Congress

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - House of Representatives - Illinois - Islam - Islamofascism - Liberals - President - Religion - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Terrorism - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois’ Gov And Senator Think Terrorists Bring ‘Good-Paying Jobs’

November 16, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Once again we see how clueless Democrats like Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Senator Dick Durbin are on matters of national security. With Barack Hussein Obama’s decision to treat the terrorists at Guantanamo Bay as if they are common American criminals, as the president bestows all American rights upon them, and with his decision to spread these monsters out across the U.S.A, we see Quinn and Durbin idiotically asserting that terrorists equal “good paying jobs.”

These jobs might come from the sale to the federal government of the Thomson correctional facility in west central Illinois where Obama could send some 100 detainees in preparation of closing down the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba facilities. Obama is struggling to figure out what to do with these detainees after his hastily made, ill-informed decision last January to close down the terrorist detainment facility.

After the idea was announced both Quinn and Durbin found themselves all excited to welcome these monsters into their state and both imagined that the occasion means that Illinois gets jobs. Durbin is quoted in the Wall Street Journal as saying that this is a dramatic opportunity.
Continue reading “

Illinois’ Gov And Senator Think Terrorists Bring ‘Good-Paying Jobs’”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Thomas Brewton

Why Place Your Bet On The Horse That Always Loses?

November 16, 2009 by

-By Thomas E. Brewton

Why believe that Obamacare will “bend the cost curve,” when government has repeatedly failed to cut costs of existing healthcare entitlements?

The Obama administration and fellow liberal-progressive-socialists in Congress have based much of their rationalization for Obamacare on its purported reductions in healthcare costs. But, for at least two decades, proposals by the Social Security Administration and Congress to cut Medicare costs have come to naught.

This is hardly surprising, since Congress’s modus operandi is spending money, and the more of it the better, from politicians’ viewpoint. Alexis de Tocqueville, celebrated author of Democracy in America, put his finger on the insurmountable problem in mid-19th century. The theory of socialism is “from each according to ability, to each according to need,” but, while the public’s needs may be quantifiable, its wants are unlimited.

Efficiency is a negative criterion in any government project. Remember that the Employment Act of 1946 committed the government to maintaining full employment. From the politicians’ viewpoint, it is better to employ excessive numbers of people, at higher costs, to enhance the image of helping the people. Congress’s $787 billion so-called stimulus extravaganza is a recent example.
Continue reading “

Why Place Your Bet On The Horse That Always Loses?”

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois - Immigration/Immigrants - Liberals - Race - Society/Culture - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Where Does Ratowitz Stand on Immigration?

November 14, 2009 by 5 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

**UPDATED** 11/15 2:30 PM

Over at the always interesting Cao’s Blog there is a spot ‘o controversy over the candidacy of David Ratowitz who is running as a Republican to take the Chicago based 5th District Congressional seat that Rahm Emanuel once occupied. In the election timeline, we’ve arrived at the infuriatingly common stage where every candidate in the state is running around challenging everyone else’s petition signatures and Cao feels that Ratowitz is acting the hypocrite with his actions in this case.

If you want all the ins and outs of the petition challenge argument Cao makes, I suggest you go on over and visit the posting. As for me, it doesn’t much interest me. There is a far more important part of the story that Cao talks about after the petition discussion that I find far more important.

First, though, I will agree with those that find the whole petition challenge milieu one of the most vexing aspects of the Chicago Way style of Illinois politics — one repeated all across the country not being a strictly Chicago phenomenon, granted. Petition challenges are usually petty, niggling, cynical, and strikes against the whole one-man-one-vote ideal where a candidate throws his hat in the ring and the people decide his suitability to serve them.

But, that annoyance aside, one of Cao’s commenters, Jim Fuchs, made an excellent point on the whole subject.
Continue reading “

Where Does Ratowitz Stand on Immigration?”

Anti-Americanism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

The Fix is In: State GOP Leader Backs Andy McKenna for Guv

November 14, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Until this Summer Andy McKenna was the Chairman of the Illinois GOP. He presided over a party that saw every single state wide office lost to it. He presided over a party that tried as hard as it could to make sure that Illinois’ Republican voters would be barred from voting their own leaders into place (even though Democrat voters do elect their leaders). McKenna presided over a GOP that seemed little more than a junior partner to the corruption plagued Democrats.

