt to prevent what is known to be a certain attempt to repeal or dismantle the legislation. The question remains, what else they will try to do to blunt Republican efforts to undo the damage of the last two years. However, another question is what will establishment Republicans do to blunt it as well?

What really bothers me is that we are fighting ruling class establishment Republicans and Democrats equally. This next election needs to send a shock wave that will scare them enough to roll over, at least for awhile, but we need them to resurface again so that we can “primary” them in the 2012 election. The authors of the “Contract with America II” need to be identified and targeted because they obviously don’t get it. Senators like Corker, KBH, and Orin Hatch come to mind right away. Another set of Congress critters that jump out at me is Jerry Lewis and his RINO ilk on the Appropriations Committee. A better list is found by going to “The Republican Main Street Partnership” web page. This is the Republican group formed in 1994 to “combat conservatism and reach across the aisle in bipartisanship with the Democrats”. This is a good starting place.

The primary focus is on the November elections but do not become single minded and lose focus on the other outstanding issues. There is still a lot more to do.

On the witness stand and on recorded tape the bombshell has been released:

“The president understands that the governor would be willing to make the appointment of Valerie Jarrett as long as he gets what he’s asked for. . . . The governor gets the Cabinet appointment he’s asked for,” Harris said, explaining a recorded call.

Now the questions is, is there even more evidence that will surface in this scandal? This is going to get ugly fast if the dirtiness of Chicago politics rings true, and it will be dramatic since the president is now involved.

The next piece of dirt to surface in the trial is that Rham delivered the list of names to Blago:

In the call, Blagojevich’s chief of staff, John Harris, tells his boss that Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s soon-to-be top aide, had called him to give him a list of four people that Obama would find acceptable as his successor in the Senate.

Now it is going to very interesting. Will the media cover for the president like it did during the  campaign? Tune in and we will find out soon enough.

I am still here reading articles. My job has become far more demanding than I ever imagined. I have been promoted to one of the senior people in my company and not a day goes by I am not in a meeting with the CEO. I only state that because I never imagined I would ever have a position like this, but that is part of why I am writing this post. I have seen things from the top down for the first time in my life, and being on a lower wrung is till fresh in my mind. That knowledge is what is giving me the idea for this post.

In 1994 Newt Gingrich and the Republicans ran on the Contract with America. It was simple and concise. It was easy to explain and an idea people loved. So, what can be done in a similar fashion that will really strike home with the American voters that will do the same thing in this election cycle?

It’s simple really. We have been telling voters how big the national debt is, and that is really starting to hit home. Now the next logical progression of that idea is to start telling them how much interest we have to pay on that debt. They currently have no idea and I think the number would shock them and put the icing on the cake.

How much interest are we paying? So far to date, this year alone, it is 224,5 Billion

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm

Debt and debt payments, American understand, but once you show them how much you are really paying, that grabs their attention. That can be easily used to highlight the impossibility of paying it back and why it must be stopped. Then campaign on stopping the spending and cutting it – dramatically. The American voter will understand why it needs to be done, and Obama and the Dems can’t say we are starving the children with the cuts, because we will be entering office with the mission assigned by the voters.

That is what needs to be the central theme for Conservatives in my opinion. I know establishment Republicans won’t do it, they like spending too much.

That is my idea, take it for what it is worth.

I wanted to put this in an open thread but I didn’t see one, so consider this an open thread.

Martin I suggest we send the RMSP play money.

I like it – but hey what is a trilion between friends?

It seems that the left has now received the good news about how the world loves us. All these years it was the evil Bush-Hitler that made them hate us. The last eight years we were told that if we could only get rid of the evil that was the Bush Presidency, the world would sing kumbaya and love us again.

Well, the left got the very thing they have been begging for in a president who transcends hate and evil and is all aboard on the love train. He is dismantling Gitmo, telling Al Arabia that the US was wrong to dictate and he is changing that policy. He is pulling out of Iraq and healing the wounds of US aggression from the Bush-Hitler presidency years. He is giving them everything they have wanted and stopping everything they said was wrong – well sort of anyway.

Now the shocking news that the world still does not love us has arrived! That is just not supposed to happen! The left fought for the very thing the world wanted to make them love us again, and they delivered. Why do they still hate us?

According to a new BBC poll, those ungrateful foreigners have embraced America’s new president without really changing their opinion of the United States as a whole.

Gee, how did that happen? Maybe it wasn’t Bush-Hitler!

Scratch below those numbers and underneath the negativity you find a great respect for the ideals on which this country is founded. Universally people around the world have a deep, positive attitude towards America’s commitment to democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and free speech. This is what America is perceived to stand for and it is, ironically, the very source of the disappointment.

The very thing that confuses me is the “Death to America” crowd who would submit to Sharia Law so that they do not offend Muslims; want the US to lead the way down the road to political correctness as the price to be paid so that we are loved again.