…and now McKena’s running for governor.

And guess what? House Republican leader Tom Cross is backing McKenna.

Yep, looks like the fix is in for McKenna as far as the state party is concerned and because of that you can bet that we will see Governor Pat Quinn win his own full term by November. Either that or we will see Quinn’s Democrat challenger, Dan Hynes, become the next governor. Which ever Democrat we are talking about here, the point is if McKenna is the face of the GOP for the 2010 election, a Democrat will win.
Continue reading “

The Fix is In: State GOP Leader Backs Andy McKenna for Guv”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Liberals - Republicans - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Obama to Fire All Civil Servants, Replacing Them With Obama Loyalists

November 13, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In the Washington Examiner Mark Tapscott is decrying the Obama Administration’s bold new directive to rid government of anyone that was hired during the Bush years so that Obama can replace them with his loyal operatives.Tapscott is saying that this violates the spirit of civil service and brings back the spoils system instituting a “partisan political factor” to civil service jobs.

Well I say it’s about time. Unlike Tapscott, I say bring back the spoils system and do away with the professional civil servant. Let Obama fire every Bush appointee and put in his place political hacks, buddies, and friends. And then let the next president do the same… and so on, and so on.

First let’s explain what happened. As Tapscott reports:
Continue reading “

Obama to Fire All Civil Servants, Replacing Them With Obama Loyalists”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Cable - Capitalism - Computers - Congress - Economy/Finances - Entertainment - Free Trade - Google - Inernet - Liberals - Net Neutrality - Scott Cleland - Society/Culture - Taxes - Technology

Why Google Is Not Neutral

November 13, 2009 by 2 Comments

-By Scott Cleland

After discussing whether Google should buy The New York Times, Google decided against it because it “would damage its ‘neutral’ identity,” per Ken Auletta’s just-published book “Googled: The End of The World as We know It.”

Google has long claimed to be neutral. Their corporate philosophy statement claims: “We never manipulate rankings to put our partners higher in our search results and no one can buy better PageRank. Our users trust our objectivity and no short-term gain could ever justify breaching that trust.”

As the world-leading corporate proponent of an industrial policy to mandate net neutrality for all its potential broadband competitors in cloud computing, and as the beneficiary of “The Google Loophole” in the FCC’s proposed open Internet regulations (para 104), it is fair to stress test whether Google’s claim of a “neutral’ identity is true or just cleverly-executed PR.

Is Google Neutral?
Continue reading “

Why Google Is Not Neutral”

Anti-Americanism - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Jobs - Taxes - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Reason TV Takes on the FedEx/UPS Fight

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The best one-liner? “It tells us who the real villain is here… a federal government that is big enough and powerful enough that it can absolutely, positively guarantee that it can crush any business over night.”

Of course, we talked about this FedEx/UPS argument last June.

Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rev. Hayes Facing Down Jesse Jackson, Jr. in Ill 2

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Republican Congressional candidate Reverend Isaac Hayes wants to be your 2nd District Representative. But to do that he has to defeat Jesse Jackson, Jr. and a gaggle of Greenies first. And he’s taking Jackson head on.

Hayes, for instance, has signed the “Taxpayer Protection Pledge” from Americans for Tax Reform pledging not to vote to raise taxes should he win office. He challenges Jackson to “renounce the unsustainable, statist spending plans of Speaker Pelosi and to pledge to not raise taxes.” But it isn’t just taxes Hayes is slamming Jackson for.

On Jackson’s vote for the Obamacare bill in the House, Hayes points out that on WVON radio, Jesse Jackson’s own sister, Santita Jackson, said she was “wary” of the 2,000 page healthcare bill. To Santita’s wariness Hayes says, “Mr. Jackson should listen to his big sister because it is apparent he is not listening to other hardworking Americans.”
Continue reading “

Rev. Hayes Facing Down Jesse Jackson, Jr. in Ill 2″

Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Senate - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Kirk Denies He’s Going Right With Palin Request

November 12, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Mark Kirk is denying that he’s trying to angle rightward in the run up to the GOP primary next year with his recent reaching out to Governor Sarah Palin to secure her endorsement for his candidacy.

“I think I am who I am. I am a social moderate, fiscal conservative. But this is a big race and we are building a broad coalition and it will be, for a Republican candidacy, a center-right coalition, but for me, I haven’t changed my views.”

This is, of course, rather interesting. Kirk is reaching out to conservatives by courting one of their idols in Sarah Palin, yet is also claiming he hasn’t changed his views. It makes one wonder just why a conservative would want to vote for him if he isn’t even interested in paying lipservice to their causes?

In essence, Kirk is saying vote for me… and I’ll ignore all you stand for. After all Kirk’s record is more often center left than center right.
Continue reading “

Kirk Denies He’s Going Right With Palin Request”

Barack Obama - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Gov. Crist DID Flip Flop on Stimulus Support

November 11, 2009 by 3 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

On November 5 on CNN, Florida Governor Charlie Crist told Wolf Blitzer that he didn’t back the $787 billion Obama stimulus bill. Crist has since said that it isn’t a flip flop when he says he supported the stimulus “in concept” but didn’t support the specific bill.

In essence he’s trying to have it both ways. Claiming he wasn’t a supporter of the actual bill, but hedging by saying he felt something was necessary. It seems to be Crist’s way of straddling the line.

Unfortunately, the facts seem to belie Crist’s delicately balanced tightrope act because in February of 2009 Crist was one of 18 U.S. governors (along with the governor of the Virgin Islands) that signed a letter informing President Obama that they supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). (See pdf of letter here)

Despite being a signatory of the letter Crist is now saying he didn’t support the specific stimulus bill. After speaking at the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Crist told the press, ““I think the question posed to me was, ‘Did you endorse this specific bill?’ And I said, ‘No, I didn’t,’ but the concept I thought, and still believe, was important, necessary and it helped Florida.”
Continue reading “

Gov. Crist DID Flip Flop on Stimulus Support”

Anti-Americanism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Warner Todd Huston

What’s Happening in Treasury? For $522,886 They’ll Tell You

November 11, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Want to know what the Treasury Department is doing? Fork over $522,886 and they’ll tell you… maybe. At least that is what Noah Wood has found with a Treasury Dept. reply to his FOIA request.

In 1966 president Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a law that requires the federal government to provide information on its inner workings to citizens that request it. Of course, these FOIA requests aren’t free. Oh, there is no fee for the request, mind you, but there are fees for the copies and the administrative time necessary to conduct the records searches. And therein lies the rub for Noah Wood, a Missouri attorney trying to recover his fees from a Libyan-backed company whose assets were frozen by the government.

Wood is trying to sue this Libyan-backed company and has requested from the U.S. government records on the purported millions of dollars of once-frozen assets owned by the company. In pursuit of this information, Wood sent an FOIA request to Treasury and received a cordial reply asking for the aforementioned fee to comply with his request.

Oddly, Treasury reported that it only charged $527,000 for all of last year’s FOIA requests.

One can only imagine that someone at Treasury is attempting to give Mr. Wood the raised middle digit and discourage him from further requests. After all, how is it possible that the administrative costs and xeroxing of these files could cost as much as all of last year’s FOIA request fees for thousands of FOIA requests.
Continue reading “

What’s Happening in Treasury? For $522,886 They’ll Tell You”

Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Thomas Brewton

Government As Narcotics Dealer

November 11, 2009 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Since the advent of the Federal Reserve System in 1913, monetary authorities have repeatedly upped the narcotic dosage as a remedy for the pains of easy money and credit addiction.

An exceptionally clear and insightful analysis of the precipitating and sustaining causes of the twelve-year-long Great Depression is to be found in Banking and the Business Cycle: A Study of the Great Depression in the United States. Published in 1937, this book provides a wealth of statistics and quotations from Federal Reserve officials, bankers, and economists of that era. It can be obtained from the Ludwig von Mises Institute via its website.