If you love someone for their shining moral example and then they go rob a bank, you are far more disappointed than if the object of your adoration had been a well-known scoundrel.

Even with Mr. Obama in the White House we are still viewed as criminal bank robbers who need to say they are sorry. I guess that here in the United States we actually had the gall to fight the terrorists. That was our crime. It is in the same category as Israel attacking Gaza and Hamas after hundreds of rockets rain down on civilians in their cities. Israel is the criminal for not accepting the rocket barrage peacefully, and the United States is evil for not accepting terrorist attacks peacefully too.

We have elected “The One” but we have not shown submission to the world yet, that is the price to be paid to be loved by the world again.

If this is the price to be paid, I don’t want to be loved. I want to be feared so that I can live in peace because the terrorists are too afraid to attack us again.

I just read that Senator Judd Gregg is going to be Obama’s pick for Commerce Secratary. I feel it is very dafe to assume that Gregg will accept this nomination. Since New Hampshire has a Democrat Governor I expect a Democrat to be appointed to replace him. However, they may appoint a very liberal Republican that will equate to the same voting outcome.

A White House official has also confirmed that Sen. Judd Gregg is President Barack Obama’s choice for Commerce Secretary, and said an announcement is set for Tuesday morning.

Gregg is a New Hampshire senator who would be the third Republican to join Obama’s Cabinet, if confirmed. The others are Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood.

Gregg signaled Monday that he would only leave the Senate if he’s replaced by another Republican.

In today’s day and age of Republican being a very flexable term now, I expect it to be a liberal squish spine who will vote Democrat in the name of bipartisainship at every turn.

One of the most important components of The United States economic engine is due to free trade policies and our ability to export the products we manufacture, and services we provide. The North American Free Trade Agreement is an important component of our free trade policies. Our trade relations with The European Union are important as well.

The stock market crash is historically referred to the starting point of our great depression of the 1930’s. However, in the wake of the stock market crash, despite a slowing economy, the bottom had not fallen out of the labor market and the unemployment rate, though the unemployment rate was higher it was still manageable. In 1930 Congress passed the Smoot Hawley Act that raised Tariffs to historically high levels. This was done to protect American agriculture sector and jobs in general. However, what it did do was trigger a trade war with Europe.

It provoked a storm of foreign retaliatory measures and came to stand as a symbol of the “beggar-thy-neighbor” policies (policies designed to improve one’s own lot at the expense of that of others) of the 1930s. Such policies contributed to a drastic decline in international trade. For example, U.S. imports from Europe declined from a 1929 high of $1,334 million to just $390 million in 1932, while U.S. exports to Europe fell from $2,341 million in 1929 to $784 million in 1932. Overall, world trade declined by some 66% between 1929 and 1934.

http://future.state.gov/when/timeline/1921_timeline/smoot_tariff.html

One of the components in the news in the past month coming out of Europe is the possible trade war with the United States if it starts to enact protectionist measures. You definitely do not see it in the news here in the United States. However, in the British Guardian Newspaper there is a column about just this scary possibility. They are asking the question:

With more than a whiff of depression in the air, is a “Smoot Hawley” like backlash against trade about to follow? It was the collapse of GNP in 1929-30 that led the US Congress to impose the tariff that caused the unravelling of world trade. Might the same happen again?

The danger exists. If the past months have taught us one thing, it is that anything is possible. Other economic aspects of the 1930s that many of us thought we would never see in our lifetimes have reared their ugly heads. Google News listed 181 articles mentioning “Smoot Hawley” this week.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/31/trade-policy-tariffs-us-uk

Well now we have another news story in the British Telegraph that is getting even more concerned:

The EU trade commissioner vowed to fight back after the bill passed in the House of Representatives late on Wednesday included a ban on most purchases of foreign steel and iron used in infrastructure projects.

The Senate’s version of the legislation, which will be debated early next week, goes even further, requiring that any projects related to the stimulus use only American-made equipment and goods.

The inclusion of protectionist measures has quickly raised hackles in Europe.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4389597/US-EU-trade-war-looms-as-Barack-Obama-bill-urges-Buy-American.html

These people in Europe are equating “Buy American” in the pork stimulus bill is another way of locking them out of US markets. They are taking this very seriously! Will this lead to a trade war? If the people of the United States think we are losing jobs now, wait till they see what happens if we get in a trade war with Europe! In just the same manner that Smoot-Hawley caused us to have our exports plummet, putting a lot of US workers out of work, the same thing will happen here if this “Stimulus” bill passes. This stimulus bill will only stimulate more job losses if the Europeans do not get the “Buy American” provision removed.

How much do you want to bet a trade war is in the offering? Is this reason enough to oppose this monstrosity of a bill? It is for me, and then I feel it is compounded by the massive debt spending that is going to occur that will bring huge inflationary effects from printing all that money.