At the end of World War I, when the Federal Reserve System was only five years old, the Fed decided to prevent prices across the economy from falling back to the levels prevailing before the war. To do so, the Fed pumped so much money into the economy via the banks that total bank lendable deposits more than doubled in the six years from 1914 to 1920. To make the perspective clearer, the Fed pumped more lendable funds into the banking system in six years than had been created in the prior 131 years since the ratification of the Constitution.
Continue reading “

Government As Narcotics Dealer”

Abortion - Barack Obama - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - President - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Dems: Anti-Abortion Amendment to be Striped Out Later (Stupak Doesn’t Matter)

November 10, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

At the last minute Representative Bart Stupak (D, Mich.) was successful in getting Speaker Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership to approve an amendment that would prohibit federal spending on abortion added to its nationalized healthcare bill passed and sent to the Senate over the weekend. But a senior Democrat says that the Stupak amendment will be stripped from the bill if the Senate returns the bill for approval.

Of course, the only reason that the House healthcare bill was passed out of the House at all was because of the Stupak Amendment, still left-wingers in Congress are vowing to strip the final bill of one of the only measures that appeals to moderates.

Far left Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D, Fla.) has vowed that the anti-abortion amendment will be gone by the time the bill comes up for a final vote after the Senate debate. Pro-abortion activist and Democratic Congressman from Colorado Diana DeGette has been passing around a letter to her far left colleagues vowing not to vote for a future healthcare bill that does not include abortion funding. She has announced that 40 House Democrats have signed her pledge.
Continue reading “

Dems: Anti-Abortion Amendment to be Striped Out Later (Stupak Doesn’t Matter)”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Liberals - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Truth in Accounting: America’s Official Debt Will Soon Top $12 Trillion

November 10, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

This week, the official debt of the United States of America will top $12 trillion. In just one short year, The Treasury Department has borrowed more than $4,600 for each citizen. U.S. government debt has risen to an unprecedented $12 trillion. That’s up from $10.6 trillion just one year ago. Debt held by the public has grown by nearly $1.4 trillion or a whopping 13.58%. “To increase the debt at this alarming rate is just plain scary,” said Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Institute for Truth in Accounting, the Northbrook Illinois based accounting watchdog organization. What’s worse, the nation’s real debt-including Social Security and Medicare obligations– is at least $72.6 Trillion or more than $235,000 for every man, woman and child.

The absolute and relative size of the nation’s obligations are alarming.

“There is no parallel to this amount of debt in American history, even during our wars and recessions,” said Weinberg. “For example, the U.S. debt the end of World War II was $258 billion or just $2.8 trillion in today’s dollars[Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator].”
Continue reading “

Truth in Accounting: America’s Official Debt Will Soon Top $12 Trillion”

Afghanistan - Barack Obama - Capitalism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Free Trade - Health - House of Representatives - Joe Wilson - Liberals - Senate - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Rep. Joe Wilson on Healthcare and Afghanistan

November 9, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Does Joe Wilson or any of his colleagues on the Hill care about the Constitution?

I participated in a conference call last Friday with Representative Joe Wilson (R, SC) who wanted to rally the troops against Pelosi’s healthcare bill. He also talked of Afghanistan, as well. But I think he made a revealing comment about the Constitution that distresses me.

Rep. Wilson started off his comments with his condolences to the families of the victims of the criminal actions at Fort Hood which had only recently happened at the time. “As a 21-year veteran of the military myself with three sons in the Army, one in the Navy, and a nephew in the Air Force, I truly do have a deep sympathy for the families at Fort Hood,” Wilson said.

Wilson then went into the issues of the day and said he was pleased to see the “clean sweep” that Republicans in Virginia saw in the governor’s race there.

This has also been an extraordinary week with the elections on Tuesday in the state of my ancestors, Virginia. I’m so grateful for the Commonwealth that there was a clean sweep and as it pointed out to me the Republican clean sweep there was for limited government and extending freedom is in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson.

Wilson also remarked that Jon Corzine, the incumbent Dem. gov. in New Jersey, had some “pretty strong things to say about me” and was happy that he lost his re-election bid.
Continue reading “

Rep. Joe Wilson on Healthcare and Afghanistan”

Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Republicans - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Governor’s Debate Video

November 9, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Watch the Illinois GOP Governor’s debate from November 5, courtesy of the Illinois GOP.

Pat Brady, Ill. State Party Chairman, opened with a statement on the state of the state and what the Illinois GOP intends to do henceforth. After that the party began to the tune of the Alan Parson’s Project classic, “Eye in the Sky.” (A bit corny, but it’s all in good fun) Finally WGN Radio’s Chris Roebling, debate moderator, started the night’s event.

Participating are Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Andy McKenna, Dan Proft, Jim Ryan, and Bob Schillerstrom.

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - Taxes

A Response From my Senator and My Reply

November 9, 2009 by

-By Richard J. Little

In response to a careful crafted, time consuming, and painstakingly written personal letter and multiple faxes/emails I recently sent to one of my state’s United States Senator, I received this beautifully worded but totally impersonal email form letter from Senator X (or, more likely, one of the staff) who is a member of the Democratic party:

Thank you for contacting me regarding your opposition to universal health care coverage. I understand your concerns.

When it comes to health care, our families and businesses are in a serious crisis. High health care costs are causing cuts in benefits and increases in premiums, adding to the ranks of the uninsured at alarming rates. But the impact of this problem goes beyond individual families. Skyrocketing health care costs make our businesses less competitive in the global marketplace and cost us good-paying jobs. We are already paying for the uninsured through overuse of the emergency room-the most inefficient and expensive way of providing care.

I believe that health care is a right, not a privilege. There is no doubt that the problems we face are complex, but there are real solutions. We can create a system that is uniquely American and shares the cost between the government, businesses, and individuals in a way that is fair and equitable. Now is the time to show the political will to tackle these issues because there is so much at stake. I am committed to working with both my Democratic and Republican colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee to find solutions to America’s health care crisis.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please don’t hesitate to do so again if my office can be of assistance to you or your family.

Sincerely,

X
United States Senator

In the faint hope that I will get responsive and representative governance from my Senator since according to public opinion polls my view are in line with a majority in my state and the nation at large, I took another huge block of my time to respond to the kind form letter:
Continue reading “

A Response From my Senator and My Reply”

Abortion - Barack Obama - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Health - Illinois - Liberals - President - Republicans - Society/Culture - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

How Your Illinois Reps Voted on Stupak’s Abortion Amendment

November 8, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the compromises that Speaker of the House Pelosi made to smooth the waters for her healthcare legislation was the Bart Stupak (D, Mich.) Amendment that stripped abortion funding from the healthcare legislation.

So which of our Illinois Representatives voted in support of the Stupak amendment?

  • Dan Lipinski (D, 3rd)
  • Peter Roskam (R,6th)
  • Mark Kirk (R,10th)
  • Jerry Costello (D,12th)
  • Judy Biggert (R,13th)
  • Timothy Johnson (R,15th)
  • Donald Manzullo (R,16th)
  • Aaron Schock (R,18th)
  • John Shimkus (R,19th)

And on the final vote, only Lipinski and Costello went on to vote “yes” for Pelosicare.

(For a nice little web resource on Illinois Congressmen, check out www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.)

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - President - Republicans - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Some Comments from Illinois Candidates on Pelosi’s Bare Win on Healthcare

November 8, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Several Republicans and candidates here in Illinois have spoken out on the passage of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s version of Obamacare. Here are a few of them (in no particular order).

Republican State Chairman, Patrick Brady, warned Illinois Democrats that what they have wrought is “wrong for Illinois.”

Today is a disappointing day for Illinoisans as Nancy Pelosi, Melissa Bean, Debbie Halvorson and Bill Foster ignored the concerns of voters and rammed a trillion dollar 1,990 page government-run health care bill through Congress ignoring pledges of transparency and bi-partisanship. Illinois for generations will be forced to deal with the consequences of this legislation that increases health care costs, increases taxes on small businesses and the middle class, cuts Medicare and puts a Washington bureaucrat between you and your doctor.