Republicans in the Senate need to pay attention to this or they are going to be left holding the bag when it blows up in their faces. The Democrats will be laughing about it all the way to the next election because the Republicans in the Senate covered them by taking the heat for it. Don’t think it won’t happen, because it will.

Rush Limbaugh now has taken a new tone in the wake of the last election and caving of Republican’s in Washington. He refers to himself as the “Last Man Standing”. Thankfully with people like Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal and Haley Barbour he is not the last man standing. However, the word picture of the title is very reflective of how most members of the Republican base feel right now. We feel alone and abandoned by people we thought were elected to represent us and our conservative ideals. How wrong we were.

Now the disgust with what so called conservative politicians in Washington have done to us in the wake of the last two elections sets in. The nausea is almost overwhelming, and makes a person want to walk away and abandon the whole effort, but maybe that is what they want us to do. I want to scream because these people have been through two election cycles where Democrat Lite as the Republican platform to campaign on has killed them. Are they really this blind and dumb? At least Republicans can be spineless liberals along with the Democrats who are liberals with a spine. They make a good couple.

The effort to start the rebuilding of the party at the grassroots level is all we have left for a strategy. We must completely ignore and abandon the Republicans who currently hold office. They are the people who betrayed us for the last time (I am referring to their caving into Obama this month).

Now in respects to my title and continuing of the blood bath at the polls, I am not referring to surrendering to the Democrats either. I am specifically addressing a blood bath in the primaries. We need to primary these people. We also need to go into it fully understanding that the resources of the Republican Party will be arrayed against any primary challengers to the incumbents.

A good example is with respects to a conservative challenger to Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania. I have searched for a link to put here, but I do remember something being reported that Snarl’n Arlen will be having a conservative challenger in his reelection bid. If this is true, this could be a very good thing. We really need to do more of this. We also really need to have this challengers come to the forefront now, so there is a full two years of preparation done to run against them.

Here in South Dakota they put up challengers against our Democrat Congressional Delegation 6 months before the election. Needless to say, they die even before they come out of the gate and the election is over even before it starts. Unfortunately, with all the money taken out of elections with CFR, challengers are killed off with a total inability to raise money quickly. However, incumbents are rubbing elbows with the money types all year long and have all the money they need at election time. Primary Challenger Rule #1: Declare the day after an election and start raising money for the next election, or accept the facts that they are a sacrificial offering on a political alter. Sitting politicians were not stupid. The CFR was an incumbent protection act more than anything else. Challengers have to over come that handicap and time is the only method remaining to keep up and stand a chance. They need time for getting in the news and building name recognition, and they need time to raise money. Challengers do not have the ability to hold $2500.00 a plate fund raisers with fat cat lobbyists through out the year, and still have the national party apparatus available to them still. They need to pass the hat at local campaign rallies. It is smaller and slower to raise the same amount of money.

One more thought about all of this. Delivering challengers to start the fund raising process now also sends a message with the support of the base. It also let’s sitting politicians know that we are angry with their spineless behavior in Congress now!

I know there has been much debate about the Fairness Doctrine and the Left’s desire to crush dissenting voices, especially the silencing Rush Limbaugh and conservative talk radio. During the 1980’s under Ronald Reagan when the Fairness Doctrine was lifted, there was no Internet that had the ability to transmit web radio. There also was not any such creation as satellite radio either. Why do I make mention of these mediums? Please do not think I am not worried about the Fairness Doctrine, because I most certainly concerned and I have desire to fight it.

During the 1990’s there became a growing scourge of the music industry. It was called file sharing and the evil MP-3 music creation. It became the source of the very real threat to the music industry’s survival. However, the answer to this digital music explosion was I-Tunes. Then came Rhapsody and Amazon.com and the music industry that was dying became reborn, though the music CD started on its path to meet the vinyl LP album.

Then there was Campaign Finance Reform lead by our illustrious conservative stalwart [heavy snark] John McCain. (Okay what does this have to do with the Fairness Doctrine? Hang with me, I am getting there) When campaign finance reform came on the scene to “take the money out of politics” the money founds its way into those lovely organizations that are known as 501(c)4 / 527 according to the tax code section they fall under. So, not only did the money not get taken out of politics, but rather it created avenues for even more money in politics.

The two examples I cited above are examples that just happen to fall under the categories of “the law of unintended consequences” and “water follows the path of least resistance”. In the age of Facebook, Twitter, web radio, and XM radio, I do believe that the Fairness Doctrine could have some unintended consequences. I will repeat myself to ensure no one misunderstands me, I do think the Fairness Doctrine is a threat and must be opposed, but with that said, I don’t think it will mean the end of conservative communications to the masses.