Joe Walsh, candidate for the 8th Congressional District, took the occasion to accuse incumbent Democrat Bean of proving she is a left-winger.
Continue reading “

Some Comments from Illinois Candidates on Pelosi’s Bare Win on Healthcare”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Communism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - John Armor - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Nancy Counts on Corruption

November 8, 2009 by

-By John Armor

Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has regularly accused the Republicans in the House of displaying “a culture of corruption.” Yet the critical vote to get the House version of the health bill out of the House, demonstrates that Speaker Pelosi not only likes corruption, she counts on it. Remember her middle name because it figures in the proof.

On 7 November at 11:15 pm House bill 3962 passed by a vote of 220-215. Votes in favor of that bill included the following: Norm Dicks (D-Wash), Jane Harman (D-Cal), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Alan Mollohan (D-WVa). Jim Moran (D-Va), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Laura Richardson (D-Cal) and Peter Visclosky (D-Ind). If just three had voted against the bill, or had not been in the House to vote for it, the bill would almost certainly have failed.

Why that curious comment about not being in the House? A staffer for the House Ethics Committee put an internal document on a home computer with file sharing capacities. As a result, the complete list of Members of Congress under ethics investigations escaped into the press. These yes votes on the health bill were provided by Members who might have been expelled, had their possible ethics violations had been promptly and adequately examined, decided and acted upon.

Now, who has the power with a wave of her hand, to speed up or slow down the ethics investigation of any Member of the House? Why, that would be the ultimate power, Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. She’s been scrambling all this week to engineer the last few votes for passage.

Continue reading “

Nancy Counts on Corruption”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Communism - Congress - Constitution - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Liberals - Nancy Pelosi - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Buy What Democrats Say to Buy or GO TO JAIL

November 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

It has come to this, America. Democrats have decided that if you don’t agree with their policies, you are to be fined. And if you don’t pay the fine, you are a criminal and will be sentenced to jail. That’s right, Democrats are criminalizing dissent.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has decided to leave language in her heatlhcare bill that criminalizes and prescribes jail time for any American that does not want to buy private healthcare insurance. Think of this, America. I am telling you that the U.S. Congress has decided to force you to buy the product of a privately owned corporation! The power of the U.S. federal government has never been used to purchase something from a private company but here comes San Fran Nancy to do just that. But, let’s face it. She is only taking her cue from the big guy and his “Chicago way” sort of political thuggery.

The Joint Committee on Taxation issued a letter (Download pdf file) in reply to Representative Dave Crump’s inquiry about the matter of the criminal penalties of refusing to buy healthcare insurance should Pelosi’s version of Obamacare pass.
Continue reading “

Buy What Democrats Say to Buy or GO TO JAIL”

Campaign Finance - Chicago - Congress - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Dem. Senate Candidate Uses Palin Against Mark Kirk

November 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Democrat Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias is trying to use Mark Kirk’s approach of Sarah Palin for an endorsement against him. Giannoulias is attempting to use the Kirk/Palin incident as a fund raising tool.

A few days ago, we reported that Mark Kirk sent a letter to Governor Sarah Palin challenging her to support his candidacy for the GOP nomination for Barack Obama’s old Illinois Senate seat. It seems unlikely that Kirk will receive Palin’s endorsement, though. Being far, far too liberal Kirk is hardly Palin’s sort of Republican.

But Giannoulias thinks that even the slightest connection with Palin will drive his fundraising. The Democrat sent the following email to his supporters (bold in the original):
Continue reading “

Dem. Senate Candidate Uses Palin Against Mark Kirk”

Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Senate - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Chgo Trib’s Bios of Ill. GOP Senate Candidates

November 7, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago Tribune has put out a few short bios of the current candidates for Illinois Senate on the GOP side of the aisle. And I do mean short. They are more like just an announcement of the candidate’s campaign than a bio. They contain links to the candidates web resources, though. Nonetheless, here are the links:

John Arrington

Patrick Hughes

Mark Kirk

Tom Kuna

Don Lowery

Andy Martin

Ed Varga

Robert Zadek

Not yet covered is Kathleen Thomas‘ campaign.
Continue reading “

Chgo Trib’s Bios of Ill. GOP Senate Candidates”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Media Bias - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Vince Johnson

The Great Health Insurance Mystery

November 7, 2009 by

-By Vince Johnson

I had a dream that several respected members of Congress tried to prove this bulletin was misleading and I quietly smiled when they gave up and went out to lunch. 

There is no mystery in the fact that Congress wants the government to be the only source for health insurance for over 306 million Americans.  However, there is great mystery in understanding why politicians do not realize that such an eventuality is bureaucratically impossible.   

Consider established facts: The Social Security Administration requires 62,000 employees to process applications, issue SS numbers, manage existing accounts, and disburse monthly payments to 50 million retired folks. The total U.S. population of people over 18 is about 230 million.  Assuming these people have SS numbers, it is reasonable to say that in any given month, the SSA is handling the accounts of 280 million people including 50 million retirees.

 Keep the above in mind as you consider what Congress will be coping with when the government becomes the sole provider of health insurance.
Continue reading “

The Great Health Insurance Mystery”

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Some House Dems that Might Be Persuaded to Vote No on Obamacare

November 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Ken Marrero over at Blue Collar Muse reminds us that there are a few Democrats that could possibly be persuaded to vote against House Speaker Pelosi’s healthcare bill.

Word has it that Pelosi is going to try and strong-arm her bill to a floor vote this Saturday, so if you want to stop this bill, call the following Congressmen and voice your opinion.

  • Michael Arcuri (NY-24th)–(202) 225-3665
  • Steve Dreihous (OH 1st)–(202) 225-2216
  • Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8th)–(202) 225-2542
  • Debbie Halverson (IL-11th)–(202) 225-3635
  • Steve Kagen (WI-8th)–(202) 225-5665
  • Betsy Markey (CO-4th)–(202) 225-4676
  • Tom Perriello (VA-5th)–(202) 225-4711
  • Loretta Sanchez (CA-47th)–(202) 225-5711
  • Vic Snyder (AR-29th)–(202) 225-2506
  • Zack Space (OH-18th)–(202) 225-2965

I should remind readers that if you call these on-the-fence Democrats it’s far more effective if you are from their District, though. Just random calls from across the country will mean far less than the calls of actual constituents.

Anti-Americanism - Barack Obama - Business - Capitalism - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Current Democrat House Vote Count on Healthcare

November 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

One of the jobs of the “Whip” position in Congress is to count votes so that the leadership has an understanding of what sort of support their legislative efforts have. These Whip counts are often made public knowledge (but not always) and The Hill has reported the latest counting of House Democrats and where they stand on the Pelosicare/Obamacare bill.

So, if one of your Congresscritters is on this list as a “yes” vote or is leaning “yes,” contact them immediately and voice your opposition.

As of noon on 11/06/09:

YES OR LEANING YES
Howard Berman (Calif.)
Leonard Boswell (Iowa)
G.K. Butterfield (N.C.)
Steve Cohen (Tenn.) Called the measure “America’s bill”
Gerry Connolly (Va.) Had expressed concern about tax provisions in initial bill
Henry Cuellar (Texas) Got tort provisions added, though still wary of costs
Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.)
Sam Farr (Calif.)
Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.) Leaning yes, would like to see more on tort reform
Debbie Halvorson (Ill.)
Alcee Hastings (Fla.)
Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) Yes
Steve Kagen (Wis.)
Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) Leaning yes
Dale Kildee (Mich.)
Ron Kind (Wis.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Brad Miller (N.C.)
Dennis Moore (Kan.) Was target of death threat last summer over healthcare reform
Jim Langevin (R.I.) Opponent of abortion rights
Tom Perriello (Va.) Held many town halls this summer
Jared Polis (Colo.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Earl Pomeroy (N.D.) Voted no in Ways and Means Committee
Nick Rahall (W. Va.)
John Salazar (Colo.)
Linda Sanchez (Calif.)
Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) Yes
Mark Schauer (Mich.) NRCC quickly pounced on Schauer’s support of bill
Dina Titus (Nev.) Voted no in Education and Labor Committee
Paul Tonko (N.Y.) Leaning yes
Tim Walz (Minn.) “I think we’re getting there.”
Diane Watson (Calif.) Praised bill in speech on the floor
Peter Welch (Vt.)
Continue reading “