Just as music went digital and campaign money went 501(c)4 and grew, I do believe that the awakening of the conservative movement to the technological age will also yield to as of yet unknown mediums to spread to the masses. It won’t die, but will weaken and then come back in ways the democrats will be even less able to control and grow. Who knows, with the news media going full into the tank for Obama, maybe it will lead the way for the growth of conservative voices rising in what were traditional liberal controlled areas? Something tells me Fox News cable dominance will not be an isolated occurrence. Smart people know where to invest money if it sells. Maybe this may be an up and coming medium for conservatives. It is hard to say. Only time will tell.

Something tells me Rush and Sean Hannity will still make the liberals scream however they circumnavigate the new rules that may be coming.

This is just my opinion.

I know our current President has made a transparent government one of his campaign slogans. I am glad to hear it, but I am very skeptical that he actually means it in a non partisan way. He only means transparent on any dirt of Republicans they can find.

There have been many ways proposed to create a transparent government. An example is the earmark reform lip service in Congress that was anything but reform. However, I do think there is one way to get a truly transparent government. I propose a constitutional amendment. I know it won’t happen, but I would propose it just the same.

Now before I write it out here, I want everyone to know I am not a lawyer, nor do I have any legal training beyond doing my own taxes, and I call a CPA I grew up with for advice to make sure I get it right. So, please do not rip me apart for my lack of knowledge in this area. I am asking for advice to clean it up if you see any deficiencies.

Now with all that said, imagine conservatives across the country campaigning on promising to initiate this amendment and how the public will react to it.

All Legislation brought before Congress that contains provisions affecting taxation or spending, must be posted to the Congressional web site in searchable format in its entirety for no less than ten calendar days. The public posting of said legislation must occur before it is voted upon for final passage and sent to the president for signature.

Once said legislation is posted to the internet for public viewing, no changes to the legislation may occur with the exception of grammar and spelling changes that do not affect its meaning. If changes are made that affect the proposed legislation’s meaning in any manner, the legislation with its changes must be resubmitted for an additional 10 calendar days for public viewing on the internet before being voted upon by either chamber of Congress.

The ten day viewing period may be waived by The President of the United States and Congress in concert to legislation that pertains to a National Emergency or Natural Disaster. The first action is the President of the United States must declare a National Emergency or a Natural Disaster Area. The second action must be that the Congress in both chambers, by two thirds majority vote acknowledges the declared Disaster or Emergency to waive the viewing period. This must be done for each piece of legislation that is being considered for waving the viewing period.

This would do more to clean up government than a lot of other proposals would, but that is just my opinion.

In 2006 Israel was plunged into a war with Hezbollah (The Party of God) in Southern Lebanon. However, how many people remember why that conflict started? We all remember how it ended. Israel was left with doubts about its military ability to defend itself for the first time in its history. It ended up not going well at all.

The conflict in Southern Lebanon was started when Hezbollah launched a rocket attack on Northern Israel as a diversion for an anti-tank missile attack against two Israeli Humvees patrolling the border. Two soldiers survived the anti-tank missile attack and were taken prisoner and then spirited back into Lebanon. The deceased remains of those two soldiers were returned to Israel as part of a prisoner exchange after the conflict ended.

However, who here remembers what else happened a month earlier with Hamas in the south? Right now if you watch the news reporting, this is the most forgotten aspect of the current conflict in Gaza.

In June 2006, using a tunnel dug from Gaza across the border into Israel, Hamas soldiers came up from behind Israeli positions and captured Gilad Schalit. That was two years ago, and Gilad Schalit is still alive and is still held prisoner by Hamas in Gaza. The International Red Cross has been denied visitation, but an international envoy from Egypt has been able confirm he was still alive and brought him a new pair of eye glasses sent by his parents. Right now that is all that is known about his fate.

Now, why would this man be forgotten, especially by his own government? Yes, he is forgotten by his own government. In an article from the Jerusalem Post the current Israeli government has not even mention Sergeant Schalit in their cease fire terms in this current conflict! What kind of outrage would follow in this country had he been a US Service member who had his status confirmed by an Egyptian envoy as alive and well? There would be an outcry that would be deafening.

So far in Israel, there is a news paper story and a letter to the government pointing out their omission. It is a very big omission too. I think Israel needs to require Sgt Schalit’s return as a non negotiable condition for a cease fire. The opportunity to obtain his release will never be so good again.

Well, I never expected to have this happen. I turned three years old here at Red State. I noticed there is another blog posting where Gordon Taylor has turned three as well. Happy Birthday to you too.

I started blogging on Google’s Blog Spot and Wubbies World was born. I also started to blog at Town Hall as well. Then I stumbled upon Red State during my blog meanderings. I made this my blogging home. I have enjoyed the stay, and I plan on staying around for many more years to come, as long as I remain welcome here.