Current Democrat House Vote Count on Healthcare”

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Capitalism - Chicago - Congress - Conservatives - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - GOP - Illinois - Liberals - President - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Nov. 7th Chicago Tea Party Near Midway Airport

November 6, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Chicago News Bench gives us the skinny on a Tea Party event coming this weekend:

The next big Tea Party in the Windy City will be one mile away from Midway Airport, in the Wentworth Park neighborhood (map). It’s over by dere…

DETAILS:
On Saturday, November 7, Noon – 2:00 p.m.
Wentworth Park, 5700 S. Narragansett (map) (at W. 57th Street)
Hot coffee, hot chocolate and bottled water will be available.

Contact: Catherina Wojtowicz, (312) 662-8666,
ChicagoTeaPatriots@Gmail.com and ChicagoTeaPatriots website

Jim McMahon writes:

We have a great line up of speakers and entertainment. We will also host an open mic session so if you have something you would like to share, please feel welcome! We will be convening in the heartland of Congressman Dan Lipinski’s district — the ONLY democratic congressman in the state of Illinois who is poised to vote NO on socialized medicine!

1st Amendment - Business - Capitalism - Computers - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Freedom - Google - Inernet - Liberals - Media Bias - Net Neutrality - Scott Cleland - Society/Culture - Taxes - Technology

How FCC Regulation Would Change the Internet

November 6, 2009 by

-By Scott Cleland

The FCC’s claims that their proposed net neutrality regulations would just “preserve” the open Internet are simply not true. The facts clearly state that the FCC’s proposed regulations would: Be a big change in FCC Internet policy; Implement big Internet policy changes without Congressional authorization; and Change the Internet in big ways. (The one-page PDF version of this post is here)

The FCC’s proposed net neutrality regs are a big change in FCC Internet policy; they would:

  • Replace the FCC’s voluntary net neutrality guidelines with mandated net neutrality regulations;
  • Selectively apply net neutrality regulations to only broadband and not to applications/content providers like the current principles do;
  • Add two completely new net neutrality principles that are not found in law or congressional policy:
  • Mandate the strictest non-discrimination requirement in the last 75 years;
  • Mandate public disclosure of detailed proprietary network management techniques for the first time;
  • Expand application of net neutrality to wireless and satellite broadband for the very first time;
  • Expand consumers access to content entitlement by adding entitlement to send/distribute content as well;
  • Redefine entitlement to competition in the current fourth principle, to favor resale competition over facilities-based competition;
  • Subject broadband companies to a new “Mother-may-I” FCC approval process for offering new managed services and for experimenting with new business models; and
  • Subordinate private standard-setting bodies, like the IETF, to new FCC omni-technical oversight/approval.

Continue reading “

How FCC Regulation Would Change the Internet”

Congress - Elections - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Republicans - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

8th District: Maria Rodriguez To Host Townhall (Repub. Opposing Rep. Bean)

November 5, 2009 by

Maria Rodriguez, a candidate for the GOP nomination for the 8th Congressional District hoping to face Rep. Melissa Bean (D), will be holding a townhall meeting this weekend, November 7th.

The event will be held beginning at 3PM at Hackney’s restaurant in Lake Zurich.

Hackney’s
880 N Old Rand Rd Lake Zurich, IL 60047
(847) 438-2103

Rodriguez has recently begun her second term leading the Village of Long Grove and has an economics degree from the University of Illinois.

Rodriguez’ website: www.mariarodriguezforcongress.com

Budget - Capitalism - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Speech - Free Trade - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Do YOU Want to Do Something About Obamacare?

November 5, 2009 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Are you itching to join the fight to help stop Obamacare? Well a coalition of free market groups have come together to offer voters a way to get involved in the fight. It’s called HighNoonForHealthcare.org.

This site gives you tools to write, call and tweet Congress to urge them to stop Obamacare.

The website is sponsored by quite a few groups. Groups such as the National Taxpayers Union, The American Conservative Union, the Hispanic Leadership fund, The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons and many, many more.

Click on the image below to go right to this resource: